“We are thrilled to unveil our transformed and enhanced inkjet printer portfolio, where proven wide-format inkjet technology meets the power of three brand-new beasts,” says Arnaud Calleja, vice-president, Digital Printing Solutions at Agfa. “Our overarching ‘Powerful by Nature’ portfolio theme emphasizes that the performance of our printers stems from the way they have been designed. Whatever environment a printing company operates in, whatever its markets or applications, whether seeking high productivity, quality or versatility, there’s an Agfa printer that will deliver impressive results and give their business a boost.”

The following inkjet printers have made their global debut.

Jeti Condor RTR5200 HS 
The Jeti Condor RTR5200 is the latest addition to Agfa’s inkjet printer lineup. This roll-to-roll inkjet printer with a 5.2-m wingspan can print up to 672 m²/h. The Condor handles a wide variety of flexible substrates at up to three rolls simultaneously. It is field-upgradable with light colours and features white and varnish for increased design and application options

Jeti Bronco H3300 S 
The hybrid Jeti Bronco H3300 is 3.3 m high-end UV LED inkjet printer that prints a variety of sign and display jobs in six colours plus white, with optional primer. It offers continuous board feeding as well as independent dual-roll printing. In the first stage, the Bronco will be available with two rows of print heads. However, its horsepower is field-upgradable to a four-row version.

Anapurna Ciervo H3200 
Since the introduction of the first Anapurna over 20 years ago, the family has kept evolving. The new 3.2 hybrid Ciervo brings enhanced print quality and a much higher productivity than its predecessor – boasting an almost 70 per cent increase in printing speed in production mode. The continuous board feeding capacity enables printing on rigid materials, at up to four boards simultaneously.

For the first time in North America, Fujifilm will be showcasing its new mid-sized Acuity Prime Hybrid printer, specifically developed for wide format printing on a variety of substrates. The inkjet printer is a mid-range LED UV wide format press capable of printing both rigid and roll substrates. It allows for printing on flexible and rigid material up to 2 in. thick and roll media up to 6.5 ft wide. It has the ability to print up to 1,518 sf an hour.

“The ISA International Sign Expo is a must-attend event for graphics professionals, and we’re very eager to engage with creative sign professionals and show our latest innovations,” said Hidetoshi “Toshi” Kino, general manager, Fujifilm North America, Graphic Communication Division. “ISA and Fujifilm share a unique fun fact: we’re both celebrating milestone anniversaries this year, with ISA touting 80 years, and Fujifilm celebrating 90 years of excellence and innovation. Something else we have in common is our strong commitment to this industry, a tradition we look forward to continuing.”

“Both the BD-8 and BY-20 are small enough to fit on your desk, yet they’re capable of doing very big things,” said Roland DGA’s product manager of digital print, Daniel Valade. “Plus, they are priced to suit the budgets and workflows of start-ups, smaller print shops, retail stores, and home-based businesses. The addition of these advanced devices to our VersaStudio lineup complements the series’ existing selection of compact, powerful inkjet printers, cutters, engravers, metal printers, and foil transfer devices, expanding the creative options for our customers.”

The BD-8 is capable of printing on substrates and three-dimensional objects, up to A5 size and 4 in. (102 mm) in height. With a BD-8, you can produce a wide range of items, including customized smartphone cases, notebooks, and cosmetic items. The BD-8 uses EUV5 inks that are available in CMYK and White.

The BY-20 desktop direct-to-film system lets you produce customized apparel and accessories.

This printer offers a larger bed size, up to three rows of industrial printheads for maximum productivity, an electromagnetic carriage drive system as well as field-upgradeability. It offers up to 1800 dpi print resolution and speeds up to 3,875 sf/h.

Jim Peterson, COO and founding partner, Vanguard Digital North America, said, “The VK3220T-HS is the culmination of years of technological advancements and our response to the demands of the market. We are dedicated to delivering the best printers available, and through our innovation and commitment to our customers, we have created the new benchmark for speed and quality, with a focus on productivity and efficiency. The VK3220T-HS symbolizes the start of a new chapter for Vanguard Digital, and we are so proud to share it with the North American market.”

The VK3220T-HS can print on nearly any substrate up to 4 in. thick and is driven by an electromagnetic drive. Other features include auto height detection, one-touch pin registration, front-to-back and back-to-front printing, water-cooled LED curing technology, and ionization bars.

“The launch of Roland DG’s first TrueVIS in 2016 ushered in a new era of image quality, productivity, dependability, and ease of use,” said Roland DGA president Amado Lara. “It quickly became apparent to print professionals around the globe that TrueVIS technology would allow them to take their graphics production to a higher level. Now, we’ve expanded our award-winning product line to accommodate ever-changing consumer demand and the diversifying roles of print professionals. That’s what TrueVIS is all about – increasing the options available to those who demand the best, so they can choose the perfect solution for their specific applications and business needs.”

The TrueVIS family now includes models that use three different ink types, resin, UV, and eco-solvent. Like the TrueVIS VG3 and SG3 eco-solvent printer/cutters, the new AP-640 resin printer and LG Series UV printer/cutters are equipped with 7-in. touchscreen control panels.

The TrueVIS AP-640 resin printer is suitable for a range of applications, including wall décor, indoor signs, retail displays, stickers and decals, banners and posters, and vehicle wraps.

The LG-300, LG-540, and LG-640 models are professional-level UV printer/cutters featuring two staggered printheads, print speeds of up to 343 sqft/hr. in draft mode, wide-gamut EUV5 inks with new orange and red options, and new UV lamps.

COVID-19 has changed a lot within the printing industry and many new applications, even a new category—social distancing signage—have evolved. The latest developments at key manufacturers, such as Canon, Epson, HP, Mimaki, Roland DG, Konica Minolta, and Agfa are all aimed at driving new business opportunities for PSPs. Predicted to reach a volume of USD11.2 billion by 2025 (Markets and Markets), the wide-format printing market is mature, but it has certainly not yet reached its heyday.

