Hardware - Industrial Print

Leading label, plastics and digital printing specialist Print-Leeds has cemented its position as one of the UK’s most technologically-advanced printing houses with the arrival of a Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV ST wide-format flat-bed printer.

The new machine replaces the Screen Truepress Jet 1600UV printer that Print-Leeds installed in 2010 to meet increasing demand for high-quality short-run and one-off work. “Since then not only have runs got shorter and deadlines tighter,” says Print-Leeds managing director Rod Fisher, “but clients are much more aware of the potential of digital for POS applications. So it’s time to upgrade.”

Print-Leeds’s Truepress Jet W3200UV prints CMYK plus light cyan and light magenta for photo-quality reproduction of wide-format graphics. The company also specified a white ink capability to ensure colour saturation whatever the substrate being printed, including coloured and transparent media. Like its Truepress Jet 1600UV predecessor, the Truepress Jet W3200UV outputs a wide variety of backlit graphics, wide-format posters, POP displays and signage and can handle media up to 50mm thick.

Productivity is significantly greater, thanks to advanced UV curing and high-precision flat printhead transfer systems that give the Truepress Jet 3200UV ST the ability to print at 85 sqm/hr – ten times faster than the Truepress Jet 1600UV (the Truepress Jet 3200UV HS model prints at up to 150sqm/hr). Says Rod: “Because we also wanted to up our productivity, the faster output speed was a big factor, plus other features that improve throughput — for example, the retractable lay pins, which guarantee accurate, repeatable substrate registration, and the zoned vacuum bed, which reduces masking.”

The new printer also incorporates Screen’s versatile multilayer print capability, which enables printing of up to eight superimposed layers to create high-impact products. For example, lower layers can be built up in high-speed mode before printing the top layer in high-quality mode to produce embossed products with striking 3D effects.

Rod founded Print-Leeds in 2002 and quickly developed a reputation for high-quality litho and digital printing on plastics. The 2012 acquisition of S&C Labels, Huddersfield, added wet-glue label printing. Today Print-Leeds employs over 30 people at its 19,000 square-foot site in Stanningley and is on target to turn over £4 million this year, a 10% year-on-year rise. The company also prints labels for most of the UK’s drinks companies.

Ahead of technology
Print-Leeds has a tradition of staying abreast, and often ahead, of technology; its Truepress Jet 1600UV-F was the UK’s first, and in 2013 it installed the first Heidelberg Speedmaster CD102-7+L in the UK label industry. “We’ve worked hard to build our reputation for producing high-quality work consistently and on time, and we assess any investment on those criteria,” says Rod. “The first Truepress has been excellent, and we had no hesitation in choosing Screen again for the latest printer.”

New Jersey USA-based printing company Hatteras has installed a roll-to-roll EFI VUTEk GS5500LXr Pro LED inkjet printer with UltraDrop Technology.

"Superwide-format inkjet has been a strong driver of organic growth for us, as well as a point of entry for new accounts," said Bill Duerr, Hatteras's president. "With the growth opportunities we have, we felt we needed more firepower and the new VUTEk LED printer is taking those efforts to the next level."

With its fast production speeds, its 5-metre width and its multi-roll production capabilities, the new printer is especially useful in retail point of purchase display work, as it gives Hatteras the ability to reduce turnaround time on large, nationwide signage campaigns the company produces for leading retailers and beverage companies. Plus, the VUTEk printer's "cool cure" LED imaging capabilities - which emit virtually no VOCs and require substantially less heat and energy compared to latex or conventional UV inkjet - help Hatteras meet requests for greener, more sustainable printing.

"Our clients and prospects are all looking for innovation and sustainability at a reasonable price point," Duerr noted. "This new printer gives us the best cost-effective solution to offer them. And when we show our customers the printer's high quality with UltraDrop and 1,000 dpi imaging, it really catches their attention."

UltraDrop Technology - a native 7-picoliter, multi-drop print-head array on the new printer Hatteras installed - is EFI's latest-generation imaging platform. UltraDrop's four-level greyscale and two ink density levels in each dot position provide high apparent resolution and high-definition quality. Plus, users gain outstanding smoothness in shadows, gradients and transitions; superb text quality even on four-point and knockout text; fewer stray "satellite" droplets; and greater clarity in all print modes.

Greater value than latex: Versatility and value with SuperFlex Ink
Hatteras is using new SuperFlex Ink from EFI and 3M on its new printer. The ink can withstand 150% elongation, a unique capability that creates better production options for applications requiring exceptional stretching and durability. At Hatteras, SuperFlex Ink creates an opportunity to replace latex inkjet work with more-economical LED printing. Latex inkjet printers, Duerr explained, can be more expensive to operate because of energy usage and consumables pricing. With SuperFlex Ink, the new VUTEk printer at Hatteras produces the same types of jobs the company printed on latex - such as fleet wraps - at a lower cost.

