can anyone recommend what large format printer brand and model to buy to start a small printing business?

Answer 1

This is right up my alley, so pay attention:

you have two routes you can go. The more expensive and troublesome with excellent quality and signs that will last a VERY long time...

or the lower budget with less maintenance, cheaper prices for your customers, but lower quality and less material.

The more expensive route involves solvent printers... solvent printers can run in price as much as a new car. They contain heaters that heat the media (paper) to open its pores so the solvent ink can settle in to the paper, and it has fans to cool them off. These are sometimes called aggressive ink printers because the ink bonds & melts itself into the media, ensuring longer life and it'll be able to hold up to the weather. Car graphics are FREQUENTLY wrapped in solvent printed vinyl media... These types of printers can print on thin cloth, magnets, static media, adhesive vinyl, regular butcher paper, photo paper, perforated film (the media that has small holes in it so you can still see through it if it is placed on a window.) Not to mention that you'll need additional software because different types of media can provide different looking colors (imaging printing on a off-white piece of paper, some colors will appear slightly off) so the software will let the printer know how much ink to lay in what combination to achieve saturated color. Cleaning these printers is a PAIN cuz the inks are considered toxic, you'll have to dispose them in a separate container than your garbage, you'll have to clean it EVERY SINGLE DAY, and since the ink fumes are considered "toxic", the printer will have to be in a fully ventilated and vacuumed room....

Now the less expensive route is large format inkjet printers. They are ALOT cheaper, require less maintenance, print on less types of media, but tend to break down more than solvent printers. It sounds good for your needs if you don't plan on going full steam ahead with your business just yet. Prices for these can be as little as a used car with a lot of miles, or a new car on a low budget. These printers are just like your printer that is hooked up to your computer, but it can print upto 60 inches or more, and the ink cartridges are like 10 times bigger, but does the same function.


For Solvent printing I recommend Mimaki JV series printers: http://www.mimakiusa.com/products.html

For Inkjet printing I recommend HP5500 series... 42-48 inches would be perfect: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/18972-18972-3328061-12600-3328080-82218.html

Answer 2

Large Format = Epson Stylus Pro 9600
Prints up to 44" wide on a roll as long as you want it.
Largest I have personally printed is 36 inches wide x 21 feet long. Ink cartridges are expensive, but last quite a while.

Only drawback on 9600 is that you pretty much have to order paper from Epson as paper type is limited for accurate color, however you can get a thin vinyl or transparency medium designed for that printer as well.

For medium size, digital runs up to 10,000 impressions, I would recommend Xerox Docucolor 6000 or 8000. Can run sheets up to 12.4" x 19", 2 sided.

Answer 3

I've used HP DesignJet plotters in the past with a high amount of success. I haven't used them in a while (models I used were still 3 digit model numbers) so I can't speak to current models for reliability though.

Are you planning on doing any large format digital to plate production for high end printing services? I know the company I worked for a few years back had a problem locating firms that handled this type of service (think we ended up going with a firm in Atlanta, GA and they could only handle up to 4 foot wide output).

Answer 4

I love my Xerox Workcenter Pro C2128. Can print up to 12/18" -- has options for (I use all and adore them)
-Scan to network as PDF/JPG/TIFF
-Scan to email
-Fax
-Professional finisher (makes booklets)

Xerox service techs call then come over within just a few hours of your contact for support.

I run a small business and with a toner inclusive contract, I'm billed .013/b&w and .11 for color. Xerox contracts also include service, supplies (toner obviously, drums, fusers, etc). You need only buy paper and staples.

This is an awesome machine. Although it says it can print on up to 110 lb, it's a little spotty in that regard. It can do it very nicely, but you'll need a little patience. For my company, I print on 60lb heavyweight glossy, to make full color booklets for my brochure material. My cost is about $2/booklet. Kinkos would charge about $30. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

A small printing business...you may want to look into the Canons IR models.