Hardware - Wide Format Print

Fujifilm is exhibiting its latest line-up of inkjet printing systems and media on stand G10 at Sign & Digital UK 2010 from 13th - 15th April 2010, Birmingham, UK. The recently-launched latest model in the Acuity series of UV flatbed printers will feature on the stand, alongside the euromedia range of products for inkjet roll-to-roll devices.

Showing for the first time in Europe, the Acuity Advance HS is the latest addition to the Acuity series and meets demands for a cost effective, high quality printer with even greater productivity than before. Near-photographic quality images can be achieved at typical production speeds of 40m2/hr, with a new 'express' mode of 65m2/hr for images viewed from greater distances. As with the other models in the series, the printer's ability to print edge-to-edge saves time and labour in finishing, and end-use application possibilities are extended with a white ink option. In addition, a roll media unit can be added to print to a broad range of flexible materials.

Fujifilm has specifically designed the Sign & Digital UK stand to allow both printers and finishers to get hands-on with products in the euromedia range. The euromedia brand includes a wide array of consumables, finishing tools and presentation systems for roll-to-roll printing, with an extensive media range for water-based, solvent-based and laminating applications.

David Burton, European euromedia sales director at Fujifilm, says: "We are excited about our wide-format line-up for visitors to this year's Sign & Digital UK.  By combining the first European showing of the Acuity Advance HS and our euromedia range, smaller printers right through to high-end, high productivity print service providers will find solutions for both roll-to-roll and rigid material decoration on our stand."

 

The first two Go Wide events, held on the 2nd and 4th of February in Glasgow and Leeds respectively, have been deemed a big success with orders placed for a wide variety of large format printers including orders for the new HP Latex Printer L25500.

More Go Wide dates are soon to be announced following the success of the first two events. Printers and representatives from all major large format print and imaging suppliers were in attendance including Epson, HP, Metamark, Seiko and Shiraz.

Darren Walker, MD of DCP Systems comments, “The downturn of last year seems at last to be in abayance and our attendees here seem positive about the future. We’ve talked to all our customers about their plans for the future. Most have cut their cloth already and are now experiencing an upturn in business. They are also now much more aware of the true cost of running old printers that just aren’t energy efficient or require extraction etc… with the launch of the HP L25500 designjet printer and the Seiko mild solvent printer, extraction is a thing of the past but the speed and quality is also far superior than their predecessors. We can now also offer 0% finance on all our HP printers and offers like this that is exactly what the print industry needs to get back on its feet.”

With a product range as broad as any, the addition of further new machines to Mimaki’s range is an excellent reason to visit Sign & Digital UK at the NEC in April. Mimaki’s exclusive UK and Ireland distributor, Hybrid Services Ltd, will be hosting the launch of the new TX400-1800 direct to textile printer along with the show’s debut of the impressive desktop A3 LED UV direct to product printer – the Mimaki UJF-3042. Naturally, Hybrid will also be exhibiting Mimaki’s core sign and graphics printers like the wide format and baby grand JV33 and JV5, the JFX-1631 grand format LED UV cure printer and the Mimaki CJV30 combined printer / cutter machines – ensuring that visitors to their stand will be well served with solutions at every size, price and technology.

The launch of the TX400 is of special interest to print companies interested in providing volume, water based, direct to polyester or dye sublimated flags, point of sale and soft signage work. This printer continues Mimaki’s strong heritage in direct-to-textile printing, delivering impressive production speeds, vibrant colours, low print costs and exhibiting excellent environmental credentials.

The new A3 desktop printer uses Mimaki’s pioneering cold cure LED UV technology to print to small format products or substrate up to 50mm thick. Ideal for promotional products companies, manufacturing applications, small, high quality signage output or the badge and label market, its high resolution output, white ink and fast print speeds deliver a very quick branded product or finished sign.

National Sales Manager for Hybrid, John de la Roche invites existing and prospective customers alike to the show; “On the Hybrid stand you’ll find practically every printing technology that Mimaki produce in a snapshot of their stunning range of hardware. We’ll be delighted to welcome customers old and new, and provide an insight into how investment in a Mimaki can make such a difference to every printing or graphics company.”

 

Graphic Printing Technologies Ltd (GPT) will once again be a major presence at Sign and Digital UK. This year it is exhibiting in its own right on stand B10, and will be presenting the latest range of machines from Mimaki as well as software products from Shiraz and Onyx. Further products will be on the stand and these will be announced nearer the show.

