NAZDAR Announces New Lyson Inks for Mimaki Printers

NAZDAR Announces New Lyson Inks for Mimaki Printers

SHAWNEE, KS — Nazdar, the largest manufacturer of screen and digital printing inks in North America, announces the release of new Lyson digital inks for Mimaki printers.

Lyson 133 Series for the Mimaki JV33 & CJV

• OEM color comparable, no profiling necessary in most situations
• High intensity, high gloss colors with excellent adhesion and flexibility on most media
• Reliable unattended printing

Lyson 155 Series for the Mimaki JV5

• OEM color comparable>
• Excellent print head and nozzle performance
• Extended exterior performance with proven resistance to UV degradation and color fading

The new inks are available in 440ml. cartridges or 1-liter bulk bottles. Technical data sheets and more information are available on www.nazdar.com.

The 133 and 155 Series inks expand the Lyson product portfolio of solvent and UV-curable ink compatible with popular digital inkjet printers. Richard Bowles, Nazdar Vice President and General Manager commented, “The market has been asking for OEM ink alternatives for the JV33 and JV5 printers. With the success of the Lyson 1300 series in the JV3 install base, we are confident these two new products will meet market expectations.”

Nazdar Lyson inks are an economical alternative to OEM solvent and UV-curable inks. Nazdar provides an equipment and application warranty that covers both hardware and output. Users of Nazdar Lyson inks can save up to 30% on ink costs when compared to OEM ink usage.

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Nazdar is the largest manufacturer and distributor of screen printing inks, equipment, and supplies in North America. For more information about any of Nazdar’s complete line of quality screen printing and digital products, contact the company at:

8501 Hedge Lane Terrace,
Shawnee, KS 66227-3290.

Phone: 913-422-1888.
Toll-free: 800-767-9942.
Fax: 913-422-2296
E-mail: cserv@nazdar.com

OEM Ink to Nazdar Lyson Ink Conversion Instructions

Mimaki Printers

Mimaki JV3 digital printers
Instructions to convert Mimaki JV3 printers from SS2 inks to Lyson 1300/1302 Inks.
Download Instructions

Mimaki JV33 digital printers
Instructions to convert Mimaki JV33 printers from SS21 inks to Lyson 133 Inks.
Download Instructions

Mimaki JV5 digital printers
Instructions to convert Mimaki JV5 printers from HS inks to Lyson 155 Inks.
Download Instructions

Mutoh Digital Printers

Mutoh Valujet
Instructions to convert Mutoh 1204, 1304, 1604, 1608, 1614 & 2606 printers to Lyson 2100 Inks.
Download Instructions

Roland Digital Printers

Roland printers
Instructions to convert all Roland, except for AJ-1000, printers to Lyson 2000 Inks. Download Instructions

VISCOM 2010 SUCCESS FOR GRAPO TECHNOLOGIES – Manta Slim

VISCOM 2010 SUCCESS FOR GRAPO TECHNOLOGIES

manta slim

New portfolio addition Manta Slim steals limelight at the Frankfurt show.

Olomouc, Czech Republic, November 09, 2010 – Grapo Technologies a.s., the Czech Republic manufacturer of wide format hybrid and flatbed UV printers reports its newly-launched Manta Slim was the star of the show at Viscom in Frankfurt, Germany.

“Printers were very interested to see how the Manta Slim can make a huge difference to their product offering. Not only were they amazed by the quality produced and how easily
the entry-level system could be operated but they were also impressed by attractive price,” said Sales Director Branislav Oravec. “There is nothing else like it on
the market that offers such a good quality/ price balance.”

Developed to easily enable printers to provide UV print to their customers without major financial investment, the space-saving Manta Slim takes up just half the footprint of its predecessor yet has a printing size of 2 x 1,5 meters. Using inks curable with UV lamps
it can print at 720 dpi on the widest range of rigid materials, including: foam board, cardboard, plastic, wood, metal, glass etc.

The system was also featured on key distributor Igepa Group’s stand and Hamburg branch manager Uwe Becker, commented on the advantages of the small sister to the market proven Gemini: “The Manta Slim is the perfect entry-level solution for start-up companies
or screen printers who want to get into digital printing with an attractive price/ratio performance. The Viscom special offer price generated a lot of interest from show-goers”.

Oravec added: “The initial response to the Manta Slim was very encouraging. Viscom has provided it with an excellent springboard into the market place and we were very pleased
to see how excited our customers were about the possibilities the new system offers them.”

Bundle with Aristo
Also garnering much visitor interest was the Grapo printer and Aristo cutter bundle offer.
It was created to help end users establish a profit-enhancing final product workflow solution.

“This cooperation offers synergies for both companies,” states Michael Hock, Market Manager at Aristo in Hamburg. “And for us especially it is a door opener to new customers in this for Aristo very important market field of large format printing. Presenting the workflow with e.g. Caldera on Grapo´s printers to Aristo´s cutters shows all clients how easy it is to reach best results for their end-customers”.

“Also our close co-operation with other market leaders such as the Caldera RIP increases the potential and performance of Grapo Technologies’ UV printing systems, making them more affordable for the global market.”,

Oravec concluded: “We were also delighted with the number of sales leads received at the show and the fantastic opportunity we had to further cement some long standing relationships. At the same time we also met a variety of potential customers we aim to work more closely with in the future.”

About Grapo Technologies
Czech Republic-based Grapo Technologies is the only wide-format printer manufacturer with origins as a print shop. Grapo’s founder, Radim Králik, manufactured his first UV-curable wide-format printer for his own print shop in 2003. When he launched it commercially
in 2004, Grapo Technologies was born.

