SwissQprint shows fourth generation flatbeds

SwissQprint has introduced upgraded versions of its flatbed printers, the fourth generation for the Oryx, Impala and Nyala, boasting new printheads and advanced mechanical features. 

The most significant aspect is that SwissQprint has opted for new printheads, choosing the new Konica Minolta 1280i over the older KM1024i it previously used. The basic specifications remain the same, with the same bed sizes and the same print speeds. But the new heads allow for higher resolution, which in turn should allow most users to benefit from higher productivity. Thus the latest Impala and Nyala printers now offer resolution up to 1350 dpi and speeds up 180 sqm/hr and 206 sqm/hr respectively. The entry level Oryx can produce up to 90 sqm/hr, with resolution up to 1080 dpi. 

There are also new UV inks from NuTec, which is based in South Africa and has developed a range of wide format inks, coatings, varnishes and liquid laminates. As before, these printers can be configured with up to nine channels with a range of colours, including white, as well as varnish and primer available. They use one head per colour, though you can add a second row of heads to increase the speed. 

SwissQprint says there are new mechanical features though the main one of these appears to be the Tip Switch Vacuum which is already found on the existing models though it’s now standard throughout the range. Nonetheless, it’s an ingenious idea, with the table split widthwise into 256 individual sectors that can switched on or off at the touch of a finger. This gives a fairly precise control over the vacuum area so that it should be possible to set most jobs up through the Tip switches without wasting any time on masking. There are also two zones across the length – front and back –  so that you could set a job up on one zone while printing on the other. 

The results that I saw printed on the stand at Fespa did look quite impressive, with the higher quality modes reproducing details even in small sized text and decent colours. This is partly down to using smaller drop sizes – now 7-10pl, where the older machines produced 9-12pl drops. Nor did the image quality appear to suffer at the higher speeds, suggesting that many print service providers will be able to do more work with those faster print modes. 

The fourth generation features only apply to the flatbeds. Marketing communications manager Petra Fetting points out that a new faster version of the Karibu roll-fed printer was introduced earlier this year. However, it’s inevitable that we will see a new fourth generation Karibu at some point. 

The new flatbeds are available now. You can find further details on the printers at swissqprint.com, and an older report on the new Konica Minolta 1280 series printheads here.