03 Nov 2024

Konica Minolta Launches New 72mm-Wide Inkjet Print Head for Industrial Use, Reducing Energy Consumption by 50%

Konica Minolta KM1024 Printhead

Konica Minolta IJ Technologies, Inc. have announced the introduction of their 72-mm wide KM1024 series inkjet print head for industrial use with 1024 nozzles in the middle of November. Compared with the conventional inkjet head, it greatly reduced the energy consumption, thus making it environmentally sound product.

The new KM1024 is cutting-edge piezo on-demand print head developed by Konica Minolta to meet industrial needs for higher printing quality. It is characterized by its 1,024 nozzles as well as its 72mm-wide print head, which means that it has twice the number of nozzles and is double the width of the KM512 series inkjet print head that has been chosen by many industrial customers. The characteristics of the new KM1024 print head make it an ideal choice for print systems that require higher productivity, such as single-pass inkjet printers.

By incorporating a newly developed lower capacitance actuators, KM1024 reduced power consumption by 50% compared with the conventional KM512, making it more environmentally sound. Another new technology is the development of IC, enabling printing in eight grayscale levels, and thus better satisfies the needs of customers for higher-resolution print images. In addition, the thin body of the print head enables simple and compact design of head mount systems when mounting a number of print heads into a printer. To cater to a wider range of industrial needs and for greater ink compatibility, the new print head is offered in two versions: with or without a heater.


Main features

  • Adoption of 1,024 nozzles and the 72mm-wide print head has resulted in a drastic increase in productivity.
  • The newly developed lower capacitance actuators reduce energy consumption by 50% compared with the per nozzle energy consumption of the KM512 series.
  • The new IC is capable of reproducing 360dpi x 360dpi images in maximum of eight grayscale levels, delivering rich color tones and high resolution.
  • The thin print head, which measures 131mm (W) x 18mm (D) x 89mm (H) and weighs only 140g, enables compact design of head mount systems and print system.
  • To better serve industrial needs, a print head with a heater is also available. Solvent, oil and UV inks can be used.


Konica Minolta’s inkjet business continues to offer to industrial inkjet printer users high-performance inkjet print heads, multi-functional inks, and related equipment and systems - all incorporating its proprietary material and precision processing technologies. With the introduction of the KM1024 series inkjet print head, Konica Minolta aims to broaden the applications of its industrial inkjet printer technology.

Mutoh Viper TX Soft Sign printer - a new opportunity?

Mutoh Viper TX

 

As keen industry watchers, here at LFR we've always been surprised at the apparent lack of interest here in the UK for fabric printing and soft signage - in other countries soft signage is a buoyant market sector, perhaps nowhere more so than Italy  - we are off to Viscom Milan later this week, and if that particular show runs true to form, every other stand featuring large format printers will have one of those printers producing directly onto fabrics.

Perhaps this latest soft signage printer from Mutoh will get a few more UK users thinking about the possibilities...

 

For volume producers of soft sign prints, Mutoh launched the Viper TX Soft Sign printers at Viscom Dusseldorf a few weeks ago - enabling direct printing onto soft sign polyester fabrics with open and closed structure.

Available in 64” (163 cm) and 88” (222 cm) widths, the Viper TX Soft Sign piezo inkjet printers are fit for a wide variety of applications : heavy duty flags, banners, architectural graphics, sport arena displays, wall murals, home furnishings, curtains and much more.

Offering a solid industrial design, the Viper TX Soft Sign printers enable a paperless workflow. The machines are equipped with an infrared dryer and fan bank as well as a fixation unit.

Including a heavy-duty media unwinding/winding system with front and back fabric stabilisation belt for media rolls up to 150 kg, the Viper TX Soft Sign printers offer typical production speeds up to 37 m²/h. The printers use environmentally friendly VOC free water based direct disperse inks.

Press On Digital Imaging Saves Time, Improves Work Environment With New HP Designjet L25500 Printer

Printed using HP Designjet L25500 Latex Printer

 

Challenge:

  • Press On Digital Imaging needed a large-format printing solution that would help sharpen its competitive edge and broaden its offerings.


