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Summer is over, what printers will be launched this autumn and winter?
If you Subscribe to the FLAAR Trends reports, you can learn in advance, what new products will appear this autumn. This subscription includes the Skype address, personal e-mail, and telephone of Nicholas so you, and your team, get fresh information every month.
You may have noticed that FLAAR covers a lot more than just printers this year.
This is because what counts is the ink. New and different ink is signficantly more important than just another new printer (which uses the same old UV-cured or solvent ink).
So FLAAR is increasingly a consultant for ink companies. So we can better assist the over 470,000 printshop owners, managers, printer operators, and printing company personnel who depend on the FLAAR Reports to help plan what to purchase.
This year we are also devoting more time and resources to learning about innovative media and substrates.
FLAAR team harvested lots of information from APPPEXPO Shanghai. This is the largest signage trade show in the world (though the combined Guangzhou + Dongguan is probably close)
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The FLAAR Report on this China sign expo is already out. The show starts Wednesday but our FLAAR Report is ready.
If you were attending this trade show, there was a FLAAR stand inside the ChinaSigns booth at one end of Hall W3 (nearest the main street that is in front of the expo hall area).
Breaking news: FESPA is successful in every way; significant attendance
Green materials are increasingly popular at FESPA expo this week.
Plus Sepiax resin ink has made a dramatic breakthrough, reached the big time this week at FESPA.
What was shown at Graphics of the Americas and then at ISA in Orlando was only the tip of the iceberg.
At FESPA water-based resin ink reached a point that documents it will fulfill all the predictions set by FLAAR Reports earlier.
Since most of my knowledge is under NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), I can't reveal everything I know about this ink and its potential.
But I can say, that what is on the floor at FESPA, in the booths, shows that even the big players are listening.
If Epson in Japan or Europe embraces Sepiax ink, this will allow Epson to replace Roland, Mimaki, Mutoh and HP latex ink with a single series: Epson Resin Pro series. An Epson Resin Pro series of printers could replace HP Z-series water-based and all eco-solvent printers in one fell swoop. (This is a suggested name; we have not trademarked it and Epson is welcome to use it).
Will Epson dare to take over all this market share?
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It is very simple: if Epson in Japan, Europe, and America, desire, with one single ink, in one single generation, to become #1 against all other water based competitors (HP and Canon, and simultaneously replace all Roland, Mimaki, and Mutoh water-based: there is an ink already there.
The prototype printers are already at FESPA.
Same at the grand-format production level with other brands: Epson handles entry level with experience. For production level, Sepiax ink can work with Specta and Konica Minolta heads.
What an incredible technology and chemistry breakthrough: AquaRes ink. It reminds me of DRUPA 2000 and Photokina 2000, when the first UV printers were on the floor: today, ten years later: 45 manufacturers and almost 200 models.
So I predict that FESPA 2012 will be like DRUPA 2004: that was the year that UV broke through to become leader in production level wide-format printers. But at FESPA 2012, and DRUPA 2012, it will be resin inks.
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But UV is still king at FESPA 2010 (but wait for FESPA 2011...)
GRAPO displayed their Shark combo printer alongside a new GRAPO Gemini, a remarkable true dedicated flatbed which can also take a roll-to-roll option at one end.
efi VUTEk had a large booth with lots of action among row after row of heavy-duty UV printers
WP Digital has a much larger booth than expected, showing two of their primary models: Virtu RR50 and a new faster system based on the earlier Virtu RS25 and RS35.
The Durst booth at FESPA documents it is definitely one of the innovative companies around. Their Durst Rhotex, Durst Rho 750HS reveal again what you can produce when you have a large and serious engineering team all led by capable managers and with a CEO with vision combined with high tech.
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News: FLAAR Reports now available in hard-copy as manual-format. All FLAAR Reports continue to be electronic but for trade shows we are licensing some of the full-color PDFs as hard-copy. |
Welcome to 2010
The difference between a research institute and a PR agency or trade magazine.
I had to smile when I read Inca Digital claiming to be the first UV-cured printer. Yes they were maybe the first flatbed? But what about the Sias Digital (Sias Print ?) that eventually became the Scitex Vision VEEjet+ ?
And Durst was probably earlier for beginning development of a combo flatbed.
And what about Mechatron with Perfecta Print, the early UV printer that later became Zund?
In summary: there were at least three UV-cured flatbed printers well along in development before Inca launched their first printer.
And I bet that the Sias Print UV printer was already being sold before Inca had their first prototype on exhibit.
As a footnote to history, Durst had the flatbed, RHO 160 in 1999 ready, but could not deliver as XAARs XJ 1500 drop size modulating head never came out and/or did not work and Durst had to switch to Spectra.
