Buying a Used Komori Lithrone? A Practical Guide Based on Your Operation

So you're looking at a used Komori Lithrone. Whether it's an LS, a SX, or an older series, the question isn't really "Is this a good press?"—everyone knows Komori builds solid machines. The real question is: is this the right press for your specific setup?

My experience is based on managing purchasing for a mid-sized commercial shop in the Midwest—we run a Lithrone LS 29 (circa 2012) alongside a newer digital press. I've been involved in two press acquisitions and helped a few colleagues at other shops through their own searches (unfortunately). So I can speak to the trade-offs, but if you're running a massive packaging operation or a tiny quick-print shop, your mileage will vary.

Here's my take, organized by the three most common scenarios I've seen. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but there's probably a fit for you in here.

Scenario A: The Established Shop Looking for a Second Line or a Speed Upgrade

You're already running a press—maybe an older Heidelberg or a first-generation Lithrone. You know your volumes, your margins, and your pain points. You're looking at a used Lithrone because you need more throughput or better automation to stay competitive.

My advice: This is where a used Lithrone with the KHS Hyper System becomes a genuine game-changer. Don't just look at the press; look at the automation package. The KHS system isn't a gimmick. On our LS 29, it cut makeready time from about 35 minutes to under 12 on repeat jobs. For a shop running 4-5 changeovers a day, that's an extra 1.5-2 hours of production time.

People think you buy a used press to save money on the purchase price. Actually, you buy the right used press to save money on every job after the purchase. The KHS system pays for itself in about 18 months if you're doing short-run commercial work (circa 2023 pricing, at least).

What to watch for:

• Check the KHS version. The early KHS (pre-2015) is good. The newer KHS-AI (after 2017) is significantly better at predicting ink zones. If the seller doesn't know which version, walk away. (Granted, this might not matter if you're doing long-run packaging work.)
• Verify the service history. A well-maintained 2010 Lithrone with 80 million impressions can be a better buy than a neglected 2015 with 40 million. Service records matter more than age.
• Parts availability. As of January 2025, Komori's parts network is solid for models from 2005 onward. But older machines—say, pre-2000—can have lead times of 4-6 weeks for specialty parts. Budget for that.

To be fair, you could buy a new press and get the latest tech. But for a shop that's already profitable, a used Lithrone with KHS lets you add capacity at 40% of the capital cost.

Scenario B: The Growing Shop Moving Up from Digital or Small Format

You've been running digital presses—maybe an Epson or a Xerox—or a small-format offset press. Your customer base is pushing you toward longer runs, higher volumes, or better color consistency than digital can deliver. You're looking at a used Lithrone as your first real production offset press.

Honestly, this is the riskiest scenario. I've seen three shops take this leap. Two succeeded; one sold the press within 18 months.

My advice: Don't buy the biggest press you can afford. Buy the one that matches your workflow. The temptation is to get a 40-inch (LS 40) because it seems like more capability. But if your average job is 5,000 sheets and you're running four-color work, a 29-inch (LS 29) will be faster to makeready, easier to learn, and cheaper to maintain.

I assumed bigger was better when we upgraded from a two-color Heidelberg. Didn't verify our job mix projections. Turned out 70% of our work fit on a 29-inch, and we were dead time on the 40-inch for three days a week. We swapped to the 29 after a year. (Ugh, but we learned.)

Key considerations:

• Training is real. Your digital operators don't know offset. Factor in at least 4-6 weeks of ramp-up time, and don't expect full quality for 3 months. Budget for Komori's official training—it's worth the cost.
• Space and power. A Lithrone 29 needs about 300 square feet and a 3-phase power connection. We had to run a new line (cost us $4,200). Check your facility before you commit.
• Lease vs. Buy. If you're considering a commercial printer lease, a used press is often easier to lease than new equipment because the depreciation curve is lower. But the interest rate will be higher. I've seen rates range from 6-11% depending on the press age and your credit. (As of Q3 2024 industry data.)

Look, I'm not saying don't do it. But go in with your eyes open. The cheapest Lithrone on the market isn't a bargain if you spend the first six months troubleshooting.

Scenario C: The Price-Driven Buyer (and Why I'd Caution You)

You have a hard budget. You need a press, and you're looking at used Lithrones because the price is right. You're comparing quotes from three dealers, and you're leaning toward the lowest one.

This is the scenario where I see the most mistakes. In my experience managing about 80 equipment-related orders over 5 years, the lowest quote has cost us more in 60% of cases.

My advice: Don't look at the press price alone. Look at the total cost of getting it running. Here's a rough breakdown from our last acquisition:

• Press price: $85,000 (2010 Lithrone LS 29)
• Shipping & rigging: $6,500
• Installation & calibration: $4,800
• Training (2 operators): $3,200
• First year of parts & consumables: approximately $8,000
• Total first-year cost: approximately $107,500

The $85,000 press actually cost $107,500 to get running. That $22,500 delta is the hidden cost. If you're buying at $65,000 from a private seller with no support, that delta could be $30,000+ if something goes wrong.

People think the physical press is the investment. Actually, the support ecosystem is the investment. Paying $5,000 more for a press from a dealer who offers a 90-day warranty and parts support is usually worth it.

Learn never to assume a low price means a low total cost after my experience in 2021. We bought a 2008 Lithrone for $62,000—seemed like a steal. The seller had no records. Turned out the dampening system needed a full rebuild ($11,000). The dealer we worked with later told us they'd flagged the serial number as a problem machine, but we hadn't asked. (To be fair, we should have checked dealer records.)

If you're in this camp:

• Get a pre-purchase inspection by a Komori-authorized technician. The $1,500 you spend could save you $20,000. I'm not 100% sure, but I think most dealers offer this as a service.
• Ask about parts availability for that specific model year. Some years had unique parts that are now hard to source.
• Negotiate on included training and service, not just the price. A dealer who includes 2 months of phone support is worth more than one who shaves $3,000 off the price.

So, How Do You Decide Which Scenario You're In?

Here's a quick litmus test. Be honest with yourself:

• Scenario A if: You have an existing offset press running profitably, and you need a second line or a faster makeready. Your operators know offset. Your job mix is balanced (mix of short and medium runs).
• Scenario B if: You're moving up from digital or small-format. Your average job is under 10,000 sheets. You don't have an offset-trained operator on staff. You're planning to grow into the press.
• Scenario C if: The price is the primary decision driver. You're comparing multiple quotes and feeling pressure to minimize upfront cost. You have a hard budget under $100,000.

Most of these issues are preventable with proper due diligence. The right used Komori Lithrone can be a workhorse for a decade. The wrong one can be a money pit. The difference usually isn't the press itself—it's how well the press fits your operation.

Between you and me, if I had to do it again, I'd probably have gone with a slightly newer SX series instead of the LS, even if it meant stretching the budget. The automation gains in the SX (as of 2024) are noticeable, and the resale value holds better. But that's a trade-off worth discussing another time. (Honestly, I've never fully understood why the LS series retains value so well—it's a great press, but the SX is objectively better in almost every metric.)

Good luck. And if you're looking at a specific machine and want a second opinion, don't hesitate to track down a Komori dealer's service engineer. They know which serial numbers to avoid.