How to Choose the Best UV Printer for Your Business: A Guide to ...

ABOVE PHOTO: UV printers offer users the opportunity to print directly on a wide variety of surfaces and substrates.

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WITH ITS PRINT durability and color vibrancy paired with an ability to print on a wide range of surfaces and objects, UV printing is the solution many print producers have been looking for. The good news is that in recent years, UV printer manufacturers have responded to market demand with a wealth of UV printer size and format options, designed for use by printing professionals and new users alike. Now the challenge becomes how to choose the best UV printer for your business.

Roland DGA Product Manager Philip Chu shares insight about what considerations help you determine which UV printer size, production speed, and printing format (flatbed or roll-to-roll) will best meet your production needs.

What do you think explains the increasing popularity of UV printers?

One word: Opportunity. Abundant possibilities to make money and see a quick ROI using UV printers are available. Flatbed devices, which are what people normally think of when they think about UV printers, have varying levels of clearance and can print on a wide variety of media and 3D objects. You can also use a roll-to-roll UV device that combines the white and gloss ink features of a flatbed with roll-feed media, enabling you to add texture and build layers on your prints.

UV printing products are a growing category worldwide because they enable direct-to-object (DTO) printing, which can save users time and money. UV printers can print directly on many different materials and substrates like Sintra, acrylic, wood, canvas, vinyl, etc.

You also can use UV printers to create UV-DTF, a newer innovation in decals, which sandwiches UV ink between layers of gloss and white ink for decorating items and surfaces such as glass or ceramic that are difficult to print on directly.

Another important factor in UV printing’s popularity is the rise of online marketplaces like Etsy. There are more ways than ever to get your products in front of customers … and start making profit sooner.

What are some of the recent advances that make purchasing a UV printer particularly attractive?

Three main advances have helped UV devices grow even more popular. The first is the introduction of UV machines with dramatically increased print speeds. New roll-to-roll UV printers, for example, feature staggered print heads for much wider print swaths, and new UV lamps that cure prints faster, both of which contribute to increased productivity.

The second is in software. Many newer software products make the process of adding special effects and textures easy for both new and seasoned users. Powerful RIP software that offers a suite of advanced features simplifies production and can be used with multiple devices — making it the best choice.

The third is the wider range of UV ink gamuts available. Manufacturers now offer multiple UV ink configurations, depending on your needs.

How do wide-format shop owners determine whether a UV flatbed or roll-to-roll printer is better for their needs?

Even at wide-format scale, the choice should be based on which applications you are running. We have customers who produce trade show booths and have switched from wrapping vinyl on 4’ x 8’ wood panels to using a UV printer to print directly on 4’ x 8’ paper honeycomb board.

What other factors are important to consider when purchasing a wide-format UV flatbed printer?

The decision to purchase a wide-format (sometimes called grand format) UV flatbed printer usually is made to solve a business need. For example, if you print a lot of 4’ x 8’ wall panels for trade shows, a UV direct-to-substrate printer saves time and money by allowing you to print directly on Sintra or on green materials.

Wide-format UV flatbed printers come with additional considerations. I have developed an acronym to help people navigate these factors: WES MD.

• Weight & Width: Wide-format flatbed printers can weigh in excess of 2,000 lbs. with 8 to 10-foot bed sizes. It’s important to verify that your floor can handle that much weight.
• Electrical: Wide-format flatbeds often have special power requirements as well, such as needing multiple 220v outlets.
• Setup and Space: Operating spaces are larger than you may expect. For example, the minimum operational space for a 4’ x 8’ flatbed is 10’ x 16’.
• Moving (to Install): Due to the heavy weight and large size of these machines, it’s important to think through your plan to move it into position in your production area.
• Delivery & Doorway: Most UV wide-format flatbeds will not fit through a standard door.

What factors are important to consider for a roll-to-roll UV printer?

Roll-to-roll printers offer users the opportunity to run applications like embossed decals, stickers, and packaging, in addition to traditional graphics applications — all with unattended print and cut capability. The ability to let jobs run without having to reposition media can be a highly valuable timesaver for a busy shop.

We have customers who prototype packaging on their roll-to-roll UV printer, using available tools to perforate and crease their output for realistic samples. This process is much faster and less expensive than outsourcing prototyping or running a sample on larger, production machines.

The considerations for purchasing a roll-to-roll UV printer typically revolve around the print quality and speed each printer can provide, and the cost savings versus outsourcing or using larger printing equipment for the needed applications.

A digital printer is a critical piece of equipment for most print-related businesses. So, it’s important to consider the printer manufacturer’s reputation for quality and reliability. In addition, find a company that offers outstanding technical support and a strong warranty to ensure your printer is running smoothly — and profitably — for years to come.

Wide-format printing offers a lot of opportunities for print companies and is the perfect tool to expand their business into new markets. From large wall mounts and films for vehicles to outdoor signages, there are seemingly endless possibilities when you have a large format flatbed printer.

While it is a worthwhile investment, equipment of that size costs almost as much as a luxury car. Before you jump into buying one, here are a few questions you need to consider when purchasing an industrial flatbed printer.

1. How Much Does a Flatbed Printer Cost?

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Large-format flatbed printers come with a hefty price tag, making it more important to understand exactly what you’re getting for your investment. In this case, higher costs don’t necessarily mean a better version as printer prices fluctuate regularly. You need to do a bit of research on the best quality of printers and special deals for the model you like. 

A typical 4’ x 8’ flatbed UV printer costs anywhere from $70,000 to upwards of $120,000, depending on the model and brand. It’s best to do a lot of research on the best manufacturer that could serve your goals for your printing business.

2. What Do You Need to Print On?

One of the most important considerations is the type of materials that you would be printing using such a piece of equipment. You need to consider your production goals here. What products do you intend on printing? It could be any of the following:

Fome-cor

Sintra

Acrylic

Dibond

Backlit Signage

Point-of-Purchase Displays

Promotional Products

Whatever type of substrate you choose to use will dictate the type of flatbed that you need to get. Choosing the right equipment type will give you the highest quality end product and the best value for your investment. 

3. What Market Will You Be Serving?

Aside from the print materials and media to be used, you also need to take into consideration if you’ll be targeting the outdoor or the indoor market for your printed products. Any printer for the outdoor market can also print for the indoor market. However, you can’t use an indoor printer to produce media for outdoor purposes. For example, if you want to print vehicle wraps, you will need an outdoor printer.

Although most printers are capable of printing on a variety of media, you can always opt to use a limited amount of media variations and target a niche market to sell to. To make things easier, make a list of everything you would like to print on and its application, which will serve as a guide when finding the right printer to suit your needs.

4. Will You Lease or Buy?

Considering your financial situation, you need to determine if you’ll be leasing or buying since industrial flatbed printers are quite a huge investment. Of course, purchasing a printer outright using cash is still the least expensive option, but you need to have a lot of cash on hand to do it. Leasing and financing through a bank is also an option, but you should consider the interest since it will directly affect the pricing of the materials you produce.

Conclusion

Investing in a large-format flatbed printer is easily justifiable because of its versatility and the wide range of products it can produce. Consider these questions as a guide to help you find the best possible deal and make the most out of your investment.

Axzyra is a provider of specialist inkjet machinery to clients in Cambridge, UK and beyond. We carry state-of-the-art printing equipment designed to last long and give you the best value for your money. If you’re looking for top-of-the-line flatbed printers for your business, Axzyra is the one to call. Contact us today to order our products.

Want more information on Industrial UV Flatbed Printers(vi,ar,ru)? Feel free to contact us.