How Flatbeds Can Speed Wide-Format Printing

Kongsberg Cutting Tables


Digital finishing equipment for signs, displays, and packaging.

Kongsberg’s 126.5- x 126-in. Kongsberg C64 multifunction superwide digital cutting table enables automation for workflow, material handling, and tooling swap processes. With eight vacuum sections and max. speed of 328 ft/min, the digital cutter utilizes an aluminum composite tabletop, rack-and-pinion drive system, and dynamic table mapping for cutting precision and consistency on materials such as paper, textiles, triple-wall corrugated media, fluted board, plastic, aluminum composite, and more. Additional features include feeder and stacker pallet-to-pallet material handling for sheet automation, underside camera with barcode scanning for full registration and correct tooling/production settings, board feeder and motorized roll feeder for soft signage, multi-zone production capabilities, 3kW continuous duty high-performance milling unit, and an assortment of optional tool units. The Kongsberg C series is available in several configurations: 66- x 56-in. C20, 66- x 126-in. C24, 87- x 126-in. C44, 126.5- x 63-in. C60, and 126.5- x 189-in. C66.

Additionally, the Kongsberg X Series of digital cutting tables offers six configurations: 66- x 50-in. X20, 66- x 86-in. X22, 66- x 126-in. X24, 87- x 126-in. X44, 87- x 189-in. X46, 87- x 258-in. X48, and entry-level, upgradeable X Edge. The flexible finishing tables offer three application kits (short-run packaging, signage and display production, flexo plates, and patches) and can be upgraded with additional units to fit business needs. Available toolheads include the MultiCut-HS/HP for varied materials and applications, FlexiHead for thin and flexible substrates, PowerHead for heavy-duty materials, and Foam Head for foam and thick substrates. Features include print speeds up to 164 ft/min (98 ft/min for X Edge), i-cut Production Console front end, barcode production, the My Job List workflow tool, and multi-zone production capabilities.

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MANUFACTURER: Kongsberg
PRODUCT CATEGORY: Flatbeds + Superwides

Canon Flatbed Printers


Engineered for rigid or flexible media.

Canon’s recent expansion of the Arizona 1300 series includes six new flatbed printers. Additions include the 49.2 x 98.4-in. Arizona 1340 GTF, Arizona 1360 GTF, and Arizona 1380 GTF, as well as three 98.4 x 121.3-in. models: the Arizona 1340 XTF, Arizona 1360 XTF, and Arizona 1380 XTF. The Arizona XTF series replaces the current Arizona 1300 XT series, the company reports.

Designed for retail, interior décor, packaging, and industrial applications on rigid or flexible media, the presses feature multi-board and double-sided printing capabilities and Flow zone-free vacuum technology for simple media handling. Additional features include updates to the Advanced Image Layout Controls user interface for last-minute adjustments, additional pneumatic registration pin for improved double-sided printing, accounting interface for data retrieval, and new print modes including Quality-Smooth, Production-Plus, and Quality-Plus (8-channel configurations).

Canon has also extended its Prisma XL Suite workflow software with PrismaElevate XL, available on the new models. PrismaElevate XL is engineered to enable textured printing, embossing, metallic accents, and raised lettering up to 2 mm.

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MANUFACTURER: Canon USA
PRODUCT CATEGORY: Flatbeds + Superwides
APPLICATION CATEGORY: Retail and Point-of-Purchase; Interior Décor; Art + Photography

Agfa Roll-to-Roll Printer Module

Enables quick switches between rigid and flexible substrates.

Agfa has revealed the Flex RTR module for its Jeti Tauro H3300 hybrid inkjet printer series. The roll-to-roll printing module offers a compact footprint and ergonomic, user-friendly design to transition from roll media to boards or sheets or from single- to dual-roll printing with one operator. Dancer rolls control media tension for fast, simple media loading without undocking, the company reports. An integrated camera system enables accurate double-sided printing via QR codes. Capable of single- and dual-roll printing, the module is designed to handle widths up to 130 in. for single rolls and 63 in. for dual rolls with a max. roll diameter of 15.8 in.

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MANUFACTURER: Agfa Graphics
PRODUCT CATEGORY: Flatbeds + Superwides

Mimaki Large-Format UV Flatbed


Reaches print speeds up 2152 sq ft/hr.

