Full Version: Wraps vs. Press
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#13]
4 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12] 4 Mar 2007
From: precisionlaser [#14]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#13] 4 Mar 2007
Doc,
I visited a company on Friday that does a lot of mugs. Their set up was a gang of Epson C86s/Artainium Ink Bulk Systems/mug wraps and several (about 12 if I remember correctly) Hamilton-Beach convection ovens. I discussed this set up with them, and they said that the multiple C86s were a lot cheaper than a larger printer and gave them critical backup when one unit fails. I asked them why not use a conveyor oven and again they had a good response: backup and convenience...apparently a conveyor oven takes up a lot of space and takes a while to heat up to the correct temp.
I've also spoken to other "grey beards" in the business and all of them are unanimous: if you're going to do volume, use wraps and ovens.
For what it's worth...
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15]
4 Mar 2007
To: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#9] 4 Mar 2007
Gary,
With a press and a satellite, one could do the same quantity of mugs in 60 minutes......including prep.......
What an interesting discussion this has become.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#16]
4 Mar 2007
To: precisionlaser [#14] 4 Mar 2007
I wonder if they are the same ones that steered me to the mug press? ( insert devious laugh here).
For what it's worth...
Your experience is worth a lot Mark. Keep it up.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#17]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#1] 4 Mar 2007
Jim,
It will be interesting to hear about your ultimate decision.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18]
4 Mar 2007
To: ALL
Don't forget that there's opportunity in wraps for objects other than coffee mugs:
http://laserreproductions.com/heatwrap.html
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#19]
4 Mar 2007
To: precisionlaser [#14] 4 Mar 2007
Sounds like quite an operation, Mark! Unfortunately I don't have the room for all that additional equipment....but I do like the sound of their oven-of-choice. A quick Google found the unit at Walmart for under $80! Judging by the size of it, I'm guessing about 4 mugs will fit in it at once....correct?
EDITED: 4 Mar 2007 by GREAT_ATLANTIC
From: precisionlaser [#20]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#19] 4 Mar 2007
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#21]
4 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 4 Mar 2007
This setup runs about $1,200 Chuck? Might be able to make that happen if (...and that's a big if) a large order were placed. But Murphy's Law could also put me firmly in the hole if we were to rely on 5-10 mugs at a shot, particularly with a new market for us.
EDITED: 4 Mar 2007 by GREAT_ATLANTIC
From: Mick [#22]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#11] 4 Mar 2007
EDITED: 4 Mar 2007 by MICK
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#23]
4 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18] 4 Mar 2007
Do you use a press in your sublimation business, David?
Pretty interesting to see that other sizes of wraps/products are available.
From: Mick [#24]
4 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 4 Mar 2007
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#25]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#23] 4 Mar 2007
I don't do many mugs. Mostly plates for award plaques and name badges.
When I do press mugs, I have carte blanche at a friend's shop who owns a Novachrome Mug Pro. Older model, with less top to bottom coverage than the newer model, but it's a very nice press.
I try to keep the image area to about 2.875" tall, which is ample for most applications.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#26]
4 Mar 2007
To: Mick [#22] 4 Mar 2007
Get out the wet noodle, but throughout the ARA show I never did lay eyes upon the SmartPress.
Any pictures?
From: Mick [#27]
4 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#26] 4 Mar 2007
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#28]
4 Mar 2007
To: Mick [#24] 4 Mar 2007
Mick,
You have a good point.
From: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#29]
4 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 4 Mar 2007
You are right but you are working for the entire 60 minutes, non-stop, and are getting nothing else done in the mean time. I, on the other hand, have the whole time the mugs are cooking to work on other projects. I can make twice as much money in the same amount of time.
And, if I had 4 sets of wraps and two ovens I could do a gazillion times more mugs than you could with your press.
Best of all, my 4 sets of wraps and two ovens only cost me $360 - how much was your satellite again? :)
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#30]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#21] 4 Mar 2007
That is correct Jim. But if you truly are looking at the potential for a 1000 mug order..........
I can see that Ed and myself very well may be in the minority as this thread progresses, and I DO know there are lots of folks that have more experience than I, and ultimately it is a decision based upon personal preference......but the press, while more expensive just seems so much less cumbersome to *me*. Plus it has less of a foot print on your workspace than an oven.
Ok, I believe that has added up to about 6 cents now. I'm still offering change if you want it. :B
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#31]
4 Mar 2007
To: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#29] 4 Mar 2007
Gary,
This comes down to a work style. For *me*, I tend to not work as efficiently when I am jumping between jobs or projects. I find it is more efficient and a better use of my time for *me* to focus on one project at a time.....
I see your point, however as I mentioned to Jim, ultimately it comes down to a matter of preference in tools.
From: gt350ed [#32]
4 Mar 2007
To: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#29] 4 Mar 2007
Actually, while mugs are in our mug presses, at about 5 minutes per, we are running our laser throughout the day on a variety of high margin projects.
The bottomline is do what works for you. Mug Pro presses work for us. Wraps may work for others.
BTW, no one has mentioned wraps for steins. Since we do quite a few steins, and we do them in the same press as the 11oz and 15oz mugs, we're even more convinced that the Mug Pro press is OUR way to go. And we have 6 years of being continuously online to prove it.
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