Eastech use real solvent inks - we distribute these printers in Romania and we use the IO-6200 model from January 2003 without problems. We already printed about 2000 sqm.
We printed with Eastech inks on different cheap materials like PVC banner (polyplan etc.), different kind of self-adhesive vinyl (Oracal 641, 651, 751, 451, both matt or glossy, Avery, Mactac), on Sihl solvent paper (blue back and "Strella"), on mesh - the inks has excellent adhesion and brightness.
About Epson printheads: on almost 2000 sqm printed with our IO-6200 (that have two Epson printheads, one for three colors), we need to change 3 printheads. This means USD 600 for 2000 sqm - or USD 0.3 /sqm.
Please note that the cost of ink per sqm is about USD 0.9 (at 360 dpi) - that means a total cost of USD 1.2 per sqm.
For those who want I can provide documentation about Epson printheads life time - depend of quantity of ink and another facts.
Also, everyone who want to see the new Io-6400 Eastech printer - with 45 sqm/h maximum speed - we are waiting you between May 13 - 16 on "Reclama 2003" trade show (Bucharest, Parliament Halls)
Best regards,
Liviu Ionescu
Total Media
www.totalmedia.ro
www.solvent-printers.ro
Although the Eastech statement that their printers are converted from Mutoh printer models is true, the big difference is that the conversion is not performed by Mutoh. Therefore the products are not authentic Mutoh products and do not come under the same quality, reliability and performance that Mutoh products are recognized for worldwide. If you want Mutoh technology, please purchase a Mutoh product or a Mutoh authorized OEM product.
"Agfa rebrands Mutoh piezo inkjet printers as the GrandSherpa"; "Kodak sells the older generation six-color Mutoh Falcon (Kodak 3043, Kodak 3038, Kodak 3062)"; "Mutoh is the manufacturing company for Epson, that means, Epson makes the print heads, Mutoh makes the body" (please see http://www.large-format-printers.org/Mutoh_large_format_inketprinter/Mut...).
And what about Tiara Opal and Signware PrismJet printer s - both converted Mutoh? Or Asbru printers converted by Gruppen in Denmark from Roland printers?
Before we choose to become Eastech distributor we took a look on the competitor. We choose Eastech because its excellent output quality and of course its excellent price.
But you have right at one point: indeed Mutoh are great machines - and this is why Eastech choose Mutoh to convert for Eastech solvent inks and didn't choose another printer.
The other printers you mention Epson, Agfa Sherpa, Kodak, PrismJet are all manufactured for the particluar OEM customer by Mutoh under an OEM Agreement. These products are not modified after Mutoh delivers the product. Therefore they are all authorized Mutoh products even though they carry an OEM brand name. Eastech on the other hand does not work under an OEM Agreement, Eastech modifies the standard Mutoh products outside of the Mutoh ISO9000 factory and therefore Eastech products are not authorized Mutoh products. The same can be said for those products modified by Lyson.
Guy:
Nice to see you posting.
You forgot to mention an OEM that is near and dear to my heart: Gerber Jetster (but I'll forgive you).
Mutoh has a good, close working relationship with EPSON, right? What do EPSON have to say about solvent inks and "pseudo-solvent" (ala Mimaki) inks being run through their printheads? I've heard that they don't support the practice. Your solvent printers use SPECTRA (not EPSON)...am I right? I figure that there must be a good reason for this.
Enquiring minds want to know!
Jon, I cannot publicly comment on the Epson relationship with Mutoh and Epson's view on the pseudo solvent ink used in their print heads. All I can say is that Mutoh prefers to stay with Epson ink technologies since Epson designs the heads and they certainly know how to produce inks that will meet application needs while being "friendly" to the heads. Running a high solvent content ink through an Epson head is just not good practice and will result in a high cost of ownership and significant production down time. Therefore, Mutoh uses Spectra heads in our Toucan products because they are permanent print heads designed for high solvent content ink chemistries and long life. Mutoh will be introducing ECO Plus solvent inks in the 3Q of 2003, these inks will be head friendly while producing brilliant images on untreated media and in addition will not require ventilation. The inks will be offered with Mutoh's Falcon II Outdoor which we announced at ISA 2003. However, your comment about laminating if you are going outside I still agree with. Most outdoor signs are not damaged by UV, but rather airborne contaminates, abrasion and vandalism. This is supported by the warranties provided by most media suppliers which include an overlaminate. By the way I normally stay out of these chat sessions until I see erroneous information about Mutoh products being distributed, then I feel it is my duty to provide the other side of the story.
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I smell a rat. When things sound to good to be true, they usually are.
Get your hands on the MSDS for the inks and compare them to MSDS for one or two "eco-solvent" printers. I think you will find alot of similarities. Some of the newer printers that are being billed as "True Solvent" printers are using what appear to be "eco-solvent" inks with low concentrations of cyclohexanone (which is used in much higher concentrations in inks for printers like the Arizona.
The other line of investigation is to find out what printheads the machine is using. EPSON heads are not suitable for use with solvents such as cyclohexanone.
Caveat Emptor...Buyer Beware.