SwissQprint hosted open days in September at its UK HQ in Bracknell
A Wide Range of Possibilities
The past year has seen a variety of new innovations and solutions from manufacturers that are responding to customers more than ever before.
Now that manufacturers have been able to take their fingers off the pause button following the pandemic, the consensus amongst producers of wide-format machines is that customer feedback is of paramount importance.
Exhibitions like The Print Show and FESPA Global Print Expo have meant businesses have been able to interact with providers of wide-format print as well as the many marketing agencies and end-users who rely on wide-format graphics for a range of solutions.
As wide-format and superwide-format applications become more and more popular for use in retail, live events, entertainment, exhibitions, and local authorities, the machinery printers require becomes more and more demanding.
Wide-format machines now have to prove not only the speed and accuracy of their prints, but also their sustainable credentials, and of course, print quality.
So, what are some of the brands and releases that have been discussed throughout events and installations over the past year?
New Perspectives
A theme in wide-format print this year has been “new perspectives”. Used as the official theme of FESPA 2023 in Munich, the title has continued to be relevant as more and more developments have been made in the industry.
Two exhibitors of FESPA also went big at The Print Show 2023 in September.
Liyu UK had a major presence at the UK event with the largest stand ever at the exhibition, filled with the company’s range of printers, flatbeds, and cutters.
Fujifilm UK held the record for the largest ever single booking at the show and used its 240sq m stand to showcase a range of printers including its Acuity Prime Hybrid and Acuity Prime 30 models.
Andy Kent, division manager for Fujifilm UK, comments: “It’s an exciting time for Fujifilm. Following multiple exciting announcements over the past year across the commercial print, wide-format, and packaging sectors, there was no better place than The Print Show for us to showcase how we can help our customers transform their businesses with our leading digital solutions.”
The Acuity Prime Hybrid which was first launched at FESPA can print on substrates of up to 2m in width and can print on a range of rigid medias, with the ability to print on four pieces simultaneously.
The function of hybrid machines have become more relevant as they allow businesses to adapt their set ups for certain jobs, but also prepare for future work.
A brand which has also built on its range of wide-format signage printers is HP Latex, which this year was represented by both Colyer and Perfect Colours at The Print Show.
The show acted as a great launch destination for HP’s latest Latex range which is great for those looking to enhance signage and décor jobs.
The HP Latex 630-series makes white ink technology more available to PSPs of all sizes while also providing more sustainable prints thanks to its water-based inks and environmental certifications.
The HP Latex 630 and 630 W Print & Cut give customers the option of upgrading to a dual-device solution for printing and cutting
Daniel Martinez, general manager of HP Large Format, says: “The new HP Latex 630-series packs our leading latex features, such as white ink, into a more compact and affordable form factor, allowing even the smallest of print businesses to effortlessly deliver high impact signage and décor applications, boosting margins.
“Beyond the hardware, we have continued to innovate when it comes to services and solutions, with new cloud-based HP Print OS functionalities giving time-pressed users the ability to process and monitor jobs from virtually anywhere.”
In response to customers wanting to grow their e-commerce capabilities, HP created HP Print OS Design & eCommerce in order to helps PSPs enhance their online shops and simplify orders and job automation.
Speaking about the show and the launch, Oliver Gosden, sales director at Colyer, commented: “Being new to the market it has gone down really well along with our other HP machines. We’ve had some positive feedback, and everyone has been really impressed with the print quality of the new 630 Series.
“Previously white ink was kept for the 700 and 800 series, so this is making it more affordable for entry-level users.”
Another brand used by PSPs and sign- makers for a range of machines for both entry-level and advanced users is Epson.
On display at the SEDO/Epson stand at The Print Show was the Epson SureColor SC-R5000, Epson’s first resin ink large-format printer.
The SC-R5000 prints on a range of substrates like vinyl, banner, textile, canvas, wallpaper, and film, making the machine extremely versatile and useful for textile and wide-format graphics companies.
Another area of wide-format print that continues to be popular is the printing of site hoardings, boards, and exhibition graphics.
A machine like the Epson SureColor SC-V7000 UV flatbed also fits the bill when it comes to expanding the range of applications printers can produce.
The SureColor SC-V7000 was developed for sign-makers looking to expand their offering and produce high quality UV signage
Recently digital print specialist JBF Digital invested in a SC-V7000 in order to keep up with orders and expand production.
Joe Field, managing director of JBF Digital, says: “We needed to be able to keep up with the competition and stand out from the crowd. Previously we were being out-costed, but with the V7000 we’re now more price competitive and delivering a better quality to our customers.
“The business was really struggling at times to complete incoming orders. We were running 24 hours a day sometimes and looking to take on extra staff. Now we can take more work on, complete it to a higher quality, and offer quicker lead times.”
The machine was recommended by Nick Martin from Perfect Colours, one of Epson’s specialised resellers.
