Choosing packaging printing and converting equipment often means weighing a full production system against a simple portable coder. The four options here show that range dramatically: two used Gottscho flexographic platen printers, a new SHICAI handheld inkjet printer, and a used Interflex 913 solvent-wash flexographic system. Each serves a different role on a packaging line. The right pick depends on your floor space, volume, and whether you already have a plate-making workflow in place.
Quick take
If your priority is a complete plate processing setup, the Interflex 913 is the only option that includes the solvent-wash photopolymer equipment as a full system, but its listed price puts it in a different league. If you need a flexographic platen printer to integrate into existing machinery, either Gottscho unit offers an entry point. If you want a new, handheld tool for date and batch coding on labels and packaging, the SHICAI unit is the portable choice. There is no single correct answer; the best fit depends on whether you are printing plates or coding finished packages.
Listed-price comparison
The table below compares the listed prices using a visual bar. The spread between the lowest and highest listed prices is $69,370, so the buying decision is less about small price differences and more about whether you need a full system or a focused device.
| Model / Label | Listed Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Gottscho Flexographic Platen Printer 808.25-6.25R | USD 130.00 | |
| Gottscho Flexographic Platen Printer 808.25-6.25 | USD 130.00 | |
| Handheld Inkjet Printer Online Printer Dater Production Modelr Label Coding | USD 174.96 | |
| Interflex 913 Flexographic System - Solvent Wash Photopolymer - Showroom / Demo | USD 69,500.00 |
Decision matrix
Here is how the four stack up by price, condition, and best fit.
| Product | Listed Price | Condition | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gottscho 808.25-6.25R | USD 130.00 | Used | Shop-floor flexographic platen printing with existing support equipment |
| Gottscho 808.25-6.25 | USD 130.00 | Used | Similar platen printer role with an R-less model suffix |
| SHICAI Handheld Inkjet Printer | USD 174.96 | New | Portable date, batch, barcode coding near the packaging line |
| Interflex 913 Flexographic System | USD 69,500.00 | Used | Complete solvent-wash flexographic plate processing |
Gottscho Flexographic Platen Printer 808.25-6.25R
This used Gottscho platen printer, made in the United States, is a flexographic platen printer model 808.25-6.25R. It is a possible fit for shops that already have the surrounding conveyor or mounting components. The reason to choose it is that it is a Gottscho-brand industrial printer without a large capital outlay. The limitation is that the unit is sold as-is, so the buyer takes on the responsibility of checking its condition before putting it into production.
Gottscho Flexographic Platen Printer 808.25-6.25
The sibling model, 808.25-6.25, is also used in the United States. It is nearly identical in title to the R version, so the practical difference comes down to the model suffix. Choose it if you want the same used platen printer without the R designation, or if you need a backup for an existing 808.25-6.25 setup. The limitation is the same as the R model: it is sold as-is, so verification of the unit is up to the buyer.
Handheld Inkjet Printer Online Printer Dater Production Modelr Label Coding
This SHICAI unit is the only new product in the group. It is a handheld inkjet printer that can print text, dates, pictures, barcodes, QR codes, and counters. Its listed applications include supermarket packaging, and the supported media includes labels, paper, and flexographic materials. The reason to choose it is mobility: you can bring the coder to the product instead of running items through a full print station. The limitation is the opposite side of that portability: it is a manual tool, not a continuous production printer, so it is best suited to shorter runs and spot coding.
Interflex 913 Flexographic System - Solvent Wash Photopolymer - Showroom / Demo
The Interflex 913 is a used system labeled as a showroom/demo unit, made in the Netherlands and carrying model IF-913-SYS. It is a solvent-wash photopolymer plate processor with an ultraviolet light source, a metal build, and computer-to-plate technology. The wash system uses an in-and-out layout with rotary brushes that carry solvent to the inverted plate. Choose it if you need a complete solvent-wash flexographic plate processing workflow rather than a single printer. The limitation is the cost and scale: this is a production-system-level investment that requires a workload to justify it.
Condition is a major factor here. Three of the four units are used, so inspection and integration responsibilities fall on the buyer. The SHICAI is the only new unit, which matters if you want a device that has not been through a previous production environment.
Final recommendation by use case
If you are assembling a component-level flexographic platen printing station on a budget, start with either Gottscho unit. If you need a new, portable coder for date codes and barcodes on packaged goods, the SHICAI handheld is the practical pick. If you are building or upgrading a dedicated flexographic plate-making operation and want a complete solvent-wash system, the Interflex 913 is the package that addresses that workflow.
