PRINTACTION
WIDE FORMAT RESOURCE GUIDE
PLUS
Vinyl installers race to cover a championship boat P.6
Combining photography, textiles and wide format P.14
New wide-format technologies P.15
Textile printing growth
Dye-sublimation to be an enticing market for the next five years P.12
PNH provides Indy print
Quebec-based print house returns as the official print service provider for all signage at Honda Indy Toronto
By PrintAction staff
PNH Solutions of Montreal, Que., returned to the annual three-day IndyCar Series race, the Honda Indy Toronto 2017, held from July 14 to 16, as its print service provider for all the signage at the event. As Ontario’s largest annual sporting event and the IndyCar Series second largest running street race, the 2017 event attracted just over 40,000 live spectators. PNH now has two back to back Honda Indy Toronto events under its belt. With a combination of mostly trackside decals and vinyl banners throughout the 2.874 km street circuit, at the Exhibition Place, PNH Solutions helped the sponsors of the event gain visibility and brand rec-
In addition to providing more than 900 trackside decals, and 300 vinyl and mesh banners, PNH Solutions also produced rigid signs, promo flags, vehicle adhesives and Nova Hex tents.
ognition, while creating a sense of pageantry among its expanding audience.
Just over 900 new trackside decals were installed directly onto the concrete blocks and 300 new vinyl banners were affixed along the bleachers, bridges and tire barriers. Due to their close proximity to the course, they were visible to live spectators and throughout televised footage and highly publicized footage.
PNH Solutions also supplied for the first time over 8,500 square feet of mesh banners to fully brand the Honda grandstand. Attesting to the durability of the printed products, with their fade-resistant vinyl and UV-resistant inks, some of them were reused from previous Honda Indy
Toronto events. Court Armstrong, Vice President of Business Development at PNH Solutions, explained, “With metal grommets and reinforced webbing, the vinyl and mesh banners are less likely to tear or become dislodged.”
PNH Solutions explains it produced all the products for the Honda Indy Toronto within a short delay from both its production facilities in Montreal and Toronto, and, when necessary, produced additional items at the eleventh hour.
Armstrong, who oversaw this project, said: “The graphics for the event were supplied right up to the last minute, including Saturday – that’s our sudden service capability.”
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Boating designs
Vinyl installers battle in the World Wrap Masters
competition in Hamburg, Germany
By PrintAction staff
Some of the world’s best vinyl installers battled in the World Wrap Masters competition held during FESPA 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. The finalists in the annual program were tasked with wrapping the side of a raceboat in just 60 minutes.
The design of the wrap came from Patrick Charrier of Bazoom Studio, France, through an earlier competition to determine what would be applied to a speedboat used by the Haugaard Racing Team in the 2017 World Formula 4 UIM Powerboat Championship. Prerequisites for the design included the boat number (22), the racing team’s logo and the logo of World Wrap Masters sponsor Hexis.
“The inspiration for my design came from the Danish Drakkar [a.k.a. Viking longboat]. The general idea was to give an impression of movement to the boat, even when it’s at a standstill. Blue and white are the top colours for a boat – lots of white for the pontoons to contrast with the surface
of the water,” said Charrier. “The gradated honeycomb patterns evoke the composite materials used to construct the boat. The stars are included to reference the pilot, the tightrope walker in his cockpit, as well as a nod to shooting stars and speed on water.”
The winning design was chosen by the driver of the raceboat, Sebastian Haugaard Trads, who said, “Bazoom Studio’s design is unique and personal, incorporating beautiful flow lines and colours. We have not yet seen similar designs in the racing community and are confident this design will differentiate us in the field.”
Chris Hooper from the U.K. would eventually win the Wrap Masters Europe competition, with second and third place awarded to Ruan Greef from South Africa
World Wrap Masters finalists worked on a speedboat used by the Haugaard Racing Team in the 2017 World Formula 4 UIM Powerboat Championship.
and Traian Moldovan from Romania, respectively. All three finalists will go on to compete in the World Wrap Masters Final.
The Wrap Masters Final participants were first asked to wrap a section of a Formula Renault car in 45 minutes, as well as helmets in the creative round. Contestants competing in the final rounds come from Norway, Sweden, Mexico, U.S., Eurasia, Africa, Brazil, Russia and Ireland. Two finalists were then tasked with wrapping the side of Haugaard’s raceboat.
