Is 2022 the year we return to “normal”? The “New Normal”? What does that even mean? That all depends on your definition of “normal.” But no matter how you define it, we can all agree that the last two years have changed world markets in a way never seen before and we need to think creatively to regain losses from the pandemic. In wide format, the road to recovery is well underway and as demand continues to rise, existing wide format print service providers (PSPs) are seeking the best ways to keep up with volume increases without breaking the bank. For someone new to wide format, an entry level device with an affordable price point is a good way to keep working capital for building and marketing a new venture.
Earlier this month, two major players in the wide format signage and graphics market, Roland DG and Mimaki, announced next generation flagship products that may have hit the sweet spot for PSPs, both new and established alike. Let’s take a quick look…
Roland DG - TrueVIS VG3 and SG3 Large-Format Printer/Cutters
TrueVIS VG3 Series
The professional-grade TrueVIS VG3 family includes the 64-inch VG3-640 and the 54-inch VG3-540. The models boast four FlexFire print heads for increased productivity, plus a choice of six ink configurations—including a new 8-color (CMYK+Lc+Lm+Or+Gr) option. The VG3’s cutting-edge print technology and expanded gamut allow for greater color freedom and accuracy, subtle neutral tones, and smooth color transitions without any grainy texture. In addition to significantly widening the overall color gamut, orange and green TR2 inks make it easy to hit Pantone® colors, specific orange to red areas, blue to green areas, and challenging hues like purples and reds.
TrueVIS SG3 Series
The value-packed TrueVIS SG3 series includes the 54-inch SG3-540 and 30-inch SG3-300, which offer many of the same features of Roland DG’s top-of-the-line VG3 printer/cutters at extremely attractive pricing. Both SG3 models use TR2 inks in a CMYK ink configuration.
| Roland DG - TrueVIS VG3-640 and TrueVIS SG3-540 |
Mimaki 330 Series - JV330-130/160 and CJV330-130/160
The two flagship models introduced in the 330 series are the JV330-130/160 and CJV330-130/160. Catapulting from the highly popular 100 series, these new printers offer impressive image quality, high productivity, and value-added functions, providing new middle and high-end buying options.
The 330 series incorporates Mimaki Weaving Dot Technology (MWDT), a printing technology that changes the order of ink droplet placement depending on printing conditions. This suppresses the unexpected occurrence of streaks or uneven printing caused by slight individual differences in the print head or subtle deviations in adjustment.
Mimaki has also developed a new input profile, “Deep Color Natural,” a standard format for color management. Making full use of the wide color gamut of the market-proven “SS21” and our eco-solvent inks, this new profile reproduces fully vivid solid color expression, natural gray tone, and natural skin tone, which was difficult to produce simultaneously in the past.
The JV330-130/160 and CJV330-130/160 boast printing speeds of 21.0m2/h in standard mode with four colors (C, M, Y, K), and 13.2m2/h with eight colors (C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm, Lk, Or), of high productivity.
Two additional important value-added functions now offered are the “XY slitter” and the “Media changer,” both promising to save on work and labor time. The XY slitter has an in-line function that cuts all sides of the media after printing, enabling automatic slit processing without removing media. This significantly shortens post-process work and reduces the previously required space needed for manual cutting. The Media Changer accommodates up to three media rolls, allowing the operator to change media by simply turning the handle with light force.
The new 330 series models are compatible with Mimaki Remote Access (MRA), allowing you to remotely operate the machine and check its operation status from your smartphone or PC on the same network.
| The Mimaki JV330-130/160 and CJV330-130/160 |
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
Roland DG and Mimaki have a long and successful history in wide format printing and continue to lead the way with Eco Solvent device development. Depending on your feature requirements, application demands, ink configuration preference, or throughput needs, there is a product within these lineups that can check all the boxes. The days of $30K plus flagship devices has long since passed. With full featured devices under $25K and entry level at under $15K, EcoSolvent devices may very well hit the sweet spot for PSPs’ next capital expenditure.
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