ACUITY LED 1600

The primary markets for the Acuity LED 1600, distributed here by Fujifilm and by Fuji Xerox, are sign makers, screen printers, POP/POS display makers, packaging manufacturers, fine art companies, tradeshow/display/ service builders and digital print bureaux.

The company says printers invest in this type of equipment because they either want to diversify their business or expand it in some way. What it brings is an increase in control (manufacturing in-house rather than outsourcing), productivity and flexibility to any business trying to create indoor and long term outdoor signage.

The Acuity LED 1600 printer is a wide-format device which can print both rigid and flexible media with image quality good enough for a variety of printed products for both distance and close viewing. Not only can it print the standard four-colour CYMK but it also has the ability to print white and varnish to highlight and enhance a print.

The main environmental advantage of the Acuity LED1600 centres around the device and its inks producing no VOC’s, so there’s no smell and no air extraction required. In addition, the power consumption of the Acuity LED1600 is kept to a minimum by the printer’s use of LED curing lamps rather than mercury vapour lamps. This also has an added benefit of cooler curing and no distortion of the printed materials.

Fuji Xerox Australia supports all its hardware and software solutions through its technical network and support infrastructure, before, during and after installation. Its range of support tools includes comprehensive training on both hardware and software, interactive user guides and step-by-step instructions on the operation and maintenance of the equipment. It is able to offer service agreements that give customers guaranteed response times. Fuji Xerox Australia’s Customer Support Centre operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Fuji Xerox Finance offers a complete range of competitive finance packages that can be tailored to meet specific customer needs. Fuji Xerox Finance payments are fixed for the term of the agreement, removing any adverse inflationary impacts on financing. One-stop-shopping for customer’s equipment, consumables, service and finance, with one statement from FXA requiring one payment, which helps the customer to minimise administration costs. Fuji Xerox Finance offers a range of rental products from traditional monthly rental repayments through to all inclusive Managed Print Service solutions.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Print technology: LED UV inkjet

Max print width: 1,610mm

Max media thickness: 13mm

Print head: Fujifilm Dimatix Q-class printheads

Inks: Fujifilm Uvijet UV inks; Fujifilm Uvijet LL LED UV curable ink

Colours: 8 (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, light magenta, white, clear).

Max resolution: 1,200 x 1,200dpi

Max print speed: 4.2m2/hr (HQ) to 20m2/hr (production).

AGFA JETI MIRA

In 2015, Agfa has and will introduce several new inkjet UV platforms to the Oceania market, designed from the ground up.

The Jeti Mira is a six-colour plus white UV inkjet flatbed printer with optional varnish or primer. The Jeti Mira system features moving gantry architecture with split-vacuum table. It is a true flatbed printer available in two table versions — 2.7 metres x 1.6 metres and 2.7 metres x 3.2 metres. The moving gantry is specifically designed to offer flexibility and high quality output on a variety of different media such as coreflute, foam PVC, acrylic, and ally composite.

To reduce vacuum masking, the split table features six zones with automatic and independent control of the front and back of the platform. The Print and Prepare or Tandem Print Facility enables users to load one side of the table while the other is printing. This enhances the Mira’s productivity levels and reduces the need to mask.

Utilising the latest Ricoh Gen 5 print head, the Mira is available in two configurations. Depending on output demands, the S or HS offer speeds of up to 205m2 per hour, while firing 7-picolitre dots across its multiple modes.

Should the need arise to print onto roll substrate, the Mira can be fitted with a field upgradable 2,050mm roll-to-roll unit. The device is then able to handle products like SAV, banners, backlit film and paper stocks.

The Mira MG2732 weighs approximately four tonnes, boasting build quality that will stand up to the challenges of day to day, year on year print production demands.

Agfa Graphics’ UV curable inks deliver large gamut quality prints with the lowest ink consumption per square metre in the industry, thanks to the ‘thin ink layer technology’. The Jeti ink system targets flexible applications, special substrates and outdoor signage printed on polypropylene or styrene based media types and provides image longevity.

