Mimaki USA unveils UJV55-320 super wide format UV-LED printer

Mimaki USA, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutters, has unveiled its UJV55-320 super wide format UV-LED printer, a 127.9-inch roll-to-roll model featuring seven ink colours including white, for printing on transparent or coloured media. The printer is ideal for creating oversized graphics on a variety of materials with “vibrant colours and a high degree of opacity” in day or night applications. Instant-curing UV inks enable multi-layer printing that reproduces high-quality designs with two-layer or three-layer printing. This model is also equipped with an LED light for checking backlit signage during printing, which gives operators the ability to immediately verify density, thereby reducing waste and improving production efficiency.
The UJV55-320 can also print simultaneously onto two rolls up to 60 inches (1.52 m) wide each. This dual-roll capability can double the productivity of a shop, with both rolls printing the same set of graphics, or completely different jobs. Its Mimaki Proofing Panel (MPP) provides instant print-quality checks. An LED backlit-proofing panel gives the operator the ability to check the colour fidelity during printing and react immediately to a misprint. This feature is particularly useful for checking backlit prints. The new model offers print speeds of up to 1,184 square feet (110 square meters) per hour. It’s also fully networkable with industry-standard Gigabit Ethernet for multiple printer connections over greater distances. The UJV55-320 supports a variety of uncoated media that doesn’t require drying time, so prints can be finished immediately after printing.
The combination of white and colour inks adds value to transparent media applications. Compared to other inks such as solvent, UV-curable inks are thicker and maintain vibrancy when used for backlit signage. White ink also enables three-layer printing with colour + white + colour. Often, said Mimaki, only coloured inks are used for multi-layer printing to increase opacity – but that process results in a darker appearance when used in a reflective (daylight, not backlit) environment. “The white layer (colour + white + colour) ensures colour fidelity for backlit and double-sided signs during both day and night,” said the OEM. The new printer uses Mimaki original LUS-120 UV-LED inks available in cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, light magenta and white. The inks offer excellent scratch resistance and provide up to 170% flexibility, making them ideal for foldable and easy-to-handle banner applications.