RoadShow sponsor, Roland, showcased the brand new SolJet Pro 4 XR-640, the company’s largest and fastest printer/cutter, at the Sign Africa RoadShow, which took place on 13 February at the Boardwalk Convention Centre.
The 163cm (64 inch) SolJet Pro 4 XR-640 is Roland DG’s largest and fastest printer/cutter, with production speeds of 21.6sqm/h for both banner and vinyl media in high speed print modes. The machine, which won the Viscom ‘Best of 2012’ award, combines an innovative new print head design and new ECO-SOL MAX2 inks in nine colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), plus light cyan (Lc), light magenta (Lm), white (Wh), metallic silver (Mt) and new light black (Lk).
The XR-640 incorporates the latest in inkjet technology design. It features two 8-channel piezo inkjet heads with 180 nozzles per channel. The gold-plated print heads are designed to repel ink, preventing clogs. Precision-rounded nozzles combined with accurate ink firing produce perfect ink droplets. Its dual inline print head configuration is mirrored through seven colours to ensure consistent imaging with bi-directional printing. This highly advanced system prints up to 21.6sqm/h for both banners and vinyl in production quality. Roland’s Intelligent Pass Control® further enhances image quality by precisely controlling the placement, quantity and density of ink in order to dramatically reduce banding. For accurate colour reproduction at all print speeds, the CMYKLmLcLkLkLcLmKYMC configuration applies inks in the same order for both passes.
ECO-SOL MAX2 is a new generation of Roland’s award-winning eco-solvent ink, featuring long-term outdoor durability, scratch and chemical resistance, broad media support and a wide gamut – with no nickel compounds. The ink is engineered for stable, consistent output, and produces even colours with sharp images and text. Ink adhesion has been drastically improved through the fine tuning of the company’s ink chemistry, precise head control and drop placement. This allows for high-density coverage as well as deep, rich colours that can create subtle nuances within the image. In addition to CMYKLcLm, new light black (Lk) ink has been introduced. Light black makes a significant difference to any printed image, delivering highly accurate colours and seamless gradations. With light black, you will achieve a neutral gray for smooth gray scale gradations and precise photographic images.
The printer is ideal for long production runs due to its heavy duty media handling system that stabilises printer performance and ensures precision media feeding and support for media rolls up to 40kg. Upgraded media flanges and seven pinch rollers secure the heaviest media in place and adjustable print heads enable you to accommodate various media thicknesses. For unattended roll-to-roll printing, a media take-up system is included as standard.
