There may be seemingly no stopping the runaway prepare that’s wide-format print. With digital print know-how persevering with to evolve and producers bringing new and modern options to market at an everyday charge, these seeking to broaden and develop on this sector are backed strongly by new equipment.
Improvement this 12 months has stepped up a notch, with some producers opting to make use of the 2 main worldwide print occasions – the FESPA World Print Expo and drupa – as platforms to launch their newest options to the market. With a mixed world viewers in extra of 100,000, it’s simple to see why they elected to take action.
Right here, SignLink takes a better take a look at a number of the newest improvements within the wide-format print market and the way these new applied sciences and developments may assist signage firms proceed to succeed.
Revolutionary Expertise
Among the many launches which have drawn vital curiosity in latest months is the brand new Acuity Triton, introduced by Fujifilm on the primary day of drupa. Utilizing the producer’s ‘AQUAFUZE’ patented, water-based ink know-how, the Acuity Triton measures 1.6m broad.
Upon launching the machine, Fujifilm says the Acuity Triton brings collectively two titans of the wide-format inkjet {industry}. The precise {hardware} is manufactured in Japan by Mutoh, whereas the AQUAFUZE ink has been developed and produced by Fujifilm. The first purpose of this collaboration is to assist clients with work throughout a variety of functions.
Specializing in the AQUAFUZE know-how, Fujifilm says this meets a “multitude” of market necessities by combining the advantages of UV LED and water-based inkjet. Stand-out factors embody low-energy, low temperature drying in comparison with conventional water-based print techniques, whereas the producer additionally says it supplies glorious adhesion to a variety of media with out the necessity for a pre-coat primer or optimiser.
Fujifilm developed the Acuity Triton in partnership with Mutoh
Utilizing these inks, Fujifilm provides, means all printed supplies have a skinny movie, which is scratch-resistant and doesn’t require a high coat. As well as, they’re low-odour and compliant with a bunch of security measures, whereas clients additionally profit from jetting stability by means of diminished nozzle blocking as a consequence of low temperature drying.
“In a saturated market, it was excessive time a revolutionary know-how broke into this area to supply wide-format print firms an actual differentiator in productiveness and all-round efficiency, and this with sustainability in thoughts,” Fujifilm says.
“We imagine this breakthrough know-how is simply the step ahead the print {industry} wants. It is a first step of Fujifilm to ascertain a brand new WFIJ inkjet ink customary out there.”
This isn’t the one new innovation Mutoh has been engaged on. Shortly after drupa, the producer launched a brand new digital printer within the type of the HydrAton 1642. This roll-to-roll printer, just like the Acuity Triton, integrates water-based UV know-how.
Measuring 64″ broad, the HydrAton 1642 represents a brand new know-how section for Mutoh, boasting print/dry know-how. It additionally includes a distinctive ink movie formation course of on the printed media that pulls on the partnership with Fujifilm and its AQUAFUZE ink.
With two AccuFine piezo drop-on-demand printheads, the HydrAton 1642 can print on a bunch of substrates without having a pre-coat primer or optimiser. Substrate choices open to customers embody paper, artificial materials, technical materials, technical textiles, and heat-sensitive eco-friendly substrates.
By the way, Mutoh exhibited a number of merchandise from its wide-format, direct-to-shape, and braille ranges at this 12 months’s drupa together with the XpertJet 1462UF, the ValueJet 628MP, and the XpertJet 1682SR Professional.
Setting New Requirements
One other main producer making strikes in and round drupa was Epson, which, only a few days earlier than the worldwide occasion kicked off, introduced particulars of its new 76-inch industrial dye-sublimation printer with an non-compulsory Jumbo Roll, developed with high-demand textile manufacturing in thoughts.
The SureColor SC-F11000 and SC-F11000H are being billed as appropriate for functions in style, sportswear, residence furnishings, and delicate signage with excessive productiveness, velocity, high quality, and reliability being its core promoting factors, in response to Epson.
Epson says the SC-F11000H specifically has been designed for max up-time, pushed by an non-compulsory Jumbo Roll. This innovation allows each steady manufacturing and diminished downtime, with the printer needing much less frequent media modifications than regular. The machine additionally runs with Epson printheads, ink, and EdgePrint Professional software program.
Epson’s new SC-F11000H is on the market with an non-compulsory Jumbo Roll
With reference to ink, the brand new printer presents a CMYK ink configuration and in addition contains the addition of one among three ink units: orange and violet, fluorescent yellow and fluorescent pink, or mild cyan and lightweight magenta, which Epson says opens up much more choices for customers in relation to taking over new work and getting into different markets.
Phil McMullin, head of gross sales for industrial and industrial at Epson UK, feedback: “Within the dye-sublimation sector, clients demand quick turnaround instances, constant efficiency, high-quality output, and reliability.
“With these necessities in thoughts, we’ve developed an industrial-level dye-sublimation printer that, we imagine, units new requirements. The SC-F11000 presents the best throughput of all Epson LFPs and is supplied with 4 PrecisionCore Micro TFP printheads and a ‘sizzling swap’ bulk ink resolution that’s designed to maintain companies operating.”
Addressing Developments
As for different developments inside the wide-format market, it’s value mentioning HP, which detailed a number of new improvements at drupa 2024. Amongst these was a brand new, 10L high-capacity ink accent, designed particularly for the HP Latex 2700 printer.
In accordance with HP, this modular and upgradeable resolution opens up alternatives for higher-volume print companies. HP says it does this by addressing excessive operating prices to the following stage, decreasing prices whereas concurrently growing productiveness for the consumer.
