Think Bigger
If there is one area of the industry where both innovation and development are rife, then it is wide-format print. With such a variety of work on offer to those companies active in this segment, manufacturers are having to constantly update their products so their customers can continue to meet demand and the challenges set by clients.
This year has been no different with a whole host of new products having come to market, while some existing and established solutions have been upgraded to offer an enhanced weapon to tackle work.
With this in mind, SignLink finds out what core features sign-makers should be looking for when it comes to investing in new wide-format print kit, and how the latest products can help their business expand and grow.
High value
First up, Bruce Wayne Van Greunen, pre-sales technical consultant at HP, says much of the advice posted on the internet suggests upgrading your printer every three to five years, due to the rate at which technology improves; and that investing in a new printer will allow you to stay competitive.
However, he acknowledges this may not be possible for all companies due to the costs associated with purchasing a new machine, adding that businesses need to squeeze as much out of new investments as possible. With this in mind, Van Greunen says there are some signals that will let you know it is time to upgrade your printer.
“With all that has happened over the past few years, your business may have changed, so your printing needs may have changed,” Van Greunen says, adding: “Perhaps you are doing things now you did not do before Covid, or you would like to.
“Maybe your delivery times have changed or your customers are looking for new ways to show their wares, so you need to adapt. It could also be that the printer you currently have simply does not have the quality or features your competitors are offering, or your printer is breaking down because it is old, and you are pushing it too hard.
“Or you simply need to save money while positively impacting your overall productivity, and sustainability.”
So, what should businesses be looking for when upgrading their wide-format kit? Van Greunen says this depends on what your goals are; do you simply want to keep the lights on, or do you want to grow your business? Most importantly, he says, you need to understand the needs of your customers.
“Understand there is no silver bullet that will fix everything with one shot,” Van Greunen explains, adding: “There are always compromises. Remember the adage that we have three options – speed, quality and low cost – and you can have any two of these.
“The trick is to predict the future, to understand what your customer is going to need tomorrow, or simply be versatile.”
HP has spoken at length about the benefits of working with its HP Latex printers, primarily that these machines allow users to produce a host of wide-format applications, but, as a result of the machines running water-based inks, in a planet-friendly manner.
The latest additions to the HP Latex family come in the form of the HP Latex 700 and 800, both of which are offered as standard models and as white ink options in the HP Latex 700W and 800W.
The HP Latex 800 runs with 3L ink cartridges
“HP Latex printers allow users to take on the highest value jobs, with the ability to print in the whitest white and in vivid colours, all on a wide range of media,” HP says, adding: “Add in the ability to print with saturated colour at high speeds and that our water-based inks will allow you to sharpen your sustainability edge, and users are equipped to win big.”
The HP Latex 700W and 800W both offer users the opportunity to print with white ink
The HP Latex 700 and 700W run with 1L ink cartridges and can handle a maximum roll size of up to 55kg as wide as 1.63m. The two printers have a top speed of 31sq m/hr in outdoor mode and 21sq m/hr for indoor print jobs.
O Factoid: The HP Latex 800 and 800W printers have a top speed of 36sq m/hr in outdoor mode and 25sq m/hr for indoor work O
The HP Latex 800 and 800W models both have the same capacity in terms of media but run with larger ink cartridges of 3L. The two machines also have higher operating speeds than their 700 model cousins, with a top speed of 36sq m/hr in outdoor mode and 25sq m/hr for indoor work.
Speed and quality
Elsewhere, CMYUK supplies wide-format kit from a number of major manufacturers such as EFI, Canon, Mimaki and Epson. Sue Hayward, equipment sales director at CMYUK, says it is important to keep on top of your technology for a number of reasons such as upgrades in reliability, improvements in quality, speed, and improved running costs.
Sue Hayward, equipment sales director at CMYUK, says it is important to keep on top of your technology
“For the 3.2m and above markets, customers are always looking for faster speeds at higher resolutions,” Hayward says, adding: “Older UV solutions for example, use energy-hungry mercury lamps, whilst new models use Cold Cure LED technology that is better for the environment and cheaper to run.
“This is obviously personal to what the end-user is looking for, but generally users need to look for high quality output, maximum production speeds, low ink consumption, lower running costs, and flexibility. A hybrid printer is the perfect solution for those looking for the ultimate in versatility.
“Our current range of EFI roll-to-roll and hybrid solutions offer resolutions of up to 1200dpi, feature significant speed improvements, low power consumption, and offer an array of solutions for production versatility.”
The latest EFI printer models available from CMYUK include the EFI VUTEk Pro 32r +, a 3.2m-wide production level, four-colour printer with a white ink option. It uses cool cure LED technology, which the manufacturer says helps to reduce operating costs and allows for the use of thinner substrates.
The EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340i +, Hayward says, provides businesses with the opportunity to expand into new soft signage/textile applications and markets. It allows for both direct-to-substrate and paper sublimation printing, while an integrated heat fixation unit can be turned on and off when required, negating the need for an additional heat press saving time, money, and floor space.
In addition, the EFI VUTEk h5 next-generation printer is 3.2m wide, has a resolution of 1200dpi, eight colour modes plus white, thereby offering up to a nine-layer print capability in a single pass.
Looking at other manufacturers, CMYUK offers the new Epson SureColor SC-R series, including the SureColor SC-R 5000 that operates at lower temperatures of below 100oC, eliminating common issues with heat sensitive medias, delivering panel-to-panel colour consistency, and acheiving leading linear feed accuracy.
From Mimaki, CMYUK has the UJV100 -160 UV LED print-only, and UCJV300-160 print-and-cut model with the option for white and clear. In addition, the 1.6m-wide Canon Colorado 1650 uses the UVgel inkset.
Offer unique products
Looking at examples of how upgrading wide-format or large-format kit can support businesses with their growth plans in the sign-making sector in particular, Tees Valley signage solution specialist Sign Design GB took on a new Epson SureColor SC-V7000 UV flatbed printer.
The company works with the construction, retail, education, manufacturing, transport and medical industries, and chose the system to pursue quality consistency, reduce turnaround times and eliminate additional costs. The business is now exploring further application opportunities on the back of its early success and impact Ben Kennedy, commercial director at Sign Design GB, explains: “We were sub contracting about £80,000 to £100,000 of direct-to-substrate work a year. We decided it was time to bring that in-house so we could ensure consistency, reduce turnaround times, cut our carbon footprint and also develop that part of the business.
[L to R] Ben Kennedy, commercial director at Sign Design GB, with operations director Lyndsay Wind
“Now we have additional capacity and the ability to offer some unique products. We can promote these services more widely, confident in the knowledge we can deliver the desired results. We can also explore other application possibilities, run samples, and show clients what is possible.
Now we have additional capacity and the ability to offer some unique products”
“We looked at what was on the market and chose the Epson system for two reasons. First, ease of use was very important. We wanted something that was operator friendly and not too complicated to use. Despite its specialist features, there is no need for specialist training and we already have four people confident in running it.”
Purchased from Epson reseller Perfect Colours, the SureColor SC-V7000 is Epson’s first UV large-format printer. It allows users to print on a wide range of media, with the ability to produce applications such as retail and outdoor signage, window displays, hoarding panels, packaging, promotional goods, and décor products. It also features Epson’s UltraChrome UV ink configuration, including red, grey, white, and varnish.
“The system has been in for just a couple of weeks and there have been no problems at all,” Kennedy says, adding: “It is working very well, and we have been running it every day. It will enable us to continue to grow in the direct-to-substrate sector and develop a more complete and versatile offering for our clients. It will also enable us to employ another apprentice in this area of the business.
“By completing the work in-house we can better improve our margins and ensure quality consistency.”
Better service
Another example of the impact of new investment comes from Kent-based digital print company Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions, which in January took delivery of a new Fujifilm Acuity Prime flatbed printer from distributor RA Smart.
Sam Cherry, director of Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions, says the business sought out a new printer to expand and strengthen it’s service offering, explaining that since it began running the machine at the start of the year, it has had a big impact on operations.
Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions took delivery of a new Fujifilm Acuity Prime flatbed printer in January
“The Acuity Prime enables us to provide a better service to our customers, meeting their deadlines in a world where time is of the essence,” Cherry says, adding: “We can provide a more streamlined approach along with a great end product. We’ve been using the printer on Acrylic, Foamex and Dibond so far, and are already really impressed with the output.
“I don’t believe there is any better way we could have spent this amount of money in terms of the overall quality, print capability and production capacity we’ve just added to our business than with the Acuity Prime.
“It’s our belief that the Acuity Prime flatbed performs at a level above any other printer at this price point. In fact, the other machines we considered that did offer this level of print productivity were typically double the price.”
Kevin Jenner, European marketing manager for the Fujifilm Wide-Format Inkjet Systems division, says the flatbed printer was designed to help companies grow and expand in what is a highly competitive modern market.
“We’re delighted with the impact the Acuity Prime has made on Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions’ business,” Jenner says, adding: “The machine is part of our ‘new blueprint for wide-format’, designed from the ground up to offer unrivalled ROI, and it’s immensely gratifying to see our confidence in this new flatbed press fully vindicated by such a respected UK sign and display business.”
While it is true that new investment in high-quality kit of any kind can be costly for sign-makers, adding a new, modern and feature-rich wide-format printer to your production line-up could be the catalyst you need to enter new markets and significantly grow your business.
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