Four top news of the week

Konica Minolta to sell MGI Jetvarnish 3D Evolution

The machine which has been available since June is currently being sold by MGI directly. The Evolution model applies spot UV coating with the aim of producing vivid and tactile applications with a variety of 2D and 3D effects, running at speeds of up to 4,065sph.

The digital enhancement press is available in B2, B2 landscape and B1 formats and uses MGI’s inkjet engine technology with drop-on-demand inkjet, "enhanced" UV protection allows it to consume less energy than traditional UV systems and it has eliminated several plastics to reduce consumables.

This addition by Konica Minolta after it recently added MGI’s Jetvarnish 3D Web Color+ press, intended for the label market.

Ricoh launches its first flatbed printer

Ricoh introduced its first wide-format UV flatbed, the Ricoh Pro T7210 at Viscom Italy 2017 in Milan and is expected to be available from early 2018.

Targeting the industrial decoration printing, the T7210 runs at 50sqm/hr in standard mode or 100sqm/hr in high-speed mode and will work for applications such as interior decoration and building materials, especially rigid and heavy materials, including glass, wood, aluminium composite and metal.

The T7210 uses 12 Ricoh MH54 series industrial printheads, which the company said delivered outstanding jetting performance and reliability. It has a maximum print size of 3.2x2.1m and can print on substrates of up to 110mm thick.

Mimaki’s latest wide-format plotter

Mimaki has been announcing several new products this year and the latest launch is a new wide-format flatbed cutting plotter.

The plotter which is expected to work with the 2013-launched JFX200-2513 LED-UV cured flatbed inkjet, the CF22-1225 flatbed cutting plotter will be available in the UK by the end of the year along with the new series of wide-format laminators and laminating films, which were unveiled last week.

The plotter can handle material up to 1.2x2.4m and is built for on-demand production of seasonal displays of exhibition components.

The entry-level JFX200 prints at speeds of up to 25sqm/hr on sheets of 2.5x1.3m and up to 50mm thick.

Mimaki has launched a number of other machines this year, including its first 3D inkjet machine and a new industrial textile printer.

Xeikon ends Project Trillium

Xeikon announced the end of the Trillium liquid toner programme after five years since its announcement.

The technology which was developed in a partnership with Miyakoshi and revealed as the Trillium One liquid toner press in Drupa, had according to Xeikon, “encountered several challenges in bringing it to market as a commercial product”.

While speaking to PrintWeek, Xeikon communications manager Danny Mertens told that the main issues with the technology related to productivity and uptime since it was first shown in prototype as the Quantum single-colour unit at Drupa 2012.