Replacing Upgrade Hardware

[Skinflint]

How often do most users replace or upgrade rip and workflow hardware?

 

[BillJ]

I think it is better to ask if you need to upgrade. I would treat each side separately. Generally if you only upgrading one version level, your old hardware is probably still usable. On the software side, the big issue is can your current version handle the latest features of the documents you are getting. If you do all your design work in house and you don't have issues, why spend the money? Since that is rarely the case and if you are more than 2 versions behind, I would be looking at upgrading. Most companies offer upgrade discounts that can reduce the cost over starting over from scratch.

I would also look at my output devices at the same time. It doesn't make much sense to spend money on new software to keep a Lino 330 up to date. You would be surprised how many people do that.

 

[John W]

If you have lots of legacy work such as packaging, we have found great risk in redoing that work on new software and/or hardware. So by all means add new equipment and software BUT you should keep the old going too at least until you find either by attrition or smooth results with rework. We still use the old set up everyday since it is foolproof and fast while new material can be managed on new systems. Sometimes, knocking the new work down to the older levels saves the darn job! The only drawback I see over time is the skill set required and that can be managed with training/apprenticing.