FORMAX Colormax9 envelope printer and the HP FI-1000 print engine

[NVprints]

Looking to discuss these two related topics -

1) the Colormax9 specifically

and

2) HP FI-1000 print engine ink usage and per-job, long term ink costs more generally.

The Formax CM9 has some information in the web UI for ink costs and usage, but I really don't know how to interpret these, and looking to explore the ink usage, per-job topic.

 

[ReproElectroProspero]

With ink usage, quantifying this is a tough ask, because we all run different kinds of envelopes of different sizes with different coverages.

I have a Formax ColorMax8, and I get insane numbers out of my ink tanks (something like 100,000 pieces) - but it's because 99.99% of the envelopes I run are simple text in the return address area. If I were making full bleed advertising envelopes I'd get a LOT less out of them.

 

[NVprints]

With ink usage, quantifying this is a tough ask, because we all run different kinds of envelopes of different sizes with different coverages.

I have a Formax ColorMax8, and I get insane numbers out of my ink tanks (something like 100,000 pieces) - but it's because 99.99% of the envelopes I run are simple text in the return address area. If I were making full bleed advertising envelopes I'd get a LOT less out of them.

Thanks; the CM8 is MemJet based, right? I have some experience with that based on the Afinia L801, but I don't think the UI's or drivers have much similarity (MemJet vs. FI1000)

 

[ReproElectroProspero]

Thanks; the CM8 is MemJet based, right? I have some experience with that based on the Afinia L801, but I don't think the UI's or drivers have much similarity (MemJet vs. FI1000)

Correct, it's a memjet platform. In fact, there are like 8 different brands using this exact same machine. It's based on the Astro Machines S1. They all seem to just slap their logo on that unit and call it a day.

 

[gregbatch]

While not specifically the ColorMax 9, anyone who has migrated from any of the Astro/MemJet based machines to the HP-1000 based machines from iJetColor or Postmark (Martin-Yale) should be able to speak on the difference in production cost, assuming they have produced repeat jobs on both machines. I don't have a printer. I don't need one with 3 iJet Pros around me all offering trade work at very reasonable prices. Not the case when they were MemJet based. That alone should give some indication of reduced production costs. We have thought about the Postmark in the past because they offer a mobile unit that will roll up to our existing inkjet bases, thereby eliminating duplication of equipment already in place.

 

[Shawnd]

Since this is in the ink section I will keep my replies to that. My costs for ink are about $100 cheaper per cartridge for the Mach 7 vs the Mach 6, right around the same ml.

 

[NVprints]

I've found that I make better (cost) decisions by considering all the factors (though admittedly still determining what they are, where to get the information,etc).

Amount of ink used can make a huge difference - and some printers are a lot more efficient that others (though also sometimes the print mode affects this significantly). ... e.g. the Mach7 ctg may be less but may use more (or less) ink...

 

[jwheeler]

sometimes the print mode affects this

We have the Postmark 1170 RapidColor Pro which uses the HP FI-1000 print head. Coming from producing all of our envelopes on Konica Minolta's, the "standard quality" setting was too fuzzy and colors were too desaturated for us. We decided to run most jobs on the highest quality setting. I doubt most of our clients would notice the difference, but it was painfully noticeable to us, and we pride ourselves in quality. The cost per print is still much less than a toner digital press color click charge. The software with this platform has a cost calculator. I'll have to go back and test a few jobs to see the difference in price.

 

[Shawnd]

Now that I have over 100k run through the mach7 I have some data to do cost comparison, overall the mach7 is about 20-30% cheaper ink costs on an avg job.

 

[Alex_Trojan]

We have the Postmark 1170 RapidColor Pro which uses the HP FI-1000 print head. Coming from producing all of our envelopes on Konica Minolta's, the "standard quality" setting was too fuzzy and colors were too desaturated for us. We decided to run most jobs on the highest quality setting. I doubt most of our clients would notice the difference, but it was painfully noticeable to us, and we pride ourselves in quality. The cost per print is still much less than a toner digital press color click charge. The software with this platform has a cost calculator. I'll have to go back and test a few jobs to see the difference in price.

Hello, i'm in printing production busisness and can tell you thank this problem you have only by using wrong icc profiles for printing. every type of paper needs to use another type of ink management and here why colours it's not perfect.

 

[Alex_Trojan]

Looking to discuss these two related topics -

1) the Colormax9 specifically

and

2) HP FI-1000 print engine ink usage and per-job, long term ink costs more generally.

The Formax CM9 has some information in the web UI for ink costs and usage, but I really don't know how to interpret these, and looking to explore the ink usage, per-job topic.

i used a fi-1000 a lot. Lifetime of printhead its from 12 to 20L per printhead. Also ink costs 500 usd per liter(or if you use continious ink bulk system for fi-1000 like inkbags.com you may have it cheaper)