Mimaki held its global Innovation Days event (2-4 June 2021) to great success. The event brought together printers, journalists and experts from Mimaki Japan, USA and Europe, to nurture innovation in the sign graphics, industrial, textile and 3D markets and drive success within the industry. The global event also introduced the market to Mimaki’s recent product releases, the JFX550, JFX600 and SUJV-160.
What do anatomy and 3D printing have in common? As the science that studies the shape and structure of the human body, over the centuries anatomy has been the basis of medical and scientific knowledge and remains the common thread running through the training and professional development of every doctor. The focus of this discipline is to investigate and consequently produce figurative representations of the morphology of the human body, with a degree of realism and accuracy that has played – and continues to play – a crucial role in ensuring effective teaching and the dissemination of anatomical knowledge. And this is precisely where 3D printing comes in as a state-of-the-art technology that could mark a turning point in the anatomical representation of the human body.
For most 15 year olds, the prospect of driving their own car is still a distant dream, but for Max Dodds, it’s practically become a full time job. A racing driver since the age of four, Dodds is preparing for his first season in the highly competitive Ginetta Junior Championship – a proven feeder series for GT, Touring Cars, Formula One and other higher echelons of the sport – in a car that’s been wrapped to maximise its aerodynamic performance.
Mimaki has unveiled its Innovation Days (2-4 June 2021), a collaborative virtual event, bringing together Mimaki’s regional offices to encourage and nurture innovation in the printing sector. The programme of events, led by experts from Mimaki Japan, USA and Europe, will focus on addressing the needs of customers and prospects in their local markets, as well as demands across sectors (sign graphics, industrial, textile and 3D) to overcome today’s challenges and drive success within the industry. Attendees will also have the opportunity to further explore the newest additions to Mimaki’s product portfolio, the JFX550, JFX600 and SUJV-160, through live demonstrations following the launch of these solutions at virtual.drupa.
Mimaki has announced the launch of the Mimaki SUJV-160 – a new high-quality inkjet printer designed to realistically reproduce prints whilst retaining the look and texture of natural and artificial leather.
Available in the UK and Ireland this summer, the new wide-format solvent UV inkjet printer sports a print width of 1,610mm, making it ideal for decorating leather fashion accessories, furniture and even car interiors. The new solution is the result of two market-leaders’ ingenuity and cutting-edge technology – Mimaki’s print expertise and Fujifilm’s UVIQUE ink technology.
The SU200 thin film solvent UV ink, developed by Fujifilm and exclusively sold by Mimaki, provides outstanding flexibility, stretchability, and superior scratch resistance on natural and artificial leather. This results in the retention of texture and feel of the material after printing, and the ability to boost productivity by instantly switching to post-processing without any drying time.
Bert Benckhuysen, Senior Product Manager at Mimaki Europe, comments, “Mimaki is committed to continued innovation, and adapting in tandem with the evolving needs of print businesses using inkjet, and this new model is a perfect example of that. The Mimaki SUJV-160 takes a previously challenging process, printing onto leather, and makes it straightforward and efficient, while simultaneously ensuring the end product retains the look and feel of the base material. This printer is the product of listening and responding to customer demands, world-class engineering, and exceptional originality. Add the Fujifilm-developed SU200 ink into the mix, and the SUJV-160 is an investment that is sure to give your business a competitive advantage.”
The blend of these innovative print and ink technologies makes the system ideal for a range of high-end applications; for the fashion sector, the SUJV-160 can produce bags, shoes, or personalised team sporting goods, interior décor applications including floor mats and sofas, and cars and motorcycle seats can be printed, and users can also carry out in-mold resin decoration.
Mimaki is exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Hybrid Services and the company’s Managing Director, Brett Newman acknowledges the opportunities the new printer offers, “Mimaki’s already broad print capabilities have been further expanded by the development of the new SUJV-160 which delivers an impressive solution for companies looking to print onto natural and artificial leather.”
Benckhuysen concludes, “With interest in luxury goods on the rise, statement leather pieces for fashion, interiors, and other premium markets that are easily customisable, durable, and visually appealing will only become more sought after. For print businesses targeting this lucrative opportunity, the Mimaki SUJV-160 can deliver on all these criteria and more.”
