Sector: Grande formato

Sostenibilità nella produzione

Fujifilm’s award-winning UV ink factory in the UK has implemented a wide range of initiatives to accelerate change towards a more sustainable operation

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Fujifilm’s award-winning factory in Broadstairs, UK, manufactures high performance inks for a range of markets, including Uvijet wide format UV inkjet inks, and Sericol screen and flexo inks. The company has implemented a number of sustainability initiatives over the last ten years, and more recently the recruitment of Antonina Realmuto as Group Sustainability Director, and Craig Milsted as Sustainability Advisor for the site, has brought about a much greater focus to accelerate change towards more sustainable operations.

When it comes to sustainability and protecting the earth, it’s important for us all to do more. Whether it’s consuming fewer products, opting for products with less packaging, or reducing waste – we must all play our part.

Fujifilm’s ink R&D and manufacturing facility in Broadstairs, Kent, has regularly made the news as a three-time winner of the UK’s Best Factory Award in 2011, 2013 and 2015, but it is for its sustainability initiatives that it is now rapidly creating waves.

Craig Milsted outlines the initiatives that have been implemented so far: “With the recent changes in personnel, including my own role, there is now a renewed focus on sustainability, and therefore a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes to help us operate more sustainably. This work is ongoing, but we have made a number of notable recent changes to our equipment and processes which are enabling us to operate in a more environmentally friendly way.

Big energy savings

“Firstly, we have massively cut back on our conventional energy use and have instead turned to alternative energy sources to help power our site. Back in 2016, we started to buy renewable electricity to power our factory, and in the same year installed many solar panels on the grassy grounds of our site. But in March this year, we expanded our solar power generation with the addition of panels on our site roof.

“We have an ongoing objective to generate more solar power over time and steps towards achieving this goal include reviewing our current processes and equipment. Through these checks, we have found that the solar panels on the roof are more effective than the ones on the ground, so we have repaired and improved those on the grass, while also scoping out new areas on our site where panels can be installed to effectively generate more solar power in the future.

“Our efforts so far have been successful – this year in June alone, our solar panels produced 82,240 kW of power. This is enough to power a typical  UK household for 26 years and is also 181% more power than the 29,185 kW produced in June 2021.

Since 2013, we’ve significantly cut back on the waste produced at our ink factory, and last year (2021), 689.7 tonnes of waste produced on site went for recycling.

Craig Milsted | Sustainability Advisor, Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems

“Another way that we have saved on conventional energy is by turning our factory HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems off overnight, which achieved savings of £183,000 – and 1 million kW – per year. We have also upgraded our factory’s gas boilers – some of which were more than 50 years old – with condensing boilers, and replaced gas heaters in the International Logistics Centre with infrared heaters.

“Meanwhile, in our R&D facility, we operate our air conditioning on a timer system to save energy, as well as turning off equipment overnight, where possible, when it is not being used. Additionally, we have installed multiple free-to-use electric car charging points across the site for our team members to use.

Impressive waste reduction

“But it’s not only energy consumption that we have been targeting.  Since 2013, we’ve significantly cut back on the waste produced at our ink factory, and last year (2021), 689.7 tonnes of waste produced on site went for recycling.

“Other initiatives include: 100% of our raw materials packaging is reused and recycled; we return 1000 litre IBCs for cleaning and reuse, rather than disposing of them; and a number of moulded components used as part of our ink pouches are made from recycled materials. Additionally, we now secure our pallets with straps rather than using shrink wrap, which reduces our waste by around 8 tonnes annually. We are also in the process of swapping plastic tape for paper tape.

“In R&D we have also achieved a 50% reduction in glass jar testing; a 38% reduction in end container testing for one litre bottles; a 74% reduction in end testing for five litre cubitainers; and we have cut back on the use of one, two and three litre pouches by 29%, 33% and 20% respectively. We are literally looking at every single part of our operation and making changes to reduce our environmental impact.

Smart cutbacks on solvents

“Overall, thanks to the printers we sell becoming more technologically advanced over the years, less ink is required during the printing process.  This is obviously a better and more sustainable situation in itself. However, you can’t print without ink – it’s the most crucial element of printing. So for the inks that we produce at our factory, previously we would typically use around 140,000 litres of oil-based solvents to clean the vessels used in our ink-making and mixing equipment.

“However, very recently we replaced our oil-based solvent cleaner with an 80% water-based (aqueous) cleaning solution, manufactured by a company called Safe Solvents. Coinciding with this, a first-of-its-kind pot washing machine, also supplied by Safe Solvents, was installed at the factory.

“Suitable for use with the new aqueous cleaning solution, the machine offers a significantly more efficient pot washing solution on our site. The aqueous cleaner and pot wash machine combo makes it possible for us to separate solvent and aqueous waste, and in the future, it could enable us to reuse the pots after they have been cleaned, and then when they are beyond reuse, have the clean plastic shredded and sent for further recycling.

Measuring and analysing is key

“The recently installed pot washing machine at Broadstairs is a world-first, so we look forward to reviewing our credentials in the future and seeing the difference it has made. The most important thing is that we continue to measure and analyse everything, as only by measuring can you improve.

“It really is a painstaking, but ultimately very rewarding process – we have achieved a great deal in the last 12 months with our renewed focus, but we are confident we can continue to make iterative improvements all over the site, across all areas of energy, waste and material reductions, to make this award-winning factory a world-class, sustainable one too.”

Case Study: Acuity Prime Flatbed Printer

Tech:art

Argomento di studio

Tech:art reaps productivity benefits with Fujifilm’s Acuity Prime 30 Flatbed Printer

Tech:art

Trofarello, Italy

Acuity Prime

The productivity of the machine is far beyond what we had expected and exceeds any other machine we have seen before within a similar price bracket.

