Glunz & Jensen PlateWriter 2000

[iCtP]

[QUOTE=spectrecom;95595]I have seen the iCTP and I have a customer that has one. It is a good idea but I would consider it low end. It's slow and registration is a problem. "

Hi Spectrecom,

As you are a dealer based in S. California, I would anticipate the customer in question has the first generation PW4200 ?

The PW2000 is the current model, and is second generation. It is faster and more accurate.
It is $25,000 full list, and is accurate to 20 micron, (around the width of a dot) which if you consider it uses Metal plates is likely to be more accurate and provide better fit than the polyester systems you suggest.

A PressTek system is not much faster but twice the price so it is an interesting comparison you make, and I might be inclined to suggest the PressTek laser delivers higher quality text, but the quality coming off the new PW2000's is more than good enough for many printers, so much so that Glunz & Jensen have sold over 100 units in the last 3-4 months... that 'may be' a reasonable number more than the higher end CTP suppliers are selling with respect to the small printer in this economic climate?

I don't believe Glunz and Jensen are aiming at the high end printer, and I think its good to compare apples with apples...this device is aimed at the small commercial, In-Plant and quick printer where that accuracy and 50 plates a day production capacity is a great fit. At above that, I agree one of the others may be a better fit.

I guess its a case of the 'right tool for the job' at a price that 'make commercial sense' ?

[Lammy]

where can i get os 10.6 PPDs for the the platewriter 2000. We've had one for a few years now. Works very well. We just bought a new iMac and for whatever reason I cannot find the PPDs for the platewriter. It is set up on the other iMac, but that's not much use as there seems to be no driver there for it?

[iwing]

I have seen the iCTP and I have a customer that has one. It is a good idea but I would consider it low end. It's slow and registration is a problem. First of all the Epson is a capstan device and with all capstan devices they are not as accurate as a drum device. Epsons were not designed to run plates, the capstan assembly is not heavy duty enough and the heads clog, no matter what the manufacturers say. If you were running 4 or 8 plates a day and were doing 1 and 2 color junk work I would say do it. If you are a quality shop with any volume save your self a big headache.

For $30,000 you can get several "high end" used CTPs such as a DPX Polyester CTP and a Cobalt Violet CTP. Used Lotems and Pressteks thermals are in that range, and maybe even an old Trendsetter. Now if you want to spend a little more you can move up to a Used Screen CTP as well.

You get what you pay for...

Sounds like a load of inexperience speaking there. Tell me more how the print head clogs.

[HWJJ]

Strongly agreed with spectrecom.

[VladCanada]

Sounds like a load of inexperience speaking there. Tell me more how the print head clogs.

Every morning after weekend, ecpecially long weekend, you'll push much more efforts performing Power Cleanings, wasting your ink you paid already for plate production.
No gifts from Ep_soon! (no smiles)

[DonBlock]

Vlad, We usually agree but not in this case. As someone who sells and maintains all of the different CTP technologies, the iCTP definitely has its place. The registration is no issue and if properly maintained as recommended, which is very simple, the iCTP runs with no problems at all.

[VladCanada]

I have nothin' personal against iCTP, they have their nishe and have a right to exist.
I've said about printhead nozzles, driving user nuts.

[Craig]

I have had our Epson 7900CTP for over a year and have yet to have a print head nozzle clog. We run both plates and banner material with excellent results. Is it the best platemaker for someone running 4 color process every day... nope. But for those of us who still have duplicator style presses and run lots of 1 and 2 color work, they fit just fine. As far as registration... we do all kinds of work with copy changes on two color forms and the plates fall right in place when the pressman changes them, even on jobs that trap.

I have only had to power clean 1 time since our install too. Are you running genuine Epson ink?