The manufacturer said the Vutek h+ series is a re-engineered and refined version of the high-volume, superwide-format hybrid Vutek h series platform. The enhancements made for the Vutek h+ series are said to offer improved productivity, print quality, reliability, capability, and profits.
The Vutek h5+ can print up to 109 3.2m-wide boards per hour at 1,200dpi resolution while the Vutek h3+ can print up to 74 boards per hour.
Todd Zimmerman, SVP/GM for display graphics and OEM ink at EFI, said: “We are excited to bring these new printers to market.
“Vutek printers have been the leader in the hybrid category in signs and display graphics for more than two decades, with more than 300 installations worldwide.
“The Vutek h+ series answers some of the key pain points for our customers, all while improving ease of use and offering the LED environmentally friendly benefits you expect from EFI Vutek technology.”
EFI said media handling improvements are some of the most notable enhancements in the Vutek h+ series. An upgraded vacuum table allows for better control of thicker media and thin-light-edged materials thanks to double the vacuum strength on the print table.
New media hold-down rollers, meanwhile, mount to existing Media Edge Guide (MEG) rails and the spring rollers force media into the vacuum, often eliminating the need for MEG skis entirely. When MEG skis are needed, they are now available in thicknesses of 0.063, 0.094, and 0.012 inches.
The Vutek h+ series also offers new optional colour configurations; CMYKcmyk + W + Clear, CMYK x 2 plus 2W, and CMYK x 2 plus Clear. The company said this opens the door for two new clear ink options for users.
Building on the success of the EFI UltraClear Coat flexible ink introduced for its superwide roll-to-roll LED printers, the manufacturer said it has now extended the offering to the new Vutek h3+ and h5+ printers.
A second clear ink, EFI Vutek Endura Clear, which has a harder surface finish for increased protective qualities, is also available for the new printers.
Both UltraClear Coat and Endura Clear inks can be used for decorative applications, to enhance an entire image (full flood) or selected areas (spot) to add extra pop to colours or special effects to graphics – as well as for a final protective coating. They print inline, simultaneously with the image, with a gloss or matt finish.
There is also an optional Gloss+ print mode, a new software capability that regulates the curing process, which can be used to add a flood or selective gloss effect to graphic prints.
Also compatible with the Vutek h+ series printers are the next-generation, LED-curable digital inks that EFI formulated for first- and second-surface interior and exterior and non-backlit and backlit applications where common thermoforming is specified.
The company stated: “EFI Transform-TF inks exhibit outstanding elongation characteristics while maintaining excellent adhesion and opacity and provide ideal characteristics for heat bending and routing of acrylic sheets with no chipping or loss of adhesion.
“And since Transform-TF inks adhere to a broad range of materials, applications go well beyond thermoforming.”
More developments to the new printers are also still to come, EFI said, with enhanced double-sided printing for high-value block-out applications “expected soon”.
The manufacturer said existing Vutek h3 and h5 printer owners can opt to upgrade their current unit with most of the new enhancements to the Vutek h+ series printers.