Davide Salvo | Tecnologia:arte

Punti salienti

  • Tech:art was on the lookout for a machine that could handle its growing customer demand for quality, speed and the use of special inks and varnish
  • Ease of use, outstanding print quality, productivity and confidence in Fujifilm were cited as key reasons for investment
  • The Acuity Prime 30 Flatbed Printer exceeded all of Tech:art’s expectations and requirements to meet customer demands
  • Customers have provided positive feedback since the installation and the investment has even led to Tech:art aquiring new customers
  • Aside from the technical benefits, Tech:art was impressed with the sleek design of the Acuity Prime 30
  • Tech:art was very happy with the service and support provided by Fujfifilm and feel confident that they have found a long-term partner

In the few months since the installation, Tech:art has been thoroughly impressed. Davide Salvo, General Manager, Tech:art says “When the machine was first installed, there were some final calibrations to sort, but we just couldn’t wait to use it so we started running production jobs anyway. We were instantly impressed. The productivity of the machine is far beyond what we had expected and exceeds any other machine we have seen before within a similar price bracket.

“We first heard about the Acuity Prime in the summer of 2021 from a Fujifilm sales contact.” Mr. Salvo continues. “We were very impressed by how easy it is to use and the outstanding print quality and productivity it offers. This, along with our confidence in Fujifilm as a brand, ultimately led to the investment decision.”

 

We were very impressed by how easy it is to use and the outstanding print quality and productivity it offers. This, along with our confidence in Fujifilm ultimately led to the investment decision.

Davide Salvo | Tecnologia:arte

“We are typically using the machine for interior design applications such as wood, plexiglass, glass and metal as well as signage. We were previously using a competitor’s machine, but it was proving impossible to print with the quality and speed that we now can achieve with the Acuity Prime 30.

“Our customers place very specific high demands on us. They require high quality and fast turnaround times, and more recently, they request work that requires the use of special primers, varnishes and white inks. With the Acuity Prime 30, we have been able to meet such demands and many of our customers have already provided positive feedback on the print quality and the wide colour gamut it offers. They have also been impressed by the strong ink adhesion and the wide range of materials that can be used. In fact, with the addition of this machine, we have been able to acquire new customers. Looking ahead, I see customisation as a major trend within the market this year and I am confident the Acuity Prime will enable us to meet such demands.”

Acuity Prime

Find out more about why the Acuity Prime can achieve industry leading productivity and quality

Discover the Acuity Prime

“Aside from the technical benefits, we were also very impressed with the sleek, attractive, user-friendly design. I would not hesitate to recommend the Acuity Prime 30 – it has made our business significantly more profitable due to its speed, and reduced ink consumption levels.”

Mr. Salvo also acknowledges his appreciation of Fujifilm. “We can’t fault the service and support we received from Fujifilm throughout the sales and installation process. We feel confident that we have found a great long-term partner in Fujifilm.”

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Learn more about the Acuity Prime by downloading the product brochure

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Case Study: Acuity Prime UV Flatbed Printer

Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions

Argomento di studio

UK signmaker says the performance level of the Acuity Prime is far beyond any other flatbed printer at a similar price point.

Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions

Gravesend, Kent

Acuity Prime

I don’t believe there is any better way we could have spent this amount of money in terms of the overall quality, print capability and production capacity we’ve just added to our business than with the Acuity Prime

Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions | Sam Cherry

Punti salienti

  • Kent-based digital print company with over 20 years of experience in sign making
  • Became aware of the Acuity Prime Flatbed Inkjet Printer and booked a video demonstration, where they were immediately impressed and couldn’t believe how well the printer performed
  • The company was formed in 1999 and has built a reputation for service and quality
  • Supplies Local Government Authorities as well as major supermarkets
  • In late 2021, the company was on the lookout for a highly efficient flatbed printer
  • Invested in the new machine in January 2022 through RA Smart – one of Fujifilm UK’s distribution partners

Kent-based digital print company, Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions, has over 20 years of experience in sign making, servicing Gravesend and the surrounding areas of Kent. Formed in 1999, the company has built a reputation for service and quality which has seen it supply major Local Government Authorities as well as leading supermarkets. Late last year, the company was looking for a highly efficient flatbed printer, and upon discovering the Acuity Prime from Fujifilm, they were so impressed that they invested in the new machine in January 2022 through RA Smart – one of Fujifilm UK’s distribution partners.

Ebbsfleet Print Solutions initially booked a video demonstration of the Acuity Prime Flatbed Inkjet Printer, and after being sufficiently impressed by the printer’s capabilities, the company immediately booked in for a live demonstration at Fujifilm’s facility in Broadstairs in late 2021.

It’s our belief that the Acuity Prime flatbed performs at a level above any other printer at this price point

Sam Ciliegia | Soluzioni di stampa Ebbsfleet

“We almost didn’t believe what we were seeing during the video demo,” says Sam Cherry, Director of Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions. “The printer performed beyond our expectations, but as it’s a new printer to the market we felt it was necessary to go and take a closer look. We went to Fujifilm’s facility in Broadstairs and liked what we saw so much, we placed our order there and then.”

Cherry believes such was the quality of print produced during both the video and live demos, that he is more than comfortable saying that the Acuity Prime is by far the best printer of its kind. “It’s our belief that the Acuity Prime flatbed performs at a level above any other printer at this price point,” he says. “In fact, the other machines we considered that did offer this level of print productivity were typically double the price.”

The printer was installed at Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions in the middle of January, with Cherry saying that the machine has already made a big impact on operations. “The Acuity Prime enables us to provide a better service to our customers, meeting their deadlines in a world where time is of the essence. We can provide a more streamlined approach along with a great end product. We’ve only been using the printer for a very short time on Acrylic, Foamex and Dibond so far, and are already really impressed with the output.

“I don’t believe there is any better way we could have spent this amount of money in terms of the overall quality, print capability an production capacity we’ve just added to our business than with the Acuity Prime.”

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Acuity Prime UV Flatbed Printer

Find out more about why the Acuity Prime can achieve industry leading productivity and quality

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LED UV is the curing technology of the future, but so is conventional UV

Kevin Rhodes, Marketing Manager, Fujifilm WFIJ Systems, argues that conventional UV still has an important role to play in the future of wide format print.

