Ricoh has launched a new version of its UV flatbed printer, the Pro TF6251, which appears to be exactly the same as the outgoing TF6250 except that there’s now an option to add a roll-feeder for printing to roll-fed media.
The advantage of the roll-feeder option is that the printer can be left to print a full roll overnight unattended – the so-called night shift – which should more than justify the cost of this option.
Otherwise the new printer has the same basic specifications as the existing Pro TF6250. Thus it has the same 12x MH54 gen5 printheads, with the same 635 x 1800 dpi resolution. It takes rigid media up to 2510 x 1300mm and roll media up to 2200mm wide, with rolls up to 300m long. However, although its possible to load two smaller rolls side by side, it doesn’t appear to have a split spindle, which would allow for rolls of different media thicknesses to unwind at different rates.
The productivity remains the same for rigid media – that is 116 sqm/hr in draft mode, dropping to 48 sqm/hr in Standard mode, and 16 sqm/hr for high quality printing – all assuming four colours. The speed falls to 30 sqm/hr for production with white ink, or 40 sqm/hr if double white is loaded.
For the roll-feeder, the productivity is somewhat less, at 67 sqm/hr in draft mode, 35 sqm/hr in Standard mode, and 13 sqm/hr for High Quality work. With the white ink, speed for Production mode is 24 sqm/hr or 30 sqm/hr with double white.
There’s a choice between two inksets. GP120 can be used for both rigid and roll media and has CMYK+WW. The DG130 ink is only suitable for rigid media and that also includes a clear inks as well as CMYK+W, with one head also set aside for Ricoh’s T7210 primer. However, there’s no way to switch easily between the two ink sets as one ink has to be flushed before the other is loaded.
The new printer has the same price as the outgoing model though the roll-feeder option is an extra cost. Sadly there’s no way to add the roll-feeder option to the existing TF6250. Ricoh has been a bit shy about pricing but it’s worth noting that Roland sells a rebadged version of the TF6250 as the IU-1000F and this is currently listed as £129,000 though its not yet clear if Roland will also sell the TF6251. In the meantime, you can find more details on the TF6250 from ricoh.co.uk.
…with a little help from my friends
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