SGIA Expo was packed with with wide-format and specialty printing equipment

By Bob Neubauer

The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans was packed with wide-format and specialty printing equipment during the SGIA Expo. IPG was there. Here are some of the wide-format systems we checked out.

UVgel Ink Technology

Canon U.S.A. showcased the 64˝ Océ Colorado 1640 roll-to-roll printer. Its UVgel ink instantly gels on contact with media, resulting in precise dot gain and positional control, perfectly repeatable images and instantly cured, durable prints. aThe Colorado 1640 boasts a top speed of 1,710 sq. ft./hr. and delivers high-quality, POP prints at 430 sq. ft./hr., faster than other competing systems. It features a heavy-duty drawer mechanism that holds up to two rolls of media at one time, each weighing up to 110 lbs.

Flatbed or Roll-Fed

FUJIFILM North America, Graphic Systems Division debuted the Inca SpyderX, a flexible and powerful flatbed and roll-to-roll UV inkjet press. Using the Fujifilm Uvijet XS ink system developed specifically for the SpyderX, it delivers high-speed production up to 2,476 sq. ft./hr. with pinpoint accuracy. Designed and manufactured by Inca Digital, the SpyderX platform incorporates FUJIFILM Dimatix printheads and Fujifilm Uvijet ink. The 126˝ wide, six-color plus white SpyderX is available as either a flatbed or a combination flatbed/roll-fed model, for handling rigid and flexible substrates.

Automatic X/Y Cutter

COLEX featured the new Fotoba 126˝-wide XLD 320 X/Y super-wide roll cutter. It is capable of cutting flexible media up to 126˝ wide and 40-mils thick along with a range of textile/fabric material. It uses Fotoba cutmarks to follow the edge of the image, regardless of any feed misalignment. An optional motorized roll feeder is available that can hold rolls up to 660 lbs.

LED Flatbed Printer

The new EFI Pro 24f LED flatbed printer made its worldwide debut at SGIA Expo. The 4x8-foot printer contains powerful features with LED inkjet imaging, variable drop grayscale head technology in a true flatbed design with moving gantry and multi-zoned vacuum table. The new dedicated flatbed printer gives users powerful results with outstanding image quality at production speeds, a broad color gamut, optimized ink usage and access to more profitable jobs.

Dye-Sublimation Printer

Epson showcased its new SureColor F9370 dye-sublimation printer. This 64˝ production printer boasts speeds up to 1,169 sq. ft./hr.. Ideal for high-speed, economical, medium- to large-volume dye-sublimation transfer printing, the SC-F9370 features an integrated new fabric wiping system and advanced roll-to-roll media support system to accommodate a greater variety of transfer papers. The SureColor F9370 leverages dual PrecisionCore TFP printheads and Epson UltraChrome DS with High-Density Black ink to produce output with exceptional color saturation and extremely high contract ratio for a range of textile and apparel applications.

Cut-and-Print Devices

The UCJV Series UV-LED cut-and-print devices from MimakiUSA are 64˝ UV printers offering in-line cutting capability and featuring white ink to enable four-layer printing. Two models are available: the four-color UCJV150-160, and the UCJV300-160 that can accommodate up to seven ink colors. UV-LED curing enables in-plants to utilize an expanded range of media including many thin film substrates that may be too sensitive for latex or solvent high heat fixation systems. Four-layer printing available on the UCJV300-160 model offers an enhanced print capability that allows designers to build layered, transformative graphics for backlit applications.

Low-Maintenance Reliability

Ricoh unveiled the Ricoh Pro T7210, designed to bring low-maintenance reliability and ease of use to the decorative printing market. It can handle diverse materials of varied thicknesses, supporting substrates up to 4.3˝ thick with a print size of 6.9x10.5 ft., which lets users print on one 4x8-ft. board or a variety of pre-cut pieces. Using Ricoh’s high-viscosity UV ink and patented piezoelectric printheads, the Ricoh Pro T7210 prints at speeds of 538.2 sq. ft./hr. A media gap adjustment sensor automatically measures substrate thickness and adjusts printheads accordingly, making it easy to switch between different substrate thicknesses and produce reliably accurate prints on the first try.

Exceptional Printing, Accurate Cutting

Roland’s most advanced wide-format printer/cutters ever, the TrueVIS VG models, combine innovative technology with performance, precision and efficiency. Both the VG-640 and VG-540 incorporate four FlexFire print heads, which deliver droplets in three sizes and a 25% wider print swath than Roland’s previous inkjets. The combination with Roland’s specially formulated, cost-effective TrueVIS INK ensures exceptional results at print speeds of up to 374.6 sq. ft./hr. Accurate, reliable integrated contour cutting further enhances productivity and versatility. Additional features include a choice of seven- or eight-color ink configurations, a convenient Bluetooth-enabled Roland DG MobilePanel and powerful VersaWorks Dual RIP software.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page

Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.