Tying in with this can be a sustainability profit for customers. The ink accent’s compatibility with the HP Latex 2700 eliminates the necessity to discard or exchange current gear. As such, HP says this reduces waste, with customers being able to transition to greater quantity printing capabilities with out compromising on sustainability and incurring pointless prices.
Additionally new from HP at drupa have been updates to its Stay Manufacturing software program, which permits customers, primarily small- to medium-sized print service suppliers, to remotely handle their end-to-end workflow. As set out by HP at drupa, developments right here embody upgrades to Design & eCommerce software program, with HP including that the brand new functionalities broaden compatibility to a wider vary of internet sites and assist on-demand quotations.
“The {industry} is presently formed by three fundamental tendencies: the growing demand for faster turnaround instances; the necessity for streamlined printing workflows; and a rising name for sustainable merchandise,” says Daniel Martinez, world head and common supervisor of HP Giant-Format.
We’re responding by growing and launching merchandise and options that aren’t solely beautiful and streamlined but additionally sustainable
“We’re responding by growing and launching merchandise and options that aren’t solely beautiful and streamlined but additionally sustainable. Our bulletins at drupa, together with the brand new high-capacity 10L ink accent for the HP LF Latex 2700 printer, along with an industry-first suite of software program options Stay Manufacturing, Design & eCommerce, and Be taught Premium, cater particularly to those wants.”
Tangible Upgrades
Additionally making strikes this 12 months with new options is Mimaki, with Hybrid Providers, its unique UK and Eire distributor, launching three new merchandise within the UK market again in February. The triple launch comprised two LED UV printers and a brand new direct-to-film machine, with Hybrid saying the units provide “tangible upgrades and advantages over options”.
The primary new mannequin is the UCJV330-160 LED UV built-in printer/cutter, the most recent addition to the 330 Collection. In accordance with Mimaki, this builds on the success of the eco-solvent and dye-sublimation fashions, with the brand new 1.6m-wide machine incorporating white and clear into its quick-drying ink set.
This, Mimaki says, means it might print high-quality pictures on conventional media used for out of doors signal and graphics functions, in addition to translucent, clear, and colored supplies reminiscent of PET, polyurethane and different movies, textiles together with lightbox materials, and uncoated paper.
The UCJV330-160 LED UV is one among three new machines from Mimaki this 12 months
As well as, as an built-in printer/cutter, the UCJV330-160 is supplied with options for contour reducing to ship stickers, decals and labels.
Additionally new from Mimaki is the UJV100-160Plus LED UV printer, which shares numerous options with its sister UCJV330-160 mannequin. This contains the flexibility to provide high-quality print on a variety of supplies and the incorporation of white and clear inks.
Factoid: Mimaki’s TxF300-75 is its quickest direct-to-film printer, providing 3 times the productiveness because the TxF150-75 launch mannequin
The third new machine from Mimaki comes within the type of the TxF300-75, the producer’s quickest direct-to-film printer thus far. This machine presents 3 times the productiveness because the TxF150-75 launch mannequin, with Mimaki saying that this new machine continues its deal with delivering a steady, dependable, and high-quality resolution, with the mannequin together with a two-year guarantee as customary.
Excessive-end Options
We conclude our round-up with Canon, which additionally had a busy drupa after launching a number of new machines earlier within the 12 months. The producer says each the imagePROGRAF GP sequence and imagePROGRAF PRO sequence have been created to be used in high-end manufacturing.
(Above & beneath) Canon launched its imagePROGRAF GP sequence and imagePROGRAF PRO sequence this 12 months
The seven-colour imagePROGRAF is focused at industrial and in-house service suppliers producing functions reminiscent of high-quality posters and graphic arts. Three fashions are on provide on this vary: the 60”/1524mm imagePROGRAF GP-6600s, the 44”/1118mm GP-4600S, and the 24”/610mm GP-2600S. Mathew Faulkner, EMEA director of promoting and innovation for the wide-format printing group at Canon Europe, feedback: “With the launch of the brand new imagePROGRAF GP sequence, we’re addressing the wants of the high-end, premium poster market.”
“With picture sturdiness additionally crucial for the high-end poster market, any output printed on the brand new imagePROGRAF GP units shall be each very scratch- and light-resistant, serving to to protect its longevity and worth. And with the improved media dealing with and elevated automation of the sequence, we’ve additionally made it extra productive and simpler to make use of.”
As for the imagePROGRAF PRO, Canon says that is extra suited to use within the pictures and high quality artwork markets. The imagePROGRAF PRO sequence contains the 60”/1524mm imagePROGRAF PRO-6600, the 44”/1118mm PRO-4600, and the 24”/610mm PRO-2600.
All the new printers use a brand new pigment ink set known as Lucia Professional II, which Canon says can print on A0 dimension posters on uncoated paper inside 48 seconds, with an expanded gamut of colors.
Choices on this ink set embody orange and gray, whereas the color gamut reproducible by the imagePROGRAF GP sequence can precisely hit 96% of the Pantone Method Information Stable Coated pattern e-book.
We’ve raised the bar for print high quality in addition to considerably growing picture robustness when it comes to mild and abrasion resistance
“We’ve raised the bar for print high quality in addition to considerably growing picture robustness when it comes to mild and abrasion resistance, which is essential for high quality artwork printers {and professional} photographers,” Faulkner provides.
Whereas there may be lots to think about on this round-up, the truth is that there have been loads of different new choices arriving on the wide-format market in 2024, with extra set to comply with within the coming weeks and months. Look out for half two of this sequence later within the 12 months for the most recent updates!
