Hardware - Wide Format Print

 

Roland DG today announced that it received three awards in the 2010 European Digital Press (EDP) Awards. The coveted EDP Awards are judged on innovation and recognise the best products of the year introduced in the European market. Roland DG’s innovative inkjet technologies were recognised in the following three categories:

Best Wide Format Print & Cut Machine: VersaCAMM VS-640 64” Wide-Format Metallic Inkjet Printer/Cutter

The VS-640’s compact design, accelerated print speeds and the option of a white plus metallic ink configuration, generating more than 500 metallic colours, made this product a clear winner. The VS-640 combines a new generation of print head technology and an ink circulation system with improved ink flow and circulation. The VS-640 also features Roland OnSupport software, which alerts users of low ink, print finish status and emergency stops via e-mail.

Best Emerging Technology Printer: SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT World First 54” Wide-Format Metallic Inkjet Printer/Cutter

The XC-540MT is the world’s first wide-format metallic inkjet printer/cutter. Featuring six colours, CMYK+Metallic Silver+White (CMYK+Mt+W), Print& Cut and amazing production print speeds, the XC-540MT was a worthy winner. The metallic ink can be incorporated easily into the workflow using the included Roland VersaWorks RIP software.

Best Alternative Ink Technology: ECO-SOL MAX Metallic Ink, Roland ECO-SOLVENT Metallic Ink

The Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX ink can be used to create vibrant silver text and graphics previously impossible with any inkjet printer. The new Metallic ink can be printed as a spot colour or combined with CMYK inks to produce a range of coloured metallic effects. The ink was first introduced in 2009 with the XC-540MT and is now available with the VS-640, including the new metallic colour library with more than 500 metallic colours.

Each of these award winning products will be displayed on the Roland DG Stand (B2-340) at FESPA 2010 to be held in Munich, Germany from June 22 to 26, 2010.

 

Wokingham-based CMYUK Digital has been appointed as a key UK reseller for the Seiko I Infotech ColorPainter H-Series of mild solvent production printers from Colourgen. This appointment extends the close working relationship between the two companies, which has been in place for more than 15 years.

Jeff Biggs, Managing Director of Colourgen, comments, “The Seiko H-Series has established itself as the printer of choice for companies requiring high quality solvent printing at very fast speeds. It is ideal for major production projects, such as floor graphics, where quality is important and getting the work finished on time more so.”

Jon Price of CMYUK Digital, says, “We are finding that companies with hybrid UV-curable machines are looking to off-load some of the roll-fed work they are getting onto solvent machines, but this needs to be done at a production speed that makes it worth their while. The Seiko H-Series delivers this speed in spades, together with phenomenally good print quality. At CMYUK Digital we always ask the customer what they want to do before offering them a solution and if we don’t have the right products, we don’t try and shoehorn something in for the sake of a sale. By adding the Seiko to our portfolio, we are extending the range of printing solutions we can offer and increasing our overall capabilities for our customers and their business.”

He continues, “Colourgen has always been one of our main suppliers and we have always had very good service and support from them. We will be able to take customers and prospects to Colourgen’s demo facilities to show what the Seiko can do. We can also take advantage of their technical expertise, support capabilities and the extensive product testing they provide on all their printing systems.”

Biggs concludes, “CMYUK’s reputation is second to none and we are delighted to welcome their experience and expertise to help bring the Seiko to market.. CMYUK Digital and Colourgen  are also major suppliers for the EFI range of RIPs, which work very well with the Seiko and together, we can offer a complete and hugely productive solution for a range of retail and business applications.”

The ColorPainter H-74-S and H-104s are the fastest printers in their class, with printing speeds of up to 50 smph in 8 colour mode and 100 smph in 4 colour mode. They achieve this while maintaining high image quality and colour density, meeting the requirements for professional quality outdoor graphics and high volume users.

Certified Solution for Digital Production of Traffic Signs

Wide format inkjet printer manufacturer Mutoh Belgium nv introduces a new  compact 65” (1651 mm) wide roll-to-roll digital UV inkjet printer for high quality production of road traffic signs, safety and information signs, called Zephyr TS.    Based on Mutoh’s Zephyr UV platform, the new Zephyr TS will print directly onto retroreflective sheeting, using specially formulated UV inks.  The combination of printer, UV inks, retroreflective sheeting and UV protection overlay film fulfills the European standard for fixed vertical road traffic signs (EN 12899-1:2007).

Delivered as a total solution (including workstation and RIP software), Mutoh’s Zephyr TS will create traffic signs with brilliant colours, meeting the colour box and retroreflectivity requirements for road traffic signage.  The printer delivers typical high quality production speeds up to 28 m²/h, using specially developed high gloss print modes, a feature not available on competitive UV traffic sign printers.

