Page 20 - Print21 Jan-Feb 2020

Wide Format Printing
“There’s consistent crossover between wide-format and commercial, so the opportunities are to take some of their production into wide-format.”
– Ian Cleary, Starleaton
outdoor signage’. Troy Neighbour, senior product manager at Fujifilm says, “The Acuity Ultra achieves both speed and quality thanks to the R+D that Fujifilm has put into the ink
and head dynamic. It has developed bespoke waveforms that optimise the dot. That dot is just 3.5pl. And there are two heads per colour – in fact, you can have four heads per colour.”
Fujifilm says the Acuity Ultra forms a key part of its industrial strategy, offering increased size and quality to make high-end interior graphics more profitable.
Cactus Imaging has just installed its second Fujifilm Acuity Ultra.
Running the gamut
HP offers a range of wide format solutions for a variety of applications in just about every size, according
to Jeremy Brew, large format application specialist at HP.
“We start at entry level, we go through our entire DesignJet range where we’ve been for 25 years
now. We move into Latex when we start looking at signage or durable graphics, and then through to our Scitex industrial UV products.
“We feel exclusive in our offering – we cover from the entry level printers at A1 size right through to super wide format and ultra-fast high production units, we cater for every need”, he says.
Mutoh’s Xpert Value
Mutoh last year brought out the XpertJet range of eco-solvent roll-to-roll printers, replacing its popular ValueJet eco-solvent range with overhauled systems; other ValueJets, such as UV and dye sublimation, are set to remain on the market.
According to Russell Cavenagh, general manager of Mutoh Australia, brand owners are crying out for printers to take on more signage or promotional work.
“We provide solutions for point of sale work, which can be banner, vinyl, textile, backlit.
“We do those in both ecosolvent and UV, as well as dye sublimation for textiles, from 610mm up to 2.6 metres wide,” he says.
Ricoh enters arena
Ricoh has thrown its hat into the ring with the launch of two product families: the roll-to-roll Pro L5160 CMYK plus white latex printer, which won a Print21 Hot Pick at PrintEx last year, and the Pro T7210 and Pro TF6250 flatbed
UV printers.
“The L5160’s aqueous resin inks can print on impermeable waterproof material, such as
PVC banners, vinyls, car wraps, polypropylene, and synthetic materials, as well as permeable materials such as paper, canvas, tarpaulins, banners, and textiles,” says Henryk Kraszewski.
According to Kraszewski, the T7210 and TF6250 flatbeds offer high-speed production at a lower price point, and print on an almost limitless selection of rigid substrates.
More than printers
Roland DG bills itself as number one in the industry for wide format printing, with more than 100,000 installations worldwide.
“We’ve helped businesses of all shapes and sizes to get into wide format and succeed,” said Greg Stone, product and marketing manager.
“Roland DG manufactures high quality and reliable solutions to
suit all workflows, with versatile integrated printer cutters, as well as print only devices across different ink technologies including eco- solvent, UV and dye sublimation.
“We deliver much more with
each system than just a printer. Every Roland DG system is supplied with the intuitive VersaWorks rip software; our vibrant and durable inks; in-depth training, and comprehensive RolandCare service, support and warranties,” he says.
Spicers grows range
Aside from its extensive substrate offering, the range of hardware sold by Spicers continues to grow, according to Glen Makary, national sales manager for Sign and Display.
Aside from Mimaki and Roland printers, as well as the Neolt range
of laminators, welders and virtual cutters, sales of RollsRoller tables are increasing. “RollsRoller, the original Swedish-made application table, has several choices from the Entry model to the Premium model and a more economical application table in the Roll-X. Sizes from 2.8m to 10.0m.
“With one of the largest wide format product ranges in the Austr- alian market, we can find the right solution for your business.” he says.
Outside the box
Starleaton offers its customers the benefits of key brand partnerships in wide format, according to Ian Cleary, who highlights its connections
with Epson and EFI. “We’re one of the largest Epson resellers in the Southern Hemisphere; we also
have industrial print offerings
from EFI Vutek, which covers most wide-format applications. When we combine Epson and EFI, we address every market in the commercial print and wide-format sector,” he says.
Cleary says that Starleaton also offers automation solutions such as feeders and stackers, which allow human operators to focus on other areas of the business. 21
Above
Automation: Wide format printing
20 Print21 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020