Today, the company manufactures mid-market wide-format printers that use UV-curable inks. By drawing on its experience as a print shop operator and using smarter engineering, Grapo Technologies ensures that its systems are the most efficient and cost effective
on the market. Grapo Technologies‘ printers deliver optimal performance and are easy to use and maintain, keeping training and operating costs to a minimum. All Grapo Technologies systems are put through a rigourous testing process in Grapo’s own print shop environment prior to customer shipment.

Grapo Technologies printers are manufactured in Europe and are used to produce billboard displays, building wraps, point-of-purchase (POP) displays and more. Grapo Technologies currently offers four models – Manta, Octopus, Shark, Gemini – which are sold throughout Europe and the rest of the world through a network of distributors. Please see the whole product line offer on www.grapo.com.

For more information, please contact:

Lutt Willems, Duomedia Public Relations
T +32 2 454 85 57
E-mail: lutt.w@duomedia.com

Maja Ostadalova, Grapo Technologies
M +420 602 44 10 10
T +420 587 435 631
E-mail: mostadalova@grapo.com

Grapo Technologies – Gemini X10/1080UV

GRAPO-TECHNOLOGIES GEMINI

Olomouc, Czech Republic – Grapo Technologies, a manufacturer of wide format hybrid and flatbed UV printers based in the Czech Republic will be demonstrating its next generation of printing technology at FESPA 2010, scheduled for June 22-26 in Munich. The new flatbed Gemini X10/1080UV from Grapo Technologies is capable of printing on rigid substrates as well as roll-to-roll, and will bring to market higher speeds, improved quality and a number of new innovations. Grapo Technologies is located in Hall B2, Stand 460 at the show.

“The theme at FESPA 2010 is Catch the New Wave of Innovation,” said Radim Králik, CEO of Grapo Technologies. “That’s exactly what we will be bringing to the show with our next generation platform for UV flatbed printers. With a printing area of 2×3 meter for rigid sheets as well as the ability to handle rolls up to 165 cm, the Gemini X10/1080UV brings tremendous new business potential to sign and display printers at an affordable price point.”

Faster Output, Exceptional Skin Tones
With speeds of up to 90 square meters per hour, the new Gemini X10/1080UV also offers double the speed of previous generation Manta printers when printing with white ink at 15-30 square meters per hour. High quality printing of skin tones and better quality flat colors also differentiate this new printer.

“Sign and display printers are always seeking higher quality to meet the escalating requirements of their customers,” added Králik. “With greater speed and productivity, as well as the wide range of printed products, the Gemini X10/1080UV enables sign and display printers to produce more jobs at higher margins. Much of this new capability is enabled by the 10 XAAR 1001 printing heads with unique Through-Flow system and variable drop sizes for grayscale printing embodied in this new generation printer, as compared to eight printing heads and a fixed drop size in the previous generation.”

Expanded White Ink Capabilities
With the new design, the white ink heads are specifically positioned to print in one pass. “The Gemini X10/1080UV can print CMYK, white and CMYK again, printing three layers all in one pass,” explained Králik. “This is quite unique in the industry and contributes heavily to the improved productivity of this device. This capability is particularly important when printing on transparent substrates, such as acrylics, where images must be displayed on both sides. In addition to using white ink as the diffusion layer for backlit applications for point of purchase and other materials, white ink can also be used as a spot color, allowing selected images to be highlighted for greater effect.”

Grayscale Printing Brings Speed, Quality, Cost Savings
Previous generations of Grapo Technologies’ printers used a binary printing technology with a single drop size. In the Gemini X10/1080UV, grayscale printing is enabled by eight different levels of drop sizes ranging from 6 to 42 picolitres, with extremely precise drop placement. The ability to jet small droplets produces sharp images with smoother gradients and quartertones, while larger droplets produce dense, uniform solids. The result is a near-photographic image quality and also results in more efficient ink consumption, saving up to 35% in ink usage depending upon the application.

This variable drop capability especially affects white ink printing and allows the opportunity to produce more interesting images with much finer detail. The precise drop placement also contributes to both the improved quality and speed of the printer. Grayscale printing can either simulate additional colors, such as light magenta and light cyan, in a CMYK printing process, or additional specialized colors can be utilized if needed.

“We have designed this printer to be even easier to operate and more energy efficient than past generations,” concludes Králik. “It is ideal for screen printers seeking to move to more modern and efficient digital technologies, digital sign printers who wish to move away from less environmentally friendly solvent printing, and for offset or flexo printers who can effectively use the Gemini X10/1080UV to create short run samples cost effectively and/or diversify their offerings. Combined with the broad range of substrates that can be used, from irregularly shaped items, wood and glass to all types of plastic, vinyl and paper materials, the capabilities of the Gemini X10/1080UV relative to its price point are unmatched in the industry. We are excited to see the reaction of FESPA attendees.”

Orders will be taken for the Gemini X10/1080UV at FESPA, which will be commercially available in August 2010.

