Vutek’s PressVu UV 200/600

When we talk about inkjet technology and all the printer specifications, we must also discuss what it takes to achieve that winning final image. Afterall, the signmaker or screenprinter is the wizard behind the scenes, right? Well, the printer is only part of the equation. You also must consider the production level, rolls vs. sheets, indoor vs. outdoor durability and quality, compatibility in software, etc. The devices can make anyone’s head spin.

Your buying decision is based on many variables, such as audience, media type, expected volume and color management, not to mention things you won’t know until you’ve already purchased a machine. So, |2324|’s PressVu UV multi-function inkjet printer has simplified the printer choice. By making one choice, the buyer won’t have to compromise.VUTEk, a division of efi

Previously, an inkjet-printer buyer chose high resolution for near photo-quality prints, or lower resolution for speed. It was an "or" situation for flatbed or roll-fed, outdoor-durable or indoor materials, or rigid material or roll paper. No printer choice could work in all the above situations, until Vutek addressed the situation.

The PressVu UV 200/600

Vutek is known as a manufacturer of grand-format printers, which were targeted to a fairly narrow niche. If you produced billboards, for example, then you really needed the speed, reliability and width these products offered.

However, in recent years, the low-volume, (relatively) inexpensive inkjet printers have grown in width and price. Vutek introduced a narrower-format UltraVu 150, which cost less than grand formats but still delivered the reliability and speed expected from an industrial machine.

Now, we see a new class of printers that use UV inks, which will adhere to virtually anything. Some flatbed configurations can handle rigid materials. Some add a roll-feed capability that can handle traditional printing chores. However, some lack a good balance of image quality, speed, versatility and rugged construction.

Vutek identified this as a prime opportunity. The PressVu UV 200/600 offers 600-dpi print quality on media up to 80 in. wide. To print on rigid material up to 1.75 in. thick, you attach the flatbed roller table. While it’s not inexpensive at $199,000, it’s comparably priced to many of the printers in its class. Built like a tank, it offers a few tricks that might just surprise you.

Specifications

The Vutek PressVu uses a piezo, drop-on-demand inkjet technology with UV curable inks and prints at 600 dpi. It features a maximum printing width of 80.25 in. (2 meters), with speeds up to 350 sq. ft./hr. (33 sq.m./hr.) for production quality. The high-quality mode runs at 200 sq. ft./hr. (19 sq.m./hr.). Maximum media thickness for flexible or rigid substrates is 1.75 in. (4.45 cm).

This printer’s size raises some extra shop considerations before you receive this sizable package. You’ll need to provide compressed air at 80 psi maximum at 4 cfm (dry air only) and a whopping footprint of 61 in. (154.9 cm) high 3 171.0 in. (434.3 cm) wide 3 55 in. (139.7 cm) deep. The printer weighs 3,505 lbs. (1,589.8 kg). The electrical requirements are one-phase, 50 amp, 200-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz.

The operating temperature should be kept between 68