News


EFI increases large-format printer offering


EFI used Fespa Global to introduce the Vutek Q3h XP 3.3m-wide flatbed/roll-fed LED printer, plus the next generation 3.2m EFI Pro 33r roll-to- roll LED printer. The Vutek Q3h XP runs at up to 905m2


/hr


and features board/sheet and roll-to-roll media handling and high-speed automation options. It is available with four (CMYK) or six (CMYK, lc, lk) colours and optional white and clear inks. The EFI Pro 33r is based on the Pro 32r+


platform, with notable enhancements to overall printer performance - it has a top print speed of 260m2


in POP mode. Using new 5 pL Ricoh Gen-6 printheads, the printer’s other standard features include an integrated mesh kit for printing on porous substrates, a wrinkle analyser to help avoid printhead strikes, built-in backlit proofing lights, and a built-in Fiery DFE. Options include white and clear (UltraClear Coat) inks, Y-slitters, automatic blockout and backlit printing.


Agfa launches new printers amid portfolio


Agfa has rebranded its inkjet printer portfolio under the banner ‘Powerful by Nature’. The announcement was made at Fespa Global where the company also gave three new inkjet printers their global debut. “We are thrilled to unveil our transformed and enhanced inkjet printer portfolio, where proven wide-format inkjet technology meets the power of three brand-new beasts,” said Arnaud Calleja, vice- president digital printing solutions at Agfa. The Jeti Condor RTR5200 is the latest addition


to Agfa’s inkjet printer line-up. This 5.2m wide roll-to-roll inkjet printer runs at up to 672m2/h and can handle up to three rolls simultaneously. It is field-upgradable with light colours and features white and varnish. There are multiple media handling solutions for large and heavy rolls, and automated options.


The Jeti Bronco H3300 S also debuted. This 3.3m builds on the Tauro UV LED inkjet printer, offering six colours plus white, with optional primer. Continuous board feeding enhances productivity and independent dual-roll printing allows for the simultaneous printing of differently sized rolls or different media. In the first stage, the Bronco will be available with two rows of printheads. However, its horsepower is field-upgradable to a four-row version. The Anapurna Ciervo H3200 got its first showing


at Fespa Global too. The 3.2 hybrid Ciervo boasts an almost 70% increase in printing speed in production mode over its predecessor. The continuous board feeding capacity enables efficient printing on rigid materials, at up to four boards simultaneously.


/hr and offers up to 35% speed increase


David Mulligan joins Astra in newly created lead role


Astra group has appointed former PFI operations director David Mulligan to the newly created role of managing director for the signage and digital division.


Mulligan brings over 15 years’ signage and manufacturing expertise to the business. He held his previous position with PFI for almost four years and prior to that held various management positions.


At Astra Mulligan will be responsible for driving the group into its next phase of expansion, and be responsible for all design, fabrication and installation services, including the newly created project delivery team led by Tony Bright, which allows the business to take further works on as principal contractor.


Coinciding with the appointment of Mulligan is the promotion of Stephen Burns to operations director. He is the former head of production,


having joined the company in September 2023, and prior to that he was operations manager at isGroup for more than 14 years. The re-structure of Astra Group continues,


further to the unveiling of the business’s new group identity in 2023. This saw the group’s digital solutions arm, ADXBA, and bespoke architectural signage arm, Astra Signs, brought under the one brand, with the centralisation of the business’s sales and marketing departments alongside certain backend operational functions.


Durst Group expands P5 portfolio with Pack series


Durst has introduced a P5 Pack series of printers designed for the highly automated production of corrugated displays and packaging. The first machines are expected to be available in Q3 2024. With the P5 Pack series, Durst is introducing a


new inkset tailored to the requirements of display and packaging printing. The Luvera LED ink is characterised by low odour and high abrasion resistance. The inks are also IKEA and IOT-Mat compliant. The new P5 350 HS Pack combines the


versatility of a P5 hybrid printing system with the ability to print on a wide range of materials used in the POP/POS and retail markets.


It is equipped with a material guide and pressure


rollers system aim to ease production. Automated corrugated edge holders avoid collisions between the print heads and the substrates. The width and height are set automatically by simply selecting the media channel in the software, which significantly reduces set-up time.


In addition, a vacuum system increases the suction power on the print belt by up to 40% compared to the conventional systems. This means that even heavy and warped corrugated boards can be flattened and printed cleanly. The P5 Pack series includes the sensor- controlled Multitrack 6 function. Managed by six independent printing queues, this enables up to six corrugated boards to be printed in parallel by manual feeding. The P5 Pack series, as all P5 printing systems, can be equipped with the proprietary Durst Workflow Rip/colour management and analytics software. In this context, the P5 350 HS Pack can be combined with the Durst Automat MT. With this new solution for the automatic feeding and stacking of boards, up to four lanes can be processed in parallel. The multi-lane operation of the Automat MT works together with the Multitrack 6 function of the P5 350 HS Pack.


Roland brings out VersaObject CO-I printer range


Roland DG has launched the VersaObject CO-i series of flatbed inkjet printers for 3D object applications.


Designed to print graphics on substrates including plastic, leather, wood, and metals, the CO-i series offers CMYKOrRe and Clear, White, and Primer inks, and can accommodate objects up to 242mm in height and 100kg/m2


The table design enables the use of tilted devices for printing on gently curved or uneven surfaces.


“Based on their material and application needs, customers can choose the best solution from five different models, including three 64in width models with a choice of three different table sizes


with vacuum beds, and two 30in width models, one with a vacuum bed,” said Tony Miller, president, global sales and marketing division. The printers come with VersaWorks 6


in weight.


software, Roland DG’s Rip, which processes PDF, EPS, PS files and auto-generates White, Gloss and Primer layers with one button. The CO-i printers also support cloud-based


services, including Roland DG Connect and PrintAutoMate.


“Interest in on-demand printing is growing


year by year. We will continue to expand the possibilities of on-demand decoration with VersaObject to enhance people’s creativity and grow their businesses,” said Miller.


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