To achieve targets, to make money, today’s print business needs reasonably fast printer with high quality output on which business can relay 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The New Gemini flatbed UV printer from Grapo Technologies provides all that at affordable price, 2 years warranty and professional experienced service and maintenance support.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Printing technology	UV curable piezoelectric inkjekt
Printheads	10 x XAAR Through-Flow technology™ with variable droplets size of 6 to 42 picolitres
Nozzles per head	1000
Hardware resolution	360 x 360 dpi
Print (apparent) resolution	up to 1000 x 1000 dpi
Print speed (productional quality)	up to 90 sqm / 969 sqf (flatbed & roll) per hour
Print speed (high quality)	up to 58 sqm / 624 sqf (flatbed & roll) per hour
Media types	rigid sheets, flexible roll materials, objects
Maximum sheet size	2,0 x 3,0 x 0,06 m (6.6′ x 9.8′ x 2.36
Print area flatbed (edge-to-edge)	2,0 x 3,0 x 0,06 m (6.6′ x 9.8′ x 2.36
Maximum roll size	1,66 m (65.4
Print area roll	1,62 m (64
Core inner diameter	76 mm (2.99
Maximum roll weight	100 kg
Color system	2 x CMYK + 2 x optional head
Inks	CMYK / W / V , Grapo Technologies by Sericol, 1L
Ink reservoir	5L
Curing system	Water and air cooled lamps
Operation system	Windows 7 Ultimate EN
Workflow processing	Caldera Grand RIP 8 and Grapo Technologies print software
Image formats	PDF, TIFF, JPEG, EPS, PostScript
User interface	LCD monitor, mouse, keyboard, signmark light installed
External dimensions	5675 x 4590 x 1826 mm
Weight	2300 kg
Electrical requirements	3 x 400V / 50Hz / 32A
Operation environment	18–26°C
Warranty	2 years
Technical support	GrapoAssistant, 24-hour on-line technical support on www.grapo.com

Grapo Technologies and Orafol Partner to Bring New Capabilities to Traffic Sign Manufacturing

Brno / Olomouc, Czech Republic, March 23 2010 – Grapo Technologies, a manufacturer of UV large format roll-to-roll and flatbed UV printers based in the Czech Republic, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Orafol Europe GmbH, a leading manufacturer of self-adhesive graphic products, special tape systems and reflective materials. Both companies agreed to develop an application package that uses Grapo’s Octopus UV digital printers and specially developed inks to digitally produce reflective traffic signs using Orafol`s microprismatic reflective film systems, replacing screen printing technology for many sign applications.

“We are very pleased have been selected by Orafol, a well-known and respected brand in the market, for this unique application” said Radim Kralik, CEO of Grapo Technologies. “Through this partnership, Orafol and Grapo will be able to sell this unique system. It is a rewarding experience for Grapo that Orafol’s due diligence efforts resulted in the approval of our technology for this highly critical application.”

Traffic signs are a very specific application with critical specifications and cannot be produced digitally using normal CMYK inks. In partnership with Orafol, Grapo Technologies has modified its Octopus UV printing system to the ORALITE ® UV traffic sign printer, developing special inks to address the seven-color requirement for traffic signs. “For printing on the Orafol`s microprismatic reflective material,” added Kralik, “each color must have perfect physical specifications to ensure proper reflection. The seven flat color inks we developed are able to be printed directly from one head on the ORALITE ® UV traffic sign printer, replacing traditional screen printing processes which are costly, time consuming and carry a heavier environmental footprint. In addition, screen printing is not a cost-effective process for shorter runs.”

Grapo Octopus

Migrating Traffic Signs from Analog to Digital Manufacturing

With this new system, traffic sign manufacturers will be able to cost-effectively handle short runs and print signs on demand to meet market needs, especially for signs with variable information, directions and other information that may only require a quantity of one or two.

Kralik points out that although Grapo can sell the system under the agreement, Orafol will be the primary coordinator of sales activities. “There are legal and testing procedures required to gain acceptance from each ministry of traffic,” he explains. “Colors must be certified, but more importantly, the entire system must be certified. Orafol will be leading the certification process based on their relationships, reputation and experience in this market.” Not only must colors be specific in order to pass certification, but inks also must demonstrate good adhesion to the reflective materials and last a long time under varying light and weather conditions. The new traffic sign manufacturing system consists of three components: the ORALITE ® UV traffic sign printer developed by Grapo, custom inks developed by Orafol, and microprismatic reflective material provided by Orafol.

“Because of this easy and reliable technology we expect to see good market reception to this breakthrough solution.” said Dr. Loclair, Managing Director of Orafol. “We are excited to be able to show samples of printed reflective material using this system at Intertraffic Amsterdam 23-25 March 2010 .” Orafol can be found in Hall 1, Booth 203 at the show.

Agile Development Ensures Fast Production of Niche Products

“This is only one niche market we have been investigating,” said Kralik, “and we are extremely pleased that our nimble and flexible R&D organization was able to respond quickly to the needs of this market as presented to us by Orafol. This is only one example of how our R&D efforts can benefit not only niche markets but the market as a whole in an environment where new applications arise frequently and requirements for existing applications can change quickly.”

About Orafol

ORAFOL Europe GmbH is a leading manufacturer of self-adhesive graphic products, special tape systems and reflective materials. The company strongly invested in the expansion of its core business during the last few years. It is currently represented in over 90 countries. The site in Oranienburg near Berlin employs more than 500 people. ORAFOL Europe GmbH is certified according to EN ISO 9001 and EN ISO 14001. A subsidiary, ORACAL USA Inc., was established in the United States.

About Grapo Technologies

Czech Republic-based Grapo Technologies is the only wide-format printer manufacturer with origins as a print shop. Grapo’s founder, Radim Králik, manufactured his first UV-curable wide-format printer for his own print shop in 2003. When he launched it commercially in 2004, Grapo Technologies was born.

Today, the company manufactures mid-market wide-format printers that use UV-curable inks. By drawing on its experience as a print shop operator and using smarter engineering, Grapo Technologies ensures that its systems are the most efficient and cost effective on the market. Grapo Technologies‘ printers deliver optimal performance and are easy to use and maintain, keeping training and operating costs to a minimum. All Grapo Technologies systems are put through a rigourous testing process in Grapo’s own print shop environment prior to customer shipment.

Grapo Technologies printers are manufactured in Europe and are used to produce billboard displays, building wraps, point-of-purchase (POP) displays and more. Grapo Technologies currently offers three models – Manta, Octopus and Shark – which are sold throughout Europe and the rest of the world through a network of distributors.