Mimaki’s 98.43 x 51.18-in. JFX600-2513 UV-LED flatbed printer leverages 16 printheads to achieve print speeds ranging to 2152 sq ft/hr, or 67 boards/hr. The press images substrates as thick as 2.36 in., including rigid, flexible, and soft materials for applications such as displays, interior décor, window graphics, and more. The JFX600-2513 utilizes low-VOC, Greenguard Gold-certified UV-LED inks with CMYK + white + clear + primer options.

Mimaki core features include Mimaki Print Controller for job and maintenance control, Nozzle Check Unit and Nozzle Recovery System, Automatic Cleaning Function and Automatic Wiper Cleaner, Mimaki Circulation Technology, Mimaki Advanced Pass System 4 for reduced banding, Waveform Control for image sharpness, Variable Dot Technology for imaging gradations, Mimaki Fine Diffusion for color smoothing, and Mimaki Clear Control for glossy finish.

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MANUFACTURER: Mimaki USA
PRODUCT CATEGORY: Flatbeds + Superwides
APPLICATION CATEGORY: Digital Textile Printing / Interior Décor

MultiCam Apex CNC Routers


Offers durable steel construction for improved routing quality.

MultiCam’s Apex Series CNC routers includes the Apex1R and Apex3R with EZ Control operator interface. The Multicam Apex1R servo-driven router with spindle and knife cutting capabilities is designed for smaller shops. A steel frame and gantry with cast gantry supports hinders vibration, and helical racks on each CNC router axis improve precision. A knife system with oscillating and non-oscillating capabilities and linear tool changer with capacity for up to 11 knife and spindle tools comes standard, with optional second knife system available. Engineered for applications such as signmaking, fabrication, and woodworking, the router can finish substrates including plastic, foam, nonferrous metals, composite materials, and wood as thick as 3 in. Additional features include four-zone vacuum work surface, optional MultiVision dynamic digital registration, optional dust collection system, and more. Available in three configurations: 49- x 96-in. model 103, 60- x 120-in. model 204, and 83- x 121-in. model 304.

The MultiCam Apex3R CNC router reaches cut speeds as fast as 1950 in./min and features a heavy steel tube frame for durability, reduced vibration, and improved quality. A three-axis motion control system and helical rack-and-pinion design contribute to accuracy and precision. Additional standard features include 25-mm linear ball-bearing profile rails, unlimited file size transfer, brushless digital AC servo drive system, and EZ Suite software. Optional add-ons include vacuum table and pumps, spindle options from 4 HP to 13.3 HP, linear automated tool changer, MultiCam CNC Knife with optional cutting heads, MultiVision Digital Registration System and vision systems for print registration compensation, coolant mist systems for nonferrous metal cutting, dust collection systems with duct work, tangential knife cutters, and more. The routers can finish materials ranging from 4 to 5 in. thick, including plastic, foam, nonferrous metal, composite materials, and wood. Four available configurations include 53- x 100-in. model 103, 63- x 121-in. model 204, 83- x 121-in. model 304, and 104- x 146-in. model 405.

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MANUFACTURER: MultiCam
PRODUCT CATEGORY: Flatbeds + Superwides

Kyocera Inkjet Textile Printer


Positioned as a sustainable press that reduces water pollution/consumption.

Kyocera’s ForEarth inkjet textile printer is designed to nearly eliminate water usage and pollution from fabric printing, the company reports. The machine leverages inkjet, ink, and printing equipment technology to avoid water consumption and material waste from washing, steaming, and mass disposal of overstocked clothing. ForEarth uses the company’s All-in-One printing system with new non-VOC water-based pigment ink, pre-treatment liquid, and a finishing agent that doesn’t require the large amount of water of traditional fabric printing, according to the company. The ink offers detailed, color-fast printing on a range of fabrics including cotton, silk, polyester, nylon, and blended fabrics for applications such as fashion, sportswear, and home décor.

Additional features include small print production footprint with streamlined two-step printing and drying workflow, up to 18 Kyocera KJ4B recirculating inkjet printheads, max printing widths of 70.9 in., resolution of 600 x 600 dpi, print speeds reaching 2691 sq ft/hr, and 10-L ink tank capacity with up to 8 ink colors available.

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MANUFACTURER: KYOCERA

PRODUCT CATEGORY: Flatbeds + Superwides
APPLICATION CATEGORY: Digital Textile Printing