Another 'low-volume printer search' thread?!?

[Tricklock]

I think I already know the answer to this, but I could use the wisdom of the experts on this board to confirm...

A little background: I've run a very small print shop for the last twenty years. For the last twelve, my main printer has been a Xerox 700i.
It still runs great, but I can't get service for it anymore. Back in our heyday, we averaged 60k clicks a month, but now it's down to a tenth of that.
Our overhead costs are extremely low, so this still works out to a modest living, but we obviously don't do enough volume to make the economics of a new production press possible.

So here is my question: Is there any option available that can reliably run cardstock (297 GSM) that is economically viable to purchase at such a low volume?

I have a Xerox VersaLink C8000, which is great for envelopes, but too difficult to use for, say, postcard production. Is there any machine out there that is similar, but just a little bit better suited for cardstock?

I've read enough the threads on here to know that this might be hopeless, but thought I should give it a try anyway in case I'm missing something obvious that would be perfect for me. Thanks!

 

[TJPrinter]

It sounds like you're still in contact with a Xerox dealer, talk to them about a used Primelink C9065 or C9070. They will both run up to 350 gsm. I had a 700 years ago and remember it was painfully slow on heavy card, so the Primelink should fit your volume and speed and not break the budget.

 

[Tricklock]

talk to them about a used Primelink C9065 or C9070

Thank-you! That's a good suggestion. I'll look into it. I had a Xerox 700 before I bought the 700i, and the 700 was definitely slower – mainly because it couldn't auto-duplex cardstock. I never had a problem with the speed of the 700i though...

 

[azehnali]

what is your current monthly volume?
also do you know what your per page cost is on the 8000?

 

[Tricklock]

what is your current monthly volume?

Average monthly volume for 2024 was 6,700 color impressions/month on the 700i. A good chunk of that is on 12x18 110lb cardstock... the rest is on 12x18 32# text for booklets.

per page cost is on the 8000?

On the C8000 the "per page cost" is extremely low, but that's because I mainly use it to put a few lines of text (the address) onto envelopes. It's so cheap that I've never bothered to calculate it.

 

[azehnali]

probably the primelink is a good option but you will have to manually do duplex

 

[Tricklock]

Sounds good. Does anyone have a suggestion for what would be the roughly-equivalent KM or or Ricoh model?

 

[Shawnd]

The Ricoh 5300 would be the smallest "Production" printer that they make.

Pro C5300s/Pro C5310s Color Sheet-fed Printer

The RICOH Pro C5300s/C5310s offer professional production quality in a small, configurable size for more efficient short-run jobs and increased profits.

www.ricoh-usa.com

 

[Tricklock]

The Ricoh 5300

Thanks! I'll look into that one.