Ricoh has broadened its range of production equipment with the Ricoh Pro L4100 latex large format printer series. The printer comprises of a roll-to-roll 130cm and 160cm width formats and will be available in South Africa by March 2014.
The new series of printers is suitable for producing displays and signs which are a growing segment of the market.
In addition to CMYK, orange, green and white inks are also available. The Ricoh Pro L4160 and L4130 deliver high print productivity and quality as a result of technological innovations which include the Ricoh piezo electric print heads. They also meet the market need for products that reduce environmental impact printing through its use of aqueous latex ink and the ability to consume low power.
Vaughan Patterson, sales manager for the production printing business group at Ricoh SA said, ‘The series has been extensively tested in the field. The feedback we’ve received from customers, since the series was announced at drupa 2012, has been incorporated into the designs.’
The Ricoh Pro L4100’s latex ink is an aqueous (water-based) ink which contains a low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It has no odour and the low curing temperature of 60°C enables both quick drying, for a fast job turnaround, and the ability to print on many heat-sensitive substrates without damaging them.
The extensive array of media includes PVC, tarpaulin, synthetic paper, coated-paper, uncoated paper, film, textiles and more. In addition, it allows the use of lighter weight substrates, thus reducing overall costs, including shipping costs. Ricoh is expanding the range of compatible substrates through its continuing media profiling and testing programme in partnership with Color Concepts, an industry standard for media validation.
‘The prints last one or two years and twice that length when they are laminated,’ said Patterson. ‘The white ink means printers can create vibrant colours on all substrates and the orange and green inks increase the palette for indoor and outdoor materials.’
The stainless steel multiple jetting piezo inkjet heads create three different drop sizes produced at once, with drops as small as four picolitres. The result is smooth, lifelike images. The small drop size also enables production of smooth gradations and fine details, including fine lines and small fonts.
The Ricoh Pro L4100’s Uninterrupted Ink Supply System (UISS) adds to the productivity of the printer. When one CMYK ink cartridge runs out of ink, the system switches automatically to the second cartridge of the same colour for unattended printing. In a busy print production environment it ensures that the operation runs as smoothly and productively as possible with minimal operator intervention.
The Ricoh Pro L4100 is available with the Colorgate RIP. The Colorgate as a bespoke menu-driven RIP that allows users to choose the exact feature set they need. It is intuitive so it reduces the learning curve and improves productivity. It includes colour management tools ideal for demanding commercial print environments.
Features summary
· 7-colour printing — CMYK, white, orange and green.
· Latest generation Ricoh piezo variable drop print head with drops as small as 4 picolitres.
· Aqueous latex ink with low environmental impact.
· Durable printing for outdoor and indoor applications.
· High productivity printing up to 18,2 sqm per hour.
· Fast drying.
· Wide range of media supported, from PVC to paper to textiles and more.
· Choice of two print widths (1361mm or 1610mm).
· 50% less power consumption than its closest competitor.
· Lower ink curing temperatures for reduced energy consumption and use of lighter-weight and heat sensitive materials.
· Optional Colorgate menu-driven RIP for exact feature set specification.