Hand-painted signage was always a rare sight and is even more so nowadays. Developments in digital technologies, starting with the first digital wide-format printer introduced in 1999, have since accelerated and come a long way. Even so, for PSPs today there are more and more new feats to be accomplished as client-demand increases for more surprising, more individual means of communication, faster turnaround and for even more applications to be created. You could say, in this sense, inkjet has no limit.

While long print runs are still more viable overall on analogue machinery, they are not being ordered as often as in former times. The digital transition means more and more applications will become digital and this itself leads to highly specialized wide and super wide printers. Such printers can deal with traditional applications, but, more interestingly, they enable innovative PSPs to showcase their ability to cater for new and unexpected market-niche jobs, as well as viably produce short runs, personalized and customized projects—even one-offs—that help brand owners to do things not previously possible so that their marketing efforts reach their full potential.

Sustainability

Another big growth factor in this sector is, of course, the environmental agenda. As the world tries to reduce its negative climate impact, printer manufacturers, PSPs and clients are all considering how they can contribute to the environmental imperative. The global pandemic has accelerated these client-driven requirements. Many brands are willing to pay the extra dollar to obtain a more sustainable product. This trend will continue and is likely to be reinforced by new regulations.

Wide- and super wide-format printers have been mainly developed to cater to the signage, advertising, marketing, and communications industries. However, they can also make an entrance or even a slight dent in other markets, thanks to their versatility, which enables certain (mainly short run) jobs within the commercial, packaging and label industries, as well as proofing jobs later to be carried out on analogue machinery. Some can even make forays into areas formerly covered by lithographic equipment such as solar, printed electronics, RFID, and all kinds of conductive products.

Digital printing enables PSPs to viably produce short runs, personalized and customized projects. Photo © 3d mural wallpaper

Diverse applications

For the digital printing community and those considering entering the large-format market, it is important to understand this market is based on a myriad of unique applications requiring specialized know-how. The list is long and varied, be it vehicle wraps, posters, art, interior or exterior signage, PoP and PoS, decor printing, directional way-finding, home furnishings, wallpapers, murals, displays, event and floor graphics, or one-off signage from a large order that must be customized to fit the exact location where it will be installed (e.g. bus stops with specific directions, info or offers). Digital printing enables cost-effective, fast turnaround of orders while at the same time offering environmentally friendly solutions with no or next-to-no waste. Additionally, it is starting to make inroads into the industrial printing sector, and there is no sign yet that it is slowing down.

Social distancing signage as a new category within the wide-format sector developed rapidly during the pandemic. In many cases it meant and still means that certain jobs must be produced immediately at short lead times, quite often with regional or individual customization. Those kinds of jobs will continue to be in demand for some time as the world battles the SARS-COV-2 virus and subvariants.

Even the individual home consumer is not excluded or overlooked when it comes to digital printing applications. PSPs already offer web-based order portals—the so-called online print services—not only for companies, advertising agencies etc., but also for the end consumer who can order individual one-off prints, such as murals, posters, wallpapers, and floor graphics.

Printers are also stretching their own boundaries within the specific area of embellishment, traditionally referred to as the finishing sector. Options include matt, gloss, haptic surface, spot colouring, digital embossing, cutting, and cross-cutting. Nowadays it is not an issue as many PSPs have embraced these abilities.

Within the digital wide-format printing market and distinct from the printer’s very own abilities, inks and consumables are playing another decisive role. Should it be UV or UV LED, aqueous, latex, solvent or even pigment inks? Here the context of the application and its use will decide the ink.

The biggest advantage of a wide or super wide digital printer lies is in its application versatility whether in terms of customization, personalization, individualization (when still viable and cost effective) and its efficiency, all together delivering a final customer impact that conventional technologies cannot achieve.

The boundaries of what digital wide- and super wide-format printing can do is being pushed constantly. The market is ripe for innovation, new applications and new machinery with associated technological enhancements in speed, colours, inks and substrates.  

Sabine Slaughter is a consultant who works closely with printer manufacturers, brand owners and PSPs. This article was originally published as part of Drupa’s Essentials of Print Series. An edited version of this article originally appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of PrintAction.

What was a new business opportunity has become a staple portfolio addition for many print service providers (PSPs). They have already successfully expanded into wide-format applications ranging from wall and window graphics to point of purchase and signage.

However, the report goes on to say not all the opportunities have reached maturity and there are still some exciting areas to be explored.

One was soft signage – something only 11 per cent of respondents had added. Others were specialty item printing and direct to garment printing.

Another was the gradual return to pre-pandemic demand volumes prompting PSPs to send work out that could in fact be easily managed through investment in additional capabilities.

Growth in the worldwide large-format printer market was something Shingetsu Research was bullish about as I shared in this blog. It predicted a CAGR of 5.4 per cent from 2021 to 2027 and expected it to reach $11.4 billion by 2027 from $8.8 billion in 2020.

When considering current markets where demand is buoyant, or how to respond to any predicted uplift, it is important to evaluate what technology developments can offer and how the right systems and solutions can be vital to success.

The latest market introductions come with some interesting business winning enhancements. They include:

Hybrid technology

With flatbed and roll-fed printing capabilities in an all-in-one system PSPs can create a diverse range of applications. Some solutions service wide format’s core business of traditional applications such as indoor and outdoor signage, point of purchase, vehicle wraps, posters, art, event, and floor graphics, and décor such as wallpaper. They can also be effectively used in other markets such as short run jobs in commercial, packaging, label, and industrial sectors.

Substrate versatility

Substrate flexibility is at the heart of production versatility and enables the completion of creative applications in advertising, packaging, and textile fields. It can also help operations expand into new and emerging market segments like vehicle wrapping, architectural layouts, home furnishing, and décor applications.

Inks and colours

The report from Shingetsu Research states the quality delivered by large format systems, enabling them to deliver a broader range of services, is instrumental in investment by PSPs.

