Please Help! Printers/Presses Recommendations

[jordjones]

I am putting together a map/brochure that needs a minimum width of 17". I am currently working with an 18" x 24" prototype, but could fudge it down a bit. It will be in full color on both sides and folded. There will be 100,000 produced per month, 1.2 million per year.

I am working with a local printing company that can produce my monthly order at about 12 cents per unit. However, with this volume, I am seriously considering buying my own press. Yet, when I spoke with Xerox they told me that only their very expensive Igen4 could handle the width.

Are there any presses/printers that could handle my job in house. I don't have a quarter million dollars, more like $25,000. 99% of the printing would be for this one specific project. Thanks!

 

[creativeconcepts]

folded size?

folded size?

The printing is only half the battle on producing it, the bindery is the other part to consider how to handle. What size does it fold down to?

 

[jotterpinky]

I'm not aware of anything that would print this size in full color that is not going to be expensive. To my knowledge no cut sheet digital press can run something this size, even the iGen you mentioned is only spec'd for 14x22" max and will require much more volume than you are currently producing to pay for itself. The only option I can think of for digital equipment that would be easy to run would be the KIP Color 80. This would probably be much to slow for what you're running though and probably more expensive than what you're paying locally per print. I think the printer runs about 70K.

You could check the used market for a 4-tower, 4up press but they are going to be much more than the $25K you mentioned. If you go this route you also need imaging equipment or find someone to image plates for you (this could potentially cost at least 25K for some used imaging equipment).

Bottom line: use your local printer, unless you want to go through a learning curve imaging printing plates, running a printing press and generally tearing your hair out

 

[RickS]

I've noticed you have posted this question without many replies. I also notice that there has been much debate as to the death of printing and the reduction of pay scales. I for one, know that a fair number of printers in the market I am in, are now out of business. One would wonder if that is an indication that printing costs make it challenging to make a living in printing. One could then jump to the conclusion that this could be a print buyers market and it would be foolish to think you can get a better price by doing it yourself. Hmm…

 

[graficworx]

A good used 2 color press in the size you need would cost you $100K. You would still need plates, ink, a pressman who could output good 4 color, coating and finishing equipment, etc... Nothing digital can go that wide. In reality to be efficient your would need a 40" 4+ color press, and a Ferrari is cheaper.