Printer recommendation - 500k B&W impressions per month

[scotsman60]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum - and already I'm looking for help......

We have a regular contract printing B&W variable data pieces.

The work is split between variable data on preprinted letters, which we subsequently fold, insert into envelopes and stamp, and variable data onto pressure seal pieces.

The volume has increased steadily and is now approaching 500k pieces per month which I'm currently printing on a bunch of small HP 4350 laser printers.

I'm looking to purchase a more serious production printer and I'm looking for any recommendations.

Currently under consideration I have the Ricoh Pro 1107. Canon ImageRunner Pro 7110 and the Xerox 4112.

I'm looking to buy one of these machines used initially and use it as my primay machine with my existing machines as backup and then likely purchase a second machine.

Of key importance to me are the reliability and robustness of these machines. I am a mechanical engineer and prefer to do all my own maintenance if possible so availability and price of maintenance items is a consideration.

I'm also looking for a solution that can produce upwards of 100 ppm.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!


Thanx in advance


Doug

[printer in heart]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum - and already I'm looking for help......

We have a regular contract printing B&W variable data pieces.

The work is split between variable data on preprinted letters, which we subsequently fold, insert into envelopes and stamp, and variable data onto pressure seal pieces.

The volume has increased steadily and is now approaching 500k pieces per month which I'm currently printing on a bunch of small HP 4350 laser printers.

I'm looking to purchase a more serious production printer and I'm looking for any recommendations.

Currently under consideration I have the Ricoh Pro 1107. Canon ImageRunner Pro 7110 and the Xerox 4112.

I'm looking to buy one of these machines used initially and use it as my primay machine with my existing machines as backup and then likely purchase a second machine.

Of key importance to me are the reliability and robustness of these machines. I am a mechanical engineer and prefer to do all my own maintenance if possible so availability and price of maintenance items is a consideration.

I'm also looking for a solution that can produce upwards of 100 ppm.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!


Thanx in advance


Doug

If you can go for Docutech any models 6135, 6155 or 6180 - I've been running them for over 10 years and they are very reliable. I have Nuvera now. I like it too, Except don't like the fact that finisher doesn't unload as Docutech did but quality is great

[fire11]

I had a similar position when I took over a printshop 3.5 years ago, although we were averaging around 800K per month with low months around 250K and peak months around 1.2K. We were doing lots of bindery work after printing and had been happily running a Xerox 6180 with 2-bin Interposer for about 5 years. After thorough research, I switched us over to an Océ 6250 with 12 bins and I'll never go back to Xerox again for a variety of reasons I'll highlight for you: 1. You can buy it as a 6160, 6200, 6250 or now even a 6320 and they basically run 160, 200, 250 or 320 images per minute! 2. You can buy the slow machine now and field-upgrade (it's software) to a faster model if your needs warrant with no price penalty! 3. It prints on both sides of the sheet at a time for true duplex printing without that crazy racetrack to turn paper over...virtually no paper jams! 4. Toner is heated and then pressed into the paper for more offset-like quality, much better images, true lay-flat printing that's obvious to your customer and will never stick together or to your vinyl ring-binders! 5. No fuser oil to run out and stop your machine! 6. No static electricity causing your sheets to stick together like they did on every other copier I've ever owned, there is no comparison! 7. 12 Paper drawers can all be paper or inserts so we can use it to print forever without stopping! 8. It fuses at about 40% cooler so you use much less electricity to run the machine and much less electricity cooling the room around the machine! 9. It's a much quieter machine! 10. Combine it with PRISMA software like we did for unbelievable document management, editing and color breaking with your color copier like we did with our Konica-Minolta 6500 and you'll be blown away at your productivity! 11. The last thing, we're saving a ton of money every month over our 6180, the normal ones, the slow ones and the busiest ones too! Your mileage may vary but there is no comparison here!

By the way, I'm not a salesman or on commission, I just an owner/manager who loves this machine and don't think nearly enough people hear about it. I'd be eager to field any questions others might have about it as well. Take an open mind and some of your files to a demo and let them give you a sample of the Kool-Aid...after 3 years, it still tastes great to me!

