Mimaki USA, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutters, has announced two new Kebab options for printing on cylindrical objects using the company’s UJF-7151 plus, or the new UJF MkII Series of UV-LED printers. UV technology has revolutionized inkjet by enabling printing directly onto “previously unimaginable” substrates. Printers can go beyond flat media and attract a share of the ever-increasing demand for customizing just about everything, said the OEM. The Kebab option for Mimaki’s UJF Series of printers facilitates printing on cylindrical objects such as stainless steel tumblers, bottles, cans, vases, packaging and candle holders.The Kebab MkII device is for the UJF-3042 MkII Printer, and the Kebab MkII L device is for the UJF-6042 MkII and the UJF-7151 Plus Printers. All Kebab devices offer 360-degree direct printing on a wide range of material sizes. These new options are easily mounted to the printer’s flatbed table. They function intuitively via Mimaki’s RasterLink6 software. The original Kebab is still available for the UJF-3042HG and the UJF-6042 printers, said Mimaki.
Mimaki’s UJF-3042 and the UJF-6042 are “production-focused, professional tools built on a small-footprint, proven platform that can deliver consistent quality for any level of production,” said the OEM. The printers are “next generation models” that include features that enable users to realize the benefits of digital printing with higher margins and lower production costs, without compromising quality, said Mimaki. The UJF-3042 can print onto media up to 11.8” wide x 16.5” deep x 6” thick, using standard CMYK inks plus available white, clear and jettable primer. The UJF-6042 can print onto media up to 24” wide x 16.5” deep x 6” thick, using standard CMYK inks plus available light cyan, light magenta, white, clear and jettable primer. Ink sets for the series include LH-100 ink for high scratch and chemical resistance, and LUS-120 ink for flexibility and scratch resistance. LUS-150 ink for balanced adhesion and flexibility will be available in the future.
- Produce higher quality output, faster and more efficiently. The series combines higher accuracy dot placement with speed improvements of up to 20% over previous models.
- Consistent output for tight deadlines. A fully enclosed print area greatly reduces the chances of dust or other airborne particle contamination, reducing re-prints and ensuring production stays on track. It also enables placement in more demanding environments, such as a production floor.
- Automated efficiencies for maximum production with minimal effort. Laser sensor media detection and automated gap check ensure that the printhead is at the optimal height on each print. One-litre bottles have replaced the smaller cartridge system of previous models, making ink delivery more efficient. All bottles fit into a Mimaki Bulk Ink System (MBIS) for efficient change-out when empty. The switch to one-litre bottles also ensures customers running other Mimaki UV-LED printers can better manage their overall inventory when using compatible Mimaki original inks.
- The print bed of the new series accommodates jigs created for previous models. Current UJF Series users purchasing a new UJF MkII Series printer can quickly and efficiently expand their printer line-up without the need to rework jigs.
- Workflow enhancements streamline production. The printers are fully networkable with industry standard Gigabit Ethernet for multiple printer connections over greater distances ensuring the highest productivity. Production on the printers is made more efficient with an automated hot-folder-based workflow. Users can take advantage of features in RasterLink6 RIP software such as the ability to build a template and auto-populate the data using Variable Data with the Adobe InDesign Data Merge function or third-party VDP plug-ins, to create a table’s worth of personalized items.
- Integrated tools for high tolerance repeatable output. Ball screw table movement paired with precise ink drop placement results in enhanced image quality. The print table also utilizes threaded registration pins for repeatable media placement. A vacuum table ensures better fixation of challenging materials. Combined, these features ensure consistent accuracy resulting in beautiful images, maximum production and minimal waste, even with the most complex jobs, said the OEM.
Mimaki Canada’s new 11,000-square-foot head office and showroom is located at 20 Barnes Court in Concord, Ontario, near the intersection of Jane Street and Highway 7.