The Future of Personalized Printing is Here
One of the most significant deterrents to the direct-to-object UV printing process has always been the reduced productivity compared to roll-to-roll workflows. Whether printing by jigs or by rotary systems, batch-style printing provides a uniquely detailed approach to customization while also slowing your output. And while small flatbed printers can offer a small-scale solution for starter businesses, there is a growing need for a printer that can meet the demands of production level output.
Considering these points, one question comes to mind: what if there was a printer that could combine the flexibility of direct-to-object UV printing with the speed of a roll-to-roll unit? Luckily, we don’t have to imagine it. Mimaki has introduced a new machine meant to give personalized UV printing a much-needed boost in production; the UJV300DTF-75.
UV-DTF Transfer Printing
The UV-DTF process is nothing new, with previous popular printer models, such as Roland’s UV flatbed printers, boasting UV-DTF film printing through their V-BOND ink. The innovation comes in the form of a multi-roll system that laminates your prints directly on the unit, eliminating post-processing time. After an initial setup, which includes lining both films up for clean lamination, the printer is ready for long, unattended runs.
This is a game-changer in the world of UV printing, giving you the freedom to transfer your prints onto irregular, hard surfaces without having to worry about the limitations of flatbed printing. In the tests that we’ve done with our demo unit at the shop (yes, we have a demo unit that you can check out in our showroom!), we’ve found that the UV-DTF transfers are vibrant, detailed, and durable. Utilizing the gloss ink channel gives even more permanence to the transfer prints, and the professional touch it adds certainly helps too.
Printing on Virtually Anything
Perhaps UV printing’s greatest strength is its versatility when it comes to application. The substrates you can transfer your UV-DTF prints to are only limited by whether or not ink can adhere to the surface. This means that besides clothing, which does not have a suitable surface for ink adhesion, UV-DTF prints will stick on basically anything that you can think of. From tapered glassware, intricately designed electronics, sports equipment including helmets and skateboards, and so much more, the UJV300DTF-75 opens your business up to a uniquely flexible personalized product line.
While most UV flatbed printers have similar printing capabilities as far as substrates, the UJV300DTF-75 gives you much more output with less setup time. Let’s take printed water bottles, for instance. While you can print, at most, two water bottles in about 15 minutes on a standard UV flatbed printer with a kebab or rotary system, the same prints will be finished in a fraction of the time with the UJV300DTF-75 due to roll-to-roll productivity.
See the Mimaki UJV300DTF-75 in Action
As mentioned earlier, we currently have the UJV300DTF-75 set-up and ready to demo in our showroom. We encourage you to schedule an in-person demo through our services page, with a note saying that you’d like to see the new Mimaki UV-DTF machine. You are also welcome to bring a flash drive with a printable file, so we can help you bring your ideas to life. Since we also have a demo model of a UV flatbed printer, we can even compare printing speeds, productivity, and everything else that sets the UJV300DTF-75 apart from its competition.
Personally, I am very excited to see the evolution that this machine will inspire in the world of printing. UV-DTF technology is shaping up to be the future of personalized printing, offering businesses an accelerated output with the same quality they expect. The UJV300DTF-75 is the latest example of Mimaki’s desire to galvanize the printing industry in a new and exciting direction.