Hardware - Wide Format Print

Roland DG is a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers, and if the experience at IPEX 2010 is any indicator, there’s considerable interest in moving into wide format print among commercial printers.

Many IPEX visitors were drawn to Roland’s stand and in particular to the new VersaCAMM VS-640. The VS-640’s unique ability to print pure metallic ink came as a surprise to most and all were quick to spot the potential for metallic ink in wide format output. The printer can mix process colour metallic ink to produce colourful lustres too.

Also demonstrated was the VS-640’s ability to contour-cut its printed output, provoking comments about the limitations of traditional processes for cutting with dies. Roland also showed visitors how the VS-640 could perform the entire output end of the workflow unattended.

The VersaCAMM VS-640 creates a big differentiation among its peers by muscling in with a seam dodging sixty four inch width and a low price. The printer includes Roland’s VersaWorks RIP which effortlessly manages the workflow and optimises output costs and quality while dramatically speeding end-to-end production time. Roland On-Support, a telemetry based system that can, among other things, email the printer operator when an unattended job is complete comes in the box as well, making print work, especially short-run production, efficient and highly profitable.

Another star performer for Roland at IPEX was the remarkable VersaUV LEC-330. Characterised by one perceptive visitor to the stand as packing the most capability per square foot of any hardware at the show, the LEC-330 earned its keep with units being ordered off the stand and numerous follow-ups requested.

The LEC-330 does pack a lot of capability into a little space. It prints process colour and white ink, it spot varnishes in matt and gloss, it cuts, it creases, it embosses and it truly amazes all who see it demonstrated.

Perhaps the most compelling application Roland demonstrated for the LEC-330 was the production of ready-to-make packaging models. With its UV ink set able to resolve high resolution imagery upon virtually any stock or substrate, the full potency of the printer was realised as the sample emerged, cut, creased and ready to fold, featuring all print elements and even authentically embossed Braille and lettering.

When visitors eventually left the Roland DG stand, it was with a firm understanding that Roland not only offers all the hardware needed for a commercial printer to successfully enter and profit from the growing wide format market, but that it extends the education, support and aftermarket supplies that help the printer quickly establish his new offering on an upward trajectory.

Roland’s next appearance on the exhibition circuit will be at FESPA in Munich, 22-26 June, Hall B2, stand 340.

Professional Direct-to-Fabric Printers with In-line Drying and Fixation System

Wide format inkjet printer manufacturer Mutoh Belgium nv releases a new series of direct-to-fabric printers, called Viper TX Soft Sign series.   Available in 1620 mm (63.78”) and 2210 mm (87”) widths, the Viper TX Soft Sign printers offer a total solution for direct printing of polyester fabrics with open or closed structure.   The printers incorporate all features required to accurately load, transport & tension, dry, heat-fix and roll up finished prints, ready for use.   Tuned to Mutoh’s new VOC-free water-based direct disperse inks, the new engines deliver typical production speeds up to 37 m²/h and top engine speeds up to 77 m²/h.

The new Mutoh Viper TX Soft Sign printers have been purposely built for professional soft signage print businesses looking for an integrated workflow to print directly onto polyester fabrics like flags.    The printers are suited for a wide variety of applications: heavy duty flags, banners, architectural graphics, sport arena displays, wall murals, home furnishings, curtains and much more.

“We have been marketing wide format dye sub and direct textile printers developed and manufactured at our Belgian factory since 2004.  Today, we offer several product lines products such as Viper, Viper TX, Viper 100, Viper Extreme and Viper TX Extreme,” comments Arthur Vanhoutte, President of Mutoh’s European operations.

“Viper TX Soft Sign printers are our first integrated direct textile printing solutions, delivering prints immediately ready for use.   The new printers address the key demands for a green workflow.  Using Mutoh water-based inks they print directly onto polyester fabric, with no need for transfer paper.  Keeping the environment in mind, printing signage on fabric is preferable because it folds easily, is light to transport, re-usable and last but not least, polyester fabrics are recyclable.  Our new cost-effective soft sign printers will allow innovative entrepreneurs to address latest market trends such as web-to-print, print-on-demand and customization,” Vanhoutte concludes.

