Which Copier to go for?

[diamondian]

Am just about to purchase a new copier out of the list below :

Xerox ColorCube
Konica C452
Ricoh MPC4000

Which one to go for?

We mainly print training manuals but want to put short run colour through as well.. Doing anywhere between 20 - 100k a month with a 60/40 colour to black split.

Thanks

[CanIJustMakeACopy]

ask your suppliers for a quote for the life of the lease showing all costs (box price all consumables and maint cost) and showing the breakdown. Use the colour/black breakdown.

The xerox could well save you plenty depending on how much colour there is on each page ,it is not so good on halftones but solids are ok it alldepends what you are after.

The Xerox should be more reliable than the Ricoh but its early days

[Iceman™]

The MPC 4000 is certainly not a production machine, too much toner gathering in the fuser causing jams and folded corners...

[KenB]

I don't know about the other two, but you'll kill the MPC4000 with 100k per month.

If you want to look at something else in the Ricoh line, the MP C6000 would be a much better bet.

[Stirton.M]

The C452 will certainly give you what you want.

It is capable of printing 12x18 format from bypass and trays 1 and 2. Depending on tray options, you can get two additional 1500 sheet 8.5x11 all at maximum 67 lb. The bypass tray is capable of 80 lb cover.

Duty cycle in black only is 112k while colour is 38K per month.

Toner yield is approximately 30K per colour, 45K for black. IU yield per colour is 120-135K per item, black at 285K. The black developer unit is separate and has a 1,140K life. Image transfer section and fusing unit rated to 600K.

All service and consumables are covered within the lease agreement.

There are several finishing options, but the one in interest would be the FS-527 with a saddle stitch/folder option called an SD-509 to allow for booklet printing.

The C452 is somewhat limited in the options available, but it is still a very capable machine.

The C552/652 finishing options allow for a post inserter option. Allows you to insert a front and rear pre-printed cover. You can also have this unit do tri-fold with the SD-509 option right from the post inserter.

Colour printing is very very good, gradations halftones are rated at 1800 DPI mainscan, 600 subscan directions, allowing for virtually unnoticeable colour gradients. Coupled with a Fiery controller, you have virtually every pantone colour available, though the internal Empiron controller by itself has some pretty impressive pallet choices.

Further options allow for a two line fax, additional USB external ports for print on demand from a memory stick, bluetooth printing, scan to SMB, FTP, Email and Box. Also printing from either PS or PCL drivers, with additional ability to print to Box, secure print, and with if the fax option is installed, an additional fax driver to print to fax. Fax forwarding capabilities such as TSI discrimination to direct specific faxes to any number of scan locations, such as email, smb, box, ftp or external fax machine. And this machine is capable of banner printing, pages up to approximately 47 inches long by 12 inches wide.

All I gotta say is, demo a machine and check these out. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed in the product. Though of course, I cannot say about the service outside my country, if in Canada, a 4 hour guaranteed response window for all service calls.

See following link for brochure on this series model for more details and specifics....

http://konicaminolta.ca/pdf/office/colour/BR_F09_E_bizhub_C652_C552_C452_Brochure_Web.pdf

[ToshibaTech]

I'd be a lot less worried about the machine and a lot more worried about the service. Who cares what the machine can do if it's broke and your dealer of choice can't fix it properly. Check out their service department well, get several many references. Seemingly (and sadly) no one does this anymore, they just look at the bottom line!

[Stirton.M]

I'd be a lot less worried about the machine and a lot more worried about the service. Who cares what the machine can do if it's broke and your dealer of choice can't fix it properly. Check out their service department well, get several many references. Seemingly (and sadly) no one does this anymore, they just look at the bottom line!

I agree with this. That is why I mentioned about Canadian service. I cannot speak for track records of companies outside Canada, or Calgary for that matter when it comes to competitors of KM, but I do know we surpass the capabilities of our competitors when it comes to service. Calgary as a matter of fact holds the best service record in Canada for response times and resolutions. Thus far, many competitors of ours cannot compete on the same level, not that the techs in those companies are poor, just a manpower/internal support issue.