Hey all,
Noob here. I've had a design agency for 25 years. About 15 years ago I bought a small offset press to handle my clients simple print needs.
Recently, my sign maker (who I have used for 15 years) sold his business. I've become quite unhappy with the new owner and have decided that since I do about $25K in sign business a year I will get some equipment and bring it in house. I have a production artist who's is a gem and I'd like to get him more hours and this seems like the perfect fit (please, no solicitation, I've made up my mind and this is the direction I'm going in- thanks for understanding).
So, the question is I'd love to see if you can give me some great input on how I should set it up! I've been doing research for about a month, and have been reading a lot of threads here. Some great information, thank you all for sharing. My clients are few but reliable, so my needs are very specific. I'm going to list my needs first thinking that it will be the best place to start:
1 - 36" x 120" outdoor banners (at most 3 months to 5 months lightfastness, welded and grometed
2 - indoor/outdoor standup banners 36" x 48"
3 - 22" x 28" stanchion posters, mounted onto stiff PVC, styrene or gator board. Sometimes double sided. Hi gloss UV lam for indoor/outdoor use for about 6-9 months
4 - window vinyl lettering and designs. Printed, then cut. Also do the sandblasted looking (sorry, the name scrapes me now) window lettering and designs
5 - wall paper
6 - window clings
7 - assorted high quality indoor POP posters and materials
Wish List - not absolutely necessary, but would love to have these capabilities to enhance my offerings:
8 - abrasive floor and counter decals
9 - packaging decals that will withstand liquids and temperature
10 - the ability to print and cut up to 10-12 pt stock (sorry, using printing weights, not familiar yet with sign weights). Used for small run Packagin, and comps.
11 - vehicle decals (not naive enough to think we can do full car wraps, although we do a few a year)
12 - maybe do short run private label t-shirts
So....that is the gist of what I feel we can do for my current clients.
Having said that, I'm pretty conservative and don't want to spend too much in case it doesn't work out. I've set up a budget of $15-20K, so I know I will be making sacrifices in quality and the ability to do everything I want. High speed is not as important to me as quality. Clients give me a couple weeks to print materials.
So far, from this forum, I have made a tentative list of equipment and wanted to run it by you all:
1 - printer
Debated print/cut vs separate. Space is an issue, but it seems like the price is the same either way, so separate would be best. Looking at around a 42-44" printer. Thinking the Mutoh 1204.
2 - Cutter
Graphtec CE6000-60 don't think I need the larger one (only if I was going to do much larger decals, but 24" should be about the biggest window letterings ill need.
3 - Laminator
Royal Sovereign RSC-1050CL 41"
I know I'll need an assortment of other items, some of which I already have. But this is what I wanted to focus on now.
Is this what I need? Can I get away with a cheaper printer and the lam will protect it enough?
Look forward to the feedback.
Thank you in advance.
Noob here. I've had a design agency for 25 years. About 15 years ago I bought a small offset press to handle my clients simple print needs.
Recently, my sign maker (who I have used for 15 years) sold his business. I've become quite unhappy with the new owner and have decided that since I do about $25K in sign business a year I will get some equipment and bring it in house. I have a production artist who's is a gem and I'd like to get him more hours and this seems like the perfect fit (please, no solicitation, I've made up my mind and this is the direction I'm going in- thanks for understanding).
So, the question is I'd love to see if you can give me some great input on how I should set it up! I've been doing research for about a month, and have been reading a lot of threads here. Some great information, thank you all for sharing. My clients are few but reliable, so my needs are very specific. I'm going to list my needs first thinking that it will be the best place to start:
1 - 36" x 120" outdoor banners (at most 3 months to 5 months lightfastness, welded and grometed
2 - indoor/outdoor standup banners 36" x 48"
3 - 22" x 28" stanchion posters, mounted onto stiff PVC, styrene or gator board. Sometimes double sided. Hi gloss UV lam for indoor/outdoor use for about 6-9 months
4 - window vinyl lettering and designs. Printed, then cut. Also do the sandblasted looking (sorry, the name scrapes me now) window lettering and designs
5 - wall paper
6 - window clings
7 - assorted high quality indoor POP posters and materials
Wish List - not absolutely necessary, but would love to have these capabilities to enhance my offerings:
8 - abrasive floor and counter decals
9 - packaging decals that will withstand liquids and temperature
10 - the ability to print and cut up to 10-12 pt stock (sorry, using printing weights, not familiar yet with sign weights). Used for small run Packagin, and comps.
11 - vehicle decals (not naive enough to think we can do full car wraps, although we do a few a year)
12 - maybe do short run private label t-shirts
So....that is the gist of what I feel we can do for my current clients.
Having said that, I'm pretty conservative and don't want to spend too much in case it doesn't work out. I've set up a budget of $15-20K, so I know I will be making sacrifices in quality and the ability to do everything I want. High speed is not as important to me as quality. Clients give me a couple weeks to print materials.
So far, from this forum, I have made a tentative list of equipment and wanted to run it by you all:
1 - printer
Debated print/cut vs separate. Space is an issue, but it seems like the price is the same either way, so separate would be best. Looking at around a 42-44" printer. Thinking the Mutoh 1204.
2 - Cutter
Graphtec CE6000-60 don't think I need the larger one (only if I was going to do much larger decals, but 24" should be about the biggest window letterings ill need.
3 - Laminator
Royal Sovereign RSC-1050CL 41"
I know I'll need an assortment of other items, some of which I already have. But this is what I wanted to focus on now.
Is this what I need? Can I get away with a cheaper printer and the lam will protect it enough?
Look forward to the feedback.
Thank you in advance.
Sounds like you have the know-how to learn everything and the ambition to move forward... Just make sure you think EVERYTHING through before taking the plunge (unless you have $20K to gamble away)!! Do you have a fall-back plan?
