Roland Rolls Out 30-in. Printer/Cutter

With a list price under $14,000, Roland DGA's new 30-in., 1440-dpi, four-color VersaCAMM printer/cutter gives signmakers an economical option for producing many types of indoor and outdoor contour-cut graphics. With its integrated media-heating system, the VersaCamm uses second-generation, odor-free mild-solvent inks that can adhere to both coated and uncoated substrates. Graphics producers don't need to install special ventilation or environmental equipment in order to safely use the inks.

For many popular outdoor-display requirements, graphics produced with Roland Eco-SOL ink are water-, scratch, and UV-resistant for up to three years without lamination. Lamination is advised for more rigorous applications or environmental conditions. But if the graphics are removed from the printer to be laminated, they can still be contour cut. Simply reload the graphics and the printer's Quadralign? optical registration system will automatically realign the cutting path to compensate for any skew or distortion that may have occurred during the lamination process.

“Our customers have been asking for a smaller platform, print-cut inkjet,” says Dave Goward, Roland VP of Sales & Marketing. “When you consider that this printer also contour cuts, the VersaCamm is the most productive signmaking tool in its class.”

So that graphic producers don't have to waste a lot of time experimenting with various media and developing new profiles, Roland has tested and profiled a new line of uncoated substrates that will yield consistent print results. Roland's ESM (Eco-SOL Media) line of media includes glossy, matte, and clear calendared vinyls with a permanent adhesive, a view-through vinyl with removable adhesive, a calendared wrap vinyl with removable adhesive, a translucent calendered vinyl with a removable adhesive, and flame-retardant and blockout scrim banner materials. Roland plans to expand the ESM line-up with lower-cost papers and films.

The VersaCamm has also been found to be compatible with Roland SOLJET Certified Media and works with some of the media Roland has developed for its HiFi JET and CAMMJet aqueous-ink printers.

Roland estimates that with the ESM media, the cost of ink and media used to produce graphics will average about $0.65/sq ft. Inks are supplied in four 220-ml ink cartridges.

The list price of $13,995 includes Roland's COLORIP? (RCR) software that includes simultaneous RIP and print capabilities, several unique layout options, contour cutting controls, and enhanced color-management features. With Roland's RCR software, graphics shops can print TIFF, JPEG, EPS, PS, PDF 1.4 and DCS 2.0 files. (Roland DGA: www.rolanddga.com)