Fujifilm announced a host of innovations at drupa including upgrades to its XMF workflow; a new processless plate – the Superia – designed for UV inks; and a new flexo plate the Flenex FW, which has no chemicals.
Lindsay Barnes, managing director of Fujifilm’s graphics division in Australia says, “The new plate is a win-win. It is 50 per cent faster, offers a higher quality, and is eco-friendly. The quality improvement comes because the dots are flat top, rather than conical.”
The company launched the new Inca Onset X series, which prints up to 900sqm per hour in X3 mode, which has CMYK times three. Barnes says printers can upgrade with the same piece of hardware form the X1, through X2 to the X3. He says, “Component upgrading is an efficient way to increase your capacity as your business grows without replacing entire production units.”
Fujifilm also launched the Uvistar Hybrid 320, which is designed to print both roll-to-roll and flatbed and comes with a 3.5m width. Barnes says, “For commercial printers looking to get into the wide format market it is the ideal solution, because it provides the flexibility to print any kind of job efficiently.” It prints eight colour plus white.
Fujifilm also says it has produced the means for printers to operate lights out production plants, thanks to a partnership with US developer Epac, using its so-called 5D printing. Epac has developed a non-linear automated production system with Fujifilm which is a combination of printing and finishing systems with industrial robots controlled by proprietary software. Fujifilm says this means that the entire printing process, when using its Jetpress digital print systems, can run with no humans involved, the software and the robots taking care of the production.
Fujifilm says initially, it will develop the system for short run book printing, although it is not a big step to move to producing the multiple different product types typically produced in a print plant.
According to the company an entire new book, printed and bound, and with variable data if required, will be produced every six seconds in the automated plant. Fujifilm says the lights out factory will deliver unparalleled efficiencies, and will produce unmatched quality of print, with zero waste.
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