Rolling through the desert
With the whirr of wide-format printers and the heady smell of solvents still fresh in your memory, the weeks following Sign and Digital UK can feel like a bit of a blur. Indeed, after spending three days at the event and visiting countless stands, my head is still swimming with images of new and different technology.
Yet not to be outshined by the quirky and experimental new technology, the core area of wide-format roll-to-roll was as well represented as ever, with improvements and developments of its own to ensure it stays top of the wish-list for vast swathes of the sign-making industry.
Indeed, its continued vital role in the sign industry is affirmed by John de la Roche, national sales manager at Hybrid Services.
“As always, the demand for roll-to-roll printers is high,” he enthuses, continuing: “They address a huge proportion of graphic production and they will always be an important part of a sign-makers repertoire. Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in what flatbed technology can offer, especially as desktop options have become available, but there will always be a need for the production capabilities of roll-to-roll machines.”
Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in what flatbed technology can offer, especially as desktop options have become available, but there will always be a need for the production capabilities of roll-to-roll machines”
Indeed, far from being neglected, one firm that has set its sights firmly on wide-format roll-to-roll is Epson. Over the last two years alone, the company has introduced ten professional print products under the ‘Sure’ brand, the most recent being the new range of SureColor SC-T aqueous printers. Phil McMullin, sales manager of ProGraphics at Epson UK comments: “These Sure-Color SC-T printers are our first wide-format roll-fed printers to feature our new PrecisionCore TFP long-life printheads.
Epson is in the midst of a steep research and development programme that has seen it bring to market an impressive range of new wide-format equipment. Picture: Able to print white, the 64” (1.6m) SureColor SC-S50600 printer has a top resolution of 1,400dpi and top speed of 52sq m/h
“They are also the first Epson large-format printers with an integrated scanner to gives users the flexibility to digitise large-format hard copies and scan-to-file, scan-to-email, or scan-to-share with other SC-T printers.”
He continues: “But we are not stopping there. We are actively expanding our range of Epson Sure-Color professional production printers and aim to launch several new inkjet printers for a range of applications over the next 18 months alone.”
Hot off the presses
Also sparking interest in the roll-to-roll market is Mimaki, as de la Roche of its UK and Ireland distributor, Hybrid Services, explains: “Mimaki has always offered a broad range of roll-to-roll wide-format printers, but the two grabbing the headlines currently are the newly released Mimaki SUV and the Mimaki JV400LX. It’s all about new ink technologies and the new opportunities this opens up for sign-makers and other print professionals.”
John de la Roche, national sales manager at Hybrid Services, says the demand for roll-to-roll printers remains as high as ever
He continues: “The Mimaki SUV is a new breed of printer, combining brighter, glossier prints than even a solvent printer, with the durability and quick drying of UV inks. The SUV is capable of producing stunning graphics for all sorts of applications, such as vehicle graphics, point-of-sale, and more traditional signage, but offers an unparalleled resistance to abrasion without lamination, even when outdoors.”
Hybrid Services claims the Mimaki SUV is a new breed of printer, combining brighter, glossier prints than even a solvent printer. Pictured here on the YPS stand at Sign and Digital UK 2014 where received high levels of interest
Mimaki has also been making advances on the ink technology front, with the recent introduction of orange and green to the white and process inks of its latex ink range.
De la Roche continues: “Compatible with the fast, flexible, and environmentally-friendly Mimaki JV400LX, these colours open up various opportunities for new applications and uses, such as interior décor and vehicle graphics, extending the colour gamut and adding real vibrancy to the output.
“These two roll-to-roll options not only deliver on speed and print quality, but have added benefits such as flexibility with various forms of media, instantly ready-to-use prints that don’t require time-consuming finishing such as gassing off and lamination, and being eco-friendly enough to use in any office environment, which has seen these machines adopted not just by the general sign-making industry, but commercial printers and copy shops as well.”
Fujifilm is another major player that has invested in the potential of UV, with the release of the Vybrant F1600, a 1.6m roll-to-roll device featuring the firm’s patented FUZE hybrid UV ink technology.
(Above and below) Mike Battersby, large-format marketing manager at Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, says the Vybrant F1600 is a highly-effective roll-to-roll platform that can increases the competitiveness of sign-makers
Making its debut at FESPA Digital 2014, the Vybrant is one of the newest machines to spring into the wide-format roll-to-roll market; Mike Battersby, large-format marketing manager at Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, comments: “The Vybrant F1600 is a highly-effective roll-to-roll platform that increases the competitiveness of small and medium large-format printers.
“Fujifilm’s FUZE technology integrates the unique benefits offered by UV chemistry with an eco-solvent carrier. The durability, flexibility, and high-gloss finish print produced by the Vybrant F1600 will help companies to take their production performance to the next level and provide customers with quick turnaround jobs.”
