Hardware - Industrial Print

EFI Announces New Two-Meter VUTEk Superwide Printer VUTEk, QS220 Extends Superwide Capabilities at Wide-Format Price Levels

EFI a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today unveiled the VUTEk QS220, a direct-to-substrate, two-meter UV-curing flatbed printer with High-Definition Print (HDP) quality and superwide productivity that boasts lower ink running costs than traditional wide-format printers and unique application abilities that allow print businesses to expand into higher-end, premium-margin applications. The QS220 is ideal for businesses that want to fuel profitability by adding flexible, production-level equipment that will support their growth.

“More and more businesses are exploring out-of-home advertising as a way to reach customers, but unfortunately many print businesses are forced to choose between high production speeds and high image quality,” said EFI VUTEk senior vice president/general manager Dick Wissenbach. “The QS220 is an all-in-one printer; it has the speed to print 16 4’x8’ boards per hour as well as the ability to print in high definition. This is a great time to be involved in superwide format printing, and with pricing comparable to wide format printers, the QS220 is not only affordable, it’s a smart investment for any print business.”

 

Breakthrough Technology

VUTEk’s HDP technology provides resolution up to 1080 dpi for dazzling graphics and sharp text. It produces four- or six-color images, and features a special seventh channel for six variations of white ink. This configuration is unique to EFI and means the QS220 is capable of printing color and white in three independent layers all in one pass for perfect registration and more advanced printing applications, which results in graphics that really pop. This in-line, three-layer white printing capability grants the ability to produce new, high-margin applications that other businesses cannot provide, such as enhanced-definition back-lit displays or layered, art-quality graphics printed on dark substrates.

The advanced technology of the QS220 allows it to effectively replace multiple wide-format printers. Its small footprint and optional roll-to-roll capability fulfill the functions of multiple printers, especially with its production speeds of up to 750 square feet per hour, outstanding resolution and lower ink running costs than other superwide printers. With this one two-meter printer, print businesses can produce the high-resolution images required for Point-of-Purchase applications, without forgoing the high-production abilities that has become an industry benchmark for leading print shops.

EFI, a manufacturing leader of digital UV inks, specifically designed the QS220 inks for the applications that enable businesses to increase production and profitability. By utilizing one ink set, the QS220 delivers enhanced reliability and performance on a wide range of substrates, with brighter, more durable automotive-grade pigments and greater flexibility, all at per-liter costs that are much lower than most wide-format printers. This ensures that businesses not only expand their capabilities, but also increase profitability.

 

Streamlined Workflows

A cohesive, intelligent and efficient workflow solution from one supplier is the secret to truly maximizing the profit potential of every job printed. From online job acquisition to internal shop management and job preparation and production, EFI’s award-winning solutions streamline customer interaction and management of the entire print business. EFI Digital StoreFront® delivers a world-class, print-centric e-commerce solution for print service providers, while EFI’s Print MIS products, PrintSmith™, and Pace™ automate business processes from estimating to invoicing. All VUTEk printers are optimized for use with EFI’s Fiery® XF RIP, EFI’s color management solution for accurate, vibrant colors on superwide and wide-format printers.

 

For more information about the VUTEk QS220, visit www.efi.com/vutek

 

New applications possible with Uvijet QK inks and polyethylene media

Fujifilm today announces the European launch of the Uvistar series of UV inkjet roll to roll printers. These new printers use Fujifilm Sericol’s specially developed Uvijet QK inks and can print on rolls up to five metres wide, altering the way that material for both billboard and POP applications will be prepared in the future. As an industry leader in the constantly evolving UV inkjet marketplace, Fujifilm is introducing the range in response to a new and rapidly growing revenue opportunity for superwide format printers.

Keith Harley, European marketing director at Fujifilm Sericol, says: “The billboard industry is on the cusp of a major makeover, and traditionally-pasted billboards will be replaced in the coming few years with state of the art frame holders in which a poster printed on woven polyethylene (PE) can be clipped or stretched. Several systems are already on the market, and the demand from media sites is set to grow exponentially.”

Looking for the right technology to answer printers’ needs for single skin posters to fit the new format, the Uvistar series has been developed from a relationship that was initiated by Fujifilm with inkjet printer manufacturer Matan at FESPA Digital in 2009.

