Mimaki brings print production creativity to Viscom Frankfurt 2014

Mimaki is continuing its pan-European showcase: Let’s Create… Together. The company will be bringing its vaunted print production creativity to Viscom Frankfurt 2014, Germany, from November 5th to 7th 2014 and holding a variety of My Mimaki Days events throughout Germany in October and November.

In Hall 3 on stand C31/D31, Mimaki’s newly-launched solutions, developed in response to emerging market needs; will highlight how adopting new technology can benefit businesses by supporting existing market segments and addressing new possibilities.

“The print production environment has become so diverse that it is understandable how companies can be tempted to stand on the side-lines to watch how opportunities develop, unsure of how or when they can or should transform their own fortunes,” comments Mike Horsten, General Manager Marketing EMEA, Mimaki Europe B.V. “However, you can’t stand on the side-lines for too long without falling behind the competition and disappointing customers. That is why our portfolio of solutions is constantly evolving to address new and developing market opportunities. At the same time, we provide systems that help operations cost-effectively harness any commercial advantage that is possible, whether they are small or large, and no matter what their segment.”

The Viscom revelation
The new Mimaki CJV300-130/160 inkjet printer/cutter was created to do just that. Premiered in Europe at Viscom Paris 2014, it brings simultaneous print/cut operations to this class of printer for the first time, at a print speed of up to 105.9 square meters per hour. Its two newly-developed staggered print heads deliver a wider print swath and ink drops ranging from 4pl to 35pl for beautiful, high-resolution printing. Continuous register mark detection enables the continuous cutting of an entire roll of media while simultaneously taking up unrolled media. Zero margin register marks reduce media consumption by eliminating the margins between register marks, for less waste of often-costly media.

Also new to Mimaki’s technologically responsive and quickly expanding family of solutions, and available in spring 2015, is the highly functional, entry-level Mimaki CJV150 inkjet printer/cutter. It operates at up to 56.2 square meters per hour. Also on show will be the Mimaki JV150 inkjet printer, featuring solvent and water-based sublimation inks which is capable of creating a wide range of print applications, including indoor decorations, posters, shop or event decorations, and vehicle-wraps. Quick-drying SS21 orange and light black inks are available for both printers.

“These two printers were unveiled at Viscom Italia and were received enthusiastically by attendees,” Horsten adds. “They demonstrate Mimaki’s dedication to developing leading-edge solutions for the signage and large format sectors. They also reflect our ability to deliver market-tailored solutions that enhance the creativity of our customers and their ability to deliver exceptional results, allowing them to work effectively and profitably in these demanding market sectors.”

Mimaki is exclusively distributed in the UK & Ireland by Hybrid Services Ltd and the company’s national sales manager, sign & graphics, John de la Roche comments, “Seeing the CJV300 and the new 150 Series machines in action at Viscom Italia was a revelation. Visitors to Viscom Frankfurt will be able to appreciate the substantial productivity benefits the new printers offer and the full range will shortly be available to demo in the UK at our showroom and with our specialist resellers.”

Horizon leads the way with the first Mimaki JV300 in Ireland

As the first company in Ireland to install the recently launched Mimaki JV300 solvent digital inkjet printer; Horizon Digital Print is embracing this neat, compact addition to its otherwise sizeable large-format production line and is positive about the surge in productivity shown in the few weeks since its arrival.

U1-Horizon-JV300

To think of a ‘Horizon’ gives a sense of expanse and possibility and it is a fitting name for the award-winning Dublin-based printing company, which has recently become the first in Ireland to install the new Mimaki JV300 solvent printer. Originally opened in the city centre in 1986 as a pre-press operation, the company has witnessed many changes to the industry over the last 30 years and embraced the opportunities each leap in technology has given them.

With two purpose-built sites on the Phoenix Industrial Estate in Dublin, over 60 employees and a 24-hour shift rota in operation to manage its substantial workload, Horizon offers a holistic service from design to print through to installation. Take a tour around the premises and the sheer size and scope of Horizon’s printing setup becomes apparent. Its vast capacity is made possible by an array of grand-format digital production presses which instantly evokes a sense of ‘anything is possible’. According to the company’s website, the formula for its success is excellent quality, short lead times and reasonable prices; and there is certainly the capability there to fulfil its customer promise.

The new kid on the block, not just for Horizon but for the Republic of Ireland, is the cutting-edge Mimaki JV300-160 which at first glance looks dwarfed by the other hardware on site. However, in true David and Goliath form, this 1.6m solvent printer is not only holding its own, but proving itself by holding the fort, as digital manager, Kenneth Kavanagh explains. “What we’re loving about the JV300 is that it gets on with the job, quietly and unattended, freeing up manpower to be used with the bigger machines. Even better is that we are finding the speed and quality it brings is allowing us to divert an increasing number of jobs away from larger machines and over to the JV300, so it has been running continuously since it was installed. There has been a definite increase in productivity since it came on board and it’s low maintenance too.”

Supplied by authorised Mimaki reseller, Reprocentre Group, the Mimaki JV300 Series is compatible with both solvent and dye-sublimation ink sets with a top speed of over 105m²/h, and is available in both 1.3m and 1.6m widths. It has a staggered dual print-head system which, coupled with variable ink dots and large ink drops means excellent quality is maintained at high speed, as Kavanagh describes; “We’ve been running the JV300 in 4-colour mode because it runs at tremendous speed this way. What is really impressive is that we are getting the same colour gamut on the JV300 that, on our previous eco-solvent printer, we’d previously only achieved in 6-colour mode. It’s enabling a very noticeable increase in productivity but without having to compromise on print quality which is perfect for the volume of outdoor advertising we produce.”