The success of a pilot system at one of America’s biggest label companies has prompted Industrial Inkjet Ltd to go for a full commercial launch of a new super-fast version of its highly successful monochrome range ahead of Labelexpo.
The industrial inkjet pioneer, known in the industry as IIJ, has formally unveiled the new HS range, which runs at 167 metres per minute – double the previous speed. The new range features extremely high speed full variable information software.
In launching the new range, IIJ believes these are now the fastest UV inkjet printers in the world. It says these cost-effective units will be welcomed by security and label printers in many market segments.
IIJ realised the market opportunity for a much faster system – able to print at over 150metres/minute – following on from the successful launch of its iS range of Colour and Mono units in 2014. Those used a smaller drop size to give higher quality print down to 2point font,
John Corrall, founder and Managing Director of IIJ, said: “We were getting a significant number of enquiries from tag, label or security printers, who need UV inks to print onto foils or coated stocks. They told us they can’t live with the poor economics caused by the low print speeds of typical one-pass UV inkjet systems. When one particular customer in the US challenged us to deliver a truly economic system, we jumped at the chance to deliver for them, and, at the same time add to our extensive product range.”
IIJ has been so convinced of the commercial opportunities for its new HS system that it invested over £100,000 in an unwinder / rewinder media transport system capable of 220 metres/minute just to allow realistic and rigorous in-house product testing.
The first HS system (352mm print width) is now in full production at the US customer’s site, details of which are expected to be unveiled soon.
With print widths as standard up to 520mm and enhanced variable information software, IIJ says the new model is ideally suited to printing of variable text, small 2D barcodes and multi-page PDFs at sustained speeds of over 160metres/minute.
Inks available include Low Migration inks for food packaging, white, varnish, high-build varnish and security inks including UV fluorescent. Spot colours are also available.
IIJ print engines are designed to be easily integrated into the customer’s existing production line. IIJ products use Konica Minolta inkjet printheads for highest quality and performance and very long lifetime.
John Corrall said: “The introduction of the new HS range is the result of market “pull” from customers who need variable print, but are frustrated with the slow speeds currently available. With the excellent results we have achieved at our first installation, and our ability to demonstrate the speed and quality achievable in-house in IIJ, we see this technology as opening up a new market segment for inkjet printing”.
IIJ, an independent company, is also the official sales and technical support centre for Konica Minolta products outside of Asia, offering advice on any aspect of the use of inkjet technology in industrial applications.
