Hardware - Wide Format Print

Fulmar's focus on delivering superb quality at speed for some of the UK's top brands has led the company to invest £250,000 in a B1 Screen PlateRite 8800ZX platesetter, the fastest thermal platesetter in its class. Fulmar, part of the CPI Group, has also further streamlined production with a major workflow upgrade to Trueflow SE across two sites in Croydon. 

A guaranteed supply of plates to Fulmar's Group's Heidelberg presses comprising a total of 62 units is paramount. "We wanted a platesetter with exceptional throughput to cope with our considerable plate volume needs," says Mike Austin, Group Marketing Director. "Run lengths are growing shorter and response rates are faster and this investment was important to reduce our prepress times still further. With this latest investment we can now produce a full set of plates for one of our 12-colour presses in 15 minutes."

The PlateRite 8800ZX uses GLV (Grating Light Valve) imaging technology to output up to 51 Agfa thermal plates per hour. Integral plate punching and multi-cassette plate loader reduces handling time and ensures plates are quickly on press. Achieving the highest levels of quality is Fulmar's priority and the driver behind its new Trueflow SE workflow investment. Screen's PDF/JDF-enabled, prepress production system provides automated pre-flight, colour conversion, imposition, trapping and Ripping.

The company has achieved the ISO 12647 standard for colour process control which, in Mike's view, "is the backbone which keeps quality at the forefront in everything we do."  A highly efficient production suite complemented by strong environmental credentials (including ISO 14001 Environmental Management, Carbon Neutral manufacturing status, FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody Certification) has attracted an impressive client list.  This includes leading design groups and a raft of corporate clients.  "We expect to continue our investment plan throughout this year and have some strong thoughts regarding purchases at IPEX next year," says Mike.

Hybrid Services Ltd announce a limited time promotion on Mimaki’s award winning, integrated solvent printer / cutters – the CJV30 Series – with two of the four sizes currently benefiting from greatly reduced prices.

The Mimaki CJV30-60 is a 60cm wide integrated solvent printer / cutter and sports a multitude of production features that set it – and its larger brothers – apart from alternative machines. Its ability to run white ink, unique die cut feature, big onboard ink supply, powered take up unit and seamless print and cut workflow without operator intervention, all add up to an award winning product that is currently available for just £7,995. That price also includes a fully comprehensive Gold warranty, a feature packed software bundle and over 3.5 litres of ink.

With a choice of eco or full solvent inks, the CJV30 Series really does give the signmaker more choice than ever before. That choice is broadened further with the unique 1m sized variant – opening up even more possibilities for wide format printing from a machine with an ultra-compact footprint. At just £9,995, the CJV30-100 comprehensively dispatches alternative (and narrower) machines and floors them on performance as well as value for money.

John de la Roche – National Sales Manager for Mimaki’s UK & Ireland distributor, Hybrid Services Ltd – said of the promotion; “There’s never been a better time to invest in a Mimaki than now, and with this combination of award winning product and hugely competitive pricing, it makes a sound investment even more appealing. We’re conscious that this is a limited time promotion, so it’s important to get a demo booked and order placed now to ensure you benefit from the savings.”

Very well received at recent exhibitions in the UK and Europe, the Mimaki CJV30 Series range also includes a 130cm and 160cm machine, and forms just part of Mimaki’s huge complement of solutions for the sign and graphics professional.

Canon Europe, world leader in imaging solutions, has today announced the addition of Colortrac’s SmartLF Ci 40 scanner to its large format range of solutions for CAD and GIS users. As a high speed, compact scanner, the SmartLF Ci 40 scans detailed technical documents with precision, making it ideal for CAD & GIS businesses, as well as governments and libraries. When combined with a Canon imagePROGRAF printer, users can scan to print and archive, or copy technical documents with a high level of detail and accuracy in a more time- and cost-effective way using minimal energy and space.

