The Jeti Condor RTR5200 is the latest addition to the Jeti high performance line. It is a 5.2m roll-to-roll inkjet printer, making it one of the widest in the market. Agfa claims it ‘sets the standard’ for both speed – at up to 672sqm/hr – and image quality in the roll-to-roll sector.

The Condor prints on a wide variety of flexible substrates, handling up to three rolls simultaneously. It is field-upgradable with light colours and features white and varnish inks for wider application options. The printer also features multiple media handling solutions for large and heavy rolls, and offers an ‘extensive’ range of money-, labour- and space-saving options to automate the end-to-end printing and finishing process.

On the hybrid side, the new Jeti Bronco H3300 builds on the field-tested reliability of the Tauro hardware and software. It is a 3.3m high-end UV LED inkjet printer suitable for printing a variety of sign and display jobs in six colours plus white, with an optional primer. Continuous board feeding enhances its productivity, while independent dual-roll printing allows for the simultaneous printing of differently sized rolls or media. Initially the Bronco will be available with two rows of print heads but it will be field-upgradable to a four-row version.

The latest evolution of the entry-level Anapurna range, which began life over 20 years ago, is the 3.2m hybrid Ciervo, which is pitched as a versatile printer to tackle a wide range of print jobs. The Ciervo is said to bring enhanced print quality and much higher productivity than its predecessor, offering an almost 70% increase in printing speed in production mode. It also features continuous board feeding, enabling efficient throughput of rigid materials, handling up to four boards simultaneously. 

Other members of the Agfa range now get ‘beast’ monikers, with the Onset X3 HS becoming a Grizzly, while the Tauro already had one. Agfa’s ink and industrial printing capabilities are also being highlighted at Fespa, with the decor-focused InterioJet, Alussa leather printer and high speed Inca Orca 1060 single-pass printers for the packaging market.

Arnaud Calleja, vice-president digital printing solutions at Agfa commented, ‘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. Our overarching ‘powerful by nature’ portfolio theme emphasises 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.’

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Like its predecessor, the Anapurna H3200 features a six colour-plus-white inkset and UV LED curing but both the print shuttle and print engine itself have been redesigned to achieve a significant productivity increase. The fast-firing print heads yield throughput of up to 66 sqm/hr in production mode and superior print quality on both flexible and rigid materials, according to Agfa. Additionally, the printer’s newly-implemented continuous board feeding mode enables efficient printing on rigid materials, with the capability to print up to four boards simultaneously.

The enhanced print shuttle is also said to contribute to improved image quality, particularly in darker solid tones. The Anapurna suits high-quality production across a range of applications, from uncoated rigid media like plastics to roll media such as film, vinyl, banners, canvas and coated textiles. Its GreenGuard Gold-certified inks deliver high colour vibrancy and a broad colour gamut, while Agfa’s Thin Ink Layer technology reduces ink consumption.

‘We are excited to unveil the next generation of the Anapurna H3200,’ said Philip Van der Auwera, product manager,  sign & display at Agfa. ‘Since the debut of the first Anapurna over two decades ago, the printer family has undergone multiple enhancements and expansions. Renowned for its exceptional versatility and unwavering reliability, the new version of the Anapurna H3200 now combines these attributes with a boost in productivity and improved quality. This step underscores Agfa’s commitment to innovation and delivering top-notch solutions that align with the evolving needs of our customers.’

The new model will be shown at the C!Print exhibition in Lyon, France from 6–8 February 2024, alongside the top of the range Tauro H3300 HS. It will also appear at Fespa Global Print Expo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in March 2024.

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The VersaObject MO-240 printer offers a printing area of 610 x 458mm (24 x18-in), and accommodates three-dimensional objects up to 204mm (8-in) thick. With an optional rotary axis unit, cylindrical objects such as bottles from 10 to 121mm in diameter can be printed.

Roland’s EUV5 inks include orange, red, white and gloss in addition to CMYK, expanding the colour gamut by approximately 20% compared to CMYK-only printing. The gloss ink enables gloss or matte finishes and realistic textures, including 3D embossed effects. The UV-curing inks suit a variety of materials, from soft to hard, covering plastic, paper, leather, wood, and glass and metal with the use of a primer ink.