The Uvistar is the most flexible, cost efficient printer in its class and is available in four different models, producing high quality output at throughput speeds in excess of 300m2/hour. A proven multi-roll system with a highly intuitive user interface, it provides fast and efficient start up with low media wastage, and has the ability to handle rolls of varying widths up to 5 metres. In combination with the new Fujifilm Sericol Uvijet QK inks, the printers can produce jobs on a very wide range of flexible media, including PE, with no curing or ink starvation issues and with excellent inter-coat lay down for backlit and solid prints. The Uvijet inks are also low in odour, making the Uvistar series suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

“With our in depth experience of both the screen and inkjet markets it made complete sense for us to look for a printing device that we could develop together with our inks so that it would provide the ideal solution for these new billboard applications that are coming on to the market,” comments Keith Harley. ”A major advantage of the Uvistar platform is that it can print on huge rolls of polyethylene as well as all of the usual media in combination with the Uvijet QK inks, produces an end result that is more environmentally friendly, cost effective and most importantly, opens up a new revenue stream for our customers.

“We pride ourselves on being able to work with technology partners to develop products that will fill a gap in the industry,” he continues. “The Uvistar is making use of the Fujifilm Sericol inks and colour expertise, which will enable customers to produce superwide format material for both indoor and outdoor applications that is both environmentally friendly and of superb quality.”

Customers will be able to print huge outdoor banners on PE media which is already starting to overtake PVC. PE material has the benefit of being much more environmentally friendly than PVC as well as weighing much less, which brings attractive cost saving benefits to end users. In addition, it eliminates the pasting process necessary with traditional billboards, and therefore has a positive impact on health and safety. As solvent inks do not adhere to PE materials, printers will need to adopt a UV offering to stay ahead in the marketplace.

The five metre, 32 head version of the Uvistar printer is available for customer demonstrations at Fujifilm Sericol’s facility in Broadstairs, UK.

 

Company will provide higher quality and faster turnaround to expand into new markets

HP today announced that Hameshalet Digital, of Rishon Lezion, Israel, has purchased an HP Scitex XP2750 Printer to upgrade and expand its digital printing capabilities.

Established in 1995, Hameshalet Digital provides a broad range of complex, customised indoor and outdoor signage, advertising and promotional end-to-end sign and display solutions. Customers include department stores, food chains, shopping centres, financial institutions and high-tech companies, amongst others. State-of-the-art solutions, professional quality and uncompromising customer service have positioned the company as a reputable provider and market leader.

"We first established a digital printing division in 1998 after realising we needed to provide indoor signage in house," said Eyal Shemesh, CEO, Hameshalet. "We have used a variety of digital printing machines since then. However, our focus on quality products for our customers has led us to upgrade our digital offerings. This is why we have just purchased an HP Scitex XP2750."

The HP Scitex XP2750 Printer is a 3.2 metre wide-format UV printer that delivers superior image quality of up to 635 x 800dpi (1,270 x 1,600dpi apparent) and production speeds of up to 110m2/hour without compromising quality and accuracy. With the ability to alternate easily between flexible and rigid substrates and features like multi-roll and multi-file printing, the printer enables excellent application versatility. Its dedicated RIP enhances productivity and the high speed printing increases returns on investment.

Shemesh explained how Hameshalet came to select its new printer, "First, we chose HP Scitex above other brands because of its productivity. It prints at five times the speed of our current digital machines. It's also very stable, allowing us to print a 250-metre roll non-stop, with no need for operator intervention." He added, "Of all the HP Scitex printers, we chose the XP2750 model specifically because of its very high quality print heads that allow us to provide our customers with superior results."

Within two weeks of installation, the HP Scitex XP7250 Printer has enabled the company to take on a larger project that involved printing a run length of 1,500 metres of self-adhesive stock and to deliver it to the customer in just two days, finishing included. This reflects an upgrade in Hameshalet's services.

Looking ahead to the future Shemesh continued: "HP Scitex digital printing technology is already allowing us to meet our current customers' needs for higher quality and for faster delivery. With this new printer, we expect to attract new customers and be able to compete more effectively in our industry."

SS Digital Point, of New Delhi, India, have announced the installation of Matan's BARAK 3 UV Hybrid (Roll-to-Roll with Back to Back and Flatbed options).

Sanjay Kushwaha of SS Digital Point talks positively of the newly installed printer "It's 30 picolitre drop size heads gives ultimate sharpness in text with perfect colour gamut. We are achieving excellent production speeds for billboards, and the quality of its backlit/translite compares favourably with Ecosolvent inkjets.

