Several leading printer manufacturers unveiled their latest machines and technology at FESPA Global Print Expo that was held at Messe Munchen this May.
FESPA Global Print Expo, world’s leading exhibition for speciality print and signage, was successfully held from 14 – 17 May 2019 at Messe München in Germany. Over the course of four days, the event saw about 20,780 visitors from 137 countries, pouring in to witness the innovations in the world of printing. This year’s Global Print Expo became the talk-of-the-town as many new and advanced products were unveiled at the mega event. Major printing mammoths such as Durst, HP, Massivit, etc. used this platform to launch their latest innovations in digital printing.
Italy-based Durst expanded its P5 portfolio of hybrid printers by adding to it two new systems – the 3.5m-wide, 120m2/hr P5 350 and 2.1m-wide, 90m2/hr P5 210. The new printers are equipped with Durst software and offer special new features. They are the all-in-one hybrid solution for flexible roll and board printing. Durst also introduced its own modular software solutions – Durst Workflow, Durst Analytics and Durst Smart Shop – to provide customers with an automated production unit from pixel to output. The offering is completed by consulting, training and integration services of Durst Professional Services.
Another biggie that made its worldwide debut was HP’s Stitch S1000, a super wide dye sub-production printer designed for high productivity and simplified operation for interior décor and soft signage. It is a 3.2 meter (126-inch) printer that enables fast speeds, high uptime, and unattended shifts. HP’s flagship machine in its new range of Stitch dye-sub printers found its first customer in Berlin-based Bannerhero.
EFI launched its new flatbed printer, the Pro 30f, which has a 3x2m bed and can print full bleed on media of that size. It can print on media of up to 10cm high and 180kg in weight. Like other EFI printers, this too is fitted with Ricoh Gen5 printheads, which print variable drop sizes from 7-12 picolitres for 1200 dpi resolution. There are 12 heads, two per colour, for CMYK plus two whites. It uses UV inks with LED curing and can produce up to 210 sqm/hr.
Mimaki chose FESPA 2019 as the platform to debut their new flatbed printer, JFX200-2513 EX. It is the successor to the JFX200-2513 and is a large format flatbed UV inkjet printer that combines high-value-added printing and high productivity, while being an entry model.
Epson expanded its SureColor SC-S range with the addition of two new industrial output models, the SC-S60600L and the SC80600L. These 64-inch printers are an extension of the award-winning SureColor SC-S Series printer range and will offer high productivity to its customers at a relatively lower total cost of ownership. The SC-S Series printers continue to offer diverse applications with access to the Epson Edge Dashboard with over 250 EMX profile downloads for a wide range of media manufacturers and media types. Featuring Epson PrecisionCore TFP printheads, these printers will be supplied with Epson Edge RIP software and the LFP Accounting Tool.
Inkcups unveiled its X5 digital UV flatbed printer to the European market. The company claims it to be the industry’s fastest and most productive direct-to-shape UV inkjet printer. The machine features up to four Ricoh Gen 5 print heads for on-demand, full-colour prints on flat and slightly curved hard goods up to six inches tall.
Massivit 3D Printing Technologies, the leading provider of large format 3D printing solutions, has expanded its portfolio of solutions with the new Massivit 1800 Pro that offers brand-new features including a ground-breaking, patented Variable Resolution capability, new advancements optimizing durability and resolution, and remote-operation options to significantly enhance operation efficiency & convenience. Designed to serve the visual communication, entertainment, concept prototyping, and interior design arenas, the Massivit 1800 Pro 3D Printer is capable of producing super-sized, captivating signage, displays, and props at high speed, high resolution, and with perfect repeatability.
Mutoh debuted its 1.6m-wide ValueJet 1627MH hybrid inkjet printer in Europe for the first time. The five-colour machine prints at speeds up to 12.1 sqm/hr in CMYK with resolution up to 720dpi. The device can run either CMYK or CMYK plus white as standard and uses Mutoh’s own MP-31 resin-based inks that get dry immediately.
Belgium-headquartered Summa premiered what it said as the ‘fastest cutting system in the world’ with the unveiling of the L3214, a 3.2m- wide flatbed laser cutting system that cuts at up to 1.5m/second.
The exhibition also saw the launch of some innovations in roll-to-roll printing with the unveiling of Océ Colorado 1650 by Canon and Karibu by swissQprint, which is its first roll-to-roll printer. Océ Colorado 1650 introduces a new flexible ink and Océ FLXfinish, which is a new approach to LED curing that allows user to choose between matte or gloss modes for each individual print to achieve different aesthetic finishes, without the need to change inks or media. It works with a new version of Canon UVgel ink, designed for maximum flexibility by increasing the stretching properties of each cured ink droplet. The output from the printer can be folded for soft signage applications without the risk of cracking.
swissQprint’s Karibu is a UV inkjet printer with a maximum print width of 3.4 meters. Karibu features a Light Box right next to the printing area, for immediate and continuous quality control of backlit prints. It incorporates ingenious features aimed at high efficiency and reliability as well as huge versatility.