The MO-240 features a 7-in colour touch panel for operation, an automatic cleaning function to maintain print quality, and ships withRoland’s  VersaWorks 6 Rip software. It has large print heads in a staggered layout, plus a ‘potent’ UV-LED lamp, for optimised high-speed output which here means just over 2sqm/hr. Productivity for simultaneous white printing has doubled compared to previous models, according to Roland.

Tony Miller, president of Roland DG’s global sales and marketing division, commented, ‘Our VersaObject series has been meeting the needs for small lot high-mix production in manufacturing and services with its high definition and beautiful printing. In recent years, new services such as customisation and personalisation have been attracting attention in various fields based on diversifying and individualised consumer needs, and the MO-240 with its advanced productivity will bring a high level of competitiveness to customers in these businesses.’

The company has also launched PrintAutoMate, cloud-based software aimed at standardising output operations and streamlining print workflows for businesses dealing with diverse data, media and products. It automatically converts printing data into pre-registered fixture layout data, assigns print jobs to operators, and seamlessly integrates with VersaWorks 6 Rip software, to improve efficiency and minimise errors in production.

Mr Miller added, ‘PrintAutoMate is an asset for businesses offering personalisation services, particularly in e-commerce, by automating complex printing tasks and significantly enhancing work efficiency.’

Accessible via the Premium Plan of Roland DG Connect, PrintAutoMate is offered on a 90-day free trial, inviting Roland DG inkjet users to experience the benefits of its enhanced workflow.

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UV-curable ink chemistries have been optimised for curing using mercury arc lamps for decades, so the mercury arc lamp habit is well-entrenched in the printing business. The lamps have been the workhorses of curing applications and used in a wide range of applications for many years. But times and technologies change. The good news is that we have a solid market in LED curing lamps and inks. Printers still using technologies that use mercury should be thinking about making the leap to LED. Fluorescent lamps will be around for the next couple of years, but the printing industry needs to accelerate its adoption of LED based alternatives for ink curing. The end of 2025 marks the end of exemptions for the use of mercury in products such as fluorescent lamps.

Printers have a few options, such as stockpiling replacement lamps, which quite a few companies are doing. But this ties up capital, distorts the market, and only defers the inevitable. Far more sensible is to make the transition now and to get used to the new reality. Fortunately LED lamps have several compelling attractions, in that they require barely any time to warm up and last far longer than fluorescent lamps. They can deliver an extremely smooth spectral curve that can be read without needing a high resolution measurement device. They also generate much less heat, so the range of substrates that can be printed is greater. And with LED lamps there is no risk of UV radiation which isn’t good for your health.

New investment carries its own risk, but when it comes to inks and curing, staying within the rules has to be a good idea. The matter of mercury arc versus LED can get complicated, so it’s also good that regulations have simplified the argument. Banning the use of mercury is in the interests of us all, so we should welcome both the rules and the development of LED-based alternatives. We should probably not dwell on the fact that there is probably more mercury in your mouth (800mg per dental filling) than in the average curing lamp (10 – 100mg). But that’s an altogether different concern.

Laurel Brunner

This article was produced by the Verdigris Project, an industry initiative intended to raise awareness of print’s positive environmental impact. This weekly commentary helps printing companies keep up to date with environmental standards, and how environmentally friendly business management can help improve their bottom lines. Verdigris is supported by the following companies: Agfa Graphics, EFI, Fespa, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Miraclon, Ricoh, Unity Publishing and Xeikon.

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When used as a flatbed machine, the Prime Hybrid can print on substrates up to 2m wide. It can print on up to four pieces of rigid media simultaneously, and features registration pins for precise edge-to-edge printing at production quality up to  92sqm/hr.

The printer also features front and back handling tables to support a range of media types while facilitating easy media positioning. The roll-fed configuration can be loaded with two rolls each up to 0.9m wide. It is set to meet the needs of print service providers who use a wide range of media across a variety of applications.

The machine is available with four colours (CMYK) as standard and uses the same inks as the Acuity Prime. A beta model will be installed in the UK in June 2023, with commercial availability scheduled for the end of the year.