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Momento della lettura: 6 minutes

LED UV curing technology is energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and extremely well suited to the production of a huge range of applications. It’s a massive area of R&D focus for Fujifilm and it is, quite rightly, seen as a key “technology of the future.” So far, so uncontroversial.

And yet, none of that means to say that conventional UV curing has – or will – become a “thing of the past”. Despite the obvious cost and environmental advantages of LED technology, there is no reason to believe that it will replace conventional UV altogether. It won’t. In fact, both technologies will continue to play valuable roles in the future of wide format print long into the future, and where conventional UV is the more appropriate solution, we at Fujifilm will continue to offer customers that option. This is something we’ve clearly demonstrated with the launch of the new Acuity Ultra R2 – which is available in either LED UV or conventional UV curing formats.

Pros and cons

LED UV does, of course, use far less energy than its conventional alternative. As LED UV lamps have a significantly lower level of applied voltage, LEDs have a lower radiance than conventional UV lamps. LEDs emit light in the visible part of the spectrum from 400 nm to 700 nm or in the near infrared (700 nm and 2000 nm), so only part of the spectral energy they emit is UV light. Because they use a fraction of the energy of conventional UV lamps, they don’t need to warm up or cool down, so they are immediately ready for use and don’t use energy unless they are operating.

Furthermore, LED UV lamp lifetimes are much longer than those of conventional UV lamps (approximately 10,000 working hours compared to 1000+ working hours). As a result, one of the main selling points of LED UV for customers is the fact that it is more environmentally friendly and that costs are lower. There is only one real downside: the lack of safe cure and adhesion of high ink deposits at speed, which for some printers is a substantial issue.

Understanding the relevant regulation

Another common reason cited for the inevitable decline of conventional UV is government regulation. But here, many of the regulations concerning conventional UV are widely misunderstood. The European Union’s Restriction on Hazardous Substances II (RoHS II) regulation bans the use of heavy metals, including lead, mercury and cadmium. As a result, domestic light bulbs that use conventional UV can no longer be purchased, having been replaced by LED UV. For this reason, many assume that conventional UV for business use is on a similar path to regulatory oblivion.

However, this regulation does not apply to larger printing equipment, which is typically classified as ‘large-scale stationary industrial tools” (LSSITs), so the UV dryer modules manufactured for them are exempt from the RoHs II directive. Through the development of UV technology and compliance with the manufacturer’s information on safe disposal, the use of medium-pressure UV lamps containing mercury within the printing industry is deemed safe. As a result, mercury is still widely used throughout the industry and there is no indication that this is likely to change.

Counting costs

The operating costs of LED UV are certainly lower than the costs involved with a conventional UV machine, where increased energy and consumables usage needs to be factored in. But if the extra speed and increased adhesion and block resistance of conventional UV allows a print business to produce more work, the additional business can more than cover all these costs, as well as funding responsible waste management systems to minimise environmental impact.

Heat and speed

Another common belief is that conventional UV cannot be used on heat-sensitive materials, but Fujifilm’s Acuity Ultra R2, for example, features a unique water-cooled vacuum table that allows rapid UV curing on a huge range of thin, heat-sensitive materials. The main benefit of conventional UV that cannot be matched by LED UV is the speed at which it is able to print. Depending on the user, this one benefit can outweigh many of the negatives, meaning that it’s often the option that makes the most sense for many businesses. As conventional UV undoubtedly dominates the market in terms of productivity, it remains the obvious option for printers producing high volumes with rapid turnaround times.

Conventional UV is best for high production, fast-turnaround print. LED UV offers environmental, cost, and energy saving benefits when speed is not as crucial.

Kevin Rhodes | Marketing Manager, Fujifilm WFIJ Systems

The choice is yours

LED UV, of course, has an extremely valuable role to play in the future of wide format print– and we’re very proud at Fujifilm of our extensive range of LED UV curing printers. But it is not a complete replacement for conventional UV. There is still very much a need for both types of technology, depending on the customer’s requirements. The two exist in tandem and will continue to do so. Conventional UV is best for high production, fast-turnaround print, while LED UV offers a multitude of environmental, cost, and energy saving benefits when speed is not as crucial. Until LED can match conventional UV’s performance, specifically its speed and depth of cure, it is unlikely to be a wholesale replacement for conventional UV.

Ultimately, it’s up to the customer to decide on the most appropriate solution for their business, and we will continue to offer them that choice.

Not just a pretty face

What does good product design really mean?

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Momento della lettura: 5 minuti

Following the announcement that Fujifilm’s new wide format printers, the Acuity Prime and Acuity Ultra R2, have won Red Dot Awards for product design, Fujifilm’s Kevin Jenner asks: What does good product design really mean? Beyond a stylish exterior, he argues, it’s about usability, reliability and value. Why would a tradesman buy a Mercedes Sprinter van and fill it with Makita tools? There are cheaper vans and there are cheaper tools, but in those brands he’s buying into a perception of quality and reliability that is going to enhance the work that he does and boost his business.

The cynic might say that brand perception is down to good marketing – and they may well be partly right – but brands that stand the test of time, brands that people have confidence in and keep returning to, time and again, have a lot more than clever marketing behind them. They have outstanding product design.

In our own industry, businesses make important, and often very capital-intensive, buying decisions all the time. Machines reach end of life and need to be replaced, and business owners weigh up what their customers want against what is needed to deliver it, and then they make a choice. Cost is a major consideration in these decisions, of course, but more than that, people are asking “what can it do, how well can it do it, and how easy is it to work with?”

If a CapEx investment can expand the customer offering, boost productivity, cut waste, save time and reduce hassle – that’s good design on the part of the manufacturer, and a solid investment for the customer. But how do we get there? How do we create extraordinary design that can transform a business by making work more efficient, more enjoyable, more productive and ultimately boost ROI?

“The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.” That’s Steve Jobs again. Good design starts with understanding. By seeking to understand everything, from the long-term business goals, to the day-to-day frustrations of the customers we serve – we give ourselves the best starting point for good product design.