Among the technology advances driving this today is the introduction of orange and green ink.  Used in combination with process colours to extend the colour gamut, or directly as a spot colour, they allow a far greater number of colours to be accurately reproduced.

Sustainable accreditation

Aside from digital systems producing only the printed volume required, which minimizes waste and energy expenditure, manufacturers have also focused on increasing the sustainability of their solutions. Among them is latex ink that combines the ability to deliver sharper, richer colour on a wider range of substrates with faster drying times and reduced energy consumption. They also help meet emissions requirements and as such are Greenguard certified.

Sander Sondaal is director, Commercial Print Sales, Graphic Communications Group, Ricoh Europe.

The VG3 and SG3 printer/cutters are suitable for a wide range of applications, including signs and banners, window graphics, labels, decals, floor graphics, vehicle graphics, interior décor, and heat transfer apparel. In addition to enabling users to optimize production, they offer dynamic ink configurations, exact colour targeting, and unsurpassed print-and-cut accuracy. Both series incorporate user-focused improvements based on feedback from previous generation TrueVIS users for even greater overall performance.

“When developing these next-generation TrueVIS printer/cutters, our goal was to take our award-winning inkjets – machines that were already immensely popular – and make them even better,” said Daniel Valade, Roland DGA product manager of digital print. “The VG3 Series models – our flagship printer/cutters – are designed to satisfy the most demanding print professionals, while the affordable SG3 Series puts TrueVIS performance, versatility, and dependability within reach of start-up and growing print businesses.”

In fact, global consultancy Shingetsu Research predicts a CAGR of 5.4 per cent from 2021 to 2027 for the worldwide large-format printer market. It expects it to reach $11.4 billion by 2027 from $8.8 billion in 2020.

Driving this is greater adoption in the advertising, packaging, and textile industries as well as expansion into new and emerging market segments like vehicle wrap, architectural layouts, home furnishing, and décor applications.

This was reflected by a two per cent worldwide lift in large-format printer shipments, according to IDC. It reported the market returned to pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2021.

There are five reasons why large -format has proven to be so resilient.

1. Communication

It was the first technology that businesses and institutions pivoted to when the pandemic hit. It was used to quickly explain and identify what safety precautions to take, where to stand and even where to sanitize hands. It allowed print service providers to develop a new range of products.

2. Quality

The report from Shingetsu Research states the quality delivered by large-format systems is instrumental in print operations investing in the technology to help them deliver a broader range of services. The ability to produce high quality images allows specific detail to be shown in an engaging format.

3. Quantity flexibility

Production runs of one to many can readily and cost effectively be produced on wide-format systems. However, it is worth noting that Keypoint Intelligence stated that, while there are a lot of different products and run lengths possible, the top line offerings – banners, signs, window graphics, decals, and posters – haven’t changed much regardless of the economic conditions. It found profitability remained strong with the most produced, short run applications. They averaged a gross profit in excess of 50 per cent.

4. Substrate versatility

With an ability to print on almost any surface, UV technology allows print service providers to offer unique products and expand their business in different ways.

5. Application diversity 

Traditional applications remain the core business for wide-format, such as indoor and outdoor signage, point of purchase, vehicle wraps, posters, art, event and floor graphics, and décor such as wallpaper. However, as previously mentioned the technology can be used effectively in other markets, thanks to its versatility. These include short run jobs within the commercial, packaging, label, and industrial sectors, as well as proofing and even printed electronics and RFID conductive products.

Wide-format digital print’s strength lies in its ability to enable cost-effective, fast turnaround of orders while at the same time offering environmentally friendly solutions with low power consumption, minimal waste and producing only what is required.

Sander Sondaal is director, Commercial Print Sales, Graphic Communications Group, Ricoh Europe.

Olympus Group was met with the challenge of aging equipment with increasing downtime and waste. After reviewing various models, they knew they needed to take advantage of the latest technology.

“We needed to have a solution for printing both rigid and roll-to-roll. This allows us to maximize the use of space within our facilities while also increasing capacity and improving turnaround speed,” said Jason Ahart, COO, Olympus Group.

With research, and a few industry references later, Olympus Group decided to buy a Durst P5 350, an all-in-one hybrid, large-format UV LED inkjet press that prints both rigid and roll materials up to 138 in. (3.5 m) wide with 1200 dpi output. The P5 350 provides various options to this platform, brings expanded roll capabilities with controlled double-sided printing, allowing for fast media changes and innovative flexibility. The P5 350 is equipped with Durst Print Workflow software and exclusive Durst Analytics, turning the printer into a production unit from day one and offering enhanced production efficiency.

“Less downtime and significant efficiency gain has been achieved with the P5 350,” said Gamalier Roche, plant manager, Olympus Group/Orlando, FL. With a Durst P5 350 at both their WI and FL locations, Olympus Group’s multi-site custom print capabilities can now produce more in-house, mitigating cost and capacity concerns, while maintaining a high level of responsiveness, turning projects faster than their competition for their customers.

Wallcoverings submitted to gain the certification were printed and tested on the 20 oz DreamScape line of wallcovering base material from Rockaway (N.J.)-based Roysons. The Type II certification is an indicator for quality, safety and durability of wallcoverings, and, unlike other Type II certifications for digital inkjet printers, EFI’s new certification covers wallcoverings produced without lamination or coating.

“These certifications should assure print service providers that the product they can produce meets all of the critical regulatory aspects of a true commercial wallcovering,” said Roy Ritchie, Jr., president of DreamScape.

EFI’s new Type II certification applies to EFI’s portfolio of UV LED roll-to-roll printers including the EFI Pro 32r+, and Vutek 3r+/5r+, D3r/D5r, and new Q3r/Q5r printers. The wallcoverings were tested for durability and tear resistance; scrubbability and washability; colour fastness; and Class A fire retardancy and safety.

Along with the Type II certification, EFI roll-to-roll digital UV LED printers also received the Class A fire rating according to the Wallcovering Association’s evaluation and ASTM E84.