CALENDAR
July 12, 2018
Color Reignited
Xerox Demo Center, Toronto, Ont.
August 9, 2018
OPIA Toronto Golf Classic Tournament
Angus Glen Golf Club, Markham, Ont.
September 25-27, 2018
Labelexpo Americas
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago, Ill.
September 30-October 3, 2018
PRINT 18
McCormick Place South, Chicago, Ill.
October 18-20, 2018
SGIA Expo
Las Vegas Convention Center, N.V.
October 24-28, 2018
All in Print China
Shanghai, China
November 8, 2018
Canadian Printing Awards
Palais Royale, Toronto, Ont.
November 12-16, 2018
IS&T Color and Imaging Conference
Vancouver, B.C.
April 11-13, 2019
Graphics Canada
The International Centre, Mississauga, Ont.
April 24-25, 2019
AICC Canada Trade Show and Conference
Toronto, Ont.
June 16-26, 2020
drupa 2020
Dusseldorf, Germany
Textile printing growth
A recent report predicts dyesublimation will be an enticing market for the next five years
By Jon Robinson
The wide-format-inkjet sector is intriguing mostly because of the sudden maturity of its imaging technology, which provides printers with high application flexibility and relatively low capital equipment investment. These opportunities, however, also present challenges in terms of competition and generating margin, which ultimately requires developing a strong sales structure to effectively sell direct-to-garment work.
Textile printing is certainly one of the sectors more commercial printers will be wondering about, as the technology advances and new business models emerge by established players in the sector, disrupting traditional production models.
Sophie Matthews-Paul, a career printing journalist who passed away in November 2017, described this trend: “In much the same way as digital printing technologies are upending conventional print, the same thing is starting to happen with garment printing. It’s too early to say when [direct-to-garment] printing will become a totally digital industry. But if you are interested in short runs, prototyping and customized garments the possibilities available to you are about to get very interesting.”
Matthews-Paul, who specialized in display graphics at the end of her career, was describing how the technology can be used for growth in an article for FESPA, a global federation of 37 national associations for the screen printing, digital printing and textile printing community. One only needs to look at the meteoric expansion of FESPA, which puts on numerous regional shows, over
the past decade to have a better understanding of growth in this wide-format sector. Its recent event, FESPA Asia held in Thailand, attracted visitors from 66 countries.
In North America, the same growing interest in large-format-inkjet business can be seen at events like SGIA’s Sign Expo, which in 2017 joined with NAPCO to take on PRINT (formerly Graph Expo) with a new trade show called Print United in 2019. More commercial printers are attending these large-format-inkjet shows, which carry a reborn sense of print innovation.
Consider, for example, PrintAction ’s April 2018 cover story about the new 240,000-square-foot operation of CJ Graphics, which has installed six production-strength, large-format-inkjet engines for its critical short-term growth plans –with a seventh device to be installed.
It will only be a matter of time before more printers begin looking at the burgeoning textile printing market. A recent report by Smithers Pira supports the potential in the market, looking specifically at dye-sublimation printing. The Future of Dye-Sublimation Printing to 2023 report tracks how this market worldwide will rise from a value of $11.2 billion in 2017 to $12.2 billion in 2018.
The research organization believes this compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2 percent will hold for the five-year period to 2023, creating a total market value to $19.9 billion by that time.
The worldwide digital directto-garment retail value of print, according to an Info-Trends report, was worth around $6.7 billion in 2016 and is forecast to grow at 13 percent CAGR to 2021. This forecast to 2021 considers factors like unit placements, installed base, hardware, ink and service revenue, as well as ink and print volume.
Putting the potential for textile growth into a pure volume viewpoint, a July 2017 report by Global Industry Analysts Inc. estimates the global production of printed textiles will reach 36.8 billion squares metres by 2024.
Smithers Pira explains, “Globally, the rate of expansion in
It will only be a matter of time before more printers begin looking at the burgeoning textile printing market.
Smithers Pira finds the global dyesublimation printing market will reach a €12.4-billion market value by 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate of 10.2 percent. 10%
demand for dye-sublimation inkjet printed textiles and rigid media is reduced from that witnessed in the first half of the decade; but this is simply evidence of a disruptive technology slowly maturing.”
