iGen 3 w/ ACQS -vs- Idigo 5500

[Techguy]

Hi all,

I am one of 7 people on a team comparing a reconditioned iGen 3w/ACQS to an Indigo 5500. We have spent a lot of time going through print samples, checking references, reading lab reports, manufacture materials, viewing webinars and many discussions with both vendors trying to tell us their model is better.

We are hoping that print planet will help us reconfirm our thoughts as we make a decision. Those of you that know both digital solutions can help us identify a few key advantages of one more then another in the following areas. Our volume ranges between 250 -400k per month, we use a Spot On Color workflow now with a very low cost solution that no longer meets our needs.

1) Image quality and consistency (environmental concerns, operators and calibration all complying with both manufacture requirements being equal)

2) HP SmartStream Production Pro Print Server vs. Free Flow doc USP Server any other advantages of the RIP IN ENSURING COLOR ACCURACY

3) Long term cost of operation producing photo images multi up 13x19 on 220 -300 gsm media

This is a short list of the top 3 most important areas we are focused on. Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[GregNac19]

I am not an IGEN expert, however, the color will not vary on the IGEN 4. It will calibrate without interuption to make sure page 10 and page 10,000 are the same color. No need for you to watch every out put page.

 

[lfelton]

I am not an IGEN expert, however, the color will not vary on the IGEN 4. It will calibrate without interuption to make sure page 10 and page 10,000 are the same color. No need for you to watch every out put page.

Unless the iGEN4 is different to the rest of the Xerox product range using ACQS, how it operates may not be exactly as you expect. AQCS does not measure every sheet (the Xerox literature implies this, but it's not the case), in fact it's a way of automating the calibration process. You can program the interval at which the press will output calibration sheets (& associated parameters) and the press will "read" those calibration sheets automatically for you.

To answer the OP, at the level of the iGen and the Indigo, the one clear differential is that the iGen is cheaper to operate (assuming both are running at at least a full shift). Apart from that, it's pretty subjective. If you are doing photo printing, there's some grumbling from Indigo operators that greyscale images are difficult to keep colour consistency on. IMO, iGen4 vs Indigo 5500 (6-colour LC, LM) the Indigo is higher quality on photos (and marginally on solids). However that's on a good day. The iGen (IMO) appears to be more consistent. And consistently good beats sometimes great, sometimes so-so in a commercial environment. But it's a tough call and you may come to different conclusions to us.

 

[X33]

I think the biggest difference will be operating cost (time and money)

 

[filip_polyesterday]

Indigo problems

Indigo problems

Hi

I have an indigo 3050 for 2 years
I haven't used the Igen but I can tell you a lot of stuff that the indigo sells person do not tell you when they are selling the machine

- the electronics is worst then the chinese. We had no problems for 14 months and in the next 2 months 3 boards and a baldor died. (total of 15k$)
- If you decide to buy and Indigo be prepared to have a good operator since most of the blanket lifetime is going to depend on his skills
- HP has some new crapy blankets which last twice less
If you decide to go with Indigo make sure you go with a service contract and that this contract includes all the hidden charges that will come later


On the other hand you can not compare the quality of the Indigo to anything else on the market and it is going to bring you a lot of new clients.
The first 6 months we were only printing crapy jobs that people couldn't print on their xerographic machines MGI,XEROX,Konica . . . . .

feel free to write if you need more info [email protected]

Filip