Page 39 - Print 21 Magazine Sep-Oct 2020

Inkjet Flatbed
Roland DG into flatbed
with UV inkjet IU-1000F
Roland DG is launching the IU-1000F large format UV-LED flatbed printer in Australia,
its first flatbed printer.
Roland DG has built its business on its roll-to-roll print technology over its more than 30 years in Australia. It has carved
out a niche as a market leader as the sign and display industry switched over to digital printing.
Roland DG printers achieved success around the country with the combination of quality engineering and imaging making them the mainstay of many a printshop. In recent years, the company has added benchtop UV personalisation and promotional product printers to its portfolio and has now launched its first flatbed UV printer: the IU-1000F.
Printers looking for flatbed UV inkjet printing are not short of choices; however, many, especially existing Roland DG users, will welcome the entry of the company into this growing sector of the industry.
Speaking on the rationale behind the company’s decision to enter flatbed UV, Greg Stone, Roland DG Australia product and marketing manager, said, “With the life cycles and requirements for outdoor and indoor advertising, event decorations and store displays being shorter and more diverse than ever, there’s a growing need for the new IU-1000F.
“This cutting-edge, high-production UV flatbed enables shops to respond effectively to increasing output demands and shorter turn-around times. It offers breakthrough print speeds, exceptional image quality, and outstanding material compatibility, allowing for high-volume, high- impact graphics without the need for mounting and drying processes.”
The IU-1000F can print 15 boards an hour in typical size 1220 x 2440mm in standard print mode for typical point of purchase display applications. For applications requiring higher image quality, the
quality print mode will produce approximately 10 sheets per hour.
Equipped with a dozen high- performance printheads, in a staggered three-row arrangement, the IU-1000F can print up to
635 x 1800dpi with variable droplet technology, which can simultaneously fire three sizes of droplets at high speed.
The IU-1000F employs UV-LED flatbed printing technology to
print directly on various materials and objects up to 2510 x 1310mm, including rigid boards up to 110mm in height and 45kg/sqm in weight.
“This cutting-edge, high-production UV flatbed enables shops to respond effectively to increasing output demands and shorter turn-around times.” Greg Stone, Roland DG
The exclusively-developed, high- density Greenguard Gold certified UV inks in CMYK, gloss and white cure instantly and deliver stunning graphic results, from impressive and highly-profitable signs, displays, backlits and exhibition graphics
to custom-designed interior décor applications such as canvas wall panels and furniture. A primer
ink option allows for even greater adhesion, making it easy to prep and print on challenging materials like acrylic, glass and ceramic. Users can incorporate the gloss and white speciality inks to enhance their
prints with a host of eye-catching textural and dimensional effects.
The IU-1000F has a number of new functions to optimise efficient performance, including an ioniser that removes static electricity, a versatile print bed that can handle materials of various sizes, from one large board to multiple small panels, and media alignment pins to easily align materials to be printed.
According to Roland DG, as turnaround times and requirements for communication tools such as outdoor and indoor advertising, event decorations, and store displays become shorter and more diverse,
the sign and display sectors are increasingly becoming one-stop shops offering quick response. Under such challenging circumstances, high-performance large format UV flatbed printers are attracting greater attention than ever before. These printers enable a more efficient production process and are capable
of printing on various materials for a wide range of applications.
Kohei Tanabe, president of the DP Business Division, says the IU-1000F has breakthrough speed and quality while also eliminating the need for mounting and drying processes. He says, “It is a powerful solution for the sign and display or print production business that seeks more.”
Roland DG’s army of roll-to-roll equipped customers will be hoping his assessment is correct, as all print businesses seek new revenue streams the new flatbed will be warmly welcomed by them. 21
Above:
LED UV flatbed from Roland DG: IU-1000F
Print21 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 39