As an Energy Star qualified scanner, the Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40 scanner enables users to minimise energy usage. With a scanning speed of up to 10 inches per second, the device, like the imagePROGRAF large format printers, helps to reduce the time taken to print, scan and copy documents. It uses CIS technology with a 600dpi optical resolution to ensure accurate reproduction of detailed documents and images

A plug and play USB 2.0 connection ensures it is simple to set-up. The inclusion of Colortrac’s SmartLF all-in-one software allows users to start scanning straight away. They can easily scan originals face-up and load and retrieve documents from the front, making it possible to position the scanner in tight spaces, even against the wall.

James Casey, European Product Marketing Professional for LFS says, “CAD and GIS users need to reproduce maps, drawings, engineering schematics, blueprints or logs quickly, accurately and cost effectively. By offering this scanner to extend the capabilities of our large format solutions, we can help them achieve exceptional reproductions without any loss of the quality and detail of the original documents”.

The Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40 is available across Europe now through selected Canon dealers.

Save outsourcing costs and gain control over quality by bringing wide format digital graphics production in-house - offer a one-stop shop solution for all your client's print needs!

The Deal

Roland DG is offering a fantastic time-limited trade-in offer of £1000 for any Hewlett Packard, Epson, Canon, Encad or Kodak wide format printer when purchasing a Roland VersaART RS-640*. The trade-in package also includes:

FREE 2 year limited warranty
FREE take-up unit
FREE set of inks (440ml)
FREE roll of banner
FREE roll of paper
FREE roll of vinyl
FREE Roland DG Academy course
FREE Roland VersaWorks RIP
FREE telephone technical support

*This deal is available until the 30th of June 2009

The Machine
Gain a distinct competitive advantage and quick return on investment by investing in advanced digital printing capabilities. The VersaArt is a flexible production tool for a wide range of applications from precision composite designs and posters to large, durable outdoor signs and banners. It supports coated and uncoated media as well as new environmentally friendly paper media and fabrics for profitable specialty applications. The VersaART RS-640 is a great entry-level wide format machine at just £14,999 and comes with a range of other benefits:
- Single ink set - Top speed of 21m2/hr
- Wide print size range - Indoor and Outdoor applications
- 1440variable dot dpi - Permanent heads

Just some of the applications achievable with the VersaART RS-640 include:
- Indoor and Outdoor prints - Vehicle and Accessory Wraps
- Banners - Interior backlit
- Fabric Banners - Displays and Adverts
Featuring the latest in Roland eco-solvent inkjet technology, the VersaART RS-640 offers image quality, productivity and performance beyond that of any other printer in its class. The VersaArt RS-640 comes complete with VersaWorks professional RIP software for precision colour management and supports 64" media. It delivers the exceptional productivity and print quality required for successful in-house production, eliminating the need to outsource wide-format graphics.

The package includes a Roland DG Academy course, designed to help users get the most from their wide format digital print machine from set-up to maintenance to getting the most out of your machine and new applications.

This whole package costs £70 a week on a 5 year finance package - it will only take 2 prints a week to cover this cost!

Find out more at www.rolanddg.co.uk/rs640  
Call: 0845 230 9060
Email: sales@rolanddg.co.uk

Large format piezo inkjet printer manufacturer Mutoh Europe nv announces release of a new high volume dye sublimation printer series, called Viper Extreme. 

Available in 65” (1651 mm) and 90” (2240 mm) widths, the Viper Extreme family is an addition to Mutoh’s existing  Viper family of printers.   Incorporating Mutoh’s proprietary Intelligent Interweaving print technology, Viper Extreme printers allow top  quality production printing for close viewing distances up to 37 m²/h.  Top speeds up to 77 m²/h can be obtained.

Suited for transfer sublimation printing (paper) and for direct sublimation printing (polyester fabrics  with closed structure), Mutoh Viper Extreme printers are specifically targeted at print businesses focusing on volume production of a wide range of sublimated graphics, such as banners, flags, soft signage, interior decoration, curtains, bed linen, sportswear, etc. Prints made with Viper Extreme can also be used for transfer to objects (mugs, cups, mouse pads, snowboards, etc). 
 
Destined for high volume applications, Mutoh Viper Extreme printers have been purpose-built for dye sublimation printing.
 
