Electronics For Imaging, Inc. announced the EFI VUTEk h3+ and VUTEk h5+ hybrid flatbed/roll-fed LED printer series with enhanced printing and media handling capabilities. The VUTEk h+ series is a re-engineered and refined version of the high-volume, superwide-format hybrid VUTEk h series platform. The enhancements made for the VUTEk h+ series offer improved productivity, print quality, reliability, capability, and profits.
“We are excited to bring these new printers to market,” said Todd Zimmerman, SVP/GM Display Graphics & OEM Ink of EFI. “VUTEk printers have been the leader in the hybrid category in signs and display graphics for more than two decades, with more than 300 installations worldwide. The VUTEk h+ series answers some of the key pain points for our customers, all while improving ease of use and offering the LED environmentally friendly benefits you expect from EFI VUTEk technology.”
The EFI VUTEk h+ series was designed to give forward-thinking sign and display graphics customers a competitive edge with significant improvements to the original platform that will come standard on all new printers. Media handling improvements are some of the most notable enhancements in the VUTEk h+ series. An upgraded vacuum table allows for better control of thicker media and thin-light-edged materials thanks to double the vacuum strength on the print table.
All new media hold-down rollers mount to existing Media Edge Guide (MEG) rails and the spring rollers force media into the vacuum, often eliminating the need for MEG skis entirely. When MEG skis are needed, they are now available in 0.063 in, 0.094 in, and 0.012 in thicknesses.
The VUTEk h+ series offers new optional color configurations as well:
CMYKcmyk + W + Clear
CMYK x 2 + 2W
CMYK x 2 + Clear
This opens the door for two new clear ink options for VUTEk h+ series users. Building on the success of the EFI UltraClear Coat flexible ink introduced for EFI superwide roll-to-roll LED printers, EFI extended the offering to the VUTEk h3+ and h5+ printers. A second clear ink, EFI VUTEk Endura Clear, which has a harder surface finish for increased protective qualities, is also now available for the VUTEk h3+ and h5+ printers.
Both UltraClear Coat and Endura Clear inks can be used for decorative applications – to enhance an entire image (full flood) or selected areas (spot) to add extra pop to colors or special effects to graphics – as well as for a final protective coating. They print inline, simultaneously with the image, with a gloss or matte finish.
