Hardware - Industrial Print

ArtSystems offers unique large format demonstration resource for HP Partners

ArtSystems has completed installation of the two new HP Scitex large format printers at its Nottingham based demonstration suites.

The HP Scitex FB500 and LX600 both debuted at IPEX 2010 in May.

The HP Scitex FB500

A 64inch 6 colour UV curable ink printer with a range of media handling options enabling to print on a wide range rigid and flexible media. The HP Scitex FB500 has an extensive range of options such as extension tables and white ink making it one of the most flexible printers in its class.

The HP Scitex LX600

An augmented version of the original L65500 104 inch Latex ink printer, the LX600 now offers dual roll media handling and enhanced firmware to enable it to print dual roll print jobs.

‘We now have both these units in our demo suite, so our partners are able to use them to show their customers and have full one to one demonstrations without the pressures of visiting a show.’ states Andrew Edwards, Sales Division Manager

To launch the new printers in their demonstration role there is a series of Think Big with HP days from the 15th June to the 1st July where resellers will bring clients to see the new printers in action.

Fujifilm Acuity confirms its first class image at Cameo Photography

Cameo Photography in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, is planning to expand its wide-format digital imaging service following the installation of an Acuity HD 2504 from Fujifilm.  The flatbed, UV printer is specifically designed for print applications that require fine detail, high resolution images on rigid or flexible substrates.

"We specialise in commercial and industrial photography but an important part of our business is providing high-quality, wide-format printing to a wide range of local companies," says director John Moffett.  "Most of this is repeat work rather than people coming in off the street for a one-off job.  Previously, we had been using two roll-fed solvent printers, but the new Acuity HD 2504 is already handling around 80 per cent of all our wide format work even though it was commissioned only in January."

Cameo has purchased its new printer complete with the roll-to-roll option and a ColorGate RIP. "Previously, if a thick substrate was required for the job, we had to print on to vinyl and stick this to another material," says John Moffett.  "The Acuity HD 2504 has eliminated a process by allowing us to print directly on to the substrate, more quickly and with better quality.

"It's still early days but we've used the Fujifilm machine to print on to a range of materials including PVC, card, paper and vinyl, and we've been carrying out trials on different substrates such as stainless steel," says Mr Moffett. "The results have all been superb. With clients that include jewellery makers, we have to be able to offer a quality that cannot be faulted in any way, a quality that's guaranteed with the Acuity.

"We've had excellent service from Fujifilm going back to the days when we were producing conventional photography that needed processing chemicals. This level of first class after-sales care has certainly continued following the installation of the Acuity HD 2504, with Fujifilm quick to help whenever we've had a query," he concludes.

The print heads on the Acuity HD 2504 can produce variable size dots, with droplets as fine as six picolitres, ensuring sharp, precise images with smooth transition and quarter tones.  When jetting larger droplets, the Acuity delivers dense, uniform solid image areas.  With the potential for resolutions higher than 1,200 dpi the Acuity HD 2504 delivers clean, legible type as small as 6 pt, plus exceptionally smooth skin tones and the best solid colour coverage of any other printer in its class.

Fujifilm's variable drop technology uses up to 35 per cent less ink than fixed droplet six-colour printers, resulting in cost effective productivity throughout the life of the printer.  The zoned vacuum table ensures that irregular shaped materials or those with uneven surfaces are held securely during printing, so that registration is accurate even during multiple passes.  The Acuity HD 2504 prints edge-to-edge at speeds of up to 174 sq ft an hour.

