Flatbed Printer's Liquid Formula Instantly Cures

Seal Graphics is launching its Aquaseal 72UV as a companion to the current generation of flatbed printers for outdoor displays and vehicle graphics.

Seal Graphics is launching its Aquaseal 72UV as a companion to the current generation of flatbed printers for outdoor displays and vehicle graphics.

The new machine is of a flatbed construction and will coat prints and rigid substrates up to 1.76m wide and 12.7mm in thickness at speeds of up to 27 metres per minute, claimed the company.

Roll-to-roll finishing is also available as an optional extra.

The AS72UV uses a liquid formulation that is said to be instantly cured when it passes under the inbuilt ultra violet lamp.

As such, it offers immediate protection to a variety of materials including output from inkjet, electrostatic, photographic and dye-sublimation printers, which can then be subjected to further processing if required without further delay.

If a second coat is desirable, perhaps for banners or posters in a harsh environment, this can be applied immediately, added the company.

The liquid has been specifically formulated to meet the demands on outdoor displays and vehicle graphics and is impervious to water, petrol, grease, alcohol, salt spray and detergents.

It exhibits low shrinkage, low edge curl and is non-yellowing, said Seal.

It is also UV, scratch, scrub and abrasion-resistant and comes in gloss, lustre and matt finishes.

Seal Graphics claimed the AS72UV requires no special training.

The operator feeds in the image, which is then coated and dried in seconds leaving an evenly protected finished item.

Because the liquid laminate does not evaporate or cure until it passes under the UV lamp, it may be left in the holding tank, meaning that a daily clean up is not necessary.

Seal recommends this need only be done every five days depending upon usage.

Moreover no wastage is incurred because the delivery system continuously cycles and filters the laminate delivering a precise volume of liquid to each image.

The underside of the image is kept clean by the actions of a doctor blade and bottom squeegee, added the company.

The company also believes that the AS72UV will be of particular benefit on inkjet-produced images because the liquid laminate will not react with the inks, so that offsetting is eliminated.

Back to top