Product Reviews

Launched at Drupa 2004, the Ryobi 520 GX series is only just starting to filter through to the secondhand market. According to Neil Handforth, sales and marketing director at Apex Digital Graphics, six years is usually around the time that users start looking to switch to the latest version of a machine or upgrade to another model. It also roughly coincides with the length of a typical financing agreement.

The 520 series was originally launched back at Ipex 1988 and celebrated its 20th birthday two years ago. It is testimony to the robust build quality of the machine that a new 520 GX has essentially the same design as the original model, says Handforth.

While the machine's core design may be roughly the same, a number of enhancements to the 520 range have been added over the years to bring it inline with the demands of a modern printing business. Just two years after launch, the basic model was superseded by the 520H, featuring alcohol dampening technology. In 1997, this evolved into the HA, before the HXX was introduced in 1998, incorporating high-spec options such as semi-automatic plate changing. Then the entry-level HE, which had a reduced specification, was added in 2002. This was ultimately succeeded by the GE in 2008, with features, which Handforth says, took it closer to the GX.

In Autumn last year, a five-colour GE was added. "This was to give the range a five-colour 52cm machine, but with a low pile-delivery that makes it ideal for people with smaller printshops," he explains.

Targeted at the commercial B3 market and available in one- to six-colours, one of the key attractions of the 520 GX is its V-shaped five-cylinder configuration. This allows the press to print two-colours with just one gripper 'bite' � on a four-colour machine only four grippers are required for a sheet to pass through the complete printing process. As a result the machine is able to handle heavy stock � up to 0.6mm � and can print at a top speed of 15,000 sheets per hour (sph) � compared with 13,000sph on the HX and HXX � all with minimal marking or mis-registration, according to Handforth.

Faster makereadies

The GX also featured enhanced make ready capabilities with Handforth claiming a plate can be changed in as little as 40 seconds per unit. "It's very fast and very accurate," he adds.

SPECIFICATIONS
Max speed 15,000sph
Max sheet size 520x365mm
Stock range 0.04-0.6mm
What to look for
General wear and tear