Hardware - Wide Format Print

Fujifilm has launched a new solution for POP corrugated board printers. The solution is a combination of the Inca Onset S40i, Fujifilm’s new Uvijet OC inks and its new handling system that was previewed in January.

One of the inherent challenges for printing corrugated board is managing distorted (bowed) substrates. Depending on the severity of the distortion, various methods (skids, rollers, print height adjustment) can be been used to overcome this issue, but all affect print quality. In addition, due to the absorbent nature of the substrates typically used, there is a tendency for ink to sink in leaving an uneven matt finish. This can require prints to be over varnished to meet the quality expectations for the end customer. Fujifilm has been working to overcome these challenges with the result being the launch of a new Uvijet ink system as well as a completely different solution for handling corrugated substrates.

Building on its heritage in developing screen inks for POP corrugated board applications, and as a pioneer of UV inkjet inks and industry leader with its award winning Uvijet ink range, the company has used its extensive knowledge to develop a set of digital inks offering a range of finishes from low glare satin to high impact gloss that can be used for all types of corrugated applications. As corrugated displays are required to be cut, folded and shaped, but not necessarily directly after printing, Fujifilm’s new Uvijet OC inks allow for any required storage time, and the printed corrugated board can be manipulated weeks after printing with amazing end results.

Alongside this ink development, the company has also designed a brand new automated handling system which uses a ‘vacuum-to-vacuum’ transfer method. The system has been designed to deliver full automation.It utilises a robotic arm and camera system to distinguish the location and orientation of a stack (within 0.5mm), separate the top sheet and transfer it to the vacuum bed of the Onset without any gripping or squeezing which could leave marks on the outer edge. This enables the transportation of uneven materials (which could have up to a 20mm difference per linear metre in distribution end-to-end), to be held flat on the table with no marks affecting the printed area. This eliminates the need for an excessive gap between print heads and substrate thus maintaining sharp text and image quality on these difficult surfaces.

Once printing is complete a second automated head also utilising a vacuum system picks up the printed sheet and drops it onto a delivery stack. With both heads working simultaneously, the productivity of the Onset is increased to over 500m2/hr.

“This combination of printer, ink and handling system enables our customers in the corrugated display market to be confident that they can produce an even higher class of POP displays than ever before, as there are no longer any compromises to be made,” comments Tudor Morgan, marketing manager, Fujifilm. “We are confident that bringing this solution to market will open up new business opportunities for these printers and give the industry a new standard to work to.”

The new solution will be showcased at FESPA via a video link on Fujifilm’s stand F10S.

Lancashire, UK-based Hope Technology, a manufacturer of high end bicycle components, put its recent decision to invest in a wide format Mimaki inkjet printer/cutter down to a desire to replicate its production efficiencies within its print department. With around 100 staff, the company has been a proud supplier to the cycling industry since the late 1980s.

Marketing manager, Alan Weatherill has been with Hope since the very beginning and with ultimate responsibility of how his brand is portrayed in bike shops and at events around the country, the quality of output from his department's new printer was a key factor in Hope's decision to change brands with the new investment. "We need to show the Hope brand off at its best," he says. "I'm responsible for producing prints that will be seen in thousands of cycle shops around the country so it's important they're an accurate reflection of the brand."

Weatherill is quick to point out where his company's strengths do (and don't) lie. "We're not a print company, so ease of use was important too." Referencing the minimal maintenance required on the Mimaki CJV30, he also recognises that a varied demand for output combined with the productivity of the printer/cutter means they're not running the machine all day, every day. "We needed a machine that was reliable, had low maintenance requirements and that we could use when we needed to."

Hope invested in its Mimaki CJV30 from Granthams Graphic Technology - a long standing supplier to the company, who, according to Weatherill, easily convinced them it was the right move. "Our old printer/cutter couldn't accurately produce long runs of decals, but the demo we had with Granthams ensured we were confident about making them ourselves." So cost effective is the process that the company has now ceased to screen print its stickers, preferring to mirror its low product inventory with a minimum amount of marketing collateral held in stock too.

"Our dealers - who are primarily independent bike shops - can request any form of marketing resource from us," says Weatherill. "Hope's premium 'Tech Shop' dealers get even more support and we're now supplying personalised Hope collateral for them to use in their stores to promote our product ranges."

Hope's customer list extends to 1200 accounts in the UK alone  - and export makes around 60% of the company's business.  The burgeoning cycle industry now includes many races and events and Hope's consistent presence at these requires branding to be produced too. "We tailor our support for particular events, but the collateral is usually in the form of banners and signage created in-house on the Mimaki," Weatherill confirms.