Field adds: “We also had two Epson SureColor SC-S80600s that had worked very well for us. We liked their build, consistency, quality, and reliability. Martin said there was this new system that would tick all our boxes. We did look at other options but liked the SureColor SC-V7000 for a number of reasons.”
The V7000’s ten colour ink set and single-pass white ink process is indicative of the new technology and innovations PSPs and sign-makers need to stay competitive.
Liyu UK is a company that has steadily been building its brand in the UK over the past few years offering wide-format machinery at a price point that can be more accommodating for entry-level or medium-sized businesses.
Eddie Tucker, managing director for Liyu UK, says: “Liyu has got a really broad range of machines, very keenly priced and very well built. The company embraces new technologies and implements it into new machinery thanks to in-house engineers.
The Liyu Platinum range has been awarded the Greenguard certificate due to its low power consumption and eco-friendly inks
“All the flatbeds have what we call the ‘just add head technology’ where you can buy the basic machine and as the business grows you can buy new heads, install them, and increase the speeds and quality of your output.”
Liyu UK has used its new facility in Ormskirk to demonstrate its technology but also educate its customers and the possibilities available through different print technologies and software.
At The Print Show visitors were able to see the popular Platinum Q3 XL Pro Hybrid which includes a heavy-duty dual-roll system as well as dual-sided monitors and an automatic feed and continue system.
The company also showcased its range of flatbeds and cutters including the Platinum KC XLpro 3020 and the 3521.
Tucker adds: “We’ve recently been able to show customers what is achievable with RIP software and a varnish installed machine. Businesses can produce a lenticular effect using the likes of Illustrator and normal materials like acrylic to create really good 3D effects.”
An Extra Layer
As mentioned by many companies so far, competition and differentiation is becoming more and more important as end-users wish to be wowed by the prints and graphics they see. Due to this, tactile and elevated prints have become increasingly popular.
A manufacturer that has focused on new tactile applications is Canon, and at this year’s FESPA unveiled two new products: the PRISMAelevate XL and Arizona 1300 flatbed printer series.
Canon unveiled two new products at this year’s FESPA: the PRISMAelevate XL software and Arizona 1300 flatbed printer series
The Canon stand focused highly on applications with the theme ‘make it BIG’, building a streetscape which featured an applications store, concept store, café, and inspiration wall.
The company also debuted the Canon Colorado M-series to the European market. The system is the first roll-to-roll large- format graphics printer platform that is modular in speed configuration and media handling.
Thanks to its ability to produce special effects and white ink printing, the machine recently won the EDP Award for Best Roll-to-Roll Printer <170cm in the Printing Systems category.
Jennifer Kolloczek, European planning, marketing, and innovation senior director for production print at Canon Europe, says: “Ever since they burst onto the market, Colorado printers with UVgel ink have set the highest bar for speed, quality, and all-round productivity.
“On top of these business-critical performance criteria, large-format graphics providers today want to make smart, environmentally responsible investments in printing solutions that can evolve with them and help them tap into lucrative creative applications, products, and growth markets.
“With its modularity and the addition of an easy-care white ink option, the new Colorado M-series is the growth engine that businesses can rely on to level up their capabilities and turn ideas into reality.”
The scalable M-series offers a choice of output speeds, Colorado M3 or M5, with the option to upgrade from one speed to another, either temporarily or permanently, making it a much more future-proofed system.
O Factoid: Canon
recently won seven PRINTING United Alliance Awards. The Colorado
M-series won the Roll-to-Roll/Hybrid/Flatbed New Technology category,
while the Arizona 135 GT, 1380 GTF, 1380 XTF, 2380 GTF and 2380 XTF won
each of their five respective UV/Latex Flatbed categories. O
Canon UVgel ink means printers can produce a fast build-up of dense and opaque images using white ink in fewer passes than conventional printing technologies.
The PRISMAelevate XL software also highlights Canon’s focus on tactile print applications and elevated prints by creating textured effects and raised lettering of up to 2mm.
This solution succeeds the Arizona Touchstone and delivers twice the elevation with up to 20% higher speeds. Being a part of the PRISMA XL Suite, customers are able to design creative and high value applications for signage, interior and exterior décor, awards, fine art reproduction, and packaging prototyping.
The software supports the Canon Arizona 1300 and 2300 flatbed series of printers, both of which use FLOW technology.
Discussing the launch of the Arizona 1300, Matthew Faulkner, EMEA director of marketing and innovation at the Wide Format Printing Group of Canon Europe, says: “Having launched the first Arizona flatbed printer 17 years ago, we’re building on a solid foundation with our world-leading flatbed printing technology to support the growing mid-volume segment of the market and respond to print buyer demand for faster turnarounds.
“We’re now expanding the Arizona 1300 series with FLOW technology and automation enhancements, these new models deliver the proven Arizona quality and versatility, but make production quicker and easier than ever, boosting our customers’ competitiveness.”
