Prepress, Used platesetter CTP, is Gerber/Barco C42?

Need Help Used platesetter CTP, is Gerber/Barco C42 good?

>> Hello,
>> I am looking at buying a used CTP device to
>> get into the CTP environment. I have been offered
>> a the Barco/Gerber Crescent 42T and I am not sure
>> if this would be a good buy. We are looking at this
>> investment as a stepping stone. I am looking
>> at getting feedback for users of Gerber/Barco
>> and other machines on the subject.

>> shroff

Hello Shroff,

You came to a good place for some very valuable feedback. I could write volumes about the poor performance of both Gerber as an organization and the C42 as maybe the most unreliable device ever sold.

I would not haul away a gerber C42 if it was given for free. We had two of them at my former employer and it ruined two years of my life. We actually had to send press crews home at times because we could not get the machines repaired and running to make a good plate. We had HUNDREDS of pages of service reports for the same things time after time.. Once we had a laser go out, we received three consecutive lasers as replacement that were DOA, that is, the new laser shows up, you put it in, and it does not even work. That meas three out of four of the most critical part on that device were bad RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. Can't trust the machine, the parts, or the service and support.

If you cannot afford a new device, which I would recommend. Then look at the flatbed or external drum, manual loading devices. Stay away from any. . . .
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