The super-fast clean green machine

There can be no doubt that Electronics for Imaging (EFI) has grown beyond all recognition over the last decade, seeing it become a serial business take over and technology acquisition specialist. Underpinning this though is its own impressive manufacturing might that forms part of the multi-national’s DNA, seeing it launch clever technology every year that is right at the cutting edge of our industry.

Among the most recent of these is the hybrid 3m EFI Vutek LX3 Pro. Featuring EFI’s celebrated ‘cool-cure’ LED drying system, the technology made its debut at FESPA and certainly drew in the crowds. This is specifically because its productivity is blistering, topping out at 318sq m/h in draft or billboard printing mode. The printer also offers high-resolution greyscale imaging and its LED technology is a greener solution that reduces energy usage and costs—while giving users the ability to print on a wider range of media, including media that cannot withstand the heat of other curing or drying methods.
 
Early users such as U.S. customer Nutis Visual Communications Group in Columbus, Ohio, have certainly been glowing about the impact of this compact hot-rod.

“The Vutek LX3 Pro is a terrific addition that complements our other digital presses and enhances our overall capabilities," says Nutis Visual Communications group vice president of print production, Joey Nutis.

He continues: “With the new printer, four-colour 600-dpi imaging with light smoothing is now our go-to print mode. We have seen improved quality at faster print speeds at that setting on jobs that would have run at 1,000 dpi with heavy smoothing on our previous printer.”


The newest-version EFI Fiery Pro Server drives the LX3 Pro, which reportedly gives users the ability to process print files 60 percent faster than earlier versions of the Pro Server, or up to 170 percent faster than alternate systems.

The flatbed functionality allows for substrates up to 5.08cm (2?) thick to be printed to and a full eight-colour ink set plus white and multilayer printing is available that comes in 5l containers. EFI has also made a big noise that this system has the ‘lowest total cost of ownership in its class’, referring to the mileage that can be done on its inks versus their price point. Indeed, the printheads fire 12pl drops, and even when at full tilt the system reportedly achieves 600dpi.
 
When it comes to media handling the LX3 Pro is also no slouch, as it can handle rigid media up to 3.2m wide and can carry two 152cm (60?) rolls of media that can be printed to simultaneously. Upgrades to the system also see heavy-duty unwinders and extension tables that can be fitted and a three-quarter automated load and unload system.

Listening to customers questions out at FESPA, and the press conference which went into some detail on the LX3 Pro, it seems to be fulfilling a key niche where the modern print-service-provider needs to seamlessly swap between rigid and roll printing with no compromises or loss of productivity. An increased demand for printers that carry UV LED curing systems is also driving interest in this technology bracket. This is both for the advantages it brings with environmental health and its flexibility when it comes to handling a wide-array of materials.  So, if you are in the market for a thoroughbred, you would do well to make sure you give the LX3 Pro a good outride. 


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