Large format piezo inkjet printer manufacturer Mutoh Belgium nv announces release of a new high volume printer, called Viper TX 100.   The Viper TX 100 is Mutoh’s first 2.6 meter (102”) wide direct-to-fabric printer.  The new Mutoh engine incorporates a built-in switchable and rotatable print bed, enabling both direct-to-fabric printing and transfer paper printing (sublimation) in one machine.  The printer is ideally suited for volume producers of soft signage, garment/apparel and industrial applications such as home furnishings.  Incorporating Mutoh’s proprietary Intelligent Interweaving print technology, the Viper TX 100 printer allows quality production speeds up to 36 m²/h.  Top speeds up to 76 m²/h can be obtained.  The machine will be presented to the wide public at Mutoh’s booth at the oncoming Fespa 2010 show, Hall B2 – 160.

“Today’s expanding demand for textile prints such as soft signage, home furnishing and apparel is driving growth for digital printing in the wide-format graphics industry”, says Arthur Vanhoutte, President of Mutoh’s European operations.  “At the same time, the obvious benefits of using environmentally friendly water-based inks for printing on recyclable materials to produce exceptional quality, durable and washable prints for a wide variety of applications continue to push this technology forward.   Our new TX 100 direct textile printer will open up a host of new business opportunities for print providers requiring a versatile floor-to-ceiling production oriented printer that will complement their existing screen printing and/or digital imaging equipment”, concludes Vanhoutte.

Setup for direct-to-fabric printing, the TX 100 can print on fabrics with open or closed structure.  This is made possible by the incorporated ink gutter.  After rotating the print bed, the TX 100 is ready for sublimation printing onto the thinnest available transfer papers.  Either way, production versatility ranges from customized one-off projects to speed-intensive volume printing.

The printer utilizes Mutoh worry-free water-based direct disperse inks (for direct-to-fabric printing) or Mutoh high-speed dye sublimation inks (for transfer paper printing), available in bulk 1 liter bottles. No forced ventilation is required when using these inks, as there are no harmful VOCs that permeate the working environment.   The Viper TX 100 printer is ready for connection to Mutoh’s optional continuous ink delivery and refill system, developed for speed-intensive and volume-oriented users.

Prints are instantly acclimatized and dried with the aid of three built-in, digitally controlled heating elements.  They totally remove all water from the printed paper, preventing ghost images during calendering.    The heating elements are controlled individually, to a maximum of 70° C.

Robustly built, the latest textile printer from Mutoh incorporates 8 high end 360 nozzle print heads and 16 ink channels, offering print resolutions up to 720 x 720 dpi.   Using Dynamic Variable Dot Imaging Technology, each ink droplet is individually adjusted to provide high speed and high quality with low ink consumption.

The Viper TX 100 printer has an electronically, software controlled adjustable head height that ranges from 1.2 mm up to 4.0 mm, allowing users to print onto various transfer papers and textiles and offering maximum substrate compatibility.   Special fabric retainers have been developed to deal with fabrics of which the edges carry loose fibres or tend to curl up.

To compensate for media expansion (e.g. transfer paper) during printing, Mutoh’s patented ETT-system (Extra Tensioning Tool) keeps the media under a constant tension, minimising cockling and enabling high accuracy transfer of images.  Additionally, the ETT system easily adapts to support different media roll sizes.

Unattended roll-to-roll printing is made possible by the integrated fully motorized heavy-duty unwinding/winding system for media rolls up to 100 kg.  This system provides accurate unrolling, adequate tensioning and straight winding of finished prints.   Special design media flanges on the (un)winder system maximize grip on the inside of the media core.  This power grip mechanism provides increased grip on the cores without disturbing the media tracking.

 

Challenge

 

• Big Print, a large format graphics production house, needed to offer a wider range of capabilities to its customers to remain competitive with larger shops.

 

Solution

 

• The company chose to beta test the new HP Scitex FB500 Printer, which offers significant cost savings and the ability to create high-quality prints on virtually any rigid and flexible media.

 

Results

 

• Big Print is experiencing significant cost savings thanks to the printer's versatility and speed.
• The HP Scitex FB500's use of new HP Scitex FB251 White Ink helps the company provide innovative solutions for clients like Target.
• Big Print now relies on the HP Scitex FB500 to offer a range of applications that attract and keep customers.