In describing its 10.2 percent CAGR projections, the organization points to current critical trends for dye-sublimation print like higher productivity presses, greater automation, multi-season fashion and online retailing, and the diversification for low-end and single-print garments.
“DtG shops are starting to pop up on high streets and online. Mad-in-Berlin for example has two locations in the city digitally printing souvenirs and T-shirts on demand, and
has a healthy online business too,” wrote Matthews-Paul. “Basic products such as a Yoko backpack can be customized with your name and images, or you can create your own products from blank generics either at the Website or in one of the Madin-Berlin shops… Creating such high value items is what DtG is all about and it’s a perfect way to come up with ideas that capitalize on bespoke, customized and localized production.”
Not all printers will develop dedicated DtG workflow in this way, but the words customized and localized certainly hint at the possibilities for direct-to-garment growth. For commercial printers, the fact that familiar names like Agfa, Epson, HP and Mimaki, among others, are investing heavy R&D dollars into the space is another reason to believe more printers will move toward direct-to-garment to reach new markets potentially with existing clients.
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The FACE OF CANADA
Produced with an EFI VUTEk FabriVU soft signage printer, a 14-foot tall by 10-foot wide portrait was displayed last August as part of the Royal Ontario Museum’s Canada 150 festival programs
By PrintAction staff
In celebration of the sesquicentennial of Canadian Confederation, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ont., installed FACE OF CANADA, The Canada 150 Commemorative Edition, created by artist RobertYoung. This special textile artwork from his YOUNG WORLD FACES collection was produced in Electronics For Imaging’s Meredith, N.H., inkjet technology facility using a VUTEk FabriVU soft signage printer. The photograph, which features a Canadian citizen with the nation’s flag painted on her face, was displayed last August in the ROM’s Hyacinth Gloria Chen Crystal Court as part of the museum’s Canada 150 festival programs.
The 14-foot tall by 10-foot wide portrait shows the detail of Young’s photography, while featuring the colour of Canada’s flag. The artwork, which was produced with EFI aqueous dye-sublimation inks, reflects many of the artistic themes and motivations that drive Young’s imagery. “I’m a storyteller who uses literature, photography and film to create imagery that inspires and motivates people,” said Young. “I wanted to create a human experience with this print, especially on Canada’s 150th year as a nation.”
Previously produced on EFI soft
New generation large-format inkjet systems are allowing printers to apply new colour for AEC needs and to break out of the monochrome margin malaise.
signage printers for the Pan American Games in Toronto in 2015, this new print is one of more than 40 large-scale images in the YOUNG WORLD FACES collection.
“When the installation went in, I was working on a project in Anguilla, and I’m a Canadian American with Jamaican roots, working with EFI, an American company with Italian textile printing technology that has printed this beautiful work that was originally captured in Canada. And then the work went back to Canada
for display in one of Canada’s greatest museums. It’s a great example of how YOUNG WORLD FACES brings the world together,” said Young.
EFI printed the one-off installation with a white background instead of black, direct-to-substrate on A. Berger Lighttex, a singlesided polyester textile for backlit applications. The 3.4-metre wide VUTEk FabriVU 340 printer used for the installed art piece prints in four colours in resolutions up 2,400 dpi, providing deep colour satura-
“I wanted to create a human experience with this print, especially on Canada’s 150th year as a nation.”
tion for fabric display graphics.
In 2015, Mississauga, Ont., textile graphics specialist McRae Imaging used the first EFI Reggiani printer installed in North America to produce the original YOUNG WORLD FACES as a textile series, consisting of 41 faces, each painted with professional makeup featuring the flag of a country that participated in the 2015 Pan American Games.
The colourful FACES images of those 7-foot tall prints pop against black backgrounds. Robert Young explained he created these images to inspire the revelation of human stories that help citizens of every nation recognize, not only their own beauty but also the global commonality.
Detailing some of the newest technologies from Agfa, Durst, EFI, Epson, Fujifilm, HP, Mimaki, Ricoh, swissQprint, Xaar, Zünd and more.
The 44-inch HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ with dual roll and vertical trimmer are expected to be available July 2018.