ISBA Germany installs Manta Printer from Grapo Technologies

ISBA Germany installs Manta Printer from Grapo Technologies.

Grapo Technologies, a manufacturer of UV large format roll-to-roll and flatbed UV printers based in the Czech Republic, today announced that ISBA and its parent company, German charity organization Lebenshilfe e.V., have acquired a Grapo Technologies Manta UV flatbed wide format printer to better meet emerging customer demands, especially with respect to tighter timeframes for delivery of printed display graphics. Lebenshilfe e.V. helps psychiatric patients to build confidence as they re-enter society. The system was sold and installed by Grapo Technologies’ distribution partner, Igepa Group GmbH & Co.

“After careful consideration of a wide range of available UV printing solutions,” said Production Manager Ranier Laske of ISBA, “we found the Manta from Grapo Technologies to be the most viable option. We needed to produce graphics larger than A3, and we also wanted to be able to print on unique substrates and in unusual formats with the fastest turnaround time possible. Manta met all of those needs and more. The Manta offers us unlimited application possibilities for printing on rigid or flexible substrates.”

Laske also points out that the environmental considerations of UV printing were important in the decision process, adding, “With solvent inks, more than 95% is emitted into the air during the printing process.  This is not a healthy situation for our employees. With UV-curable inks there are no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted into the atmosphere. In addition to their environmental benefits, printing with UV-curable inks consumes less ink and offers significant advantages when printing on uncoated stocks.  We also love the ‘pause’ feature on the Manta, which allows us to stop printing if a problem is observed and restart at the same spot where the problem occurred. This saves us a significant amount of media, which can be quite expensive.”

ISBA’s Mission

Since 1993, ISBA has focused on creating a healthy working environment for psychiatric patients.  As a protected workspace, ISBA employs 140 people and offers them the opportunity, following their stay in the clinic, to enjoy  a positive work experience. A structured daily routine established in eight different work groups allows psychiatric patients to regain simple values they have lost during a critical phase in their lives and grow their self-esteem. Of the total work force, 20 are occupied with digital wide and small format printing.  ISBA draws its printing clients from a number of industries, including electricity suppliers, metal processing and the fashion industry.

Robustness and Flexibility Differentiate the Manta

ISBA opted for the four-color version of the Manta but has the opportunity to add white ink should they have an increased demand for this application. “In particular, we liked the robustness of the machine, its flexible application possibilities and its ease of use,” commented Laske. “Especially for the people we employ, it is of extreme importance that they can easily operate the Manta. After a very short training period, our people were able to operate the system.  Thanks to the robustness of the machine, we have very little downtime. Any small interruptions can be easily fixed by our team.”

Creativity Without Limits

With its previous configuration, ISBA could only handle job orders in smaller formats, but the Manta has changed that. “With the Manta, the sky is virtually the limit in terms of formats and materials to print on,” says Laske. “That is important for us, since we have experienced growth in demand for large format applications.” Typical jobs printed by ISBA on the Manta vary from exhibition stand layouts, to dividers, car wraps, sticker prints, floor prints, displays, textile printing and even printing on doors.  As a promotion for its cafeteria, ISBA developed personalized jute bags.  ”We do a lot of personalized printing on demand,” concluded Laske. “Many companies are talking about personalization, but we have been doing it for years. The Manta adds more flexibility and capability to our personalization and other projects.”

Manta Product Details

Grapo Technologies Svang inks ensure optimal adhesion to print media without the need for pre-coating.  The white ink option enables printing on dark backgrounds.  Maximum printing size is 2 x 3 meters at 720 dpi, with small, precise controlled drop sizes and precise dot placement, enabling excellent reproduction of skin tones or pastel-colored surfaces without color cuts or sharp transitions.

The Manta has a production speed of 110 square meters per hour and comes with many time- and cost-saving features.  For example, Grapo Technologies’ unique Twin Mode System, allows users to print on one half of the machine while preparing a second job on the other. This innovative feature stems directly from Grapo’s early years as a print shop, when it learned the importance of maximizing available space, reducing man hours and increasing operating efficiency.  The Twin Mode System uses two independent desk areas. While printing on one area, operators can place material for printing on the other side without disrupting the ongoing printing process. The ability to switch between print desks when using rigid materials ensures that jobs can flow with no interruption between them and with no valuable production time lost.

UV-curable inks also provide the option to pause printing in case of errors or other occurrences. Users can halt the printer midway through a job, and then restart exactly where they left off once the problem has been corrected, reducing the amount of media waste.

UV LED Easy as ABC

At SGIA Summit unveiled its Black Diamond, a 5-by-8-foot flatbed inkjet printer.

The Roland VersaUV LEC-300 Oransky mentions features safe, low-heat LED lamps, and prints CMYK plus white and clear on substrates that include foils, metallic and synthetic papers, BOPP, polyethylene and PET film.

Solara ion lamps from Gerber Scientific generate maximum surface temperature of just 85 degrees, which is the reason the system is termed Cold Fire Cure.

The printing world is continually evolving, and so too are wide-format printing systems relying on UV-curable inks. Among the latest technological developments in a field known for swift technological change is the use of LED lamps to cure prints.

How do these LED systems differ from the hot-light solutions currently used? What efficiencies will they bring to wide-format imaging professionals? And are they all essentially the same, or do the LED solutions differ from one manufacturer to another?

We put those questions to a trio of experts in the field, first among them Eric Custer, the technical manager for Summit UV in Columbia City, IN. Summit UV is a newer company that began as an offset, screen, and flexo house that experienced problems with the heat generated by the lamps used to cure UV inks, Custer says.

About five years ago, Summit UV began experimenting on solutions to the problem, and a couple of years later filed its first patent on its high-intensity UV LED curing system. Today, Summit UV sells to printer manufacturers and users internationally.

