EFI is heartily embracing the industry’s UV-curing trend, with the release this week of its new VUTEk HS100 Pro UV inkjet press along with a new range of thermoforming digital UV-curable inks for other VUTEk model series.
EFI says the high-end VUTEk HS100 Pro model (pictured) not only offers fast production speeds, it also provides the competitive advantage of higher-quality imaging with EFI Pin & Cure - a unique technology that enables precise ink lay-down - and variable-dot grayscale imaging.
With these benefits, EFI says printing companies gain the productivity of screen printing with image quality that approaches offset, a combination that opens the door to new business opportunities.
"In this market, printing firms have had to choose between higher quality or higher productivity, but could not get both in a single machine. We have addressed those issues, taking print quality and productivity to a higher level and combining those benefits in the VUTEk HS100 Pro," said Scott Schinlever, senior vice president and general manager of EFI's Inkjet Solutions. "Printing firms no longer have to settle for just going faster; they can have the throughput and high-end imaging they need to make digital the preferred option in an analogue-dominated market for display signage and other applications."
Printing at speeds up to 100 boards per hour, or 70 boards per hour in P-O-P mode, the 3.2-meter VUTEk HS100 Pro accelerates the industry's shift from prep-intensive, analogue screen print and large-format offset to efficient, versatile UV inkjet digital printing. Customers can also reduce turnaround times on their existing inkjet work.
"This new press is exceptionally fast," according to the world's first VUTEk HS100 Pro user, Nick Olson, co-owner of PVS In-Store Graphics in the US. "For example, we had a three-day job for our VUTEk GS3200 printer that was printed in less than one day on the HS100 Pro."
EFI says VUTEk HS100 Pro users also benefit from the press's versatility in substrates, thanks to a robust and accurate media handling system that handles both roll and rigid materials such as styrene, fluted poly propylene, card stock, foam core and corrugated board.
The newest-version EFI Fiery digital front end gives VUTEk HS100 Pro users streamlined file preparation as well as reliable color management and preflighting. Fiery also allows a seamless connection to EFI's broad suite of MIS and ERP software products for a complete workflow infrastructure that PSPs can use to manage all their jobs, from file submission to final shipping and invoicing.
EFI is featuring the VUTEk HS100 Pro in its exhibit at the FESPA 2013 tradeshow this week in London. It will also be featured at EFI's exhibit at several upcoming industry tradeshows, including the Shanghai International Ad & Sign Expo, PRINT 2013 and the SGIA Expo.
The company is also extending its range of versatile options for the wide-format market with the introduction of its thermoforming digital UV-curable ink, enabling signmakers and printing companies to print direct onto thermoplastic sheet materials, which can then be formed into deep draw, high elongation parts with excellent retention of hue and opacity.
Formulated for use in the EFI VUTEk GS2000 Pro-TF and the VUTEk GS3250 Pro-TF, EFI claims that pre-decorating with this new ink eliminates former labor-intensive, costly methods such as hand airbrushing used when working with shaped and irregular surfaces.
The VUTEk GS-TF thermoforming ink's elongation capabilities are enhanced by its high opacity on a broad selection of materials, including PETG, acrylics, polycarbonates, polystyrenes and PVC, plus derivatives and mixes.
The company says this makes it ideal for applications including custom-formed signs, packaging, point-of-purchase displays, vending panels, automotive and recreational vehicles, consumer and promotional products, and many more. The extended colour gamut is complemented by its ability to withstand heat forming, cutting and routing without cracking, chipping or losing adhesion, with moisture resistance and a durable life resulting in long-lasting graphics.
These new inks are designed to remove the limitations of working with thermoformed applications, opening new routes to productivity for businesses wanting to generate revenues and gain a competitive advantage from high impact signs and graphics.
"EFI's introduction of thermoformable UV-curable inks, and the machines in which to use them, offers printers new opportunities for bringing digital printing's strengths to a broad range of innovative applications," said Barney Cox, printing industry consultant. "This means that printers can offer customers high impact, short run, versioned and customized imagery that has an added dimension, appealing to the increased desire for personalized products."