UV Flatbed Recommendations - Good, Bad, Otherwise

[mr.fixit]

What UV flatbeds are you happy with? I'd love to hear your experience good, bad or otherwise.

- Have long have you owned your flatbed and how many headaches has it caused?
- What were the issues?
- How has service been?
- Are you on a service contract?
- Is service through the manufacture or dealer?
- Would you recommend?

We are familiar with flatbeds - it's a love/hate relationship. Hoping to find a printer that is more love than hate. We are looking for a 4x8 flatbed - open to suggestion of a smaller flatbed as well.

 

[Roland Certified Tech]

How about a Roland LO-640-F3?

VersaObject LO/CO-i Series Flatbed UV Printers | Roland DGA

Print high-quality graphics directly onto a huge range of items and increase your production with reliable flatbed UV printers.

www.rolanddga.com

 

[TEN]

Call Fluid Color. Check out all the brands, make your own conclusions but call them and talk to them.
I highly recommend FC - They have been the best equipment provider in my 14 years in the sign industry.

Wide and Grand Format UV LED Inkjet Printers | Fluid Color

Fluid Color builds wide & grand format UV LED printers with Ricoh Gen6 and Kyocera printheads. Backed by 30+ years of service excellence.

fluidcolor.com

 

[southtexasprinter]

We have a Vanguard 300 now for nearly three years and have been pleased with it. Very few issues and prints fast with high quality.
We are not on a service contract but when we do need something, Vanguard is good about responding. Honestly, I think we have only had to reach out twice.
It's a workhorse and we run it all day five days a week.

 

[flyplainsdrifta]

Digitech Trufire LT/X2. We went from 2 hybrids to one of those with an auto unloader. Out paces both of those combined. Service and support is top notch, American based as well. Beautiful prints, high speeds, solid ink stability. Really love that machine.
Not too many headaches that werent self inflicted. One was a semi freak accident, another was an issue with the ionizer that they helped us work thru the issue. The crash sensor was sensing a crash as the static built up on the sheet of Sintra. Replaced the part with the issue (was overnighted) and was back up next day. Onsite techs are available for harder jobs. Training is solid. Machine is meant to be operator serviced almost all around so most maintenance is simple and straight forward. Service is thru the manufacturer as well. Definitely recommend for shops with high enough volume to keep it running 8-10 hours a day.

 

[Zach Starr]

We have the Stratojet Shark Flatbed, we are very happy with them. We had these for 5 years now, no complains - support is easy to get when needed. We had called them for printer issues twice in these 5yrs but they were quick in resolving the issue and we have support from the lifetime without the need of a service contract which is great. We bought through their dealer, but service comes mostly from Stratojet. We are looking at getting their new hybrid printer which comes with Orange and Green spot colors.