Page 63 - Print21 March-April 2022

Wide Format
Epson:
SureColor R5000
Epson recently launched two new resin
ink printers coming in two models, the SureColor R5000 and R5000L, and with an appealing price point, starting at $49,500.
Epson says the colour gamut and the gradient tone range are high, the latter thanks to the variable sized droplets. The resin ink means the prints are ready for lamination virtually as soon as they come off the press. They will compete in the latex space, and use aqueous (water-based) ink that is similar to latex but formulated for enhanced scratch resistance and a lower curing temperature.
The difference between the R5000 and R5000L comes with the R5000L having double the number of ink pouches, and
auto swapping for extended unattended operation. They incorporate one of Epson’s latest high-speed PrecisionCore print
heads. The heads employ Variable Sized
Dot Technology (VSDT) for an enhanced gamut with smooth gradation and minimum ink consumption. While competing head technologies use heat to form droplets, Epson employs a patented MicroPiezo operation, which is more precise and
gentle on the ink, enabling superior colour accuracy and consistency. The head is driven by Epson Precision Dot Technology with
a new multi-layer halftone system that enables high-speed production with reduced grain and banding.
Resin: Epson SureColor R5000
Left Awards: Agfa Jeti Tauro H3300 LED
Above Hybrid: HP Latex R2000
HP: Latex R2000
Also introducing a flatbed version recently has been HP,
with the Latex R2000, that it says lets you print the glossiest
white on transparent and coloured media, with high-opacity white that
won’t go yellow over time.
It says printing with white is easier
than ever before, thanks to the automatic maintenance that recirculates the white ink and checks the nozzles. And there’s no waste between white jobs with removable HP Thermal Inkjet printheads stored in an offline rotating chamber.
The Latex R2000 can print 13.4 indoor or 24 outdoor boards per hour with the continuous loading function. HP says the automatic maintenance, smart vacuum and assisted loading will keep your printer at work, while avoiding costly mistakes.
It is a hybrid printer that’s consistent across rigid and flexible, and will says
HP produce consistent work across all substrates, with the “vibrant” HP Latex colour gamut. The durable and flexible water-based ink means high adhesion and scratch resistant finish.
Fujifilm:
Vybrant UF-10
The entry level Vybrant UF10 can deliver print speeds up to 16sqm per hour in Production Mode, and can be used to print on a variety
of rigid and flexible media up to 51mm thick. Fujifilm’s Uvijet UV ink, combined with variable drop sizes from 7 to 21 picolitres, delivers what Fujifilm says are excellent results. Inkjet heads are Ricoh Gen 5.
Entry level: Fujifilm Vybrant
The ink can adhere to a range of media whilst having
solvent resistance. According to Fujifilm the patented MicroV
ink dispersion technology delivers consistent quality, reliability and a
wide colour gamut. Fujifilm is making much of its ink as a differentiator from models coming
into the market, citing its ink reliability, ink performance and ink application as key factors.
The Vybrant UF10 is available as a five- colour six channel printer, with CMYK and two white channels as standard. Fujifilm says it can print on any rigid or flexible media. It is also suitable for oddly shaped, heavy, smooth, or pre-cut media, unusual media such as canvas, wood, tile, glass, or objects, and images tiled over multiple large boards.
It offers edge-to-edge (full bleed) printing for rigid media or objects of any size up to 1.29m x 2.54m, with the standard bed-size of 1.25m x 2.54m. It will handle flexible and rigid media up to 51 mm thick. It will enable last-minute adjustments at the printer, like cropping, mirroring, has four dedicated vacuum zones to minimise masking, with the high-pressure vacuum system for reliable media hold down during printing.
It also offers the ability to switch between rigid and flexible media without any machine preparation, even overnight, and there is an anti-static bar for active suppression of static electricity when printing on hard plastics, materials such as acrylic, polycarbonate, and styrene.
Scalable: Inca Onset X1
Inca: Onset X1
According to the manufacturer the Onset X1 is ideal for companies producing a mix of fast-turnaround retail graphics for distance viewing, and high quality images for close up viewing.
The Onset X UV multi-pass flatbed series is designed with a scalable platform that can be upgraded. The printer uses Fujifilm’s Uvijet low migration, low odour and high adhesion inks. The maximum media size is 3.22x1.6m, and it can handle substrates up to 18mm thick automatically, or up to 50mm manually.
The Onset X could run at up to 420sqm an hour, with the HS model increasing that to 600sqm an hour. The eight channels are populated with one set of CMYK, and the remainder can be configured as required using light cyan, light magenta, white and orange (LcLmWO). When the time is right an additional six channel carriage can be added to scale up to the Onset X2.
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