Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and printer cutters, today announced a new addition to its popular VersaUV LEF2 series benchtop UV flatbed printers. The LEF2-300D features an expanded workspace that supports a height of up to 200 mm, 100mm more than the standard model*.

The LEF2 series employs UV-LED lamps to instantly cure ink, and is capable of printing directly onto plastics, leather, wood, fabrics and numerous other materials, allowing users to add ultra-realistic graphics and simulated embossing to a broad range of items like smartphone cases, awards, souvenirs, giftware, leather goods, electronic devices and much more. With the added height, the LEF2-300D’s workspace is effectively doubled, which expands the potential of printing onto not only thicker materials, but also a wider variety of shapes by accommodating diverse sizes and types of jigs.

According to Hisashi Bito, President of Roland DG's Digital Printing Business Division, the LEF2-300D was developed in response to customer feedback. “The LEF2 series meets the growing demand for personalised, one-of-a-kind items and high-mix, small-lot runs. With its larger print space, the LEF2-300D further boosts customer creativity, and expands the scope of profitable business opportunities.”

The VersaUV LEF2-300D joins the extremely popular LEF2-200, LEF2-300 and LEF-12i models, further expanding options for customers to ensure they can choose the right printer to suit their needs. Click here to find out more.

Canon Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce the new imagePROGRAF TA-Series. Designed to expand printing opportunities and business growth for the entry-level, low-volume customer, the imagePROGRAF TA-20, 24-inch and imagePROGRAF TA-30, 36-inch is ideal for small businesses, schools, architects, engineers, as well as consulting firms. The imagePROGRAF TA-20 and imagePROGRAF TA-30 comes standard with a 24 month warranty to further support these markets.

As poster printing is becoming more common, Canon has implemented two key features, LUCIA TD Pigment Ink and PosterArtist Lite, as standard into this printer to provide customers with the opportunity to produce and design high-quality images, posters and office documents. PosterArtist Lite allows customers to easily design and print posters, while LUCIA TD Pigment Ink can bring these designs to life through its ability to print on a wide variety of media including water-resistant media for short-term outdoor signage.
 
Additionally, the imagePROGRAF TA-Series helps to streamline efficiency. Built with productivity in mind, key features include its ability to print an A1 poster in as fast as 27 seconds on plain paper using Fast (Q5) mode*, and coupled with Canon’s market leading air-feeding system, which helps the paper to remain stationary by  vacuuming it flat to the platen  giving cleaner and crisper prints as it keeps the distance between the print head and media constant. Designed with a small footprint and quiet print modes, this solution serves as a great device that can help meet the needs of small businesses.
 
“We are seeing the need for more advanced solutions in the entry-level, large-format inkjet market, and, in response to meet customer need, Canon is proud to deliver the imagePROGRAF TA Series for entry-level professionals,” said Takeshi Matsumoto, General Manager - Product & Planning, Canon Australia. “Small businesses require solutions that can promote productivity and expand their business growth, and this printer can help them do that and more.”
 
Availability

The imagePROGRAF TA-Series is now available through Canon authorised resellers, and ships standard with a total of 330 ml ink (CMYK and 2x MBk).
 
For more information about this product or images, please visit www.canon.com.au/business

Epson will add a new microcontroller unit (MCU) to the company's S1C31W series of MCUs. The S1C31W73 has an Arm®Cortex®-M0+ processor and on-chip Flash memory. Epson plans to produce 200,000 units per month when volume production begins in July 2020.

The number of functions provided in electronic equipment has been growing in recent years, and program sizes are increasing, as the amount of information is displayed. Meanwhile, equipment manufacturers need either maintain or further shrink the size of their products, making it essential to reduce the number of parts and save board space.

To solve these problems, Epson developed the S1C31W73, a single-chip microcontroller that has 384 kB of built-in Flash memory and a liquid crystal driver that can directly drive a display of up to 2,560 dots.
 
By combining Epson's strong microcontroller display driver technology with the proven Arm®Cortex®-M0+ processor, Epson will help customers to increase the functionality and performance of their products while also reducing their development burden.

The S1C31W73 offer a wide range of built-in peripherals, including a USB 2.0 full-speed device controller, real-time clock (RTC), various timers, an A/D converter, and a temperature sensor. The low current consumption of this MCU-1.2 µA in RTC mode and a driving current of 150 µA/MHz-makes it ideal for extending the battery life of wearable products and for office equipment that can communicate with PCs over USB. The S1C31W73 can also be used in industrial equipment and measuring instruments because it operates at temperatures up to 105℃ (the highest operating temperature yet for an Epson MCU) and at voltages between 1.8 V and 5.5 V.

Epson is committed helping its customers to improve the performance of their products with solutions that leverage Epson's efficient, compact, and precision technologies.
 
For a PDF attachment detailing the specifications of the new MCU click here

They say ‘the future is digital’. And GMG Color, agree. Instead of traditional ink drawdowns, digitally-produced colour cards will soon be the proofs of choice for the approval process of packaging projects. Only with physical colour cards can all stakeholders visualise with certainty what the final printed result will look like. GMG Color, the industry leaders in the development of colour management solutions, have developed a new ColorCard tool for producing ink drawdowns. The new solution offers numerous advantages, above all: it’s digital.

