which machine should i go for mimaki jv3 or Uniform LANCER?

[Brian Hays]

Can answer some of them, the Uniform Lancer is a re badged Mutoh Value-jet. Mutoh are based in Belgium. Uniform is then brand name B & P put on all the machines, consumables etc. B & P have a network of distributors across the country if you call them I would guess they would let you know who is nearest. I am sure there will be no problems quality wise compared to your Mimaki. I would have a good look at one 1st & put it through it’s passes though.

[Simon.James]

thanks for that, the only thing i have noticed is that there is no take up roll, how do manage if you are doing a 16ft banner or large sign

[John Imrie]

Simon,

i don’t no anything about the lancer or the price

but remember your mimaki comes with a media takeup and a two year warranty so add these in to the price of any other system when comparing

[Brian Hays]

quote SIMON JAMES:

thanks for that, the only thing i have noticed is that there is no take up roll, how do manage if you are doing a 16ft banner or large sign

I would guess you can buy a take up spooler. Wouldn’t be much fun on big jobs without one. 😕 As John said the take up spooler has always been standard on the larger Mimaki’s.

More info on the Valu-Jet/Lancer here…

http://www.mutoh.be/

[Sean Cully]

We have a Uniform Lancer G2 1625
I had the use of a friends JV3 and the Lancer is way easier to use and much better quality.
The prints are harder wearing than the JV3 and the Lancer is an Eco-Solvent machine! Weird Eh?
Go for the bigger 1625 rather than the 1300 it comes with a take up device that works superbly.
This machine with the Waswatch Toop RIP runs like a huge desktop printer.
Colour matching is spot on.
All I can say is we have had ours for 4 months now and I can’t fault it.
Minimal maintenance, it seems to run without any maintenance in fact.
Super fast and the amount of special effects such as wave and interleaving means it leaves the JV3 as old technology read no banding issues.
Today it has printed over 12 Metres by 1600 wide without so much as a second look.
As far as Uniform the only difference between this and the Mutoh Valuejet is that Uniform have painted it a very pretty metallic blue colour.

Sean

[Jon Marshall]

I think to be fair you need to compare to the JV33 which is the new version of the JV3.

[Lee Ballard]

I can only go on advice the engineer whom installed our JV3 said (and the company sell all makes of printers including uniform) and his personal recommendation was that the JV3 is far more reliable than most other options. Plus when you consider the 2 year warranty and take up roller included (apparently about an extra 1500 on the uniform) the mimaki would be his personal choice.

[Sean Cully]

To be quite honest the friends JV3 who I was using asked me for advice when he was looking for a printer. At the time I thought the JV3 was the answer as he was a screen printer and this would compliment his existing business. On looking back I don’t think I gave him the correct advice.
I have no knowledge of the new JV33.
I would ask for a demo of both machines and compare them.
The Valuejet / Lancer has some very good revues on some internet sites.

SC

[Jon Marshall]

What sites have reviews of printers? I could only find one and you had to pay for them.

[Karl Williams]

The JV33 is the updated version of the JV3. It is faster and the price is the same in line with th JV3. Plus the cartridges go on the top which is a bonus. Personally I would stick with Mimaki myself.

[John Imrie]

it’s a bit premature after 4 months to claim one machine is better than another

i have a 33 and there is big improvements over jv3 but the older machine was still a first class bit of kit i ran one for two and a half years trouble free it never missed a beat
you are saying your valuejet is maintenance free if its a solvent printer and you are not cleaning it properly you will soon run into major repair bills