HP DesignJet Z
Unveiled in May 2018, HP’s new DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ Printer series are both available in 24-inch and 44-inch formats. HP explains a new vertical trimmer is featured on select models to optimize output in addition to other technologies, supporting applications ranging from professional photo-quality prints to retailer signage, which the company says will result in 2.5 times faster printing and 20 percent faster post-production. The series also features new colour technology, HP Pixel Control, which HP says is designed to achieve true-to-colour prints and an expanded colour gamut with RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, featuring chromatic red, chromatic green, and chromatic blue, the i1 embedded spectrophotometer and HP Pixel Control. The company explains combining HP HDNA with HP Pixel Control enables users to get high image quality with nine inks versus 12 compared to the previous generation HP DesignJet. The new
printers also offer HP Professional Pantone Emulation to match brand identity colours. HP is also announcing enhanced HP DesignJet Z6x10 printers for a better user and output experience, it says. Boasting a new fresh design, the new printers have labels that indicate the printer colours for simplified ease-of-use. The printers have new printheads and Chromatic Red Ink formulation, which HP says will deliver sharp detail and precise line quality. As well, the new printers will have 500 GB HDD with more virtual memory to process complex and graphic intensive prints.
Epson SureColor F9370
Epson introduced a wide-format printer to produce digital dye-sublimation transfers for a range of polyester textile and apparel applications. The 64inch Epson SureColor F9370 provides speeds up to 1,169 ft²/ hour and features an integrated new fabric wiping system coupled with what the company describes as a highly ac-
curate roll-to-roll media support system to handle economical lightweight transfer papers. Designed to support high-speed medium- to largevolume dye-sublimation transfer printing, the SureColor F9370 replaces the SureColor F9200 to join Epson’s line of SureColor F-Series printers, including the SureColor F6200 and SureColor F7200.
The SureColor F9370 leverages dual PrecisionCore TFP printheads and the firm’s latest dye-sublimation ink technology – Epson UltraChrome DS with High-Density Black. The new media feed system also provides support for heavier media rolls and transfer paper as thin as 40 gsm. It is designed for fabric production and customized promotional production, as well as producing soft signage, cut-and-sew sports apparel and home decor applications.
INX inkjet inks
INX is highlighting the TRIANGLE product line of inkjet inks for direct-to-textile printing on polyester, nylon or mixed synthetic fabrics used in sportswear and outerwear, to banners, flags and outdoor signage. INX is also highlighting its Prodigy line of waterbased, UV curable and solvent
Epson’s SureColor
F9370 hits speeds up to 1,169 ft2/hour.
inks for textiles and wallpaper, flooring, and similar applications others. It leverages the JetINX Printhead Drive and Ink Recirculation System, which uses Xaar printheads to drive the CP100 UV cylindrical printer.
Durst P5 platform
Durst is introducing its new large-format printing platform, the P5 Series, beginning with what the company describes as its flagship P5 250 HS system. The P5 250 HS is designed for high-volume industrial production, as well as one-offs with offset quality, the company explains. P5 relates to five core features at the heart of this technology: Productivity, reliability, workflow, versatility and print quality.
The Durst P5 features a two-pass mode with up to 240 sqm/h speed and resolution modes of up 1,200 dpi – based on a drop-size of 5 pcl. When compared to its existing Durst P10 250 HS, the new generation P5 is designed to be 70 percent more productive. It features MEMS nozzle plates, powered by Durst proprietary data-path and electronics, for a high-speed printing system with precise drop placement and industrial level reliability. The P5 Series of printers is sup-
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ported with newly developed software and workflow solutions, as well as touch operation-based user interfaces and remote service capabilities. The company had a design studio from Munich canvas opinions from customers and operators with a view to integrating their wishes into a new concept machine. The results will be incorporated into many Durst product lines in the future, explains the company.
swissQprint LED inkjet printer generation 3
swissQprint in May 2018 presented the latest generation of its LED inkjet printers at FESPA 2018, described as delivering more precise and stable printing results for an extended variety of applications and maximum productivity at 370 m²/h. The Swiss developer and producer of large-format printers presented its third generation of machines at the show: Nyala 3, Impala 3 and Oryx 3, together with the speed models Nyala 3S and Impala 3S. Each of the LED flatbed printers offers accustomed add-on features, which now include an extended roll to roll option that was also shown for the first time at FESPA. A new control system, swissQprint explains, also contributes to the printers’ increased user-friendliness.
