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Product category: Inkjet, Laser, Digital, Thermal, Graphics, Wide Format Printing Systems
News Release from: MacDermid ColorSpan | Subject: Displaymaker 72SI wide-format inkjet printer
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial Team on 15 April 2005

Wide Format Inkjet Printer For Roll-Fed
Media

MacDermid Colorspan debuted the Displaymaker 72SI wide-format solvent inkjet printer at the ISA International Sign Expo in Las Vegas (USA).

MacDermid Colorspan debuted the Displaymaker 72SI wide-format solvent inkjet printer at the ISA International Sign Expo in Las Vegas (USA) The Displaymaker 72SI is claimed to have the ability to print on a variety of roll-fed media up to 73" wide and print on rigid materials up to 0.25" (6.35mm) thick with the addition of a set of optional roller tables

Displayaker 72SI uses 16 600 dots per inch (dpi) Micro-Quad piezo-electric printheads and Colorspan's Solachrome-HR solvent pigmented inks to produce POP displays, outdoor-durable signs, banners and vehicle graphics on inexpensive uncoated media.

The self-cleaning printhead service station uses an on-board solvent cleaning solution to ensure the printer is available to print on demand without the typical start-up maintenance associated with other solvent printers, said the company.

Colorspan's Automation Eye technology uses a high-resolution image sensor and Colorimetric photo diode, to automate the set-up and calibration steps for achieving and maintaining print quality, whilst extending the useful life of the printheads.

The Displaymaker 72SI is available from Colorspan's worldwide network of value-added distributors and resellers.

Bruce Butler, director of marketing at MacDermid Colorspan, said: "We've built on the tremendous success of the Displaymaker 72S and 72SR Gator printers and listened to feedback from our customers to come up with the next generation of Gator solvent inkjet printers.

The Displaymaker 72SI sets a new standard for solvent printing performance and value, combining production speed with award-winning quality, ease-of-use and low cost of operation." Butler continued: "By doubling the output speed and making it easy and inexpensive to upgrade to flatbed printing, we have clearly set this printer apart from its competition." The printer adds three 600dpi x 300dpi resolution print modes for near double the print speed and no noticeable loss in print quality when viewed from three feet or more away, claimed the company.

For most applications, customers will be able to turn out 400 square feet per hour of sellable prints.

The printer uses Solachrome-HR pigmented solvent inks and solvent cleaning solution, which are delivered in a no-pour three-litre containers for non-stop production printing.

Other new features include releasable pinch rollers with adjustable force that make loading flexible media easier whilst also making the printer flatbed-ready with the addition of a set of optional roller tables, said MacDermid Colorspan.

When configured for printing rigid materials, two 36" (91cm) x 75" (190cm) roller tables are attached to the front and rear of the printer to accommodate sheets up to 60" (152cm) in length.

Two additional tables can be added for sheets up to 120" (305cm) in length.

The tables can be removed for printing of roll-to-roll of flexible media.

The Displaymaker 72SI comes standard with heated media pre-print and print areas to control dot gain and provide better ink adhesion across a variety of uncoated media.

Also standard is an embossed heated dryer to dry prints prior to being rolled up on the take-up spool.

A new auxiliary dryer is available as an option that further assists drying at higher print speeds and also rotates up in to position to assist drying of rigid materials.

Designed as a production sign system, the Displaymaker 72SI's 16 piezo-electric printheads have 1,536 jets.

The printer has a print speed of 650 square feet (60.4 square metres) per hour in its billboard quality print mode.

In its production quality mode, the printer turns out 400 square feet (37.2 square metres) per hour of sellable graphics.

A high quality mode is also available at 200 square feet (18.6 square metres) per hour.

Consisting of a high-resolution imaging sensor, colourimetric photodiode and embedded software, the printer automates the set-up and calibration steps for achieving and maintaining print quality.

Its Autoset Calibration analyses dot placement of printed patterns and automatically sets the head-to-head alignment and bi-directional (bi-di) dot placement alignment to compensate for variable print speeds, head height settings and media thickness, said MacDermid Autospan.

Autojet Calibration is said to eliminate banding in prints and extends the useful life of the printheads by mapping out missing jets and jets that are not up to performance standards and compensating by using another healthy jet in its place.

At the same time, the Autotune Scheduler schedules the Autojet calibration to occur during unattended print runs to ensure maximum print quality and minimise waste or reprints.

Auto Edge Detection - uses the image sensor to aid in the loading of rigid materials by detecting right, left and leading edges.

It also checks for and warns user if the board appears to be loaded askew.

The on-board spectrophotometer supplies colour and density data to the external RIP's colour management software.

The colour management system then linearises the colour curves to ensure accurate and consistent colour.

Using the on-board spectrophotometer, the Displaymaker 72SI is said to print and automatically read hundreds of colour swatches to allow the RIP and Colormark Plus colour management software to create custom ICC and Colormark profiles for third party media.

Solachrome HR solvent-based pigmented inks are available in cyan, magenta, yellow and black are designed for reliable jetting, low maintenance, long head life, low cost of operation and long term outdoor display life of three - five years depending on application, said MacDermid Colorspan.

Solachrome-HR inks print directly on standard uncoated vinyl and other substrates for durable, indoor and outdoor graphic applications.

The printhead's self-cleaning service station, along with the on-board solvent cleaning solution makes printhead and jet maintenance easier, claimed the company.

Together they maintain jet health so the printer is ready to print, at any time, on demand.

Featuring a one-button purge and wipe procedure, it uses a combination of a clean solvent bath and 16 motorised wiper blades to automatically clean and prepare the heads for printing.

The Displaymaker 72SI is claimed to be capable of printing on a range of flexible materials including banner vinyl, adhesive vinyl, canvas, paper, fabric and film.

Configured with the optional set of roller tables, it also prints on a variety of uncoated rigid materials, such as Ultraboard, Fome-Cor, Gatorplast, polystyrene sheets, cardstock (tag board) and clay-faced corrugated.

The Displaymaker 72SI is said to be suitable for print-for-pay service providers that produce indoor POP and exhibition displays, in addition to outdoor signs, banners, fleet graphics, backlits, floor graphics and other high volume work.

The Displaymaker 72SI has a US retail price of US$54,995, which includes a set of four litres of ink and 600 square feet of banner vinyl.

It is available immediately through MacDermid Colorspan's worldwide network of value-added distributors and resellers.

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