By Digital Output Staff
The three-meter roll-to-roll (R2R) printer space—whether it be three, 3.3, 3.4, or 3.5 meters—is growing as more vendors introduce upgraded hardware. These devices are in demand because they offer not only productivity, but high print quality, all at wider widths past 100 inches. This is discussed in greater detail here.
Despite the benefits, there are plenty of print service providers (PSPs), hesitant to commit to three-meter printers, whether it be the price tag or physical footprint holding them back.
According to Erik Norman, president, swissQprint America, some shops hesitate because they worry about learning curves, long-term durability, or operational costs.
“The biggest challenges to adoption are still the high initial investment level and space requirements associated with larger format devices. PSPs need the volume of work incoming to justify the capital expenditure and the physical space to accommodate both the printer and media handling components,” admits Koen Steert, head of product management and applications, Agfa.
Challenges related to infrastructure may cause a PSP to hold back on purchasing a device, suggests Thomas Giglio, HP Latex segment manager, North America, HP Inc., “physical plant space and finishing space are usually the barriers PSPs need to cross before implementing a three-meter solution. Not just for the hardware, but for the media storage, loading/unloading, and in-shop handling of the project through the course of completion.”
“Maintenance demands also increase with large format systems, requiring regular servicing and disciplined consumable management; without careful planning, these factors place pressure on margins,” notes Gabriel Crumpler, TA segment specialist, Mimaki USA, Inc.
Keeping the device running is another pressure point. Ted Pierpont, national sales manager for large format, Durst Image Technology US, says another barrier that may prevent a PSP from upgrading to a three-meter system is “the ability to keep the system busy with work.”
Operator training is also a consideration. Adam Tourville, channel manager, Fluid Color, recommends bringing your operator into the sales process. “If they feel they have some say in what printer to buy they will have ownership in how the printer runs. This creates an operator that wants to make the machine successful. Secondly, ongoing training like Fluid Color’s Advanced Operator Class can help an operator be more comfortable with the printer and reduce downtime and increase productivity. A more trained operator equals more uptime and more productivity.”
“There’s also a skill and change management component—operators must learn to handle heavy rolls, manage wider format scheduling, and adjust workflows accordingly,” adds Mark Crawford, business and product development manager, Vanguard Digital Printing Systems, a Durst Group Company.
Thinking about the whole picture, from print to finish, can be overwhelming. “Even when printing capacity increases, downstream bottlenecks in cutting, sewing, welding, or installation may prevent a shop from realizing the full benefit of a wider device, leading some to delay the upgrade until they can add finishing equipment or staff,” admits Crawford.
“Workflow complexity is often a hidden barrier. Shops worry about operator training, media handling challenges, and downtime during changeovers. Solutions emphasizing automation, modularity, and intuitive operation can be key to overcoming these hurdles,” advises Katsuhiro “Jerry” Matsufuji, VP, marketing strategy unit, Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Available Options in the Three-Meter Space
Agfa offers two dedicated three-meter RTR printers in this space—the Anapurna RTR3200i and the Oberon RTR3300. The Anapurna RTR3200i is a heavy-duty 3.2-meter UV LED press designed for indoor and outdoor banners, billboards, and a range of flexible media applications. It combines high image quality with reliable production speeds, making it ideal for PSPs moving into dedicated RTR or complementing hybrid capacity. The Oberon RTR3300 is Agfa’s dedicated high-end 3.3-meter RTR platform that combines high productivity with premium image quality and an extensive media scope. This machine is aimed at PSPs looking to maximize versatility and uptime in a pure RTR environment.
