Ricoh unveils new AR Latex Inks for its wide format customers

Ricoh USA has introduced its new Aqueous Resin (AR) Latex Inks, designed to cut cure times at an affordable price point, helping wide-format shops take on more jobs and increase profits. After September, Ricoh’s wide-format customers will be transitioned to the new AR inks, which will cost much less than their predecessors and have a 24-month shelf life – much longer than previous latex ink options, said the company. AR inks allow wide-format jobs on a broad range of substrates to be used immediately off the press. Whether printing on cloth, bond paper, backlit materials or a variety of other media, Ricoh’s AR inks cure quickly, reducing wait times for even the most complex jobs. Faster cure times mean faster turnover times, said the OEM, which enable shops to take on more business and keep revenue flowing. Additionally, AR inks’ longer shelf life reduces the risk of an ink “going bad” in storage and having to be disposed.
Ricoh added that the new low price point helps drive wide format’s traditionally high margins even higher. “Cutting ink costs without reducing quality allows signage shops to produce the same eye-catching work they’re known for at the same price point they usually charge customers, with lower up-front costs. Alternatively, shops secure revenue growth while also passing savings along to customers for more competitive pricing. These savings only further incentivize the adoption of latex inks, which are known for their fast cure times and low environmental impact while still maintaining the high level of colour quality that signage shops make their stock and trade. As latex inks’ colour quality has improved in recent years, many shops have started making the switch, spurred on by OSHA regulations concerning the fumes associated with solvent-based operations.”

“Signage shops and cutsheet shops adding wide-format operations are always looking for ways to better serve their customers – from new, creative applications to faster turnaround times to keep up with today’s fast-paced signage needs,” said John Fulena, Vice President, Production Printing Business Group, Ricoh USA. “Our team of graphic arts specialists know that for today’s signage to succeed, it needs to be ready to go as fast as possible without jeopardizing quality. These new aqueous resin inks deliver the quick cure times that speeds demand, while still producing outstanding, eye-catching output. That it does all of this at a drastically lower price point than its predecessor is a huge advantage for these shops, who can use that difference to reinvest in new capabilities, adjust prices to compete, or simply drive higher profits,” he added.