Sophie Matthews-Paul speculates on the next year in wide-format production and technical knowledge.
As we venture into 2011, having experienced relatively few changes to the wide-format world of technology in the past twelve months, it is probably folly to try and predict what the coming year will bring. Acceptance, overall, that we have reached a plateau in developments, albeit a relatively temporary one, should be viewed in a positive light, however, as this pause can enable everyone involved in the industry to make the most of the systems they already own.
Inkjet is not just for wide-format output - a shift that became increasingly apparent in 2010. The addition of a desktop UV-curable device saw Mimaki move into the smallest world of digital and this has been exemplified by other machines which are targeting the proofing, prototyping and label markets. For example, Roland’s 1.62m VersaCamm VS-640 print-and-cut unit was swiftly followed up by narrower models to satisfy those who didn’t fancy a wide-format machine but wanted the benefits such inkjet production could bring them. The addition of the MediaMaster to EFI’s best-selling 3.2m UV-curable Vutek GS3200 printer has facilitated setting up and working three sheets across on the machine bed. Even the latest tranche of 5m UV-curable roll-to-roll printers have been engineered and constructed so that two or three rolls of material can be printed simultaneously, whilst the addition of dual production on HP Scitex’s LX600 and LX800 latex units are indicative of the desire to be able output dual, narrower jobs as efficiently as one single, wider application.
The benefits of print-and-cut and print-to-cut have also been enhanced to show how the industry wants to be able to optimise every part of a sheet of material for smaller output. This has been enhanced by the manufacturers of contour cutting equipment who have realised, quite rightly, that there is strong market potential in producing solutions which simplify the associated workflow as well as the cutting processes themselves.
This shift towards smaller finished jobs has been encouraged by the improved capabilities of these cutting devices, whether they are incorporated into a combination machine or are an independent unit. Exacting tolerances now attainable using the latest equipment means that precision is a given, and this has resulted in the ability to output highly accurate shapes, from larger sized pieces down to the smallest label or decal. Software able to take away the laborious elements of nesting, step-and-repeat or generally optimising a single sheet for fastest throughput or for maximum coverage means that print-to-cut has evolved to become a highly sophisticated workflow option which takes into account the entire production process.
The growth in wide-format applications for interior décor and furnishings, for both commercial and domestic environments, is expected to continue. The boost in popularity of wall coverings should be matched by a growth in demand for textile printing, whether this is via dedicated machines using dye sublimation or other specialist inks or with existing UV-curable, solvent-based and aqueous printers. Certainly there are portfolios of digital textiles available on the market which cover all ink formulations, bringing a good choice of options no matter which type of printer is being used.
We’ve seen the wide-format revolution become reality and, now, it depends more on evolution to see this industry sector continue to flourish and maintain its hold on the areas where versatility and flexibility are core requirements to producing new varieties of application within existing technologies. Because the inkjet market runs the risk of becoming very over-crowded with vast swathes of ‘me too’ service providers, machine developers and manufacturers are all too aware that diversification is becoming an increasingly valuable tool. The economy is still tight, and the availability of funds remains limited to many potential purchasers; those who are investing are doing so with care, knowing that a good ROI is crucial. More flexible technologies should help everyone with new and existing machines to find profitable applications.