Beyond the corridors of the beautifully renovated cotton mill (and former printers - ironically) that house Hope's offices, its manufacturing facility is equipped with an enviable arsenal of CNC milling equipment, laser cutting, anodising and engraving machinery. Raw material is brought in as billet and products leave in gleaming anodised finishes, machined to perfection and ready to hang from the bikes of discerning cyclists the world over. With the majority of Hope's staff living within cycling distance of the company, understandable warmth is felt within the community for the company that does an awful lot for it. Even though the machines run 24 hours a day, there's still plenty of time for staff to relax - whether it be riding out on one of the numerous test bikes the company makes available to its employees, or sitting in its relaxing coffee bar and breakout room - decorated in part with digitally printed wood cladding and mountain scenes to make anyone feel at home.

Even as a champion of communication for the company, Weatherill has one admission to make: "Our dealers don't realise how easy it is produce our own printed output!" The next task for his team is reprinting the many beautifully shot photographs that adorn the corridors and the museum that houses showcases of its current and former products, memorabilia and on-loan race bikes from the many pro riders the company has sponsored over the years.

"Window stickers for one of our dealers, personalised bike wash banners for Mountain Mayhem, perfectly cut out slat-wall branding for a Tech Shop or a shot of one of the Hope Factory Racing riders out in the hills - we'll run it all on the Mimaki," concludes Weatherill.

For more information on Hope Technology, please visit www.hopetech.com.

Granthams Graphic Technology can be contacted via www.granthams.co.uk.

Mimaki's complete range of products is exclusively distributed in the UK & Ireland by Hybrid Services Ltd - www.hybridservices.co.uk.

Allied Images has been appointed UK and Ireland trade distributor for Contex range of large format scanners.  Contex A/S, headquartered in Denmark, is a leading supplier and technology leader in large format scanners. It's well-known HD Ultra range has just received the Top Product Award for the second year in a row, chosen as the best scanner by a wide range of users.

Contex's latest IQ series scanners include many leading technologies including Contex patented Unibody CIS, colour fringe removal and dual diffusion CIS sensors.

Steve Morin, MD of Allied Images comments, “We’ve been aware of Contex for many years having sold many Contex and Vidar scanners in the past and we are impressed with their superior quality and market leading technology.  This new agreement gives us an opportunity to drive forward in partnership with Contex and to focus on delivering the best solution for all applications.  We’re looking forward to moving into new markets where Contex’ proven quality, performance and technology advantages will prove decisive in gaining new business.”

Contex is the technology leader in large format scanners and has many patents in scanner hardware and software.  Its latest developments include:

• Colour Fringe Removal – a technology that applies advanced filter technology to remove the fringes that are a natural consequence of CIS sequentially flashing R¬¬-G-B. Contex patented CFR removes this problem to provide superior image quality.
• Dual Diffusion CIS – Contex new IQ series scanners use the latest in high-quality CIS modules with Contex Dual Diffusion.  This combined with xDTR2, CFR and Sigma provides the best quality CIS scans in the market.
• Contex scanners use X-Rite i1 Profiles for professional colour results, and offer the widest range of colour space like Adobe RGB, allowing differences in very bright and saturated colours to be maintained in the file.

Jacob Bendix, General Manager of Contex EMEA division, comments, “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Allied Images as our UK distributor.  They bring a great deal of experience and knowledge of the large format scanner market gained in supplying scanners for over 20 years and backed by our expertise and products we look forward to generating new  business opportunities in the UK markets.”

Graphics Printing Technologies (GPT) will 'accelerate the momentum' of its Mimaki-based GPT 190s 1.9 m super-fast solvent printer with a package designed to help print providers grow their businesses through a wider range of high quality digital applications. The package includes the delivery, installation and training of a new Mimaki based GPT190s as well as 3.5 litres of Mimaki ink, RIP software and a full 2 years on-site parts and labour warranty and costs £22,500.

GPT is also offering customers the option of a 3 year platinum warranty for £1,495 and a Mimaki 2 litre bulk ink system at £1,495, reducing the ink costs by up to 20% over the standard 440ml Mimaki cartridges. If customers purchase the system from now until the end of Sign & Digital UK, they will be offered either the 3 year platinum warranty or the bulk ink system at £995.

“With a print speed capability of up to 96 square metres per hour together with this phenomenal package, customers are able to easily integrate the printer into their businesses in virtually no time and kick off the process of bringing high quality new products to market. We want to help print providers differentiate their business from the competition by being able to offer a broader range of high-value products and significantly increasing productivity and performance. The GPT 190s is a unique machine that we know meets many of the key demands of high performance graphics production companies,” says Stuart Cole, General Manager, GPT.

