>>>>>>>>>>>>

Well, having owned both a ColorCamm and an Edge, this is what I've learned.....
Nomon speaks of the "true costs." Let's look at that.

1) ColorCamm PNC-60 ...... $7995.00 retail
Gerber Edge-1 ......... $15,000.00 retail
Gerber Edge-2 ......... $22,500.00 retail

2) Software:
ColorCamm ...... $200.00 and up
Gerber Omega ... $4000.00
(note: there are other software packages that can drive both brands of printers)

3) Cutters:
ColorCamm ...... Integrated with printer.
Gerber Edge .... $6000.00 and up for a seperate plotter.

4) Speed:
ColorCamm ...... 8 minutes per sq.ft. per color.
Gerber Edge-1 .. 43 seconds per sq.ft. per color.
Gerber Edge-2 .. 14 seconds per sq.ft. per color.

5) Consumables Costs:
ColorCamm ...... $2.25 per sq.ft. per color.
Gerber Edge .... 66cents per sq.ft. per color.

So for sake of argument lets say that it cost $8200.00 to start with a ColorCamm, $29,000 to start with an Edge-1, and $36,500 to start with an Edge-2. As a side note, I figured a Gerber enVision 375 plotter at $10,000 to go with the Edge rather than $6000 for a Gerber GS-15.

Normally, equipment is depreciated over a 3 year period. That works out to $11.39 per business day for the Colorcamm; $40.28 per business day for the Edge-1 system; and $50.70 per business day for the Edge-2.

Then you have to factor in consumables. Lets say you want enough to print a 50 yd. roll of vinyl. Naturally, you will want Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black so that you can do full-color work. With the ColorCamm you will need to budget $1350.00 worth of ribbons. with the Edge, you will need to budget $432.00.

To print a 50 yard roll of vinyl one color, it will take the ColorCamm 20 hours; it will take the Edge-1 approximately 1 hour 54 minutes; it will take the Edge-2 approximately 38 minutes.

Next is the rate of return on your investment. You not only need to figure in the cost of the consumables, but also the cost of the equipment and labor. In this case, lets figure $30 per hour. We will ignor overhead expenses for the moment. To do a 12"x12" full-color print with the Colorcamm you will need to consider $9.00 for foil, 32 minutes of time, and 77cents for the cost of the machine for the time used; for the Edge-1 you will need to consider $2.34, 3 minutes, and 27cents respectively; for the Edge-2 you will need to consider $2.34, 1 minute, and 11cents respectively.
Colorcamm Print ........ $25.77
Edge-1 ................. $ 4.11
Edge-2 ................. $ 2.95

The crux of the matter is two fold....
1) The amount of time that the machine is idle.
2) The amount of volume you may and/or actually do per day.

This, of course, ignors any possible down time due to repairs or mis-prints.

I have always maintained that it doesn't matter what the equipment cost, but rather how much I can produce with it.

If you do not anticipate doing much printing, then the ColorCamm may be fine for the occasional job. However, if you are doing any kind of volume, then the Edge is a must.

For myself, I average about 3 50yd rolls of vinyl per day right now. During the peak season, I am running about 5 or 6 rolls per day. When you do the math, I can't afford a ColorCamm but I can easily afford an Edge. Also, if I markup my material 400%, the retail price of an Edge print is about the same as the "at cost" price of a ColorCamm print. That makes the Edge owner more competitive than a ColorCamm owner. The only time the reverse would be true is if there were very little work available each week.

So far this year, I have done only about $75,000 worth of Edge prints this year. At least half of that is pure profit. I can't do that with the ColorCamm in the same given amount of time and at the same price level.

Again, the key is volume. I generate between $200 and $400 per hour in gross sales with the Edge when it is running. I don't see how the ColorCamm can match that.

The Colorcamm, based on its design and material, is more for printing small items no larger than a license plate. You can print a 2'x4' photo with it without having a seam. The only drawback I see to printing something that large is the cost of having to redo a print because of a streak caused by a dust particle. Not only will you have lost a lot of foil, but time as well. That was a big aggrevation in my shop when we had our PNC-5000. If I get a streak on a print with my Edge, it wasn't nearly big of a problem in terms of material or time.

Then there is the matter about cutting the prints. Many ColorCamm owners tout the fact that the ColorCamm doesn't require a seperate cutter. That's true. But, when you factor in any sort of volume or "multi-tasking, it is actually a disadvantage. The ColorCamm will only let you print and then cut. With the Edge system, I can be printing one job, cutting another, and prepping a third job all at the same time. That makes me more productive and profitable.

My intent of this post is not to be Pro Edge or Anti ColorCamm, but rather to get people to stop and think a bit before they buy anything. So many are concerned about the immediate price of a piece of equipment without thinking about the return on their investment.

I think you should contact Roland. The ColorCAMM Pro has eliminated much of the banding issues that plagued earlier versions. If yours is giving you grief, Roland techs should be able to help.

Glenn makes some valid points in his post, but it assumes you already have the business. ColorCAMM is not a bad starting point (worst case, you can always cut vinyl), and when you've outgrown it, that's a good time to do the math on spendier/more capable equipment.

If you have already outgrown your ColorCAMM, then I'd encourage you to consider a thermal transfer printer with greater abilities. Either an EDGE system, in the intermediate realm. Or the Summa DC2 system (2nd generation DuraChrome) at the high end.

My $.02

Jim

------------------
Jim Doggett
Vice President
Summa, Inc.

------------------
Mario G. Lafreniere aka Fergie.

http://www.onlink.net/~mgl

jnsigns@onlink.net
Chapleau, Ontario home of "The World's Largest Game Preserve"
Spring is upon us,in Shania Twain Country. Farewell snow,here comes the mosquito!