So for this project we needed a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and time to have meaningful conversations with them. This wasn’t a box-ticking survey sent out by email, this was our designers (a specialist industrial design agency, Realise Design, appointed to support the Tokyo Design Team) shadowing our customers as they worked, looking for a thousand small ways to optimise their experiences and their businesses.

We looked at how improved product design could lead to improved usability, to enhanced performance and to better ROI. I’m going to quote Steve Jobs once more (last time, I promise!) as I begin to wrap this up.

Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.

Steve Jobs | Formerly Apple

Products which are developments to a design first conceived a decade ago sometimes need a complete rethink, in effect going ‘back to the drawing board’. But not at all in the sense that the old is completely discarded, more in the sense that everything is scrutinised and nothing stays as it is simply because ‘that’s the way it’s always been’.

With this project, we gave ourselves the freedom to go right back to first principles, and that led us to create something quite different to anything either we – or anyone else – had created before. This is the reason that when we first revealed the new machines in June 2021, we called them ‘the new blueprint for wide format’.

 

As with any product, the default is always to adapt what is there already, and products which have been tinkered with, tweaked and adapted over the years can often develop layers of complexity which are detrimental to performance, but we’re so used to them being there, it can be difficult to comprehend it being any other way.

Clever marketing? We’d like to think so, yes! But it’s a lot more than that. These products are designed to be a joy to work with; products designed for maximum productivity and versatility; products designed to be affordable. And that last point is important, the sleekest look and the highest level of performance is of no real value if it’s unaffordable to the people it’s designed for. A crucial part of good design in any commercial context is stripping out unnecessary costs while ensuring no compromise on what it needs to do well.

That was another critical part of the process we went through – we sought out the best component parts and the most suitable manufacturing partners to deliver on quality, performance and value. The end result, in our case, is a new range designed to redefine the price/performance ratio, deliver unrivalled levels of versatility and value and to boost ROI.

And we made sure they looked great too!

Learn more about the Acuity range

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Case Study: Acuity Ultra Roll-fed Printer

Fokina GmbH

Argomento di studio

Leading German PSP highlights the Acuity Ultra’s speed and versatility as being essential to operations, while providing a future-proof solution for the ever-changing market.

Fokina GmbH

Eppingen, Germany

Acuity Ultra

The Acuity Ultra fits in perfectly with our other print equipment here, and has become the heartbeat of our business.

Sven Breiter | Fokina GmbH

Punti salienti

  • Products include large format photographic, as well as screen, digital and textile printing
  • Introduced to the Acuity Ultra Roll-fed printer in 2019 and was impressed with the print quality and speed
  • The Acuity Ultra was installed in March 2020, following increased customer demand
  • The investment has provided Fokina with new business opportunities
  • The roll-fed printer enables Fokina to offer the best quality products at the fairest prices
  • Delighted with the support provided by Fujifilm throughout the sales and installation process

One of Germany’s leading providers of large format photographic printing, as well as screen, digital and textile printing, Fokina GmbH is a full service provider for a range of sectors, including point of sale, retail, public facilities and exhibition stands. Based in the town of Eppingen, just north of Stuttgart, the company has a proud history dating back more than 30 years. Over this time, Fokina has built up a diverse portfolio of print and production machinery to produce the high quality products it is renowned for. And one installation in particular is helping to drive quality standards even higher – Fujifilm’s superwide 5m Acuity Ultra, which was installed in March 2020.

“Our investments in high-tech machinery, qualified employees and intelligent management systems are paramount to our success as a business,” says Sven Breiter, CEO of Fokina. “Companies from all over Germany, the EU and around the world are supplied with our products, so being highly efficient and putting the customer at the top of our priorities is our motto.”

It’s incredibly versatile, ink consumption is low and its 5m width has provided us with new business opportunities that we would otherwise not have been able to secure.

Sven Breiter, CEO | Fokina GmbH

Fokina’s high quality banners, textiles and wallpapers are some of the company’s most popular products. When management noticed demand increasing in 2019, they knew that adding more printing equipment would be necessary to meet these requirements. It was then that they were introduced to Fujifilm’s Acuity Ultra, and they never looked back. “We first noticed the Acuity Ultra at a trade fair in 2019,” says Saskia Friederich, also a CEO at Fokina. “We were immediately impressed by the print quality and the speed, so we kept in contact with Fujifilm after the event, visiting their Advanced Print Technology Centre in Brussels where we saw the Acuity Ultra first hand. Witnessing its print quality for ourselves reaffirmed our initial view that it was the right machine to add to our already impressive production portfolio.”

For Sven, Saskia and their staff, the Acuity Ultra is fitting in very well at Fokina. “The team working with the Acuity Ultra are very impressed by the quality it produces as well as its high speed,” says Sven. “It’s also incredibly versatile, ink consumption is low and its 5m width has provided us with new business opportunities that we would otherwise not have been able to secure. The combination of the high quality and productivity that it offers is exceptional.”

Acuity Ultra

Find out more about the Acuity Ultra’s ultra-high quality and versatility, and how its low ink consumption can improve ROI

Discover the Acuity Ultra

“We are a family-run business always looking to future-proof ourselves. The print market is highly competitive, and at Fokina we always want to provide the best products at the fairest prices; the Acuity Ultra allows us to do that. It fits in perfectly with our other print equipment here, and has become the heartbeat of our business.”

Sven also has high praise for the Fujifilm team: “The sales and support staff at Fujifilm have been excellent from day one. We’ve always felt in good hands, which is essential when you’re purchasing new equipment. The Acuity Ultra was our first ever purchase from Fujifilm, and we envisage it won’t be the last.”

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Learn more about the Acuity Ultra R2 by downloading the product brochure

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Acuity Ultra R2

Una stampante di grandissime dimensioni che garantisce un ritorno sull'investimento fenomenale

Il nuovo progetto per la stampa di grande formato

Combina qualità ultraelevata, produttività eccezionale e un ritorno sull'investimento rivoluzionario in un'unica piattaforma.

La stampante di grande formato Acuity Ultra R2 è una piattaforma super wide di alta qualità e produttività elevata, disponibile nelle configurazioni UV e LED, progettata con inchiostri specializzati per supportare la stampa di eccezionali grafiche per interni quasi fotografiche e la stampa ad alta velocità di banner e segnaletica in PVC .