“The new 500-ft roll is a game-changer for our printing partners. The new sizing means fewer interruptions of print runs for reloading, less stopping to purge and clean the printer, and more manageable time, effort, and labour per project. In our tests on 150 vs. 500-foot rolls we saw a decrease in production times by a minimum of 15 per cent,” said Jason Leonard, business development manager for Neenah.

Foxmark’s large-scale offering producing high-end interior graphics requires a powerhouse solution, and the need for faster and bigger output led the company to the EFI VUTEk 5r+ printer.

“Horsepower is always important when doing national programs,” said Foxmark CEO Richard Fox. His company, which has an additional 198-inch wide VUTEk UV roll-to-roll printer, a VUTEk FabriVU 340 disperse dye sublimation soft signage printer, and a 126-inch wide VUTEk hybrid flatbed/roll-to-roll UV LED printer, is leveraging its substantial printing strengths with Foxmark’s own online offerings to provide its customers with comprehensive, tailored solutions.

Designed to offer superior throughput with a low total cost of ownership and the most available options, the VUTEk 5r+ printer delivers premium imaging with high ink coverage, high colour density and a wide colour gamut. It operates at speeds up to 5,160 square feet per hour, and with optional white ink can print all applicable multi-layer applications fast.

These three new developments will be launched via web streaming on March 24, 2021, at swissQprint’s factory in Switzerland, with an initial event followed by two repeats. For details and registration, visit www.swissqprint.com/en/launch. swissQprint will also be exhibiting at the www.virtual.drupa from April 20 to 23, 2021, when these new developments will be showcased.

The History of Stickers Museum is a permanent installation at StickerYou: The Store that explores the history of paper and adhesives from the 1700s to the present day. Photo: StickerYou Inc.

As part of a three-dimensional brand strategy, the History of Stickers Museum showcases the history, development and influence of the adhesive sticker, spanning from the way it revolutionized the British postal system in the 1800s to inspiring street art from around the world today.

The museum moves through history starting in the 1700s, and highlights artifacts such as a UK penny black stamp from 1840, an original decal vase from the 1800s, fruit crate labels from the 1910s, Wacky Packs stickers from 1974, a vintage Velvet Underground album with an Andy Warhol-designed banana sticker on the front, and more.

The History of Stickers Museum is a permanent installation at StickerYou: The Store that explores the history of paper and adhesives from the 1700s to the present day. Photo: StickerYou Inc.

The museum features a timeline of the history of stickers, printed on an Epson SureColor S80600 printer using Treck Hall Wide Format Main Street Wall matte removable vinyl. The store’s team printed and installed decals in various shapes and sizes to provide a background for wide-format museum graphics.

StickerYou Presents: Stickers RePEELed is a permanent art installation that features hundreds of pieces of original sticker art from artists around the world. Photo: StickerYou Inc.

The Stickers: RePEELed art exhibition was curated by Dave and Holly Combs, editors of the sticker magazine Peel Magazine. The exhibition, located on the opposite side of the room as the History of Stickers Museum, examines the unifying art of stickers, bringing together hundreds of pieces of original sticker art from around the world, including artists Shepard Fairey, Rodger Beck, Robots Will Kill, Matthew Hoffman and more.

“The History of Stickers Museum and Stickers: RePEELed showcase StickerYou’s deep knowledge of stickers and the impact they can have on business and personal expression,” said StickerYou founder and CEO Andrew Witkin. “At StickerYou, we make what matters stick.”

This article was originally published in PrintAction’s 2020 Wide Format Guide.

The UBC Opera programme puts on shows for the local community each year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this tradition was put on hold in 2020. Instead, UBC Opera decided to put on a number of virtual events on Nov. 30 which involved students performing at the university’s venue and was streamed live to audiences watching from home.

Still Creek Press was tasked with producing floor graphics resembling a dirt road for the stage. The production was filmed from several levels and views, which required the graphics to be visible and look realistic from all angles.

“Essentially, we started with an empty stage. We were tasked with installing floor graphics that looked stunning and could be easily removed at the end of the performance. As stages are brightly lit, we also needed a material with a matte finish,” said the company’s wide-format manager, Bruce Lee.

Still Creek Press used Drytac SpotOn Floor 200 vinyl film to complete the project, which spanned an area of 70 feet by 90 feet (approximately 21 metres by 27 metres). Nine rolls of the Drytac film were supplied by ND Graphics to complete the project, and the graphics were printed in four days and nights on a Roland SOLJET Pro 4 XR-640 large-format printer.

“We chose Drytac SpotOn Floor 200 for a number of reasons,” said Lee. “It is super easy to apply and it can be easily removed by anyone. It also looked great under the lighting.”

The product is suitable for short-term indoor graphic applications, such as retail signage, trade show and exhibition graphics and office interiors. It can be printed on using solvent, eco-solvent, latex and UV inkjet printers. It also has no need for an overlaminate, as it has a built-in anti-slip surface.

The Still Creek Press team was able to complete the project in five hours, even with adhering to distancing rules, but according to Lee, it ordinarily would have taken two days to install.

“We weren’t the only crew there working on the stage and this meant keeping our distance from other crews and equipment. Once a section was completed, we had to switch sides with the other crew or wait until they were done their part,” said Lee. “We were able to get our part of the production done well before time, which meant those working around us had more time to finish their projects.”

The client required Warwick Printing to design, print and install 48 individual wall panels to create a mural spanning the store, but Warwick had to work around shelves of fragile stock while doing so.

The mural was designed to promote the spirits, beer and wine on sale, but also included a ‘Cheers Redcliff’ message. The installation took approximately 11 hours, including the set-up and tear-down of scaffolding, due to the team having to work around the bottles on display.

