Epson has opened the order book on the SureColor SCV7000, its first flatbed printer and its first LED UV machine.
The introduction comes eight years after the company first entered the sign and display market. It is aimed at existing customers wanting to produce on rigid materials. The 2.5×1.25 metre bed will support media up to 80mm high, using a height detection system to protect the PrecisionCore thin film printheads.
These are a new versions designed to work with the Ultrachrome UV ink set for the flatbed. The printer uses ten colours. In addition to CMYK and light magenta, cyan and black (Epson calls this grey), the set includes red, white and clear. The red ink provides highly vibrant colours for impact in display print. The white channel has a recirculating system to prevent nozzle clogging.
The clear ink can be used as an overall varnish, a spot varnish as well as used to produce raised tactile effects. The flatbed table is divided into four separately controlled vacuum zones. Registration pins are used for accurate positioning with an ioniser included to avoid problems with static.
The printhead has a native resolution of 720x1440dpi, used in the high quality setting. At this setting, output is 4.8 sq m/hr, rising to high speed output to print at 43.1 sq m/hr. The production setting runs at 15.3 sq m/hr.
Tom Owers, Pro Graphics product manager at Epson UK says: “Every feature of the SCV7000 has been designed with the customer in mind. We have added unique Epson features to differentiate and enhance our offering to the signage market. This is a robust and affordable UV LED flatbed signage printer capable of fast and quality printing on a wide range of media.”
The UK pricing is not available, though the Japanese list price is ¥9.3 million, around £70,000, with an Epson Edge Print Rip. Epson hopes to sell five of the new machines before the end of the year.
The company has also introduced two printers with what it calls resin inks, equivalent to latex inks. There are two models in the six-colour SureColor SCR5000 series, the R5050 and R5050L, using two sets of ink for higher production volumes.
It uses the same PrecisionCore thin film piezo printhead as the flatbed and other Epson printers, but fires the water based resin ink set. The printer includes a three-part heating system, for preheating the material, at the print point and postcore. Each is carefully monitored for colour uniformity.
The inks have GreenGuard Gold certification for use in schools, hospitals, hotels and other indoor environments. They also provide a high scratch resistant finish.
Epson’s first flatbed machine is also the company’s first LED UV printer. It offers ten-colour printing with red as a channel alongside clear and white inks. The printer is also capable of printing rigid material to a maximum thickness of 80mm.