Mira printers are designed to sit comfortably into the sign and display and commercial markets.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Print heads: Piezoelectric Ricoh Gen 5

Inks: CMYK, Lc, Lm, white

Inks’ shelf life: 1 year

Max resolution: 720 x 1,200dpi

Text quality: 4 point

Min print length: 210mm

Max print length: Roll length (max 200m, 50m guaranteed)

CANON ARIZONA 6170 XTS

Canon says the 6100 series of flat-bed printers is a high-productivity, high volume range specially designed for sign, display and POS production of more than 30,000m of rigid media each year. The series has been designed to enable Arizona users to stick with the brand as they move up to high volume work. Maximum output speed is 155sqm per hour in Express mode, 72sqm in Quality mode with the company says the ability to produce ‘perfect 6pt text’.

The 6170 XTS features two independent printing zones, each with its own vacuum system, so that one board can always be staged and ready while the other is being printed – essentially providing non-stop production.

Canon says the two zones can be combined into one extra-large area to enable prints of up to 2.5m x 3.05m, with the vacuum table keeping media and objects stationary during production to ensure print precision.

The company says this engineering, combined with Océ VariaDot print technology, ensures optimal print quality while allowing production speeds of up to 50 boards an hour, offering high media versatility, making it suited to the growing and changing display printing market.

SPECS AT A GLANCE

Printing: Piezo electric

Inks: C,M,Y,K,Lc,Lm + white

Max print speed: 155sqm

Max print size: 2.5m x 3.05m

Max substrate depth: 50.8mm

Print zones: Two

Max resolution: 6-42 picolitres

EFI H1625 LED

The EFI H1625 LED is designed for companies with mid-level production needs. EFI says it comes with the same benefits as higher production LED systems but at a significantly lower cost.

It has four colour inks plus white as standard, and eight-level variable drop greyscale capability. The 1625 produces near-photographic image quality, saturated colours and smooth colour gradations. It is easy to operate with low maintenance demands and it prints on a wide range of flexible and rigid substrates.

It prints up to 162 x 300cm on media with a thickness up to 5cm.

The EFI H1625 LED is available from EFI Australia or one of its distributors: Spicers Australia and DES Australia, and for New Zealand customers, Spicers New Zealand and Total New Zealand.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Inks: C,M,Y, K + 2 white channels standard

Max print width: 64in (165cm)

Max resolution: Up to 1,200 x 600dpi

Max print speed: 42.27m²/hr

EPSON SURECOLOR SC-F9200

The new Epson SureColor SC-F9200 dye-sublimation printer helps users produce quality textiles and promotional goods, and is also designed to produce interior décor with imaging onto hard surfaces. It is backed with full factory warranty and service support.

The SC-F9200 joins Epson’s dye-sublimation line-up and offers expanded production capabilities and lower running costs. The printer includes support for Epson’s new HDK ink and HQ Print mode, is designed for roll based production and is particularly suited to custom fabric and soft signage work with an adjustable output heater and precision auto take-up.

The new SC-F9200 offers almost twice the performance of Epson’s SC-F7200 with dual print heads, dual high-capacity continuous ink supply systems (CISS) and a maximum print speed of just over 100m2/hr.

The SC-F9200 offers opportunities in the roll-to-roll textile and soft signage markets with scalable, cost-effective production. It uses Epson’s PrecisionCore TFP printhead in tandem with the UltraChrome DS ink set. Epson developed the new High Density Black ink to enable deep, neutral blacks and dense colour for intense images with reduced ink consumption.

Dye-sublimation customers purchasing the SC-F9200 will benefit from a complete Epson printing package. The hardware, software, print head, ink and sublimation papers have been made and are supported by one manufacturer to ensure everything works together. The SC-F9200 is also offered with optional ErgoSoft software that has been customised for Epson.

The SC-F9200 includes a high-capacity ink system for a lower printing cost per square metre. Disposing of waste ink is now easier and more cost effective as the SC-F9200 includes a two-litre bottle to collect waste.

The SC-F9200 is priced inclusive of hardware delivery and installation costs within all capital cities across Australia, along with a one year warranty and optional service packs which provide cover up to three years. Prices start at $30,995 for the SC-F9200.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Print technology: Dye sublimation

Print head: Dual Epson PrecisionCore TM TFP with VSDT

Print modes: Uni and bi-directional

Configuration: 4 x 360 nozzles per colour

Max resolution: 720 x 1,440dpi

Ink type: Epson Ultrachrome DS

Colours: C, Y, M, Bk, C, Y, M, HDk

Ink supply: 8 x 1.5L continuous ink supply system (CISS)

Print speed: 12.6m2/hr (HQ) – 100.1m2/hr (draft)

HP DESIGNJET T3500 PRODUCTION EMFP

The HP designJet T3500 has been rated the most productive large-format MFP when compared with large-format colour MFPs under $US25,000, based on the fastest-rated colour speeds as published by manufacturers as of January 2014.