Solution:

  • New HP Designjet L25500 Printer with HP Latex Inks
  • Recyclable HP large-format printing materials, including new HP Light Textile Display Banner
  • HP Large-format Media take-back program


Results:

  • Fast-drying HP Latex Inks help improve turnaround times critical to winning new business and improve Press On Digital
  • Imaging’s work environment.
  • The HP Designjet L25500 Printer appeals to environmentally conscientious customers by delivering odorless prints3 on recyclable HP printing materials.

HP Designjet L25500 Large Format Latex Printer


Make-or-break technology

In the fiercely competitive large-format printing market, technology can make or break a business. Investing in the right technology at the right time can make a positive, long-term impact on a company’s bottom line. For the last six years, Press On Digital Imaging (PODI) has made HP its technology provider of choice.

The U.K.–based company tried many manufacturers’ models before turning to HP in 2003 when it was drawn by HP’s rapid technology advancements. In August 2009, PODI turned to HP technology again to set itself apart from the competition, becoming one of the first to use the new HP Designjet L25500 Printer with HP Latex Inks.

PODI needed no-compromise performance for its busy retail, events and construction customers, and it was eager to put the HP Designjet L25500 to work. “This is an ideal printer for anyone wanting an all-around performer that’s easy to use and has indoor and outdoor versatility,” explains Andy Wilson, PODI managing director. “Plus, it has the same reliability HP is known for, and HP Latex Inks that improve my work environment and give me a competitive edge.”

Do-it-all versatility and ease of use

With a customer base that demands a wide range of large-format printing offerings, Press On Digital Imaging benefits from the indoor and outdoor versatility of the HP Designjet L25500. HP Latex Inks deliver sharp, vivid image quality that stands up to close inspection as well as long-lasting, durable prints that withstand the elements.

PODI immediately put these capabilities to the test on both fronts. It printed advertisements for an international coffee company for placement on elevator doors in malls around London. It also created outdoor prints for the 8-foot walls that surround construction at the Park Lane Hilton in London. In both settings, the results were outstanding — and fast.

Wilson notes that HP Latex Inks’ fast dry times were essential. Compared with solvent-based printing, PODI saved more than eight hours of drying time on the elevator-door prints. It also saved 36 hours of drying time on the prints for the Hilton, which allowed the company to produce the 516.67 square feet (48 square metres) of advertising in just three days.

The HP Designjet L25500’s versatility and fast turnaround times help PODI meet tight deadlines, and it provides tremendous advantages when it comes to winning print jobs. “The quickest company is often the one that gets the work. With HP Latex Inks, we’ll never again worry if the prints are dry, and we’ll be that much faster than the competition,” Wilson explains.

Beyond these features, Wilson says the ease of use of the HP Designjet L25500 also stands out. He explains that, because of the HP Latex Inks’ consistent results, “you don’t have to learn through trial and error like you do with a solvent-based printer. Plus, you don’t have to strip it down every morning and clean it religiously. When the printheads run out, you simply replace them.”

Competing-edge printing

The HP Designjet L25500 and water-based HP Latex Inks also provide Press On Digital Imaging many of the benefits of eco-solvent-ink technology, without the environmental, health and safety considerations. The benefits to print service providers are significant. The inks require no hazard labels and contain no hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).1 Plus, they are nonflammable and noncombustible.2 All of this can help to create an improved working environment for printer operators.

The benefits to environmentally conscientious customers are also substantial. The HP Designjet L25500 produces odorless prints3 and is compatible with HP recyclable large-format media, including new HP Light Textile Display Banner which can be recycled through the HP Large-format Media take-back program.4 Wilson says that by avoiding landfill disposal and associated expenses, media recyclability could present real cost advantages that can be passed on to customers.

Benefits to customers and print operators lead to a distinct competitive advantage. According to Wilson, many customers in the United Kingdom put a high priority on reducing the environmental impact of printing. “Green solutions are increasingly required by customers. Having a product with a better environmental profile opens doors and wins business,” he says.

Reliable performance makes a smart investment

The competitive nature of large-format printing means there is no room to make mistakes or miss deadlines. That requires technology with performance that is always reliable. And Wilson explains that reliability is one of the main reasons he’s stayed with HP, and why he runs a fleet of eight HP Designjet Printers.

“When I’m bidding for a job,” Wilson says, “I need to have the confidence that I can deliver on time. If the machine breaks down, I’ve lost a customer for good. We’re a small business, and technology is a big investment. In my experience, HP technology has always been reliable.”