“The main challenge was figuring out how to reach the 17′ (5.2m) install height with racks up against every wall without having to empty the whole store out,” said Lee Weighill, owner of Warwick Printing. “There was not enough space for even the smallest scissor lift or boom lift and regular A-frame ladders would not get us close enough to the walls in the right position. We ended up using painters’ scaffolding and had to stack two units to get high enough, but it was still a 26″ (66cm) reach to the wall which made it a little more difficult.”

However, the project was ultimately successful. “It was a good day’s work and not one bottle was knocked to the floor!” Weighill added.

The team ran over 260 feet of Drytac ReTac Smooth 150 through its HP Latex 360 printer in order to create the mural panels. The 150μ (6 mil) white polymeric printable PVC film is coated with ReTac ultra-removable adhesive technology on one side, allowing easy installation, repositioning and removal of printed graphics from surfaces.

Over the last two years, Warwick Printing has evolved from mainly offset press commercial printing to more digital wide format work, which has helped the company reach new customers and stay successful amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The shop has pivoted to using Drytac FloorTac in its HP Latex printer to create COVID-related floor graphics, to provide marketing materials for re-opening businesses.

“We have fared pretty well so far during COVID-19,” said Weighill. “Overall business was down significantly, as much as 65 per cent in the beginning, but we have seen some major gains in our wide format and signage division during the same period. I estimate we have done more volume during the pandemic than we did in the previous year and a half.”

“The InterioJet 3300 will accelerate the transformation from analog (gravure) to digital printing in the laminated surface market,” said Tom Cloots, director, Industrial Inkjet at Agfa. “It is the ideal cost-efficient solution for medium and short production runs. “Its limited start-up time and high flexibility will enable suppliers of laminated surfaces to gain new business by responding to evolving market demands, including printing on demand and just-in-time delivery. The system allows interior decoration designers to let their creativity run free and create customized designs for every order.”

The system can print on two rolls at a time, each with a width of up to 155 cm and a weight of up to 600 kg, at speeds of up to 340 square metres per hour. The printer provides superior contrast, sharpness and colour saturation, matching typical decorative industry colour profiles. The printer features Agfa’s signature ‘Thin Ink Layer’ technology to provide low ink consumption, reducing production costs and footprint.

The InterioJet features Agfa’s Asanti workflow software, which allows for the controlling, simplifying and automating of the entire printing process, from prepress to finishing. It is also fully compatible with the latest AVA CAD CAM products.

Agfa developed dedicated water-based pigment inks for the InterioJet. These eco-friendly inks are light and waterfast, and use specific pigments to deliver a high colour coverage. They can be used for standard lamination production processes. They can be used to print wood and natural stone designs, such as marble, without surface relief, due to how thin they are once dried.

Headquartered in Ottawa, Ont., Lowe-Martin provides integrated communication solutions that span a range of products and services, including large format and sheetfed offset printing, direct mail, digital printing, direct and multi-channel marketing, online ordering, security printing and e-business solutions.

Using the latest UV flatbed printing technologies, the company can now deliver quality print on a variety of materials, ranging from rigid substrates to window clings.

The Arizona 2300 Series features a true stationary flatbed table structure and is built around the new Arizona FLOW technology, a unique vacuum technique that supports a zone-less, multi-origin table layout. FLOW offers up to 20 per cent more productivity, as it requires less masking and taping, and is supported by three-sided pneumatic registration pins to secure the substrate in place on the table. The pins also allow printing from edge to edge on the substrate, to align substrates to either the left or the right edge of the table, or both. Users can also easily and accurately print double-sided, as well as on odd-shaped, heavy, smooth or pre-cut media without using a jig.

In addition, no operator time is required for taping the media down, resulting in faster changeovers between jobs, shorter set-up times and hassle-free job switching. According to Canon, FLOW technology enables the printing on more challenging media, such as canvas, wood and glass.

The Arizona 2300 Series provides customers with the ability to print up to 1,001 square feet per hour. The automated maintenance system offers hands-free printhead maintenance and reduces downtime by restoring nozzle function in as little as 24 seconds—including white ink, which can be difficult to maintain. In addition, its high-resolution camera alignment system enables easy, quick and precise printhead alignment and flatbed table mapping.

Using Arizona Xpert, the printer offers self-learning capabilities so users can design and repeat complex, multi-layered projects. The software is equipped with machine learning capabilities to help customers when they want to print a similar application, saving them set-up time and automating the production process.

The Arizona 2300 offers UV-LED curing for 40 per cent less energy consumption than traditional curing systems and has been safety-certified by TÜV and DGUV for the North American market.

The Arizona 2300 uses less than 0.74 ml of ink per square foot on average, including maintenance. The right ink droplet size is used across each print for low ink consumption, and the series’ UV inks have been UL Greenguard Gold certified, making prints safe for use in schools and hospitals. An air filtration option is also available.

The Arizona 2300 features the award-winning VariaDot printhead technology, which offers bright white inks and a clear, glossy varnish. It also features a roll media option, which allows customers to choose even thin, heat-sensitive media, and also allows the ability to switch between rigid and flexible media jobs with no machine preparation. The Series can also be upgraded with a static suppression kit, providing active suppression of static electricity.

The printer features standard staggered dual head design to provide high quality and print speeds. It is available in four-colour (CMYK) and seven-colour (CMYK, Lc,Lm,Lk) configurations for DH21.

The XpertJet platform includes all new features designed to enhance the user experience, workflow and output quality, including new features to improve transport and printing of thinner papers. The XpertJet was designed to output various types of dye sublimation, including textile, hard surfaces, personalized products, signage and more.

New features of the XpertJet 1682WR include:

• Sleek, modern black cover design featuring easy maintenance access
• Automatic bi-directional alignment with built-in sensor
• Touch panel that only displays keys necessary for desired functions
• Internal LED lighting to easily monitor print status
• LED warning indicators for each ink cartridge slot
• Mutoh Status Monitor (MSM) to check the printer’s operation status in real time. MSM Mobile provides monitoring using a smartphone or tablet
• Media Feed Flange Design allows quick loading of media and exchanging of multiple rolls when flanges have been mounted in advance
• Hi-Torque Media Flange option for thin, lightweight papers
• Pressure Roller System to manually select and engage individual pressure rollers to minimize cockling

“We’ve kept the core components that makes Mutoh dye sub printers strong and reliable while adding new technologies that make the printer easier to use,” said Randy Anderson, product manager for Mutoh.