According to HP it offers low operating costs, copy and scan features, unattended operation, and is built for rigorous IT demands and security.

It has been designed for workgroups at enterprises, repro houses and copy shops that want to fulfil all their colour and black-and-white printing needs using one MFP.

It can create A1-size pages in 21 seconds, achieve dark blacks, true neutral greys and vivid colours with original HP inks. It will print the first page immediately thanks to ultra-fast processing and zero warm-up time.

The DesignJet T3500 features an integrated 100-page stacker which delivers prints collated, and can operate unattended by using two heavy rolls of up to 200 metres and a total ink capacity of 1,800ml.

It can manage projects and control costs using embedded professional accounting features, and offers document security by offering document retrieval at the printer with a personal PIN.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Functions: Print, copy, scan

Print time line drawing (economode, A1 plain paper): 21 sec/page

Print speed line drawing (economode, A1 plain paper): 120 A1 prints/hr

Resolution: Up to 2,400 x 1,200dpi

Print technology: HP Thermal Inkjet

No. of print cartridges: 6 (cyan, grey, magenta, matte black, photo black, yellow)

Compatible ink types: Dye-based (C, G, M, pK, Y); pigment-based (mK)

Scan quality colour: 600 x 600dpi

Scan resolution max: 600dpi

Scanner type: Sheetfed, CIS (Contact Image Sensor)

Scan size max: 914x8000mm (JPEG)

Scan size min: 210×297 mm

Copy reduce/enlarge: 25 to 400%

Max copies: Up to 99

Media weights: 60 to 328gsm

MIMAKI TS300P-1800

Mimaki, with a long history of products for the digital textile printing industry, has introduced the TS300P printer, a high production dye sublimation printer. It has been engineered specifically for the dye-sublimation industry.

The TS300P features a high gap print head to prevent contact between the print head and cockled media. Thin transfer papers are gaining popularity because they can provide more square footage per roll, offering the ability for higher throughput and productivity at lower costs, but they are susceptible to cockling which can produce uneven results or cause a head strike. In conventional digital printing, high gap conditions drastically reduce the accuracy of the ink droplet placement leading to severe reduction in image quality and line fidelity. To counter this, the TS300P printer employs a new print head that ensures accurate ink droplet placement with a high head gap, enabling high quality printing on thin transfer paper.

The printer uses a vacuum feed platen that holds media taut, while larger media press plates minimise cockling by reducing media uplift immediately after printing. These systems work together to ensure a more consistent surface for uniform printing. The Auto Media Feeder applies calibrated tension to the media, maintaining stable media feed and take-up. This also reduces telescoping of the media during take-up and eliminates the potential for buckling or creasing during the calendar transfer process.

The TS300P printer delivers print speeds up to 115m2 per hour in four-colour mode. Print speeds up to 65m2 per hour can be achieved in six-colour mode.

Mimaki’s new Sb410 sublimation inks offer enhanced resolvability, which improves the print production yield by ensuring more stable ink jetting. These inks produce deep blacks and near-fluorescent colours. Because ink stability is improved, daily cleaning is easier and fewer regular cleanings are required, contributing to cost reductions and higher throughput.

Four print heads are included, with a total of 3,200 nozzles. Up to three different drop sizes – automatically determined by ink type and print mode – deliver accurate dot placement even with high head gap printing.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Print head: On demand Piezo head (four in line)

Resolutions: 360-1,080dpi

Max print width: 1,940mm

Max media width: 1,950mm

Max media thickness: 1.0mm

Inks: Mimaki Sb410 (Bl, M, Y, K, Lbl, Lm)

Ink packs: 2 litres

OCÉ COLORWAVE 700

Ideal for commercial printers who want to offer new wide-format services, the Océ ColorWave 700 is a true single footprint. All print, scan and copy tasks can be carried out with the Océ ClearConnect user interface. With the cloud connection, users always have access to documents.

The automatic original width detection, media loading, roll selection and image positioning automates the print, copy and scan process.

Users can operate the system with minimal training to produce a range of applications such as posters, pull-up banners, canvas, wallpaper, photoprints, CAD and more. It offers copy, scan and print in a single footprint device, and can print on virtually any media up to 0.8mm thick.

