You get what you pay for! We went with 8 color M&R with no regrets. It's paid for itself over & over.
Very few repairs over all the years of use & tech support is good. Plan out where to place it on your shop floor is key - you don't want to move it around once it's calibrated.
I have a HIX 6/6 that I bought from Westix. I think it's pretty great. Some minor problems and I had to do some adjustments to help it hold registration 100% but I'm very happy with it. Hydrolics instead of springs!
You get what you pay for! We went with 8 color M&R with no regrets. It's paid for itself over & over.
Very few repairs over all the years of use & tech support is good. Plan out where to place it on your shop floor is key - you don't want to move it around once it's calibrated.
I have used them all and my opinion is M&R by far... the easiest to use and the least problems and best support.....if you have the money there is no choice....wich M&R manual...."Sidewinder", "Chameleon"< I'd avoid this one) or the good ole "Blue Max"( mine is 15yrs old and still cranking out money)
I used to work for a guy that has one and his has been a nightmare. Crappy registration, loose platten brackets, etc. They even agreed it wasn't right and replaced the pallets and the new ones had the same problem. Hey also said it was not put together even ( meaning looking down and arm you could see it mounted off to one side or the other). That's why I've always stayed away from them. I know that everytime I mention it there is always someone who has one they love, so maybe his was just a bad one.
Hopefully your buddy has the only bad one! This is the first time I've heard something negative about HIX.
My next press might be an M&R tho, just to try something different, and because so many people say it's the best.
My previous press was a CAPS brand 4/4. I had to replace it in less than a year because it was so messed up; lost registration, didn't move smoothly, the little bolt that sticks up to catch the arm every quarter turn was so aggressive that I had to have it held down with duct tape. I say stay far away from CAPS. Since then, I've heard a lot of other people complain. It's a coat rack now, and a place for me to put random things, like a very expensive table. OH YEAH and they shipped me a used one when I paid for a new one!!!
Also might want to check out American M&M Rototex manuals as well... very, very solid. We got ours used about a year ago for a good deal, and it's made thousands of shirts a month without a hitch.
Also might want to check out American M&M Rototex manuals as well... very, very solid. We got ours used about a year ago for a good deal, and it's made thousands of shirts a month without a hitch.
i just purchased a used rototex as well, couldnt be happier. its extremely solid as mentioned above. i would love an m&r but im very happy with what i got.
I say stay far away from CAPS. Since then, I've heard a lot of other people complain. It's a coat rack now, and a place for me to put random things, like a very expensive table. OH YEAH and they shipped me a used one when I paid for a new one!!![/quote]
please stay away from caps. unless you need the worlds biggest paperweight.
i just purchased a used rototex as well, couldnt be happier. its extremely solid as mentioned above. i would love an m&r but im very happy with what i got.
the basic patents on the registration on the M&R came from the rototex, the two companies have a shared history from what I understand(chicago area)....the M&R is lighter and easier to use when printing fast....but they are in essence "step brothers" as far as manuals go....but getting parts for old american rototex machines can be iffy
Buying a new manual press 