[bulksolution2001]

Hey Scotman60,

You sound like you are leaving the stage I am just getting into.. I have a little gig where i need to lay B&W variable to about 40,000 8.5 x 11 a month on preprinted..

I need to go cheap and will be getting the data nightly via csv file to start... What software do you suggest and what printer?

Sorry to hop on your thread but it sounds like you could relate to where I'm at, thanks

-Erik

[printmail]

If you can go for Docutech any models 6135, 6155 or 6180 - I've been running them for over 10 years and they are very reliable. I have Nuvera now. I like it too, Except don't like the fact that finisher doesn't unload as Docutech did but quality is great

I have run the same printers also for many years and I agree they all pretty good machines. If I had to pick one though I would go with the Nuvera, it is slower than the rest (unless you get the 288 and print a lot of duplex) as it seems to handle a larger variety of paper types, the Nuvera definately handles coated stocks better than 6135 and 6180.

[graficworx]

Hey Scotman60,

You sound like you are leaving the stage I am just getting into.. I have a little gig where i need to lay B&W variable to about 40,000 8.5 x 11 a month on preprinted..

I need to go cheap and will be getting the data nightly via csv file to start... What software do you suggest and what printer?

Sorry to hop on your thread but it sounds like you could relate to where I'm at, thanks

-Erik

Depending on the amount of variable data you need to lay down, and it positioning, fonts, etc... you can use anything from Microsoft Word to Adobe InDesign. InDesign, believe it or not, is very capable of producing variable data work, and I use it routinely. I have also used plain old Word for simple mailings. For 40K a month you could go with something like a Xerox Phaser 5550, which is a 11x17 b&w laser, and if you get a good contract, your click charge would be under a penny per page. Or you could just buy that same machine out right if you think your toner use would be less. There are lots of printers in a reasonable price range that would do 40k a month, even some from HP, but what you need to look at is will the low-end machine last only a few months? You don't want to buy a new printer every 6 months when you wear it out.

[UnlimitedBT]

Hello everyone. Mr. Fire11 I think you right about OCE machines, no wonder you like it. Besides printing business we are Business Equipment Dealers, I saw OCE 6320 offer from one of the leasing companies warehouse that we deal with all the time. I will buy one just for the hell of it - it seems like awesome machine. It will stand cool next to Ricoh DDP-184 that we have. Now is the question - guys, we have unlimited resources for equipment, I mean I can built my shop and technologies in it to the client specs really quickly, If I get that OCE, with Ricoh DDP-184 which is spot color laser machine pumping 2 side/ 2 color LT really fast, where could I possibly hunt for the customers who needs these machine's capabilities , I mean we have Ricoh Aficio 105, I gust got In-line puch for it from GBC, bunch of dies available, we have in-line Saddle stitcher for it with Cover feeder and Squareback ( 3 of them as a back up), we have 3 service engineers in house (we're service company after all) to keep everything up and running, how do we get busy-eeer? Few color Xerox machines and like 6 Oki ES3640e (C9800 series) some of those I intend to sell, but we kan keep as many as we need...

[bulksolution2001]

hey Graficworx,

thanks for your insight.

[scottprint]

We also need to get high speed b & w laser. I have been using 10 plus small printers HP & Dell, and some months, I print more than 500K. I have been using refurbish toners for HP & Dell, and my per page cost is $.005 to $.002 based on about 10% coverage.

Can anyone comments on typical per click charge for these high speed printers?

Thanks.

[SnappySteve]

I'd stay away from the Oce if you have much post-print bindery. We wish ours would go away as the CopyPress technology sucks for bindery applications. We regularly have to dismantle our folders to clean out what looks like globs of melted toner. That bit has stung us several times on ruined product in the folders. And don't even try it on mail inserters... Or on coated papers...

As much as I hate to say it, Xerox is still king in the black and white world. If you need basic prints without photos or fine shading, get a Docutech. If you want quality imaging and lots of stock possibilities, go Nuvera.