An ink drawdown is traditionally a test print made with the final ink mix that gives a client an idea of the colour. Once the ink has been mixed, it’s printed out, usually on a small flatbed printer, or even just rolled onto the production paper with a small hand-roller so that it can be measured and validated. From here it would then have to be printed on a production press, and a square patch would then be cut out and stuck to a chart so that everyone involved could see exactly the colour that was going to be used. It’s fairly common to take multiple versions so that a client can judge how using different ink densities affect the colour. It’s also necessary to create copies for each person, including the client and the press operators, and might have to be repeated for different substrates. As a manual process, this equates to the high cost for the production of these colour cards.   

The idea behind the ColorCard is to take out a lot of the manual repetition. It’s still necessary to mix the ink and to roll it out onto the production paper but at this point it’s measured with a spectrophotometer and the spectral data fed into the ColorCard software. From here it can then be printed out on an inkjet proofer with the appropriate proofing media and profiles to create a digitally printed ink reference that can be customised with density tolerances, customer logos and so on.
It uses standard CxF data and different proofing media can be used to simulate the effects on different substrates, including corrugated and folding cartons. It’s a simple matter to print as many copies as needed and the files can be sent electronically and printed through a remote proofing set up if necessary. And of course, the files can also be saved in the cloud for future reference.

It should be possible to produce a ColorCard in under three minutes, and GMG claims that this can save up to 90 percent of the time needed to manually produce an ink drawdown. It should allow printers to produce their own colour cards rather than paying an ink manufacturer to do it.

To learn more, Kayell Australia in collaboration with GMG Color, Hybrid Software, and ColourHead are hosting a FREE online web series, with one of their sessions covering this new technology, GMG ColorCard.

Visit ‘kayellaustralia.com.au/events' to register now. 

Web:  https://gmgcolor.com/products/colorcard/

Arrow Systems has launched ArrowJet Aqua 330R, a high-speed, aqueous pigment roll-to-roll press built with new ChromaPlex LT inkjet print engine by Colordyne for enhanced print quality and greater production flexibility.


The new press is powered by Memjet’s DuraFlex printhead technology, providing the benefits of digital printing as well as enhanced durability and fast speeds by using aqueous pigment inkjet technology. The digital workflow adds the flexibility to change designs on the fly, print on demand, implement variable data and make colour alterations without changing inks, plates, or tooling. Plus, using an aqueous pigment-based inkjet ink provides greater substrate compatibility than previous aqueous inkjet technologies.


‘The ArrowJet Aqua 330R is the first USA manufactured roll-to-roll press with an integrated ChromaPlex LT inkjet print engine from Colordyne,’ said Shaan Patel, business development manager of Arrow Systems. ‘The impressive speeds and capabilities of the system offer several benefits including improving production efficiency, reducing running costs and providing exceptional resolution. Designed with the end-user in mind, the modularity of the ArrowJet Aqua 330R gives customers the flexibility to tailor the press to their specific market and application needs.’


The new press offers up to 1600 x 1600 dpi resolution and print speeds up to 150 feet (50 meters) per minute. It can be configured for either off-line operation, or paired with various in-line finishing options, including laser die-cutting and traditional analog finishing.


‘We are excited to work with Arrow Systems, as a strategic integration partner of our ChromaPlex LT print engine,’ said Taylor Buckthorpe, director of sales at Colordyne. ‘With the integration of our aqueous pigment inkjet engine, the ArrowJet Aqua 330R is compatible with a wide range of applications to add greater value to customers’ businesses.’


The ArrowJet Aqua 330R features a large unwind and rewind with capacity up to standard 20in rolls, an in-line edge guide, in-line IR curing, and an integrated RIP software for precise colour matching and variable data printing. The modularity of the print engine technology offers the ability to stitch multiple printheads together for wider print widths. Arrow Systems is currently working on a 17in model for the flexible packaging market and other custom widths for customers in various industries.

Vastex International has introduced a new Face Mask Pallet with a Quick-Stretch design for rapid screen printing on a wide variety of face mask types and styles, announced Mark Vasilantone, president.

The pallet can be secured with two lock knobs to any Vastex press, or other presses having compatible rotor arms.

“The need and use of face masks is universal and, in many cases mandatory, enabling screen printers to replace or exceed imprinted garment jobs lost due to lock-downs on concerts, sports, schools and other group events,” says Mr. Vasilantone, adding, “Since they are disposable and purchased daily in the millions, masks hold enormous volume potential for printers, not only as custom jobs but as highly creative stock designs that can be sold online for political, athletic, comical or other applications.”

Rubber strips of the Quick-Stretch frame stretch single- or multi-layer mask material over the diamond shaped, rubber covered pallets, flattening pleats and contours in the imprint area with no shifting or need for pallet adhesive.

The never-warp pallet is constructed of high-strength steel and includes a convenient holder for the template frame during re-loading of masks.
A list of sources for face mask blanks is included as standard.

The company also offers shirt pallets in numerous stock and custom sizes, and over 50 specialised pallets for screen printing on long sleeves, pockets, legs, zippered garments, umbrellas, hats, koozies and other textiles and hard goods. Square and trapezoidal pallets in a range of sizes allow printing on infant wear to XXL garments, as well as all-over printing.

Vastex equipment for industrial to entry-level applications includes screen printing presses, athletic numbering attachments, infrared conveyor dryers for screen printing and DTG applications, flash cure units, screen exposing units, screen drying cabinets, washout booths and complete screen printing shop systems.  

