Maidstone-based display printer ESP Technologies Group has become the first site in the world to install a Vutek PressVu UV 180 flatbed UV-cured digital printer.

ESP held off investing in alternative flatbed UV-cured digital printing because Vutek promised to set the standard in terms of print quality.

"Im really chuffed," said managing director Stephen Hood. "The quality leapfrogs screenprint."

The PressVu is an eight-colour machine (CMYK plus light CMYK) with a 600dpi resolution, which Hood claims delivers near photographic quality that should be particularly attractive for his brand-conscious customers point of sale work.

He also hopes that using the machines roll-to-roll printing facility will improve the quality of vinyl vehicle graphics. Hood claims these suffer from problems with solvent-based inks reacting with the adhesives used.

The 400,000 ($600,000) machine was installed just before Christmas. It joins the companys existing Vutek UltraVu 5300 five-metre-wide digital printer.

Other applications will include hoardings and long term outdoor signage.

"Its hard to say what the majority of the work will be because of the versatility," he said.

Story by Barney Cox