Flatbed Printer Handles Six Boards At A Time

MacDermid Colorspan has unveiled its newest flatbed UV inkjet printer, the Colorspan 9840UV.

MacDermid Colorspan has unveiled its newest flatbed UV inkjet printer, the Colorspan 9840UV.

The printer joins the Displaymaker 72UVR, 72UVX and 98UVX printers to create what is claimed to be the most comprehensive line-up of affordable, production-oriented UV-curable flatbed inkjet printers.

The Colorspan 9840UV is said to provide the ability to print on rigid sheets or flexible roll stock up to 98" (2.5 metres) wide and 2.75" (70mm) thick.

Designed around a belt-driven media feed system and 16 600 dots per inch (dpi) Micro-Quad piezo-electric printheads, the 9840UV delivers what is claimed to be true 600dpi x 600dpi quality and print speeds up to 811 square feet per hour (75.4 square metres) per hour.

Bruce Butler, director of marketing at MacDermid Colorspan, commented: "We wanted to take the opportunity at the FESPA Digital Expo to show the next generation of Colorspan UV flatbed printers.

Targeted to be released this summer, the Colorspan 9840UV represents a whole new level of productivity and versatility to digital print providers." Butler went on to say: "Features such as the ability to print up to six boards at a time and the capability to load a second set of boards whilst the first set are printing greatly increases throughput.

That, combined with the accuracy and versatility of a belt-fed media drive system and faster sellable print speeds, this is MacDermid's fastest and most productive UV printer to date." The Colorspan 9840UV is a departure from current MacDermid UV printer designs in that it uses a belt-driven media feed system with 15 vacuum zones that ensures accurate and consistent feeding of media through the printer regardless of media size, placement or quantity, added the company.

Two heavy-duty 36-inch x 101-inch (91cm x 257cm) roller tables are attached to the front and rear of the printer to accommodate sheets up to 98" (2.5 metres) wide and 80" (two metres) in length.

The tables can also be removed to accommodate an optional roll-fed media supply and take up system for printing of roll-to-roll flexible media.

The printer automatically adjusts the printhead height to accommodate a wide range of material thicknesses up to 2.75" (70mm).

A pneumatically-operated media alignment bar raises and lowers to assist in loading sheets parallel to the print direction and the printer automatically detects the media's edges making back-to-back and edge-to-edge printing easier than ever, said MacDermid Colorspan.

Input and output media rollers are also pneumatically controlled to hold warped media flat throughout the print zone.

The simultaneous printing of multiple rigid materials, such as pre-cut sign boards, can be accomplished with the new Multi-Sheet N-Up feature.

Up to six boards can be placed across the belt at once.

Adjustable media alignment pins ensure that each subsequent set of boards is placed in the same location.

Upon loading the initial set of boards, the on-board Automation Eye will detect the right and left edges of each board and sends coordinate data to the RIP to layout the job to be printed.

MacDermid Colorspan added that once the first set of boards are printing and have exited the load zone, vacuum in this area is turned off and a media alignment bar drops down allowing the user to load a second set of boards whilst the first set is still printing allowing for maximum productivity.

With its claimed ability to print directly on to full-width rigid display materials the Colorspan 9840UV is said to be suitable for sign makers, screen printers and other print-for-pay service providers that produce large volumes of indoor and outdoor signs, banners, point-of-purchase and exhibition displays by greatly reducing their production, finishing and labour costs.

The company believes the new machine is suitable for digital image providers that want to increase their productivity and expand their capabilities with a printer that costs far less than other available printers.

The Colorspan 9840UV has a retail price in the USA of US$149,995, which includes 12 litres of Solachrome-UV ink and three litres of printhead cleaning solution.

The printer will be sold through MacDermid Colorspan's worldwide network of value-added distributors and resellers beginning in the summer.

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