Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
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EFI Launches ‘D’ serie EFI announced the launch of a new midrange roll-to-roll printer line targeting sign and display graphics. EFI’s signature Connect event was the launchpad for the ‘D’ series of VUTEk inkjet printers, consisting of the D3r and D5r. By Sha Jumari The new EFI VUTEk D3r and D5r LED inkjet printers leverage the capabilities from the VUTEk 3r+ and 5r+ printers. According to EFI, the ‘D’ series is designed to offer the right mix of features, productivity, and cost to create opportunities for signage and graphics professionals. The ‘D’ series of printers was created upon customer feedback for a mid-range, mid-volume solution. “The ‘D’ series lands itself well to the mid-level shops that need the flexibility. It is a truly unique product that leverages all the same technology from our higher-end roll to roll devices with the same quality output. It’s just more flexible. This is what’s really important about it, is that it gives people choices when they previously can’t make a choice,” said Rodd Harrison, Sales VP for EFI Asia Pacific. “For someone who is looking for higher volume and high productivity, they would go with the 3r+ or 5r+. But
if super high volume is not the goal, but flexibility is, then the ‘D’ series is perfect. The D3r and D5r comes slightly under the 3r+ and 5r+. While it is not as fast, the ‘D’ offers greater flexibility,” Harrison continued. The D3r and D5r are dedicated roll to roll machines, but they can have table attachments to allow them to print board as well. The new printer line supports other options including inline x-cutters and y-slitters; automatic backlit and block-out printing; media spreaders and motorized winders; and more. “Instead of buying multiple devices, they can do more on one. For example, with a D3r, you can do vehicle wraps for trains, buses and taxis, and just one hour later, you can be printing a cosmetics display backlit for a department store. Totally different applications, on one single machine,” said Harrison. According to Harrison, the ‘D’ line of printers is perfect for markets in Asia, which requires a ‘Swiss Army knife’ type of product.
“In the US and Europe, the markets are big enough where printers can buy different machines for different applications. But for markets in Asia Pacific like Singapore or Australia, the markets and volumes are not that huge. So businesses here really need to buy a piece of equipment that’s more like a Swiss Army knife that allows them to do many things. The machines need to be able to do multiple prints, not just in terms of customer’s jobs, but even the type of output. The more flexible we make our products, the better it will suit more markets in Asia,” Harrison continued. White and Clear Inks in a Single Pass One of the main differentiating features of the ‘D’ series is the use of white and clear inks – all in one pass. The VUTEk D line is equipped with additional printheads and is able to offer matte and glossy effects to cover a wider amount of unique applications such as wall decorations and murals, window graphics, flooring, high-value prints with selective gloss effects, fleet graphics, truck-side curtains and more.
