Screen Truepress Jet2500UV
In the first of a new series of features taking an up close and personal look at solutions in the digital wide-format arena, Sophie Matthews-Paul spends a day with Screen UK to put this 2.5m printer through its paces.
Now that UV-curable ink technology is no longer an inchoate process and has reached the stage of general acceptance, users are discovering that not all printers are the same and that specific application type is probably going to drive the choice of which machine to get. Some companies seek higher speeds whilst others are after optimum quality - but all want acceptable results and a good return on investment.
The Screen Truepress Jet2500UV comes from a company better known in the graphic arts industry where computer-to-plate, proofing and commercial applications have dominated. These strengths have been based on a pedigree of precision engineering and, thus, it was a logical move for this Japanese manufacturer to enter the wide-format digital world.
The Truepress Jet2500UV sits in an inkjet space which isn't really dominated by other manufacturers in this industry sector. For a start, it has a maximum print width of 2.5m and its price point (starting at a RRP of ?195,000) makes it neither an entry-level option nor a hefty investment at the top end. Designed to be a true hybrid, it's just as happy working with the majority of roll-fed materials typical for output on UV-curable printers as it is outputting to rigid media.
A close inspection of this printer proves instantly that it is no lightweight in either construction or performance. Maximum Speed is 67.5m2/hr. In terms of quality, it has a maximum of 1500dpi which is more than enough for the discerning display producer who wants to produce very fine standards suitable for close viewing. This (and its lower resolutions) is assisted by variable drop technology from its drop-on-demand greyscale heads and Screen's own screening methods which, historically, has given the company a good reputation for being able to produce smooth gradations and crisp results on all types of application.
Ink options include light cyan and light magenta as additions to the standard CMYK set, as well as a good, opaque white; this combination proves itself well when working with materials such as window films where colour density, saturation and resulting image clarity are high. Screen doesn't publicise where its inks come from in the Truepress Jet2500UV but suffice to say that the performance is consistent with expertise in wide-format digital production.
Set-up is fast and easy on this machine; the printer is supplied with Wasatch's SoftRip TX Gold Edition which incorporates Screen's own screening algorithms. Typical of hybrid design, there are tables fore and aft for working on rigid sheets and these can be moved away easily when the roll feed is being used. The Truepress Jet2500UV's solid construction extends to its ink tanks and it's no coincidence that these resemble those used on Inca Digital's systems as that company has been owned by Dainippon Screen Manufacturing since 2005.
The fact that the Truepress Jet2500UV has a maximum printing width of 2.5m makes it a little unusual as the sizes which seem to dominate in wide-format inkjet are 1.6m, 2m and 3.2m. Few manufacturers appear to be looking at this particular dimension with the result that there is little competition in this sector. This machine is a worthy candidate for users whose requirements exceed those offered by narrower machines but who don't want to invest in a wider model for extra cost.
In the UK, Screen is based in Milton Keynes where its showroom and demonstration suite features the Truepress Jet2500UV. Technical staff are more than happy to obtain and test any materials they haven't tried already. As well as running the usual gamut of PVCs and rigid boards, there were good results from polyesters, digital textiles, aluminium composites, honeycomb boards, MDF and a variety of banner options.
This isn't the cheapest or the fastest wide-format printer on the market today but it is beautifully constructed and has behind it the reputation that Screen has built up since its inception more than 60 years ago. Users who want to concentrate on the high quality sector for digital print should add the Truepress Jet2500UV to their list of potential solutions.