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SwissQprint presented two new products at the recent Printing United Show in Las Vegas. The second generation of its Karibu roll-to-roll printer that uses the latest print head technology, and the Kudu high-end flatbed printer, featuring an impressive combination of high productivity and first-class output quality.
The Karibu 2 takes UV printing quality to a new level the dedicated roll to roll printer, achieving up to 1350 dpi resolution for top-quality even at high output. The machine accommodates rolls up to 133 inches wide and prints using UV inks that are flexible, NVC-free and Greenguard Gold certified. Unique features ensure high efficiency and reliability as well as outstanding versatility.
“We took these proven and popular features from the first generation and have now augmented them with the latest print head technology”, explains Carmen Eicher, Chief of Sales and Marketing Officer.
Thanks to the cassette system, rolls are loaded and ready to print within minutes. SwissQprint offers a dual roll option capable of handling two rolls each up to 64 inch wide. This doubles productivity. The roll holders are split into two sections with each half of the shaft driven individually to ensure optimum web tension and perfect results on both rolls. The Karibu vacuum plate is divided into 136 individually operable segments. Within four seconds, the vacuum can be selectively adjusted, whatever the roll width. Hence there can be no air leakage, even through the space between dual rolls.
Karibu features a Light Box right next to the printing area, for immediate and continuous quality control of backlit prints. As a result, neither much material nor time is lost should optimizations prove necessary. A Mesh Kit is also integrated right next to the Light Box. This makes clean and simple work of processing permeable substrates, as well as full bleed printing. There is neither additional set-up work beforehand nor cleaning afterwards. A mouse click by the operator sends the beam from its standard position to the mesh position. Printing can then start immediately.
For media that needs to be printed front and back, swissQprint offers an automatic double-sided printing function. Karibu controls the process with the help of an integrated high-resolution camera system and QR codes printed next to the image. This ensures that subjects printed on the reverse side are positioned with perfect registration, and matching the correct image on the front. Lory, the intuitive output software, guides operators through the process – so they have less work (and less thinking) to do, and the risk of errors is minimal.
The new Kudu high-end flatbed printer features an impressive combination of high productivity and first-class output quality. Kudu is a 127.5×79.9-inch high-end UV LED printer that complements the existing flatbed range – Nyala, Impala and Oryx. Like the forth generation of this trio, which swissQprint launched only a year ago, Kudu operates at a redefined standard of quality. It is also highly productive and offers ten color channels (nine on the other models).
At its maximum productivity of 3229 ft² per hour, the UV printer delivers convincingly high output quality. Carmen Eicher, Chief of Sales and Marketing Officer at swissQprint, explains: “Kudu incorporates the latest print head technology, with an addressable resolution of up to 1350 dpi.”
The flatbed printer stands on a newly designed mechanical foundation and operates using the latest linear drives. “This ensures precise droplet placement at such high speeds,” adds Eicher. Kudu features the Tip Switch vacuum, like the other flatbed and roll to roll printers from swissQprint. In the case of Kudu, it is divided into 260 zones, which gives the operator very simple and selective control of the vacuum.
And speaking of control: Lory, the output software developed in-house by swissQprint, is the Kudu operator’s cockpit. The graphical user interface with its virtual flatbed is designed for intuitive and safe operation. 127.5-inch roll to roll option and ten color channels Kudu, like all swissQprint flatbed printers, is expandable with a roll to roll option.
It is the first swissQprint model to feature ten color channels, which further increases application diversity. Users configure the channels according to their needs, and may adapt the configuration at any time later. The newly developed universal ink (Greenguard Gold certified) is available in CMYK, light cyan, light magenta, light black, white, effect varnish and primer as well as the spot colors orange and neon yellow and pink – a swissQprint exclusive.