 

 

Small commercial printers have to be extra savvy when it comes to major business decisions. Smart choices are a must if they want to keep up with larger competitors. No one knows that better than Big Print, a large format graphics production house based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

From wall murals and vehicle wraps to tradeshow graphics and fine art reproductions, the small shop is always looking for new ways to deliver big results for print buyers. That's why owner Herb Fick jumped at the chance to beta test the new HP Scitex FB500 Printer.

"For smaller shops like us who want to grow business in a difficult environment, it helps to be able to offer a full range of capabilities to customers," says Fick. "When you need to please people who need high volume at a low cost, the HP Scitex FB500-and the cost savings it offers-is a big plus."

Along with the significant cost savings offered by the new HP Scitex FB500, the printer's ability to create high-quality prints on virtually any rigid and flexible media,(1) and its use of new HP Scitex FB251 White Ink,(2) is expanding the possibilities of what Big Print can offer.

An easy decision

After using solvent- and aqueous-based solutions, Fick believes the decision to add the new HP Scitex FB500, which uses HP UV-curable inks, was an easy one to make-especially because of the savings.

"When you cut the need for extra materials and cut out steps on every product, it's a no-brainer. You're going to save money," explains Fick. With the new HP Scitex FB500, Big Print avoids costly, time consuming steps like lamination.

"UV inks are durable. You can print directly onto the substrate without printing on an adhesive-backed material that you have to mount on a board, and you don't have to coat it," says Fick. "So you're saving labour steps and materials. That means you're going to save money."

Fick also points out that because UV inks cost less per square foot, you can save even more over solvent and aqueous printers.

Unmatched versatility

Cost savings aren't the only thing that attracted Big Print to the new HP Scitex FB500. The printer's ability to print on almost any rigid or flexible material with good ink adhesion was also a big draw. Even thick, heavy or long substrates are now a snap to print on.(3)

"With the HP Scitex FB500, you can print on substrates up to two inches think," says Fick. "You can literally take the front door of a house, take the hardware off and print a high-resolution image on it. It's amazing."

Plus, the printer's ability to load, print and collect media simultaneously, along with its fast print speeds and dry times, lets Big Print meet even the most demanding deadlines.

"To gain and keep customers, you need to be able to turn projects very quickly," says Fick. "With solvent printers you have to account for drying time, but not with the HP Scitex FB500 and HP UV-curable inks. That's a huge advantage."

Wow with white

Along with cost savings and unmatched versatility, the HP Scitex FB500's use of new HP Scitex FB251 White Ink(2) adds to the versatility Big Print can offer its clients. "A lot of very creative things can be done with white ink that can't be done with any other colour," explains Fick.

One of the best examples of this is in the company's work with the Target Corporation. While planning a recent awards presentation, organisers realised they needed a way to shade the windows in the event space while maintaining the ambiance. With the HP Scitex FB500 in its shop, Big Print provided the perfect solution.

"We printed the Target logo using the white ink on a frosted polycarbonate film to create a tone-on-tone effect," says Fick. "The end product subtly branded the room and diffused the light. It was a phenomenal solution. Target was very pleased."

He adds, "The new white ink allows us to print on coloured substrates that we couldn't have used otherwise. Being able to print on a large variety of materials allows us to provide a wider range of solutions to our customers, and that helps us grow our business."

This added versatility, along with the cost savings offered by the printer, is the reason Fick believes the new HP Scitex FB500 will help Big Print continue to hold its own against larger competitors-and why the company plans to purchase the printer once its trial period has ended. Fick explains, "If you want to compete now and in the future, you're going to have to move in to UV flatbed printing, and the HP Scitex FB500 is a great choice."

 

(1) Flexible media printing with an optional HP Scitex FB500 Roll-to-Roll Update Kit.

(2) Use of white ink requires a separate purchase of the HP Scitex FB500 White Ink Upgrade Kit.

