Choosing the RIGHT flat bed printer - OCE

Newsroom

Océ details considerations for choosing a UV flatbed printer

TRUMBULL, CT – June 5, 2012 – The decision to purchase a UV flatbed printer may seem straightforward, as there are many benefits of direct-to-board printing. Choosing the right printer to fit a print service provider's specific needs, however, is a bit more complex. Potential buyers need to not only find the style and model that suits their business today, but will also accommodate future growth.

Océ has published "Choosing the right UV flatbed printer," a guide that walks buyers through all aspects of UV flatbed technology so they can make intelligent, informed decisions. The guide covers the following topics:

• Printer format: hybrid moving bed vs. true flatbed
  This section explores in detail the pros and cons of both architectures, including considerations such as footprint as well as total cost of applications for a UV system.
  
• Printhead technology: grayscale vs. fixed droplet
  UV printers use piezoelectric inkjet technology in one of two formats: grayscale (a.k.a. variable dot) or fixed droplet. This section explains and illustrates the differences of these two approaches.
  
• Operational considerations
  Topics such as ink costs, power consumption, user maintenance requirements and environmental considerations are explored in this section.
  
• Service and support
  Buying a printer isn't just about installing and running hardware, particularly for print service providers that rely on their printers for their livelihoods. What happens when there is a problem? This section suggests thought-provoking questions buyers should ask of printer vendors to help ensure peace-of-mind after the purchase.
  
• Curing technology
  Digital inkjet printing technology is constantly evolving. In the UV inkjet world, mercury vapor lamps have been the standard, but there's a new technology available as well: UV-LED. This section reviews and illustrates the pros and cons of each technology so buyers can choose the right one for today's applications as well as future needs.
  
• Inks – do you really need white?
  This section discusses the questions print service providers should ask of themselves – and of printer vendors – when considering adding white ink capability.
  
• Before the print: which RIP to use?
  The RIP is a vital part of the flatbed printing workflow. On this topic, the guide outlines some features to consider and offers a list of things to look for in a good RIP.

The "Choosing the right UV flatbed printer" buyers guide can be downloaded from www.oceusa.com/DGguideNB.

About Océ
Océ is one of the leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 100 countries and employs more than 20,000 people worldwide. Océ North America is headquartered in Trumbull, CT, with additional business units in Chicago, IL and Boca Raton, FL. For more information visit www.oce.com.

Océ and Canon: Stronger together
In 2010 Océ joined the Canon Group of companies with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to create the global leader in the printing industry. Canon develops, manufactures and markets a growing line-up of copying machines, printers, cameras, optical and other products that meet a diverse range of customer needs. The Canon Group comprises over 198,000 employees worldwide. Global net sales in 2011 totalled USD 45.6 billion. Visit the Canon Inc. website at www.canon.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With more than $45 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks fourth overall in patent holdings in the U.S. in 2010† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2011. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss. 

 http://www.oceusa.com/main/article_details.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302070169&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673404989