Sun Chemical Inks for Mimaki

[Colin Crabb]

Ask rep about the head warranty – The might insist upon only using an engineer appointed by themselves can check if the heads been damaged by the ink to make warranty claim – something like that can’t remember the wording used with my warranty issue.

[David Rowland]

many threads on this…. u got to ask yourself the question of "cost saving".. in my opinion costs can be saved if the printer is running all the time with 3rd party ink but original ink can be better for when the machine is idle.

I still regret going away from original inks as it cost me more in the long run with down time

[Adrian Hewson]

Sun Chemical are one of the two or three main manufacturers of printing inks in the world. They make most of the inks for the OEMs Roland Agfa etc, but they are not allowed to say so, they also supply a very high percentage of offset printers.

Most UV printers from the big guys use Sun Chemical inks they are not third party or mickey mouse they are the real thing.

Have been using them for years on three separate printers, don’t confuse them with Chinese copies

[Stafford Cox]

quote Dave Rowland:

many threads on this…. u got to ask yourself the question of “cost saving”.. in my opinion costs can be saved if the printer is running all the time with 3rd party ink but original ink can be better for when the machine is idle.

I still regret going away from original inks as it cost me more in the long run with down time

Exactly that. I would also make sure you have a printout and test draw PRIOR to changing over, signed by the rep and stored away safely just in case they are any problems further down the line. I have worked with many 3rd party inks, some good, some bad, but none of them are as good as OEM in my opinion.

[Adrian Hewson]

Roland or Mimaki do not make inks and do not make print heads, they buy other manufacuters print heads and inks ??????

[John Thomson]

quote Adrian Hewson:

Roland or Mimaki do not make inks and do not make print heads, they buy other manufacuters print heads and inks ??????

Epson make heads and ink……….I was told that by a high ranking employee of one of the major UK printer suppliers.
As a kick back for supplying heads Epson make money supplying printer branded ink.

John

[Shaun Harris]

I have had a rep visit me a couple of times lately trying to sell me Sun Chemical cartridges and a bulk system. I have used Genuine ink since buying the machine and have stayed away from 3rd party.

However for once I am tempted at £55 per cartridge against £79 it is a fair saving and they say they will guarantee the head and they are sure there is no way I will be able to see a difference in the print quality.

[Bernard Sanaghan]

Shaun, what printer do you have

[Shaun Harris]

CJV30

[Stafford Cox]

Very tempting. They’re hitting the sales and promos hard at the moment. I must say, they do appear to be quite good actually. Still not my 3rd party ink of choice but better than others I’ve seen.

[John Thomson]

quote Stafford Cox:

Still not my 3rd party ink of choice but better than others I’ve seen.

What would be your 3rd party ink of choice Safford?

john

[KevinAG]

Hi Guys,

Well I haven’t yet posted back any replies. I do thank you all for your comments.

I must say that Since I bought the Mimaki over 2 years ago it has been a pain in the arse. I didn’t want to use their bag of spanners Rasterlink RIP, I wanted to use my own and create all my own profiles. I have been a printer all my working life and understand about ink especially solvents, and have used Marler and Sun inks before. I have to say they were always the best. There is no way I would have considered 3rd party Ink, but I used Sun Inks for years in Screen Printing so this gave me a little more trust in the product. I have heard all sorts of nasty stories about other Inks and this made me stay away from them for my Mimaki.

So having had a lot of dealings with Hybrid, and my assumption that they always thought me using my own third party RIP was causing my problems I nearly sold the thing. The warrantee had run out and due to the amount of problems I asked them to extend the warrantee, they declined so I said I’m going 3rd party inks from now on, which was a shame as Hybrid’s service is very good, but I have had enough of the thing not working consistently and no-one seemed to know why. I have a warrantee from sun now, basic I know but it’s better than nothing and a friendly technician is only a phone call away.

So I’ve been on Sun’s inks for a few months. The Level of support is fantastic, not though I’ve needed it. I have had no problems with my machine since, the thing is working as it should at last. The colour is excellent print quality is perfect, I wrapped the side of a van last week and the ink didn’t stress or loose it’s colour when conformed. I can’t fault it. I just whacked the carts in along with the Mimaki ones, no difference at all. All the Mimaki inks are now out of the machine as I have used them up and replaced with the Sun Inks.

I’m not going to say you guys should switch, but this ink is working for me and has solved a few of my problems along the way, also I have the knowledge from engineers away from Mimaki if I need it.

For me, I had nothing to loose by going down this route. I printed out a Head test, The rep asked for it, I have a copy, he has a copy Sun has a copy and it’s happy days and stress free working at last, I can’t say that the ink was the big fix, but the old daily problems are gone.