For information contact Vastex International, Inc., +1 610 625 2702, www.vastex.com

Meteor Inkjet Ltd, leading supplier of electronics, software, tools and services for industrial inkjet, further expands its product portfolio by offering solutions for Epson’s new S1600 and S800 PrecisionCore printheads.  These heads join the previously launched S3200, first offered to industrial inkjet print system builders in 2019.

Epson PrecisionCore printheads embody technology that enables outstanding image quality, productivity, durability and printhead scalability.  The S1600 and S800 are built with the same thin film piezo building blocks as the S3200 and have been developed in response to customer requests for smaller printheads.  With its compact form factor, the S1600 is ideally suited for carriage mounting in scanning applications, while the fine nozzle pitch and small surface area of the S800 is perfect in direct-to-shape applications.  Coupled with Meteor’s unique capability to combine printhead types from the same or different printhead families, OEMs can reduce the time and risk associated with the design and delivery of complex industrial inkjet systems.

Available immediately, Meteor’s complete package of solutions for Epson PrecisionCore printheads includes scalable electronics and comprehensive software.  Moreover, Meteor’s DropWatcher is an essential tool to accelerate time to market for new inkjet applications.

Jonathan Wilson, Meteor’s sales director, comments, “We’re keen to join Epson in helping as many customers as possible convert from analogue to digital printing.  Meteor’s electronics and software provide the fastest and easiest way to unlock the potential of these new printheads.” 

Duncan Ferguson, vice president, Epson Europe adds, “Epson and Meteor are collaborating closely to ensure Epson’s unique PrecisionCore printhead technology can be integrated easily into industrial printing engines for multiple applications.  The role of Meteor in providing high quality, reliable electronics to drive Epson’s industrial inkjet printheads is paramount to this effort, and we welcome this broadening of the available drivers from Meteor.”

The NOVA SX 550 LAMINATOR is a plug and play machine designed to deliver cost-effective performance for all production lengths on a wide range of substrates and thickness.

Brand owners and converters are facing two main challenges – sustainability and agility. We have set out to shape the future of the packaging world by actively driving industry transformation with the digitalisation, connectivity and automation of equipment and services for sustainable production.

The new NOVA SX 550 LAMINATOR takes solventless lamination to the next level. It features a highly modular design which can be configured with either transfer rollers or sleeves or monolithic/integral rollers. It accepts the majority of existing roller types enabling converters to use their existing stock of transfer rollers.

NOVA SX 550 LAMINATOR handles a wide range of substrates and thicknesses, including thin alufoil, metallised film and stretchable substrates, from short run upwards.

From a productivity standpoint, the numbers speak for themselves; easy and quick set-up of job parameters within 1 minute; 15 minutes for a complete job changeover; 90 seconds for a transfer roller change; and 5 minutes to complete a fully automatic washing cycle.

In addition, NOVA SX 550 LAMINATOR does not require foundations. It is a plug & play installation that can be completed in just one week.

Job changes are fast and do not require the use of tools, while reel centring is automatic with a linear encoder. An exclusive three-column machine layout enables full accessibility to the laminating nip for quality and process inspection without stopping the machine. NOVA SX 550 LAMINATOR standard web widths range from 1000 to 1500 mm - others are available on request – and speed is up to 450 m/min. It can handle reels up to 1.5 tons.

Featuring a highly efficient fume exhaust with double fan, a glass closure of the coating unit and an enclosed washing system, NOVA SX 550 LAMINATOR??????? is equipped with the latest operator protection devices to enhance health and safety during use.

“The machine is industry 4.0-ready for post processing data,” said Nanni Bertorelli, Product Manager, Coating and Laminating Product Lines, Bobst Italia. “There are four NOVA SX 550 machines already sold in Italy, the Middle East, Asia and in the US. This tells us that we’ve hit the mark with a solventless machine that is a good market fit irrespective of local market specificities. We are confident that our innovations will make an impact.”

HP Inc. today announced an updated portfolio of HP Latex R Series printers with new features and solutions to make it easier for print service providers (PSPs) to benefit from HP Latex printing on a hybrid printing platform, including achieving high image quality on a range of rigid and flexible materials using HP’s water-based Latex Inks.

The HP Latex R Series brings vibrant colors into the rigid printing world along with HP’s innovative White Latex Ink, a glossy, high-quality “true white” that doesn’t yellow over time like traditional UV-based white ink.

The new portfolio introduces the new entry-level HP Latex R1000 model, offered at an attractive entry price point.

Additionally, HP is introducing improvements across the portfolio. The new R Series printers now enable customers to benefit from higher productivity and efficiency.

Software productivity advancements include expanded queue management capability and automated updates. More efficient multi-sheet media loading and handling will help significantly boost output. These upgrades will be available to existing R Series printer customers.

The new R series will also boost the capability of PSPs to grow applications such as custom short-run packaging, POP corrugated displays, and printed thermoforming, benefitting from fine details and saturated color image quality on cardboard stock and amazing HP Latex ink elongation capabilities when producing thermoformed printer parts.

“With the new HP Latex R Printer series 2020 edition, large format print service providers will benefit from new levels of performance. They will also be able to expand to fast-growing applications, such as short-run special packaging and printed thermoforming for which HP Latex inks technology delivers top-quality performance,” said Guayente Sanmartin, general manager, HP Large Format Graphics Business, HP Inc.