According to the company, Nyala 3S and Impala 3S are designed for high-output operations: Nyala 3S delivers up to 370 m²/hour and Impala 3S up to 317 m²/hour. swissQprint explains high-quality POS items, displays, posters, banners, backlit and other similarly demanding media are all suitable applications for the printers. Meanwhile, the maximum productivity level extends to print products intended for viewing at a distance, such as mega posters, banners and wraps for buildings under conversion, it notes. swissQprint is introducing an extended rollto-roll option as part of printer generation 3. A new spreading roller is designed to smooth material before it reaches the print bed in order to prevent wrinkles and resulting crashes, it says, while carbon brushes on the spreading roller dissipate static charge from the material, aiding precise droplet placement. In combination with LED curing, the new roll-toroll option increases the variety of materials by enabling printing companies to process delicate and heat-sensitive media.
Agfa Anapurna H1650i LED
At C!Print 2018 in Lyon, France, Agfa Graphics introduced its new Anapurna
H1650i LED inkjet printing system. The 1.65-metre-wide hybrid printer, according to the company, is designed as an accessible and cost-effective LED production system. Agfa explains the Anapurna H1650i LED is a smaller version of its Anapurna H2050i LED printer, while sharing some of the same features. Like other systems in the Anapurna series, the H1650i LED prints on rigid and flexible media by means of LED curing, and includes Agfa’s thin-ink-layer and whiteink technologies. Anapurna LED engines also leverage a reinforced belt drive and shuttle beam, a gradient and multilayer functionality and six 12-picolitre printheads. The printers are fitted with aircooled UV LED lights that allow for printing on thin and thermal sensitive substrates, with lower energy consumption than traditional UV curing methods.
Epson SureColor P5000 Commercial Edition with SpectroProofer
Epson says the 17-inch desktop production printer incorporates new imaging technologies to provide enhanced performance for the commercial and graphic design, flexographic and proofing markets.
At PRINT 17, Epson highlighted the SureColor P5000 Commercial Edition with SpectroProofer, which made its debut at the printing tradeshow. The 17-inch desktop production printer incorporates new imaging technologies to provide enhanced performance for the commercial and graphic design, flexographic and proofing markets. Leveraging the 10-colour Epson UltraChrome HDX pigment ink set, the SureColor P5000 Commercial Edition uses violet ink for an expanded colour gamut, to deliver what the company describes as an industry-best 99 percent PANTONE PLUS FORMULA GUIDE solid-coated colour matching. The SpectroProofer high performance inline spectrophotometer, developed jointly with X-Rite, automates profile creation, optimization and verification tasks for simplified contract proofing. Featuring a refined design, the printer includes a 10-channel PrecisionCore TFP printhead that employs an ink-repellant surface coating, along with improved dust and static control for reduced nozzle clogging and maintenance, and supports printless nozzle checks for time and resource efficiency. swissQprint’s generation 3 models will be available August 2018 through its distribution network.
The Agfa Anapurna H1650i LED series prints on rigid and flexible media by means of LED curing.
Ricoh Printer for Decor
Ricoh has unveiled the Pro T7210 wide-format flatbed system, with a high level of media flexibility, aimed at the decorative-printing market. The T7210 supports substrates up to 4.3 inches thick with a print size of 6.9 feet by 10.5 feet. Ricoh explains this large print area allows users to print on one four-foot-by-eight-foot board or a variety of pre-cut pieces. For example, three three-foot-by-six-foot boards can be printed on together at the same time. The T7210 prints at speeds of 50 m²/hour, or 538.2 ft²/hour, during standard operation. Ricoh also points to the new system’s media gap adjustment sensor that automatically measures substrate thickness and adjusts printheads accordingly. The system leverages Ricoh’s highviscosity UV ink and its patented piezoelectric printheads.
EFI VUTEk h
In May 2018, Electronics For Imaging unveiled its next-generation hybrid flatbed/roll platform technology called the VUTEk h series printers. The news comes shortly after the introduction of its VUTEk FabriVU 340i, an aqueous soft signage printer. Designed for high-volume production of premium signage and graphics, the new VUTEk h series of 3.2-metre wide hybrid LED printers feature high-velocity
The EFI VUTEk h series of 3.2-metre wide hybrid LED printers features 7-picolitre UltraDrop Technology greyscale printheads.