At the most recent SGIA show, the company unveiled its Black Diamond, a 5-by-8-foot flatbed inkjet printer using Summit UV’s own curing technology, Custer says.

In general, UV LED printers provide a number of advantages, he adds. Those benefits include the fact these printers do not subject substrates to infrared heat, so much thinner film substrates can be used. They also offer long light life, translating to savings of $1,500 every 500 hours on the replacement of mercury arc lamps.

What’s more, they consume less power, requiring just a standard 110-volt household system rather than the 220-volt power and large power supplies consumed by mercury arc lamps. Finally, some mercury arc lamps create ozone, Custer reports. “That means you have to have better ventilation for the work area, and exhaust some of the heat off the lamps,” he says. “With LED, you have no ozone production, so you don’t need that ventilation. And the atmospheric heat generation is very small.”

Summit UV’s LED technology improves on the process used by others, Custer adds. “Ours is a focused light, whereas the conventional LED systems are flat arrays,” he observes. “The geometry of the way we make our light allows for higher curing speeds per line, due to the high power generation.”

Also, the company’s LED technology is based around the 365-nanometer wavelength, which permits many more formulating options for the ink chemist. That in turn allows for accommodation of a greater range of inks, Custer says.

Roland DGA

Andrew Oransky, director of product management for Irvine, CA-based Roland DGA Corp., agrees with Custer about the benefits of using UV LED printers are numerous.

“The lamps consume far less power than traditional UV sources, and as a result are less expensive to run on a daily basis,” Oransky says. “They also run cooler, which allows the use of a wider array of media. Typical UV lamps can get as hot as 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can warp or distort materials, particularly plastics. In contrast, the LED lamps we are using in the new LEC-300 never reach a temperature of more than 104 degrees, which is roughly the same temperature as warm tap water.”

LED lamps are also an improvement from an environmental standpoint, Oransky says. Not only do they boast lower power consumption and require low maintenance, but their life span is 10 times that of traditional lamps, yielding fewer bulbs in landfills.

The key difference most users will notice in an LED curing printer, he says, is the absence of a shutter mechanism. The mechanism isn’t required because LED lamps can be turned on and off instantly, require no warm up, and don’t have to be left on to prepare for the next curing cycle. This also means that rather than having to wait up to half an hour for the printer to warm up and for you to get the first job out each morning, the printer is up and running as soon as you walk in the door, Oransky says.

“LED lamps emit different wavelengths than traditional lamps, so ink formulation is critical with LED curing,” he adds. “Inks must be designed to cure at the wavelength that the lamps emit. As a result, printer manufacturers need to take a system approach to design and inks. Also, lamps cannot be replaced with generic items.”

The Roland VersaUV LEC-300 Oransky mentions features safe, low-heat LED lamps, and prints CMYK plus white and clear on substrates that include foils, metallic and synthetic papers, BOPP, polyethylene and PET film. It’s “a digital printing device supporting an endless range of highly customized applications,” says Rick Scrimger, vice-president and general manager of Roland DGA Corp. “In addition to short-run production of high-end specialty graphics, the LEC-300 is a uniquely capable prepress tool for label proofs, packaging comps and one-off prototypes.”

Gerber Scientific Products

A different approach to UV LED printing has been advanced by South Windsor, CT-based Gerber Scientific Products, says director of inkjet printing Curt Brey.

“Gerber’s approach is different in both the ink and the light source,” he explains, noting that in the UV curing field, the two approaches used are as different as night and day, black and white and particularly hot and cool. One side features the mercury-vapor lamps, with a contact temperature on the surface of the substrate of 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and a temperature on the lamp of from 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

At the other end of the spectrum are LED curing technologies, which Brey says are typically found on higher-end printers of $200,000 or more.

“Gerber has secured the intellectual property to take hold of the space in between those two curing technologies, with high-pressure mercury vapor lamps on one side and LED on the other,” Brey says. “Our technology can only cure our inks. It is neither hot nor inhibited in its life. The high-pressure mercury vapor lamps have a useful life of 500 hours, while ours last thousands of hours.

“We’re the only company we know of today that covers our lamps under the one-year warranty and the service contract. Our lamps simply don’t break down as fast as high-pressure UV lamps. They’re an entirely different type of technology.”

Solara ion lamps from Gerber Scientific generate maximum surface temperature of just 85 degrees, which is the reason the system is termed Cold Fire Cure. At these cooler temperatures, the printer can imprint a wide variety of materials, including heat sensitive materials like paper and biodegradable and recycled signboards, Brey says.

The other attribute of the printer is that it successfully prints with cationic inks. The GerberCat cationic UV ink is specifically formulated to work with the Solara ion. Its features and benefits include adherence to more materials than any other inkjet ink, great resistance to abrasion with unmatched scratch resistance and the largest UV color gamut in the industry, Brey says.

In addition, it is a highly flexible ink that supports vehicle wraps and vehicle graphics applications, offers the greatest chemical resistance of any ink marketed, and is environmentally friendly in that it enables the Solara ion to generate minimal waste.

“GerberCat cationic UV inks have proven to be everything we’d hoped them to be and more. And the Cold Fire technology is offering graphics printing shops more solutions and more applications than we’ve seen from any printing solution to date.”

Jeff Steele is a freelance writer who specializes in the field of business management, marketing, and protocol, especially as they apply to wide-format printing firms. Contact him at scribsteel@ameritech.net.

http://www.wide-formatimaging.com

Copyright 2010 Cygnus Business Media

INX Digital’s TDI intros new high-speed, single-pass UV LED-curing inkjet ink at DRUPA.

