Mutoh Introduces Spitfire 100 Printer

At FESPA, Mutoh Europe introduced the mild-solvent Spitfire
100. The printer will not initially be sold in the
US; but according to Mutoh Europe's Nick
Decock, will be at a later stage.

The 102-in. Spitfire 100 joins previously
released 65- and 90-in. Spitfire models.
It uses Mutoh's Spitfire mild-solvent
inks, comes with a heavy-duty unwinding/
winding unit, offers resolutions up to
720 x 720 dpi, and delivers production
speeds up to 237 sq ft/hr on uncoated
banners, and up to 140 sq ft/hr on
uncoated self-adhesive vinyls. It has eight
360-nozzle printheads with drop-ondemand
variable-drop piezo technology.

The Spitfire Mild-Solvent inks, in 220-
ml cassettes, can be set up at 2 x CMYK or
6-color CMYKcm. The inks rapidly dry and
can be handled immediately after printing,
Mutoh reports; they also resist cleaners,
detergents, and commercial degreasers.
In addition, the mild-solvent inks allow for
printing of a broad color and tonal gamut
as well as deep shadows, and offer an outdoor
durability of 2 years, with no lamination
required for general-purpose signs.

The 102-in. Spitfire sports a new look
compared to its predecessors, as well as
new hardware. New features include a
new ink-supply path (ink-supply tubing,
head caps, and pumps), a new X/Y rail
extrusion, a new electrical pump system
(one per head), a renewed head base, and
an improved vacuum system. It also features
a heavy-duty unwinding/winding
unit and a large illuminated viewing area
with striplights for users doing visual
inspections during printing. The Spitfire
also comes with the Mutoh Edition of Onyx
RIPCenter or PhotoPrint SE. Optional equipment
includes the Mutoh APS Quatro Mini
three-stage air-purification system.

Targeted at the sign business, the Spitfire
focuses on volume production of midterm
outdoor prints. Applications include
P-O-P displays, trade-show graphics, vehicle
graphics, construction barriers, stage
graphics, publicity banners, window
graphics, and backlit box signage, as well
as indoor applications such as photo
enlargements and floor graphics.

Price: “??49,990($60,000 US), shipping
now, Europe only. (Mutoh Europe: www.mutoh.be)