The new portfolio of R Series Printers
HP Latex R Printers powers PSPs with ultimate versatility for one technology to achieve the same look across rigid and flexible campaigns. A single ink set delivers vibrant HP Latex colour gamut along with the industry’s glossiest white. HP’s White Latex Ink set an industry first by developing an innovative system that recirculates the white ink to avoid settling. The R Series printer portfolio includes:

• HP Latex R2000 Plus Printer for highest capacity and productivity, feeding materials in roll-fed or sheet-fed configuration up to 98-inches wide (2.5 meters), printing with high-capacity 5 litre-cartridges and white ink printing capability.

• HP Latex R1000 Plus Printer handling media up to 64 inches wide (1.64 m), roll-fed or sheet-fed configuration with 3 litre-cartridges and white ink printing capability.

• HP Latex R1000 Printer entry-level solution at an attractive price, handling media up to 64 inches wide (1.64 m) with 3 litre-cartridges. Provided in sheet-fed configuration with white ink printing capability, with roll-fed available as an accessory.

The R Series rigid substrate capabilities include paper and plastic foamboard, PVC foam, corrugated board, acrylic, polycarbonate, compressed cardboard, honeycomb board, alluminum composite panel, and wood. Roll substrates include PVC banner, self-adhesive vinyl, coated paper, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyester, textiles, and canvas.

Learn more about HP Latex at hp.com/go/LatexRseries.

Mimaki 3DGD-1800 3D

The Mimaki 3DGD-1800 3D facilitates large-scale production up to three times faster than with conventional Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) type 3D printers and connects the company’s 2D printing expertise and 3D technology innovations.

Capable of producing objects up to 1.8 metres tall in just seven hours – with its assembly-based design allowing for the creation of even larger designs – the innovative 3D printing system boasts a number of clever time- and cost- saving features, including dual-head configuration to enable the simultaneous output of two structures.

The Mimaki 3DGD-1800 also facilitates the production of support-free hollowed structures, further streamlining production whilst allowing for increased portability and the possible addition of interior illuminations. The technology will open up a diverse range of potential applications, from signage, events and creative art through to interior design. Customers can utilise Mimaki’s extensive portfolio of 2D print solutions to cost-effectively decorate these applications, opening doors to a range of new products that combine creativity and innovation with Mimaki’s tried and tested vibrant, high-quality results.

The new Mimaki 3DGD-1800 is set to revolutionise the way in which large-sized objects are created, enabling a switch from costly and time-consuming conventional handcrafting methods which require significant expertise, to effortless, high-speed production utilising 3D data.

Whereas large objects have traditionally been produced by manually sculpting foam materials, Mimaki’s new 3D printing system transforms this process right through from concept to manufacture – meaning that designs can be visualised as a finished product just based on the 3D data, and then produced in various sizes from a single data set. Contrary to other 3D printing methods involving hot-melt lamination, the 3DGD-1800 employs Gel Dispensing Printing technology, extruding gel-type UV curable resin lineally and utilising LED UV light to instantly cure the resin, enabling lamination speeds of up to 350mm in height per hour.

Customer benefit and environmental compatibility are equally high priorities in developing the large format printers, a principle that takes its firm place in the Swiss company's mission statement.

swissQprint large format printers, like the country they hail from, are noted for high tech. "swissQprint Greentech" summarises the Swiss manufacturer's strategic harnessing of technologies and processes in the cause of environmental protection.

Customer benefit and environmental compatibility are equally high priorities in developing the large format printers, a principle that takes its firm place in the Swiss company's mission statement. "swissQprint Greentech" shows how this works in practice. The result is that swissQprint users attain high added value with the lowest possible environmental impact.

Small ecological footprint
Four main factors contribute to swissQprint large format printers leaving a small ecological footprint: short shipping distances, outstanding durability, low maintenance requirements and UV LED printing technology.

The printers are developed and manufactured from start to finish at the headquarters in Switzerland, with the involvement of mostly local suppliers. The machines' outstanding durability saves on resources – some of these printers are still operating after twelve years. Their reliability minimises service calls and consumable parts that need replacing, hence CO2 emissions and costs as well. UV LED technology requires neither heating for drying processes nor ventilation for extracting volatile pollutants (VOC). Furthermore, the LED UV lamps that cure the ink are economical on electricity. This minimises the system's overall energy requirement.

Maximum energy efficiency
A fully equipped swissQprint large format printer with a 2×3.2 metre flatbed draws the same amount of electricity as two ordinary electric kettles – just 3 kWh. The printer makes extraordinarily efficient use of this electricity, as evidenced by measurements and ISO 20690 certification.

The Tesla comparison
swissQprint draws an interesting comparison: Nyala, the largest and highest-performing model in the swissQprint range, prints an area about the same size as a tennis court within one hour when running at top speed. It consumes 3 kWh of electricity to cover this surface of around 200 square metres. A Tesla, the prime example of "green mobility", can only travel about 16 km with the same amount of energy.

Pollutant-free
The current UV standard inks from swissQprint are Greenguard Gold certified. This means that printed products can be brought confidently into critical places like hospitals and schools as the inks comply with strict upper limits for chemical emissions. Furthermore, UV printing does not emit ozone. And with LED systems having replaced the mercury vapour lamps used in the past, toxic waste has been eliminated.