7-picolitre UltraDrop Technology greyscale printheads. The printers offer four- and eightcolour printing modes plus white, as well as five-layer print capability in a single pass. The VUTEk h3 model has a maximum throughput of up to 74 boards per hour, while the h5 model, which is available direct from EFI or as field upgrade to the h3 model, can produce up to 109 boards per hour.
EFI also launched a new industrial textile pigment ink technology for direct-to-textile production. The company explains this Reggiani pigment ink technology gives users a faster, environmentally friendly production process with inline polymerisation that requires less water, less energy and less processing time, with no washing or steaming needed.
In addition, the ink’s fastness properties and high printability sharpness, according to EFI, will allow printing on a wide range of fabrics with the fine-detail designs. The new pigment textile technology completes the range of EFI Reggiani products presented over the past year, including the FLEXY digital printer and the brand-new EFI Reggiani COLORS printer launched in April 2018.
RISO ComColor GD inkjet printer
RISO says its ComColor GD inkjet printer produces cut sheet variable data print at rates of up to 160 ppm in full or spot colour. The GD, according to RISO, is the only high-
speed inkjet printing system utilizing a five-ink colour matrix – CMYK plus grey.
PrintFactory
At SGIA Expo 2017, PrintFactory, which is distributed in North America by GMG Americas, highlighted its workflow automation software. The Aurelonowned software solution, which utilizes GMG colour technology (or GMG Color Engine), is designed for savings in time, ink and resources for wide-format set-ups. Now, PrintFactory is providing its software as a Cloud-based service.
Roland CAMM-1 GR series
The Roland CAMM-1 GR Series of large-format cutters, launched in March 2017, leverages an L-shaped integrated machine and stand design with cutting speeds of up to 58.5 inches per second. Up to 600 gf of downforce lets users cut through thicker medias. Roland also highlighted its updated VersaUV LEF Series of UV flatbed printers, including the LEF-12i, LEF-200 and LEF-300. According to the company, each model can print
White+CMYK graphics and Clear ink textural effects onto virtually any substrate or object up to 3.94 inches thick.
Fujifilm Inca SpyderX
Fujifilm introduced the new Inca SpyderX, a hybrid UV printer. The 3.2-metre, sixcolour + white SpyderX is available as a flatbed or a flatbed/roll-fed model. It reaches printing speeds of up to 230m²/h. Fujifilm is also debuting a new B1-format (27.8 x 39.4 inch) inkjet printer with speeds of up to 200 boards per hour. Fujifilm is highlighting the Acuity LED 3200R, a CMYK super-wide-format roll press. It is available as a twinroll printer with two 60-inch media rolls.
Xaar 5501 printhead
Xaar introduced the Xaar 5501, a new addition to its portfolio of aqueous printheads, which complements the existing Xaar 1201 and Xaar 5601. This is the first product resulting from Xaar’s collaboration with Xerox, aiming to provide high print quality combined with low printing and integration costs. Xaar describes the 5501 as a lightweight and high resolution 1,200 dpi printhead that is ideal for a range of waterbased digital printing applications, such as textiles – digital direct-to-garment, dye-sublimation transfer and soft signage – and graphics, such as banners, posters and displays. It has 5,544 nozzles, each pro-
The RISO ComColor GD high-speed inkjet printer utilizes a five-ink colour matrix.
The new 3.2-metre-wide, six-colour + white Inca SpyderX.
Roland’s CAMM-1 GR provides up to 600 gf of downforce to cut through thicker medias.
Printer/Cutter
LABEL
A high speed desktop label printer built to industrial standards. Ideal for small brands, retail outlets and businesses where professional labelling is paramount.
Laminates, digital die-cuts without dies, strips, slits (optional) and rewinds your labels for seamless operation on the fly. Uses digital finishing technology that can cut any die shape at speeds up to 10 feet per minute
ducing five pL sub-drops giving a 115 mm print width. The Xaar 5501’s robust construction, according to the company, makes it compatible with a range of fluids including aqueous inks, low viscosity UV or solvent-based inks. The Xaar 5501 uses a micro alignment system to position and align printheads via software. This allows rapid and easy printer set up, explains the company, streamlining printhead commissioning and reducing downtime overall. In addition, it does not require an ink recirculation system; which helps
The Xaar 5501 uses a micro alignment system to position and align printheads via software.
with lower integration costs and makes it suitable to use in scanning applications.