Disponibile come

3,2 metri e 5 metri

opzioni
Fino a 8 canali

CMYK+LcLmWW

o doppio CMYK
Fino a

400 m²/ora

produttività

Perché Acuity Ultra R2?

Consumo di inchiostro estremamente basso per un basso costo di utilizzo e un ROI eccezionale

In grado di produrre stampe di altissima qualità alle massime velocità di produzione

Incorpora funzionalità operatore avanzate per una stampa estremamente affidabile e redditizia

Rilevatori di crash dei supporti per prevenire danni alla testina di stampa
Tavolo aspirante raffreddato ad acqua
Spruzzi di inchiostro per ridurre al minimo i tempi di fermo macchina
Testine di stampa di alta qualità e ad alte prestazioni
Inchiostri Uvijet GS e AU ad alte prestazioni
Rilevatore meccanico del substrato
Misurazione automatica dello spessore e della posizione del supporto

Il nuovo progetto per la stampa di grande formato

Scopri di più sul motivo per cui la nuova gamma Acuity rappresenta il nuovo modello per la stampa di grande formato

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Scopri tu stesso i vantaggi

Un investimento sicuro nella collaudata tecnologia UV LED

La piattaforma Acuity è il punto di riferimento del settore dal 2007 con migliaia di macchine installate in tutto il mondo. Acuity Ultra R2 è dotata delle più recenti tecnologie LED e UV per offrire prestazioni imbattibili, insieme alla qualità e all'affidabilità che ti aspetteresti da Fujifilm.

Qualità eccezionale in formato superwide

Con Acuity Ultra R2, ottieni l'eccellente qualità, produttività e affidabilità per cui è nota la nostra gamma Acuity, su vasta scala industriale, fino a 5 metri di larghezza.

Testine di stampa di alta qualità e ad alte prestazioni
Le testine di stampa in scala di grigi a 3 livelli forniscono gocce native da 3,5 pl con una risoluzione fino a 1200 x 1200 dpi, utilizzando 2.656 ugelli disposti su una larghezza di 108 mm.

Eccellente qualità costruttiva utilizzando componenti di qualità industriale
 Il telaio è una struttura robusta realizzata con tubi scatolari d'acciaio saldati e barre d'acciaio massicce, che contribuiscono ai pesi di 7,7 te 4,7 t di entrambi i modelli. Ciò aiuta a garantire che la stampante visualizzi vibrazioni minime e un posizionamento delle gocce molto accurato.

Il carrello della testina di stampa ad azionamento lineare offre una registrazione eccellente
 I motori lineari garantiscono una stampa uniforme da bordo a bordo senza vibrazioni alla fine della tiratura per garantire posizionamenti accurati delle gocce di inchiostro. Ciò significa nessuna perdita di qualità di stampa sul bordo di stampa.

Tavolo aspirante raffreddato ad acqua
Un esclusivo tavolo raffreddato ad aspirazione mantiene la temperatura del substrato durante la stampa e consente l'uso di substrati sottili sensibili al calore, riducendo il restringimento e le pieghe del supporto.

Il solido sistema di trasporto dei supporti garantisce precisione
Due coppie di rulli gommati, sia anteriori che posteriori, garantiscono un'alimentazione dei supporti costantemente accurata e garantiscono uniformità su lunghe tirature di stampa o quando è necessaria precisione per le applicazioni piastrellate.

Funzionalità avanzate per massimizzare la produttività

Acuity Ultra R2 è dotata di una gamma di funzionalità avanzate per massimizzare i tempi di attività e garantire una stampa flessibile e altamente produttiva.

Spruzzi di inchiostro per ridurre al minimo i tempi di fermo macchina
Acuity Ultra R2 è dotata di una funzione spiedo progettata per ridurre i tempi di fermo macchina. Ciò mantiene la qualità di stampa e aiuta ad aumentare la coerenza complessiva dei risultati stampati

Rilevatori di crash dei supporti per prevenire danni alla testina di stampa
Il carrello è dotato di rilevatori di collisione dei supporti su entrambi i lati. Questi reagiscono alle ostruzioni sul piano aspirante per arrestare il carrello ed evitare danni alle testine di stampa.

Misurazione automatica dello spessore e della posizione del supporto
Acuity Ultra R2 è dotato di un rilevatore di supporti montato sul carrello. Viene utilizzato per determinare la posizione e lo spessore del supporto.

Rilevatore meccanico del substrato
Acuity Ultra R2 è dotata di sensori del supporto posizionati sotto i rulli tenditori del supporto posteriori. L'Acuity Ultra R2 5000 è dotato di 3 sensori. L'Acuity Ultra R2 3200 è dotato di 2 sensori. I sensori del supporto rilevano quando il supporto viene caricato sulla macchina e avvisano l'operatore se si verifica un errore nel caricamento del supporto, ad esempio se un rotolo di supporto è esaurito o se il supporto non è teso. I sensori utilizzano la tecnologia di rilevamento a ultrasuoni e funzionano con tutti i supporti, compresi quelli trasparenti.

La lunga durata della testina di stampa riduce al minimo i costi dei materiali di consumo
Con una durata straordinariamente lunga, non dovrai preoccuparti di sostituire le testine di stampa così spesso. Combinata al basso consumo di inchiostro, la lunga durata della testina di stampa riduce i problemi e i costi associati alla sostituzione dei materiali di consumo.

La funzionalità multi-rotolo massimizza la produttività per i lavori più piccoli
Con una produttività fino a 400 m² all'ora, la macchina ha il potenziale per produrre enormi volumi di lavoro stampando su tre rotoli contemporaneamente, oltre a stampare grafica di formato superwide fino a cinque metri di larghezza.