An all-new EconoRed ER-III-30 high-capacity dryer from Vastex cures screen-printed plastisols, water-based inks and discharge at higher rates, in a smaller footprint, at lower cost and more quietly than the BigRed 3 model it replaces, it was announced by Mark Vasilantone, president.

With a 76 cm wide belt and three 61 cm wide, 3,600 watt heaters (total 10,800 watts) it can cure 475 garments/h printed with plastisol ink, or 150/h printed with water-based ink or discharge.

An EconoRed III-30-2 version equipped with an additional heating chamber (total 21,600 watts), allows doubling of belt speed, curing up to 950 garments/h printed with plastisol ink, or 300/h printed with water-based ink or discharge.

The heaters feature closely spaced coils that provide high-density, medium-wavelength infrared heat for maximum cure speed without cold spots or under-curing and come with a 15-year warranty.

With the Vastex Infrared Focusing System, the heaters can be adjusted to any height 5 to 17 cm above the belt, allowing the operator to compensate for varying garment thicknesses.

The dryer is over 20 percent quieter and 13 cm narrower than its predecessor owing to its top-mounted exhaust system, and allows positioning of the control box on the right (standard) or left side of the enclosure to suit shop layouts.

The new exhaust system draws in filtered air that cools the outer skin of the dryer while a powerful 10.75 CMM exhaust system evacuates moisture and fumes from the heating chamber. The two-chamber model includes a 21.5 CMM system.

As with all Vastex conveyor dryers, EconoRed dryers are supplied as standard with a digital PID temperature controller accurate to =/- 1°, allowing the operator to repeat or fine-tune drying results at any future time.

Vasilantone says EconoRed III-54 models with 137 cm wide conveyor belts will soon follow.

The company also produce specialised DTG-capable multi-function dryers with capacities from 110+ to 950+ pieces per hour per chamber, as well as industrial-grade and entry-level manual screen printing presses, flash cure units, screen exposing units, screen drying cabinets, washout booths and complete screen printing shop systems.
 
For information contact Vastex International, Inc., +1 610 625 2702, sales@vastex.com, www.vastex.com

Agfa announced a new addition to its large-format inkjet printer assortment. The Oberon RTR3300 is a dedicated 3.3 m high-end roll-to-roll machine that combines extreme productivity and quality with an extensive media scope and a unique ease of use.


The new Oberon RTR3300 comes in a four colour plus white, and a six colour version, depending on user needs and preferences. In ‘express mode’, the Oberon RTR3300 hits an impressive 150 m²/h, while still delivering Agfa’s well-known exceptional image quality. In ‘production mode’, the Oberon reaches a consistent 85 m² per hour. The dual-roll option is capable of handling two rolls each up to 1.6 meters wide, doubling the total output.


The UV LED inks on the Oberon RTR3300 were optimised for flexible media and excel in the smooth printing of solid colours. They obtained the highest category of Greenguard Gold certification, which means they meet some of the world’s most rigorous chemical emissions standards and can be used in sensitive indoor environments like schools or healthcare facilities.


Wide media scope


The Oberon RTR3300 covers significant media diversity and a wide range of applications, enabling print service providers to execute all their customers’ creative wishes, while also inspiring them to explore new directions.


In addition to its air-cooled LED curing lamps, the Oberon RTR3300 features a unique water-cooled table that keeps the printing zone at room temperature. Therefore, print service providers can smoothly process any kind of heat-sensitive roll material, including lower cost media.


The dedicated mesh printing functionality makes printing on mesh (with or without liner) more convenient than ever.


User-friendly, efficient and reliable


The Oberon RTR3300 was designed with a view to offering convenience, lean operations and peace of mind. Thanks to a unique media loading setup, a single operator can quickly load the media. The smart multi-queue functionality guarantees effortless job planning in view of the available materials. The free fall option, which may be used to print on demand, reduces media waste. A light box next to the printing area allows for on-the-spot quality inspection of backlit prints, while a double light curtain ensures that jobs don’t get interrupted and media wasted, even when an operator accidentally moves into the safety zone.


Taking printing to the Extreme


“When developing the Oberon, we once again focused on merging extreme productivity with extreme quality, in addition to delivering the lowest ink consumption levels and reduced overall operational costs. It is a position to give print service providers a competitive edge,” said Tom Vermeulen, Head of Sign & Display, Agfa. “This new engine builds on decades of experience in developing and manufacturing versatile large-format printing solutions. Our unique systems approach integrates and optimizes engine, ink, media, workflow and color management to ensure the highest quality, consistency and reliability.”


The Oberon RTR3300 will make its debut at the C!Print show (Lyon, France, 4-6 February 2020) and at FESPA (Madrid, Spain, 24-27 March 2020).

Tx300P-1800 from Mimaki splendidly reproduces rich colour gradation and delicate sophisticated lines in textile printing. In Tx300P-1800 MkII, these capabilities have been taken to a new level, and long-awaited print on paper is now available with the "hybrid ink capability" which is another unique feature of this series. 

As Dye sublimation ink (transfer) for printing on transfer paper has been added, you can now select from 3 types of ink sets; "Dye sublimation ink (transfer) + Textile pigment ink", "Direct sublimation ink + Textile pigment ink", "Dye sublimation ink (transfer) + Direct sublimation ink".*1,*2
Enabling print on paper will expand the possibilities of new materials and applications drastically.

