Jeff,
The Useful life will be at least 5 years....
Probably 10 years.
I expect the plate media to change
as new polymers are developed. I expect this
early in 1997. This will extend the useful life
of this machine.
Imation, the new 3M spinoff, Polaroid, Toray,
and Agfa are all developing new thermal materials.
I purchased the QM-DI 2 months before the World
introduction at DRUPA in May 1995. I purchased it
from a hand written spec sheet. Approximately
50 users paid $ 350,000 each, I was among the first
twenty five to place orders. Those ordering at
DRUPA were paying $ 425,000... and those who
order now pay $ 488,000 as of April 1st. So being
an early user has its benefits.
This is a short run printing press... not a copier.
As such it will not be upgraded, except for the
change of media that consists of the plate material,
Possibly a laser change to a smaller spot size to
allow higher resolutions, made possible by manufacturers
like CREO.
A new QM-DI 5 color might be introduced when the
backlog of presses is met in '97. This is an opinion..
no facts to back it up
The reason I purchased the QM-DI is for printing
short run book covers, runs from 250 to 5000.
Image once, print many. I have a large investment
in Siemens 600dpi web laser printers that print
the insides of the short run books... I needed
a cover printer. |
