Gerber Previews New Duo

As indicated in The Big Picture's Nov/Dec 2004 issue, Gerber Scientific
Products previewed two new printers
at the 2004 SGIA show”?the Solara UV
wide-format UV printer and the XRT2500
grand-format, solvent inkjet printer. Both
printers were still in their testing stages
as this piece was written (commercial
sales are expected to begin in Q1 2005),
but Gerber feels these new printers are
indicative of the positive changes the
company has made.

“Re-invigorating innovation has been
one of our four key strategic objectives at
Gerber over the last 21.2 years,” says Marc
T. Giles, president and CEO of Gerber Scientific.
“Our new product-development
process is now driving significant product
and service innovations across all of Gerber's
operating units. The strength of our
new-product pipeline and the growing
vitality of our markets represent significant
opportunities for Gerber Scientific.”

The Solara UV is the first digital inkjet
system developed entirely in-house by
Gerber Scientific. A 6-color (CMYK, plus
violet and green) roll-to-roll UV piezo
printer, it accommodates a variety of
uncoated materials with widths from 15
to 60 in. and can hit a top speed of 75 sq
ft/hr. It offers a native resolution of 360 x
360 dpi (600 dpi apparent), and utilizes a
Gerber ImageRIP Pro by Onyx.

Although the XRT2500 is not a Gerber
solo effort (the company worked with
outside partners to develop this printer),
it's capable of printing up to 99.2 in. wide
with speeds up to 400 sq ft/hr. A 6-color
solvent machine (CMYKcm), the XRT2500
uses 12 Spectra SM-128 piezo printheads
(2 heads x 6 colors) and can image on a
wide range of media, including banner,
self-adhesive vinyl, mesh, and textiles. It
offers a native resolution of 300 x 600 dpi
(300 x 800 dpi apparent), and utilizes an
ImageRIP Pro by Onyx.

Features include: a Fly-By-Wire user
interface, which helps users quickly learn
and operate the printer; a built-in bulk inkdelivery
system, with automatic ink-sensor
controls; a four-phase drying system
comprising a platen heater, post-heater,
radiant heater, and drying fans; and a
heavy-duty material handling and transport
system, regulating the media from
the material roll through the machine to
the take-off roll.

The price on both of these printers has
yet to be established. (Gerber Scientific Products: www.gspinc.com)