Why should I consider buying a UV flatbed printer for corrugated signs if I already have an eco-solvent printer that can be used for the job?
This is a great question.
The Current Eco-Solvent Workflow
So, if you have been on the fence about adding a UV-flatbed printer for a while now, this article may help you in your decision process. You have your old reliable eco-solvent printer that you have been using for everything for years, but it may not be the most efficient option compared to a UV flatbed printer for corrugated signs. You currently print the designs you need onto vinyl. But it doesn’t stop there. Unlike a UV flatbed printer for corrugated signs, the process requires multiple steps before the sign is finished. You need to let your prints gas out overnight (though 48 hours may be better). You need to mount the vinyl to the sign blank, making sure it is straight and smooth – no bubbles or wrinkles. If you didn’t cut it to exactly the right size, you will need to trim the excess off the edges of the sign blank.
Whew! Are you tired yet?
The Simplicity of UV Flatbed Printing
Or you could lay them on the bed of a UV flatbed printer for corrugated signs, like the ColDesi UV-300H3F, and hit PRINT. Every minute to minute and a half, you unload the printed signs and lay two more down. Wash, rinse, repeat … if necessary.
Now, let’s look at the numbers.
We must establish a few baselines. For the sake of this drill, we are going to assume an average labor cost (before taxes and benefits) of $20 per hour for the operators/technicians in both scenarios. Our job will be to compare the associated costs of generating 100 single-sided 24” x 18” corrugated signs. The numbers may surprise you!
Eco-Solvent Printer Cost Breakdown
- Ink cost 15-30¢ per square foot – 3 square feet per sign = 45-90¢
- Vinyl cost 25-35¢ per square foot – 3 square feet per sign = 75¢ - $1.05
- Labor to set up and print 100 signs – 30-60 minutes - $10-20
- Labor to apply once printed – 2-3 minutes per sign @ $20 per hour = 200-300 minutes = 3.67-5 hours to do 100 signs = $65-100 labor costs
Not including print time, gassing-out time, and trimming time, the total cost for ink, vinyl, and application labor comes to $195-305.
UV-Flatbed Printer Cost Breakdown
(ColDesi UV-300H3F)
- Ink cost 20-35¢ per square foot – 3 square feet per sign = 60¢ - $1.05
- Vinyl cost – NONE NEEDED
- Labor to set up and print – NONE NEEDED – DIRECT PRINT
- Labor to apply once printed – 2-2.5 hours @ $20 per hour = $40-50
Total costs to produce 100 completed corrugated signs – $100-155.
Profit and Productivity Gains
When we break all this down, we can see that printing the signs with your current eco-solvent printer versus a UV flatbed printer for corrugated signs results in almost double the labor costs. The same is true of the cost of supplies (ink + vinyl vs. ink only). Your profit on the order increases between $95-150! Add to this the fact that you can conservatively produce at least two times as many orders per week with the flatbed UV printer.
If you print 400 corrugated signs a week (4 orders like the one above), you will save $400 to $600 per week on supplies and labor, plus free up that labor for 8-10 hours per week to produce additional income. Your ROI, just doing 400 of these signs a week, is 18-24 months for a UV-flatbed printer like the ColDesi UV-300H3F! And that is only printing 8-10 hours per week. Imagine what new and exciting revenue streams you can generate with those additional 30-32 hours in the workweek with your new UV-flatbed printer!
Faster Turnaround and Happier Customers
Now, let’s also look at the other factors involved here. You generally need to let eco-solvent prints gas out at least overnight in order for them to be application-ready, eliminating quick turnaround orders and cluttering up your workspace. Prints coming off a UV flatbed printer for corrugated signs are ready immediately for delivery. Walk-in orders can be processed the minute the UV-flatbed printer is available. Quicker turnaround times mean happier customers, and happier customers spend more money and are more likely to pass your business card to someone else looking for signage!
Using the Right Tool for the Job
One last thing. You bought the eco-solvent printer for a reason, and it likely wasn’t to print vinyl for corrugated signs. It might have been banners or vehicle wraps, you know, better revenue-generating items. If you are tying up your eco-solvent printer doing corrugated signs, what work are you missing?
Ready to make corrugated sign production faster, easier, and more profitable? A UV flatbed printer like the ColDesi UV-300H3F can eliminate vinyl, reduce labor, and allow you to print directly onto corrugated signs in minutes, helping you increase your margins and take on more orders each week.
Discover how a UV flatbed printer for corrugated signs can transform your shop’s productivity and profitability. Contact ColDesi today to speak with a product expert, request a sample print, or schedule a live demo of the UV-300H3F in action.
Call us at 877-297-4123, fill out the form below, or live chat to get started today.
