I apologize that I haven't been able to give everyone a response on the valuejet. We have been in the process on divirsifying our compny to supply Sign shops, Reproduction houses, Architects and Manufacturers.
First of all, those that don't know me allow me provide a little background, I attended to Rochester Institute of Technology (this school is funded byKodak and Baush and Lomb.) I have a tremendoust of experience in the digital print realm from million dollar Heidelberg Presses to wide digital printers. After, I have attended Carnegie Mellon University for Architecture.
I will be your foremost help to guide to help you in the right direction on digitl printing. I'm not here to sell you on a commission basis as a job after college. My family has been in the signage business since the early 1930's. I am here to modernize my business as well as all of your own businesses because we need to adapt to current trends and technology change in the industry. If we don't the guy down the street will. Anyhow..
We have had our Valuejet for several weeks now. It is a no brainer it is real a money maker. The machine pretty much runs and cleans itself. The only time that you will relly need to run a major cleaning service is if you leave it unattended for more than a few days IE. a 4+day holiday where noone is prining on it. Other than that leave it on and let it be. It runs its own maintenance cycle. simple and to the point you do not need to attand any seminar to use it just 1-2 hours worth of a walk through. This machine also prints a true 48"... We base all american industries off of this size.
I feel that this is a far superior machine to the all in one unit competition. You can do a print and a cut at the same time if you elect to get the Print/cut solution. This saves your company time. 2 all print heads are expensive.... Why in the hell would you want to contaminate your printheads by cutting on the same machine. 3 you stilll have to pull your material off the machine to laminate it so there is no true benefit to having an all in one solution... "well not unless u are selling the units and can find a someone who doesn't know any better.
Several people have emailed me asking whether is is worth buying a used falcon. Here is your answer... If you have only $4000 spend. Why waste your hard earn money on someone elses machine that was put into duty and they maxed it out. The last person asking me founf a machine that the inks dried up. We that's a minor problem that may be fixed. You have to ask your self seriously how long did the guy have the machine and did he run it all day long? Did he perform the regular maintenance or did he let it go until he killed it. The new value printer is a major difference. I recommend pocking the $4000 and take a lease out. You do end up spending more in the end on a lease but you get to let your money work for you. Realistically on a Value Jet 50" you can do 1-2 banners a month and the machine will make the payment for you. At this point it doesn't get any easier than hitting the enter button to make money. Hell keep it cash it will make you a mortgage payment, a house payment, and a car payment. Yet it all depends on how much you can sell the service for. I used to outsource for $6 a sq foot. Not bad but not great. How many of you are tired of doing all the work and someone else profiting off it. I know I was. @25-30 a sq foot. it is a no brainer maybe .80-150 for material. What other business really can make that kind of a mark up??? Well as small business we know the bank can for an overdraft fee or for atm transactions. So here is my reccomendation Call cynergy data get a credit card machine call your local mutoh dealer "Notice I am not just saying my own firm" and go out and shop for the car or house that you always wanted. It seriously can get you there sooner than you think. Unless you plan on buying a US Mint printer. You cant make $$$ any faster. Well this is my oppinion love it or hate it it is worth the try. Just take me for a spin in the car you always wanted to buy. The Valuejet will make it happen. So the other thing I must say is you have to spend 30000-40000+ to get a machine that is equal or better. Personally I'd take 2 valuejets and a laminator for that kind of money. ROI (return on investment) Remember this term because it will be your next best friend. Please keep an eye out for our new website due sometime in January. WE SUPPLY ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, MANUFACTUERES TOP NOTCH AMERICAN, GERMAN, AND JAPANESE PRODUCTS. No Chinese crap. Stand offs, Fein powertools, Mutoh, SummaGraphics, Wacom tablets... and more on the way. I am a firm beliver of you pay for what you get. We pride ourselves on quality and craftsmenship. You should do nothing less as well. It is your name as stake
-Chris Ferri
Ferri Design + Construct
412.294.1977
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