The XpertJet 1682WR is available now for pre-order through an authorized Mutoh reseller and will start shipping out this month.

Featuring a blockout layer that allows double-sided printing without show-through, the banners are compatible with HP Latex, low-solvent and UV-curable inks. The banners are water- and tear-resistant, and the polyester scrim reinforcement provides rip-stop benefits.

“Our media goes through a stringent testing program ensuring consistency, performance and high image quality,” said Doug McMahan, product specialist for HP Large Format Media. “These new products carry the HP brand quality, while at a low cost and complete the suite of HP Prime Banner products.”

The banners are available in the AMS region.

Roland DG’s first “print-only” model within its TrueVIS series, the VF2-640 includes a number of features from the TrueVIS VG2 series of printer/cutters, and can also produce previously unattainable colours. With VF2 comes a new TR2 green ink which, when combined with TR2 orange ink in process colours, allows for a significantly wider colour gamut. This specially formulated TR2 green ink is now available for use with the TrueVIS VG2 series.

The VF2-640 features a new True Rich Color 2 Preset, which allows users to combine vibrant colours with neutral greys, smooth gradations and natural skin tones to produce vivid, photorealistic output. The expansion of green colours in True Rich Color 2 provides additional process colours, while a Green Roland DG Color System Library with 142 newly available spot colours allows for enhanced colour matching and reproduction.

The VF2 incorporates four FlexFire print heads, which provide colour vibrancy and detail, even in high-speed modes. It also includes a new, even more stable TU4 media take-up with two modes for versatility, a newly-designed pinch roller system for simple media loading and improved tracking accuracy, and smart new media clamps that increase ease of use and streamline workflow. The VF2 is also equipped with Roland DG Mobile 2, a feature that allows test printing, cleaning and troubleshooting from a tablet or smartphone.

The VF2 can be paired with Roland DG’s GR-640 large-format cutter, or a Roland DG Pro series cutter, for the cutting of decals, labels, heat transfers and other print-and-cut applications. Print/cut data can be automatically processed by the included VersaWorks 6 RIP software, for maximum production efficiency.

The VF2-640 comes with a two-year warranty and Roland’s customer service and support.

The race will be televised on FOX at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 7, 2020. The Roland DG wrap, designed and printed by the graphics pros at the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Graphics Center, was produced on a Roland DG TrueVIS VG2-640 wide-format printer/cutter.

The team at the RCR Graphics Center exclusively use Roland DG’s wide-format inkjets to print wraps for all of the team’s race cars and support vehicles.

The new Oberon RTR3300 comes in four-colour plus white and six-colour versions. In Express mode, the Oberon RTR3300 hits 150 m²/h, while in Production mode, the Oberon reaches 85 m²/hour. The dual-roll option is capable of handling two rolls each up to 1.6 metres wide, doubling the total output.

The UV LED inks on the Oberon RTR3300 were optimized for flexible media and printing of solid colours. They obtained the highest category of Greenguard Gold certification, Agfa explains, nothing that they meet rigorous chemical emissions standards and can be used in sensitive indoor environments, such as schools or healthcare facilities. In addition to its air-cooled LED curing lamps, the Oberon RTR3300 features a water-cooled table designed to keep the printing zone at room temperature.

Thanks to a unique media loading setup, a single operator can quickly load the media, Agfa explains, adding that the smart multi-queue functionality guarantees “effortless” job planning in view of the available materials. The free fall option, which may be used to print on demand, is designed to reduce media waste. A light box next to the printing area allows for on-the-spot quality inspection of backlit prints, while a double light curtain works to ensure that jobs don’t get interrupted and media wasted, even when an operator accidentally moves into the safety zone.

Greater flexibility
Although screen printing offers similar print quality, it usually requires large minimum order quantities and tooling costs. With dye-sublimation, print service providers have greater flexibility to digitally produce one-offs at a fraction of the cost. As a result, brands can get on-demand, high-quality signage for time-sensitive promotions without having to commit to larger orders. Examples of soft signage using dye-sublimation include:

• Backlit banners, Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG) frames and lightboxes;
• Barricade and fencing covers;
• Construction hoarding;
• Fabric banners;
• Sampling counters and table covers;
• Tents and domes;
• Tension fabric displays;
• Umbrellas; and
• Window displays.

Dye-sublimated fabric can also be used to make custom products, such as pop-up retail displays or tradeshow exhibits, as the material can bend and stretch to fit any frame or structure.

Top-quality images
Instead of an inkjet printer’s individual dots and pixels, a dye-sublimation printer offers a continuous flow of colour, which produces clearer and brighter visuals.

Better durability
As the heat-sensitive inks transfer to the surface of the media, they become part of the material. Without dot or pixel patterns, the final product is more durable, as the ink doesn’t fade and the prints don’t damage easily, even after repeated uses and washes.

As a more durable product, dye-sublimation printing offers new opportunities for advertisers that want to use their products for an extended period of time. This is an especially attractive feature for brand managers looking for durable marketing products to refresh retail environments or to use as part of a long-term campaign that has multiple setups and teardowns.

With water-repellent print media and fade-resistant inks, dye-sublimated fabric can also be used to make promotional shelters (pop-up tents and domes), flags, umbrellas and outdoor media walls.

Ease of use
As the ink is embedded into the fabric rather than on the surface, dye-sublimated prints can be manipulated without the image fading or cracking.

Dye-sublimated fabric is easy to use, as it can be folded or rolled. While some print media options may need to be ironed or steamed after shipping, others – like fabric mesh – don’t crease and can be used as soon as they arrive onsite.

