By Courtney Saba
Part 2 of 2
The first part of this series on grand format printers discussed technology advancements like production speed, print quality, and media handling. It also touched on where demand is coming from for these changes—both the customer and the market. Here, vendors share some of their printers—whether flatbed or roll—over 95 inches in width.
Agfa Graphics
The Jeti Tauro H2500 is 100 inches in width and it is compatible with UV inks. A hybrid device, it targets high productivity printing on both rigid and flexible material. It delivers print speeds at just under 3,000 square feet per hour (sf/h). The high-quality printheads of the Jeti Tauro a H2500 are equally divided over eight color bars. Accurate dot positioning is achieved thanks to the precise mechanical mounting of the printheads, as well as smart drop formation and velocity control.
The Jeti Mira HS is a 105-inch wide true flatbed. This device is compatible with UV inks as well. It targets markets with optimal flexibility and high-quality output on a variety of media. Key features include print and prepare technology—load one side of the table while the other is printing. Six different vacuum zones and four sets of registration pins ensure complete accuracy, even with double-sided printing. An optional roll-to-roll system for even greater versatility is available as well.
Ampla Digital
Ampla’s third-generation Targa XT printers include a 125-inch width. It can run with solvent, UV, or sublimation ink. This machine targets visual communication and digital industrial printing markets. It runs at up to 320 square meters per hour in two-pass draft mode. A roll device, users can add an extender table to the printer to print on light rigid substrates with thicknesses of up to five millimeters.
EFI
EFI’s VUTEk HS125 Pro is a 126-inch hybrid device featuring 600 to 1,000 dpi and grayscale print capacity. In production mode, it can achieve 125 boards per hour. Media handling options meet any business need—from three-quarter loading and unloading to fully automated loading and unloading.
Another grand format option from EFI is the VUTEk LX3 Pro LED Printer. Also a hybrid, the 126-inch device prints on materials up to two inches thick. In express mode it is capable of achieving speeds of up to 3,400 sf/h and production mode 2,300 sf/h.
Gandy Digital
In this space, Gandy produces two grand format printers—the Termin8tor and the Softjet. At 3.2 meters wide, the roll-to-roll Termin8tor is compatible with any solvent substrates less than 3/16 inches in thickness. Banners, semi wraps, fleet graphics, and in store or outside point of purchase (POP) are target applications. It reaches speeds of up to 320 square meters per hour.
The Softjet is available in 3.3 meters wide. Offering one-step roll-to-roll printing, it prints directly on coated or uncoated, polyester and polyester blended fabrics with water-based ink. Using Ricoh Gen 5 printheads, it reaches speeds of up to 1,400 sf/h.
HP, Inc.
The HP Latex 3500 is a 126–inch roll-to-roll printer compatible with HP 3M 891 Latex inks, which are available standard in six colors—C, M, Y, k, Lc, Lm. This product is targeted for sign and display, décor, canvas, banner, backlit, fleet graphics, and textiles. It reaches speeds of 1,950 sf/h in billboard mode.
Over 500 different substrates are available for printing. Instant drying, LED proofing lights for on-the-fly visual inspection and proofing, the HP Latex Mobile application for improved operational efficiency, and inline slitters are notable features.
Mimaki USA, Inc.
At 126 inches wide, the Mimaki UJV55-320 is compatible with Mimaki LUS 120 UV LED inks and targets the sign and graphics market. This machine stands out among the competition with its speed. It utilizes the latest in digital piezo printheads, providing excellent image quality and low running cost.
Novus Imaging, Inc.
In this space, Novus offers Ultra, a 5×10-foot UV LED true flatbed. This device targets mid-market producers of posters, exhibition graphics, POP, corrugated, backlit, front lit, yard and directional signs, wood and metal, art reproductions, personalized, novelty printing, architectural and interior decoration, as well as ceramics and glass printing. Ultra starts at $199,999 and is field upgradeable.
OKI Data Americas
The ColorPainter H3-104s is a 104-inch wide roll printer compatible with SX and SX 3M low-odor, eco-solvent inks. It is ideal for mid-range, high-volume environments producing signs and graphics for indoor and outdoor applications. Print speed ranges from 41 to 609 sf/h. It retains deep, rich color and clarity even at low resolution and in dark areas.
Paradigm Imaging Group
The SID Triton S 320 eco-solvent roll-to-roll printer is 126 inches wide. Target users include signmakers, digital print bureaus, and advertising agencies. This device retails for $31,900. The SID Triton S 320 printer offers great savings in ink costs due to a built-in bulk ink system and low operating costs with ink prices at $64 per liter. At 2,880 dpi it reaches print speeds of up to 437 sf/h.
Screen Americas
Screen offers the Truepress Jet W3200UV II Series in standard and high-speed configurations. It is a 5×10-foot true flatbed and allows 120 inches of true roll-to-roll capability. It’s compatible with a variety of UV inks from a selection of ink manufacturers.
The Truepress Jet W3200UV reaches up to 50 boards per hour production class speed when required and a sweet spot of excellent POP image quality in the 40 boards per hour range for flatbed and 1,200 square feet per hour in roll-to-roll. Pricing ranges from $250,000 to $500,000 USD depending on configuration and digital front end requirements.
Grand Format
A number of superwide devices are available and designed to meet any application need. Reach out to any of these vendors for more information on their products.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Grand Printing.
Click on the link above to get more information on the vendors mentioned in this article.
May2016, Digital Output DOGF1605