I’ll keep you posted if it all goes the other way, but for now I’m happy and the price is fantastic too.

[Jon Marshall]

What was the problem with your RIP and what one are you using? Never had Hybrid ask about what RIP we use (Shiraz)

[KevinAG]

Wasatch SoftRIP. Rasterlink is based on the Wasatch engine anyway. no Problem with the RIP at all.

I don’t think Hybrid were interested in what RIP i Used at all, they always came out straight away and sorted things out when I needed them, I have no complaints at all. It was just my assumption at the time, the Rep who sold me the machine still thinks it’s the RIP to this day. It clearly isn’t

I think I’m just justifying why I changed to Sun and to me it seems to be the right move and all my problems are gone too, if I had the extended warrantee (Which would have run out by now) I wouldn’t have changed, and that’s the fact. I hope it’s the right move, it certainly seems to be and with Sun I have some support, With Mimaki I have none cause the warrantee’s expired…

[Jon Marshall]

What issues were you having previously then?

[Stafford Cox]

I’m glad you’re having good results with the Streamline inks. I’ve had a few customers convert to it lately and it’s definitely one of the better ones I’ve seen in my time. I would have always advised on Nazdar/Lyson previously.

Having worked with Mimaki, Shiraz and Hybrid engineers for many years now, I’d be very interested to hear of your problems that are ‘RIP related’. I’m more than happy to offer some impartial advice if it helps.

Stafford

[Jamie Paynter]

If only people knew who really worked with who. Unfortunately i am not allowed to say but you guys are on a good path. Some companies are partnered up with other companies or work with them.

a lot of end users do not realise what you could buy from a world leading manufacturer you can find some where else, ok this is limited but it does happen. secrecy agreements do not just apply with the Oems they are passed down the chain. Lets face it if you was a major manufacturer developing a product without success but a smaller manufacturer developed a product that worked, you will simply buy that working product under secrecy agreements. The large manufacturers wish people to think they are the best.

what a can of worms that would open in the market if people where buying other peoples products thinking their current supplier is the best.

excuse my grammer!

[Derek Heron]

any update on this thread appreciated in particular jv33- 130 shiraz rip

also which media are achieving best results

derek

[Stafford Cox]

I find the Metamark MD5-100 is a good ‘all rounder’ in Shiraz for a JV33. 540×1080 at 12p in particular.

Stafford

[Derek Heron]

Thanks Stafford
We run a fair bit of md5 on our 640 Roland with good results
We are also having a Roland aj 1000 delivered in a few days running Roland own inks for our banners production
What would you recommend for bulk system for this
We would like to keep ats inks to match the Mimaki if possible or change them all to another brand
Thanks

[Stafford Cox]

I’ll be honest with you Derek, the AJ isn’t one of my favourite machines. We do have inks for it but only a handful of customer are still using their AJ. Make sure you’ve got a good history on it and check how old the heads are. They have a tendency to deteriorate over time and although they look good initially, they just stop firing as quickly as they should after a time. Having said that, they’re a fast and wide machine that very few manufacturers are making these days so there’re really only that or a JV3-250 (slow in comparison) or JV33-260 (rare and expensive in comparison).

Stafford

[Dominic Fowler]

quote Adrian Hewson:

Sun Chemical are one of the two or three main manufacturers of printing inks in the world. They make most of the inks for the OEMs Roland Agfa etc, but they are not allowed to say so, they also supply a very high percentage of offset printers.

Most UV printers from the big guys use Sun Chemical inks they are not third party or mickey mouse they are the real thing.

Have been using them for years on three separate printers, don’t confuse them with Chinese copies

Sorry, but this isn’t true. Even companies like Sun struggle to get ink formulas as clean as OEM, they don’t have access to the engineers creating the heads which is pivotal when producing inks to suit so they have to source heads and create/test. When the OEM changed the head revision it starts all over again. I’m speaking from 16 years of experience of working with one such OEM closely with design engineers.

[David Rogers]

Who’s the UK distributer of the Sun / streamline-ultima-hpq-lo inks?

Presently on Lyson 1300 (full solvent inks)…great media coverage & saturation but given the amount we go through a cheaper alternative that prints well at the right price may be favourable.

DAve

[Jamie Wood]

quote DavidRogers:

Who’s the UK distributer of the Sun / streamline-ultima-hpq-lo inks?

Presently on Lyson 1300 (full solvent inks)…great media coverage & saturation but given the amount we go through a cheaper alternative that prints well at the right price may be favourable.

DAve

It’s ScreenPro. I’ve known Mark Beedle for over 25 years & he’s a good chap.
Give him a ring 07976 246422

[Mat Drake]

If it helps, if anyone would like to speak with our customers who have used this brand for a while, just let me know.