What Printer does your designer use

[HansonSigns]

Well, we have an Epson Pro 4000, it's about 8 years old and finally beginning to wear out (print head needs replacing). Considering how much we use it, we are thinking about just replacing the whole thing. I was looking for any input on the type of printers you use - the Epson has been a real workhorse, but .... http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/scratchhead.gif

Thanks in advance!

[nsw systems]

Well, we have an Epson Pro 4000, it's about 8 years old and finally beginning to wear out (print head needs replacing). Considering how much we use it, we are thinking about just replacing the whole thing. I was looking for any input on the type of printers you use - the Epson has been a real workhorse, but .... http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/scratchhead.gif

Thanks in advance!

Hello

we run two different types of printers the Summa DC and the Mimaki brands, The Summa DC is used mostly for the vacuumed formed products we produce it can handle the heat during the forming process.

the Mimaki can do this, it has a bad day when you try too form the image.

The Mimaki is mostly used for the (I should not say cheaper Jobs) It might affend the owners of that machine here.. but the jobs that only require a short life span out it the field. It is a grate machine for the indoor use but just dose not like out doors even laminated,

The Summa DC are realy designed for the outdoor app. plus they last seven years with no lamination. 90% of what we produce with the Summa is printed on clear film and applied in reverse to the clear plastic then formed into a shape.

the solvent ink machines are faster a cheaper to operate than the thermal machines but it would depend on your end use. HP brought some of there machines to our shop years ago to see if it could work out in the forming process but it did not work,we had all the mfg with there machines try this and the Summa was the only machine that passed all the test in this type of production.

Both types of machines have there place and we use both every day,

we have looked into the UV latex ink systems and next month not sure yet when but a company is droping off a machine to test and if it works we might start producing faces this way.

I have posted a picture of an account that was produced with the Summa printed on 3M optical clear and then back sprayed white. Summa's white ribbon just did not do the trick even when you double printed it plus it was cheaper to produce by spraying the white.

Good luck

Mike

NSW Systems LLC.

Edited June 13, 2011 by nsw systems

[HansonSigns]

Thanks for the info, Mike!