INX Digital’s TDI intros new high-speed, single-pass UV LED-curing inkjet ink at DRUPA.
San Leandro, CA – May 21, 2008 — Triangle Digital INX Co. (TDI), a member of INX Digital,
has stepped up the pace in global ink leadership, partnering with LED curing specialist
Summit UV in developing EVOLVE™ UV — the first UV LED-curing ink to deliver eye-popping
4-color with single-pass through-cure at speeds of 80’ per minute or higher, running with
Xaar™ 1001 piezoelectric printheads. All with no inert curing atmosphere.
DRUPA visitors can see the system in action at the INX Digital Exhibit CO2 in Hall 8b, from
May 29 through June 11, 2008 in Dusseldorf, Germany.
“We’ve been working with LED-cure inks for some time,” said Ken Kisner, TDI’s Sr. VP, Chief
Technology Officer, “but at slower speeds. A key to this technology’s success is formulating
EVOLVE UV to work with Summit UV’s unique, new LED. It has the ideal UV wavelength
and, importantly, ample power.”
“Compared to conventional high-intensity LED lights,” explains Mario Carluccio of Summit
UV, “our Black Diamond™ 365 Series has a shorter (365nm) UV-light wavelength and much
higher focused outputs — in excess of 6.0 Watts per cm2.
“This enables us, with TDI’s specially designed EVOLVE UV ink set, to achieve through cure
at far faster speeds than ever before.”

Breakthrough technology opens new avenues for digital growth.
“We’re now breaking barriers to digital printing in several areas,” Kisner points out, “including
short-run narrow web label printing, variable-data applications — and many more to come.
“Getting single-pass UV through cure in-line with one LED light at 80 ft./minute more than
triples previous speeds. And it’s just the beginning. We have the ability to tailor EVOLVE
UV inks for virtually any substrate — plastics, film, paper; even metal or certain textiles.
“We’re integrating technologies to provide high-speed printing at low cost. And, of course,
the standard digital advantages vs. conventional printing apply — faster startups and
turnaround with no plates, no cleanup or setup time.”
“Likewise, versus traditional mercury lamps for UV curing,” Carluccio emphasizes, “our LED
technology dramatically lowers power requirements while offering advantages such as
extremely low heat generation, instant on/off, no bulbs or other consumables. It eliminates
hazardous mercury, and avoids ozone emissions.”
“It’s a ‘double-green’ system,” sums up Kisner. “EVOLVE UV inks are formulated VOC-free.”
Fast, collaborative effort generates ‘buzz’ at RadTech, jump-starts DRUPA debut.
And it’s coming together quickly. Kisner and Carluccio both noted that mere weeks ago, this
combined technology didn’t exist.
Having previously collaborated on development work, INX Digital member TDI responded to
Summit UV’s invitation to test new EVOLVE™ UV inks with its new Black Diamond™ 365 series
LED-curing lights. Another INX Digital member, electronics engineering and system
integration specialist Innovative Solutions INX (ISI) has utilized advanced-generation Xaar
printhead technologies.

“When Mario told us the speeds at which they were getting through cure,” Kisner said, “we
contacted Xaar immediately — only a few weeks before RadTech (UV/EB Technology Expo).
Their Xaar™ 1001 printheads completed the system in time to demo at the recent Expo.”
The high-speed, single-pass UV LED-curing system created quite a stir, Kisner and Carluccio
concur. “Many observers said it was the most innovative system at RadTech this year,” Kisner
asserts, “and we anticipate a lot of interest at DRUPA.
“We’re excited about how far EVOLVE UV LED-curing inks have come so far. And even more
excited about where this technology can take digital printing in the future.”
Triangle Digital INX Co., a member of INX Digital group, is a leading global manufacturer of
inkjet inks for wide format, super-wide and new generation digital printers, and a supplier of
printer parts and related services. TDI also distributes selected advanced-design wide format
printers and recyclable polyethylene (PE) media.
INX Digital, the digital arm of INX International Ink Co., through INX Digital member
companies and global affiliates, offers a full palette of digital ink systems, advanced
technologies and integration services including chemistry, hardware, software, engineering
design & integration and media.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susie Mendelssohn
510-346-7201

Summit UV: Specializing in Advanced UV LED Curing Technology

By now you’ve probably heard much about the advantages of high intensity UV LED as an alternative to conventional UV lamps for use in curing printed images or dispensed fluids. So why then has UV LED technology not been broadly accepted for curing applications? The primary reasons have been insufficient output power, problems achieving surface cure at production speeds and expensive for integrating in wide array applications. There have indeed been some successes in using high intensity UV LED for pinning, but where conventional UV lamps are still needed to achieve full cure requirements.

So when is UV LED technology really going to be ready for full-cure applications?

The answer is NOW with the new Black Diamond™ 365 Series UV LED Curing Systems developed by Summit UV.

