The new £20,995 ValueJet 1638X is designed for high-quality volume production of sign and display graphics for long-term outdoor applications as well as durable indoor prints.
Applications include posters, backlit signage, wall coverings, point-of-sale displays, fine art reproduction and vehicle graphics. The device can be configured with Mutoh’s Eco Ultra or its Universal Mild Solvent inks, while production printing speeds start at 10sqm/hr at 1,080x1,440dpi and go up to 20sqm/hr at 720x1,080dpi and 29 and 36sqm/hr at 720dpi.
The other new ValueJet model to receive its global launch this week is the 1638WX high-speed dye-sublimation printer, which is priced at £18,995. The machine offers production speeds starting at 11sqm/hr at 1,080dpi up to 42sqm/hr at 360x720dpi and 65sqm/h at 360dpi and supports all typical dye-sublimation transfer paper-weights from 66gsm to 150gsm.
Targeted at the sublimation transfer market, the 1638WX is designed for soft signage, home decorations such as curtains and linens, flags, promotional items such as mugs, umbrellas and mobile phone cases, clothing and sports equipment. Both machines, which are available for shipping immediately, incorporate a staggered dual-head setup with latest generation 1,440-nozzle piezo heads.
Depending on which inks are used, the heads can deliver droplets sizes from 3.5picolitre to 35picolitre for the 1638X and 5.9picolitre up to 45.3picolitre for the 1638WX.
Other improvements on their predecessors, which were launched in 2012, include the incorporation of an upgraded mainboard, which includes a 64-bit RISC processor that will help to deliver faster data transfer and processing and new firmware that starts the devices more efficiently.
Both devices also use Mutoh’s new DropMaster technology for dual-head models that automatically recalculates and adjusts uni- and bi-directional fire timings according to media thickness and therefore the distance between the substrate surface and printhead.
This eliminates the need for the user to manually recalibrate the device “There a lot more intelligence within these machines to make the printer operators life a lot easier. The peace of mind of these devices is very high compared to others on the market,” said Mutoh marketing manager Nick Decock.
“Where they excel is in their quality. We want to offer realistic output speeds but at the highest quality and the highest resolutions because that is the print that people want to use.”
It is not possible for owners of the 2012-launched ValueJet 1638 and 1638W models, which are to be discontinued, to upgrade to the new mainboard, although Decock said there were "a lot of automation and peace-of-mind features" in the new firmware that could be downloaded.
Servicing for the older models will still be available, he added.
