New Product Researching solvent printers for our canvas printing business.

I would consider getting some of your files printed off of a HP Latex 115 and the Epsons (The 115's are under $8k) The Latex ink is some of the most durable inks you can get.

 

Does the Epson S80600 at $20K pencil-out with the work you're already doing? Could it pencil-out if the machine vastly expands your capacity and capability? (Because the machine will likely do that.)

By all means compare the print quality to any other option you can find. Try the Onyx RIP evaluation files and / or the Epson technician's file (which you probably already have).

Otherwise, consider a liquid laminator such as StarLam for your current setup.

 

You don't mention how long you've been producing the type of work you describe but I am guessing you could have used at least one Epson GS6000 and, by this time, you would have already been into the S80600 without question. The greater capacity and capability would had vastly expanded your market.

Do you have your own ICC profiling hardware & software? Are you familiar with RIP software and workflow other than raster files?

 

Sounds like you may be better served with a latex. Especially if you’re already used to profiling your own media on HP’s already. Latex are renowned for their scratch resistance compared to solvent. Gamut should be fit for purpose too.

We had a demo on a Colorado 1650 last month and the canvas (Matt or gloss finish) looked great. I think that’s a bit further out of your price range though lol.

 

I doubt the picoliter size is sufficient for the OP's client expectations. However, comparison is easy enough.

 

Yes, if you just send me some files I can at least try to PROVE it to you.

 

You'll be expecting a learning curve but you already know many of the basics which seem lost to others. Once learned however, you can gain some of your time of life back because the RIP will be much more efficient.

You'll be wanting to upgrade this to drive all your printers with Onyx eventually. You'll get full control with an Epson printer but HP, not so much. Not to hammer HP, it's just where we are today.

Your market is not the sign market regardless of crossover. If your timing would have been a 2 or 3 years ago you might have found a used GS6000 with enough life left for you to make the transition. Not likely nowadays. Your niche is already using the S80600 and even tiny photo labs have it.

Yes, it's a leap.

 

A latex would be perfect for art canvases.
We did the occasional canvas with our 360s and the print quality, gamut and scratch resistance were perfectly acceptable.

 

The Mimaki JV150-130 (54") is available at 10K. Eight color. Comes with RIP and free inks.

 

Dan...look to buy a reseller's demo s80...it will come with full warranty and ink in printer. Usually discounted to move. You are in PA..call diversified display out of hillside nj...ask for Damian...they have one available.

 

All I've done this week is print and stretch 40" x 60" canvases on our S80600.
I cannot fault the printer for being used for this sort of printing. B&W is perfect (when profiled correctly), gamut is nearing aqueous levels and resolution is excellent.
Not having to coat the prints saves an absolute tonne of time. The inks are ridiculously difficult to scratch off the canvas we use (virtually identical to a coated aqueous print in toughness).
We print our canvases in 8 pass which is good middle ground. 12 pass you can't see any difference and just end up using more ink and taking longer, 6 pass can occasionally lead to banding in light blue areas.
Get some samples printed... I doubt you'll find a much better competitor.

 

I print canvases from time to time. I have two Rolands that I am selling. A 54" VP540i Print/Cut for $8,250 in excellent condition and a 64" SJ645ex Printer for $4,500 in good condition.

 

I just want to recommend comparing a 60600 or even a 40600 (if you have a lighter workload) to the 80600. I do not have faith in the additional inks longevity and recommend sticking with a dual CMYK printer if it is possible. For fine art prints latex is nice as long as the heads are all in great shape, they gradually degrade and print quality drops off so you'll be switching heads more often than stated.