Inca Digital is a respected company with products of professional quality. But it might be suggested that the PR releases check with historical reality first before claiming to be first. The FLAAR Reports on UV inkjet printer history is one of several sources they could have checked with, and thus could have avoided this faux pas. Plus surely there are other articles and people who knew the scene from 1997-2000 who have even more knowledge than us.
For 2000 onward FLAAR Reports have chronicled the development of UV-cured printers; from 2004 onward the FLAAR Reports have been accepted as the de facto resource for UV printers. However with over 45 manufacturers and probably over 200 models, it is a challenge to evaluate every single model, but we do maintain lists-per-trade show and lists-per-country-of-manufacturer. All of these reports are available from our www.wide-format-printers.NET.
Readership at FLAAR Reports continues to rise compared with last year; and year 2009 readership had risen from year 2008 readership.
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This increased readership is increasingly asking about HP latex ink, so we have added information on the HP Scitex LX600 and HP Scitex LX800 printers. Plus, we issued our reports on HP latex ink recently, based on two years keeping our eyes and ears open. This will be the first independent evaluation that is not an embarrassing "Success Story" which is just another attempt at a PR release. Once you read our FLAAR Report on HP latex ink you will realize that it is not commissioned by anyone.
Already last week, our first FLAAR Report on water-based resin inks is released, on Sepiax inks. Then a second FLAAR Report came out that explains the differences among latex ink vs resin ink (Sepiax) vs all flavors of solvent ink vs UV-cured inks.
In fact readership of FLAAR evaluations is greater than all trade magazines in the US and Canada put together. The reason is simple, the FLAAR evaluation staff actually visit the ink R&D facilities, do test printing in the factory demo rooms, and inspect factories where the ink and substrates are manufactured.
Dr Hellmuth has already flown about 180,000 km this year alone (including three times to China and he will be at Shanghai APPPEXPO show (in a FLAAR booth: FLAAR has grown so popular that the Chinese trade shows are providing booth space).
FLAAR has begun to evaluate metallic effect materials, everything from printable mirrors to alternatives to Dibond to metallic glisten-materials. But all this is for UV-cured printers: this is not the silver metallic ink of Roland or Mimaki (we already know the manufacturer of that ink).
Plus you can look for FLAAR evaluations of textiles, fabrics (and textile inkjet printers) we already cover DigiFab and there are FLAAR Reports on textile printers and textile inks at every major international trade show.
Trends towards UV flatbeds for architectural décor and interior design
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FLAAR will have a booth within the booth of Signschina at the APPPEXPO signage printer, media and inks trade show in Shanghai in early July 2010. If you wish to understand which Chinese printer, substrates, inks, or related products are reliable, consider arranging consulting with Dr Nicholas Hellmuth during the year 2011 Chinese trade shows this coming year. |
At FESPA both WP Digital, GRAPO, and GCC were featuring printing on glass and other architectural materials. Since the background of FLAAR is in architecture (just Google Hellmuth architect and you will see why, even Nicholas studied architecture at the university). So for this year we are continuing to issue FLAAR Reports for printing on glass and other materials for interior design.
During March 2010 we inspected a major glass printing company in Vietnam which is using the GlassMaster printer (SkyAir Ship).
What makes FLAAR different!
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Nicholas gets out to learn about the new inks in advance.
Now, as a result of what has appeared at FESPA, the Sepiax reports will be updated. We have received continued feedback from end-users with HP latex ink printers and based on what is happening now with the other resin inks, it is essential for printshop owners, managers, and printer readers to get these crucial reports.
This documentation is not available in trade magazines because it is embarrassing and awkward for a trade magazine to publish lists of issues and downsides of any product. But Dr Hellmuth has been expanding the number of articles he writes for trade magazines, and he is also to explain why it is absolutely essential to talk about both pros and cons (otherwise an article is a farce, or simply another PR release).
These two photos document what makes FLAAR Reports unique. Nicholas makes the time in his schedule to actually inspect printers, inks, substrates, and related products in-person, up-close, and in detail.
FLAAR Reports are also appreciated because we show all aspects of a subject. PE and PVC are totally different from each other. So you need to know about each. We are now researching substrates made from bamboo, jute, PP, and polyester.
For 2010 most of our new material is in PDF format, in FLAAR Reports. So be sure to check out our reservoir of information in the hundreds upon hundreds of topics.
Media, substrates & printable materials are being added for 2010 onward
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FLAAR spent one week at the technical textiles factories of Obeikan and then one week at a PE factory in Asia. Three FLAAR Reports are already out on substrates for UV-cured, solvent and latex inks.
FLAAR obtains its information from visiting the factories where the printers or cutters are conceived, designed, and constructed. We study them inside out. Already last year we have visited D.G.I. and IP&I in Korea; the previous year we inspected printers at factories of D.G.I., Durst, IP&I and WP Digital. Dr Nicholas Hellmuth even inspected a factory of solvent, textile, and two UV-cured printers north of Istanbul.
