VISUAL IMPACT: EPSON
Epson launched a number of print systems to the ANZ market at Visual Impact, including a desktop DTG/DTF printer, a desktop UV printer, and had the worldwide launch of the F9560 64 inch dye-sub printer.
New to ANZ was the F1060 compact desktop hybrid DTG DTF printer, which prints on garments and film. It does not replace an existing machine, and is part of Epson’s drive to bring multiple new revenue opportunities to print businesses for relatively low investment. Gordon Kerr, business marketing manager, Large Format, said, “The F1060 will cost less than $11,000, and has opened up a whole new segment, not only because of its price point and its profitability, but also because of its compact size.”
Epson also had the V1060, its new compact UV desktop machine. Kerr said, “This machine opens up opportunities again for merchandise.” In fact the first half of the Epson stand was entirely focused on merchandise, highlighting what the company believes are real opportunities for desktop UV printing.
Kerr said, “So here with the V1060 we're showing production of USB keys, pens, canvas prints, iPhone covers. One of the fantastic things with this compact machine is that it's flexible. It can deal with items up to 70 millimetres in height. And rounded items. So we can we can print directly on all golf call and other curved surfaces.”
To optimise the new printers Epson also launched Epson Studio for a small shop or merchandise provider. Kerr said, “This software enables the customer to walk up with a USB key, the iPhone, their image, type it straight into the iPad, add the text that they want then say I want to produce that on a t shirt, golf ball or whatever.”
The second half of the Epson stand hosed a trio of roll-to-roll printers; the SureColor 80660L, described by Kerr as the workhorse, and the new P20560, a 64 inch aqueous printer. Kerr said, “Now what this machine brings to the market is colour, it has biggest gamut out there. And it also combines that with print speed.”
The P20560 has a large 2.64 inch precisioncore print heads and inking system. It has 12 large 1.6 litre pouches, which Epson says enable cost-effective production of fine art and large format interior POS.
The new F9560 is the new 64 inch dye sub printer, shown at Visual Impact as a world first. Kerr said, "This printer replaces our previous 64 inch machine. What does it replaces it with is an extremely compact, fully integrated solution. The flat top and square sides are designed to create a whole work environment for operators. It has integrated heating system."
Epson says the SC-F9560 is easy to operate with a large touch panel display complete with integrated help and comes supplied with Edge Print software that shows users on-screen what they can expect to get on paper.
It also offers users high productivity levels with heavy duty motors and a large 2.64” PrecisionCore printhead that delivers production output at low pass rates. There are further production efficiencies too with support for a wide range of media types, widths and thicknesses on rolls up to 45 kg and a bulk ink system that uses convenient pouch-based ink with dual sets and hot swap.
The six-colour SC-F9560H model can be configured with Lc Lm ink for fine gradation and an extended gamut, or Orange and Violet for maximum gamut, or Fy and Fp fluorescent ink for maximum brightness. The fluorescent ink can be applied as spot colour and process colour.
Epson says users of the SC-F9560 will also enjoy lower running costs with low power consumption, support for cost-effective media and a high degree of self-maintenance.
Kerr said, "It's designed for you to print a full roll or partial roll. This machine will be shipping late October. We're very proud of this one, and from the response of the people who've come around this morning and looked at it, I think Epson has hit the mark."
According to Kerr the new printer has two target audiences, he said, "It's two types of businesses, first it's fabric production. So people who are involved in garments or garment production. We had a couple of people who through this morning who were looking at going wow, you can produce how much how fast and at what price. That's option number one. Option number two is soft signage. There is huge growth in soft signage. Just looking around the show here today. We have so many examples of soft signage. We have banners we have pull ups, we have constructions. Soft signage is massive. So premium, high quality, accurate, cost effective printing available through the F9560 will meet that market..