The Viper TX Soft Sign printer’s integrated infra red dryer & fan bank will dry the printed fabric before heat fixation.  After drying, the printed fabric will run into the fixation unit, consisting of a contact drum with integrated infra red lamp.  Its typical working temperature is 180 °C.  The fixation time depends on the print mode that is used.  The fabric process can be easily controlled via a touch display on a swivel arm.   The in-line fabric drying and fixation system has no cooling down delay.  An integrated switch ON timer makes sure the printer is ready in the morning.

Fabric transport has been made easy with the fully motorized heavy-duty unwinding/winding system with dancer bars for media rolls up to 150 kg.  The system is ready for inside and outside unwinding & winding.   Perfect fabric tracking with the front and back belt system delivers straight winding of finished prints onto the take-up roll.

The new printers incorporate 8 drop-on-demand piezo inkjet heads.  Each head has 2 x 180 nozzles.  Using Dynamic Variable Dot Imaging Technology, each ink droplet is individually adjustable to provide high speed and high quality printing with low ink consumption.  The printers incorporate Mutoh’s award-winning Intelligent Interweaving print technology.

The Viper TX Soft Sign 90 achieves a top speed of 77 m²/h (Viper TX Soft Sign 65 : 63 m²/h).  Quality production speeds of 37 m²/h on the TX Soft Sign 90 are reached with the Intelligent Interweaving 360x360 high definition mode (Viper TX Soft Sign 65 : 33 m²/h).  Highest quality prints (720 dpi) are delivered at 17 m²/h (Viper TX Soft Sign 65 : 15 m²/h).

To remove vapours when heat fixing direct printed fabrics, the machines can be directly connected to Mutoh’s optional fume extraction system.  Connection is possible via multiple connection points.  A hose will then make the connection with the fume extraction system.

The printers can also be connected to Mutoh’s optional bulk ink system offering long unattended printing options along with minimum user intervention.

The Soft Sign printers have been tuned to Mutoh’s VOC free water-based direct disperse inks.  They feature excellent nozzle stability, offer a large colour gamut and have an excellent outdoor durability, rated up to 1 year.  Available in 1 litre bottles, these inks deliver top scores in wash fastness and perspiration, while allowing direct printing onto polyester fabrics with no need for washing.

Lifestyle shops ‘Arrival/Departure’ and ‘Independent Outlet’ combine retail with on-demand print production

‘Arrival/Departure’ and ‘Independent Outlet’ are so-called lifestyle department stores based in Amsterdam. They offer all kinds of ‘lifestyle’ products, including clothing, shoes, gadgets, books, music, skateboards, etc. The interior design and product displays are actually devised and produced by the creative team behind the shops. These ‘lifestyle’ shops also sell prints such as canvas prints, T-shirts and wallpaper direct to the public, either over the counter or via the Internet. To do so the team works with equipment that includes Mimaki solvent, sublimation and textile printers and cutting plotters. The entire process is surprisingly transparent and accessible; the Mimakis are in full view directly behind the counter.

Lifestyle Products and Printers

The Arrival/Departure shop in Amsterdam Oost, in hangar 6 of the former KNSM site, handles Mimaki solvent, sublimation and textile print solutions. Owner Aziz Badrane explains: “The combination of lifestyle products and graphics machines in the same shop came about quite by accident. We thought it would be a nice idea to show our customers how T-shirts, canvas, wallpaper etc. are printed. The reactions are really positive and mirror our philosophy. We definitely want to stand out from mainstream clothing and fashion stores.”

Creative with Large Format

Arrival/Departure in particular offers a lifestyle concept that attracts specific groups of people. This shop is different in that it works with a lot of limited editions and special imports. Aziz Badrane: “We sell various brand models that are not generally on sale (except in a few shops in Japan and the US).” Similar to the products, the shop interior is focused on ‘lifestyle’. Designer and shop assistant Guido Jelsma comments: “All our assistants are creative individuals. We all introduce new ideas and the main advantage is that we have the machines to implement them immediately ourselves. For instance, we labelled skateboards with the logo/brand name of a shoe manufacturer and used them as a product display for the shoes. We also produce creative wall, floor and window decorations for the shops, using lettering, backlit, canvas and flags.”

Art Projects

Arrival/Departure not only designs its own interior, it also takes on projects for third parties. Together with four artists, Arrival/Departure completely transformed two rooms in the Lloyd Hotel for an exhibition on behalf of ‘ELLE-wonen’ (interior design magazine). Guido: “We used the Mimaki solvent printer for the wall decorations and the sublimation printer for the curtains. The cushion covers were printed on the T-shirt printer. And everything was based on the artist’s creative concept."

Canvas, Wallpaper, and T-Shirts

Arrival/Departure is increasingly taking on small domestic projects, jobs for advertising agencies and photographers who are also based in the historic building. “People know where we are now. Individuals and companies are ordering canvas prints, posters/artwork, T-shirts, mugs and wallpaper. The fact that they have access to a local supplier, who provides a personal service, is considered a definite plus. I feel that the way we sell printed products is much more open and accessible than with a production company somewhere in the middle of an industrial estate. All our customers are given a flyer with details of our range of printed products. It also includes details of our websites, canvasdoekdrukken.nl, behangdrukken.nl and T-shirtdrukken.nl, where custom made designs for mugs, wallpaper or T-shirts can be developed and ordered online.”

 

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, has received a five-star "Exceptional" rating for its new 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8300, 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350 and the iPF6300 large format printers, from industry analysts BERTL Inc. Launched in March 2010, the new imagePROGRAF models received the highest possible rating from BERTL by delivering outstanding quality across its 11 rating categories including five-star ratings in image quality, price and security.

"The five-star rating from BERTL, Inc., recognizes the significant investment Canon has made in developing technologies that make the new imagePROGRAF models an ideal solution for the photography, graphic arts and photography markets," said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manger, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. "The new imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 large-format printers have demonstrated the image quality, value and functionality that customers require to advance their businesses and meet the most exacting customer standards."

To deliver improved overall image quality, the new Canon imagePROGRAF models feature a revolutionary 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink set increasing the achievable color gamut by approximately 20 percent from the previous imagePROGRAF ink set. Additionally, to better meet the needs of the professional print market, the new models feature a reinforced mechanical structure to enable precise ink placement for improved text and line accuracy, making the new devices a powerful proofing solution.

To fully capitalize on the dynamic color range of the new LUCIA EX ink set, each new imagePROGRAF model employs two advanced one-inch print heads, each featuring 2,560 nozzles per color and outputting a super-fine four picoliter (pl) droplet at a full 2400x1200 dots-per-inch resolution (dpi) to reproduce details with extraordinary accuracy and clarity. Paired with enhanced plug-ins and new, High-Precision Printing Modes, the new imagePROGRAF models provide an extremely high level of photographic and proofing-quality prints.

The new imagePROGRAF iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 are compliant with U.S. ENERGY STAR energy-saving standards and RoHS compliance standards. To learn more about Canon's full line of ENERGY-STAR qualified and certified products and other environmental initiatives, please visit www.usa.canon.com.

BERTL, an independent analyst firm and testing lab, reviews current product lines and new product introductions bestowing the five-star rating to devices that deliver extraordinary performance throughout the testing process. BERTL's testing criteria addresses 11 categories: Build Quality, Network Administration, Security, Workflow, Finish, Ease of Use, Media Handling, Printing, Image Quality, Features, and Price.

HP today announced an expanded large format portfolio to help low-volume print service providers (PSPs) and technical design professionals lower costs, increase productivity and win new business with easy-to-manage, in-house large format printing capabilities.

The new solutions are designed for entry-level large format commercial printing applications as well as architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), geographic information systems (GIS), and mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD) technical applications.

 

Highlights include:

The HP Designjet Z5200 PostScript® Printer, a simple and productive entry-level large format system that offers easy, affordable and high-quality printing in-house

A new 24-inch model of the HP Designjet T770 Printer series that includes an easy-to-access top-loading roll, large memory for processing files and fast speeds

The HP Designjet 111 Printer, HP's most affordable and compact large format printer, which delivers high-quality, cost-effective prints for entry-level technical professionals

"HP recognises that customers need to expand their printing capabilities and turn around projects quickly to give them a competitive advantage and help capture new business opportunities," said Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager, Designjet Solutions, HP. "The additions to our large format portfolio address those needs by offering lower costs, higher productivity and easier operation - combined with our hallmark quality and reliability."

 

HP Designjet Z5200 PostScript® Printer simplifies large format printing

Designed specifically for copy shops and quick printers interested in entering the large format market, the HP Designjet Z5200 PostScript® Printer offers a simple, affordable device for a broad range of high-quality applications, including posters, point-of-purchase (POP) displays, maps, light boxes and canvas prints. To streamline the printing process, advanced HP technology eliminates and automates many of the steps involved with traditional large format printing. In addition, the new HP Instant Printing Pro solution simplifies and accelerates the entire printing workflow with fast, easy file preparation and automatic nesting, preview, orientation and crop marks.

The HP Designjet Z5200 PostScript® Printer also includes an embedded spectrophotometer for automatic calibration and media profiling to help those without extensive colour management experience ensure colour accuracy and consistency across projects.  Additionally, HP Universal Bond Paper and HP Bright White Inkjet Paper with ColorPRO Technology provide noticeably superior print quality compared to competitive untreated bond papers for high-quality output at a much lower cost.

New entry-level printing solutions for technical professionals

From winning bids and developing plans to interacting with peers and clients, digital information sharing is essential to how AEC/GIS/CAD professionals operate. HP's large format printers and multi-format devices now make it easy to turn digital designs into documents and then digitize them back into the design-and-make process, helping shorten project cycles.

The new HP printers offer smaller footprints and intuitive ease-of-use features to allow small technical teams, individual professionals and students to benefit from in-house large format printing.

Adding to the proven HP Designjet T770 Printer series, which includes a 44-inch device, the new 24-inch model allows small teams to increase productivity with a printer that is fast, reliable and easy to use. The HP Designjet T770 Printer's top-loading roll makes it simple to load and swap media, and its expandable memory allows the printer to handle bigger jobs as business grows. It also features built-in networking for easy sharing and the ability to print without opening applications.

Available in a tray or roll-fed option, the HP Designjet 111 Printer is an ideal entry-level printer for technical CAD applications, large format posters and presentations. Designed for AEC students and professionals, construction offices, universities and technical instruction environments, the HP Designjet 111 Printer is affordable at any budget with the ability to create posters or presentations for less than $1.(1) As the smallest HP large format printer available,(2) measuring only 1 metre (3.3 feet) wide, it also fits easily into small offices.

More information about the HP Designjet portfolio is available at www.hp.com/go/designjet

Seiko Epson Corporation today announces that its wide format inkjet printer Epson Stylus Pro 7900 and 9900 series have achieved 98%  coverage of the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM, as evaluated and certified by Pantone, LLC. Epson's award-winning wide format inkjet printers have long been received as the industry standard in various graphics applications, and the attainment of this exceptionally high PANTONE coverage provides further proof of Epson's leadership in this field.

PANTONE is the definitive international reference for selecting, specifying, matching and controlling ink colours. With the ability to achieve 98% coverage of PANTONE colours, industry professionals using Epson printers have a great deal of freedom when producing designs, proofs and final images. It also enables designers to accurately reproduce corporate and brand colours and use a wide variety of PANTONE spot colours for eye catching packaging.

The combination of Epson's Micro Piezo TFP inkjet technology with its 10-colour UltraChrome HDR (high dynamic range) ink set provides the outstanding performance required by graphic designers and print professionals. In addition to Cyan, Light Cyan, Vivid Magenta, Vivid Light Magenta, Yellow, Matte or photo Black, Black, Light Black and Light Light Black, Epson's UltraChrome HDR inks include Orange and Green which significantly increases the range of colours that can be achieved, especially bright green to yellow, and yellow to red.

The Stylus Pro printers' ability to achieve the widest colour gamut enables high-quality images with great subtlety and exceptionally smooth gradations. The unique three-level black ink technology significantly improves the overall grey balance while enhancing the mid-tone and highlight detail, which in turn gives a smoother tonal range. The high-density pigments ensure strong vibrant colours and accurate neutral and dark tones.

"This PANTONE certification highlights the superb accuracy of the Epson Stylus Pro printers' coupled with the extremely wide colour gamut of the UltraChrome inks and gives the design and print industry the highest level of confidence when working on projects that demand accurate colour representation," says Duncan Ferguson, Director of Pro-Graphics and New Business Development for Epson Europe.

The 24-inch Stylus Pro 7900 and 44-inch Stylus Pro 9900 series are available from Epson certified dealers worldwide. For more details, please contact your local Epson sales representative.