Mimaki will be showcasing its impressive portfolio of innovative solutions for the plastics, sign/graphics, industrial and textile/apparel industries at InPrint Milan. Taking centre stage will be the new UV flatbed UJF-3042 MkII and UJF-6042 MkII printers that deliver best-in-class print speeds with excellent adhesion to acrylics and a wide range of other materials, including glass, metal and resins. These printers are ideally suited to the production of items such as membrane switches or wallet smart-phone cases that require pressing or folding during production.
A variety of ink types are available for these systems, enabling printing on both rigid and flexible materials, including inks designed for durability with excellent scratch resistance, as well as inks that can be stretched up to 170% without cracking. Textures can be added using a unique clear varnish ink.
Adapting to a changing market place
Mimaki acknowledge rapidly changing demands across a broad range of industries as a key driver behind the development of their portfolio, bringing new products to market that help to meet ever more complex and sophisticated production requirements in a flexible, cost-effective and innovative manner.
One of the new trends identified by the company is the demand for improving the aesthetic qualities of ‘functional’ household goods such as washing machines, often resulting in a need for unique print or bespoke control panel on the appliance. Traditional print technologies lack the flexibility to undertake this type of work in a viable and cost effective way. Full colour inkjet technology with a variety of ink types to suit different substrates now makes it possible to print even short runs of items such as intricate control panels and membrane switches in a cost-effective manner, whilst still achieving the required high quality print.
A new take on thermoforming
Mimaki will also be demonstrating its UJF-7151plus multipurpose wide-format printer capable of printing on a variety of substrates including plastics, metal, wood, leather and glass up to 28” wide x 20” long and 6” thick.
The UJF-7151plus will run LUS-350 thermoforming ink – a unique, stretchable ink developed to meet a wide range of thermoforming applications, especially those requiring exceptional hardness and durability, such as automotive parts. Mimaki LUS-350 ink is compatible with the Mimaki UJF-7151plus, JFX200-2513 and JFX200-2531printers. The ink is available in CMYK, white and a unique clear ink that can also be applied to add texture. A Formech 508FS vacuum forming machine on the Mimaki stand will help visitors experience the creative potential of the entire thermoforming process.
Mimaki is distributed exclusively in the UK and Ireland by Hybrid Services Ltd and the company’s National Sales Manager, Industrial Products, Stuart Cole welcomes the latest developments, commenting: “There is no doubt in my mind that the new models from Mimaki are perfectly placed to build on the incredible success of the previous generation UJF 3042 and 6042 machines. The additional development of even more sophisticated inks is set to expand the capability of these machines into areas of production that we could never have imagined a few years ago. The ability to produce an amazing range of bespoke products in an incredibly compact and user-friendly package provides sign and graphics companies, as well as manufacturing and sampling companies with a perfect opportunity to diversify their services with greater flexibility, short-run production and ever more creative applications, which is certain to attract new and more profitable customers.”
InPrint takes place in Milan from 15-17 November 2016 and Mimaki can found on Stand B20.
More details about Mimaki products, including its full range of printers and inks, can be found by visiting www.hybridservices.co.uk