INX DIGITAL PARTNERS WITH SUMMIT UV FOR UV LED CURABLE INKJET OFFERINGS
Go Green-er while Reducing Operating Costs in UV Inkjet Printing
Columbia City, IN. (May 1, 2008) – Summit UV will be demonstrating one of the
latest advancements in UV inkjet for narrow web or single pass printing
applications at the upcoming RadTech UV/EB Technology Expo. Based on its
unique LED curing technology and using an optimized CMYK ink set developed
by Triangle Digital INX, a member of INX Digital, full-color images will be digitally
printed at highest operating speeds with Xaar™ 1001 piezoelectric printheads on
a roll-to-roll feeding mechanism and then cured entirely by low energy and low
temperature light emitting diodes (LEDs).
The advantages in using LED technology versus traditional mercury UV lamps
for curing include very low heat generation, instant on/off, no bulbs or other
consumables, no ozone emissions, no hazardous mercury bulbs, all contributing
to very low energy costs. “Providing the best solution for end-users to realize
these advantages requires the right match in expertise with UV inkjet chemistry
and LED curing technologies,” says Mario Carluccio of Summit UV. “We believe
that INX Digital is an excellent partner in this pursuit. Their industry leading UV
inkjet inks and environmentally-conscious business approach are what make this
company different and well positioned to assist end-users in realizing the benefits
of our unique UV LED curing units.”
The unique advantages of the Black Diamond™ 365 Series from Summit UV as
compared to conventional high intensity LED lights are its shorter single-peak
365nm UV-light wavelength and its much higher outputs in excess of 6.0W/cm2
peak irradiance. The benefit in operating at the 365nm wavelength is the
availability of many more chemistry options being that it is a most common peak
already used with traditional mercury UV lamps (i.e. mercury I-line). The higher
power output produced is easily measurable using standard off-the-shelf
radiometers, such as the EIT Power Puck. The patent-pending multi-faced array
requires significantly fewer LED packages for more efficient product
configurations.
This ground-breaking project further demonstrates Triangle’s innovative
leadership in the digital industry. “TDI is the first to formulate an ink that cures
successfully with LED in a four-color image at high single exposure speeds,”
says Karla Witte, Vice President of Product Development at Triangle Digital INX
Co. “I think the companies involved in this exciting project bring the highest level
of industry knowledge to the table. The end result is a solution that affects the
way traditional printers handle short run operations.”
Summit UV will be demonstrating UV LED inkjet printing in booth # 633 at the
RadTech event in Chicago, Illinois on May 5 – 7. This will include curing in single
exposure of an entire CMYK process color image on uncoated 10mil white gloss
PVC substrate with a single Black Diamond 365 Series UV LED lighthead at
speeds of up to 80fpm and with no special or inert curing atmosphere. Arrange
appointments in advanced by contacting Mario Carluccio at (260) 244-1824 or
info@summituv.com.
# # #
Summit UV, through its Business Products heritage as an innovative commercial
print provider offering offset, screen, pad and inkjet technologies, has served the
printing industry since the late 1970s. The debut of its first UV LED curing units at
SGIA 2007 trade event in Florida is a result of four plus years in the development
of a more efficient, economical and greener solution for UV-curing. For more
information, please visit www.summituv.com.
INX Digital offers a full complement of digital ink systems, advanced technologies
and integration services through a confederation of member companies and
affiliates, with additional design expertise, products and services available as
needed. Triangle Digital INX Co. (TDI), specializes in outdoor durable pigmentbased
Superwide and Wide Format digital inks and protective clear coatings, and
is the leading global supplier of Inkjet Products. TDI is part of INX Digital, the
digital arm of INX International Ink Co. For more information, please visit
www.triangleinx.com.

HEXION PARTNERS WITH SUMMIT UV FOR UV LED CURABLE INKJET OFFERINGS
Go Green-er while Reducing Operating Costs in UV Inkjet Printing
Columbia City, IN. (May 2, 2008) – To be demonstrated at the upcoming
RadTech UV/EB Technology Expo in partnership between Summit UV and
Hexion Specialty Chemicals will be one of the latest advancements in UV inkjet
for wide format and industrial printing applications. Based on the unique LED
curing technology developed by Summit UV and using an optimized CMYK ink
set developed by Hexion, images will be inkjet printed with Spectra piezoelectric
printheads and then cured entirely by low energy and low temperature light
emitting diodes (LEDs).
The advantages in using LED technology versus traditional mercury UV lamps
for curing include very low heat generation, instant on/off, no bulbs or other
consumables, no ozone emissions, no hazardous mercury bulbs, and very low
energy costs. “Providing the best solution for end-users to realize these
advantages requires the right match in expertise with UV inkjet chemistry and
LED curing technologies,” says Mario Carluccio of Summit UV. “We believe that
Hexion Specialty Chemicals is an excellent partner in this pursuit. Their industry
leading UV inkjet inks producing high quality print images with superior adhesion
and flexibility on a variety of substrates well summarizes what makes this
company different and well positioned to assist end-users in realizing the benefits
of our unique UV LED curing units.”
The unique advantages of the Black Diamond™ 365 Series from Summit UV as
compared to conventional high intensity LED lights is its shorter single-peak
365nm UV-light wavelength and its much higher outputs in an air-cooled only
lighthead for units delivering up to 4.0W/cm2 peak irradiance. The benefit in
operating at the 365nm wavelength is many more available chemistry options
being that it is a most common peak already used with traditional mercury UV
lamps (i.e. mercury I-line). The higher power output produced is easily
measurable using standard off-the-shelve radiometers, such as the EIT Power
Puck. The patent-pending multi-faced array requires significantly fewer LED
packages for more efficient product configurations.
The new LED curable inkjet inks developed by Hexion Specialty Chemicals are
targeted at both the Graphic Arts and Industrial printing markets. According to
Dan Wilson, the chief formulator of this new technology, “despite the formulating
challenges of this project, we believe that there are multiple opportunities to
develop ink sets that are fully cured with the LED output for specific performance
areas. We look forward to continue the development on a number of these fronts,
working closely with Summit UV, who is clearly a leader in developing LED
curing units.”
Summit UV and Hexion Specialty Chemicals will both be demonstrating UV LED
inkjet printing in their respective booths # 633 and # 642 at the RadTech event in
Chicago, Illinois on May 5 – 7. Arrange appointments in advanced by contacting
Mario Carluccio at (260) 244-1824 or info@summituv.com.
# # #
Summit UV, through its Business Products heritage as an innovative commercial
print provider offering offset, screen, pad and inkjet technologies, has served the
printing industry since the late 1970s. The debut of its first UV LED curing units at
SGIA 2007 trade event in Florida is a result of four plus years in the development
of a more efficient, economical and greener solution for UV-curing. For more
information, please visit www.summituv.com.
Hexion Specialty Chemicals, based in Columbus, Ohio, is the global leader in
thermoset resins. Hexion’s broad range of binding, bonding and coating resins,
adhesives and specialty products are used by manufacturers around the world in
a diverse range of industries and applications. Hexion had 2007 sales of $5.8
billion and employs more than 7,000 associates. For more information, please
visit www.hexion.com.