Using Océ’s CrystalPoint technology the ColorWave 700 produces vibrant colours and imagery on any medium no matter the run length, in waterfast prints with sharp lines, readability of fine details and even area fills.

The Automatic Print Assistant selects the print mode, image position and media roll for the user. The Smart Personal Inbox saves further time. Rolls can be switched out faster with the built-in roll loading station. Paper is fed into the printer, cut and sized automatically.

The ColorWave 700 offers instant dry, a fast print speed embedded workflow with up to six media rolls or 1,200m of unattended printing with automated stacking, folding and take up options.

It’s odourless, solvent free, ozone free, low energy and has a high rate of de-inkability, while being capable of supporting recycled and uncoated media.

The Océ ColorWave 700 is found in thousands of commercial print shops worldwide, and is supported by Canon’s Remote Service.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Imaging technology: Océ CrystalPoint technology

Resolution: 600 x 600dpi

Toner: Océ ColorWave 7o0 TonerPearls,

Colours: Cyan, magenta, yellow and black TonerPearls

Print modes: OPA (Océ Print Assistant) determines the most suitable print mode automatically based on file content

Productivity: B&W CAD: 1,800 A1/day (high speed mode), Colour CAD: 1,696 A1/day (high speed mode).

Colour posters: 368m2/day (production – fast)

RICOH PRO L4160

Ricoh has introduced two production-oriented wide format latex printers to its portfolio including the L4160 (64 inch) printer. It will print all the usual large format products as well applications for textiles prototyping; interior decoration including custom wall papers; printing on to leather/PU leather; and other products that can create a point of difference. It prints on a wide range of substrates, including PVC, tarpaulin, synthetic paper, coated paper, non-coated paper and textiles. The white can print on Kraft paper, useful for packaging proofing.

Ricoh says that, in CMYK mode, the L4160 prints at 18.2sqm/hr. It delivers resolution of 1200×1200 dpi, from 6-64 pass.. The printers have solid steel construction, you won’t see any plastic panels.

The new printers offer three colour configurations: CMYK, CMYK,Or,Gr; and CMYK,Or,Gr and white. It hits 93 per cent of all Pantone colours. It has variable dot technology from four picolitres, which gives smooth gradations and skin tones.”

It can print three layers in one pass. Ricoh says three layer printing enables you to achieve CMYK, white and CMYK in one pass. There are no registration concerns and it is ideal for transparent media. According to Ricoh the L4160 consumes less power, owing to its lower heaters and low temperature printing. It reaches a maximum of 60 degrees, which the company claims means you can print on a wider range of substrates than other latex technologies. You can laminate immediately after printing.

SPECS AT A GLANCE

Max print speed: 18.2sqm per hour

Resolution: 1200x1200dpi

Inks: C,M,Y,K, Or,Gr,White

ROLAND DG VERSAUV LEJ-640FT

Released in July, the VersaUV LEJ- 640FT UV-LED flatbed printer boasts a raft of innovative features and places Roland DG firmly into the flatbed sector. Roland DG says with this machine you get a range of printing capabilities and compatibility with a massive range of substrates, including heavy, rigid materials.

The LEJ-640FT has an all-steel frame designed to reduce vibration. With 175 CFM suction, the commercial vacuum easily handles substrates like Sintra, Coroplast and styrene yet it makes no more noise than a Dyson residential vacuum cleaner. Dual-gear step motors and rack and pinion drive system ensure accurate printing.

Delivering 1440X1440 dpi resolution, the LEJ-640FT offers a broad media compatibility enabling printing on a range of treated and untreated substrates including foam boards, Sintra, acrylic, cardboard, plywood, MDF, plus heat and pressure-sensitive media.

The LEJ-640FT uses Eco-UV inks, available in CMYK, White, and Clear. The instant-drying and flexible Eco-UV inks produce prints that can be stretched and applied around curved surfaces and edges without cracking.

SPECS AT A GLANCE

Max print size: 1625mm x 2490mm

Max sheet thickness: 150mm

Max sheet weight: 100kg

Max speed: 133sqft per hour

Resolution: 1440 x 1440 dpi

SEIKO COLORPAINTER

Supplied in Australia by Canon, DES and Neopost the Seiko ColorPainter M64s has 1626mm (64”) media width and generous 1616mm print width – all driven by an Onyx rip and using Seiko’s patented Dynamic Dot Print print head technology – makes the ColorPainter M64S the kind of flexible performer that small businesses like while meeting the exacting quality and productivity standards their clients demand. It prints with Seiko’s environmentally sustainable eco-solvent SX inks.

