The Hull-based family business will become the first printer worldwide to install the VersaExpress RF-640, which replaces the RE-640, when it takes delivery of its new machine from UK distributor PrintMax at the end of this month.

Director Luke Nicholson said the firm had been looking for a new printer and had settled on the VersaExpress RE-640 until it got wind that there was a new model due out.

“We went to a trade show to look at the RE and found out from the sales rep that the RF was coming out,” he said. “Because we’re only a small family business we don’t buy printers every year, so we didn’t want to be out of date as soon as we’d installed the machine.”

MVG, which has a long history as a Roland customer, therefore took the decision to order the machine without having seen it demonstrated, along with a new GX-640 cutter.

The VersaExpress RF-640 features the same £9,999 price tag and 64” (1,625mm) maximum print width as its predecessor, but incorporates a number of new features and a noticeable leap in productivity.

Where the RE-640 had a maximum print speed of 23.1sqm/hr, the RF-640 will print up to 48.5sqm/hr in single-pass 360dpi banner mode. In total the RF-640 features five banner and three vinyl print modes ranging from one to eight passes (see Roland DG’s website for a full list).

Other improvements include a 25% increase in the maximum roll weight to 50kg, a marginal decrease in power consumption and a slight reduction in the overall weight of the printer.

New features include a high-speed take-up unit to keep pace with the new higher output speeds and the Roland Printer Assist iPad app, which allows remote monitoring of printer status, as well as the ability to manage jobs and cleaning functions.

The printer features four colours in a mirrored CMYKKYMC formation and includes Roland’s new Ink Switching System that supports unattended printing by allowing users to load a backup cartridge that will automatically discharge ink to the printer when the primary cartridge is empty.

Roland said the printer, which comes with its VersaWorks RIP included in the price, would offer ink savings of up to 20% versus the RE-640 and improved head life thanks to an automated cleaning function.

MVG will install its new RF-640 and GX-640 alongside its existing VersaCAMM VP-540 print-and-cut machine, rather than trading in the old machine, marking the first time the firm has had two printers available at one time.

Nicholson said the six-staffed firm’s objective was to advertise the fact it now had a 64” printer and to continue growing the business.