The machines support all typical dye sublimation transfer paper weights and are  able to print at high speed on the thinnest available lightweight transfer papers of 70 g/m².  Viper Extreme integrates two digitally controlled heating elements into the print platform.  The pre-heater element will acclimatise media before printing.  The post dryer heating element will promote fast drying of the prints, as such preventing “ghost images” during calandering of the dye sub prints.
 
To allow transfer paper to expand whilst absorbing ink, it is possible to “disable” the pressure rollers on the printer.   To compensate for media expansion during printing, Viper Extreme printers incorporate Mutoh’s patented ETT tool (Extra Tensioning Tool).  This tool keeps media under a constant tension, minimising cockling, and easily adapts to different media size roll sizes.
 
Unattended roll-to-roll printing is made possible by the integrated motorised unwinding/winding system for media rolls up to 100 kg.  This system will provide accurate unrolling, adequate tensioning and straight winding of finished prints.  This is particularly important for easy after-treatment on e.g. a calender.
 
The printers incorporate 8 piezo drop-on-demand 360 nozzle heads, offering print resolutions of 360 x 360 dpi, 720 x 360 dpi, 540 x 720 dpi, 720 x 720 dpi and 1440 x 1440 dpi. Mutoh have pre-programmed dedicated Intelligent Interweaving print weaves for each resolution mode to enable high speed banding-free printing for close viewing distances. 
 
Viper Extreme utilises Mutoh’s tested and approved high-speed disperse dye inks, offering excellent nozzle stability for high-speed and high-volume printing.   The inks produce rich and vibrant colours and offer excellent colourfastness.   Being water-based inks, they are a preferred choice for environmentally conscious customers.   Available in 1 and 5 liter bottles, the inks deliver top scores in wash fastness, rubbing and perspiration.
 
Viper Extreme printers connect to Mutoh’s optional professional continuous ink delivery system (BIS).  Two BIS models are available, a 4-bottle system and an 8-bottle system.  Each BIS ink bottle can hold 4.3 litres of ink and can be refilled during printing.

Xaar Americas, Inc. announces that Squid Ink Manufacturing, Inc., a unit of Engage Technologies, Inc. and a leading manufacturer of quality inks and inkjet printing equipment, has introduced its new PZ Pilot Pro® hi-resolution inkjet printing system featuring the Xaar 380 printhead. The PZ Pilot Pro is an affordable new device for printing high quality bar codes and other product information directly on corrugated cases and cartons.

With up to 2.1in of print height per head, the PZ Pilot Pro exceeds the 2.0in GS1 specification for case code printing, without the additional cost of a larger print engine.  Yet, what really differentiates the PZ Pilot Pro is the easy-to-use 6.4in colour touch display. The touch-screen user interface is intuitive and, as Squid Ink puts it, ‘ATM simple’. Users can easily create or edit messages directly on the controller, as well as downloading them via a network connection, or from a USB memory device.

The PZ Pilot Pro uses the robust Xaar 380 printhead, offering superior print quality, 80 pico-litre droplet size, and the durability required for industrial environments. In addition, PZ Pilot Pro uses Xaar-approved oil-based inks specifically designed by Squid Ink for the Xaar 380 printhead.

“The good thing about the Xaar 380 printhead is that it is very reliable,” explains Chad Carney, Director of Marketing, Engage Technologies Corporation. “The head’s easy mounting structure was very helpful in the design of the PZ Pilot Pro. Speed was also very important for us. The Xaar 380 printhead delivers the performance that the PZ Pilot Pro printer needs, with online speeds of up to 167 feet per minute at 180 dpi, ideal for most secondary packaging lines.” The 180 dpi resolution is capable of printing razor-sharp graphics, small character text, and scannable bar codes.

“The PZ Pilot Pro is another example of how piezoelectric drop-on-demand printheads meet the needs of the coding and marking industry. The Xaar 380 printhead at its heart gives the performance, ease of integration, and total cost of ownership that production facilities demand,” comments Chris Lynn, VP Sales and Marketing, Xaar Americas Inc. “Xaar is very pleased to be a partner of Squid Ink, and we expect the PZ Pilot Pro will be received very well in the packaging marketplace.”