Innovation Explanation: Mimaki Soft Media Transportation Kit

The Mimaki UJV55-320 LED UV printer uses Mimaki’s latest flexible LED UV inkset to produce banners, backlit and point of sale graphics at up to 3.2m wide. With all the benefits of LED curing, including low running costs, the printer also features the option to run two narrower rolls concurrently, an inline lightbox for checking backlit output on the machine and the capability to run roll media up to 100kg in weight. Packed full of advanced features and Mimaki’s core technologies, the UJV55-320 makes light work of large retail and exhibition graphics with the help of its Soft Media Transportation Kit.

“Available as an add-on to the popular Mimaki UJV55-320, the Soft Media Kit enables the printer to print onto soft materials and textiles, for applications such a lightboxes and large textile graphics,” explains Brett Newman, Chief Operations Manager at Mimaki’s UK and Ireland distributor, Hybrid Services. “The kit’s stretch roller and tension bar reduce the amount of creasing, providing stable movement of media, which is particularly important for wider materials. The stretch roller also enables a smooth transportation of thin media, which can be more prone to sticking to the plate because of static electricity.”

“If a fabric has got any compliance, or stretch, such as with display polyester for lightboxes or display graphics, the Soft Media Kit creates stability by reducing drifting or movement that can occur with these types of material,” continues Newman. “The kit also assists with the printed material winding onto the core in a more uniform way. When using heavier rolls of material, which is common with a production machine such as the UJV55-320, the kit gives confidence that there’s more accurate feeding and take up. The mechanism has been tailored around the materials and ultimately leads to less wastage.”

“The big benefit of a UV textile machine, like the Mimaki UJV55-320, is that the print is ready for finishing or use straight away as it’s UV cured,” concludes Newman. “UV inks are vibrant and provide great coverage for applications such as lightboxes, so being able to print to soft media in this way is a great opportunity for sign and graphics companies wanting to extend beyond conventional signage applications.”