Roland VersaUV LEC-540

A few years ago Roland DG brought to market a solution with a difference. After the introduction of its first UV-curable printer, the VersaUV, it was clear that this was a company that wasn’t simply bringing to market another typical production printer which sat in a specific category. Instead, this new print-and-cut solution, opened up intriguing production areas; integrated cutting and the ability to output high opacity white ink and clear varnish being key aspects.

So, when Roland announced a larger version of its VersaUV platform, the LEC-540 able to handle widths of up to 1.37m, it increased its UV-curable potential to a new brand of users. With a remarkably small footprint for its production capabilities, this unit encompasses the ability to offer an integrated print-and-cut solution along with the company’s own flexible formulation of UV-curable ink and a low-cost and efficient LED curing system.

The combination of white and clear is not new to wide-format inkjet production but the incorporation of inline cutting, which can be fine-tuned for creasing and perf-cuts, adds to its versatility. Although the LEC-540 is ideal for producing signs and displays which have the added extra of gloss or matte varnish, this machine also comes into its own when placed in a colour managed workflow critical for prototyping and proofing. Similarly, for value-added labels, decals, stickers and, even, textile decoration, it offers huge creativity from a single platform.

The value of clear varnish is worthy of discussion in its own right. As well as enhancing finished applications when applied as a spot ‘colour’, it can be layered to produce durable textures and finishes, and this extends to its talents for tactile output. Thus, for the first time, it’s straightforward to produce Braille and other raised elements, making the VersaUV a powerful tool for packaging, labelling and signs which are required to carry these markings on applications where accuracy of touch is as important as visual appearance.

The Roland Versa-UV LEC-540, like the smaller LEC-330, has a CMYK inkset plus a high opacity white and versatile clear varnish. Workflow is simple, with the included VersaWorks software and Rip providing all the elements users need to produce applications incorporating special textures and finishes. This comprehensive program also includes 72 ready-to-use textures and special finishes, making it easy to create unusual effects and distinctive output.

The machines don’t need a special power supply, simply requiring a 13amp socket and, because the LED-curing lamps are designed to be low cost and long running, operating costs are kept to a minimum. This curing technology means that a wide range of delicate and tricky materials can be used with the machine, including foils, BOPP, PET and PE as well as standard display and proofing materials. Additionally, it is suitable for printing direct to more unusual substrates, including leather and suede.

The Roland VersaUV LEC-540 has a maximum resolution of 1,440 x 1,440dpi complemented by exacting tolerances in its integrated cutting capabilities to make it suitable for precision accuracy on even the smallest nested jobs. This machine can handle materials up to 1mm in thickness, and users are able to generate high quality printed, cut, folded and creased applications in a single workflow operation.

For proofing and prototyping applications, the Roland VersaUV can be integrated with colour management options such as solutions from EFI, GMG, FourPees and CGS. As a result, it is hardly surprising that offset and flexo printers, as well as wide-format specialists, are snapping up this sophisticated print-and-cut system as it is so easy to incorporate into an existing workflow environment.

The Roland VersaUV LEC-540 comes in three versions of CMYK plus white and clear, CMYK plus two white ink channels for high opacity or in its most popular configuration of CMYK plus two clear varnish channels. It is available from specialist distributors and is priced at £45,999 (+VAT).