Printing Innovation Asia Issue 5 2020
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Product Roundup: Hybrid Printers Hybrid wide-format flatbed/roll-to-roll printers are machines that allow print shops to print graphics on both rigid sheets and flexible rolls of materials. Hybrid printers offer flexibility, because they are capable of printing roll-to-roll, flexible sheets and rigid substrates in a single footprint. Hybrid printers can be equipped with roll-feed mechanisms that enable flexible materials to quickly be positioned beneath the moving printheads on the vacuum table. The printers are especially useful for those with limited floor space to maximise the use of their equipment and applications. Hybrid printers can typically print on a wide range of rigid materials, such as foamboards, foam PVC, cardboard, fluted polypropylene, solid plastics, aluminum, wood and glass among others. It can also print on flexible display films, and roll substrates such as PVC banner, adhesive vinyl, synthetic and coated paper, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyester, textiles, and canvas. This is our roundup of the best hybrid printers on the market:
HP Latex R Series The HP Latex R Series is the first, true hybrid latex technology that merges HP’s flexible printing capabilities into rigid printing. The portfolio consists of the 2.5m-wide HP Latex R2000 Plus, the 1.64m-wide HP Latex R1000 Plus, and the 1.64m-wide entry-level Latex R1000 2020 edition. The HP Latex-R series of hybrid printers use thermal inkjet printheads and latex inks. A single ink set delivers HP Latex colour gamut along with white. HP’s White Latex Ink is based on an innovative system that recirculates the white ink to avoid settling. Unlike UV printing technology, which creates a thick layer of ink that completely covers the material, HP’s water-based Latex Inks preserve the look and feel of the media, and delivers odorless prints that are both safe for the environment and the printer operator.
EFI VUTEk h3/h5 The high-volume EFI VUTEk h3/ h5 hybrid LED printer is part of the VUTEk h series of devices that global EFI R&D teams developed from the ground up. It is the company’s latest offering for high-volume, superwideformat hybrid inkjet platform. The award-winning VUTEk h series is targeted at display graphics PSPs moving further into higher-volume, premium-quality applications. The VUTEK h3 consists of three printheads, while the h5 has five printheads. The 3.2-metre wide hybrid printers offer resolutions up to 1,200 dpi. The h3 model offers maximum throughput of up to 74 boards per hour. The h5 model, which is available direct from EFI or as field upgrade to the h3 model, can produce up to 109 boards per hour. EFI Pro 16h For an entry level option, EFI has the EFI Pro 16h hybrid roll/flatbed LED printer. The EFI Pro 16h is an affordable entry point printer aimed at mid-level or smaller sign and display
