Ryobi 3302M, Heidelberg Quick Master 46-2 Urgent help

I am interested in these two press machines. I heard from people that these two presses cannot print in four colours and that they are made for two colours only.
Is this true? If not, how good are these two presses? Is there any problem for printing in four colours?
When the two presses pull paper from the tray, does it pull in landscape form or portrait form?
If both of these presses can print in four colours and do not have any problem, which one would you recommend for purchase and use?

Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Alex

 

Press for 4 color printing

Hello Alex

On any press you can print 4 color , 6 color or 12 color jobs , but the question is:
a. at what quality ?
b. at what cost
c. will the customer pay the needed to cover the cost and let you earn.

The kind of presses you listed are more od a fast duplicating press , not built for high quality.
If you want to print simple jobs , that's fine , but do not expect high standards.

If you want to get good register , stable color and sharp print , you need a real press. it can be a one color , a 2 color or any other option you can pay for , but once you have a real press , you will be able to print to high quality so that you can sell your work.
Will it be cost effective ? depending on what you charge and what your costs are 0 maybe.
Over here in the western world , it is almost impossible to sell proccess work printed on a singel color press.

I would say you will be better off with a GTO 52 as a real press to start with.
If you want one , i can find one for you that is good & cheap.

Good luck

 

I used to work at a greeting card company and did a lot of full color on a QM46-2 there.
It *can* do some very nice work, but it is far from the ideal press for it.

1) It's a direct feed press so you have little control over registration between passes.
2) It is a shared blanket press so color contamination is a concern after multiple passes
3) It's a portrait feed so tail whip is an issue due to the first problem.

That being said, I often ran hundres of 5000+ qty runs on it and they came out looking very nice. However it wasn't uncommon to lose several hundred out of each run due to misregistration.

To avoid color contamination, I used to do it in 3 passes as Y/M/CK. Not efficient, but it worked for us.

 

imo both of these presses can print lovely full color work. The quality can only be as good as the plates or film used.

 

Hi Meny,
What exactly kind of print do you mean by quality print?
I will be printing mainly calendars, brochures etc.
If U can get me a GTO 52, what will be the range of price?
Currently my budget is USD 20,000.
Can I conclude from your writings that the presses I mentioned are not suitable for me?
Also where do you live, from where will you be finding me a press if I request it?
Thanks for your time.

Alex

 

Hi Plotter,
By your views, which one do you think is better from these two presses?
Have you any experience with them.
Please do share your thoughts.
Thanks for your time.

Alex

 

presses

Hello Alex

I will try and give you the best guidance in little words.
I have nothing against the Quick Master presses or the Ryobi 3302 - both are good machines for what they are planed to print.
Both presses are good for basic jobs , 1-4 colors , but not for high end work.
Yes . you can print proccess jobs on them , but you will not get top quality.

If your customers are happy with medium grade work , then the 2 simple presses can be good for you , as long as you know you can not take and supply high end work.

Yet , if you want to beat competition and supply high end work , go for a real press , even if it is a single color.

You must know that you can not live with only a press - you need a way to make plates too , and maybe some finishing equipment.

If you have in total 20000 $ , I would go for a one color GTO 52 , a real small press.
I would add to it a conventional plate burning system and a small inage setter to output films , as going in to a CTP is too high for your budget.
On a small Image setter you can also make basic plates instead of film for simple jobs with lower accuracy.

I think i can get you a good GTO + Agfa Acuset Image setter + burner for about 15000 $ + shipping. I think this would be the best result for your money and give you (if you have the KNOW HOW) the ability to do high end work.

Do you have people who can run a press ?
Can you run an image setter - computer skills ?

you can call me on +44-79-24232341

 

I agree and have to add the pressman's skills as well. Any good pressman worth his salt and can run multi pass jobs on any press he operates. Takes a bit more finess on the smaller offset machines but certainly doable. Laying 4+colors down on one pass is optimal but running 2&2 with pleasing color results isn't all that hard. If your clients demand exact process color matches it's a bit more involved. And a 4+ color press is a better solution if this is the market you compete in if the budget allows.

 

i have run 4 colour work on single colour presses and again i will say if your artwork, film and plates are not shall we say good quality, nor would the print be. if however you have good quality artwork then the print will be also.. i have experience on most small format presses and can say that a ryobi 3302 or equivelent ie ab dick 9985 or itek 9885 will print as good as any heidi. i will put my full colour work up against any run on any litho press. must admit it would be easier on a 3304 but on my 3302 in 2 passes its not that bad... crestline dampening or kompac is a must for constant colour on these small format presses though. i must add and stress never ever try to run full colour work with poly plates, always metal plates. it just isnt worth the bother..
dont get a single colour press to run full colour, you will never compete on your competitors price. imo ryobi 3302 / 3304 all the way with suitable dampening. if you want top quality full colour, send off to have your plates made for you, or on your budget get an imagesetter and printdown frame which will cover 98% of all work.

 

Hi Plotter

I think you have missed one point - the question comes from Mongolia , so budget will be low , trained press men rare and most competition will have the same.
you are right about having a 4 color press the best , but is this possible with the standing budget ? no way.

 

i didnt notice where the question came from to be honest lol. and i have no idea what the print shops are like over there. I was however saying how it is for me here in the uk and assumed that it is global... i cant compete with alot of the big time internet gang printers and wouldnt even want to, but what i have is imo fantastic customer service free advice and any help or questions answered with 24 years experience. oh and free coffee for anyone who come in. youd be suprised how much this puts people onside...
he did say he had 20k usd to spend, and i assume that in the usa you can pick up a decent 9985 for about 7 - 10k leaving plenty for the imagesetter and printdown frame. what would be the cost of a 2 colour heidi? a trained and fully adaptable pressman is i agree a must for anyone doing full color work on any machine especially one that is new to you.. btw even i cant afford a 4 colour press :-( but maybe one day

 

I'm curious...I always thought the Ryobis were real presses.

What makes the GTO 52 and others real presses and the quickmaster and ryobi 3302 not real presses?

Please explain.