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Product and environmental innovation unite
In a splash of news, Roland DG invited Screen Process and Digital Imaging to preview two print hardware innovations and explore the company’s environmental standards. Read on to discover more
First up is the new SolJet Pro III printer in 74 and 64in widths. The new 74in XJ-740 and 64in XJ-640 are Roland’s fastest SolJet’s to date, designed to combine exceptional print speeds with six-colour CMYK+LcLm image quality.
Roland DG’s head of product management, Brett Newman, explained: “The new SolJet Pro III XJ series is precision engineered for the demands of today’s fast-paced, quality-driven marketplace. XJ series printers take productivity and performance to a new level with maximum print speeds of up to 42.6m2/hr and stunning image quality in every print mode. With the XJ, print houses and sign makers can capture the fine details critical to indoor graphics while producing the dense, rich colours required for vivid, high-impact outdoor graphics.”
XJ series printers suit indoor graphics including posters, POP displays, fine art reproductions, plus outdoor products printed on coated/uncoated media including vinyl, banner, backlit film, canvas and many papers.
Specifications include: support for long unattended production runs; automated take-up system for rolls up to 47kg; easy media roll loading/unloading; automated maintenance; and fast drying/scratch resistant Eco-Sol Max ink is virtually odourless.
Every XJ printer is supplied with Roland VersaWorks RIP, offering features including: the new Roland Max Impact colour management preset; Roland Colour System for spot colour matching; and Variable Data Printing for easy, customised signs and posters featuring variable text and graphics.
The Max Impact preset is designed to produce deeper, more vivid blues and reds (fundamental colours for outdoor graphics) while preserving the overall colour balance required for photorealistic images. VersaWorks includes over 150 ICC profiles for reliable results. The Roland@NET automated update feature ensures ongoing access to the latest VersaWorks version and profiles.
Power and productivity
Roland’s second announcement relates to the 74in AdvancedJet AJ-740. Brett explained: “High-speed printing up to 81m2/h gives the AJ-740 the power and productivity needed for both high-volume and rush jobs. At 74in wide, the AJ-740 supports the majority of media available today for these applications. With demand increasing for high-speed, low run production of a wide variety of graphics, print houses and sign makers are looking for more productive and flexible printers. The AJ-740 has been precision engineered for this market and can help businesses take advantage of this significant growth opportunity.”
Designed for high volume printing of outdoor signage, the AJ-740 is engineered to deliver brilliant six colour CMYK+LcLm graphics at up to 81m2/h, plus a precision print mode at 44m2/hr. The company states the machine requires little maintenance, while automated maintenance features eliminate the need for daily manual cleanings.
Specification for the AJ-740 include: support for media rolls up to 100kg; durable EcoXtreme ink for extended three-year outdoor durability; easy attach/detach optional mesh printing unit; and the Roland Colour system of colour charts and chips for spot colour matching and improved customer communications. Like the XJ series, the AJ-740 features Roland VersaWorks RIP software.
Environmental labelling
Moving from product to corporate news, Roland has introduced a new environmental labelling system. The eco-labels are based on standards stipulated by ISO14021 for Type II environmental labelling and certify that Roland products comply with the company’s internal environmental standards.
Products certified by Roland’s new eco-labels are required to meet the following criteria:
- Prevent global warming
- Use recyclable resources
- Increase environmental awareness
- Disclose information on the environmental aspects of the product
The new AdvancedJet AJ-740, SolJet Pro III XJ-740 and SolJet Pro III XJ-640 wide-format printers are the first products accredited with the eco-labelling system. The company will apply this eco-label system to all future products.
Roland has also published its 2007 environmental report. The report outlines the company’s environmental policies and achievements for the year April 2006 to March 2007.
Over the past year, Roland states it has worked towards stringent environmental targets and has achieved significant results. The company has: successfully implemented ISO14001:2004; reduced its industrial waste by over 60 per cent; and its goal to achieve zero emissions at a waste recycling ratio of 99 per cent or more within three-years was realised in March 2007 with a recycling ratio of 99.3 per cent, a year ahead of schedule.
In addition, Roland has decreased its power consumption by over one per cent compared to 2005 (on the basis of production unit costs) and created 72.2 per cent of its production facilities lighting power by installing solar and wind power generators: 7.2 per cent above its 2006 target. The company has also minimised the purchase of recycled copy paper by six per cent in its bid to support paperless operations. December 2006 saw Roland establish its Green Procurement Guidelines with its green procurement strategy rolled out in January 2007. It has also introduced a company-wide ‘LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) Design Introduction Procedure’.
Managing director, Jerry Davies, said: “Roland is a company with dedicated environmental policies, and as such, we strive to operate our business and develop our product offerings in an environmentally-friendly way. We have introduced Material Safety Data Sheets to pre-evaluate new products and ensure the quantity of specific chemical substances used in our products is below the required levels proposed by the ‘Pollutant Release and Transfer Register’. A key goal for us was to achieve zero emissions at a waste recycling ratio of 99 per cent and we’re delighted to have over-achieved this well within the three-year period.
“The company has a number of procedures in place that reflect the continued development of environmental awareness, such as our programme to recover ink cartridges and we have also installed Eco-Ice, another power-saving initiative that supports our air-conditioning systems. Basic practises such as turning off monitors when operators are away from machines, the use of LCD monitors and temperature control has all contributed to the way we environmentally manage the business. We are committed to doing our part to contribute to a greener global environment. It is for this reason that we continue to tighten and develop new environmental policies, and implement greener ways of managing both the production of products through to distribution and maintenance.”
