Good short-run CTP

[prepressing]

I don't understand, are you saying to buy or not to buy the RIPit system?

[CNS Systems]

Hi everyone,
I work for a company that has outsourced printing for years and has finally decided to bring it in-house. We are currently looking for a CTP to make polyester plates to run on some ABDick 9910s (or 9920s, I forget which ones) to print short run (100-2000) 1 or 2 color jobs and the occasional long run of 40-60000 (which I know I'll have to re-image poly plates on those jobs) . The bulk of the work will be solid text, but there will be also be the occasional screened image we'd need to run as well. We'll also be applying thermography at the same time.
We looked at using a digital duplicator like a Riso or Standard, but the quality wasn't good enough for our application, so decided to go with the ABDick press instead.
I've done a lot of searching on these forums, and from there have looked into some various plate makers. I'm currently getting pricing on a Xante Platemaker 5, as well as an ABDick DPM 34HSC and a Mitsubishi Eco 1630. So far the Xante is winning in price, but I know that you often get what you pay for. I like the fact that the Xante is chemical free, but don't know how well the plates will hold up on the press.
Any recommendations as to which platemaker we should go with? Image quality is a huge factor.
Thanks for the help!
Verdant

All depends on how much your looking to spend. We sell a chemical free system called Kimoto. They have a low end system that is very inexpensive with low cost plates and a high end system that would would handle everything that you will need.

[Verdant]

I've seen samples from the Kimoto and the quality is nowhere near what we need it to be. Right now it looks like it's between an ABDick 34HSC or a Platestream (Forget the model #)

[CNS Systems]

I've seen samples from the Kimoto and the quality is nowhere near what we need it to be. Right now it looks like it's between an ABDick 34HSC or a Platestream (Forget the model #)

Well the Kimosetter 410 blows away anything that an HP 5000 or the Xante can output. So if the quality of those are not good enough there is the Kimosetter 525 which can handle everything you would need. The best thing is it's chemical free and maintence free. It actually cleans itself.

[printerdw]

If you are going to use metal plates i would not use a Rip-it speed setter not sure for poly plates we have had ours for 4 years and alway had Reg troubles and cost alot to have fixed we know motor stuck on us $1500.00 later just for them to come and clean the motor. my 2 cents.

I don't understand, are you saying to buy or not to buy the RIPit system?

[printprofessional]

I've got experience with Xante (started with their Platemaker 2, upgraded to Platemaker 3). I also had two versions of Jetplate, including the 7600 version.

I now have a VIM system using an Epson 7900. Wish I'd bought the larger machine. I love it. The polyester plates are excellent, the metal a little tricky but they're ok too. The technology seems to be perfected on the polyester.

The plates are imaged with the magenta ink. No special fluids, no maintenance fluid. It doubles as a wide format printer and I've already billed up thousands of dollars worth of high quality large format printing that I'd previously been farming out. The large format aspect made it less of a gamble for me because I needed that for existing business. Now I don't have to make excuses when my outsource was slow or late. Now I do it in house.

The VIM is twice as fast as the Jetplate and the plates are basically bullet proof. With Xante you have toner scatter and you get picture framing issues. You have to use a deletion pen to mitigate the toner scatter. No problem with toner scatter with VIM because it only images where it should with the ink. Look into this setup if you haven't bought the other system. Don't buy used. Old technology has hazardous waste, parts issues and obsolesence built right in.

[prepressing]

I have to agree, if you are going to buy a VIM system from Harlequin RIP, Harlequin RIPs, Software RIP, NEW! Harlequin Software RIP Version 8.1 or elsewhere make sure you figure out if you can afford to get the wider device. Since the VIM technology uses standard Epson inks you can use it is as a digital proofer and a CTP device.

This technology is totally different than the Jetplate hardware and software in that it does not modify the printer in any way so you can proof and plate using the same device. This means if you can afford to buy the Epson 7880 or 7900 over the 4880 go ahead and do so because it will mean you can also produce proofs up to 24" wide. It may cost more out front but you should make it up if you can print some large format proofs or posters.

[Barrie]

Just out of interest apart from Verdant is everyone else on this Post a dealer in printing equipment?

[Happyprinter]

I cant speak for everyone else but, as an earlier poster to this topic, I am a commercial printer, not a dealer, and just posted my experiences, but it sure seems like there are alot of dealers posting and it;s to bad, I would rather get first hand field experiences by owners than talk to a dealer anyday.

[printprofessional]

I am a small commercial printer not a dealer.