Following the successful adoption of the VersaUV LEC-330 and LEC-540 UV-curable machines, Roland DG has incorporated the same ground-breaking technology into its first wide-format hybrid printer. Designated the VersaUV LEJ-640, this new roll fed and flat-bed solution is designed to print to flexible and rigid materials and incorporates both white and clear varnish to its CMYK ink set for highly visual and tactile finishes.
The Roland VersaUV LEJ-640 has a maximum printing width of 1.625m and can work with coated and uncoated rigid substrates up to 13mm in thickness. Its versatility also enables it to print to flexible roll-fed materials, with fast change-over from one media type to another.
A maximum resolution of 1400 x 1400 dpi means that the VersaUV LEJ-640 can output extremely fine dot quality which rivals screen-printing, offset litho and gravure for applications where sharp text and highly detailed graphics are required. The machine’s ability to incorporate white ink and clear varnish makes it ideal for the production of short run packaging and prototypes as well as a vast range of innovative signs and displays.
The LEJ-640 is ventilation ready, featuring a hood for easy connection with an air filtration system. The VOC-free inks and LED curing combine to make the VersaUV LEJ-640 ideal for users who want to integrate UV-curable production into their existing facilities without having to add special ventilation and ducting. The machine’s LED curing technology means it can be used in conjunction with delicate materials which, traditionally, have been difficult to cure efficiently. Additionally, the long-life lamps need no warm-up time, making them cost-efficient to use and cool to the touch, leading to a safe printing environment.
Prints produced on the VersaUV LEJ-640 are instantly dry and ready for finishing as soon as they have been cured, enabling users to shorten their production time where lamination is required. Roland’s Eco-UV inks feature flexible properties so that there is no flaking or cracking, even on the finest materials. The printer’s white ink circulation system is designed to prevent the pigment from settling, allowing for unattended production.
This new machine incorporates advanced features which ensure fast throughput and an efficient production workflow, yet set-up and its use is straightforward and easy, even for first-time operators. The VersaUV LEJ-640 has a specially designed media securing mechanism to hold flat substrates in place, supporting even the thickest of materials, and enabling layered clear varnish to be applied accurately for highly visual, tactile and textured finishes.
Roland’s established Eco-UV inks are renowned for their adhesion and tough finishes, complemented by their vivid and accurate colours. The inclusion of a highly opaque white makes the machine ideal for printing onto non-white and transparent materials, such as corrugateds and window films, adding new levels of versatility to UV-curable production on a wide-format platform.
The inclusion of Roland’s clear varnish, which has already proved to be hugely successful in its VersaUV LEC duo of machines, enables users to produce unusual and creative textures on all materials. These can be created by the user or selected from the Roland Texture Library which is included in Roland’s easy-to-use VersaWorks RIP software, supplied with every machine.
“This latest addition to Roland’s growing portfolio of versatile, creative printing solutions brings the benefits of our high quality UV-curable technology to a true hybrid wide-format system,” states Rob Goleniowski, Business Manager – Sign and Graphics at Roland DG (UK). “We have incorporated into the new VersaUV LEJ-640 the successful and innovative attributes that have proved to be extremely popular in the LEC-330 and LEC-540 models. The result is a low investment, cost-effective and versatile solution which is certain to appeal to sign-makers, commercial printers and display producers who want to add innovative results to their applications.”
Available in a choice of versions with CMYK plus white and clear varnish, CMYK plus two channels of white, or CMYK plus two channels of clear, the VersaUV LEJ-640 also incorporates Roland OnSupport for remote diagnostics. At an attractive price of £45,999 the LEJ-640 also comes with the company’s comprehensive Roland DG Care Service Agreement, and this is complemented by training courses at The Roland Academy which help users develop innovative and profitable markets for their investments.