As practical and effective marketing products, Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG) fabric frames and lightboxes have been especially popular for retail displays and tradeshow exhibits. Due to the silicone beading, the dye-sublimated fabric print can be installed into the aluminum frame’s recessed groove easily and quickly without professional help. Claude Castonguay, Director of Research & Development at PNH Solutions, estimates that exhibitors can deduct about 25 percent from their total installation and decommission time when they use SEG fabric frames and lightboxes in their tradeshow booth compared to other finishing options, such as grommets, Velcro or pole pockets. Castonguay adds that silicone-edge beading also ensures the fabric banner remains taut, resulting in a cleaner, more professional finish.

Cost-effective
As a compact and lightweight material, dye-sublimated fabric is cost-effective, as it can be shipped in smaller packages, which helps organizations reduce their shipping, drayage and warehousing costs.

Beyond printing company names, logos and images, brand owners can mimic the look of heavier materials, such as wood or stone, using dye-sublimated fabric for their pop-up activations and tradeshow booths.

Wholesale shoe distributor Tin Shack used dye-sublimated fabric with wood panelling instead of real wood for a recent tradeshow booth campaign to reduce its shipping, drayage and warehousing costs. With a modular frame and compact materials, Tin Shack was able to fit the 10 x 20-foot tradeshow booth into two shipping crates, which helped to save on various costs throughout the job.

PNH Solutions designed, built and installed a 10 x 20-foot tradeshow booth for Tin Shack using backlit graphics (standing SEG fabric lightboxes) printed on a Durst Rhotex. Photo: PNH Solutions

Sustainability
Unlike screen printing, where large amounts of water is needed to dye the fabric, dye-sublimation doesn’t require water for dying, as the process involves turning colour into gas. As a result, dye-sublimation printing is considered the most environmentally-friendly, sustainable printing process for fabric that doesn’t contribute to waste water pollution and ground contamination.

Combined with water-based inks that are odourless and free of VOCs, dye-sublimation printing can use biodegradable polyesters as print substrates that are free of harmful substances, like heavy metals, toxic dyes, crop protection substances and carcinogenic substances, such as formaldehyde.

Conclusion
As a viable alternative to other forms of printing processes, it’s no surprise that dye-sublimation printing is growing in popularity. In addition to increased flexibility, dye-sublimated printing produces high-quality, durable and cost-effective marketing materials that are easy to manage and more sustainable to manufacture.

Katherine Hudon is Marketing Coordinator at PNH Solutions, a fully-integrated large-format print service provider and custom hardware supplier that specializes in turnkey marketing products for events, retail environments and tradeshows. Based in Montreal, Que., and Toronto, Ont., PNH completes projects all over the world.

This feature was originally published in the January/February 2020 issue of PrintAction, now available online.

Designed for efficient printing on a range of substrates, including 4 x 8-foot rigid boards weighing up to 99 pounds, the IU-1000F features 12 printheads in a staggered three-row arrangement and a four-inch carriage clearance. According to the company, the IU-1000F is ideal for printing vibrant, detailed graphics directly onto PETG, PVC board, foam board, wood, corrugated board, aluminum plate, and more.  The IU-1000F prints edge-to-edge on thin or thick boards and offers multiple speed and performance options, including a maximum speed of 1,248.6 square feet per hour in a four-colour draft mode. Printing speed for a typical 4 x 8-foot (1,220 x 2,440-mm) size rigid board averages about 35 boards per hour in draft mode (1,248.6 sqft/hr) or about 15 boards per hour in standard print mode (516 sqft/hr). In quality mode (174 sqft/hr), the IU-1000F averages about 10 boards per hour.

A total of 1,280 nozzles per printhead, along with banding and mottling prevention features, allow for high-resolution image results of up to 635 x 1,800 dpi. Exclusively developed, high-density Greenguard Gold certified UV inks in CMYK, Gloss and White cure “instantly and deliver stunning graphic results,” Roland explains, adding that 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 specialty inks to enhance their prints with textural and dimensional effects.

In addition, the IU-1000F is suitable for direct printing onto sheets of aluminum, metal and wood to create signs, décor, displays, and print-to-cut prototypes. The IU-1000F can also direct print onto sheets of leather and fabric for high-volume banner, display and décor solutions, or to canvas for creating a variety of fine art products. Users can even print graphics onto tabletops, plywood, MDF and other boards to create decorated furniture.

Roland’s IU-1000F boasts many features and functions designed to maximize efficiency and ensure optimum overall performance. Variable dot technology allows for the simultaneous firing of droplets in three sizes to create high-definition images, smooth gradations and solid colour output. For easy media handling and print stability, the IU-1000F is equipped with a variable zone vacuum that can be applied to four different sections of the flatbed to maximize air cushion in specific areas. Additionally, the IU-1000F is equipped with specially designed media alignment pins for consistent media placement of multiple boards and double-sided panels.

Other IU-1000F features include a media ionizer to ensure ink-firing accuracy on materials like corrugated board that generated a lot of static, a Roland Print Control Center to manage the machine’s movements, speed, voltage and head cleaning; one-touch, automated daily print head cleaning; and the ability to print on one board or multiple boards at the same time.

Its booth will highlight how Ricoh strives to empower printers to adapt and thrive: Making expanding wide-format offerings easier, pushing the boundaries of substrate versatility, creating gorgeous and precise colours, and helping deliver fast turns. All of these are top concerns for modern print buyers, who want eye-catching applications, fast, Ricoh explains. Visitors can also explore the newly available Ricoh Pro TF6250 in action. For every badge scanned during the show, Ricoh will make a charitable donation to the U.S. Wounded Warrior Project, which supports wounded military veterans and service members. There will also be special times when attendees can double their donation and be entered in a raffle for a Wounded Warrior gift basket.

