Sawgrass Technologies has announced a long-term OEM agreement with Ricoh to bring its new Virtuoso HD Product Decorating System to market.
“Our collaboration with Ricoh has launched Sawgrass into a new era,” said Darcy Mauro, Sawgrass Technologies’ Consumer Division president. “For more than 20 years, Sawgrass has sold after-market, patented digital sublimation ink for use in desktop printers. Now, we will deliver purpose-built printers under the Sawgrass label that will produce even better finished products. Our new private-label solution offers our customers a stable and predictable road map of future product development, which we are proud to provide.”? ?
The Virtuoso HD Product Decorating System includes a printer running water-based inks. An enhanced PowerDriver colour management application and new CreativeStudio online design solution will also be bundled with system.
“We are very excited to be working closely with Ricoh’s engineers to leverage their proprietary printhead technology and bring a complete HD product decorating system to market,” said Mauro. “Virtuoso brings together Ricoh’s successful desktop line of GelJet printers, Sawgrass’ newly formulated SubliJet-HD ink, advanced color management and online design/production solutions, and vast offering of sales, support and marketing resources. This collaboration, along with the support of our global network of distributors, will empower businesses to create and grow like never before.”? ?
Though Sawgrass intends to grow its Virtuoso brand in the coming years, this first solution will focus on the sublimation market. The new Virtuoso SG 400 8.5 x 14in (A4) and SG 800 13 x 19in (A3+) printers will be sold through Sawgrass’ global distribution network.