Next, we visit a real-life printshop where these printers are in daily use. Here the printing company actually bought three: one of a new model and two of the other current model. No one else has time to send staff out to obtain real-world documentation at this level.
If you want a mere PR release, there are hundreds of Success Stories you can read elsewhere (not in FLAAR Reports). But if you wish to learn the actual facts about pros and cons, issues as well good features, so you can understand which printer, which ink, which substrate is best for you, your company, your clients, and your applications.
How, when, and where to meet Nicholas Hellmuth in 2010
You can make an appointment to meet with Nicholas Hellmuth for consulting at any of the major trade shows that he will be attending: FESPA in Europe, APPPEXPO in Shanghai, SGIA, then VISCOM Paris, Germany, and Italy. You can also meet Dr Hellmuth at FESPA Mexico, at Reklama in Moscow, Glasstec in Duesseldorf, Photokina in Cologne, and possibly at Sign Asia in Bangkok.
Upcoming evaluations
New reports on décor applications: glass
Several new reports on printing on glass will be published during May this year. FLAAR flew to Vietnam to inspect a glass printing factory and last year inspected glass printing in Seoul, Korea.
At FESPA 2010 there were new solutions for printing on glass that FLAAR Reports will cover later this summer.
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The VUTEk GS5000r looked significantly improved at ISA 2010, so we are scheduling an evaluation of this and other models of VUTEk UV printers during 2010. |
Here is Dr. Hellmuth (at the left) at the factory in Vietnam with a sample printed on glass. |
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Basic introduction to the major structural sizes and shapes of UV printers
There are 45 brands and over 171 different models (listed in FLAAR Reports). But here is a brief synopsis with samples given for each different kind: hybrid, combo, flatbed, etc.
UV high-end: combo (moving transport belt) flatbed + roll-to-roll
GRAPO Shark, WP Digital (former Spuhl) Virtu RS 25, RS35. The Rho 1000 was a new production machine at FESPA Digital Europe in mid-May 2009.
UV-High-end dedicated roll-to-roll
At ISA 2010 the VUTEk GS 5000r was greatly improved over FESPA 2009. Durst Rho 3501R, Durst Rho 320R, Matan Barak 3, Barak 5, HS, NUR Expedio 5000, Revolution (HP Scitex XP 5300), plus the new WP Digital RR50 (former new Spuhl Virtu 5-meter roll to roll at top resolution quality). Nicholas was the VIP guest at the launch of this new roll to roll UV printer in Switzerland, in February 2009. Matan was absent from Print '09 and from Sign Africa but returned at SGIA 09 and ISA 2010 in the booth of Fujifilm Acuity. This helps everyone since competition is essential.
UV high-end: dedicated flatbed (see also entry-level flatbeds below)
Oce Arizona 350 GT, 550 GT, NUR Tempo Q which is now HP Scitex FB6100 (was a great idea, six years ago but is old-technology today), Inca Digital (Columbia, Spyder 320, Spyder 150, etc). The WP Digital RS35 also has a dedicated flatbed mode: it is the only combo-belt UV printer that has a special function (which we explain in the FLAAR Report, based on three visits to the factory).
UV mid-range
Grapo Manta, GCC StellarJet 260, GCC StellarJet K100, Dilli Neo Venus, IP&I Cube 260, Oce Arizona 250 GT, Mimaki JF-1631(and Mimaki JF-1610, both flawed and at last replaced by a better different model JFX-1631), VUTEk QS3200).
Entry-level dedicated flatbed printers
EFI Rastek T660, Gerber Solara ion X, newer ion V, and newest ion Z (cationic ink chemistry now functions), the new model is called the Gerber CAT uv, Sky AirShip Skyjet FlatMaster and Skyjet GlassMaster.
UV-entry level hybrid or combo
Grapo Octopus II, Rastek H700 (formerly Raster Printers Daytona H700), Rastek H650, GCC 183, Dilli Neo Titan, Mimaki UJV-160, and many more to be released during 2009-2010.
Our experience also provides knowledge on which entry-level printers had a great intention, but which in the real world still have too many issues that cause owners headaches: ColorSpan 5440uv (HP DesignJet H35500 and 45500). This printer is no longer being exhibited at major trade shows since last year.
When printers are launched there are million-dollar PR releases and parties. But when a printer fails, how come the trade magazines and PR agencies are embarrassingly silent on what about these printers was inadequate. Why is FLAAR the primary source of information on which printers have issues? |
Chinese UV-printers are increasingly asked about, so already in 2010 Dr Hellmuth has been in China three times: Guangzhou trade show, Dongguan trade show, after Beijing trade show. He is now preparing for his fourth visit to China for the APPPEXPO Shanghai show, where FLAAR will have a booth inside the sign-in-China.com booth.