The Swiss manufacturer will also present its other flatbed solutions, including its flagship flatbed printer, Nyala 3. Now available internationally, the UV inkjet printer delivers a maximum print width of 3.4 metres and features a lightbox next to the printing area for on-the-spot inspection of backlit prints. Four beacon-like status indicators are affixed to the print beam, informing the operator of machine status and printing progress. For users who regularly print in parallel, swissQprint offers a dual roll option capable of handling two rolls each up to 1.6 metres wide, doubling Karibu’s productivity. The roll holders are split into two sections with each half of the shaft driven individually, which swissQprint says will help ensure optimum web tension on both rolls.

Printing United attendees can see Roland’s new TrueVIS wide-format printer/cutters in action, including the VG2 series and SG2 series inkjets. Show-goers can also get a firsthand look at other new Roland products, such as the VersaUV LEF2 series flatbed UV printers, the VersaUV LEC2-300 UV printer/cutter, the VersaEXPRESS RF-640 8-colour printer, the Texart RT-640M multifunction dye-sublimation printer, and the VersaSTUDIO BT-12 – the company’s first direct-to-garment printer. Roland’s newest engraving devices – the LV series laser engravers and the DE-3 rotary engraver – will be on display as well.
 
“We are thrilled to be exhibiting at the very first Printing United, which will be even more eventful for Roland DGA due to all the innovative new products we are showing,” said Roland DGA President Andrew Oransky. “This show will attract users from many different industries – all looking for effective solutions for their specific applications. With our expanded line of products, Roland now offers an even broader selection of tools to help this diverse group of professionals build their respective businesses.”
 
Below are brief descriptions of the new Roland products attendees can see at Printing United 2019:
 
• New TrueVIS VG2 Series Wide-Format Printer/Cutters
 
Engineered to exceed the quality and production needs of today’s most demanding professionals, the TrueVIS VG2 series offers new inks and colour modes for detailed colour reproduction, increased print/cut accuracy, graphics durability certifications from media manufacturers, and more.
 
• New TrueVIS SG2 Series Wide-Format Printer/Cutters
 
Roland’s next-generation SG2 series printer/cutters boast superior colour and cutting features without the high price tag, the company explains. The versatile and reliable inkjets are designed to help new and growing print businesses increase their product offerings and their profits.
 
• New VersaEXPRESS RF-640 8-Color Printer
 
Boasting the widest colour gamut in its class, the new VersaEXPRESS RF-640 8-colour printer offers a whole new world of colour reproduction and print quality, according to the company. It’s designed to deliver higher impact, durable graphics on a range of coated and uncoated media.
 
• New VersaUV LEF2 Series Flatbed UV Printers
 
The new VersaUV LEF2-200 and LE2-300 flatbed printers build upon the VersaUV LEF series’ ability to direct-print full-colour graphics and unique textures, including simulated embossing, onto substrates or objects up to 3.94 inches thick. Several improvements, including new features that increase efficiency, convenience and reliability, make the next-generation LEF2 flatbeds “unbeatable” for a range of product personalization and customization applications, Roland DGA says.
 
• New VersaUV LEC2-300 UV Printer/Cutter
 
With an all-new design, the streamlined 30-inch VersaUV LEC2-300 UV printer/cutter includes the features of Roland’s original LEC-300, plus increased versatility, more vibrant colour, and greater image detail, the company explains.
 
• New VersaSTUDIO BT-12 Direct-to-Garment Printer
 
The new compact VersaSTUDIO BT-12, Roland’s first direct-to-garment printer, aims to make printing directly on cotton apparel and accessories simple and cost-effective. With the BT-12, it’s easier to print full-colour graphics, including photos, logos and text, directly on T-shirts, tote-bags, interior décor items, and more.
 
• New Texart RT-640M Multifunction Dye-Sublimation Printer
 
Roland’s new Texart RT-640M – an intelligent multifunction dye-sublimation printer – gives users the freedom to print directly onto coated polyester fabrics, or to sublimation transfer paper, using the same specially-formulated Texart SBL3 inks. It simplifies dye-sublimation product for soft signage with its direct-to-textile option, while maintaining the versatility of printing to transfer paper for creating sublimated apparel, décor, rigid signage, and hard goods.
 
• New LV Series Laser Engraving Machines
 
The multi-purpose LV series engravers employ CO2 laser technology to cut out, engrave or mark on hundreds of different materials with ease and accuracy. Two different models are available, allowing users to choose the machine that best suits the size and thickness of the materials they’ll be working with. The LV series laser engravers are ideal for pairing with Roland’s VersaUV LEF and LEF2 flatbed UV printers for combined laser-cut and direct-print applications.
 
• New DE-3 Rotary Engraver
 
The new DE-3 rotary engraver continues the legacy of Roland engraving, incorporating laser-pointing technology, ethernet connectivity, automatic depth regulation, and other enhancements. Featuring several improvements for increased functionality, accuracy and easer of use, the DE-3 is suitable for a range of engraving applications ranging from signage and industrial nameplates to personalized awards and gifts.

The multi-purpose imagePROGRAF TA Series is great for posters, technical documents and designs, Canon Canada notes, adding that the new devices provide users the ability to print on water-resistant media for outdoor signage with Canon’s TD pigment ink. The company explains the TA Series uses pigment ink that can produce posters that can be used for up to 6 months outdoors – no lamination needed – when using Canon’s water-resistant media. As well, with the ability to print borderless on all paper sizes, these models help eliminate the need for manual cutting.

The TA printers also include Canon’s free poster creation software, PosterArtist Lite, allowing users to design and print professional posters. The devices also come standard with a layout software, designed to let users easily nest images, minimizing paper waste and can print directly from Microsoft Office.

With the ability to print a 24 x 36-inch document or poster in as fast as 27 seconds, on plain paper using Fast (Q5) mode, the series’ air-feeding system boasts high quality, consistent printing designed to help increase productivity by helping the paper to remain straight to reduce wrinkles and paper jams. Additionally, Canon provides an on-the-fly ink tank technology that gives users the ability to replace ink during printing, helping to reduce the amount of media and ink wasted.