Shops that have Oval machines

[TCT]

Questions for shops that have oval machines, I don't care what brand.

- Why did you go with a oval vs a traditional circular machine. Space?

- Do you think there are advantages ovals have over traditional circular machines?

- Anything you don't like on a oval vs traditional circular machine?

We are in the early steps of a big move and adding equipment and I got quotes on ovals along side traditional circular machines, and they are obviously more expensive for the same number of colors. I do understand you get a few additional open pallets depending on how you have them configures. But the ones I had quoted had print head in every location aside from the ends. 

[Colin]

Alex - Since you are all WB inks.  You will see improvement in your ability to flash more often as needed.  Speed is still more than most shops can ever exceed.

Of course being modular is always a plus.

Eric at Night Owls has had his oval for a little bit now - he can fill you in on how his transition/adjustment is going.

[ericheartsu]

We've had ours for a month now. and honestly, if i could fit another one, i'd figure out a way to replace our Eco with one.

The Oval we have, we got for a killer deal, so maybe that's part of it, but it's so versatile.

Upside:
-You can literally configure it however you want.
-You can put flashes in wherever you want/need.
-You can have an iron/roller on your first head to help smooth out the tee/grab lint (although we still haven't perfected any of this).
-You can set up multiple multi color jobs all at once.
-You don't lose heads due to needing flashes.

Downsides:
-Space. Ovals take up a ton of room.
-Depending on how big you go, walking around it can be a thing.
-Think cleaning pallets on 12 pallets sucks? Try 36.
-Think changing pallet tape on 12 pallets suck? Try 36.
-Ovals move a bit slower (at least ours does)

[DannyGruninger]

I would take a look at your average color count, how many flashes it takes, etc. Here at dph our oval can virtually run any job we throw at it which is a huge plus but it comes with some disadvantages. For me personally I’d rather use the eco or next we have but the oval just makes any job we throw at it simple to execute. Knowing a bit more of what your wanting to accomplish would help determine how I’d approach it but overall we are extremely happy with our oval.

[Jepaul]

Just look back over all your days of printing.   If you could flash and cool down after every color would they have been beneficial to you?

[TCT]

Thanks for the replies(and emails Dave) guys!

Basically we got quotes on ovals with 14 colors and 20/18 pallets(3/2 on each end). So there are no open heads. We also got quotes on 14 color 16 pallet traditional presses. So with that said I am not really interested in having a machine with a print head and 2 open spaces after, that to me just seems like a waste.

I would say currently a HIGH color count for us is 8 colors. We have done 9, but it totally sucks only currently having 10 print heads. With that being said, when we had our first auto it was 6 colors and never did we need all 6 colors. We were not turning away 6+ color jobs, we just didn't have anyone wanting any. When I upgraded I went with a 10 color press because it was literally the biggest thing we could fit into the addition we put on for it, and the addition is about 8" from the public sidewalk outside. So I made things as big as we could. A year or two after getting the 10 color the 6-7 color jobs became more common. I would say in the last 3 years we have turned away 2 jobs because they were too many colors, and honestly I think even with a 16 or a 18 color machine printing it all in discharge would of not gone well because of the artwork. There was 1 we printed as 9 colors that really would of looked better as 11. A 5 or 6 color job is pretty common for us, but it would be nicer to run some higher color counts and have space to not need to go around twice.

So after all that mumbling, reading what everyone has told me(as long as I'm interpreting it correctly) the versatility of a oval is nice. I totally get that.  But I think even if we were to run a 10 color job on a 14/16 circular machine we would still have the same versatility? The downside is if we started getting say 12 color jobs, you can't add on to a 14/16 circular machine.

I guess where I am personally, is I WANT a oval, I have wanted one ever since I saw them all over the factories in Portugal 7 years ago. They are just so damn cool. So I have the emotional side of things messing with my judgment. My "rational" side, as tiny and miss guided as it may be, is asking me if the additional $30-50K depending on model and brand is worth it for a oval?   

The three main things that stick with me on the "Pro-Oval" side are:
- Ability to add on to the machine in the future for more pallets/colors if our work ever goes that way.
- EVERYONE has said they love their ovals(regardless of the brand) and if they could, they would get another one.
- You have a friggin' oval

Thanks for listening to my ramblings and your opinions guys. We were/are in the middle of negotiating a big potential move, adding equipment and bringing on some big clients we have been putting off as this whole virus thing hit. As of yesterday things are still on track, just delayed. So I am trying to keep my mind on the work we currently have to do and just trying to plan for the future months so I am more prepared, which is not always my strong suit... 

[3Deep]

Just look back over all your days of printing.   If you could flash and cool down after every color would they have been beneficial to you?

Your statement there really made me think of printing on a manual press, just doing it on an auto

[Jepaul]

One thing I would encourage you to consider.

I often see people rationalize the oval with the commment “I can add to it in the future”. You actually can but from my experience it is rarely If ever done.  The install cost “it is not easy to do in the field” is high regardless of what a mfg might tell you. I would get in writing what additional modules would cost you in the future including the install and negotiate that now.  I’ve seen mfg jack up module cost really high down the road because they don’t want to mess with doing the install of a module.

Also, you should ask ROQ about the new “RUN” model. 20-30% less than they PRO and half what an EVO is.  They will tell you it isn’t available in the states and is only for LATAM and Asia clients. Tell them to figure it out.

[TCT]

Also, you should ask ROQ about the new “RUN” model. 20-30% less than they PRO and half what an EVO is.  They will tell you it isn’t available in the states and is only for LATAM and Asia clients. Tell them to figure it out.

I did talk to them about the RUN, I didn't get any push back. My only concern is that the RUN is not to the PRO/EVO what the YOU is to the ECO/NEXT.

[Jepaul]

Also, you should ask ROQ about the new “RUN” model. 20-30% less than they PRO and half what an EVO is.  They will tell you it isn’t available in the states and is only for LATAM and Asia clients. Tell them to figure it out.

I did talk to them about the RUN, I didn't get any push back. My only concern is that the RUN is not to the PRO/EVO what the YOU is to the ECO/NEXT.

That’s a perfect comparison

[TCT]

Also, you should ask ROQ about the new “RUN” model. 20-30% less than they PRO and half what an EVO is.  They will tell you it isn’t available in the states and is only for LATAM and Asia clients. Tell them to figure it out.

I did talk to them about the RUN, I didn't get any push back. My only concern is that the RUN is not to the PRO/EVO what the YOU is to the ECO/NEXT.

That’s a perfect comparison

Annnnnnnnnnnd that is why I was no too keen on it. They were also very stuck in the fact it NEEDED to have 2 open spaces after every print head. Which I really have no interest in.