I'm interested in buying an inkjet printer for envelopes with mail merge capabilities

[DianeH]

Does anyone have any suggestion, either pro/con for an inkjet printer to print full color envelopes with mail merged lists? We're a quick printer looking to get into the mailing business for 5,000 or less quantities. Considering Colordyne 1600 or iJet Color by memjet; maybe a Xante is too big? Is an HP X551dw too small? Do you have a better suggestion? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[damfino]

Quick Summary:

HP x551 - The most incredible desk-top 'printing press' ever. At under $300. USD it spits out 8.5 x 11" sheets at 4500 SPH. But when it comes to envelopes, it crawls at 700 or so with some crinkling. OK for short runs, but really not a viable envelope choice.

Memjet: Several incarnations of the same $15,000. model available: Rena Mach 5, iJetPress, Colordyne, etc. As with all inkjet output, the color gamut and saturation is less than a toner based machine, so OK for pleasing color but not exact color matches. Even the black is not black...a strong blue-gray. Highly exaggerated output speeds, but it has it's place.

Xante Illumina: Essentially a $18,000. OKI 9650/9800 with some hardware and firmware tweaks. Your best choice for critical color but fraught with consumable (quality) issues, especially the drums. A used OKI 9800 would cost you about $1000. - good way to test the waters.

Xante has a new model built around the new OKI 931, but the drum cost will kill you at about $450. each. You can consider the Ricoh 831 for about $3000. but a $4800. Straightshooter feeder is essential for production.

I presently own all the above in one incarnation or another (and tested the 931) and no one printer meets all my needs.

Good luck.

 

[DianeH]

I sincerely appreciate the input. This will help in the decision-making process.

 

[jfmeggitt]

OKI makes their own version. OKI Laser printer with Fiery RIP option, with the feeder and delivery. We had many, many print customers that have bought these and love them!

 

[Craig]

Look at Riso Comcolor, not too bad in price, maybe $40,000.00. The ink does not run when wet like the other Memjet printers.

 

[maac]

We picked up the (OKI C931DP) with the envelope feeder with the optional RIP