CET Color 3200UVRTR
CET Color, a manufacturer of wide-format UV flatbed and hybrid printers based in Atlanta, Ga., has introduced the 3200UVRTR printer, which is a 126-inch roll to roll UV printer. It leverages two Kyocera printheads and can include up to four. This unit has the capability of C,Y, M, K, Lc, Lm and WW ink configurations and supports Onyx or Caldera RIP software. The unit is able to print on various substrates like banner, backlit, mesh and vinyl. It also has a built-in light source so users can backlight their material before it goes to the take-up
The CET Color 126-inch wide 3200UVRTR leverages two Kyocera printheads and can include up to four.
reel, aimed at the UV market. CET Color offers a line of wide-format UV printers, as well as a recently introduced flatbed cutter.
HP Latex R2000 printer
At FESPA 2018, HP unveiled the HP Latex R2000 printer, describing it as the first hybrid solution for rigid and flexible sign and display printing in one device. The printers will be commercially available starting June, it predicts. Coupled with the HP Latex White Ink – for glossy white on transparent and coloured media – the R2000 powers printing companies with “ultimate versatility” through a single ink set, describes HP. Suitable applications for the system include retail, outdoor signage, window graphics, events and exhibitions, decoration and car wrapping. According to the company, additional performance specifics include: high-speed quality up to 88 sqm/h (947 sqf/h) – continuous loading; a belt system and productive workflow with 14 automatic independent chambers; redesigned HP Latex Inks promising vibrant colour gamut on rigid while preserving media gloss and feel; durable and flexible water-based ink for high adhesion and scratch resistance with a new HP Latex Overcoat; as well as productivity enhanced with HP Smart Services.
Nustream Veramax
Nustream Group introduced two large-format substrate lines in the Veramax Large-
Format Aqueous-Coated Collection and the Veramax LargeFormat Solvent-Coated Substrate Collection. The Veramax Large-Format AqueousCoated Collection provides substrates for Canon, Epson and HP water-based inkjet printing. The company explains the line is designed for applications like labels and signage in addition to current proof or CAD prints. The Veramax Large-Format SolventCoated Collection is compatible with most solvent, eco-solvent, latex or UV-curable inkjet printers.
Roland HeatSoft SATIN
Roland has introduced the HeatSoft SATIN (ESMHTMS), an inkjet-printable, polyurethane substrate for heat transfer applications. With its semi-gloss finish, HeatSoft SATIN can be transferred to cotton, polyester and poly blend materials to create customized apparel and accessories with what Roland describes as a “screen print” sheen. HeatSoft SATIN earned CPSIA certification for producing apparel and products for children 12 years of age or younger.
Océ Colorado 1640 distribution
Canon Canada has announced partnerships with EM Plastic & Electric Products, Grimco and Mediatech to sell the Océ Colorado 1640 printer across Canada.These partnerships, Canon Canada explains, will provide large-format graphic printers with UVgel print technology for the growing graphic arts industry. First introduced at ISA International Sign Expo 2017, the UVgel-enabled rollto-roll inkjet printer is suitable for producing both indoor and outdoor graphics. Its UVgel technology platform, the company explains, aims to provide new levels of speed, quality, automation and cost of operation for large-format print providers.
Mimaki UCJV300 series
Mimaki has announced the availability of the UCJV300-75, UCJV300-107 and UCJV300130 printers, described as featuring a smaller footprint with the same operational features of the larger UCJV300-160 model. The new UCJV300 printers deliver a range of applications with four-layer printing in addition to five-layer printing capabilities.Their integrated cut functionality enables volume production of labels, decals, window clings, vehicle markings and more in each unit. The printers utilize flexible UV inks that cure instantly, allowing customers to quickly print and immediately move to the finished product without
The print-andcut machine features the newest version of the RasterLink6 Plus software.
