Memjet - DURAFLEX

[TradeGraphicDesign]

Hi Folks, I've been trying to find a solution for a little niche I've found myself in. I need to print 'has to be inkjet' onto A4 sheets, uncoated.
Desktop options are super slow, and not great quality (because the stock isn't coated for an inkjet)

I just wondered if anyone had experience with the Memjet - Duraflex platform, that's a system they built for manufacturers to develop feed and delivery system with their heads in the middle.

I just wondered if anyone knew of a supplier that had built something, I might be able to get a couple sheets as a sample, see if quality is good enough.

Thanks in advance

Tim

 

[Ynot_UK]

B/W, or how many colours?

 

[Stickman42]

I’ve recently been researching Memjet-based equipment also. Duraflex is 4 colors in a single print head, available in 2 different widths. I suggest going through this page on the Memjet site to see which partners of theirs might be able to run samples. The Kirk Rudy FireJet has Duraflex and was recently mentioned on this forum.

 

[gazfocus]

We went down the route of memjet for a roll label printer (ours is the VIPColor VP700 which is the same as the Afinia L801), so while not a specific example of the machine you’re looking at, the heads are pretty much the same tech.

From my experience, I genuinely wouldn’t touch a memjet device again. The way the heads are made is like numerous sections ‘stitched’ together and so you get lines where the stitch is. They are also very prone to failure where the stitch is... Our current printhead has failed after only about 3 days of not printing and we’ve tried everything to recover it. At circa £600 a time to replace the head, it’s expensive and frustrating…we are now looking to replace our memjet with an Epson.

If you need something fast that can do A4 inkjet, I would take a look at the HP Pagewide printers. They are near laser speeds.

 

[gregbatch]

Epson Enterprise Workforce inkjet. 40-100 ppm. Monochrome also available if you don't need color.

WorkForce Enterprise WF-C21000 Color Multifunction Printer | Products | Epson US

Powered by PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology, this color MFP revolutionizes business productivity, printing at 100 ISO ppm†, the fastest in its class1.

epson.com

 

[Shawn007bis]

I couldn't agree with this more. We have two memjet printers (label and envelope) and I cannot stand both of them. Same problems described by gazfocus. Ink and printheads are crazy expensive and not worth the problems that seems to be common from what I've read.

 

[Stickman42]

The way the heads are made is like numerous sections ‘stitched’ together and so you get lines where the stitch is. They are also very prone to failure where the stitch is... Our current printhead has failed after only about 3 days of not printing and we’ve tried everything to recover it.

@gazfocus - Does your equipment have just one head each, and the "stitch" problems your having occur with adjoining sections in that head, or do you have more than one head and the problems are where the heads meet/overlap? I sampled equipment using DuraLink heads, and the stitch issue did show up as well, within one head.

 

[Shawnd]

A newer version of this is out but will give you another option: Merlin K146c - MCS Pro

 

[TradeGraphicDesign]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience, nothing like folk in the field using the kit. I appreciate you all taking the time.
I've canned the Memjet idea
Tim

 

[gazfocus]

@gazfocus - Does your equipment have just one head each, and the "stitch" problems your having occur with adjoining sections in that head, or do you have more than one head and the problems are where the heads meet/overlap? I sampled equipment using DuraLink heads, and the stitch issue did show up as well, within one head.

My printer has one printhead. This was when the head was usable. It’s beyond unusable now and I’m reluctant to buy another head and contemplating an Epson to replace it but struggling to find information on the Epsons printhead.

 

[rambo]

the kirk rudy Firejet seems excellent but out of my budget. is there a machine that can complete but cost less? i would say we print about 30,000 envelopes per monthly. does the Moch 6 or 7 competer or ColorMax? maybe i should get used?

 

[gregbatch]

Check out the new iJet 1175C. It has the HP head at a lower price point than the Pro.

 

[Shawnd]

30m per month isn't much, I would see if you can find a used Memjet like the Mach6/Colormax8 to get started with and build up your volume to get to the HP head printers like the Mach7 and the Ijets.