With the economy tight and lots of printers competing for an ever-dwindling market share, the ones that will survive will be those that find niche markets. One of the best ways of exploiting these niche opportunities is to buy a versatile machine that goes one step further than the competition and allows you to offer a wider gamut of products that many customers have never seen before, let alone thought possible.
That all-important versatility is one of the main attractions of Roland DG’s latest addition to the VersaUV line, the LEJ-640. Launched in April at Visual Impact Image Expo in Sydney, the 64-inch wide-format hybrid UV flatbed press can print on Perspex, gatorboard, vinyl, matt artist canvas, freezer grade label stock and photo paper – the list goes on. This makes it perfect for applications such as wide-format signage, display and window graphics, POP and packaging prototypes.
The LEJ-640, which prints CMYK, white and clear gloss inks on substrates up to 13mm thick, is described as a “premium, entry-level” piece of kit by Conrad Birkett, business development manager at Roland DG Australia.
Its target audience is “small and medium-sized signage and display and PSP companies looking to expand their business by providing new workflows and the ability to print on a wider range of substrates”, explains Birkett.
“Also, packaging and design businesses looking for a versatile and affordable flatbed solutions and also more specialised providers of packaging prototypes and the like who wanted to print onto flat and variable substrates.”
The machine combines Roland’s existing VersaUV technology with the company’s new hybrid flatbed technology for rigid material. It uses low-consumption UV LED curing lamps to ‘cure’ the flexible UV ink to the surface of the substrate. As a result, post-print drying time is completely eliminated, which dramatically reduces job turnaround time. The lamps have up to 10,000 hours’ life and are included in the three-year ‘heads and all’ warranty.
Keeping costs down
The LEJ-640’s ink recirculation system also ensures that “maintenance costs for white ink is kept at an absolute minimum, while maintaining strong, dense white spot colours over or under the image,” claims Birkett, who argues that the machine has several USPs above and beyond these aforementioned features.
“The VersaUV LEJ-640 is an excellent all-rounder and offers several benefits over competing products all focusing on keeping the all-important total cost of ownership as low as possible,” says Birkett.
“From low power consumption of less than 500W, to supporting spot clear in gloss, matt or embossing mode for special effects such as textures and varnishes, to industry-leading, proof-capable, 1,440×1,440dpi photographic image quality with a three-year warranty, including heads and lamps. It even includes Roland VersaWorks Server edition RIP with free upgrades and full variable-data support for text and images. Being a hybrid device offering roll-to-roll or rigid substrates up to 13mm and up to 12kg in weight for flat substrates and 40kg for roll media, it stands out compared to its nearest rivals.”
The machine is fitted with some clever bits of technology, such as a fully automated built-in sensor, that determines the appropriate head height for each job (taking into account the thickness of the media) and thus prevents head strikes.
It is available in three ink configurations. There’s standard, which is CMYK+white+gloss; high opacity white ink configuration with CMYK+white+white, which enables printing on transparent films for soft package prototyping; and CMYK+gloss+gloss for thick gloss effects such as embossing.
The running speed differs depending on the quality required. For high-quality work, the Roland prints at 4.1m2 per hour. For standard work, it hits 5.5m2 per hour. It has a top speed of 12.4m2 per hour.
Roland has high hopes for the machine. Originally it targeted three to five sales a month but the LEJ-640, which has an RRP of $69,995 (ex GST), has achieved far more, says Birkett. So much so that the company has struggled to cope with demand. “It has gone on to be a high demand unit with more than 13 units installed and back orders for another 14.
“It has been an exciting upgrade for both our existing Roland users and introduced a new range of customers to the Roland brand. We never like being in a back-order situation but the global demand for this product was simply amazing and we are starting to catch up with demand.”
Blown away
Customers fortunate enough to have already taken delivery of their LEJ-640 have been blown away by what it can do, says Birkett. “We’ve had great feedback for its affordability and versatility for both rigid and roll-to-roll. On the ROI front, customers who have been early adopters of this technology have advised that their machines are running pretty much flat out and have been delighted with the results from the actual workflow speed, the high quality print results and effects they have been achieving with the unit.”
One customer currently using an LEJ-640 is Frontline Print in Artarmon, New South Wales. According to Frontline’s business manager Wayne Godsell, the machine has more than lived up to expectations since installation. “It handles everything that we throw at it and we have plans for many more new and innovative products to produce on it.”
Asked to pinpoint the LEJ-640’s key benefits, he says: “The ability to run the machine overnight unattended from day one; the LED technology – it will print on just about anything and as soon as the job comes off the machine, it’s dry and ready to trim and finish off immediately; the ability to print on most substrates up to 13mm thick, which opens up a whole new market for us; and it was the most versatile machine that we could find.”
Godsell admits that he looked at a couple of other machines before opting for the Roland, including the Mimaki (see Alternatives box), but he felt that rival manufacturers didn’t have the service and back-up Roland offer.
This is a key selling point for all Roland kit, according to Birkett. He says service and support for this kind of machine is critical. “We have a nationwide accredited and certified service network that have been trained in servicing and maintaining the whole VersaUV product range.
Add to this the Roland DG Care range of user support options along with the Roland Academy [which offers training], RolandClinic and Roland OnSuppot and LEJ users can be assured they will be supported.”
While Frontline Print’s Godsell is clearly delighted with his new machine, that’s not to say that he doesn’t think it could be improved upon. He thinks the manufacturer should consider adding the ability for the machine to take larger ink cartridges so that they don’t need to be changed as often and he would prefer a different software programme.
“We would kill to see a Mac-based software program to drive it rather than the existing PC-based software. Coming from a digital sheetfed printing background, we have been Mac-based
for more than eight years now and loving it,” he explains.
But having said all that, Godsell’s parting shot is telling: “Don’t tell too many printers how good this machine is, please as I need to have a market edge for a while yet.”
Frontline is a shining example of a printing businesses that has latched onto and fully embraced the niche market idea and wants to make hay while the sun still shines. Given Godsell’s glowing testimonial, it’s unlikely that it will be the last printer to opt for this much in-demand piece of kit.
Specifications
Max thickness 13mm
Max width 64 inches
Max resolution 1,440×1,440dpi
Running speed
• High quality work: 4.1m2/hr
• Standard work 5.5 m2/hr
• Top speed 12.4 m2/hr
Price $69,995 (ex GST)
Contact
Roland DG
(02) 9975 0000
The Alternative
Mimaki UJV-160
While there are entry-level presses that can do similar things to the Roland, no machine offers the same degree of flexibility of substrate and quality, except from the Mimaki UJV-160. This hybrid wide-format printer can print on a wide range of both rigid and flexible substrates, including acrylic board, aluminium composite board, corrugated cardboard, pasteboard, PVC, synthetic paper and PET.
The UJV-160 uses a UV LED-curable ink set, which enables stretching up to 200% without cracking, even across bent or curved surfaces, according to the manufacturer. Mimaki also claims that its UV LEDs have a longer lifetime and save about 50% in energy in comparison to conventional UV printers that use halide lamps. The UJV-160 prints at a resolution of up to 1,200×1,2000dpi, boasts a maximum print width of 63 inches and can handle stock up to 10mm thick.
Max thickness 10mm
Max width 63 inches
Max resolution 1,200×1,2000dpi
Running speed
• Standard mode 6m2/hr
• High quality mode 3.6m2/hr
• White ink overlay print mode 3m2/hr
Price $69,995 + GST
Contact
DGS Mimaki
(02) 4272 3663
www.dgsmimaki.com.au
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