The new GPT 190s can print high speed mode at 35 Mtr.Sq / Hr (540dpi x 720dpi - good quality banner mode), standard speed at 24 Mtr.Sq / Hr (540dpi x 1080dpi - good quality vinyl mode) and highest quality at 15 Mtr.Sq / Hr (720dpi x 1440dpi - highest quality vinyl mode. The GPT 190S cannot be purchased anywhere but from GPT and is a 1.9m wide printer, incorporating double print heads (as the JV34 260) to deliver the additional speed.

The printer has been created by adapting an existing Mimaki textile printer and includes a full 2 year parts and labour warranty, Mimaki inks and Mimaki RIP.  The GPT 190s also has an optional trough for unbacked mesh materials, and an optional Mimaki bulk ink system for cheaper ink costs.

For more details, please visit www.g-p-t.co.uk

Roland DG will be showcasing its recently announced 64-inch SOLJET PRO4 XF-640 at this year’s FESPA exhibition. The new XF-640 is the company’s fastest wide format printer to date and has been dubbed ‘the beast’. It incorporates next generation dual print heads, a redesigned take-up and pinch roller systems, plus a host of other advanced features for high quality imaging at a maximum print speed of 102m²/hr.

Designed for both durable and stunning outdoor and indoor applications, the XF-640 is the ideal production tool for signs, banners, vehicle wraps, window graphics, POP displays, exhibition show graphics, posters and more. Roland’s newest eco-solvent inks, Eco-Sol MAX 2, offer an expanded colour gamut as well as fast drying times to boost production and the dual mirrored CMYK ink configuration virtually eliminates banding for consistent colour imaging. Visitors to the show can battle with the XF-640 beast on the Roland stand (P30S) to win prizes.

The XF-640 will also be joined on the stand by Roland’s SOLJET PRO4 XR-640. The 64 inch printer/cutter has been a great commercial success since its launch late last year and visitors to the stand will be able to see both machines in action and speak with Roland’s experts to learn how the PRO4’s series high quality and versatility can boost their business and offer a great return on investment.

Available in both seven and eight ink configurations and compatible with Roland’s latest Eco-Sol MAX 2 ink technology, the XR-640 comes with a choice of nine ink colours – CMYK, light magenta, light cyan, white, metallic silver and light black. Alongside the PRO4 XR-640, the VersaCAMM VS-640 printer/cutter will also be on stand, representing the best-selling VersaCAMM series.

The Roland stand will feature a café serving refreshments so visitors can learn more from the Roland team in a relaxed environment. James Sahota from Essex-based visual communications specialist Group 101, the latest participant in Roland’s “I’m a Roland User” campaign, will also be on hand to give user insight into the brand and share how his Roland machine has helped him expand his business.

Gillian Montanaro, Head of Marketing, Roland DG (UK) comments, “FESPA is a great opportunity for us to reach out to wide format print companies and with two outstanding new machines in the shape of our PRO4 series on the stand, it’s going to be a great show for us. In addition to exhibiting our new flagship models and some of our best-selling machines, we will also be highlighting the great after-sales support Roland offers through our RolandCare warranty service and training courses held at the Roland Academy.”

For more information, please visit www.rolanddg.co.uk

Stupnik, Croatia-based FED d.o.o. has been named as the first company in the Balkans to use the VUTEk® LED system with cool cure technology. The ability to print on a wider variety of speciality materials, faster speed and lower energy consumption were the primary reasons for purchasing the VUTEk GS2000LX.

"We chose the EFI VUTEk GS2000LX because we needed a higher level of print quality and production. LED cool cure technology was particularly appealing because it provides less stress to the material, saves energy and increases productivity," said FED owner Davor Ferdebar.

Established in 1997, large format print business FED (www.fed.hr) has 27 employees and serves a wide variety of industries including cosmetics, retail, food and beverage and marketing. Customers include names such as Chanel, Coca Cola, Billa, Nestle and Beiersdorf.

Ferdebar chose the VUTEk GS2000LX because of his plans to continually improve and expand the company's capabilities. "There is constant pressure from the market and you have to follow it to remain competitive," he said. "The VUTEk GS2000LX is an upgradable platform, enabling options such as printing directly on corrugated material and greyscale printing."

Ferdebar added, "With productive, reliable machines like the VUTEk, labour costs are lowered. And, if you deliver consistent, ever-increasing quality, your customers don't focus exclusively on the lowest price, because they know the value of what they are getting," he said.

The EFI VUTEk GS2000LX LED UV-curing 2-metre-wide printer provides the ability to print on specialty substrates while increasing productivity and lowering operating costs. It produces no VOCs, uses fewer consumables and produces less waste, uses less energy and has the ability to print on environmentally friendly materials without warping or head strikes.

The GS2000LX delivers high-definition point-of-purchase quality graphics and advanced three-layer white ink printing. It extends the range of supported substrates with innovative ink curing technology that delivers high quality and high adhesion while lowering energy consumption. It offers even higher image quality with true grayscale technology.