The UV inks are environmentally friendly whilst allowing us provide 3 year outdoor and 10 years indoor life warranty against fading."

Barak’s all-in-one solution, driven by the Caldera RIP, claims to deliver a new level of price performance and operational flexibility, and allows you to experience benefits including a claimed 150 square metre an hour production speed, true 600dpi resolution and the ability to simulataneously print up to 3 rolls of media.

The Barak 3 also features rapid changeover for printing of rigid media up to 25mm thickness and roll-to-roll substrates such as flexface banners, mesh, blue-back or backlit paper, self-adhesive vinyl, flags and many more coated and uncoated materials.

The Angel Awards are published annually by Image Reports Magazine. They are the top ten products launched throughout the year which the editor and her team consider:

“The most innovative and likely to make an impact in the wide format sector.”

The Rho 1000 was launched at FESPA Digital as the flagship product in the Rho range of large format UV inkjet printers. It is a continuous UV flatbed printer that is capable of being integrated into existing manufacturing processes. It boasts a maximum output of up to 600 boards per hour (125 x 80 cm / 4 x 2.6ft.), without interruption, around the clock, whilst ensuring optimum quality.

The exceptional productivity and output quality are achieved by the further development of Durst’s own Quadro Array printhead technology, together with its highly efficient workflow configuration, which can integrate into existing manufacturing processes (screen and offset printing).

In addition to continuous board printing, the Rho 1000 will print on sheets, heavy boards and roll media up to 250cm wide and 40mm thick, and can be loaded and unloaded using screen printing methods and systems. There are a range of ink options, as with all Durst inkjets, including the addition of light colours (light magenta and light cyan), spot colours, white and selective varnish. 

For more information on the Durst Rho range of UV inkjets, visit www.durst-online.co.uk

It is a brave move to create a new business focus during a global economic crisis - especially when your target audience is bearing the brunt of the downturn.

For Kremer Signs, a leading supplier of signage to the property market, the decision to add a digital arm to its service has been so successful that a second eight-colour Inca Spyder has just joined an 18-month-old printer/machine at the Newbury firm. Together the digital capability of both printers is expected to help boost the company's £4m turnover by 12 per cent this year alone.

Steve Gosney, managing director, explained: "We had been looking to add digital production capacity for a long time but were never quite happy with the colour result until we saw the Inca Spyder. It gave us the colour range and finish we needed. There were other systems that were cheaper but nothing could match the quality we were looking for. The calibre of the finish was paramount and the Inca gives us that which is why, when we needed another system, Inca was our first choice."

Based on the design of the popular and highly successful Inca Spyder series of flatbed inkjet printers Kremer Sign's Spyder V supplied by Fujifilm Sericol is the newest and fastest edition. It is capable of up to 93 sqm/hr in production mode with a maximum speed of 130 sqm/hr thanks to a unique Inca designed printhead array. It has a print area of 3.2 x 1.6m capable of coping with substrates as thick as 30mm.

The Inca Spyder V's 25 picolitre drop size, combined with Inca's own print module technology, delivers precise ink drop placement and produces the excellent print quality they require. Its colour management flexibility and easy file set-up with the RIP, plus exceptional white ink opacity make it a highly adaptable system that Mr Gosney says has been fundamental to their success.

The decision has also clearly been a hit with customers as now the two presses produce almost half of 50,000 signs printed every month. Mr Gosney expands: "Our market share has increased on the back of the Spyders because people are realising that the quality is phenomenal.  We are mainly printing on Correx fluted plastic and the Spyder is ideal for that medium.

"Estate agents use much more colour and imagery now to get their boards noticed and build brand awareness," explains Mr Kremer, managing director. "Consistency is vital to that. Our customers tend to place orders months apart but they need their boards to look the same no matter when they were printed. With the Spyder we know we can deliver that and do it more affordably."

As for taking the plunge at an economically unpredictable time Mr Gosney says: "We bought the first system at the beginning of the credit crunch and the second, it seems, was bought in the middle. The investment in these was not small but we were looking at the long-term rather than the short-term. At the same time our customers are now wanting to place smaller orders and this helps us to achieve that more competitively."

Kremer Signs manufactures and installs a broad range of quality signage for all aspects of the residential and commercial property market place including For Sale, To Let and Commercial boards.