Hatteras's new printer also runs a number of textiles, so the company can move into adjacent markets by offering a wide range of economical, fabric-printed soft signage products.

"Our continuous effort to evolve with the demands of the marketplace and expand our service offering has lead us to the purchase of our new EFI VUTEk printer," Duerr stated. "This printer, with its LED and high-end UltraDrop imaging features, allows us to increase our production capabilities and opens up our capacity significantly. We are thrilled with the purchase and feel it will serve as a foundation for future growth into the retail market while allowing us to provide our clients with a superior product and innovative applications that align with their sustainability initiatives."

"Hatteras is taking advantage of the latest and greatest advancements available in LED inkjet printing with this new installation," said Frank Mallozzi, EFI's senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. "Bill Duerr's strategic move to reduce costs and open new markets with this purchase reflects the ways EFI stays dedicated to fuelling our customers' success."

At C!Print, the exhibition for the Visual Communication Industry, which takes place at the beginning of February in Lyon, Agfa Graphics will show the Anapurna M2500i with optional automated board feeder (ABF) for the first time in Europe. It will be demonstrated in the Atelier Plug &Play, a 1000 m² creative workshop at the centre of the hall. Here printing/finishing machines in real-time production are displayed along with encouraging meetings, innovation and demonstration. The Anapurna M2500i prints six colors plus white for roll or rigid substrates and will be used to create several live products at the centre of the show. The new Automatic Board Feeder allows for feeding up to five boards automatically, offering 30% gain in productivity

In addition, Agfa Graphics will also demonstrate the Jeti Titan HS, its industry-leading true flatbed printer. It will be shown on the Agfa Graphics booth with both varnish and white. Varnish is the perfect opportunity for sign & display printing companies to differentiate themselves. Used as 'spot' varnish, it can add dramatic effects to many applications like POP displays, packaging, decorative prints, trade show graphics etc. Agfa Graphics' specially formulated UV-curable varnish is compatible with most standard UV-printing media and cures to a perfect sheen in gloss, or with a semi-gloss effect.

“At C!Print it is about the people in this industry and about challenging their creativity," said David Watson, Marketing Manager Agfa Graphics in France. "We bring two solutions to the show that can help bring creative ideas to life.

The Anapurna M2500i is ideal for art reproductions, architectural and interior decorations, lenticular displays and more. And the Jeti Titan maries productivity with splendid varnish effects."

Jetrix will use Sign & Digital UK 2015 as a launch pad for the European debut of their brand new 3.2m UV roll printer, the Jetrix RX3200.

The New JETRIX RX3200 is a super-wide production speed 3.2m Roll to Roll UV printer designed based on rapid speeds and a high precision concept.

Whilst the printer is new, the technology inside is tried and tested. It comes equipped with sixteen Konica KM series (14PL) print heads and achieves outstanding print quality of up to 1440dpi. InkTec’s tailor-made UV ink gives excellent adhesion to a wide variety of substrates and the colours are extremely vibrant. The RX3200 will be available either as a 4 colour (CMYK) or 8 colour (CMYK Light Cyan Light Magenta Light Black and Light Yellow) ink configuration.

The RX3200 is capable of printing at speeds up to 169sqm per hour in production mode down to a very respectable 36sqm per hour in the best quality setting. There are some handy features on the printer, such as the option to loads multiple rolls on the feed to print at the same time, an easy winding system for heavy media and an automatic nozzle cleaning function.

UK Sales Manager, Ben Woodruff said: “The Jetrix RX3200 3.2m printer will move us into a different sector of the market: outdoor, high-volume, on-demand print. We think that we have a product that will raise the bar in terms of quality and also be very competitively priced as well. Sign UK is the ideal platform for us to launch this new model”

"We are excited to enter the super-wide market. Sign UK will be an very busy show for us this year with further product announcements to come" said Joey Kim, Managing Director of InkTec Europe.

JETRIX has supplied over 40 printers in the UK and has seen a 15% increase in turnover over the last 12 months thanks to a growing customer base and continuous product development.

The new range of direct-to-textile print and treatment machines from MTEX Solutions attracted interest from both traditional textile companies and new-entry innovators at Heimtextil 2015 this month.

Eloi Ferreira, CEO of MTEX said: “While our flagship 5032Pro drew a crowd every day, our new Vision printer and the PAD pre-coating machine also proved very popular.  The Vision went down well with potential customers in the apparel and interiors markets, particularly thanks to its ability to print directly onto stretch fabrics using the dye sub option.  It’s designed as an alternative production method to transfer printing, and has created a lot of excitement.

“We also had a lot of interest in the PAD coating machine from traditional textile companies interested in coating their own medias.”