David Burton, director of Fujifilm Wide Format Inkjet Systems, commented, ‘We have listened to our customers and we recognise that high functionality and versatility is in-demand. In response to our customers and, building on the success of the Acuity Prime flatbed series, we developed the Acuity Prime Hybrid – a cost effective and robust printer that will maximise productivity across a wide variety of applications.

‘We’re delighted to showcase its capabilities at Fespa 2023, and we look forward to seeing how it will positively impact our customers’ businesses.’

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The Newcastle-based print supplied reseller handles products for screen and litho printing as well as wide-format digital, where Mimaki, Roland and Epson products are also in their range. Well-established in the north of England, YPS says it has built long-standing relationships with independent printers since its formation in 2009. A team of 14 staff supports customers with a proactive service of supply, extended warranty packages, and service work via a team of in-house engineers.

Georgia Brown, MD of YPS said, ‘We are really excited about this new partnership with Agfa. This move to add the Agfa Anapurna brand to our portfolio is a natural expansion to our product range, as it provides a choice of wide-format options and fills a price gap in our current offering. We will be supplying the Agfa Anapurna print engine range plus the inks and the Asanti workflow.’

‘I have known the team at YPS for many years and we are delighted to now have them on board as a reseller of our popular Anapurna range,’ said Paul Fitch, head of inkjet at Agfa UK & Ireland. ‘It’s a great fit for our business, they have a loyal customer base who appreciate the independent technical advice that YPS give on the best print solution for their business. Many of their customers have been looking at the growth in the wider format market and the Anapurna range will provide a great solution to many of their enquiries. I am looking forward to working them.

Agfa’s Anapurna UV LED series is aimed at sign shops, digital printers, photo labs and mid-sized graphic screen printers that want to combine board and roll-to-roll print jobs and is offered in 1650 and 3200mm widths for outdoor and indoor rigid and flexible wide-format jobs. A white ink option creates enables printing on transparent material for backlit applications or for printing white as a spot colour. An optional automatic board feeder is also available.

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The Preston-based wide-format digital printing company, founded in 2004, primarily serves the exhibitions industry. Three years ago, it bought a Jetrix printer, but a power surge at the company’s production facility rendered it unusable and non-repairable. A part solution response was to purchase an HP 800 Latex printer to output banners , while all other print work was temporarily outsourced.

The HP Latex printer was replaced with a Mimaki UJV100-160 from CMYUK. This is a dedicated roll-to-roll UV curable printer that offers high quality, stability, and productivity due to a NCU (Nozzle Check Unit), NRS (Nozzle Recovery System), and MAPS4 (Mimaki Advanced Pass System4). The DAS (Dot Adjustment System) incorporated into the new 100 series printers means that dot position and feed correction are now automated, reducing operator workload.

With the Mimaki now handling all the former Latex work, the company still needed to manage pop-up and panelling jobs, which often use a heavy 465-micron media. The EFI Vutek Pro 32r+ is a 3.2m wide production level printer with a four-colour system with a white ink option and 7pl drop size for high quality.

Mr Symonds added, ‘We came to the conclusion that a big industrial printer from EFI was just what was needed. I’ve always seen EFI printers as the Rolls Royce of the digital printing industry, lots of companies use them, and the technology is proven. The Jetrix was a good piece of kit when it worked, although I found the prints to be quite grainy probably because they print at 14pL. The Vutek 32r+ prints at a much higher definition at double the speed and allows for dual roll printing.

‘The EFI demonstration showing how the dual rolls worked was impressive. We’ve printed dual rolls since, flawlessly. We’ve also run triple rolls and that’s worked well too.’

At the time of installing the Vutek Pro 32r +, Amira Bouchiba, CMYUK academy manager, implemented an automated workflow that does away with the need to manually create files in the company’s existing but now defunct i-Cut software. The machine has an in-built Fiery RIP that creates both a print file for the printer and a cut file that it sends to the Kongsberg cutting table.

Mr Symonds said, ‘Fiery has improved our workflow. It has completely removed the iCut route and has saved us a great deal of time.’

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Fujifilm has 13 dealer agreements in place across seven European countries for the Acuity machines launched in June 2021, but it looking for further partnerships to increase its reach further. Mr Garvey, who was already part of the Fujifilm wide format inkjet systems business, explained, ‘Fujifilm is extremely well known and respected for its inkjet expertise, but in the Acuity Prime we have a machine with sales potential far beyond the markets we’re traditionally associated with, and we need local market knowledge, connections and expertise to fully capitalise on its volume sales potential.’