Strategic Partnership with Nippon Carbide Industries Co., Inc., Japan (NCI)

“Our new Zephyr TS UV printer will bring new capabilities to analog traffic sign manufacturers, providing them a dedicated solution for the digital production of traffic signs, safety and information signs.    The solution will enable traffic sign producers to complement their existing production equipment and will offer them faster turnaround, more flexibility with regards to production planning and last but not least will enable them to reduce their environmental footprint”, comments Arthur Vanhoutte, President of Mutoh’s European operations.

“To develop this solution, we have entered into a strategic partnership in 2007 with the retroreflective business unit of the company Nippon Carbide Industries , having extensive application and R&D know how regarding the production of traffic signs and manufacturing of retroreflective sheeting”, Vanhoutte continues.

“A key development goal has been to have the Zephyr TS printing solution pass conformity testing in accordance with the European standard for road traffic signs.   The development cooperation Mutoh – NCI resulted in adapting our Zephyr UV platform for printing directly onto NCI’s Nikkalite® range of retroreflective sheeting materials, using specially formulated and dedicated inks suited for traffic sign production (Red, Blue, Yellow and Black).    The icing on the cake is that today, Mutoh and NCI are able to market a fully certified digital printing solution with warranties up to 10 years, offering peace of mind to traffic sign manufacturers”  concludes Arthur Vanhoutte.

Certified Solution

Production of road traffic signs is a very specific application for which critical and specific regulations need to be met with regards to colours, retroreflectivity and UV fading.

The manufacturing of fixed vertical road traffic signs is specified in the European standard

EN 12899-1:2007.   To comply with this standard, extensive tests by an official lab are required with regards to retroreflectivity and colours, as well as weathering tests on printed data.

Test results for the Zephyr TS solution confirm full conformity with the European standard.  Warranties of 7 and 10 years can be given, depending on the type of Nikkalite® retroreflective sheeting which is used.

The warranties are stipulated in a declaration of conformity issued by Nippon Carbide Carbide Industries in accordance with EN 12899-1:2007, for the combination Mutoh Zephyr TS printer, Zephyr TS UV inks, Nikkalite® retroreflecive sheeting and the recommended Nikkalite® overlay film.

Available immediately, the new Zephyr TS printer solution will be co-marketed by Mutoh and NCI all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa.   The printer and the inks will be available through a dedicated network of Mutoh Authorised resellers.   The retroreflective sheeting materials will be available through Nippon Carbide Industries.

The new Zephyr TS printer will be displayed at the oncoming Fespa 2010 show, in Münich, Germany.

 

As the final count-down starts for FESPA 2010, IGS UK has announced its new Internet presence at www.elementsps.net which covers the entire Elements range of green printers and complementary inks, materials and software. The immense levels of interest generated since the initial announcement of this truly versatile and environmental production solution has also resulted in demand from partners and regional distributors across Europe and the rest of the world.

The Elements family of wide-format printers is the first to incorporate a totally green ink formulation which has the durable properties of solvent-based chemistries without any of the hazards or odours. Supplied as complete turnkey system, including H2O inks, a comprehensive and growing selection of matched Krypton Eco-Media plus the specially configured Chromium RIP, full information on all the individual products can now be found on-line.

Visitors to the Elements stand at FESPA (Hall 3 Stand 490) can see regular daily demonstrations of the Elements Atom 24 (610 mm) and Atom 44 (1118 mm) outputting to a variety of materials, including a 1.5 mm rigid board which is FSC certified, plus eco-aware canvases, photo-based media, wallpapers and clear films. Although specifically designed for output onto green products, normal sign-making vinyls can also be used, enhancing the overall versatility of the printers and inks.

Because of the fast-growing interest in the Elements solution across Europe and beyond, IGS UK has already attracted a large number of potential distributors and partners to its stand at FESPA. Nick Wintle, managing director of the company, states: “We’re not surprised at the huge amount of response we’ve already received for this new environmental printing system which appeals to office users as well as to the display sector.

“As a result, we are eager to discuss the Elements range with partners and distributors who are visiting FESPA in the search for new and innovative technologies,” Wintle continues. “For this new family of products it’s essential that our channel can hold stocks and provide support as well as promoting our printing system. This is an unusual opportunity for distributors to be in at the start of a new generation of green digital production.”

Find out more by visiting www.elementsps.net and see the printers launched at FESPA on Stand 490 in Hall 3.

Based on industry-proven Epson Stylus Pro printers, the Elements Atom range is then modified to facilitate the use of Elements H2Os' unique and outdoor durable hot-cured water-based resin inks.

Elements printers feature the Epson MicroPiezoTFP Print Head - quite possibly the most advanced ink jet print head technology ever developed, offering extreme print performance and dot placement accuracy.

