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Uniform Cadet or Grenadier solvent printers, does anyone run these?
Hi all.
I have been offered a Unifrom Grenadier solvent printer at a very good price and It is still in good working order. I am considering buying it as a secondary machine for print and cut stickers and labels only, as it will free up my printer and cutter for more important things.
My question is, does anyone still run these machines and if so, are they easy to maintain and locate parts for if required?
I am sure the Cadet is the same machine but narrower and my understanding is these are rebadged Roland machines with modifications done to them?
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5 Replies
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Hi Peter,
These machines are bastardised Roland printers, they where grey imports that where converted to 3rd party inks, painted blue and sold under the market price, the company has now long gone but I’m sure parts are still available I think this is a Roland SP540
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Graham Scanlan.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by
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Hi Peter, they are indeed ‘bastardised’ Roland printers (love that word) but I don’t think it’s an SP, but an SJ. Might be worth a look to see if parts are easily found before you buy it. Try Josero or Digiprint supplies. Loved my Rolands, still have a couple but they rarely get any use nowadays
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I bought my Uniform Cadet new way back in 2005 and it’s still serving me well. The original B&P graphics inks were far more durable than the inks available today. In fact they were so good you could get away without having to laminate. Since then the inks have become far less aggressive, I assume as a result of increasing legislation?
But I digress. I used to buy from Digiprint supplies but the machines are so durable I rarely need to replace parts. However, I’m not so sure how available parts are currently. I’ve been on standby ready to replace my machine for the last 5 years or so, but it just keeps going on and on, so I will run it until it drops.
The parts that fail tend to be heads and dampers along with pumps, encoder belts and tubing. The only expensive parts being the heads so make sure the machine you are buying has a good set of heads in place
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I agree with Phill. these original machines are built to last and the original solvent inks were probably the most durable I know of.
B&P Lightbrigade did rebadge soljets and versacamms, but also changed the ink lines and parts to deal with the heavier solvent inks.
I think our grenadier was about 12-13 years old when we replaced it and I know the supplier then “sold it on” again.
As has been said, if the machines still running daily, the heads are what you want to be sure are firing properly. -
A company that i worked with for a spell, had a grenadier back in the day.
I always remember how strong and distinct the smell of ink was, but also how durable it was in comparison to today’s ink. You only have to look at unlaminated prints now and they are marked. 😏
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