The ValueJet 1948WX from Mutoh offers print speeds of up to 2,199 ft�/hour.
waiting for drying, Mimaki explains. With the capability of multilayer printing, each printer can deliver backlit graphics that are transformed with different light sources. The company explains UVcurable inks offer greater opacity with less ink consumption than other ink formulations, noting its high-opacity white ink enables block out printing with a single layer for specialized applications. Each of the print-and-cut machines include the newest version of RasterLink6 Plus software, featuring a four-layer print preview and an ID Cut function that generates registration marks, barcodes with cutting and rotation information and more.
Mutoh 75-inch ValueJet
Mutoh America has released its 75-inch, four-head, dye-sublimation printer, the ValueJet 1948WX with print speeds up to 2,199 ft²/hour and dual heaters for fast dry times. The VJ1948WX also comes with adjustable pressure rollers, four- or eight-colour ink capabilities, and automatic sheet off. It is equipped with Intelligent Interweave printing technique, DropMaster ink technology and ValueJet Status Monitor for smart printing.
Epson 64-inch SureColor S80600 printer
At SGIA Expo 2017, Epson highlighted its 64-inch SureColor S80600 printer with a dual array PrecisionCore TFP printheads. The system uses UltraChrome GS3 solvent inks, including red ink, and
optional white or metallic silver inks, which allow for same-day lamination. Epson also highlighted its SureColor F-Series dye-sublimation printers, which leverage PrecisionCore TFP printheads and UltraChrome DS ink with high density Black, it explains.
Onyx 18 software
Onyx Graphics has introduced Onyx 18, the newest release of the company’s wide- and grand-format software, featuring new colour technologies designed for colour accuracy, consistency and conformance to standards such as G7 and Fogra. According to the company, it is the first solution compatible with iccMAX, the new standard recommended by the ICC for all wide- and grand-format print applications including textile and soft signage. The software offers Onyx Color, designed for improved black ink combinations and increased shadow detail, texture and definition, as well as increased saturation of reds and oranges, the company explains. Special application benefits include textile and soft signage. For the processing of patterns and soft masks with “super-fast algorithms”, APPE
4.8 features spot colour handling with up to 127 channels that can be specified and used in any region, Onyx explains. New for Onyx 18, AccuBoost is an iterative ICC profiling technique designed to pinpoint the accuracy of ICC profiles.
Fujifilm Acuity LED 1600R press
The new Acuity LED 1600R is the latest addition to Fujifilm’s Acuity Series, which the company describes as a flexible, lower cost alternative to the Acuity LED 1600 II hybrid press. Featuring Q-Class printheads from Fujifilm Dimatix, the Acuity LED 1600R is a 64-inch dedicated roll-to-roll press, offering four colour channels with the option of a modular upgrade in the field up to seven colours. The company says the system offers instant start-up, long-life LED UV lamps, no ozone or VOC emissions and only one consumable, the ink, as well as productivity of up to 355 ft²/ hour. It features a high density mode capable of handling heat-sensitive roll media, making it suitable for backlit and window applications, explains Fujifilm. Along with the new press is the new Uvijet RL ink range, which is available in CMYK and CMYK plus light cyan and light magenta, as well as a modular upgrade option to include white. Now available for shipment, the system will be showcased at SGIA Expo 2018 in Las Vegas.
Mako SDK software kit
Released March 2018, a new software development kit for preparing documents for print is available today from Global Graphics Software. Mako is a multi-platform technology for prepress, document conversion and manipulation. Designed for developers and system integrators, the company says it can be used upstream of the Harlequin RIP to prepare documents for printing or on its own to create custom print workflow components, such as imposing pages or combining documents into one job. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS, Android and Windows 10 IoT, meaning that documents destined for print can be processed and previewed on any device. Developers can use Mako to split or combine files, convert colours, and add new content such as 2D barcodes. As well, Mako incorporates a colour management engine for colour integrity by referencing input and output ICC profiles that are embedded into a document, supplied locally, or built into Mako itself. Global Graphics Software explains Mako can handle PDFs created at actual size.
Tilia Labs Griffin 1.0
Tilia Labs Inc., creator of tilia Phoenix for planning and imposition automation, introduced its automatic layout solution for wide-format printers, called tilia Griffin, last May. tilia Griffin is a prepress solution to automate the layout creation process for wide format printing. It features what the company describes as an ultra-responsive interface and intuitive design. Griffin leverages the Phoenix nesting engine to create true-shape tightly nested layouts, Tilia explains, helping to reduce errors and substrate costs.
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