Desktop Memjet Printers

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Arrow Launches Trade In Program for Desktop Memjet Printers

Let’s be honest, your old Afinia, VIPColor, or Trojan printer has probably earned its keep. It’s printed thousands of labels, powered countless jobs, and maybe even helped you land your first big client. But here’s the truth no one likes to say out loud: what got you here won’t get you there.

The market is faster, sharper, and more demanding than ever. Now, the real question isn’t whether your printer still works, it’s whether it’s still working for you.

This blog will help you navigate:

  • The challenges faced with older/legacy inkjet label printers.
    Why a trade-in upgrade to a state-of-the-art system like the ArrowJet family makes sense.
  • How to structure a trade-in program that benefits you and your clients.
  • Key criteria to evaluate your upgrade decision, and how to maximise return on investment.
  • How Arrow Systems supports you through the process: trade-in value, upgrade path, implementation.

What’s Holding You Back?

Let’s identify the pain-points of staying with older inkjet label printing machines:

Slower throughput & productivity limits

The older style, desktop printers were designed for a different market than what we see today. As jobs shift to faster turnarounds, higher volumes, more variable data, and an increasing demand for eco-friendly solutions, the older style printers can become a problem.

The older, desktop Memjet printers just do not offer the same speeds, roll-handling, or finishing throughput as newer models. The ArrowJet uses a Siemens PLC to enable the machine to run up to 150’/min versus the slower 18-27’/min of the desktop styles.

Rising cost-of-ownership

  • Maintenance: older print heads, tougher to source parts, downtime risk
    • The ArrowJet uses the latest printheads which last significantly longer than the VersaPass heads
    • Parts are easy to find a locally available in most major markets

  • Ink cost: Desktop style Memjet printers utilize small, expensive ink tanks
    • The ArrowJet has options for 2L, 10L, and 55L bulk inks
    • This reduces your operating costs allowing you to keep more of the profits!

  • Waste: mis-feeds, roll misalignment, higher rejects translate into cost
    • The desktop style printers often used offline unwinders/rewinders leading to mis feeds and jamming
    • The ArrowJet features all Siemens based PLC design which allows for high-speed roll to roll feeding with no jamming or waste!

  • Compatibility: newer inks, new substrates, finishing expectations may not align with older machines
    • As your company grows you need to continue to reduce operating costs
    • Arrow has developed inline and offline primers to work with our print technology!

Quality & aesthetics expectations rising

Brand owners expect sharper print, richer color, more premium finishes, faster turnarounds. If you’re using a machine that struggles with newer substrates (say premium metallic films, flexible packaging, or specialty applications) or slower drying, you may lose premium jobs or face re-prints or outsourcing.

Risk of obsolescence / support issues

Technology evolves: manufacturers may stop support for older models, parts become scarce and more expensive, service becomes slower. Some trade-in programs highlight exactly this risk. For example, one vendor warns that outdated printers can pose network security risk and slow productivity.

If the device you own is nearing end-of-service, the risk of failure, compatibility issues, or inability to print new materials increases.

Competitive disadvantage

If your competitors have upgraded to newer machines with faster speed, better substrate compatibility, and lower running costs, you may find yourself losing jobs on price (to offset your higher cost) or losing jobs on inability to offer premium finishes.

Trade-In & Upgrade to ArrowJet

Here’s how a well-structured trade-in upgrade program solves those challenges:

Fresh technology, improved capability

By upgrading to a modern ArrowJet system, you gain:

  • Faster print speeds and higher throughput: meaning more jobs per day, shorter turnarounds, higher margin
  • Broader substrate compatibility: ability to run premium PP, PET, metallic, holographics and flexible packaging materials reliably
  • Better ink efficiency: newer machines often use more advanced inks, drying systems, and less waste
  • Enhanced finishing workflows: automated roll-handling, servo control, better web stability
  • Future-proofing: you’re ready for next-generation media, higher expectations, and emerging markets

Risk-reduction through trade-in credit

A trade-in program gives you value for your older assets and smooths transition cost. Many vendors run such program (for example, trade-in of old printers for cash rebates) to encourage customers to upgrade.
By doing so you reduce capital expenditure, maintain cash flow, and move to higher productivity quicker.

