Ink Cost for i-Image STE

[Be3305]

Looking to figure the ROI of purchasing an i-Image STE against continuing to print films on our Epson T3270. I have all of the ROI info for the process improvement, efficiency and film savings. Right now we are currently spending $400-$600 per month on average for ink with the Epson. I'm trying to project the ink cost of using an i-image to compare the two.

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

[ffokazak]

Haven't done any hard costs per screen,

But we have used 2.25 Litres since June in our machine, 30 +/-  screens a day. 180$ a litre.

Obviously it will be less in for a 6 inch tall 65 DPI halftone image than a solid block 19 inches tall.

[zanegun08]

If you are looking at ink cost for the DTS for comparison, you are over looking the big picture.

For I-Image I think you'll be like .06 cents to .50 cents per screen, so less than films,

but you also won't have to catalog films, find them, tape them, un tape them, get better registration, less pin holes.

Ink cost is the smallest part of it, your ROI comes in saved labor, better screens, and digital file system and better repeatability.

If you are to the point of comparing numbers, just pull the trigger on DTS and never look back.  It's worth it and the new i-Image S is like 30k, so has a more palatable price if the throughput is high enough for you, get a separate exposure unit LED as you can keep the unit printing while another is exposing, exposing on "press" is a gimmick unless you only run plastisol with a fast emulsion

[Dottonedan]

For those who have the STE, 1 and 2, you can scroll (right tab) through the LCD screen and get to the area where you count your screens exposed and screens printed (per shift).  Figure out how long you have had the machine, then count the bottles you've purchased. That gives to an accurate read on how many screens per day you do and what you are getting out of your ink.

Many don't even use this, but it's a good feature.  It counts the total exposed and total prints (per the life of the machine) also not just per shift or day.

[cbjamel]

Looking to figure the ROI of purchasing an i-Image STE against continuing to print films on our Epson T3270. I have all of the ROI info for the process improvement, efficiency and film savings. Right now we are currently spending $400-$600 per month on average for ink with the Epson. I'm trying to project the ink cost of using an i-image to compare the two.

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

I have the t3270 and use 700ml carts i am using 2 black 3 cleaning carts 8-10 screens a day for the last 10 months, how many 700ml carts have you gone thru? all black or

Shane

[244]

Looking to figure the ROI of purchasing an i-Image STE against continuing to print films on our Epson T3270. I have all of the ROI info for the process improvement, efficiency and film savings. Right now we are currently spending $400-$600 per month on average for ink with the Epson. I'm trying to project the ink cost of using an i-image to compare the two.

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

roughly .03 to .07 per screen

[Rockers]

Looking to figure the ROI of purchasing an i-Image STE against continuing to print films on our Epson T3270. I have all of the ROI info for the process improvement, efficiency and film savings. Right now we are currently spending $400-$600 per month on average for ink with the Epson. I'm trying to project the ink cost of using an i-image to compare the two.

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

roughly .03 to .07 per screen

Will that average be the same for the i-Image S? Toying with the idea of getting one next year.  Would most likely order as well plenty of ink for refills if shelf life permits. What is the shelf life of the inks? Lead times on the i-Image S are fairly long I was told?!

[244]

Looking to figure the ROI of purchasing an i-Image STE against continuing to print films on our Epson T3270. I have all of the ROI info for the process improvement, efficiency and film savings. Right now we are currently spending $400-$600 per month on average for ink with the Epson. I'm trying to project the ink cost of using an i-image to compare the two.

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

roughly .03 to .07 per screen

Ink cost will be exactly the same. One liter is good for 1,600-2,000 screens and shelf life is roughly one year on the ink. Leads time are long at the moment as sales are extremely strong. Will get much worse as there are multiple shows left this year.
Will that average be the same for the i-Image S? Toying with the idea of getting one next year.  Would most likely order as well plenty of ink for refills if shelf life permits. What is the shelf life of the inks? Lead times on the i-Image S are fairly long I was told?!

[GKitson]

While this conversation about consumable cost per screen is informative it is totally irrelevant to the decision to implement and/or operate a CTS unit.

When talking pennies per unit the ink cost is just not a factor when compared to the saved time and improved productivity CTS provides.

My 2 cents...

[jvanick]

While this conversation about consumable cost per screen is informative it is totally irrelevant to the decision to implement and/or operate a CTS unit.

When talking pennies per unit the ink cost is just not a factor when compared to the saved time and improved productivity CTS provides.

My 2 cents...

Greg is right on the money (pun intended) here...

BUT.. if you look at just the cost savings of ink + films, I believe the ROI on a 30k unit is now around 100 or so screens a week.  To say nothing about the efficiency gains in the rest of your shop eliminating the handling of film, registration marks, faster exposures, far fewer if not any pinholes etc.

[Doug S]

For a mom and pop like we are, there is no way we could've pulled off yesterday without dts.  We printed only 1000 or so shirts but that thousand consisted of 9 orders ranging from 1 to 7 color prints.  A total of 82 screens with just me setting up and tearing down.  I had to micro 3 of those screens.  Even if the ink cost were the same as film and ink, I would still go dts.  Consumables are the least of my concern.  It's the other areas that dts improves on that has made my mind up to always have dts from here on out.

[244]

While this conversation about consumable cost per screen is informative it is totally irrelevant to the decision to implement and/or operate a CTS unit.

When talking pennies per unit the ink cost is just not a factor when compared to the saved time and improved productivity CTS provides.

My 2 cents...

I agree but just answering the questions. Just like printing the last thing to consider is the ink cost.

[bimmridder]

Obviously image size makes a difference. I have been tracking this for years and I'm right at .07 a screen. This is for thousands of screens a month, sized everywhere from newborn to adult.

[Shanarchy]

What is the general screen/week volume a shop should be doing to consider a $30K CTS such as the i-image s?

I know we will be nowhere close to that mark yet, but just curious at what point this should be considered.

[ZooCity]

Agree with others that your consumable costs aren't worth calculating and comparing when considering CTS.  They will be lower all around unless you are running super cheap inkjet film and ink but it's not the big picture. 

If you have funds available that wouldn't steal from what you see as a more critical purchase (like a first auto, etc) and would like the benefits, just get a CTS.