The SX inks give a wider colour gamut than the old GX range, and the addition of an optional grey ink to the six standard colours extends that even further, producing true monotones and making it easy to achieve a wider range of special colours, which is critical, particularly for corporate and agency work. The company says the colours are brighter and more vibrant, with far better coverage, which means less ink per square metre – a saving which translates into more cost-effective and profitable products. As well as achieving better results, the SX inks are virtually odour free.

The machine is quite robust, metal construction. It is strong and well engineered. They are designed to run all day for high volume and high quality work. It also has a mesh printing capability.”

SPECS AT A GLANCE

Printhead: DOD piezo

Resolution: 900dpi

Inks: C,M,Y,K,Lc,Lg,Grey

Speed: 3.5-66.5sqm per hour

SCREEN TRUEPRESS JET W3200UV-HS

Screen’s Truepress Jet W3200UV-HS is a heavy productivity flatbed UV aimed at busy shops where two or three shifts are sometimes needed and uptime is all-important. The near photographic quality has endears it to larger sign and display printers where sudden demand spikes are common.There is a roll-to-roll option. This makes the W3200UV-HS a high productivity roll printer as well as a flatbed capable of up to 150 square metres per hour. Matching output between roll banner work and flatbed signage is a n advantage in retail.

While the roll option is also capable of 150sqm per hour production it will mostly run at 68sqm per hour. The roll device integrates mechanically, electronically and aesthetically with the W3200, making it one of the fastest changeovers between flatbed and roll printing on the market.

Engineered by Inca in the UK, as is the W3200 itself, the roll option sits unobtrusively under the moving flatbed when not in use. When roll printing is required, the flatbed is locked and this tells the control system that it must activate roll mode on the touch-screen.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Technology: UV cured flatbed

Printhead: Piezo on demand

Max resolution: 600dpi (1,000dpi apparent)

Inks: Screen Truepress inks

Colours: CMYK + Lc, Lm, White

Max width: 3,200mm

Max length: 1,600mm

Max print speed: 85m2/hr; 150m2/hr (HS)

SWISSQPRINT IMPALA 2

The Impala 2, distributed in Australia by Positive Camtec, is a good illustration of the modular design principles of swissQprint products. It is a flatbed printer with a 2.5 × 2-metre printing table. There are two print head variants to choose from, both deployable either singly or doubled up for twice the performance — 180m2 per hour is the maximum print speed.

Print quality, powered by variable droplet print heads with a 9-picolitre minimum drop size, is simply astounding. Perfectly legible 4 point text that needs to be seen to be believed. Bold, bright, vibrant colours that impress even the most demanding clients.

An Impala 2 extended with the board option for outsize formats can handle media up to 2.5 x 4 metres. It achieves this with an accurate automatic indexing system. Being modular, the board option can be added to any swissQprint machine at any time.

The Impala 2 also offers continuous printing with the roll to roll option. It prints non-rigid media with a vacuum table that keeps media flat and is available in two strength variants. The same table is used when printing roll media. While feeding, the vacuum briefly releases to give minimal friction and allow the media to be indexed forward. This makes the Impala 2 able to continuously print full roll-to-roll jobs with minimal supervision.

For boosting production, swissQprint Tandem mode can increase productivity by up to 71 per cent (for test data: http://www. swissqprint.com/en/tandem-nyala-2. html). The Impala 2 alternates between the front and rear halves of the table. The operator stays busy loading and unloading media from the front and rear of the table.

The swissQprint 3D moire printing process produces the print as well as the lenses. Take a sheet of standard transparent material, RIP the prepared file and choose the lenticular print mode in the user interface of the swissQprint printer for a 3D moiré effect.

SPECS AT A GLANCE:

Technology: Piezo drop on demand

Inks: Low odour, UV curable

Ink supply: Colours in 5 litre containers; white, varnish and primer in 1 litre containers

Drop size: 9-42 picolitre

Max print speed: 180m2/hr (draft); 28m2/ hr (fine art)

Addressable resolution: 360-1,080dpi

Visual resolution: up to 2,160dpi

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