Mimaki USA’s two new UJF Mark II (MkII) UV-LED tabletop flatbed printers (the 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. Both models can be seen in the Mimaki USA booth (1961) at the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) Expo that began today in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new UJF MkII printers are “next generation models” that include features that enable users – including commercial printers, promotional and personalization item printers, makers, technologists, educators and manufacturers – to realize the benefits of digital printing with higher margins and lower production costs, without compromising quality, said Mimaki.
The UJF-3042 MkII 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 MkII printer 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 UJF MkII Series printers 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.
Key benefits include:
- Produce higher quality output, faster and more efficiently. The UJF MkII Series printers combine higher accuracy dot placement with speed improvements of up to 20% over the previous generation.
- Consistent output for tight deadlines and demanding customers. 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 UJF MkII Series accommodates jigs created for previous models. Current UJF Series users purchasing a new UJF MkII Series printer can quickly expand their printer line-up without the need to rework jigs.
- Workflow enhancements streamline production. UJF MkII Series of printers are fully networkable with industry-standard Gigabit Ethernet for multiple printer connections over greater distances ensuring the highest productivity. Production on UJF MkII Series 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 UJF 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, sharp images, maximum production and minimal waste, even with the most complex jobs.
The UJF-3042 MkII and the UJF-6042 MkII printers are expected to be available for order from authorized Mimaki reps in early November of 2016.