Responding to growing market demand to complement the true flat-bed capabilities of the :Jeti 1224 UV HDC (high definition colour) UV-curable printer, Agfa Graphics has developed a dedicated flat to roll (FTR) unit to broaden the machine’s productivity. This new addition means that the robust 2.4m-wide engine can now handle both rigid and flexible materials with equal power, throughput quality and efficiency on both media types.
The new version of the Agfa :Jeti 1224 UV HDC, which was launched earlier in the year, incorporates a specially designed roll-to-roll unit which simplifies the handling and production of jobs on all types of material. Now, as well as being able to print to rigid substrates up to 5cm in thickness, the FTR option supports media rolls of up to 113kg (250lbs).
The sturdy, ergonomic design and construction of the Agfa :Jeti 1224 UV HDC features linear motion for precise registration even at the highest speeds. Its advanced high-strength vacuum table holds both rigid and flexible materials in place, yet the machine’s practical configuration means it can be operated by a single user, with fast and simple change-over between flat-bed and FTR roll-fed modes.
With its Ricoh Gen 4 greyscale print-heads and speeds of up to nearly 100m²/hr (over 1,000ft²/hr), this new dual functionality brings additional versatility to users who want the benefits of high-quality throughput on to all media from a single UV-curable platform. Designed for 24/7 operation, yet priced to enable smaller display production houses to compete in large accounts with a realistic investment level, the Agfa :Jeti 1224 UV HDC also features UV lamps which can be controlled incrementally to enable more heat-sensitive surfaces and materials to be printed.
The :Jeti 1224 UV HDC has the ability to print inline opaque white ink or clear varnish. A gloss option increases the types of finish which can be output in both flat-bed and FTR modes. A maximum resolution of 1,200dpi and the wide gamut, generated by the high definition colour inks, ensure vibrant and accurate image and text quality on all materials.
“We have combined both true flat-bed functionality with the versatility of a dedicated roll-fed unit in a single system to eliminate the handling and production compromises often found in hybrid UV-curable machines. Absolute consistency is guaranteed in both rigid and flexible modes,” explains Richard Barham, vice president for inkjet systems at Agfa Graphics. “Adding this advanced feature to the :Jeti 1224 UV HDC’s powerful production capacity now gives the wide-format ink-jet market a practical and cost-effective solution in one engine.”
The Agfa :Jeti 1224 UV HDC is ideal for display producers, sign-makers, screen-printers and digital print bureaux who want to work with all types of media. As well as typical materials, including rigid boards, wood, foams, corrugateds and aluminium composites, the printer’s FTR option makes it simple to work with vinyls, canvasses, self-adhesives vinyls, polyester-based films, fabrics and papers. In addition, its superior ink adhesion, fine resolution and handling properties enable the machine to be used for special applications and surfaces, such as lenticular, ceramics and glass.