Canon has released details of its first large-format inkjet printer using its much-trumpeted new UVgel technology. The wraps were taken off the 64in-wide Océ Colorado 1640 roll-to-roll printer at an event in Venlo yesterday.
The 55,000 Euro four-colour machine, which has a top running speed of 159m2/hr (40m2/hr in best quality mode), is said to fill a gap in the market between what Canon Europe executive VP Jeppe Frandsen defined as “low-end eco-solvent and latex, and high-end UV and latex and UV roll-to-roll printers” and bring together the benefits of eco-solvent, latex and UV technologies. The first Colorado will go into Comdatek in Germany this month. Commercial sales will begin after its customer launch at Fespa 2017, with the first deliveries expected in the third quarter of the year.
Mark Lawn, director, graphic and communications group, Canon Europe, said: “Through the Océ Colorado 1640 printer with UVgel technology, Canon is delivering the optimal balance of quality, productivity, automation, application range and operating cost. This new printer redefines the boundaries of roll-to-roll printing.”
The Océ Colorado 1640 will be followed by a whole family of UVgel-based printers over the coming months, including a system aimed at the soft signage textile print market.
UVgel is a low-heat process using LED curing. Canon’s UVgel ink is instantly ‘pinned’ on contact with the substrate for highly controlled and precisely positioned dot with minimal gain. A LED-UV curing system moves independently from the printing carriage so that the prints are instantly dry and ready for finishing or laminating.
UVgel ink contains no water, which reduces media swelling, and is said to reproduce a large colour gamut comparable with eco solvent inks, but with the environmental and safety profile of latex and UV inks. Canon said UVgel prints are durable, colour-fast and highly resistant to the stresses typical of outdoor applications, while the odourless and VCL-free prints satisfy the highest environmental standards for sensitive indoor uses.
Canon’s own UVgel printheads incorporate patented continuous nozzle monitoring using acoustic sampling to detect and correct any underperforming nozzles, allowing for unattended printing. The printer’s robust build ensures stable media handling, and there’s an optical feedback loop that continuously monitors media advance to automatically correct the subsequent step size as needed.
Productivity is boosted with a dual-roll configuration, allowing PSPs to switch between two types and sizes of media on the fly.
The Océ Colorado 1640 is designed for low total cost of operation to accelerate return on investment. Canon said the UVgel technology used reduces ink consumption by as much as 40% compared some other competitive technologies thanks to the way it works, significantly reduced maintenance inks, and by removing the need for optimisers.
Two Océ Colorado 1640 machines will be at Fespa 2017, where other new developments on show by Canon will include the Arizona 1280GT with Oce Auto Pilot, the automated print-and-cut workflow co-developed with Zund and first seen as a prototype at Drupa 2016.