Roland DG announces first XC-540MT metallic inkjet printer purchase

Sigma Print & Media Group

Irish company Sigma Print & Media Group today announced it is the world’s first customer for the new Roland DG XC-540MT wide format metallic inkjet printer. Offering an unprecedented use of metallic inks, the new XC-540MT metallic inkjet printer will enable the company’s new wedding book division to bring unique, robust and visually brilliant printing options to its line of bespoke personalised wedding and photo books. The wide format metallic inkjet solution was unveiled at the recent Sign & Digital Ireland show, and marks a quantum leap for the printing industry, enabling users to print silver in addition to the regular CMYK+white to create a whole spectrum of metallic colours.

“The photo book market is one of the fastest growth markets within the print industry, and with the introduction of the XC-540MT, we are able to bring a very unique and emotive product to the marketplace” said Rory Kelly, CEO, Sigma Print & Media Group. “The ability to produce dynamic metallic colours and finishes will enable us to create high end and bespoke covers for our wedding books and photobooks. All individual tastes and preferences can be accommodated. We see becoming Roland DG’s first worldwide customer as the first step towards a lengthy and mutually beneficial business relationship.”

"We are proud to have an innovative industry-leading company like Sigma Print & Media Group as the first customer for our XC-540MT metallic inkjet printer,” said Martin Phillips, Director of Sales Roland DG (UK). “This new strategic customer relationship with Sigma is very much a synergy in thinking between our two companies. With the XC-540MT, we are continuing to push the boundaries of technology to evolve with our customers’ ever-changing business needs. This new evolution in printing will allow customers like Sigma to differentiate themselves from their competitors while reaping the rewards of value-added service and increased profitability.”

Roland DG SolJet PRoIII XC-540MT

About Sigma Wedding & Photo Books

Sigma Print & Media Group is the first company in the wedding market to offer bespoke photobook style wedding albums. The wide range of wedding book packages features a variety of contemporary and classic cover styles, including personalised dust covers. Sigma’s investment in advanced digital technologies ensures delivery of high quality cost efficient products without the normal waiting period for printed albums. With a huge emphasis on customer experience, Sigma will also offer canvas prints, photographic and professional studio services. The entire production process, from design through to print and finishing, will be managed and supplied by the Sigma Wedding Books division.

In addition, Sigma Print & Media are currently in the process of trialing high volume digital colour printing equipment with plans to enter the online photobook market in the coming months. Our software and web stores will allow customers to create, edit and order their own personal Photobooks online using our desktop and browser based creation software. Sigma Wedding Books website will be launched in mid November with Sigma photobooks website debuting in January 2010.

Roland XC-540MT Metallic Printer Officially Launched

Roland SolJet ProIII XC-540MT Metallic Inkjet Printer

Introducing World’s First Inkjet Printer/Cutter for Metallic Silver Ink

New Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX Ink Named 2009 DPI Product of the Year

 

Roland DG Corporation today announced the new SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT 54” inkjet printer/cutter featuring revolutionary new Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX ink (ESL3-MT).

As the world’s first inkjet printer/cutter developed exclusively for metallic silver ink, the XC-540MT features six colours, CMYK+Metallic Silver+White (CMYK+MT+W).  Compatible with vinyl, PET film, canvas, paper, transparent film and banner, the new metallic silver ink can be printed on demand as a spot colour or combined with the XC-540MT’s CMYK + W inks to produce a range of coloured metallic effects including gold, silver and pearlescent colours. A double white ink model (CMYK+WW) is also available for the brightest white text, graphics and floods.

“In the past, gold and silver effects could only be produced using more complex printing systems such offset and flexo presses, screen printing equipment or by foil stamping,” said Yuko Seki, Roland DG colour product manager.  “Each of these technologies requires plate processing, making it difficult and costly to produce metallic graphics in small quantities.  The new XC-540MT has transformed this process.  For the first time, professionals can take full advantage of Roland’s advanced inkjet technology to produce brilliant metallic graphics on demand – easily, profitably, and in any quantity.”

The XC-540MT is engineered for a wide range of applications including vehicle wraps, T-shirt heat transfers, labels, decals, POP displays, banners and signs. It achieves a maximum print speed of 41m²/hr and image quality up to 1440x1440 dpi resolution in CMYK mode.  As an integrated printer/cutter, the XC-540MT prints and then automatically contour cuts images without any steps in between.  As a result, the XC-540MT can be operated unattended and achieves lower operating costs and faster production times than competing inkjets.  It is ideally suited for producing short-run labels with spot colours.

