HP Indigo 3050

Hello erveryone !

I'm looking to get in the HP Indigo Business.

Our Budget is very short and we have a opportunity to make a deal with a HP Indigo 3050.

Our primary business are books.

We do on laser machines like konica and ricoh.

Butt we are loosing constantly to HP machines.

Is it a nice choice to enter in the HP Indigo "club" ?

thanks !

 

Not really sure how Indigos are beating you pricewise. A toner based machine with a booklet maker on the end should destroy an indigo 3050. You'll need to have much more technical knowledge of the HP than you will of a toner based machine too. Plus you have to deal with liquid based inks and imaging oil (YUCK!). We've had both indigos and Xeroxs and by far prefer the Xerox. Admittedly, the Indigo will print closer to traditional offset (not quite as shiny as toner) but it looks like you are already used to toner. If I were you, I'd search for a toner based machine (maybe a used igen or versant) and some type of automated finishing to reduce costs (in line if possible) rather than look to indigo. There are a lot of REALLY expensive consumables on a 3050 and service outside of HP is hard to come by. I am happy to be out of the Inidgo "club" LOL!

Best of Luck!

 

hi, if you want to buy a 3050 we have 5 colors 2006 model year with bid washer and some consumables reasonable price! I believe 3050 can be your entering serie for this business.

http://matbaapazari.com/hp--ndigo.html

 

Hello Kringle,

Well the market here in Brazil is kind of peculiar.
Xerox isn't a great player for editorial (books), there are better options commercially speaking like Ricoh, Océ, Konica (toner machines).
But the thing is that in toner the consumables lifespan is not so expandable, and in the HP Indigo the guys here are doing some miracles.
Just for you understand, different than US, here in Brazil, the most people don't pay by click, with all parts and consumables included, they purchase consumables, parts and service “a la carte”. Believe it’s much cheaper them sign a contract with HP, OCE, Konica and other manufactures.
And the HP case is that like they can run 50%, 100% more of original lifespan of many consumables, and this drop the cost per page a lot.
I’m doing this research because we are planning to change 3 toner machines, (2 konicas 6500 and 1 ricoh 1350) with 1 HP 3050.
I know it may sound like cray, but the plan is to maximize the production on HP machine, and drop the costs of impression.
My biggest concern is about the 3050 model. Is it reliable and smooth to run ?
About HP services guys, here have a lot of them outside of HP employee.
But anyway thanks for your time is answering my question !

Cheers !

 

Sounds like you've kinda already made up your mind. We were "a la carte" too so I understand your situation. We bought a lot of parts second hand and supplies off of ebay. There is a MUCH longer learning curve on an indigo though. A LOT more technical knowledge of the machine needed just to operate it. Perhaps you can get some training, because you will absolutely need to know many things about a 3050 before you can get 1 sheet off. Everything from how to build inks, to mounting blankets and pips, to imaging oil and ink flow calibration and beyond. If you plan to maintain it yourself you will need a very technically minded operator.

You'll do yourself a HUGE favor by finding an independent repairman versus HP. They will only work on your machine if it is certified by them. They charge a huge fee to certify and sometimes won't even do that unless they have done the install.

I don't know that I'd call any digital press "reliable". They all often stop for issues and the indigos are no different.

I still wouldn't do it, but I wish you the best of luck. Post back and let us know how it goes.