Ohio-based Metromedia Technologies (MMT), a leading technology innovator in the outdoor advertising industry, is driving greater value and productivity with its newest superwide-format inkjet printer addition.
The company has used roll-to-roll solutions from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. for several years, and is now installing an EFI VUTEk 5r+ roll-to-roll LED inkjet printer. MMT’s purchase is the 300th installation of EFI’s current-generation roll-to-roll LED printer platform, and EFI recognized MMT for the milestone achievement at the Printing United tradeshow in Dallas.
“In our business, quality and productivity are key,” said MMT President William Ishida. “Our new VUTEk 5r+ printer meets both requirements and opens the door for us to create new solutions for our customers. The LED imaging on the printer gives us more options in the range of materials we print on, while the finishing solutions we have added will help streamline operations and allow us to continue to meet turnaround time demands while increasing our production volumes.”
Designed to offer the lowest total cost of ownership and the highest image quality at the highest rated throughput speeds in its class, the 198-inch wide roll-to-roll printer delivers fast production speeds up to 5,160 square feet per hour. The printer’s advanced “Cool Cure” LED imaging saves money and resources, requiring significantly less energy compared with mercury arc UV or latex inkjet printing.
The printer’s 7-picoliter UltraDrop Technology provides superb transitions, vignettes, skin tones and shadows. The printer also has new white ink printing modes for faster speeds compared with the original EFI VUTEk 5r model. In addition, the VUTEk 5r+ provides higher ink densities, a larger color gamut and overall better print quality.
EFI VUTEk LED roll-to-roll printers help display graphics professionals thrive in a wide range of applications. Users have the option to create outdoor graphics and vehicle wraps covered under the 3M MCS Warranty using co-branded EFI-3M inks and certified 3M media and installation procedures.
The 32-year-old MMT has always innovated, from its initial creation of a printing process that could deliver repeatable large format digital images in 1987, to its use of flexible face vinyl for outdoor advertising, to its adoption of the latest digital printing advancements. Today, the company produces all types of outdoor advertising, from transit and building signage to billboards, event signage and 3D props and extensions.
“We are pleased to be working with MMT and are thankful for them and for all the customers who have helped us reach this milestone,” said Ken Hanulec, vice president, Worldwide Corporate Marketing, EFI. “We believe it is important to ensure EFI is contributing our best technology to support innovation leaders like MMT in their efforts to move the market forward. Working together, we can increase the breadth of high-quality digital printing solutions MMT delivers.”