(last, but definitely not least): Major UV Printing Presses
Inca Onset (production model), HP Scitex FB7500 (has evolved from prototype to beta stage), Agfa M Press Tiger (Thieme) but we have not inspected this Agfa model and thus do not have any report on it. While on the subject of printing presses, the narrow-format Agfa :Dotrix Modular is very impressive (this is not a recommendation, which can only come after we inspect a printer; this adjective is only a comment from inspecting it perform at Print '09).
Industrial UV Printers for factories: a new category we may cover in 2010, such as the ITW Trans Tech InDecs 620UV, one of a new breed of industrial UV printers.
As a consultant FLAAR also works with printing companies who notice that there is no printer available to match their needs. Several companies came to us this year and use FLAAR as access to printhead, ink, and component manufacturers to create a custom-made printer.
Related Topics
Flatbed Cutters & CNC Routers as accessoryCNC routers and XY flatbed cutters UV-Coaters, LaminatorsColor ManagementAfter-market Ink Third-Party InksDomingPrinting ProcessesScannersTrade MagazinesSign & Digital Graphics, trade magazine Practical Sign & Display trade magazine South Africa ME Printer, Middle East printing trade magazine Air Purification Solvent or UV Ink OdorsRigid Printable MaterialsSandwich board for recyclable furniture! Trade ShowsFESPA Americas exhibitor list 2011 and 2012 Sign & Graphic Middle East (Dubai) Media and Subtrates |
New Trends in UV Printers for 2008-2010
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The ideal source of reliable information on TRENDS in UV printers, textile printers, and all other wide-format ink types are in the TRENDS series from the FLAAR Reports.
New Trends in printable substrates
The trend for 2009-2010 and beyond is in inks and printable materials. At SignAfrica '09 (September 2009), I saw X-board from Xanita being used in every booth at the show. So I had a breakfast meeting with their CEO, James Beattie. Then at Print '09, three key people from Re-Board surprised me at the FLAAR booth. I had no idea they were at the show. And I believe it was PlyVeneer BioBoard in a flatbed cutter booth and in the HP booth (Oce had the Re-Board).
Since last year FLAAR has already begun to evaluate all kinds of non-plastic, non-extruded, non-PVC materials (in other words we will evaluate printable recyclable honeycomb kraft paper boards for UV-cured flatbed printers.
For 2010 Nicholas has inspected two factories for 5 meter substrates. Four reports have resulted.
We will continue to expand our coverage of BioBoard and comparable materials throughout 2010. Read the full article >>Site-visit case studies of UV-cured ink flatbed printers
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The most reliable way to learn the truth about a UV-cured printer is to visit a sign shop that actually has one. So Nicholas has done site-visit case studies in Italy, Guatemala, Germany, Greece, Turkey, all across the US, Canada, etc. FLAAR checks out screen printing companies, franchise sign shops (Sign-a-Rama, FastSigns), Mom & Pop sign shops, as well as photo labs, giclee ateliers, beginners, mid-size, and huge printshops (our recent visits have been to the largest digital printing company in Slovenia and a second printshop near Ljubljana: both had Durst Rho printers; one had an Oce Arizona 250GT, with printhead issues in the past).
FLAAR now has over 83 reports on UV printers. Since we are a non-profit institute, our Reports ordering system has a few quirks. If you get lost, or have questions, please contact CustomerService@FLAAR.org. If that fails, telephone 1 419 823-9218, and explain what reports you wish to order. But usually you get quick response from the e-mail address. This phone is NOT a way to get any consulting. Hellmuth is not available at that number (since he is probably 17,000 miles away inspecting a UV printer factory, or a demo room or a printshop). If you wish professional consulting, you will be provided Dr Hellmuth's private telephone number. All contacts to FLAAR should be by e-mail only, not by telephone. Telephone is only if you wish to purchase FLAAR Reports and have a glitch on the ordering system, or if you wish to reserve a time and place to meet Dr Hellmuth in person for consulting.
This phone number is NOT a way to get any consulting. Hellmuth is not available at that number (since he is probably 17,000 miles away inspecting a UV printer factory, or a demo room or a printshop). If you wish professional consulting, you will be provided Dr Hellmuth's private telephone number. All contacts to FLAAR should be by e-mail only, not by telephone. Telephone is only if you wish to purchase FLAAR Reports and have a glitch on the ordering system, or if you wish to reserve a time and place to meet Dr Hellmuth in person for consulting.
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Most recently updated August 20, 2010, the week before FESPA Mexico.
Previously updated January 8, 2010 to show our increased coverage (now including printable thick rigid materials). Updated April 22, 2010 and in May 2010. Updated June 21, 2010, the day before FESPA. Updated June 25, 2010, the fourth day of FESPA.
