Fujifilm displayed an extensive array of its mid-range and high-end printing platforms at FESPA 2015 (Cologne, May 18th – 22nd). On its stand (S9 – Hall 6), Fujifilm demonstrated the latest advancements in its wide format portfolio and showcasing how print service providers can more easily gain access to scaleable, high end platforms that can grow with their business, thanks to the introduction of the Inca Onset R40LT.
Visitors to the stand saw the versatile and scaleable configuration of the popular Inca Onset R40i platform, with the entry-level Onset R40LT providing the ability to scale up from a four-channel, 265 m2/hr device up to an eight-channel 400m2/hr printer with a variety of colour configurations. This gives users a highly flexible machine that can grow with their business and protect their investment in the long-term.
The full-width array Onset R40LT is a future-proof and cost-effective wide format flatbed printer targeted at print service providers that are considering a standard mid-range digital flatbed machine. Making its first appearance at FESPA, the printer is distinguished by a more user-friendly interface and guarantees high quality results with no banding at higher throughput speeds than scanning head technology.
The Onset R40LT model starts as a manual 3.14 x 1.6m (123.6in x 63in) full-width array flatbed printer and is capable of printing onto substrates up to 50mm (2in) thick at speeds equivalent to 40 full-bed sheets/hr. The printer has all the intelligent design features of the existing Onset R40i, including 14 picolitre Fujifilm Dimatix Spectra printheads, a UV sensor system and mechanical substrate height detectors, all of which maintain productivity, quality and reliability.
Fujifilm is demonstrated a new 25-zone vacuum table developed for the Onset platform and the new Uvijet OW ink, which is designed to facilitate the shift from PVC to polypropylene materials without compromising on quality and performance. All Uvijet OW inks, currently available as CMYK, Lc, Lm and Orange, deliver a high gloss finish and cure effectively at the fastest Onset print modes to ensure maximum productivity and excellent print appearance. The inks also provide superior resistance to post print processes such as cutting, creasing and routing.
Also featured prominently on the stand are models from Fujifilm’s renowned Acuity range, including the Acuity F, Acuity Advance Select and Acuity LED 1600. Designed to meet the requirements of print service providers who have a high demand for near-photographic image quality on rigid media, the Acuity F prints at speeds of up to 155 m2/hr and is available as a 6 or 7 channel model. The Acuity Advance Select is a versatile UV printer with 4, 6 or 8 colour channels including white and clear options. It produces near-photographic quality print at up to 32.8m2/hr on a wide range of display and signage materials. Finally, the Acuity LED 1600 is an established hybrid roll-fed printer featuring a low-energy LED curing system, and is suitable for rigid and very thin flexible materials.
The Vybrant F1600 was also showcased at FESPA 2015. A four colour, 1.6m roll-to-roll device with a productivity of up to 18 m2/hr, it is ideal for printing vinyl and other flexible materials to create indoor or outdoor applications where durability and quick delivery times are essential. The Vybrant F1600 features Fujifilm’s patented FUZETM hybrid UV ink technology, which can improve the efficiency of a large format production environment.
Fujifilm highlighted its commitment to developing solutions for the industrial sector by demonstrating its unique Uvijet KV ink. Used in conjunction with the Acuity Advance Select, the Uvijet KV has outstanding elongation properties of up to 1000% when heat formed, making it perfect for short run and one-off thermoforming applications.
Finally, Fujifilm demonstrated XMF Producer. Part of a new addition to the XMF Print Production Solutions suite, this software allows printers to centralise, automate and pre-flight job layouts for production on mid-range and high-end flatbed platforms such as the Onset and Acuity. Especially beneficial for high volume output, XMF Producer uses a template approach to manage variable data, automatically arranging jobs over multiple beds once they have been pre-flight checked. The software outputs hundreds of bed-sized layouts that can be printed via any RIP in the production environment. In addition to the automation and speed benefits that XMF Producer delivers, its centralised function within a mixed device environment ensures production consistency.
Tudor Morgan, systems marketing manager – high end at Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, comments: “FESPA 2015 is the perfect platform to showcase how our wide format portfolio is continuously expanding to suit print service providers of all sizes. With the launch of Onset R40LT, printers can now invest in a highly scaleable and productive mid-range printer that can grow with their business, while the ongoing developments of the Acuity devices in combination with UV inks demonstrate the versatility of UV inkjet systems and the variety of applications they can produce.” He concludes: “Visitors should not miss the opportunity to see our comprehensive and diverse product range that meets the needs of many different printers across the sign & display and light industrial sectors.”