• Switchable conveyance units supporting both paper and textile

Service engineers are no longer needed! You can easily replace platens manually.

• A variety of ink types capable of responding to print materials and hybrid ink supply system

One way and Hybrid are available.

• Ultimate design for usability ensuring high-quality production

New printhead, Reliable textile feeding mechanism

• Mimaki’s print technologies for achieving beautiful printing

- Mimaki Advanced Pass System 4 (MAPS4) reduces banding.
- Superior inkjet technology

• Uninterrupted printing solutions

- Nozzle Check Unit (NCU) automatically detects and cleans clogged nozzles.
- Nozzle Recovery System (NRS) uses only good nozzles as substitutes, when the clogged nozzles are not recovered after cleaning.
- Mimaki Bulk Ink System 3 (MBIS3) for long-time continuous printing.

• High-performance RIP software TxLink4 Lite*

The TxLink4 Lite offers simple RGB and CMYK colour replacement on raster and vector data, as well as the ability to produce different colour patterns. Moreover, various colour replacement functions can represent desired colours.
* TxLink4 Lite or RasterLink6Plus is bundled according to a user' s choice.

The feature of digital textile printing

Substantial time savings and production time reduction from design to market enables fast response to clients orders.
No restriction in numbers of colours, smooth gradations and high quality printing.
Ecologically viable printing as only the required ink quantity is used for production. No excess water usage.

Electronics For Imaging Inc. is launching a new mid-range roll-to-roll printer line that helps sign and display graphics customers drive more volume with high-end digital print for endless applications and designs.

The new EFI VUTEk D3r and D5r LED inkjet printers leverage many of the advanced capabilities from EFI’s highly successful VUTEk 3r+ and 5r+ printers, offering a mid-range solution for an even wider variety of high value applications thanks to its combination of white and clear inks, as well as its Museum print mode. The new printer line also supports the unique collection of options for VUTEk roll-to-roll LED printers, providing a full system for higher efficiency and a lower total cost of ownership.

The VUTEk D3r, which prints up to 2,196 square feet per hour, is making its worldwide debut at the EFI Connect users’ conference, Jan. 21-24 in Las Vegas, and making its European debut at the EFI EMEA Ignite event on Jan. 29 in Brussels, Belgium.

The second printer in the new mid-range line, the VUTEk D5r, prints up to 2,626 square feet per hour. Early D5r users such as Thomas Printworks in the United States and Allgraf in Italy have purchased the new printer line for its performance capabilities to meet growing demand for high-end signage, décor, outdoor graphics and other applications.

“We were looking to upgrade our 5-meter printing capabilities, and when we found the EFI VUTEk D5r, it checked all the boxes related to speed, quality, cost of operation, and efficiency,” said Bryan Thomas, president at Thomas Printworks. “The quality of the machine was so impressive that it gave us the added benefit of also replacing a 3-meter printer within our fleet.”

“Our choice to buy the EFI VUTEk D5r was a winning decision,” said Agostino Allegris, CEO and president at Allgraf. “The printing resolution, the possibilities of white printing and the inline clear ink are unique features and they give us a competitive edge. Now, we have the ability to print a full flood or selective clear ink in glossy or matte. We are excited of the possibilities of printing a whole series of innovative applications and materials.”

High-end UltraDrop Technology and high efficiency

The D3r and D5r printers, at 3.5- and 5.2-meters wide respectively, deliver outstanding smoothness in shadows, gradients and transitions with UltraDrop Technology, precise and sharp 3-point size text, and a true resolution of up to 1,200 dots per inch. An ultra-high-definition print mode offers near-photographic quality. The printers’ LED curing ensures not only cost savings but also a more environmentally sound printing solution, consuming less energy and enabling the use of thinner, heat-sensitive substrates.

The VUTEk D line is equipped with additional printheads and offers both white and jettable clear ink for matte and glossy effects, covering a wider amount of unique applications such as wall decorations and murals, window graphics, flooring, high-value prints with selective gloss effects, fleet graphics, truck-side curtains and more.

The printers are easily customisable to the purchaser’s needs and strategies, with optional features including:

• White and clear ink;
• Inline x-cutters and y-slitters;
• Automatic backlit and block-out printing;
• Media spreaders and motorised winders; and more.

Both printers include EFI’s industry-leading Fiery proServer SE digital front end, allowing increased productivity as well as accurate color matching every time.

For added productivity, users can choose to add a software productivity pack and are able to remotely connect with the printers using a mobile application. EFI VUTEk SuperFlex 3M inks are also available for manufacturing of popular and profitable vehicle wraps and fleet graphics.

“The ‘D’ in the name for these new printers is for ‘Design,’ and they are absolutely designed to offer the right mix of features, productivity and cost to create new opportunities for signage and graphics professionals,” said Ken Hanulec, EFI’s vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We listened very closely to our customers for feedback to create a mid-volume solution that will be the technology of choice for print providers seeking to profitably grow their businesses with high-end applications.”

For more information on EFI’s portfolio of solutions for the display graphics industry, visit www.efi.com.

A new series of cutting plotters has been announced by Graphtec. Called the CE7000, it replaces the CE6000 series and provides radically enhanced performance capabilities but at a competitive price point and with new and larger size options.

