What does the machine do?
It's a secondhand five-year old four-colour B3 press that is configured with semi-automatic plate changing, vacuum-feed board and PDSE, which colour manages sheets inline and during the run.
Describe your business
We are a B3 commercial print firm, based in Washington, Tyne and Wear. We print continuous stationery and leaflets.
Why did you buy the press?
We felt that we wanted to boost capacity and invest in the latest technology.
Why did you choose this particular machine?
We were previously a Heidelberg house, but a few years ago we bought a company called Tyne Valley Offset. They had Ryobi machines and we never had a problem. When it came to making an investment in a new four-colour unit, we looked at what Heidelberg had, but the price was too high.
How did you make the purchase?
I went online. A local print firm had gone bust and the receiver held an online auction to sell off the kit. When the 524 came up we thought we would give it a go.
What features do you particularly like?
I'm impressed by the colour, speed and automation. It can run at 11,000-12,000sph easily. It's also extremely easy to use and the quality is excellent. Ryobi have upgraded the RIP.
Is there anything that you dislike?
There is nothing. It has been excellent.
Is there anything that you wish it had that it doesn't?
No. I think everything is catered for.
How reliable is it?
It's very reliable and a really robust machine. It has been running extremely well. We have a need to make things efficient and prove to our customers that we can produce quality print on time, everytime.
How much time or money has it saved?
It has saved us a lot of time; we have been doing jobs almost twice as fast. Jobs that previously took two hours to produce are now taking 45 minutes.
Where there any difficulties during the installation?
No, it went quite well. We were able to carry on working and it didn't disrupt the running of our business.
Has it won you any new work?
It has. We have been able branch out into brochures. It's a new market for us and we have been able to handle loads of them. We've also been taking on work for other printers. One nearby firm runs jobs through a B1 KBA press. It's obviously not ideal for short-run work, so they come to us to handle that kind of work.
Would you say that it offers value for money?
Definitely. Since the installation at the end of last year, we haven't reduced our prices and our turnover has actually gone up. By getting more work through, it's meant that we are definitely bucking the industry trend at the moment. It has made us very efficient.
What about the after-sale service?
We didn't deal directly with Apex when we bought it, but they have been good with service. They replaced a couple of rollers and these were fixed well and quickly.
Who do you think the machine is right for?
Pretty much any printer. The key thing about the press is its versatility. The machine really can do anything on the colour side. We are a B3 company so companies that are similar in size will benefit.
Under what circumstances would you buy another?
We won't be looking for another one for a while; our technology is up-to-date. However, if the economy returns to normal, then it would be an option.
Conclusion
User's verdict
Speed 5/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 5/5
Value for money 5/5
Supplier's response
Ryobi UK sales and marketing manager Neil Handforth says: "The HXX has been around since the start of the 1990s. The beauty of the machine is its fast makereadies; semi- automatic plate changing means that it takes only 40 seconds to change a plate per unit. The machine suits any B3 market and is very easy to operate. The machine's successor was the Ryobi 524GX, launched at Drupa 2004."
Price From around £140,000
Contact Apex Digital Graphics 01442 235 236 www.apexdigital.co.uk
