-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Reminds me of Making Money Preston, the same way as routers make traditional Hand Carvers Money... thinking about adding this to my fleet... it would save me about 2 grand a month just on Vinyl and laminate.. let alone big time savings in ink and the labour needed to put the signs together...It can print on Vinyl, Dibond, Mirrors, Plastics, even directly on back lit sign faces..plyood..... I think this is the next big thing in Sign production...
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
How much do they cost and how much money do you make per hour?
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
How much they cost isn't as important as how much money will they make. When we were first looking at buying a Gerber Edge back in 1998, all I heard was about how expensive they were. We spent $35k for our first Edge setup. I figured it would take at least 18 to 24 months to recover our costs. We did it in 3 months. In the first 12 months we grossed $198k from Edge work alone.
How much money you make with any tool is up to you.
posted
Yes I agree Glenn, Cost is Cost, Profit is Profit.. but cost is around 65 grand.... but we do 40 50 grand a month, sometimes we lose jobs because we can't get it out fast enough... getting people to work is hard enough... this machine will not call in sick, we have no employee contributions to make, and it does the work of 2 people 4 or 5 times as fast. but its a proven machine by a proven company... it is something we just considering.. you never know.
[ May 08, 2012, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: Neil D. Butler ]
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Neil..... $65k sounds pretty darn reasonable. I haven't bought a wideformat printer yet. With technology changing so fast, its hard to keep up. I took on an outside salesman a couple months ago and he's already got our foot in the door with some pretty big companies. At the rate he's going, I may have to finally make up my mind on what tool I need to get.
posted
That's right Brian, that is something I have to consider...I have to know how long these prints will last.... I have that info coming to me as well.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Really Glenn, why do you think Letterville is not getting many here anymore? It is indicative of the changes in the way the sign business is going and how craftsmen adapt or don't.
So many hack printers in my area now, bringing down prices and generally killing the lucrative parts of the business.
As I said, good for some, but not all.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
DAVE......... we agree..........yea the printer is a TOOL. like any good tool, it only functions properly in the hands of PEOPLE WHO ARE CAPABLE of using it. there is the rub..........got a schit load of people WHO......THINK........they know what they are doing, and the only competitive edge they have....DOING WORK CHEAPER!!!!!!! dont need to look far. got em here sellin to the public....CHEAPER....just to keep the machine running.
[ May 09, 2012, 05:29 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Actually they are more than 65 grand more 90 grand but they have a rebate of about 17 grand... just thinking.. What does a good Router cost? I believe some on here have some that are 100 grand and others around 50... it all depends on what they are intended for.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Neil, Instead of your header , "This is interesting"
It should have read, "This is the Future!"
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's a cool tool, no doubt. But I got into this business years ago, not just with the idea of making a buck; but of doing craftsman-type work, that was distinctive, eye-catching and durable. I still believe that if you do good work, the customers will come. So far, that philosophy hasn't let me down.
I've still not seen digital prints that would stand the test of time very well. Anyone with a fat wallet can buy one; forget the craftsmanship aspect of the job.
And why should I buy one of these, when there's someone on the web, who has one, and will do my prints (if I need them) cheaply......and they have to worry about making the payments, and keeping it going.
Not trying to be a wet blanket, but life is all about choices. I choose to keep things simple and reasonable, especially in this uncertain economy. What others do, is their choice.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yes it is the future for inexpensive signs, Makes me think that demensional signage will be considered a real sign snd the other will be more for a "Cheap, Temporary, Quick Fix' And of course as time goes by, any person will be able to go online, order their sign and have it mailed to them,,,directly from Pakistan.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
quote:...Makes me think that demensional signage will be considered a real sign snd the other will be more for a "Cheap, Temporary, Quick Fix' And of course...
I think you're exactly right. You've described precisely what I've been experiencing here.
If you haven't been around or worked with UV process ink before, PLEASE consider the "Skin Irritant" portion of that MSDS sheet. After operating a Gandi Galaxy UV tension printer for almost a year and frequently having ink on my skin and no ventilation above the printer, I developed a severe allergy causing a horrible rash on my neck and arms. Be aware that there is "Ink Fly" or over spray that is propelled into the air by the UV light cooling fans landing on everyone and everything within a 20' radius. The company I worked for at the time hadn't taken any precautions or made me aware of the proper PPE and it turned into 2 months of itching and burning hell. It can also cause horrible respiratory problems.
posted
Saw a similar unit 8 years ago at a convention in Phoenix, Az. It was printing on 1/2" MDO 4'x8's...
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I talked to a few sign shops here on the east coast who have them, they did have a few issues at first, Corex is still problematic, adhesion issues, then there's the grand a month for a service contract after the Warranty wears off... but all in all they really like their machines and can't imagine running their shop with out them.... Parts are expensive, but a couple buy the parts straight from the manufacturer or another supplier, for instance one part from agfa cost around $1500 from another source, exact same part... $400.... there is a lot to consider.. if you are just a one person shop or are still hand painting, then no this machine is probably not for you... but if you specialize in digital prints, trade shows, exhibition, museums, then this can be a real benefit.... just today we are doing about 5 grand worth of digital prints, this is something that can not be done by hand.
[ May 10, 2012, 05:54 AM: Message edited by: Neil D. Butler ]
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic