Hardware - Wide Format Print

Epson has launched two new additions to its Stylus Pro inkjet printer range, the SP7700 and SP9700. At 24in and 44in respectively, the Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 are packed with the latest Epson technologies that add precision, reliability and productivity to a wide range of professional printing applications.

Epson technology is renowned for delivering fast, efficient printing. The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 are designed to produce faster output without compromising print quality, by using advanced compression and decompression technologies that speed up data during printing. The printers feature the latest Epson MicroPiezo TFP print head, which is optimised to work with a five colour ink set, a subset of Epson UltraChrome HDR Ink incorporating cyan, vivid magenta, yellow, photo black and matte black. The print head delivers perfectly accurate dots with virtually no misting or satellites. Perfect smoothness and detail is down to Epson Variable-Size Droplet technology (VSDT), which can produce droplets as small as 3.5 picolitres.

The Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 produce prints with even more impact thanks to the Vivid Magenta Technology. Vivid Magenta gives a wider colour gamut, which in turn provides enhanced colour accuracy. This is particularly noticeable for blues, magentas, reds and oranges, giving prints a more natural and life-like appearance. The ink set also includes both Matte and Photo black inks, which maximises quality on any given media. The printer automatically selects the optimum black ink to match the media, which adds convenience and productivity to the printing process and reduces cost.

Prints from the Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 are highly light-fast and will retain their colour and quality for longer, wherever they are used. The specifically formatted pigment inks are water-resistant and have excellent colour stability, for long-lasting prints which are dry and stable very shortly after emerging from the printer.

There is a range of features of the Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 which makes the printing process as easy and as flexible as possible. Fast network connection, clear control and straightforward operation and maintenance are built in. The high-visibility 320x200 pixel control panel screen shows all aspects of the printer from ink levels and quick cleaning to paper cutting and job cancellation. Barcode printing is a way to keep track of media during changes and can eliminate misprints due to lack of media. The new spindle-less flange system makes changing roll paper easier and takes up less space. It handles a wide variety media types, sizes and tensions and the new rotary paper cutter is more durable, cuts smoothly and cleanly in seconds, so there is no need for manual cutting.

Intelligent software helps users get the most out of the Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 by keeping track of all aspects of printing, streamlining the workflow and enhancing creativity. The new intuitive printer driver is easy to use and can be customised for different levels of information and print and media settings. These printers include the drivers to support the AutoCad HDI interface for high speed and precision accuracy.

Epson's Layout Manager, a new function within the printer driver, enables the easy importation and layout of data created in various applications. Functions such as Move, Enlarge/Reduce, Rotate and Fit-to-Roll simplify workflow and reduce waste.

Epson Stylus Pro 7700 and 9700 key features summary:

• Advanced 10-channel Epson MicroPiezo™ print head
• 5-colour Epson UltraChrome HDR (subset) ink technology with Vivid Magenta Technology - Cyan, Vivid Magenta, Yellow, Matte Black and Photo Black
• 1440x1440 dpi resolution with Epson Variable-sized Droplet technology
• Handles roll or cut sheet media up to 24" for SP7700 and 44" for SP9700 and 1.5mm thick
• New flange roll holder for fast and easy media changeover
• 2.5" colour LCD control panel with white backlight
• Built-in rotary media cutter enables fast, automatic, accurate media cutting
• Available from December 2009
• Price (excluding VAT): Stylus Pro 7700 - £2,395, Stylus Pro 9700 - £4,795

Certified Roland Platinum Partner printMAX will be joining Roland DG UK on the road in order to show the prototype of the new, revolutionary SolJet PRO III XC-540MT metallic inkjet printer, before it’s even released in the UK.

Alongside this exciting new technology, the roadshow will also feature the new SP-i series of affordable VersaCAMMs and the AdvancedJET AJ-740i for all of those who are producing high volume prints onto banner, mesh, vinyl etc, with these machines cited as being applicable to any sign and display print producer looking looking to save money and increase production.

The new and improved VersaUV LEC-330 will also be on show to demonstrate the amazing textures and special effects that can add real value to your print production portfolio, as well as its fantastic CMYK + White + Gloss proofing capabilities.

printMAX are also offering all pre-registered Roadshow visitors a media swatch book with matched profiles for all Roland machines. Those interested can register online on the printMAX website.

 

Roadshow venues:

Holiday Inn Southampton - Tuesday 20th October
Avon Suite, Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 1HJ

Hilton London Kensington - Wednesday 21st October
Kensington Suite, 179 – 199 Holland Park Avenue, London, W11 4UL

Haydock Racecourse - Tuesday 3rd November
Sprint Cut Bar, Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 0HQ

Hilton Strathclyde Hotel - Thursday 5th November
The John Logie Baird Suite, Phoenix Crescent, Bellshill, Strathclyde, ML4 3JQ

Don't miss out on your chance to join printMAX at the Roland Roadshows 2009 and get the first look at the new print technologies now available.

William Smith is offering the UK sign and graphic industry the opportunity to get ahead of the game in advance of the arrival in January of the latest HP Latex inkjet printer, the 60” (1524mm) Designjet L25500, with a series of demonstrations and viewing days throughout October, November and December.

The Designjet L25500 makes HP’s new environmentally friendly latex inkjet technology an affordable printing option for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Latex water-based ink is non-hazardous, free of VOCs, cures instantly and is virtually odourless. Furthermore, a wider range of print media can be used, including wallpaper.

The Designjet L25500 offers significant production advantages –
•    No daily maintenance is required
•    Increased productivity – e.g. from print to vehicle wrap in 30 minutes
•    Simple user replaceable printheads
•    Constant 1200dpx x 1200dpi printing
•    Outdoor durability up to 5 years laminated, 3 years non-laminated

Environmental benefits include –
•    Improved working environment for operators
•    Reduced energy costs as no special ventilation equipment or external dryers are required
•    Ink cartridges can be recycled

William Smith’s advance viewing opportunities for the HP Designjet L25500 will take place in Nottingham during October and November, and at William Smith’s head office site at Barnard Castle throughout the week of 7th-11th December.

For more information or to book your place at an advance viewing demonstration contact Chris Bradley at

WILLIAM SMITH
Grove Works, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8JG
Telephone: 01833 694707
Website: www.williamsmith.co.uk

GMG, the world's leading colour management solutions provider, and Mimaki Europe, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutting machines for the sign/graphics, textile/apparel and industrial markets, are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership providing a highly innovative solution for high-value packaging applications. The common solution, comprising UV inkjet printers of the UJF-605 series from Mimaki, GMG ColorServer 4.6 color management software for fully automatic colour conversions and GMG SmartProfiler for printer calibration and profiling, allows for the first time the digital production of consistent and accurate colour results on virtually any material.

GMG ColorServer in combination with Mimaki UJF-605 printers is certainly a valuable solution for all kinds of businesses engaged in flexible packaging, compound board packages or tin printing, e.g. print houses, prepress companies, agencies and brand owners. The core applications of this unrivaled solution are:

• colour-accurate digital proofing on original substrates used for production - with white ink and varnish support
• digital production of colour-accurate packaging mock-ups/prototypes - often requested in the packaging design phase or for customer acceptance tests
• short runs/personalization - replacing time consuming and expensive prints on the production press

"There is no doubt that this new solution will set important quality standards in these environments. No competitor is able to digitally print consistent colours on almost any material so far", says Paul Willems, CEO of GMG GmbH & Co. KG. "We are excited about the partnership with Mimaki, bringing together both companies' core competencies in printer and software development."

"We are excited that now GMG & Mimaki can jointly offer the best possible and most effective technological proofing solution for the packaging and label markets", says Sakae Sagane, managing director of Mimaki Europe B.V.

Enormous time and cost savings can be achieved by replacing press time and costs for printing plates and gravure cylinders by digital production. The Mimaki UJF-605 UV inkjet printers have been optimised for digital proofing in the offset, gravure and flexo packaging industry. In combination with GMG colour management technology, perfect colour match, optimum spot colour reproduction, highest repeatability and optimum print quality up to a resolution of 1200dpi can be achieved on any substrate such as shrink or metallic foils, tin and compound boards. Almost any printing stock can be used with the GMG-Mimaki solution. Due to the extremely resistant, high-quality inks of the Mimaki printer, it is possible to apply the same finishing process as to the final product. No other solution on the market allows for this, apart from a real press proof.

The German-based leading packaging specialist HUBER Packaging Group is the first company in Europe to use this new solution for digital proofing on tinplate and the production of colour-accurate mock-ups. HUBER Packaging Group produces tinplate packaging for food stuff, coatings, chemical products as well as five-litre party kegs and elegant fancy boxes for renowned brand manufacturers. "We are now able to produce digital proofs and mock-ups from the original substrate that is later to be used for production. Even the deformability of the tinplate is no problem. This is a far better aid to decision-making and enables the customer to give his approval a lot sooner than before", says Thomas Stock, head of the Print Service Centre at HUBER. "As an industry leader, we have a commitment to our customers to use the best possible and most effective technological solutions available on the market. There is no doubt that the GMG-Mimaki system is currently the only solution we know to fulfill these requirements."

Image Access Announces Distribution Agreement with Allied Images Ltd. for the United Kingdom

Image Access, a leading manufacturer of scanning technologies, has entered into an agreement with Allied Images, a large format scanning and printing solutions distributor providing a high level of quality products and services throughout the UK.  Allied Images will promote and distribute the complete range of Image Access wide format scanners for professional applications in the UK.

The WideTEK scanner family from Image Access includes sheet feed scanners for documents up to 48 inches in width, flatbed scanners for formats up to DIN A2 as well as wide format duplex scanners for double-sided printed documents up to 36 inches in width. Known as “the fastest scanners in the world” (Bertl), the WideTEK scanners process architectural and construction drawings, maps, newspapers and posters fast and efficiently. Even when the source document is transparent or fragile, WideTEK scanners deliver high-contrast output in optimized, accurate color. The uncompromising scanning speed and quality, simple operation and the network compatibility make the devices the ideal solution for various applications in a wide range of markets: cartography, topography, reprographics, architectural, engineering and construction offices, libraries, copy services as well as press clipping services.

“Our product range provides an optimal synergy with the existing scanner assortment of Allied Images” said Thomas Ingendoh, President and CEO of Image Access. The company is highly experienced in distributing wide format imaging equipment and services. Through this cooperative effort, Image Access gains a powerful and competent partner for the distribution of our scanner family in the UK. We look forward to working with Allied Images and are confident to gain aggressive market shares in the near future“,

For over 20 years, Allied Images has been a leading supplier of wide format scanning and printing equipment, with clients in engineering, architecture, construction, manufacturing, advertising, reprographics and document management, as well as numerous public agencies at all levels of local and central government. Well established imaging products, utility software, document management solutions as well as service, training and support throughout the UK make up the broad sales portfolio of Allied Images.

The industry is buzzing about the new HP Designjet L25500 42" and 60" wide latex ink printers, and LFR are delighted to bring you the first ever case study, from tot.rètol, the Barcelona based printer that ran ran the new latexx Designjet as part of the HP beta-testing program.

 

The year 2009 marked twenty years of business for tot.rètol, a sign printing shop based in Igualada, outside Barcelona in Spain. Joan Torrents, General Manager and owner, has successfully exploited his business experience and know-how as a printing professional to steer tot. rètol through the economic downturn that came with the credit crisis, perhaps the most challenging period since tot.rètol started business in 1989. tot.rètol use “hard” solvent printing technology, a term commonly used among printing business professionals to distinguish it from eco-solvent printing technology. They print on PVC, banner and transparent vinyl for tradeshows banners, point of sale displays and outdoor store signs.

Eliminating outsourcing to double profit margins

Joan Torrents describes the business scenario that drove them to explore alternative printing technology to solvent-ink printing. “tot.rètol until recently was a solvent-only technology sign making business. Our solvent printers were adequate for our standard signage orders but customer orders sometimes include a portion of prints demanding higher quality. To ensure a single supplier solution and achieve greater customer loyalty we satisfied all their needs by outsourcing what we couldn’t print on solvent. The problem is our profit margins were halved when we outsourced. The second problem is that reduced profit margins meant we could not compete for jobs that demanded only, or principally, high image quality. Also, turnaround times can double with outsourcing, excluding tot.rètol from competing for business with tight deadlines,” states Joan, concluding, ”The economic crisis meant print volumes from core solvent-ink applications were down 40%. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer has allowed us to expand our applications and products and still serve our core business for robust, durable output. We are seeing our printing volumes grow strongly and we believe we can still do much more.”