Stuart Cole, Managing Director of GPT, comments, “This is our second year of trading and our second Sign and Digital UK. We still believe this is the best way to meet signmakers from across the country and allow them to see all the new developments that have been made over the previous year. Once again, we invite all visitors to come to our stand to see and discuss the very latest in printers, cutters, finishing equipment and software. We know that signmakers will find the best printing solution for their needs on our stand.”

Highlights on the GPT stand include:

The brand new Mimaki UJF-3042 versatile compact (A3) UV cure printer, which offers exceptionally good value for money. Its cost-effective features include very low energy consumption through the implementation of LED UV curing as well as its ability to print to a vast range of uncoated substrates. It is ideal for badges, cards, packaging, labels, stickers and display products, as well as personalised items.  With a 50mm (2”) print depth the potential is massive.

The rest of the Mimaki range, including the UJV 160 roll-to-roll and flat sheet UV-curable printer with the CF1218 flatbed cutter, will also be on show. Take time to see the JV33 in action, as well as at CG160FX II cutter and the CJV30 160 combination printer and cutter solution. Other new Mimaki products will be on the stand subject to confirmation.

Also brand new to the show will be the new Shiraz v6.7 and Signature 7.1 products. Representation from the Shiraz developers themselves will be on the stand to demo the product and answer questions. More information will be available nearer the time.

Further new products will be on the stand and more information will be available from GPT nearer to the show.

 

 

Roland Launches Revolutionary 64” VersaCAMM VS-640 – One Big Printer/Cutter. One Small Price. Three Great Configurations.

Roland DG, the leading manufacturer and supplier to the sign and allied industries of inkjet printing, cutting systems and related consumables today announced the launch of the new, 64” VersaCAMM VS-640. Available in three configurations, this next-generation printer/cutter continues the record of innovation established by Roland’s VersaCAMM line, and delivers entirely new application potential with genuine metallic ink and the advanced ink handling technology required to print it. The printer is also available configured to print dual CMYK for top quality output at high production speeds, and as a Hi-Fi colour printer with light cyan and light magenta, plus white ink.

Positioned squarely at professional graphics producers such as sign and display manufacturers, the VersaCAMM VS-640 has the potential to redefine what a wide format inkjet printer can do for graphics producers and what wide format digital inkjet print can do for their customers.

Configured to print Roland’s award-winning new Eco-Sol Max metallic ink, the printer produces a dazzling range of pure metallic and pearlescent colours. The user can freely combine silver, process colour and white to effortlessly create a range of specialist effects yet to be imagined. Equipped with a VS-640 configured for metallic ink, the user can produce effects that were once the exclusive province of costly offset or screen processes. Now they’re possible without costly origination or specialised media for use anywhere conventional durable inkjet output can be used - and in thousands of places it never has been.

The VS-640 also features a new print head which enables a greater range of variable dots to be printed. When configured with light cyan, light magenta and white ink, the result is immediately apparent in the printer’s output. Images rich in colour and density now display even smoother gradations, and solid colours are faithfully rendered free of artefacts. Roland’s Intelligent Pass Control further contributes to productivity and quality, elevating the VS-640’s Hi-Fi output into a class of its own beyond four-colour.

For users looking for outright productivity, the VS-640 is available configured with a dual CMYK ink setup. In this configuration, the printer is able to cruise at high production speeds while maintaining quality standards normally associated with unidirectional print. Free from chromatic artefacts, the output stands close comparison with output from printers produced at much slower speeds and gives users of the VS-640 a distinct and measurable commercial edge when addressing the volume markets for print.

Whatever configuration is chosen, the VersaCAMM VS-640 provides a robust 64” print&cut platform in one manageable footprint. Easy to work with, maintenance is largely automatic and requires little in the way of operator intervention. The VS-640 boasts the same ink recirculation system as that introduced on the SolJet Pro III XC-540MT, which prevents the pigment in metallic and white ink from settling, and thus reduces ink wastage and running costs. Also, thanks to a heavy-duty take-up unit, unattended print&cut operation is possible and accuracy is maintained over the longest production runs.

Metallic ink and other configurations ask a lot of the RIP used to drive the printer. Roland VersaWorks 4.0 colour management RIP software is supplied with the VersaCAMM VS-640. VersaWorks supports the Roland Color System, which accurately reproduces spot colours from colour charts and swatches. The Roland Metallic Color library in VersaWorks features metallic colours that print using CMYK+MT in a single pass. This palette features over five hundred colours, including gold, silver, bronze and other metallics, so that users can simply choose a colour from the list in VersaWorks to apply to their graphics. VersaWorks’ other talents also include estimating ink usage and other productivity enhancing features which work with the VS-640 to make it a production orientated partnership.