 

 

Start-up company achieves successful first year with several HP large format printers

HP today announced that Oxigen, based in Fátima, Portugal, has installed Portugal's first HP Scitex XP2300 Printer, in addition to an HP Scitex FB950, an HP Designjet L65500 and an HP Designjet L25500 Printer, in order to serve customers in the advertising and communication industries.

The company, established in May 2009, aims to produce high-quality digitally printed, wide format materials to clients in Portugal, Madeira, the Azores and most recently, Spain. It has rapidly established itself in the marketplace as a highly responsive supplier of innovative and unique products, which are produced in an environmentally responsible way.

"As a new company on the market we needed to ensure that our equipment was the most advanced, high-quality and environmentally sound that we could find, so that we could offer customers something new and competitive," said Miguel Vicente, Executive Manager, Oxigen. "Our range of HP printers ensures that whatever the job, we can print it quickly, with minimal waste and in an environmentally responsible way, yet still ensure a very high quality."

The range of large format printers available from HP is accelerating the conversion from solvent to UV and Latex ink technologies. These dedicated inks provide versatility across a very wide range of substrates from paper to plastics. Whatever the media, fast-drying HP UV-curable and Latex inks deliver outstanding application versatility and long-lasting colour.

The HP Scitex XP2300 Printer is a 3.2m-wide UV printer, ideal for high-speed production environments producing durable outdoor signage. Featuring industry-leading print speeds of up to 233 m2/hr and a variety of advanced capabilities designed to maximise productivity, eliminate workflow bottlenecks, and reduce ink and media costs, the HP Scitex XP2300 Printer enables customers to cut operating expenses and increase profits.

Miguel Vicente continued, "The XP2300 allows us to guarantee the printing of large format jobs for all types of outdoor signage, with particularly good results when printing double-sided jobs. It enables us to keep costs to a minimum, as we can use 3m wide PE - instead of PVC, which is lighter, cheaper and better for the environment - our customers certainly appreciate that."

Oxigen's other HP printers also reflect its commitment to providing fast turn-around, high-quality printing with the environment in mind. The L series machines ustilise Latex Printing Technologies, including HP Latex Inks and HP Wide Scan Printing Technology, in addition there is a range of recyclable substrates(1) available. Compliant with industry-leading certification, Nordic Swan, HP Latex Inks do not produce ozone emissions during printing and contain no hazardous air pollutants(2). This means improved working environments for print service providers and a greater range of places - especially indoor locations - where graphics can be used.

The HP Scitex FB950 Printer is a robust flatbed UV printer that delivers high-quality prints and high productivity on virtually any rigid(3) or flexible media(4) for the production of durable outdoor and indoor applications, including POP/POS signage, tradeshow graphics, interior decorations, banners and street furniture.

Miguel Vicente concluded, "The FB950 is a great addition to our portfolio. A very productive machine, its efficient media loading and the ability to print multiple sheets at the same time allows us to accommodate a wide range of customer requests."

 

Mimaki, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and cutting machines, received two EDP awards at the official EDP (European Digital Press) Awards ceremony at Ipex 2010.  The company’s new compact UV LED printer UJF-3042,  launched in January 2010 won “Best UV Curable Entry Level to Mid Range Printer” with the second award, for “Best Textile Printer”  going to the Tx400-1800D – Mimaki’s new direct-to-textile and dye sublimation transfer printer.

The world’s first A3 UV LED Printer, the UJF-3042

The UJF-3042 is already widely recognized as a truly innovative and unique UV solution. As the first truly affordable A3 UV LED printer available, it opens the UV printing market up to a wide range of companies looking to print and personalise promo items, cards, nameplates, novelties, electronics covers and more. The UJF-3042 is an A3 size (30x42cm) flatbed UV LED curing printer which can print objects up to 5 cm thick, at a maximum resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi. The printer incorporates Mimaki’s groundbreaking UV LED curing technology, which offers many advantages, including very low power consumption, problem-free printing on heat sensitive media and LEDs lasting up to 10.000 hours, which is about 10 times longer than conventional metal halide UV lamps.

Tx400-1800D textile printer

The Tx400-1800D belongs to a new generation Mimaki textile printers that offer both direct to textile printing as well as printing on transfer paper. The Tx400-1800D can reach speeds of up to 56 m2/h and is targeted at the soft signage, interior design, sports apparel and fashion digital printing markets. The Tx400-1800D is a 1.8 meter wide, highly productive, direct-to-fabric printer that can be used with three different ink types such as dye sublimation ink for polyester, reactive dye ink for cotton and acid dye ink for silk. Furthermore, fabrics such as wool and linen can be printed.