Progettato pensando all'operatore
Oltre ai miglioramenti tecnici apportati all'Acuity Ultra R2, vi è una forte attenzione alla riduzione della manutenzione e al miglioramento della facilità di manutenzione per l'operatore. Una nuova GUI intuitiva, pannelli in Perspex fumé che consentono all'utente di visualizzare la stampa in sicurezza durante la produzione e l'integrazione di aree di lavoro pulite e sporche per evitare contaminazioni, sono tutti esempi di sviluppi che alla fine fanno risparmiare tempo e denaro e migliorano il rapporto prezzo/prestazioni complessivo.

Inchiostri Uvijet GS e AU ad alte prestazioni provenienti da una fabbrica pluripremiata

I nuovi inchiostri ad alta densità offrono una straordinaria vivacità dei colori e un'ampia gamma di colori. L'eccellente posa tra gli strati produce stampe e colori solidi retroilluminati. Inoltre, gli inchiostri non presentano screpolature quando piegati a causa del basso livello di inchiostro.

Consumo di inchiostro estremamente basso
I nuovi inchiostri ad alta densità vengono forniti utilizzando testine di stampa da 3,5 pl, con conseguente spessore della pellicola molto basso e consumo di inchiostro estremamente basso, con conseguente costo di utilizzo molto basso e profitto per stampa più elevato.

Nel momento in cui ci siamo trasformati da fornitore di materiali di grande formato in hardware, abbiamo ritenuto che la stampante "superwide" Acuity Ultra R2 da 5 m sarebbe stata perfetta per il nostro portafoglio.

Mark Mashiter | Soyang

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Ora, con una Acuity Ultra R2 inclusa nel nostro parco stampanti, possiamo offrire ai nostri clienti un servizio ancora più rapido e affidabile, in particolare quando si consegnano stampe "superwide" da 5 m.

Miguel Ángel Gómez Cano | Oedim

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La combinazione tra alta qualità e produttività offerta da Acuity Ultra è eccezionale. È anche incredibilmente versatile, con un basso consumo di inchiostro.

Sven Breiter | Amministratore delegato della Fokina GmbH

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Applicazioni

Versatilità su larga scala

Grazie al suo enorme formato, al potenziale multi-rotolo da 2 o 3 pagine e alla capacità di stampare su un'ampia gamma di materiali, Acuity Ultra R2 ti offre la possibilità di creare in modo redditizio grafica per mostre, espositori POS, arte grafica di alto valore , display retroilluminati, display per esterni, segnaletica esterna e altro ancora.

Ideale per display interni di fascia alta

Acuity Ultra R2 non è solo ideale per applicazioni esterne come cartelloni pubblicitari e segnaletica, è perfetto anche per display interni di fascia alta dove la visualizzazione ravvicinata richiede che le immagini siano eccezionalmente chiare e vibranti. Con una qualità paragonabile ai principali sistemi a getto d'inchiostro a base acqua, Acuity Ultra R2 può spingere la tua azienda nel mercato dei marchi di lusso.

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Il nuovo progetto per il grande formato

From the place where it all began, comes a new blueprint for wide format

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Momento della lettura: 8 minutes

The Fujifilm name has been closely associated with UV inkjet technology since 2005 – the year in which Fujifilm acquired the pioneering UV inks and inkjet company, Sericol, based in the seaside town of Broadstairs in Kent. Founded in 1950, Sericol had long been a screen inks pioneer and market leader. Then, in the 1970s, it launched the world’s first instant curing UV screen inks and built on this experience to commercialise the first UV digital inkjet systems and inks in the world in 1999. The immediate and rapid growth in this new sector resulted in Sericol being presented with a Queens Award for Enterprise in 2004 for its role in developing and commercialising these new UV inkjet systems.

With the Fujifilm acquisition in 2005, forming what is now known as Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, the company has gone on to produce some of the most highly regarded UV cured inkjet inks and systems on the market, including the popular Acuity range of wide format printers launched in 2007, and now with more than 1,800 global installations. This 20 years of experience means Fujifilm has developed a keen sense of what the market really needs, and perhaps more importantly, how it is likely to change in the future.

Market maturity

The early years of wide format UV inkjet development were largely defined by advances in technology that delivered rapid and continual increases in print speed and quality. In 2018, however, Fujifilm recognised that the market had reached an advanced degree of maturity, and a point at which a very high level of quality and productivity was assumed. New product launches were tending to offer only very marginal improvements in print speed and quality. In addition, Fujifilm also became aware that there was an opportunity to use these evolving technologies to drive improvements in wide format print ROI.

The market had reached a tipping point – a point at which more of the same, with minor improvements, was no longer enough. The market needed something fundamentally new. So, three years ago, Fujifilm made a strategic decision to start the process of rethinking its Acuity wide format offering; focusing on new  ways to deliver improved value, versatility and ease of use and in particular on defining a new level of print ROI. Fujifilm set out to do what it had first done back in 2000: to create a new blueprint for wide format.

Back to first principles

In terms of printing hardware and systems, Fujifilm has always been a technology company first and foremost, rather than a manufacturer, working with a range of OEM partners and other specialists to provide the best possible platforms for its inkjet technology. The Acuity range already has a deserved reputation for quality and reliability, but for this next chapter in the Acuity story, Fujifilm wanted a new level of design influence and control in order to take full advantage of what was possible, to create something that offered far more than mere marginal improvements.

To do this, the Fujifilm team returned to first principles, starting with an almost blank canvas and a challenge to strip everything back and create a completely new and improved range of machines. To help with this process, they brought in an award-winning industrial design company and tasked them not simply with making changes to what had gone before, but with completely rethinking the press design to maximise the value, productivity, ease of use and – most importantly – the ROI.

Fujifilm’s vision was to combine stunning aesthetics with exceptional functionality. In order to achieve this, the first step was to carry out wide ranging research, so the two companies embarked on an extensive and intensive listening exercise, meeting not only with business owners and directors, but also with press operators who had experience of working not only with Fujifilm machines, but others too.

This exercise produced an understanding of what worked, what didn’t, and what changes (whether simple or radical) would improve the value, versatility, usability, productivity and ROI, while retaining an eye for the environment in terms of reducing waste an making for a safer and more contented workplace.