The VersaCAMM VS-640 also features the all-new Roland OnSupport, a diagnostic support package that assists the user in informing them of tasks such as print finish, low ink or emergency stop via email alerts. A perfect tool for people who cannot afford to be with the printer 24/7 Roland OnSupport is the start of complete control for print producers everywhere.

Despite its innovation-led features and the entirely new possibilities they introduce, the Roland VersaCAMM VS-640 is priced to appeal to print producers of more or less any size at £17,999, including the take-up unit. The first opportunity to see this innovative new machine will be at this year’s Sign and Digital UK, 13-15 of April, where it will be making its European debut.

 

Roland VersaCAMM VS-640 Features:

 

• 64” wide printer/cutter with the latest cutting-edge print-head technology for unmatched print quality and versatility.
  The new print head fires additional smaller and larger droplets than the previous model, totally seven different sizes for more precision printing with reliability.
  New variable droplet technology automatically optimizes the drop size, selecting the most suitable three droplet sizes from the seven available. The result is beautiful and smooth gradation for close viewing. Roland Intelligent Pass Control® also assures the highest productivity whilst maintaining smooth gradations and flawless solid colours
• Compatible with a wide range of media including vinyl, banner, canvas, paper and  transparent film
• Maximum print speed of 23m²/hr
• Available in three ink configurations:
  8 colour CMYK + Metallic Silver + White for unique metallic applications to differentiate from others and the brightest white text, graphics and floods
  6 colour CMYK+LcLm for beautiful and smooth gradation and a broad range of applications
  4 colours dual CMYK for the most economical production
• Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX ink
  512 metallic colours available in the Roland Color System Library
  Combines with CMYK for a spectrum of new metallic hues including gold, bronzes and a wide range of pearlescent colours.
  Just select one of the 512 metallic colours available from the Roland Color System Library and add to your graphic design
• Roland’s unique Advanced Ink Circulation System
  Prevents the pigment in metallic and white inks from settling and reduce running costs
  Requires no manual intervention
• Roland’s integrated Print&Cut technology quickly and easily prints and digitally die cuts finished graphics on demand into virtually any shape
• Take-up system (TUC-2)
  Rolls up Print&Cut graphics automatically for unattended production
  Handles media roll weights up to 30kg (66.1lbs)
• VersaWorks® Professional Colour Management RIP Software included

 

 

With continued demand for short run production, lower costs and greater creativity across the board in direct-to-textile printing, the introduction of Mimaki's new TX400-1800B textile inkjet printer looks set to deliver a peerless solution for the apparel, furnishings and soft signage markets.

Historically, production textile printing has required long runs, cumbersome un-environmentally friendly processes and the costs and time associated with rotary or flat screen printing. The introduction of the Mimaki TX400 provides a solution for volume production of high quality direct-to-textile prints onto a myriad range of fabrics.

With a 1.8m print width and production speeds of around 25sq m / hour, the TX400-1800B utilises an adhesive belt carrier system to stabilise fabrics that have a tendency to stretch and contract during printing. This technology ensures a high quality of result, increased speed and reduced ink usage - alongside the capability of printing to traditionally 'difficult' materials. The high speeds are achieved even with an 8 colour inkset and at detailed resolutions - and the newly designed heater system allows for the rapid drying of the wetted out fabric before it goes onto the powered take-up roller. This also incorporates Mimaki's Web Tension Control System that provides consistent tension over the full width of the print - whether on light or heavyweight cloths.

The machine's inbuilt UISS (Uninterrupted Ink Supply System) automatically switches between ink sacks as the ink becomes spent, easily fulfilling long run, unattended print jobs. With the use of Mimaki's new two litre bulk ink containers, the ink cost is reduced significantly too. Inks for the machine include reactive dye (for printing to cotton and silk), acid dye (for silk, nylon and wool) and dye sublimation inks for polyester prints. As such; the range of work that can be produced with the printer is vast - from haute couture silk scarves through to flags and fabric banners, upholstery and sportswear - the list is endless!

Hybrid's marketing manager, Duncan Jefferies comments; "Production digital textile printing is all about reducing costs, lead times and waste, whilst maintaining quality and creativity. The Mimaki TX400 makes the introduction of a low inventory business model possible, drastically reduces environmental impact and delivers what the customer wants, in the time that they need it."

The TX400-1800B joins the dye sub specific 1800D model at the head of Mimaki's direct-to-textile printer range - adding the adhesive belt to its sister machine's feature list. Delivery of both is expected to commence in Spring 2010 with demonstrations available through Hybrid's authorised textile reseller network.