Canon’s wide-format technology has recently been recognised in the annual PRINTING United Alliance Pinncacle Awards leading the company to receive seven awards.
The Colorado M-series was the winner in the Roll-to-Roll/Hybrid/Flatbed New Technology category, while the Arizona 135 GT, 1380 GTF and 2380 XTF won each of their five respective categories.
Faulkner adds: “Canon’s approach to research and development in the wide- format graphics market is driven by the needs of our users which we consistently seek to learn from. These awards are a testament to this customer-centric approach and reaffirm the impact of these innovative solutions in our customers’ businesses.
“We’re confident that our Colorado and Arizona product lines will continue to enable users to boost profits, expand their application possibilities with new high-value products and open up new exciting market opportunities, including interior décor, signage, and packaging.”
Embracing Versatility
Just as other manufacturers have demonstrated the ability to print on a range of substrates with various effects, producer of wide-format kit, swissQprint, has made this one of the key benefits of its machines.
The company has recently celebrated key moments like selling its 1,000th Nyala model, winning two EDP Awards, and highlighting its sustainability concept.
Since 2015 swissQprint’s Nyala flatbed printer has been ranked as one of Infosource’s top-selling machines in Europe. The model was launched in 2012 and is now on its fourth generation and sits among five other flatbeds in the swissQprint range.
SwissQprint is known for its high-quality range of applications including wood, glass, fine art, and interior décor
The machine has a 3.2m x 2m print bed with the standard model outputting up to 206sq m/h, or 370sq m/h with the speed model. With its roll-to-roll option, the flatbed printer is capable of a wide range of high-quality applications.
Christof Lüchinger, production manager at swissQprint, says: “Right from the start, practically every customer has ordered the roll-to-roll option and thus, so to speak, gets two printers in one.”
Carmen Eicher, chief sales and marketing officer at swissQprint, adds: “Nyala's unbroken success confirms something enormously important to us: over multiple generations, our products meet customer needs.”
Recently MacroArt, a specialist in branded environments, invested in the Nyala 4 in order to further enhance its offering to customers with increased speed and graphic quality.
Operations director at MacroArt, Mark Rose, comments: “The addition of the Nyala allows us not only to continue producing high-quality graphics but to deliver them at a rate which we have never seen before in the business.
“We are excited to see how it helps take MacroArt to the next level in terms of quality and innovation. When you marry all the machine’s qualities with its terrific green credentials, swissQprint’s kit ticked every box for us.”
SwissQprint is known for its high-quality range of applications including wood, glass, fine art, and interior décor. Its flatbed range including the Oryx, Impala, and Nyala are all known for their versatility and efficiency and are capable of being used with special inks like neon, white, and varnish.
Customers can enhance and differentiate themselves thanks to the capabilities of swissQprint’s other roll-to-roll and high-end printers. The Karibu 2 has special capabilities thanks to its neon, varnish, white, and relief printing as well as features like the Tip Switch Vacuum, and multilayer mode for registration accuracy while overprinting various layers.
The only printer in swissQprint’s range to include ten colour channels and up to 30 printheads is the Kudu.
Speaking about the machine’s presence at FESPA in May, swissQprint said: “Audiences at the stand were impressed not only by Kudu’s print quality, but also its productivity of up to 304sq m/h, for both its flatbed and roll-to-roll printing option (3.2 m).”
The printer was recently awarded Best flatbed/hybrid printer > 250sq m/h' at the EDP (European Digital Press) Association Awards and has received a flux of orders in the UK following its first installation in March.
The Kudu, like all swissQprint flatbed printers, is certified first-class energy efficient consuming just 2.2 kilowatt-hours of electricity, the same amount as an average kettle.
Erskine Stewart, managing director of swissQprint UK, says: "We are delighted with the interest in the award-winning Kudu. The fact that we can now show its many benefits to our clients at our Bracknell demonstration centre is great news and will ensure that the Kudu continues to meet the demand for high-volume, high-quality print production."
Weighing Up The Market
It’s undeniable that PSPs and wide-format specialists have a vast array of wide-format kit available, all suitable for a range of different applications.
As businesses continue to diversify and new trends come and go in the worlds of business and marketing, certain machines will clearly suit some companies more than others depending on their output and clientele.
Companies that deal with customers in live events, interior décor, or fine art may find themselves going for an advanced flatbed printer capable of different special effects and finishes.
However, businesses that cater to retailers, the public sector, advertising, or the entertainment industry may be better suited to traditional large-format printers or roll-to-roll devices which incorporate high-quality inks and quicker turnarounds.
Investment in any type of kit should always come with optimism but also a critical eye in order to know which machine is right for you.
Exhibitions or open house events are an ideal chance to get up close and personal with the kit and see if the results justify the investment.
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