It was clear from this exercise that the owners and directors of these companies want equipment that’s reliable, fast and able to give them a rapid return on investment, but being in a creative industry, they also want machines that look stylish and that are easy to work with. For press operators, it was also clear that good machine design – aside from the obvious benefits to productivity – can be the difference between job satisfaction and great frustration, and the listening exercise uncovered many aspects of machine design that could be improved upon.

Fujifilm combined the findings from this extensive research exercise with its own knowledge and inkjet expertise to provide a structure for the design process. In parallel, the team also carried out comprehensive research into the best components and technologies on the market, and the best routes to assembly and manufacture. The output from all this research and creative thinking was effectively a completely new blueprint for what a UV inkjet system of the future should look like, how it should perform, and how it could be brought to life.

Mettendo tutto insieme

Four design criteria emerged from the blueprint that informed all design choices and helped to identify the right manufacturers and suppliers to work with, as well as the OEM partners to help to bring it all together. These were: quality, value, performance and ease of use. In addition, every component part selected was chosen with these four criteria in mind, from the printheads to the user interface, lamps, static control and vacuum solutions. In all cases, Fujifilm made choices based on answering questions like: “does it do what it needs to do?” or “could it be done better?” Nothing was left unchanged that could be improved.

Three years on, the result of this blueprint is the all new Acuity range, designed and developed by Fujifilm. First and foremost, this new Acuity range has been designed to redefine the price / performance and ROI that can be expected from a UV inkjet system. This has been achieved through careful design choices, stripping back features that don’t add value, and maximising quality, value and performance where it matters most. The result is a high performance range available at a competitive price with low cost in use, a combination that radically changes print ROI.

The new Acuity range is also built for printers from the ground up, resetting expectations around operational ease of use. The ‘question everything’ approach to the whole process has allowed Fujifilm to put the operator experience front and centre. “We’ve taken on board the frustrations and inconveniences identified in our extensive market research, and addressed those concerns to create a range that is a real joy to work with and operate, with the additional benefit of maximising uptime and productivity,” says Kevin Jenner, European Marketing Manager, Fujifilm Wide format Inkjet Systems.

We’ve taken on board the frustrations and inconveniences identified in our extensive market research, and addressed those concerns to create a range that is a real joy to work with and operate, with the additional benefit of maximising uptime and productivity.

Kevin Jenner | European Marketing Manager

The first two printers made to this new blueprint are the Acuity Ultra R2 and the Acuity Prime. The Acuity Ultra R2 is a completely redesigned version of the Acuity Ultra, which itself had set a new standard for superwide print when it was launched in 2018. The Acuity Prime is an entirely new, mid-range flatbed which offers ease of use and print ROI unmatched by anything else on the market.

For more than 10 years since its initial launch, the Acuity range has built a reputation for quality, versatility and value and this new range will enhance the Acuity brand on all those fronts, while maintaining the reliability standards that have always been the hallmark of Fujifilm’s inkjet systems. And of course, the new printers take advantage of Fujifilm’s renowned UV inkjet ink.

Learn more about the Acuity range

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Acuity Prime

La stampante flatbed per grandi formati più economica e versatile di sempre

Il nuovo progetto per la stampa di grande formato

Produce la migliore qualità della categoria con la massima produttività su un'ampia gamma di supporti rigidi e flessibili

Una vera stampante flatbed dal design pluripremiato, Acuity Prime offre stampa di alta qualità su una gamma di supporti rigidi e flessibili, supportata dalle sue cinque zone di aspirazione dedicate e dal primer jettable. È disponibile a un prezzo conveniente e offre un eccellente ritorno sull'investimento.

Fino a

3,2x2m

dimensione del letto
Fino a

150 m²/ora

produttività
Fino a 7 canali

CMYK+W+Cl

più primer

Perché Acuity Prime?

Il minor consumo di inchiostro e gli eccellenti costi di gestione garantiscono un ROI imbattibile

Produci la migliore qualità flatbed alle massime velocità di produzione

Gli operatori beneficiano di un design pluripremiato che migliora l'usabilità

Sistema di manutenzione automatica delle testine di stampa (APMS)
Cinque zone di aspirazione dedicate riducono l'occultamento del letto
Una GUI nuova e intuitiva
Indicatori di stato visibili
Perni di registrazione pneumatici per un caricamento rapido e ripetibile con una registrazione perfetta
Spie di stato per i serbatoi d'inchiostro

Odio i limiti e mi piace stampare sui substrati più ampi possibili. Acuity Prime L, con il suo piano di scansione da 3.200 mm x 2.000 mm, ci consente di farlo.

Jan Carel Schepenaar | Segni A1

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L’investimento in Acuity Prime 30 sta trasformando la nostra attività. Grazie alla sua qualità di stampa senza pari e alla capacità di lavorare con materiali diversi, abbiamo superato le aspettative dei nostri clienti.

Alessandro Conte | Biblo

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Non credo che avremmo potuto spendere questa somma di denaro in modo migliore in termini di qualità complessiva, capacità di stampa e capacità di produzione che abbiamo appena aggiunto alla nostra attività rispetto ad Acuity Prime.

Sam Ciliegia | Soluzioni di stampa Ebbsfleet

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Non possiamo criticare il servizio e il supporto che abbiamo ricevuto da Fujifilm durante tutto il processo di vendita e installazione. Siamo certi di aver trovato in Fujifilm un ottimo partner a lungo termine.

Davide Salvo | Tecnologia:arte

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Scoprite la qualità che potreste ottenere con la gamma Acuity Prime

Un investimento sicuro nella collaudata tecnologia di stampa LED UV di grande formato

La piattaforma flatbed Acuity è il punto di riferimento del settore dal 2007 con migliaia di macchine installate in tutto il mondo. Acuity Prime è dotata delle più recenti tecnologie LED UV per offrire prestazioni imbattibili, insieme alla qualità e all'affidabilità che ti aspetteresti da Fujifilm.

