Flatbed Inkjet Takes Over Short-Run Screen Work

Companies worldwide have been installing Inca flatbed inkjet printers for an increasingly varied array of reasons, although generally they do so to break in to new markets, according to the company.

Companies worldwide have been installing Inca flatbed inkjet printers for an increasingly varied array of reasons, although generally they do so to break in to new markets, according to the company.

However, Toronto-based printer Artisan Complete has bought its new Inca Columbia Turbo specifically to handle the short runs previously printed on its screen equipment, so that the presses can concentrate on larger orders.

It is a policy that has worked extremely effectively, according to operations manager Victor Jorge.

He said: "We operate several large format multi-colour screen printing presses and, as with all screen machines, the time it takes to prepare for a new job makes this a slow process when you only want to produce a few copies.

What we wanted was the option to take runs of less than 100 away from our screen presses so that they become much more cost effective.

We examined flatbed and roll fed inkjet systems from all the leading manufacturers and the Inca Columbia Turbo from Sericol came out ahead in terms of productivity, quality and flexibility.

Since its installation earlier this year, the Columbia Turbo has been in operation 20 hours a day with great reliability and actually achieves faster speeds than we anticipated." The company has already used its Inca printer on a range of substrates, including corrugated board, vinyl, plexiglass, cork, paper and gatorboard.

Jorge continued: "The Columbia Turbo has performed impeccably on every substrate we've used and produces excellent quality.

The vacuum table and registration system incorporated within the bed enable materials to be held securely and printed on with great accuracy.

This has been the case whether we're printing a flexible substrate or a rigid material of one inch thick.

In addition, the high speed of the printer has resulted in runs as large as 220 being switched to the Inca printer, significantly more than we originally intended." Victor Jorge and his team are now planning to use the Columbia Turbo to produce lenticular work.

The Inca flatbed printers are said to be distinctive in their ability to print directly on to a rigid substrate to create lenticular output, which can be as large as the full format of 3.2 metres x 1.6 metres.

The company has also printed several jobs that have utilised both screen and digital output technologies.

"We've produced some superb results where the operators have printed three spot colours on a screen press and then passed the job over to the Inca for four-colour inkjet printing.

Integrating the two technologies is a completely smooth process and the customers have been particularly pleased with the end product," added Jorge.

Artisan Complete is one of North America's leading POP providers, employing more than 150 people and producing point-of-sale and display work for customers throughout North and South America.

Many clients are leading household names and corporations.

The company, which was formed more than 34 years ago, provides a full range of services from design through to die cutting, finishing and distribution.

All Inca flatbed printers are supplied around the world by Fujifilm Sericol, and installations in North America installations account for around half of all Inca sales worldwide.

Fujifilm Sericol provides full training and back up support for the Inca machines.

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