With a cutting performance that equates to the flagship Graphtec FC8600 series of machines, the CE7000 is available in a choice of four sizes (40, 60,130 replacing the CE6000-120 and the new and largest160cm models). These provide respective media cutting widths of 484, 712, 1,372 and 1,626mm, with a maximum cutting speed of up to 1,000mm/sec on the 130 and 160 machine options and a maximum cutting force of 450g.

The CE7000 series also feature the latest Version 8 of Graphtec’s proprietary ARMS (Advanced Registration Mark Sensing) system for reliable long-length (up to five metres) tracking and optimum cutting accuracy. Key design features include a digital servo drive system and graphic backlit LCD control panel, together with a range of standard and optional accessories (including super-steel 0.9mm cutting blades and fibre-tip pens) and a choice of machine operating modes to accommodate different types and thicknesses of material.

The CE7000 is suitable for handling of most types of flexible and semi-rigid materials, including self-adhesive vinyl, heat transfer, paper and card formats. The machine can be used for a wide range of print and cut applications, including those in the signage and graphics, digital printing and finishing, labels and labelling, vehicle marking and decals, labels and labelling, packaging and print wear and promotional products sectors.

The CE7000 is supplied as standard with Graphtec’s own-brand design and production software. This comprises Graphtec Pro Studio for Windows and Graphtec Studio for MAC applications, together with the optional Cutting Master 4 program that enables integration with other popular software suites such as Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW. 

Epson has developed a compact, lightweight spectroscopic camera that can be integrated in manufacturing lines. Epson will launch its first spectroscopic camera, one that captures light across the visible spectrum, in the 2020 fiscal year ending March 2021.

Differences in colour can occur between products in different production lots in ordinary manufacturing processes. A spectroscopic camera can be used by manufacturers to perform the following inspections to control these differences to a certain extent and ensure product quality:
·         Colour variation inspections
·         Surface coating inspections
 
The RGB cameras currently used in these inspections are unable to capture detailed colour information and are not always able to distinguish between subtle differences in colour. Consequently, most visual inspections relied on human colour perception. However, colour perception varies among individuals, and human error puts manufacturers at risk of shipping defective goods. Time and cost constraints make colour management an issue in many industries. Spectroscopic cameras have traditionally been large and expensive, and those equipped with line sensors may have to composite images after scanning, adding to the time and expense.
 
Epson has developed an optimal solution for colour management processes with a compact, lightweight spectroscopic camera that can be integrated into manufacturing lines, that can automate and quantify inspections, and output images without the time and trouble of compositing. This spectroscopic camera will enable manufacturers to manage colour in their manufacturing processes more easily than ever before.
 




Features
1.     About the same compactness and weight as an RGB camera. Can be installed in manufacturing lines.
2.     Integral field spectroscopy. Can focus on an area, measure the colours, and distinguish colours of a target object within the visible light range.
3.     Image processing functions needed on manufacturing lines can be used along with spectral imaging functions.


Epson will be demonstrating the spectroscopic camera on the Epson booth S1-02 at International Robot Exhibition 2019, to be held at the Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Centre) from 18-21 December 2019.
 
For more information about the exhibition and the demos that will be on the Epson booth go to: https://biz.nikkan.co.jp/eve/irex/english/

A new BigRed™ 4D-54 conveyor dryer from Vastex features a pre-heating zone and high-efficiency air flow mapping, achieving ultra-high rates and side-to-side curing uniformity, while cooling the chamber skin, reducing noise and preventing dust contamination, it was announced by Mark Vasilantone, president.

Narrower than its predecessor by nearly 18 cm, the compact dryer is equipped with a 137 cm-wide conveyor belt, dual heating zones and four infrared heaters capable of curing up to 950 plastisol printed garments/h, 432 water-based or discharge-printed garments/h, and 144 garments/h printed with digital white ink.

A high-powered pre-heating zone surges ink temperatures past 150°C within the first several centimetres of conveyor travel, maximising dwell time at optimum curing temperatures and, in turn, conveyor belt speeds and dryer output.

Air intake fans located below the roof of the enclosure quietly draw ‘make-up’ air into the chamber’s double-walled shell through filtered inlets along opposite exterior sides at rates up to 15.6 m3/min, serving to cool the outer shell for safety while preheating the incoming air. 

An exhaust fan located below the centre of the conveyor belt draws the preheated air downward at rates up to 24 m3/min, over the garment and through the belt, removing heat, moisture and contaminants from the chamber.

To accommodate each shop’s layout, the 15 cm diameter exhaust fan outlet rotates 360 degrees for connection to ductwork, and the control box can be located on the right (standard) or left side of the chamber.

Exhaust filters located on both sides of the conveyor prevent garment lint from entering the blower or exhaust stack. Cleaning all filters before or after each shift can be accomplished in one minute according to the company, safeguarding printed images, the equipment and the shop environment.

Exhaust flow sensors with warning lights alert operators to a clogged exhaust line, clogged filter or blower failure. Other safety features include a light tower to monitor dryer status, and a ‘cool down mode’ for powering down.

Dual digital PID temperature controls maintain accuracy to +/-0.5°C.

The heaters of the new dryer carry a 15-year warranty, and feature closely spaced coils that provide high-density, medium-wavelength infrared heat for maximum cure speed without cold spots or under curing associated with conventional units.