Making new profits

Joan Torrents explains how the HP Designjet L25500 Printer allowed tot.rètol to successfully compete for new business. “We recently bid for a high image quality job that demanded 150 sq meters (492 sq ft) of in-store signage up to 2 x 4 m (6.6 x 13.1 ft) on vinyl. The viewing distance was short so our solvent printer was not an option due to the low image quality it offers and possible banding. It was an important opportunity as the job was for an advertising agency - an ideal customer in terms of return business. By using the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, as opposed to outsourcing, we were able to make an extremely competitive offer to acquire the new agency as a customer and still make a profit. Delivery time was halved from 6 days to 3 by printing in-house. Without in-house printing it is very unlikely that we could have beaten the competition to win the job. The customer was satisfied with our printing service and we have become their first choice supplier,” Joan states.

Versatility offers more sellable applications

Joan believes printed output with a lower environmental impact will give them an extra competitive edge for certain applications. “Printed output using solvent inks may be perceived as unsuitable in certain types of activities, particularly those widely used by the public. The health service sector, restaurants, fresh food stores or kids’ toy shops are a few examples where environmental health and safety are of paramount importance. Printed displays in these “sensitive” environments represent an ideal application for Latex output from the HP Designjet L25500.”

HP Latex Printing Technology represents a no-compromise alternative over tot.rètol’s solvent ink technology. “A regular client requested some attractive 60 x 60 sq cm (23 x 23 sq in) coffee table tops for their outdoor terrace bar. Output needed to be tough and weather resistant. In the past we would have used our solvent printer and then laminated the output. We printed the job on white vinyl at a higher quality and more quickly on our new HP Latex printer and laminated output to avoid scratching,” Joan says delightedly.

Innovation without complication

As a new, unfamiliar technology to tot.rètol, any initial concerns they had about its implementation were soon dispelled. “Our operator has lots of experience with large format solvent and the HP Designjet L25500 Printer was extremely easy to manage in comparison. It was very, very easy to learn without any special training. Media loading is easy even on your own. It is very clean and maintenance is automated. The printer adopts convenient, user-replaceable cartridges instead of the bottles and tubes used for solvent. You have to be careful not to leave marks with solvent,” Joan says, adding, “The print speed is great and prints are dry when they come off the printer so you can finish and laminate immediately. Ink usage is more efficient than solvent – up to 30% less per square meter. To avoid clogging, solvent technology has bigger printheads and regular cleaning and purging is required. Solvent ink is not absorbed so well on certain types of media. We’ve noticed poor adhesion on Backlit media so ink can run and print results are less reliable,” Joan claims. The embedded spectrophotometer and advanced close loop color calibration are highly appreciated. “You get reliable results on any media you need to use. Automatic color calibration and creation of ICC profiles is easy,” Joan adds, concluding, “Although this technology was new to us, HP is a prestigious brand with reliable, quality products and HP has offered us a qualified and professional post sales service whenever we have needed it. That gives you peace of mind.”

Challenges:

• Grow printing business by offering new products and applications while continuing to supply the robust output demanded for its core business applications
• Eliminate outsourcing to save 2-3,000 Euro/ month and increase profit margins by 50%
• Offer printed output with lower environmental impact in “sensitive” environments

Solutions:

• HP Designjet L25500 Printer using HP Latex Inks and HP Embedded Spectrophotometer with Advanced Close Loop Colour Calibration

Results:

• Versatility from single printing solution to successfully compete for higher image quality business to grow revenue streams while still serving established customer demands
• Profit margins on outsourced printing increased by 50% by bringing printing in-house
• Increased customer satisfaction, faster turnaround and higher quality signage
• Sell HP Latex printed output for “sensitive” environment applications such as health service sector, restaurants, fresh food stores or kids’ toy shops