LATEST PRODUCTS
 Now Available!GenieStar imagebox software starting from $550 Call for details!
 Now Available! Version 3.20A/B d-lab.1 software Click here for
more details!
|
PRESS RELEASES
Going Strong by Jennifer Barr Kruger With a continuing commitment from manufacturing and service companies, AGFA Minilabs remain viable for labs and retailers. The outlook was questionable at best for AGFA equipment owners when AGFAPhoto became insolvent almost 2 years ago. But today, that picture is much brighter, with a range of options for new and used AGFA Minilabs as well as service and spare parts. Equipment and Service The very heart of AGFA Minilab equipment today is Minilab Factory GmbH, Roettenbach, Germany, a division of Foto + Minilabsysteme R. Saal GmbH, the only company still manufacturing new AGFA Minilab equipment, such as d labs. The company also refurbishes and sells Minilabs from AGFA, Fugifilm, and Noritsu; provides technical service in Germany; and produces and supplies parts to partners in various parts of the world.... Knights Imaging owner Werner von Stein II has a different take on service contracts. "Lots of people want a service contract for parts and labor, but they want it at the price AGFA used to charge. AGFA subsidized the service costs by selling chemistry and paper," von Stein says, "Obviously, I can't do that. There is also a cost involved for me to physically get to the site to repair the equipment. It just wouldn't be feasible for me to offer a service contract for a certain fee." Instead, von Stein simply tries to keep the costs of his service affordable for customers. "I offer parts for a good price. If the customer is capable of putting the parts in himself, I will help over the phone. If not, I will travel there and install the parts at a fair hourly rate," he says. "Think of it this way: Let's say you're spending $1,000 per month for a service contract. That $1,000 would buy lots of parts and service, especially at our price of $90 per hour. I think it's a valuable choice. "Some people have the perception they will not survive without a service contract," he adds. "There are some parts on these machines that are very expensive to repair. Do they ever go out? Yes. Is it common? No. There are insurance pocicies that cover service as well. But especially for companies in metropolitan areas that are easy for us to get to, a service contract may not necessarily make sense." Keeping prices low for his customers is critical to the success of his own business, von Stein says. "I'm not trying to become rich overnight," he explains. "If I charge prices people can't afford, they will go out of business. I need my customers to be there 5 years or 10 years from now. I would rather grow my business slowly, and have more business in the long run." Excerpt from PMA Magazine, December 2007 issue, pp 22-24. Foto + Minilabsysteme R. Saal GmbH and Minilab Factory GmbH announce Sales, Service, and Maintenance alliance in the USA and Canada beginning July 1, 2007 Foto + Minilab Systems R. Saal GmbH and Minilab Factory GmbH of Roettenbach, Germany are pleased to announce that Photo Tech Enterprises, Inc. of Vancouver, Canada (Owner, Roger Boon) and Knights Imaging, Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas (Owner, Werner von Stein) have been appointed as factory authorized distributors for Minilab Factory's AGFA d-lab series of Minilabs and Saal Certified Minilabs for Canada and the USA. Photo Tech Enterprises, Inc. and Knights Imaging, Inc. will also provide field service, telephone support and will stock and resale parts for all current Saal new, Saal Certified refurbished and former AGFA MSC / AGFA d-lab Minilab equipment. Information on Foto + Minilabsysteme R. Saal GmbH and Minilab Factory GmbH Europe's largest reseller of used Minilab equipment. Manufacturers of the AGFA branded d-lab 1, d-lab 2, and d-lab 2+ Minilab series and Image Box kiosks and associated software. Supplier of original parts for the AGFA d-lab and MSC series of Minilabs. Resellers of Saal Certified refurbished Minilabs - AGFA, Fuji, and Noritsu brands. Saal Certified Minilabs have been totally refurbished to a "like new" condition and production tested at the Roettenbach facility. Website Links: www.Minilabs.net or www.minilabfactory.de Information on Photo Tech Enterprises, Inc (Canada) Vancouver BC, Canada-based service and photo support company. Parts and service support provider to mass and independent AGFA equipment owners. Telephone support services, on site maintenance, equipment sales, and parts distribution for former AGFA Equipment. Service representatives in Vancouver BC, Edmonton Alberta, Toronto Ontario, and service provided in Quebec in cooperation with Pri-Ex, Inc. Contact: info@minilabfactory.ca Tel: 1-888-936-0428 or direct contact @ 778-882-0052 Information on Knights Imaging, Inc (USA) Fort Worth, Texas-based newly formed service and photo support company. Owner, Werner von Stein, is a former service technician and manager with AGFA Photo USA for over 19 years. His father, Werner von Stein Sr, is one of the founders of CeWe Color AG, Germany. Telephone and e-mail support services, on site maintenance, equipment sales and parts distribution with main focus on former AGFA equipment. Contact: werner@minilabfactory.us Tel: 1-888-577-0428 or direct contact @ 707-843-2432 |