VUTEk GS3200 Super-wide Format Printer - IT Enquirer

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Most super wide format printers will
print on a large range of media. The
capability to print on many different media
from many different suppliers improves a
wide format printer’s ROI.
Flexibility
During our tests, we saw the VUTEk
GS3200 being used for printing on materials
such as:
It allows the printer to be used in many different
vertical markets without being locked
in by the printer manufacturer when it
comes to media. There is always a lock-in
on the level of ink, but this is understandable
as a manufacturer can only guarantee
quality results when using the standard
inks.
However, in super wide format printing a
lock-in at the level of ink and media makes
a printer less flexible
and more expensive (in
operating cost terms;
manufacturer branded
media is usually sold
at a premium) than it
should be.
Media flexibility is of
crucial importance as
users will need to exploit
the printer for as
many vertical markets
as possible. This benefits
the printer’s TCO
(Total Cost of Ownership)
and rapid payback
of the investment.
It also benefits TCO
because — in cases
where media quality
is less important — it
enables users to shop
around for the best price/quality ratio materials
available.
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Construction materials such as concrete
and stone tiles
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Glass plates and film
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Plastics, Polypropylene, Vinyl, and
other synthetic rigid and roll-based
materials
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Wood, metal, mesh
The range of materials that can be used with a super
wide format printer partly depends on drying time and
the curing system used.
A water based ink such as Latex will use a lot of energy
(heat) to create the necessary bonding between
the inks and the media. A UV curable ink does not need
heat but UV light to make the ink polymerize. This
process is much faster and more energy efficient..
In order to keep curing times within efficiency ranges,
the applied heat is higher with water-soluble inks.
Many materials will deform or melt at high temperatures
even if they are only exposed for a couple of seconds.
Hence the need for either drastically reducing the
number of materials a water based inkjet printer can
use or the introduction of media that has been made to
the printer’s specifications.
The latter are usually not to be readily found with materials
suppliers. Vendors will regard these branded
materials as “consumables” for which they can charge
extra.
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Fabrics, including curtain, materials,
losely woven fabrics, etc. (Open media
needs backing aka.
“liner” to avoid printing
on the belt).
All of the materials
we tested were supplied
by third party
suppliers —none were
VUTEk branded or
VUTEk sold. Given
the fact that ‘media’ in
a super wide format
printing environment
can mean anything, the
VUTEk GS3200 therefore
doesn’t lock in the
user at all.
The VUTEk GS3200
uses a temperature
point at which practically
all materials are
unaffected.
The VUTEk GS3200 proved to be a flexible
device in more ways than just media independence.
For example, the VUTEk GS3200
can be equipped with multiple zero points.
This requires the operator to install up to
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