Mimaki’s UJV500-160 UV printer will make its European debut at FESPA 2013, scheduled for 25-29 June in London. Printing companies from Africa attending the expo will see the machine’s energy-saving LED curing with long-lasting LED bulbs and brand-new inks developed with 3M which are ideal for applications with curved surfaces such as vehicle wraps and fleet graphics where stretching could crack other inks.
‘One of the more exciting aspects of this printer is the joint development with 3M of our new LUS-200UV inks,’ said Mike Horsten, general marketing manager of Mimaki EMEA, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers which are exclusively distributed in Africa by Graphix Supply World.
‘When these inks are applied onto 3M media and installed using 3M guidelines, they carry the prestigious 3M™ MCS™ Warranty, widely recognised as the industry’s most comprehensive finished graphics warranty. It covers fading, cracking, peeling and other aspects of graphic performance. We are excited to be partnering with 3M in the introduction of these warranted inks, which will be available this summer, but already on display at FESPA 2013.’
In addition to its fast throughput, cost-effective and environmentally friendly LED curing, and 3M warranted inks, the UJV500-160 delivers a printed product that is dry and immediately ready for the next step in the process. LUS-200 inks are flexible, and are ideal for applications with curved surfaces such as vehicle wraps and fleet graphics where stretching could crack other inks.
‘We are also very excited to announce the availability of white ink (LUS-150) for roll-to-roll printing with the UJV500-160 in the September 2013 timeframe,’ added Horsten. ‘This will enhance the value of the printer even more, making it possible to create truly vibrant prints on transparent substrates using an undercoating of white ink. Our RasterLink6 RIP already supports the deposition of three layers of ink in one pass, including a base layer of white ink, to allow faithful reproduction of the natural beauty of colours printed on transparent media for applications like window graphics and backlit signage.’