The durability, flexibility, and high-gloss finish print produced by the Vybrant F1600 will help companies to take their production performance to the next level and provide customers with quick turnaround jobs”
Cool it
Moving on from UV, for key competitor EFI it is developments in curing that are making all the difference. Simon Casajuana, EFI territory manager in the UK, explains: “Without doubt it is the incorporation of LEDs and EFI’s renowned ‘cool curing’ technology that is setting the company apart from other manufacturers involved in the design and production of dedicated roll-fed printers.
“Following the success of its LED printing in the combination flatbed and roll-to-roll sector, with around 250 units now sold world-wide, the use of this expertise is now proving itself for all users who want to reduce production costs by lowering energy requirements and have faster start-up times without having to wait for curing lamps to reach operating temperature.
“As well as maintaining consistent performance from LED lamps, the printers’ ability to be used on thin and sensitive materials is particularly applicable in roll-fed applications and flexible media.”
He continues: “EFI’s LED printers are setting a new standard in low cost of ownership, combined with versatility, and removing the hazardous elements that can be encountered when mercury arc technology is employed. There are no VOCs or other unwanted properties involved, and users report that their ink consumption has dropped while their productivity is showing a marked upsurge.”
(Above and below) Simon Casajuana, EFI territory manager in the UK, believes it is the incorporation of LEDs and EFI’s ‘cool curing’ technology that is setting the company apart from other manufacturers
According to EFI, the VUTEk is currently the only printer range that offers a 3.2m production machine that provides true combination features for rigid and flexible materials. Nonetheless, the demand for a dedicated roll-fed option is rising and, as a result, EFI’s portfolio of wide-format printers now includes an LED option to cover all requirements.
Indeed, as Casajuana points out with reference to combination flatbed and roll-to-roll printers, versatility and flexibility is key to the modern sign-maker. This is where Roland DG is focussing its efforts, providing machines that offer access to the broadest range of applications, according to business manager of sign and graphics, Rob Goleniowski.
He continues: “Our VersaCAMM VS-i print and cut series, introduced towards the end of 2013, is a great example of exactly this. Print and cut technology offers huge flexibility, and when combined with the ability to print with white, light black, and metallic inks, the VS-i series, like all Roland DG machines, can create stunning results.
“This is a very dynamic market, and demand for wide-format technology remains very strong right across the board, in the core print and signage markets and newer sectors such as the design, advertising, and packaging industries. Again, it is the inherent flexibility of the wide technology and the wide range of possible applications that is driving this demand, offering multiple industries the opportunity to embrace wide-format technology for a comparatively modest level of investment.”
Worn-out or pre-loved?
Whilst Goleniowski may suggest that a new roll-to-roll machine can be acquired with only a modest investment, the cost will still be far greater than purchasing kit from the booming second-hand market.
Indeed, it is testament to the build quality of these machines that this pre-owned market is doing so well, something de la Roche of Hybrid Services picks up on.
“Mimaki machines are built to last and so, naturally, there is a buoyant second hand market,” he affirms, going on to add: “However, the long and comprehensive warranty and impressive service package from a new Mimaki gives peace of mind, ease of budgeting, and guaranteed quality of output. There’s also a need for print providers to retain a competitive edge, and part of that is investing in the latest technology, which will bring greater production capabilities and make them more attractive to customers.
O Factoid: The second-hand wide-format printer market is growing year-on-year. This has created a great deal of emphasis on the extent of the warranty each manufacturer offers, in order to persuade customers to buy new. O
“It’s hard to stand out from the crowd if you’re not able to offer an up-to-date and comprehensive printing service,” he concludes.
This is the argument touted by all the major manufactures; McMullin of Epson UK echoes de la Roche as he states: “Second-hand machinery is old technology and not covered by warranty and, in the case of roll-to-roll inkjet printers, is not really a sound idea if you want to remain competitive. Each new generation of inkjet printer brings new levels of quality, productivity and flexibility. Those making the investment will soon reap the rewards.”
“It’s a very competitive market,” he continues, adding: “There are lots of brands and models to choose from and prices are keen. It’s certainly a buyer’s market and they can choose the very best solution to fit their business. However, by making the printer, long-life printheads, and ink, and providing first rate warranty and support, Epson is in a very strong position.”
Barring an unprecedented techno-logical innovation or natural disaster, roll-fed technology is all set to continue to grow in popularity across all types of applications where flexible materials are required. As EFI’s Casajuana puts it, roll-to-roll is the bread-and-butter output of many print-service-providers. He concludes by pointing to present day UV-curable and LED inks that have become sophisticated in terms of formulation, adhesion, and durability, providing conformability and elasticity formerly not available.
As a result, he predicts the future for roll-to-roll technology will grow faster than any other area in the wide-format sector, making it well worth keeping half an eye fixed on this core part of your business.
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