The 2.5 x 1.7m Prime and 3.2/5m Acuity Ultra models will be on display at Fespa in Berlin from 31 May – 4 June and Mr Garvey is inviting prospective dealers to contact him there.

Meanwhile, both the machines launched last year have won iF Design Awards, adding to the Red Dot and Good Design Awards achieved in 2021. Fujifilm’s Kevin Jenner commented, ‘With Fespa nearly upon us, we’re delighted these machines have received yet another design endorsement. The enthusiasm of the jury panels at all three awards is matched by the early feedback we’re getting from our customers.’

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The Karibu S (for speed) is a 3.4m LED UV-curing roll-fed printer based on the original Karibu introduced at Fespa 2019. The new model is significantly faster at up to 330sqm/hr, which key account manager Adriano Gut said produces ‘sellable quality’. For volume production, the printer can handle 200kg rolls of material and supports a very wide range of substrates from paper and banner to film, self-adhesive vinyl and mesh/textiles.

There are 18 printheads in the Karibu S, of which 16 are dedicated to CMYK and the remaining two may be configured with white ink to allow printing on coloured or clear materials for double-sided graphics. A built-in lightbox allows for checking of backlit graphic material while it’s still on the printer. Mesh or fabric printing is carried out by moving the printhead carriage into a ‘mesh’ position that activates absorbent paper ink collectors behind the substrate, said to leave the machine clean after this type of printing; this mode also enables full-bleed print on any substrate. The LED UV-cured ink is sufficiently flexible for textile use, as Mr Gut demonstrated by scrunching up and then unfolding a small textile sample.

Automated double-sided printing is now an option for both standard and Karibu S models, and is available as a retro-fit for existing Karibu installations. This involves printing QR codes next to images on the first side to be printed, which are read by a camera built into the printer when the roll is reversed, and in conjunction with the Lory control software, used to provide accurate positioning of the reverse side, simplifying production of items such as block-out banners, ceiling hangers, posters and window graphics.

In what may be a first for the wide-format sector, all swissQprint printers, flatbed and roll-fed, now have the option of using two new neon inks – yellow and pink. As well as mixing with the other CMYK inks to produce vivid colours not otherwise achievable, notably a ‘neon’ orange, these have the property of fluorescing under UV (‘black’) light, which opens up interesting applications in club, party and trade fair/themed event settings, in addition to normal light applications in signage, PoS, posters and wristbands. All swissQprint machines have nine colour channels, so it is possible to configure both neons in addition to CMYK and white or clear inks for a wide variety of creative effects on flexible or rigid media.

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The roll media ability will bring extended applications flexibility to Ricoh’s flatbed platform, including those typically met via roll media in sign and display, industrial graphic arts and interior decor, supporting rolls up to 2.2m in width (2.19m printable width). A choice of UV ink types is offered to suit different applications: Ricoh DG130 offers high adhesion for a wide range of substrates that might be found in flatbed printing, while GP120 inks for roll applications only promise a wider colour gamut plus the necessary flexibility. Both are LED-cured.

Using 12 Ricoh printheads, flatbed output from the TF6251 is at up to 116sqm/hr, and roll-fed at up to 67sqm/hr (both figures for four-colour draft mode printing; higher quality options will be slower). An updated user interface is said to improve operator productivity, while colour and production management are provided by the ColorGate Production Server Select Rip software.

Graham Kennedy, director, Industrial Print, Commercial and Industrial Printing Group, Ricoh Europe, said, ‘Ricoh developed this flexible solution in response to clients’ production needs. It is a timely addition to our portfolio, particularly as operations strive to find ways during the pandemic to develop their services while remaining competitive and adaptable. The Pro TF6251 combines our market-leading inkjet head technology expertise with our proven flatbed and roll-fed capabilities to create a highly versatile and responsive solution. We believe it will open up a number of production possibilities for print operations that are looking to be increasingly creative with the services they deliver and the markets they serve.

The Ricoh Pro TF6251 will be available in Europe from 1 January 2021. It will be offered in two versions, with and without the roll-feed capability, and replaces the Pro TF650.

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