Can this be true ? Jobo rises again ?

[Dave Langendonk]

... Quick question... re lift arm on the alt 3 and 2300 - we found that we got approx 36000 lifts and then whamo it failed... replacing one is costly and not an easy task.. Do you concur that the arms basically broke down after this amounts of lifts???

Bob,

I also have a 2300. How do you read the number of cycles on the lift arm?

[bob carnie]

Dave I am not sure , but apparently there is a way.. I will ask my tech guy or maybe Greg can help.

Bob,

I also have a 2300. How do you read the number of cycles on the lift arm?

[bob carnie]

My guy is indeed , factory trained at Ciba, Hope processors and Jobo systems.

He is quirky and not able to travel but can do work on Jobos.. May be worth it but once you start needing parts all bets are off.

[peter ramm]

Thanks Bob. What I will miss when the ATL dies is the start it and forget it convenience. Sigh.

[peter ramm]

Greg

I have a tech here in TO who I sent to Jobo Factory in Europe for factory service training on the Alt 2300 and Alt 3, but even with this kind of help it has been a tough couple of years keeping used gear running smoothly.
My interest is only if there is one location that will support the product for at least 7 years after stopping production... Most imagers that I have purchased give this type of help.
This is not unrealistic considering the costs of purchase, rent, maintenence and getting your investment back on gear.

Jobo on the other line basically left everyone hanging ...
Since Jobo pulled the plug so to speak we were left with purchasing used units and as you know getting these units to spec is difficult and for me was costly. Right now I have a Alt 3 -second unit in two years, after a series of 2300 used units.. This is not acceptable to me.

Therefore we have designed an auto device that works with the Jobo expert drums and tanks .. there is no cog mechanisim driving the rotation but rather large rollers... All parts are local and for the same money that is being touted I can have a device that is maintained and serviced locally with home depot parts.
Yes it does not have a lift, I have a water bath on the side using stainless steel tanks... A local guy to me has did all the leg work and for my money I think my unit will be much more robust and practical than this unit they are putting out.

???

Bob, tell me more about your local solutions to the processor problem. I have a really ugly 2200 that works but could sure use some TLC. Are you saying you have a tech who can work on these?

Peter in Niagara

[bob carnie]

Peter

there is a long thread on APUG about this solution..
the design is done by Richard Idle in Ottawa/Toronto so I cannot spill his plans without permission..
Basically think big rollers with strips on the tanks to allow them to be horizontal on the rollers... think big water tank to keep chems tempered and a timing system to count down.

Mixing old tech with new tech but all running on home hardware components and some lathe work by Richard.

Bob

Bob, tell me more about your local solutions to the processor problem. I have a really ugly 2200 that works but could sure use some TLC. Are you saying you have a tech who can work on these?

Peter in Niagara

[Greg Blank]

Bob;

The lift arms require periodic maintainence, the gears and arm's internal "plastic elbow" has to be lubricated. Typically once that is completed, a said tech would reset the service hours for the arm. The brass gears both on the lift and the lift motor require periodic inspection, the brass gears wear and then produce issues with raising and lowering. The lifts are rather simple but not real easy to fix once damaged. For the most I can get the parts for the processors. Personally I was agast when Jobo USA sold thier distribution rights to Omega Brandess (I am sure Jobo Germany felt the same way) at the time I did not work at OB. I needed a PT job in 2006 so I applied when I saw OB was looking for someone. At the time I did not know it was to be a support tech for Jobo. I basically had to jump in and learn electronics repairs for a product line that had 30+ years of history - I did have help from a lot of people outside the company since OB had a fairly large stock of parts at the time I was able to learn, refurbish units and sort of experiment with what did work. Only towards the last two years did I not have any help related to my repairs at OB, I left OB in January 2012.

Greg

Quick question... re lift arm on the alt 3 and 2300 - we found that we got approx 36000 lifts and then whamo it failed... replacing one is costly and not an easy task.. Do you concur that the arms basically broke down after this amounts of lifts???

[bob carnie]

This thread has made me think about the future of film processing from my perspective.

I personally can get away with stainless in small deep tank in all sizes that I use.

For some of my clients the Jobo has been their processor of choice.

Where can I get a list of current pricing on reels , tanks, all gear related to Jobo system??
I need to stare looking at my inventory , finish that project of building my own system, and replacing worn out or well used jobo tank system parts.

[Kimberly Anderson]

We love you Rita!

We're extremely flattered by all the amazing interest in the new processor. We can confirm that following a production meeting at the factory in Germany last week that the project to buid a new film and print processor is very much on the cards. We are measuring interest and the final decision to go ahead with the project will be made at the end of the month. Anyone interested can register at info@firstcall-photographic.co.uk

Whilst replying to this forum other members have asked us about Expert sheet film drums from Jobo. These are very much still available and we include a picture of Rita who puts them all together at the factory.


Rodney Bates

Firstcall Photographic Ltd

[Renato Tonelli]

While I am happy to hear that production will be restarted, I too am concerned about the lift mechanism. It is fine with small tanks but while using the Expert drums I fear for its life.

A stronger lift should not be difficult to accomplish - perhaps automated as well so as to take that lifting up/down function away from less than careful users.

...and thank you for responding in this forum; I for one, really appreciate it.