The manufacturer will use the show, taking place at Messe Berlin, Germany, from 15 to 18 May, to host the official European launches of both its PerformanceJet 2508UF, a 1.25x2.54m flatbed LED-UV printer, and the ValueJet 1638UR, a 1.62m-wide dual-head, dual-lamp LED-UV roll-to-roll printer.
The PerformanceJet 2508UF features a moving gantry that incorporates two LED-UV lamps and four variable drop greyscale heads as standard in a staggered setup, which can be field extendable to either six or eight, allowing either dual-CMYK or CMYK plus white and varnish printing.
Capable of handling media thicknesses up to 100mm and a maximum weight of 50kg/sqm, the machine has a print bed sectioned in different vacuum zones and an air-powered pin registration system to facilitate multi-panel jobs and double-sided prints. A blowback feature enables easy handling and positioning of heavy media.
The machine produces print resolutions of 600x1,200dpi and can output up to around 90sqm/hr. Mutoh said it is suitable for the production of directional signage, fine art prints, tradeshow graphics, POP, retail signage and packaging samples.
The ValueJet 1638UR LED-UV roll-to-roll printer, meanwhile, has been specifically developed for the commercial print and sign and display markets.
It uses Mutoh’s new US11 LED-UV CMYK, white and clear VOC-free inks and enables printing on a wide range of roll substrates.
Mutoh said the machine, which produces print resolutions up to 1,440dpi, creates instant dry output, ready for application or post-treatment.
The use of white and clear inks, meanwhile, creates high added value by enabling printing on transparent media and non-white substrates as well as multi-layer printing and spot varnish effects.
Media roll weights up to 100kg can be handled by the machine, which is suitable for applications such as in-store promotion prints and deco graphics, floor and window graphics, general signage, customised wallpapers, event banners, backlit prints, fine art prints and packaging samples.
The machine will sit alongside the existing ValueJet 1638UH hybrid printer in Mutoh’s portfolio.
“There are a lot of companies out there doing solvent printing who are looking for the extra benefits of prints being immediately dry or want to add the value of white and varnish,” said Mutoh commercial marketing manager Nick Decock.
“With this type of printer you can print on a much wider range of substrates, through use of the white. You can do that with an eco-solvent printer too but then you don’t have the benefit of being able to print on heat-sensitive substrates, or you have the hurdle of the white that doesn’t stick very well.”
He added: “This machine can reach production speeds of between 6.5 and 13.5 [sqm/hr] but we promote sellable print quality and at Fespa we want to show what the machine is capable of.”
Pricing for the two new machines will be released at Fespa while commercial availability is expected in around July/August.
Mutoh will also show a range of other kit on its Fespa stand, including the aforementioned ValueJet 1638UH hybrid, the ValueJet 1948WX dye-sublimation printer, the ValueJet 426UF A3+ flatbed LED-UV printer, and the ValueJet 626UF desktop A2 flatbed LED-UV printer.
Available for the latter is an optional new rotary attachment for printing on cylindrical items such as bottles, packaging sleeves and stainless steel or aluminium containers.
