We have tried both
We have tried both
I come from a Vendor, and have sold both but we are based in Europe so can't help you directly.
The Epson product is a VIM plate, they are trialing. It is also similar to an Indian product called Technova.
We found the VIM /EPson direct plate to be difficult to run on press, users need lots of water at start up and it will ink up when stopped.. and can not be easily cleaned. Virtually all plate cleaners our customers tried were fatal to the plate. So far we ahve not had any of our customers do over 3,000 impressions... I know they claim 20,000 but that's a tad enthusisatic if you ask me.
Also, there is no registration system to speak of, so single and 2 colour non critical work is fine, but decent close register work becomes a challenge in fact 4 colour is easier.. But if you make 20" or larger plates then you will have your work cut out, keeping them WET and in register.
As another poster says, the EPson/Vim plates are expensive.. we found, the G&J plates at $1.10 per sq ft (Eqv) for 6 gauge, and $1.20 per sq ft (eqv) for 8 gauge. I see poly plates at $1.56 per sq ft for the ABDick system ? But the VIM/Epson plates were $2 per sqft going to $4per sq ft making it expensive for everyday work.
Having said all that... We found the system (due to its price point) great for people looking for a proofer... and wanting the option of running an occasional plate if your normal system broke down.. But we couldn't place it at a print shop that wanted to run their business on it. .. So.. it has a place, and if you are looking to make the occasional plate... OR if you do lots of single colour or non registration critical work then I think its a good solution.
If you really need to do normal commercial printing / platemaking.. you want the G&J system, or a new poly system.
The G&J is Metal plates, and the plates run like normal plates. The quality is much higher than the Epson / Vim system, and indeed higher than probably your old DPM. Run length is no issue due to their special ink, and some of our customers can do upwards of 250,000 which is much higher than G&J say.. But then the G&J system is more expensive... I think the list price in Europe would see it at around $20,000 - $25,000 US..
My suggestion is you ask BOTH G&J and VIM/Epson for plates.. send them both the same file and try them back to back.. but try to run 10,000 impressions and make sure you start and stop like you normally would... make your decisions not based on spec, but how you would use them in day to day life.
