to riso or not to riso

[carneage]

hey all
i have a small print shop in the central west of nsw australia and i have 1 colour laser printer, 1 black and white laser printer, 1 wide format plotter, and a vinyl cutter, i am looking to get a riso printer... i think... are they worth buying and using for long runs... i don't have enough cash and space for an offset machine, i need to print up to a3 50gsm to 320 gsm will the riso do that?? also where can i get one with a low count here in australia for low cost?? any feedback on the riso/digital duplicator and a good model and product is greatly appriceated

[bigste]

Risos are very cheap to run and will do long runs no problem. You won't get that thicker stuff through there, or at least my GR machines won't touch that stuff, maybe half of it. What you do need is a local technician who can fix it when needs be. They are very reliable but like anything else they do go wrong. Dunno what model to advise as my GR's are antiques.

[carneage]

So the GR's are good?? as for maintenance there is bugger all chance of that... i am 4 hrs from sydney, and if you ask for a tech call out there is no chance... i have been trying for one of my machines for 2 years.... still waiting, good thing is that i am a mechanic by trade and understand most mechanical things as i get into them.... i just need to know what is normal and then i can sort it out.... so i am trying to work out if i go the riso option.. or is there a better/cheaper option?? and if so what is the better option??

[bigste]

I am not a technician but am a trained mechanical engineer. I've always fixed mine myself sometimes with a tech on the phone but that was years ago. Like I said they are reliable and cheap to run. If you go for a GR try for one with under 5 million copies with service history. They all have a service record book if they are well maintained.

[carneage]

great thanks.... 5mill is a good life for any copier...
are there any riso's to keep away from??

[TONERINMYNOSE]

Run like hell from anything cr or rn, gr are great but hard to get parts for, the rz series are very reliable call rich at green office solutions (631) 860-4993 he ships worldwide

[plotter123]

i have 2 RPs
fantastic, never let me down, and used everyday

[carneage]

how old are the RP's??

[Iowatech]

The RP came before the RZ and the EZ, so it is two generations old. A good machine to be sure (especially after the RN), but on the trailing end of technology, so keep that in mind. Our sales people haven't sold a lot of the EZ model Risos, but the several I do have in my area look like solid machines so far, as I've only done operator training calls on them to date.

[20gaugeO/U]

Invest in an EZ. They run great and will last you years. My highest in the field is a RZ 590 with 5+ million on it and it is still running great.

[dzewo]

Re: to riso or not to riso

I am aware that the thread is old but I don't want to create a new one just to ask a question on the life expectancy of Riso EZ 570 (my experience with digital duplicators is close to none, just some theoretical knowledge). To cut the story short a good customer of mine wants the ez570 and I happen to know someone who has one for sale. The machine has ~2,5 mil prints and supposedly was serviced with genuine parts only. The seller claims that the machine can do up to 20 mil so basically it's in good condition. Is he telling the truth about the max life expectancy?

[20gaugeO/U]

Re: to riso or not to riso

I've seen a RZ 590 roll over 10 million but it was repaired by the print shop owner and he only called us when his fixes were unsuccessful... that machine was tired and is now retired but he replaced it with an EZ 590. Every machine is dependent on who services it and the user/users who beat them up. If it's in good shape it could go another 2, 3, 4 million. EZ's are pretty great machines if you take care of them. Age may be a slight issue in that the EZ line was released in late 2008???

[onlygreatcopiers]

Re: to riso or not to riso

Riso ! Definitely ! Not Ricoh, Savin, Lanier, or Gestetener or Duplo, not enough info or help on them.

I am an EXPERT in USED Riso machines and drums. You do NOT want a TR, CR, RN or RP.

Make sure to get an A3 / 11x17 machine or you will regret it later, because there are very few color drums for the letter and legal size models floating out there.

I know because I am the largest supplier of used Riso drums in the United States with over 400 in stock. The least expensive AVAILABLE drums are the GR (W) drums.

The only other dealer that has owned more Riso machines than me in that last 12 years is Rich at Green Office but he doesn't refurb them, he just moves them on.

20gaugeO/U ~ When the Riso RZ590 with over 5 mil. kicks the bucket, I would glad buy it for parts. We buy ALL non-working 11x17 Riso's except the RP's.

Also, make sure that you do NOT buy AS-IS, get a warranty long enough to check the machine out.

Models to look for are the GR3750/GR3770/FR3950 RZ390/RZ590 & EZ390/EZ590 & EZ391/EZ591 & RZ990/RZ1090 SINGLE COLOR machines AND
MZ790/MZ990/MZ890/MZ1090 TWO COLOR MACHINES

The most used color drums available are for the RISO RZ390/RZ590 and the RISO MZ790/MZ990.

Good Luck!

[onlygreatcopiers]

Re: to riso or not to riso

I am aware that the thread is old but I don't want to create a new one just to ask a question on the life expectancy of Riso EZ 570 (my experience with digital duplicators is close to none, just some theoretical knowledge). To cut the story short a good customer of mine wants the ez570 and I happen to know someone who has one for sale. The machine has ~2,5 mil prints and supposedly was serviced with genuine parts only. The seller claims that the machine can do up to 20 mil so basically it's in good condition. Is he telling the truth about the max life expectancy?

I tell my customers that they are good for between 4 & 6 million realistically, I picked up one today with 4.7 mil. that is toast. I had a customer that rolled the meter at 10 mil and put 3 more mil on it but it was always under contract...so 13 mil is the most I have ever seen and I have seen a ton between 3.3 mil. and 5.7 mil. After that they become to much to fix.

Personally we do not sell them over 2.2 mil. because that is the part out point, but the customer should get 1 to 2 mil from 2.5 mil. (if it was truly always under contract).

Hope that helps.

[LA TECH]

Re: to riso or not to riso

Risos are the Rolls Royce on the duplicators, I have work on every Duplicator and found the best is the Riso.
I have customers with as old as RC6300 to the newest one, a lot of them range from 15 to 20 millions copies and still going. just replacing the consumables parts, and still going so far, I repaired the other brands duplicators (don't want to mention) and the next day they call so I was able to get a used Riso for them as loaner, no problem and they are happy so far in the two years and counting, some are switching to Riso, thank god, LOL