How to Choose the Best UV Printer for Your Business: A Guide to Flatbed & Roll-to-Roll Options

ABOVE PHOTO: UV printers offer users the opportunity to print directly on a wide variety of surfaces and substrates.

WITH ITS PRINT durability and color vibrancy paired with an ability to print on a wide range of surfaces and objects, UV printing is the solution many print producers have been looking for. The good news is that in recent years, UV printer manufacturers have responded to market demand with a wealth of UV printer size and format options, designed for use by printing professionals and new users alike. Now the challenge becomes how to choose the best UV printer for your business.

Roland DGA Product Manager Philip Chu shares insight about what considerations help you determine which UV printer size, production speed, and printing format (flatbed or roll-to-roll) will best meet your production needs.

The simulated embossing and special effects that UV printing offers add interest and textural appeal to application like decals.

What do you think explains the increasing popularity of UV printers?

One word: Opportunity. Abundant possibilities to make money and see a quick ROI using UV printers are available. Flatbed devices, which are what people normally think of when they think about UV printers, have varying levels of clearance and can print on a wide variety of media and 3D objects. You can also use a roll-to-roll UV device that combines the white and gloss ink features of a flatbed with roll-feed media, enabling you to add texture and build layers on your prints.

UV printing products are a growing category worldwide because they enable direct-to-object (DTO) printing, which can save users time and money. UV printers can print directly on many different materials and substrates like Sintra, acrylic, wood, canvas, vinyl, etc.

You also can use UV printers to create UV-DTF, a newer innovation in decals, which sandwiches UV ink between layers of gloss and white ink for decorating items and surfaces such as glass or ceramic that are difficult to print on directly.

Another important factor in UV printing’s popularity is the rise of online marketplaces like Etsy. There are more ways than ever to get your products in front of customers … and start making profit sooner.

What are some of the recent advances that make purchasing a UV printer particularly attractive?

Three main advances have helped UV devices grow even more popular. The first is the introduction of UV machines with dramatically increased print speeds. New roll-to-roll UV printers, for example, feature staggered print heads for much wider print swaths, and new UV lamps that cure prints faster, both of which contribute to increased productivity.

The second is in software. Many newer software products make the process of adding special effects and textures easy for both new and seasoned users. Powerful RIP software that offers a suite of advanced features simplifies production and can be used with multiple devices — making it the best choice.

The third is the wider range of UV ink gamuts available. Manufacturers now offer multiple UV ink configurations, depending on your needs.

How do wide-format shop owners determine whether a UV flatbed or roll-to-roll printer is better for their needs?

Even at wide-format scale, the choice should be based on which applications you are running. We have customers who produce trade show booths and have switched from wrapping vinyl on 4’ x 8’ wood panels to using a UV printer to print directly on 4’ x 8’ paper honeycomb board.

Roland DG’s wider UV ink gamuts, including orange and red ink, produce deep, rich tones and facilitate accurate color matching.

What other factors are important to consider when purchasing a wide-format UV flatbed printer?

The decision to purchase a wide-format (sometimes called grand format) UV flatbed printer usually is made to solve a business need. For example, if you print a lot of 4’ x 8’ wall panels for trade shows, a UV direct-to-substrate printer saves time and money by allowing you to print directly on Sintra or on green materials.

Wide-format UV flatbed printers come with additional considerations. I have developed an acronym to help people navigate these factors: WES MD.

• Weight & Width: Wide-format flatbed printers can weigh in excess of 2,000 lbs. with 8 to 10-foot bed sizes. It’s important to verify that your floor can handle that much weight.
• Electrical: Wide-format flatbeds often have special power requirements as well, such as needing multiple 220v outlets.
• Setup and Space: Operating spaces are larger than you may expect. For example, the minimum operational space for a 4’ x 8’ flatbed is 10’ x 16’.
• Moving (to Install): Due to the heavy weight and large size of these machines, it’s important to think through your plan to move it into position in your production area.
• Delivery & Doorway: Most UV wide-format flatbeds will not fit through a standard door.

What factors are important to consider for a roll-to-roll UV printer?

Roll-to-roll printers offer users the opportunity to run applications like embossed decals, stickers, and packaging, in addition to traditional graphics applications — all with unattended print and cut capability. The ability to let jobs run without having to reposition media can be a highly valuable timesaver for a busy shop.

We have customers who prototype packaging on their roll-to-roll UV printer, using available tools to perforate and crease their output for realistic samples. This process is much faster and less expensive than outsourcing prototyping or running a sample on larger, production machines.

The considerations for purchasing a roll-to-roll UV printer typically revolve around the print quality and speed each printer can provide, and the cost savings versus outsourcing or using larger printing equipment for the needed applications.

A digital printer is a critical piece of equipment for most print-related businesses. So, it’s important to consider the printer manufacturer’s reputation for quality and reliability. In addition, find a company that offers outstanding technical support and a strong warranty to ensure your printer is running smoothly — and profitably — for years to come.