To meet the demands of production shops, the XC-540MT features a heavy-duty media handling system, automated maintenance, the DU-540 dryer/blower unit and Roland’s most advanced inkjet technology, Roland Intelligent Pass Control.  ECO-SOL MAX inks offer dense, rich colours, superior scratch resistance, fast drying time, wide gamut, uncoated media support and outdoor durability of up to three years for CMYK, one year for White and one to three years for the new Metallic Silver ink.  DPI award-winning Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX ink produces thousands of metallic colours for premium quality graphics.

 

Roland SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT Features:

  • 54” inkjet printer/cutter available in two ink configurations
    - CMYK + Metallic Silver + White for the widest range of applications
    - CMYK + White + White for the brightest white text, graphics and floods
  • New Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX ink\
    - Prints as a spot colour
    - Combines with CMYK  for a spectrum of new metallic hues including gold, bronzes and a wide range of pearlescent colours.
  • Roland’s unique Advanced Ink Circulation System
    - Prevents the pigment in metallic silver and white inks from settling
    - Requires no manual intervention
    - Reduces ink waste by up to 84% for lower running costs
  • Roland Intelligent Pass Control® assures the highest productivity while maintaining smooth gradations and flawless solid colours
  • Integrated print/cut technology quickly and easily prints and digitally die cuts finished graphics into virtually any shape, on demand



VersaWorks® Professional Color Management RIP Software Included

The XC-540MT includes VersaWorks 3.3, the latest version of Roland’s colour management RIP software. VersaWorks supports the Roland Color system which accurately reproduces spot colours from colour charts and swatch books. A new Roland Metallic Color library in VersaWorks features 12 metallic colours that print using CMYK+MT in a single pass. This palette includes silver, gold, bronze and nine other metallic colours. Users can also easily create and save their own custom metallic spot colours in VersaWorks. VersaWorks offers a wide range of print options including high-speed mode for production banner printing, the MAX Impact preset for vivid outdoor graphics and Artistic mode for exceptional indoor graphics to be viewed up close. In addition, VersaWorks automatically estimates the ink usage and print time for each graphic to accurately monitor time and costs.

 

Find out more, and order your free metallic print samples...

You can find out more about this new printer, arrange a demonstration, and order free print samples by visiting the Roland DG UK website.

 

Canon Receives High Print Permanence Ratings from Wilhelm Imaging Research

Canon iPF6100

Canon has announced that the imagePROGRAF iPF6100 large-format printer, high-stability LUCIA pigment inks, and Canon media have undergone extensive print permanence testing by Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR). Results show that the iPF6100 printer and Canon media achieved a very high level of overall WIR Print Permanence Ratings for large format printers.

The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6100 printer with LUCIA pigment inks (also used in the iPF9100/8100/6200/5100 printers) and a range of Canon media achieved a "Displayed Prints Framed Under Glass" average permanence rating of greater than 100 years for color output, and greater than 200 years for black-and-white output. The Canon prints were also very resistant to damage from high-humidity environments, resistant to ozone exposure, and resistant to water damage, according to WIR tests. "Whether printed in color or made in black-and-white, the prints are beautiful—and will remain beautiful—for a very long period of time," said Henry Wilhelm, president, Wilhelm Imaging Research.

The full WIR report for the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6100 printer, which features California landscape photographer William Niell making prints with the iPF6100, can be found on the WIR website.

Wilhelm Imaging Research, using comprehensive print permanence test methods developed by the company over the past twenty five years, has become the de facto industry standard for most print categories for both consumer and professional printers. WIR’s tests are designed to evaluate ALL of the five major print longevity factors: prolonged exposure to light when displayed, dark storage stability, resistance to unprotected exposure to atmospheric ozone, resistance to high humidity, and resistance to damage by water.

"The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6100 test results from Wilhelm Imaging Research further solidifies our position as a premier provider of quality, reliable large format imaging solutions," said Rich Reamer, director, Large Format Product Marketing, Canon USA. "The combination of vivid LUCIA pigment inks, device consistency and reliability make the iPF6100 one of our best large format printers for the photographic, fine art, and graphic arts markets."