INX Digital International debuts new high-speed, single-pass UV LED-curing narrow web press at PRINT ’09.

San Leandro, CA – September 11, 2009 — A new alternative in high-speed, high-quality narrow web inkjet printing promises to draw considerable interest from visitors at INX booth 4848 during PRINT ’09, which will be held September 11-16 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The first narrow web press from INX Digital International Co. demonstrates an ability to deliver brilliant full-color UV LED-cure single-pass output at through-cure speeds of up to 80’ per minute and will be in action throughout the six-day show.

Engineered by INX Digital systems integration specialists with a long track record in high tech electronics and software development for digital printing, the new press is ideal for short-run narrow web labels, as well as numerous customized and variable data applications. It uses patented Xaar™ 1001 piezoelectric printhead technology with Summit UV’s patented unique Black Diamond™ 365-8W series LED lights. The specially designed INX Digital EVOLVE™ line UV inks provide a perfect match for the powerful, highly focused Summit LED short-wavelength UV-light technology to guarantee eye-popping color and one-pass through-cure.

The narrow web press can run material widths of 6.3 inches and has a maximum print imaging width of 5.5 inches. Intuitive touch-screen controls enable operators to move diverse jobs along quickly and easily.

Advanced commercial-grade technology

“The basic technology was previewed in 2008 at drupa, shortly after single-pass through-cure at this speed was first achieved,” said Jim Lambert, Vice President Digital Division of INX International. “Afterwards, our design engineers became more fully involved, developing commercial-level system electronics and software for a press that is now ready to be integrated into any number of customer workflow operations.”

Lambert also emphasized it takes a superb printhead to deliver high quality output in one pass, and the Xaar™ 1001 has already been proven to be more-than-equal to the task. Its advanced piezo drop-on-demand, 8-level greyscale technology with patented Xaar Through-Flow Technology™ provides exceptionally consistent, continuous tone output.

“Prospective customers will be able to see for themselves how this system performs at the INX booth during PRINT ’09,” Lambert said.

While reiterating the wide variety of narrow web applications for which the narrow web press is suited, Lambert said the electronics and related technology developed for this machine can be retrofitted and/or readily adapted for other presses and applications.

“Our forte at INX is engineering design and system integration. We also work in collaboration with digital technology leaders such as Xaar, Summit and others, in order to deliver advanced systems and equipment that help digital operations to broaden their capabilities, and do so profitably.”

INX Digital International Co. is a leading global manufacturer of inkjet inks for wide format, super-wide and new generation digital printers, and a supplier of printer parts and related services. As the digital arm of INX International Ink Co., it offers a full palette of digital ink systems, advanced technologies and integrated services including chemistry, hardware and software, engineering design and integration and media. For more information, visit the web site at www.INXdigital.com.

The first FASTSIGNS-recommended alternative ink: Triangle™ JVS ink set for Mimaki JV3 printers.

San Leandro, CA – January 26, 2010 – INX Digital International Co. announced today that the Triangle™ brand JVS ink set for Mimaki JV3 printers has achieved recommended status by FASTSIGNS corporate operations. The first and only alternative branded ink to receive such a recommendation, it will be on display this week when FASTSIGNS holds its annual convention in Austin, Texas, Jan. 29-30.

“We are very pleased to have our inks attain recommended status,” said Chip Vielhauer, Sales Manager – Wide Format, for INX Digital’s Triangle brand inks. “Achieving this status is the result of a great team effort. After a battery of tests by FASTSIGNS, the Triangle JVS inks earned their recommendation. Our technical specialists worked directly with FASTSIGNS’ technical staff at their facility on this project. In addition to testing, we also developed specific ink color profiles so sign center franchisees can make conversion quicker and easier. It also ensures the quality output this special JVS ink set can provide.”

With nearly 500 franchise sign centers coast-to-coast, FASTSIGNS is one of the largest sign companies in the USA. The new inks provide a wide color gamut, which Vielhauer indicated was a major selling point for corporate officials at FASTSIGNS.

“Not all of the centers use Mimaki JV3 printers but a high percentage of them do. Our JVS ink set offers key advantages. This will give sign center users redder reds and brighter yellows. Overall, they can expect more pop in their color output, which will be an excellent selling point for their own customers. Plus, FASTSIGNS franchisees will realize considerable ink cost savings compared to the OEM by converting to the JVS ink set.”

Franchise owners can learn more about the new inks at the annual FASTSIGNS convention, which runs January 29-30 at the Austin Convention Center in Texas. The INX Digital booth will display Triangle JVS 440 ml cartridges and samples of high impact printed output, as well as print samples utilizing the JVS inks run on a Mimaki JV3. INX Digital representatives will be on hand to answer questions and provide further details on product specifications and distribution. FASTSIGNS franchisees can find JVS dealer locations at info@inxdigital.com.

INX Digital International Co. is a leading global manufacturer of inkjet inks for wide format, super-wide and new generation digital printers, and a supplier of printing parts and related services. As the digital arm of INX International Ink Co., it offers a full palette of digital ink systems, advanced technologies and integrated services including chemistry, hardware and software, engineering design, and integration and media. For more information, visit the Web site at www.INXdigital.com.

Machine-specific color profiles also are offered to users of these inks, which come in 440 ml cartridges