First time buyer!!New in the print industry. EXP Advice needed

As of April 2010 It will be 2 years of outsource printing (High risk suppliers etc) and studying the printing market in my area. I currently work in a Printing warehouse that mostly prints envelopes, Colored Backs
Colored Body
Colored Gussets
Full Color Products
FLEX side tabs (fold away style)
Full Length DRC (Double Round Cornered) side tabs
Eyelets
Pull Loops
Tie Tape Closures
Velcro® Closures
File Folders Inserted
Dividers Inserted or Glued In
Printing
Foil Stamping
Embossing
Label Application
Vinyl pockets affixed

Happily in 2 weeks I will be trained on a few machines around the warehouse hopefully that gives me some insight as well....

(Just to give you an idea)
I have recently did a search on offset and digital printers and is still lost to decide which printer would be a good starter printer to supply ie. post cards, business cards, posters etc. at a cost effecient rate. I just want to use it for starters and build from one to another.

Any Ideas? Best advice needed and highly appreciated!

 

If you are wanting to get into color work, either go for a used Heidelberg QM46-4 Plus or if you have a bit more money to invest, get a Ryobi 3404 DI. If it is spot work you are looking at, I'd go with a Ryobi 3302 and a decent CTP system. FYI, usually offset machines are called presses while digital equipment are called printers. Newer digital equipment now compete with the offset market, so they are calling them presses as well, even though I do not consider them to be so.

 

Which is more cost effecient and better in quality?

Which one would you say is better in production cost and quality. Been reading up on the digital "Press". And thanks for the insight helped tremendously!!

 

They are both relatively good in quality, however, Ryobi has its advantages...see link: http://www.colorprintingforum.com/d...4e-di-vs-heidelberg-qm-di-46-4-plus-2764.html

As far as price, used QMDI 46-4 Plus are numerous on the supply side, as many small shops have gone out of business and they have lost their value in this current market. You should be able to get a decent DI for around $50K. I have seen several on ebay well under that, but would not feel comfortable buying one without being able to inspect it in person.

 

As horse owner say: you can get a small asset if you got a big one before....

Founding a printshop could be an expensive joke.
If you wanna make the same products as you wrote 100k$ will be basic.
4c-press, prepress equipment, postpress equiment....
you can´t get well maintained systems at ebay, you can´t check before.
Why don´t you look for a comp who´s watching for a successor? I did it so and a collegue too.
Many comps got problems to find one.
For your bucks you get customers. Thats more important than a new press.
Invest in a comp, work with the old owner for a while, get in contact with your new customers.
Later on look for new systems and smooth your action.
Learning by doing...it works.

Good luck

 

Hi rossio

which one do you think is a better option
PM 52 NP-- 2000 -- 28 mill impressions
GTO 52 ZPS -- 1993 -- 48 mill impressions
PM 46 ZNP -- 2002 -- 3.9 mill impressions

You know I am new to the offset field, so ease of operability may be of concern.
Can we print A2 size sheets in offset. What machines would be doing that. Approx how much are they expensive.

I have heard something called the web offset, do you think it is advisible to go for it. Are they too expensive.

rossio u have replied to me earlier and i am greatful to you for the same.

Thanks and regards

Rana

 

PM 46 ZNP -- 2002 -- 3.9 mill impressions ??????
suppose it´s QM46/2. A3-Format

PM 52 NP-- 2000 -- 28 mill impression ?????
suppose it´s a GTO, cause PM where presented first 2003

GTO´s are workhorses for experienced printmen, but out of time.
The GTO 52 are format A3
PM 52 model are new,built since 2004, fully automated, 1c to 5color presses
SM 52 are cutting edge of this format
That are A3-machines, for A2 you need SM 74 / CD 74 or equiv..
For a well cared SM72-4 you may calc about several 100K$

web offset is a topic for special products and high volumes like papers, magazins, folder etc.

Regards
Rossio