The 1.85m MTEX Vision offers direct printing onto stretch fabrics with excellent and vibrant colours, and deep dense blacks. There’s no paper involved, with print and fix as one process. The Ricoh Gen 5 print heads print up to 1200 dpi and there are 4 colour and 8 colour options. The Vision is available now with direct disperse inks for polyester and later on with pigment ink set for poly cotton/natural fibre fabrics.

The MTEX PAD is designed to pre-treat and coat materials with production speeds of between 30 and 140 linear metres per hour. There are two coating options of immersion (or foulard), or a surface coating, and the infrared drying system delivers fully dried fabrics.

It can be used in-line with the MTEX 500, MTEX Vision and MTEX Turbo 1.8m wide printers, effectively allowing users to coat their own medias prior to printing.
“The direct-to-textile market is already showing strong growth, and we believe that it will really take off in 2015,” added Eloi.

“With MTEX’s high manufacturing standards coupled with competitive pricing, we believe we’ve now developed a range that will support both traditional companies wanting to modernise their processes and those entrepreneurs buying an entry level printer to join this exciting, expanding market.”

Mimaki is taking its European-wide Let's Create... Together showcase to PSI in Düsseldorf, Germany, from January 7th to 9th 2015, with the focus of the show being promotional products.

Mimaki will be on stand 12B13 in the Technology Forum at the show, placing the spotlight on the array of possibilities its broad product line delivers for companies looking to add value, expand their solutions portfolios and develop a deeper conversation with existing and new customers.

"Innovation and imagination are essential tools that creatives in the promotional products market require in order to develop effective promotional items that achieve results," states Mike Horsten, General Manager Marketing EMEA at Mimaki Europe. "Often this demands fast turnaround, short-run campaigns. Achieving this cost effectively is key to the overall success of a campaign. That's why our high quality, flexible and affordable systems are designed to ensure affordable and creative results."

He continues: "What this show truly highlights is how print remains central to any communications campaign no matter what the size. Printed products, whether on paper, promotional items or a variety of other materials, can deliver highly impactful messaging that stays with the recipient long after the campaign has ended. They can be the stand-out element in any promotion, from personalised pieces to runs of thousands. Mimaki has solutions that can handle it all. Reed Exhibitions, the organiser of the show, relies on Mimaki to print the decoration for the walls around the demonstration area, textile area and PSI Gusto. We could not ask for a better proof source!"

A Mimaki solution for every promotional challenge

Mimaki's JFX200-2513 UV LED flatbed printer will be the stand flagship at PSI. It runs at 25 metres per hour and has a maximum print area of 2.5m x 1.3m. Its newly-developed ink supply unit speeds up ink replacement. Mimaki's LUS-150 newly formulated CMYK LED curing ink with high speed curing properties is flexible up to 150% and delivers unmatched elasticity on a wide variety of media and substrates without the cured ink cracking or fracturing during handling, cutting or other post-print processing. At the show, the JFX200-2513 LED UV printer will also be equipped with white ink and clear varnish, allowing the creation of multiple effects on 200-300 items in one go.

Fundamental to the performance of Mimaki printers is their ability to print on a huge variety of materials. For example, the UJF-3042HG LED flatbed printer can print directly onto substrates up to 150mm thick for end uses ranging from coloured pencils to USB sticks. At the show, it will be equipped with the Kebab option that uses rotary rollers to enable print to be placed on the entire surface of cylindrical items made from a wide range of materials and in a variety of sizes. With user-friendly print settings and functions, plus its intuitive operation, it can be easily introduced into any print production environment for the innovative personalisation of items, from candles to bottles and more.

Mimaki's A2 format UJF-6042 LED UV flatbed printer is ideal for a host of applications, including gifts and novelties, 3D lenticular printing, photo albums and name plates. It assures photo-quality 1800 x 1800dpi print reproduction on an almost limitless range of materials, objects and substrates up to 150mm thick.

Also on display is the new CJV150-75 print and cutting solution, Mimaki's highly functional entry-level model. It fuses high quality inkjet technology and silver, orange and light black inks to ensure premium quality. The CG-60SRIII cutting plotters feature best-in-class cutting pressure of 500g, significantly increasing the range of materials that can be processed.

Mimaki is exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Hybrid Services Ltd and its complete range of products is available through its network of specialist resellers.

Full service cooperation

Mimaki's successful long-term cooperation with Gravograph will also be highlighted at the booth during the show. This specialist in engraving, marking and laser cutting works on a range of materials including aluminium, brass, bronze, plastic, plexiglass, glass, and PVC, and is an ideal and complementary partner for Mimaki.

Horsten concludes, "The Mimaki solutions, from entry level up, are aimed at delivering short run value-added customisation and personalisation as well as high quality long run cost effective results. With our broad array of capabilities, Mimaki can address almost any market need and ensure that even the most imaginative of campaigns can be brought to life - quickly, easily and affordably."