Canon’s Colorado XL-series is a 3.4-meter UVgel printer designed for both R2R and hybrid production. At its core is UVgel 860 ink, which provides instantly dry, durable prints with a wide color gamut and efficient ink use. Optional UVgel white ink offers high-opacity, multi-layer capability with minimal maintenance, no requirement to shake ink containers periodically or swap out printheads during downtime. The system’s modular architecture allows businesses to start with R2R and upgrade to hybrid or add features like white ink as needs evolve. Prints produced with UVgel inks are also odor free. The Colorado XL-series incorporates several proprietary technologies. Full-Beam Curing is designed to deliver uniform UV exposure across the entire width to help users create wrinkle-free, high-density prints, even up to five layers in one pass. TRIdrive media handling and Dynamic Motion Control work together to help the device maintain precise alignment and limit banding at high speeds. Dual-channel UVgel 850 printheads enable fast CMYK output with fewer components.
The Durst P5 350 HSR is a high-productivity solution for R2R printing up to 3.5 meters and reaches speeds up to 7,212 square feet per hour (sf/h) for unattended production. With the integrated Mesh-System, changing material from banner to mesh or vice versa is done in seconds, and the XY cutting system, which allows sheets to be cut without interrupting the printing process, increases efficiency and productivity. Efficiency is further increased via optional vertical and horizontal cutting units, which operate inline with the printing process. The P5 350 HSR is equipped with an integrated roll support that simplifies media loading and changing. Rolls can be processed in multi- and dual-roll options.
The Fluid Color Z126R 3.2-meter UV LED R2R printer features Kyocera printheads, dual-roll capability, multi-layer printing, advanced tension control, and excellent material versatility. It is engineered for color stability with symmetrical printhead arrays, reliability thru simplicity, and high-quality, high-speed production level speeds.
HP’s three-meter wide R2R printers include the HP Latex FS50/60 Printer Series and new HP Latex FS70 W Printer. These printers are built on a scalable platform, meaning they can be upgraded with new accessories as your business grows and as printing needs evolve. The HP Latex FS Printer Series can easily handle heavy workloads; print long, unattended runs; and deliver stunning image quality across a range of signage and décor applications. Water-based inks, which meet key environmental certifications, can help expand into higher margin jobs with white ink.
The Mimaki TS330-3200 DS 127.6-inch superwide printer delivers dye-sublimation and direct-to-textile capabilities in a single, versatile platform. Designed to print both transfer paper and polyester fabrics, it serves as an all-in-one solution for digital textile production. With its hybrid printing mechanism, the TS330-3200DS handles direct fabric printing as well as transfer sublimation workflow. A ten liter bulk ink system supports continuous production while helping to reduce running costs. The Mimaki UJV55-320 UV LED 126-inch printer is engineered for high-impact wide format graphics, featuring a seven-color ink set that includes white for printing on transport or colored media. Capable of producing oversized graphics and panels, it can also print simultaneously on two media rolls up to 60 inches wide each. The printer delivers vibrant color, high opacity, and exceptional consistency.
swissQprint three-meter printers are engineered for longevity, stable performance, and low maintenance. The workflow is intuitive, enabling teams to become productive quickly. Two printers falling in the three-meter wide category are UV LED Karibu 2 and Karibu S, both 3.4 meters or 133 inches in width. Both are equipped with Tip Switch Vacuum and integrated mesh kit. The Karibu 2 runs at a top speed of 2,282 sf/h and the Karibu S at 3,552 sf/h.
Vanguard Digital Printing Systems’ VKR3200-HS 3.2 meter or 126-inch true R2R UV LED printer is capable of producing 3,000 sf/h utilizing Kyocera’s 4.25-inch KJ4A printhead with 2,656 nozzles and high-speed electromagnetic drive system. The Kyocera KJ4A is a two-channel printhead design that supports two colors at a time. The small 4-, 8-, and 12-picoliter drop size ensures tight dot placement for a vividly printed output on substrates up to one-inch thick. The VKR3200-HS is field expandable up to two rows of printheads for a total of eight and supports CMYK plus white. The VKR3200-HS also comes standard with water cooled LED curing lamps, dual roll printing capability, and an ink catch for mesh banner, window film, and other porous materials.
Mar2026, Digital Output
