Well I've not worked in the press industry for the past however many years but I work at a non-profit as the Director of Information Technology and we are now at a juncture (losing our pressman) to outsource everything or invest in a digital press.
I've read all the threads I care to on the comparisons of the KM6500, Canon 6000, Xerox 8000 don't remember the others and to be quit honest with all the conflicting details it is hard to decide which one would be the best all around choice.
We currently and for the foreseeable future won't exceed 25,000 pieces a month, while I know that is not a high amount reliability and quality is important to us. So I would not want to lean towards a machine that is good enough but one that could produce that amount without batting an eye.
We have not looked at the KM 6500. We have been looking at the Canon 6000VP & 7000VP, we briefly looked at the Indigo but the cost was too high. We are also looking into the Ricoh Pro C900. The samples we have looked at from the Canon the quality was excellent but the threads on the jams and QOS makes me nervious.
So with that said, I'm asking for input on the best method to assist in discerning which press would be best for us.
Check out the Xerox 700. 2400 dpi x 2400 dpi quality. With the Big Fiery RIP or Creo RIP, you can start to sell your print out immediately. Xerox support is very fast too. Usually same day services. After you saw the print out for Xerox 700, you won't like anything else. If you want to compare with Canon or others, ask them to print a sample for you using the file you provided to them with the same 28 lb regular paper, you will see the differences between different brand.
I can't believe I am going to say this, I gotta take a deep breath....... I would get a KM 6500, there, I said it .
Really though, with a volume as low as 25k the KM 6500 would be more than enough machine, and their inexpensive. The Canon 6000/7000VP and Xerox 8000AP are WAY too much machine, and don't even think of an Indigo, the bigger the machine, the more it likes to run. Plus the fact that your lease payments will make your cost per copy way to high with such a low volume.
As for which press is the best you need to ask yourself a few questions. What kinds of substrates will you be running, coated/uncoated, paper/cover? What finishing options do you need? How much skill does the operator have/need? What if any electrical requirements are needed? Who has the best support options?
Whichever one you go with get EVERYTHING in writing. If the salesman tells you it will do the dishes..... get it in writing or your screwed when it doesn't do it.
This probably isn't enough volume for a c6500 either im afraid. Machines we have around this volume are tempremental pains in the arse. I suggest you get a xerox 260 or 252.
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****Craig said I had to tell everyone that I work for Konica Minolta****
At that volume you need to seriously think about subcontracting. The sums just do not add up for retaining it in-house.
If you are determined to keep it in house then I think your question was about an evaluation methodology. I'm beginning to think that there is a business opportunity offering PSPs an evaluation & contract negotiation service! My 2c worth is that your evaluation is in 3 parts:-
(1) Technical. You know the jobs you run, make a list of what is required. A couple of points to get you started: FTB registration, duplexing capability (coated stock, stock weights, speeds), colour fidelity (including the vendor's training competence), print quality (gradients, tints, registration accuracy, gloss level of printed areas, etc.), maintenance (guaranteed maximum call out time, parts life cycle/spares holding/training), stock (paper) capability (weights, speeds, coated/uncoated, digital/litho).
(2) QOS - "no lemon" guarantee (these are called different things by different vendors), supported duty / life cycle, etc.
(3) Contractual - make sure that you have a copy of the proposed contract ahead of time and review it very thoroughly. You may find this part gives you a few surprises.
That's a far from complete list, but I hope it's of some help. As Craig said, make sure you get everything in writing.
The C900 is designed for an average volume of 170,000 pages per month (Duty 400,000). It's a very good machine, but the costs would be prohibitive for 25,000 per month. So, as someone mentioned earlier, I would look at outsourcing the work, where they will have all the nice technology to give you what you want with all of the expertise necessary to fix any issues.
If you're interested in Ricoh, consider the MP C6000 with an EFI controller (E-7100). Its average volume is 30,000k per month (Duty 300,000) and comes with a number of useful EFI colour tools and some basic VDP printing options. Oh, forgot to say it does not support SRA3.
I know of a press shop that uses the Konica Minolta 6500 and they're very happy with the output, but the registration is not accurate ie. they print duplexed business cards, but when the turn the paper over, the back side of the business card is out by 2mm. So, if that is important to you, then you may want to look elsewhere.
Last edited by MIBUK; 11-05-2008 at 08:16 AM.
Reason: New Info.
One thing you need to remember about the Konica is that if you are running heavier stocks, the machine will slow down!! I would definitely not look at Canon/Xerox 7000. Scale down to the smaller Xerox
A Xerox DocuColor 242/252/260 can handle that volume easily ... a Xerox 700 is also a good option, especially if you are expecting to grow in the next couple of years
I can't believe I am going to say this, I gotta take a deep breath....... I would get a KM 6500, there, I said it .
Wow I'm shocked you typed those words after everything I've read.
Thank you for all the replies and all the threads it certainly has educated me in dealing with the salesman.
I'm now thinking my target monthly clicks will grow to be approximately 50k a month in short order due to expansion and one of the driving factors between outsourcing everything and leasing a digital press is if the cost comes close to a wash in what we are spending now then we would rather have the print on demand control in house.
Our pressman will be retiring as well as our old Ab Dick offset press. In dealing with a lot of copiers and printers I understand Craig's comments concerning the plastic parts. The FTB registration is important and one of the things we liked about the Canon 6k or 7k is the stainless steel guides for registration, at least we were told they were, but we have not looked in one yet. They also claim the 6k produces 60ppm duplexed.
I do want to thank everyone for all the threads for it is informative and enteraining at the same time.
In dealing with a lot of copiers and printers I understand Craig's comments concerning the plastic parts. The FTB registration is important and one of the things we liked about the Canon 6k or 7k is the stainless steel guides for registration, at least we were told they were, but we have not looked in one yet. They also claim the 6k produces 60ppm duplexed.
I do want to thank everyone for all the threads for it is informative and enteraining at the same time.
Do I need to take a photo of the inside of a c6500? You can count the plastic parts on one hand! As far as I know our registration is the only machiine ISO accredited. Thats International standard Criag not Konica standard.
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****Craig said I had to tell everyone that I work for Konica Minolta****
Which Digital Press to go with
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Linear Mode
