Recommendation-High volume cardstock printer

[whoscalling]

I wanted to see if anyone had a good printer they could recommend. I am starting a company that requires a color printer that can handle 500+ pages (unique sizes 2 x 12, 4 x 9, 6 x 8, etc.) a day on cardstock. The printing will be of specialized artistic/graphical multi-colored fonts. I guess it would be similar to greeting card requirements. When I have done searches I keep getting results that point me to more of the home office photo type printers.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[drc023]

I don't think any consumer grade printer will handle the demands you are suggesting. While I'm a devoted fan of Canon inkjets, they are in no way up to the task of what you describe - and neither are any of the other readily available printers. Before you make the big leap, decide what type of stock you'll be printing onto, the finish desired and the longevity/durability of the finished product. I sold my last print shop in 2000, so it's been some time since I was active in the business, but at the time there were a number of trade shops using digital color laser copiers for producing business cards and short run color jobs. Based on what you've described so far, that might be a logical choice.

 

[Fenrir Enterprises]

From what I've found, inkjet will feather quite a bit on uncoated, 'standard' cardstock. However, I suspect an Epson R200 series printer with pigment refill kit (rather than the dye ink that it comes with) would work for what you need. I'm not entirely sure what thickness that the Epson can handle, but the Epson Ultra Premium Glossy photo paper is 11 mil/79 lb (bond, I /think/, but I'm not 100% sure), there is no gsm rating, unfortunately.

Pigment in a dyebased Epson printer can be tricky (I haven't tried it yet myself) but I'm considering going that route since the refill (Image Specialists) ink I use in it is too dark, nearly blue, and I think a 6-color pigment printer would be quite nice for graphic and business work. I do not think it would work too well for photos, but other people have had good experiences with it.

The pigment for dye substitution will only work with Epson printers. If you are content with using dye ink in the R200, your cost per print will be incredibly low if you use refill kits. The colors will also be brighter, but much less permanent.

 

[whoscalling]

Thanks for the input. The majority of the paper will be 80 lbs cover cardstock. You both touch on my dilema, I have identified a Xerox Docu Color 240 that does a good job of fusing the toner to this thick of textured cardstock. But I would like to identify a non consumer grade inkjet that might work. I have been running the cardstock through a lowend HP inkjet while making my prototype product and the cardstock has not had any feathering from a inkjet process. Therefore I think an inkjet process is viable. I just want to identify a inkjet machine that I can compare side by side the output and cost per print.

 

[whoscalling]

BUMP

Sorry for the bump guys/gals, I was just hoping to get a inkjet recommendation. What do print shops use for short jobs? All Digital/laser? What are some model numbers of NON consumer grade inkjet machines? I am learning the ropes so any recommendation would be appreciated.