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Fast-track options for ingenious output
One of the most talked about companies in the digital flatbed market is Inca Digital, a company that has led the way with machines such as the Eagle, Columbia and Spyder. The introduction of their latest machine last year, the Inca Onset, proves that once again Inca know what they are doing when it comes to new technology.
Flatbed digital inkjet printing has already demonstrated exceptional print quality and a viable return on investment for short run production. The Onset's ability to print up to 600m2/h or125 full bed sheets, with bi-directional speeds, has led to comparisons with screen printing productivity. The Onset requires only one operator and can print on substrates up to 15mm thick in manual mode and 10mm in automatic. This, as well as edge-to-edge imaging and a choice of gloss or satin finishes, delivers versatility in output.
It is not easy to build a machine that moves a large graphic with spot-on, four-colour registration on 125 (150 by 300cm) pieces per hour, while laying down three billion droplets per second. To achieve this, Inca has incorporated several features. The Onset can identify faulty nozzles and remap printing instructions to other nozzles to ensure quality is not compromised. In addition, the Onset has 24 print modules, each containing 24 printheads with onboard electronics and data handling, with each module capable of interpreting data and correctly imparting droplets.
Technology rewarded
The production capacity and output quality of this machine are just two of the reasons why it has recently won an InterTech Technology Award. Sponsored by PIA/GATF, the awards honour the development of technologies predicted to have a major impact in the graphic arts and related industries.
Commenting on the Inca Onset, this year's judges said: "This will change the large format market in a significant way and has the ability to take away share from other printing applications. The speed is a significant improvement and there is great market potential with the diverse range of materials it can print on."
Managing director of Inca Digital, Bill Baxter, said: "The Onset has been engineered from the ground up to achieve new performance levels. Its design drew on our experience of jetting inks and includes some of the core technologies we have developed to achieve speed and output in other wide format Inca presses."
Know your options
Another company to see a dramatic upturn in its UV flatbed enquiries is the Robert Horne Group. Business director for digital solutions, Kevin Wheeler, says: "Robert Horne's wide format digital service involves hardware, inks, software, finance and technical support, which covers installation and online support through to in-house colour profiling and management.
"Our portfolio includes the UV flatbed inkjet printers manufactured by HP, Mimaki and Vutek and we have recently invested half a million pounds to improve our digital demonstration suites in Northampton and Manchester, where the flatbed machines are shown. These facilities enable customers to compare the merits of different digital printers, to assess which one is most suited to their needs."
One customer to purchase a Vutek from Robert Horne Group early in 2008 was Rocket of Watford. The company's Tim Porter says: "Adding the Vutek to our existing portfolio has been a great success. We purchased the equipment to extend our existing customer offering and it is already providing us with new contracts.
"Because the Vutek is able to process print straight to mounted and cut material we have made labour and time savings, in turn making us much more competitive. A recent example of this is a large phone provider contract for POS work, which previously we wouldn't have been competitive with. The range of substrates which can be printed onto has also provided new opportunities. We not only produce work on conventional substrates, such as Foamex, acrylic and Dibond, but have recently done work on mesh panels, doors and even glass."
A corrugated solution
With so many machines now on the market it can be difficult to make the right choice, which is where the Durst Rho 700 UV flatbed printer's modular build concept comes into its own. Unlike other UV flatbed printers, it can be adapted to individual needs or be upgraded later in the field. The addition of a corrugated print option means versatility is increased, facilitating direct print on corrugated boards for use as displays and sample packaging.
Other optional features include the choice of ink, with white and special effect varnish and light colours for finer image quality. There are also specific inks for rigid, flexible or absorbing media.
Durst has also introduced an entry level digital press for corrugated displays in the form of the Rhopac 160 which allows printing houses and corrugated converters to enter the profitable short run corrugated display market. This is claimed to be the only UV press specifically designed to print on corrugated boards as well as on a variety of rigid and semi flexible POP materials. This is coupled with a roll-to-roll printing option, for added versatility.
And finally
There is no doubt that the flatbed market is one of the fastest moving in the industry with manufacturers fighting to stay ahead of the competition on speed, quality and versatility. What this means is that there is an ever increasing choice of machines on the market, all of which will change the way you work.
By introducing a flatbed machine, you are opening up a whole new side of your business with numerous opportunities to take advantage of, a fact worth considering in the current economic climate. Granted, there is a fairly sizeable price tag attached to any of these machines, but if you look at the benefits you will see that you can't afford to pass this opportunity by.
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