Lastra piana UV LED di grandi dimensioni

Acuity Prime L è una lastra piana UV LED di grandi dimensioni che beneficia di tutte le caratteristiche dell'Acuity Prime standard, essendo progettata pensando all'utente pur offrendo un ROI competitivo. È molto facile da usare e produce risultati di alta qualità ad alte velocità. Acuity Prime L fornisce un tavolo di dimensioni più grandi per gli stampatori che necessitano di combinare elevata produttività e stampa di alta qualità su fogli di dimensioni più grandi. Dispone di 6 zone di aspirazione e 16 perni di posizionamento dei supporti, oltre alla possibilità di stampare lavori affiancati con la funzione doppia zona

Espandi le tue opzioni creative

La possibilità di stampare con inchiostri bianchi e trasparenti e di stampare direttamente su quasi tutti i materiali con una registrazione perfetta consente ad Acuity Prime di produrre lavori creativi di alto valore che potrebbero offrire opportunità di nuove entrate. Con l'opzione primer jettable, Acuity Prime può aderire a un'ampia varietà di supporti industriali.

  • Produrre grafica per punti vendita, segnaletica per interni, grafica industriale e decorazione di prodotti, stampa diretta su fogli rigidi o flessibili, oggetti o supporti pretagliati
  • Stampa su PVC, policarbonato, acrilico, carta, cartone, legno, alluminio composito e molti altri materiali: produci stampe senza bordi con il minimo sforzo

  • Crea prove per un cliente identiche al ciclo di produzione
  • Utilizzare inchiostro trasparente per aggiungere impatto utilizzando un punto o un colore trasparente con finitura uniforme
  • Utilizzare l'inchiostro bianco per produrre immagini su materiali trasparenti o colorati
  • Stampa strati di colore, bianco e colore in un unico passaggio per immagini fronte/retro su materiali trasparenti
  • Stampa straordinarie immagini retroilluminate direttamente su supporti trasparenti
  • Stampa con un doppio tratto bianco per un'opacità extra elevata
  • Utilizzando l'opzione primer jettable è possibile l'adesione a supporti industriali come vetro, metallo e legno

La stampante piana versatile e all-in-one

Design a superficie piana dedicato

Il design a superficie piana dedicato con perni di registrazione dei supporti garantisce una registrazione accurata per la stampa da bordo a bordo e l'affiancamento di layout di grandi dimensioni su più pannelli, anche con più passaggi di stampa.

Alta qualità

Le testine di stampa in scala di grigi in una configurazione sfalsata offrono una qualità dell'immagine quasi fotografica e uniforme su tutto il piano.

Opzioni del canale colore

Acuity Prime può essere configurato con 4,5,6 o 7 canali colore. I canali sono popolati con i set di inchiostri che meglio si adattano alle tue esigenze applicative, tra cui CMYK, bianco, trasparente e un primer jettable per un'adesione eccellente a più tipi di supporti industriali.

Modalità di stampa

È disponibile una gamma di modalità di stampa per fornire diversi livelli di qualità e velocità, a seconda dei requisiti specifici del lavoro.

Progettato per la produzione ad alta velocità

Zone di aspirazione

Cinque zone di aspirazione dedicate, adattate alle dimensioni dei supporti più comuni, riducono la quantità di mascheratura del piano richiesta e consentono un rapido cambio dei supporti. La forza del vuoto regolabile garantisce una gestione ottimale di diversi supporti.

Perni di registrazione

I perni di registrazione pneumatici consentono un caricamento semplice, rapido e ripetibile di supporti rigidi con una registrazione perfetta.

Barre statiche

Le barre ionizzanti riducono gli effetti dell'elettricità statica su alcuni materiali sintetici.

Pulizia a mani libere

Un sistema opzionale di manutenzione automatica delle testine di stampa riduce la quantità di pulizia manuale richiesta. Il processo automatico è pulito e coerente.

Perni di registrazione

I perni di registrazione pneumatici consentono un caricamento semplice, rapido e ripetibile di supporti rigidi con una registrazione perfetta.

Barre statiche

Le barre ionizzanti riducono gli effetti dell'elettricità statica su alcuni materiali sintetici.

Pulizia a mani libere

Un sistema opzionale di manutenzione automatica delle testine di stampa riduce la quantità di pulizia manuale richiesta. Il processo automatico è pulito e coerente.

Ingombro compatto

Le stampanti Acuity Prime sono costruite per adattarsi a spazi compatti e il design accessibile ti offre flessibilità nel modo in cui lavori attorno alla macchina.

Utilizza inchiostri Uvijet HM provenienti da una fabbrica pluripremiata

Tecnologia degli inchiostri Uvijet LED UV

L'inchiostro Uvijet di Fujifilm offre colori forti, vibranti e resistenti alla luce con una gamma cromatica superiore.

Il nuovo progetto per la stampa di grande formato

Scopri di più sul motivo per cui la gamma Acuity rappresenta il nuovo modello per il grande formato

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Un cavallo di battaglia di produzione altamente versatile

Con una qualità dell'immagine eccezionale e un'eccellente adesione a un'ampia gamma di supporti, materiali e oggetti rigidi e flessibili, Acuity Prime è in grado di produrre un'incredibile varietà di prodotti stampati per la visione da lontano e da vicino.

Applicazioni tipiche

Produci grafica per punti vendita, segnaletica per interni, grafica industriale e decorazione di prodotti, stampando direttamente su fogli rigidi o flessibili, oggetti o supporti pretagliati.

Materiali

Stampa su PVC, policarbonato, acrilico, carta, cartone, alluminio composito e molti altri materiali. Utilizzando l'opzione primer jettable è possibile l'adesione ai supporti industriali più difficili come vetro, metallo e legno.

Capacità dell'inchiostro

Utilizza l'inchiostro trasparente per aggiungere impatto utilizzando una soluzione spot o diffusa e l'inchiostro bianco per produrre immagini su materiali trasparenti o colorati. Stampa strati di colore, bianco e colore in un unico passaggio per immagini fronte/retro su materiali trasparenti. Stampa straordinarie immagini retroilluminate direttamente su supporti trasparenti e un bianco a doppia striscia per un'opacità estremamente elevata.

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