By Melissa Donovan
Part 2 of 2
Continuing our series on grand format—which Digital Output considers over 95 inches or 2.4 meters in width—we share a number of new devices and updates to legacy models. These superwide printers offer new printhead arrangements, higher quality, smaller droplet sizes, and advanced media handling systems to heighten productivity.
The Players
Agfa Graphics recently released its new Titan S and Titan HS grand format devices. Utilizing Ricoh Gen 5 printheads they offer capability and quality, with a 7 picoliter droplet size providing more accuracy with increased speed.
CET Color totes its K Series of printers for high-volume shops looking to keep high resolution quality output. The K500 flatbed UV printer offers a 5×10-foot maximum media area. The K500 Hybrid UV printer offers a maximum print width of 126 inches. Users produce up to 25 boards an hour at resolutions of 1,200×1,800 dpi.
At five meters wide, Durst Image Technology US LLC’s Rho 512R offers high-end inkjet productivity thanks in part to Durst Quadro Array printhead technology and 12 picoliter droplet sizes. Variodrop capabilities allow the device to print in binary and multi-nozzle grayscale modes. Because of this, the machine offers 12 picoliter drop, a grayscale mode, and a dual 20 mode.
Durst also offers the Rhotex 322, a 126-inch wide textile and soft signage printer. It offers a drop size of seven to 21 picoliters. The printer is designed to print textiles for use in the home, wallcoverings, domestic textiles, interior designs, and fashion applications. The company announced in April two additional superwide devices, the three-meter Rho 312R and the 98-inch P10 250HS.
EFI’s newest printer to join its superwide portfolio is the VUTEk GS3250LXr Pro. At 3.2 meters it offers multiple roll capability, with two 60-inch rolls able to run on the printer.
Floyd & Associates, LLC offers the 80×160-inch S-Series UV flatbed printer. It utilizes four Konica Minolta 1024 prinheads to achieve efficient, high-quality printing. The use of Konica Minolta 512 printheads is also an option.
Fujifilm North America Corporation recently introduced the Uvistar Pro-8 with White. Available in both 3.5 and five meter widths, this superwide series features patent-pending Parallel Drop Size technology for ideal point of purchase print quality without loss in speed.
Gunsjet by Digitex Printing Technologies Co., Ltd. recently announced three new grand format devices. The Gunsjet R5 SR/WR Series includes a 3.2-meter model that offers a maximum production speed of 74 square meters per hour in four pass. Utilizing the new Ricoh Gen 5 printheads, the solvent/water-based printers support two-staggered printhead arrangement.
The Gunsjet R5 LED-UV Series also includes a 3.2-meter model. With the Ricoh Gen 5 printheads it offers a maximum production speed of 74 square meters per hour and features variable ink dot technology. A chiller cooling system is also included with the device to quickly cure UV LED inks.
For a superwide flatbed, Gunsjet offers its 2.7-meter Gunsjet R5 LED-UV Flatbed Series, which also uses the latest Ricoh Gen 5 printheads. Maximum print speed is up to 74 square meters per hour in four pass and multiple printhead arrangements are available.
Hewlett-Packard (HP) promotes its HP Scitex FB10000 Industrial Press for superwide format. It prints up to 126 inches on both rigid and flexible sheets while utilizing HP Scitex High Dynamic Range Printing Technology. Small drops of ink produce high quality, while large drops produce high productivity.
Hollanders Printing Systems recently announced the ColorBooster 250, the predecessor to the ColorBooster 230. This direct-to-textile device offers an on-board air conditioner and humidifier, separate controlled printheads, Ricoh Gen5 printheads, a media tension control system, and automatic wet printhead cleaning system. It is available in 2.1 and 3.2 meter widths.
Meijet, Inc.’s most popular grand format devices vary in printhead configuration. The first uses printheads with an ink drop volume smaller than five picoliters, which provides a 1,440×1,440 dpi resolution with photo quality at production speeds of 600 square feet per hour (sf/h). The second superwide device uses lower resolution 80 picoliter printheads that provide a production speed of over 2,560 sf/h.
Mimaki USA, Inc.’s best-selling grand format device is the JV5-320DS. It prints with dye-sublimation (dye-sub) inks at a print width of 129 inches. Using Epson 4 staggered printheads, it outputs at up to 667 sf/h. The JV5-320 series is also offered in a solvent model for banners or event graphics.
MTL Print offers the 5×10-foot flatbed, the NURStar 305D, which utilizes an interchangeable table system that allows one job to print while setting the next one. Maximizing productivity with this media handling provides more efficiency in the shop.
Mutoh America, Inc. offers a 104-inch device, the ValueJet 2638 eco-solvent printer. It is a seven-color inkjet that prints at speeds of up to 1,168 sf/h. A heavy duty take-up system and a media roll cradle provide efficiency in the media handling department.
The ReNOIR digital printer, manufactured by Reggiani and distributed in the U.S. by Next Wave Media Solutions, is available in a 95-inch print width using variable drop size water-based inks. It outputs at up to 2,400 dpi onto substrates both ultra light or heavy.
Paradigm Imaging Group distributes grand format devices from SID Signs. In particular, its Titan 320GS and Mercury 320GS printers utilize new Seiko 508 printheads. The drop size is fixed at 12 picoliters and prints up to 1,440×720 dpi. The new printheads work with reformulated inks for improved speed and better resolution.
Polytype America Corporation promotes its new NQ 3.2-meter 3-in-1 UV grand format printer. It offers high-speed lay down through droplets of 10 to 30 picoliters grayscale.
PrinterEvolution announced the Neo Series line of printers in February 2014. The widest option, at 104 inches, offers an on-board fixation unit for dye-sub printing. Utilizing Epson DX variable drop printheads, the Neo104 DS features rich blacks, a heavy pigment load, and grayscale tones. In April, the company showcased the new Eos126 DS printer for the first time. The 126-inch device is ideal for high-volume production of soft signage.
Roland DGA Corporation’s SOLJET Pro II V SJ-1045 prints both fine art reproductions and billboard graphics depending on the user requirement. The 104-inch printer utilizes one-inch-wide printheads, which employ 360 nozzles each.
The new ColorPainter H2-104s from Seiko I Infotech Inc. prints up to 104 inches in width. The device utilizes mild solvent inks and prints at resolutions from 360 to 900 dpi. Utilizing Smart Pass Technology 3 with Dynamic Dot Printing Technology, the printer is able to output a higher quality image while maintaining a high print speed.
Continue to check www.digitaloutput.net as we report on the newest advancements in superwide printing, from the hardware to the applications created on them.
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May2014, Digital Output DOGF1405