The dryer’s capacity can be doubled, tripled or quadrupled when needs increase by adding one, two or three additional heating chambers and extending the conveyor belt.
Mr. Vasilantone says a BigRed™ 4D-30 version with 76 cm-wide conveyor belt will soon follow.

For information contact Vastex International, Inc., +1 610 625 2702, www.vastex.com 

Polaroid today announced its large format printers and ink, previously available in Latin America and the EU, are now available for commercial customers in the United States. Polaroid large format printers feature today’s leading technology and offer the speed, quality and profitability businesses are looking for from their printing solutions.

Four different printer lines — solvent, mild-solvent, dye sublimation and UV— are currently available to satisfy a wide a range of uses including signage, POP displays, buses, billboards, tradeshow displays and more. Also available is a collection of specialty ink, created specifically for each printer line. Polaroid large format printers currently available in the U.S. market include:

Polaroid Nova UV LED 3.20 Printer
• Ricoh G5 PL HEAD
• Head quantity: From 4 up to 9 print heads
• Printer speed: Production Mode: 95 sqm/H 1060 SQF/H; High Quality: 55 sqm/H 570 SQF/H
• Print technology: Piezoelectric ink jet
• Printing mode: Unidirectional / Bi-directional
• Media: Supports flexible media up to 320cm
• Resolution: 720×1200 DPI
• File format: EPS, JPEG, PDF, TIFF, Postscript
• Power supply: AC 220v 5500 w
• Operation conditions: Temperature 20°C – 28°C; relative humidity 40% to 60%
• Printer dimensions: 6450x1240x1600mm


Polaroid Second 1.80 Printer
• Epson DX5 HEAD
• Head quantity: 2 print heads
• Printer speed: Production Mode: 25 sqm/H 250 SQF/H; High Quality: 14 sqm/H 150 SQF/H
• Print technology: Piezoelectric ink jet
• Printing mode: Unidirectional / Bi-directional
• Media: Supports flexible media up to 180cm
• Resolution: 1400 DPI
• File format: EPS, JPEG, PDF, TIFF, Postscript
• Power supply: AC 220v
• Operation conditions: Temperature 20°C – 28°C; relative humidity 40% to 60%
• Printer dimensions: 2715x650x1246


Polaroid HS-2 5113 Sublimation Printer
• Ricoh G5 de 7pl. Head
• Head quantity: 4-9 printer heads
• Printer speed: Production Mode: 95 sqm/H; High Quality: 55 sqm/H; Ultra Quality: 25 sqm/H
• Print technology: Piezoelectric ink jet
• Printing mode: Unidirectional / Bi-directional
• Media: glass, acrylic, wood, PVC, metal panels, ceramic tiles, KT board WPC, MDF, ceiling film, vinyl, advertising banner, PET, wallpaper and more
• Resolution: Up to 720 X 1200 dpi
• File format: EPS, JPEG, PDF, TIFF, Postscript
• Power supply: AC 220 V,5500 W
• Operation conditions: Temperature 22°C a 28°C; relative humidity 80%
• Printer dimensions: 6450x1240x1600mm


Polaroid T-Rex UV LED 4FTx8FT Printer
• Ricoh G5 PL HEAD / Kyocera
• Head quantity: From 2 up to 9 print heads (Ricoh G5). From 2 up to 8 print heads (Kyocera)
• Printer speed: Production Mode: 75 sqm/H 807 SQF/H; High Quality: 40 sqm/H 430 SQF/H
• Print technology: Piezoelectric ink jet
• Printing mode: Unidirectional / Bi-directional
• Media: Glass, acrylic, wood, PVC, metal panels, ceramic tiles, KT board WPC, MDF, ceiling film, vinyl, advertising banner, PET, wallpaper and more
• Resolution: 300 – 1200 DPI
• File format: EPS, JPEG, PDF, TIFF, Postscript
• Power supply: AC 220v 5500 w
• Operation conditions: Temperature 20°C – 28°C; relative humidity 40% to 60%
• Printer dimensions: 6200x2300x900mm


Additionally, a new demo space has opened in Ontario, CA where Polaroid large format printers will be on display and support will be provided to business-to-business and commercial customers.


www.polaroid.com


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Global OEM Inkcups (Danvers, MA) has released its new Revolution Digital Cylinder Printer. The new device is fully automatic and can print high-quality, full-colour graphics at about 600 parts per hour, depending on the type of part. It features automatic loading and unloading, integrated pre-treatment, and Helical printing technology that interlaces the inkjet drops in a helical pattern, thereby delivering superior-quality images “at twice the resolution and image quality compared to similar machines,” said Inkcups.

Inkcups’ new Revolution Digital Cylinder Printer.
Common applications include stadium cups, pint glasses, stainless steel and plastic tumblers, cosmetics jars, glass and plastic bottles, beer cans, oil filters and many, many more. The printer is fast enough to produce high volumes, flexible enough for quick changeovers, and can output long runs “at one-third the cost of comparable machines,” said the OEM. Its inline conveyor can be loaded manually, or automatically loaded using a robotic system.

It prints 360-degree seamless graphics up to 1,200 dpi on a wide range of cylindrical objects and open-ended, tapered objects. It can print images up to 220 mm tall on a part length of 76 mm to 305 mm, with a diameter of 63.5 mm to 111 mm.