Better total cost of ownership (TCO)

While the upfront cost of a new machine may be higher, the operational savings, higher yield, less downtime, less waste, higher margin jobs combine to improve TCO. Plus you open doors to new premium jobs, which boosts revenue!

Competitive advantage & market positioning

With upgraded equipment you can market yourself as “high-speed digital label converter with premium inks” rather than “legacy-printer operator”. That helps you win new clients, higher value jobs, and clearly differentiate.

Here are actionable steps to design or engage with a trade-in program:

  1. Inventory your current machines
    • Model, age, hours run, maintenance history.
    • Are there known issues (roll feed, finishing problems, colour inconsistency)?
    • What substrates/media can you run and where are you constrained?


  2. Define your upgrade criteria
    • What minimum speed/throughput do you need?
    • What substrates do you want to run (premium metallic, holographic, PP, PET)?
    • What finishing workflows are you moving toward (e.g., full roll-to-roll, high speed, automated slitting)?
    • What budget or monthly cost can you allocate?


  3. Estimate the cost-savings/benefits
    • Calculate downtime costs, waste costs, opportunity losses on premium jobs
    • Estimate how many more jobs you could do with the new machine
    • Estimate the margin lift from being able to offer premium materials
    • Include the trade-in credit from the old machine to reduce cost


  4. Communicate with your vendor/partner
    • Ask about trade-in eligibility: what models are accepted (often older Afinia, Trojan, VIPColor etc)
    • Get clear terms: credit value, condition of machine, timeframe, how the transition works
    • Ensure you schedule installation, training, integration with your workflow


  5. Plan transition with minimal disruption
    • Ideally, you should run the old machine until the new is installed and validated
    • Plan substrate trials, print-test runs on new machine ahead of production ramp
    • Train operators, update workflows, ensure finishing processes work with new systems


  6. Leverage the upgrade as marketing
    • Announce to clients that you have upgraded equipment and can now offer premium substrates, faster turnaround, better quality
    • Use it as a differentiator in proposals: “we now run metallic gold PP inkjet-coated film on ArrowJet, giving you shelf-impact” etc

Why Arrow Systems is Your Ideal Partner for Trade Ins

At Arrow Systems, we understand the entire ecosystem: from printer hardware (trade-in for older Afinia, Trojan, VIPColor machines) to substrate (premium film) to finishing workflows. Here’s what we bring:

  • A track-record in label printing, offering and supporting digital inkjet systems and substrates.
  • A structured upgrade path: we help you evaluate your old printer, quantify trade-in value, and plan upgrade to ArrowJet.
  • Synchronized substrate and hardware strategy: your new machine + our premium material guarantee = optimal output.
  • Training & support: we get your team up and running, minimize ramp-up time.
  • We help you position yourself in the market as the premium converter with upgraded capability.
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FAQs

While it may still print, you might be leaving productivity, substrate flexibility, margin on the table. The upgrade gives you new capabilities, new market opportunities, and better ROI. The trade-in credit also softens the cost.

With proper planning (old machine runs until new machine validated, trial runs on substrates, training ahead of production), transition can be smooth. The long-term gains in productivity justify the short-term planning.

Even if your current job mix is “standard”, the ability to handle premium jobs gives you optionality. The market is evolving; early adoption keeps you ahead rather than catching up. Plus the new machine will likely handle your existing jobs better, so you’re improving now even before premium jobs come.

Conclusion

Being “good enough” is no longer enough in digital Label printing. If you are still operating legacy inkjet label printers like Afinia L801/L901, VIPColor or Trojan T2-C, you’re likely facing hidden cost-leaks, substrate limitations, reduced ability to capture premium jobs and potential obsolescence.
A well-structured trade-in upgrade to an ArrowJet system gives you the speed, substrate flexibility, finishing capability, reduced waste and future-proofing you need  while the trade-in credit softens the investment.
At Arrow Systems we’re ready to partner with you, assess your current equipment, help you select the right upgrade, plan the transition, and support you with substrate and finishing ecosystems so you hit the ground running.

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