(3) HP Scitex FB500 Extension Tables are required for long materials.

 

 

As an important part of the build-up to its first appearance as an exhibitor at FESPA, IGS UK has now revealed that its Elements family of green wide-format printers will make its international debut at the event.

These new machines have been designed to incorporate water-based, yet durable, eco-friendly ink formulations with the added benefit of an environmentally aware range of FSC certified materials and specially configured RIP.

During 2010, IGS UK is introducing five members of the Elements family which comprises four dedicated roll-fed machines and one genuine flat-bed printer, all of which carry the same environmental credentials.

Exhibiting on Stand 490, in Hall 3, at FESPA the company is demonstrating the low-cost Atom running proprietary outdoor durable aqueous-based H₂O inks in conjunction with its Krypton Eco-Media products.

The Elements printer family duo comprises two widths in the Elements Atom series of wide roll-fed printers, both offering long-life graphic output for a remarkably modest price. Low running costs are complemented by the fact that these machines run from a standard power supply. Users wanting wider output can opt for the Elements Titanium series, again offered in two widths, and completing the line-up later in the year will be the Elements Cobalt, a flat-bed option - all models benefit from the same green ink formulations and material compatibility.

Despite the fact that the inks are aqueous-based, outdoor durability is reportedly comparable to current solvent and UV-curable output. The water-based ink chemistry is completely safe to use in all environments and requires no additional ventilation or ducting.

The matched Krypton Eco-Media materials complete the totally green solution provided with the Elements family of printers, and all are manufactured to the most stringent environmental standards. Produced according to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, this media series goes further than being biodegradable and is completely renewable, reusable and sustainable.

Investment into the Elements range of truly eco-friendly solutions promises users a high quality platform which produces consistently reliable, fine standards of output and vibrant, durable colour on all matched materials. The Krytpon Eco-Media series includes in its growing portfolio a selection of poster, billboard, backlit and frontlit products in a choice of widths, plus alternatives to self-adhesive and pressure-sensitive vinyl films.

To complete the Elements line-up and ensure accurate work-flow, colour management and high standards of output, the Chromium RIP is configured specifically to optimise the production benefits of IGS UK’s new printer and material families. The software incorporates simple set-up with intuitive controls, 16-bit rendering, powerful tools for colour and layouts, plus high speed, accurate processing capabilities.

IGS UK is confident that the new all-encompassing Elements products will appeal to sign-makers and display producers anxiously searching for more eco-aware print processes. The low investment cost, plus the benefits that these solutions need no special ventilation and are used with a standard power supply, will broaden appeal to office and retail environments who want to bring their wide-format digital production in-house.

Further news, and the launch of the Elements website, which will allow users to review the features and specifications of their printer range, will go online in the week prior to FESPA.

Those interested in finding out more, or wishing to pre-book a demonstration at FESPA, are invited to email elements@igsuk.net

Based on industry-proven Epson Stylus Pro printers, the Elements Atom range is then modified to facilitate the use of Elements H2Os' unique and outdoor durable hot-cured water-based resin inks.

Elements printers feature the Epson MicroPiezoTFP Print Head - quite possibly the most advanced ink jet print head technology ever developed, offering extreme print performance and dot placement accuracy.

 

Grapo Technologies will be introducing their next generation of printing technology and unveil their new wide-format UV printers at FESPA 2010.

You can discover how Grapo Technologies’ new hybrid printers are set to have a big impact on the sign and display market at the company’s press conference at the Grapo stand –  Hall B2, Stand 460.

Catch the New Wave of Innovation

“Our next-generation platform for UV flatbed printers represents a significant step forward for the sign and display market,” says Radim Kralic, CEO of Grap Technologies. “With a printing area of 2x3 meter for rigid sheets, as well as the ability to handle rolls up to 170 cm, the new Grapo family of printers offers tremendous new business potential to sign and display printers at a cost-effective price point.”