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Solvent or Latex Printer, Advice please?
Hi all, we currently run 2 mimaki jv33’s and have been toying with the idea of changing one for a hp latex as it gets a pain hanging prints out to de-gas if we have wraps or large wall graphics to do. So a few questions… Are the Hp latex really ‘instant dry’ and suitable to wrap without hanging out? Does the ink really last as long as solvent without fading? Lastly what is the ink / running cost difference?
Thanks
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5 Replies
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Ive had my Latex for 6 years now, never had a solvent printer so i cant really compare. But it seems crazy to me to have to hang outgas graphics after they had been printed. I print laminate/finish as soon as they come of the machine never had any problems with inks fading or scratching…… :thumbsup:
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We’ve got two latex printers, a 26500 (about 4 years old) and a new 360 latex (about 6months). The 26500 was slightly limited to what it could print due to the double heat process, but I really can’t recommend the new 360 enough. It’s super fast, takes the majority of roll feed media, has an inbuilt profiler which enables us to print onto pretty much anything we can physically get into the machine (or so it would seem so far!), and is super easy to use.
Another local sign company to us has just taken delivery of the 560, which is essentially the same (but ever so slightly faster and uses a bigger ink system), but has the added bonus of spindle’less loading, which makes loading and unloading the machine an absolute doddle!We both mount and laminate straight from the printer with no issues at all. The new 360 has an ink optimizer which makes the ink SUPER durable against scratches, and it would seem even more durable against UV fading.
Not personally wrapped with latex printed media, but people I know who have love it as they claim the ink goes down so well that it’s less prone to ‘whiting’ or ‘ghosting’ when wrapping.
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Will be looking to change our JV33 for a 360 next year also. Seems like it is the printer to have now. HP must be caning it.
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Thanks for the comments, still not sure though, think I might hang on until the sign show and have a good look at them
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The latest generation of latex machines look very impressive, I think thats another reason Roland are moving the price point of their solvent inks down. IMO they need to compete more on production price points.
HP seem to be resolving certain issues they had with earlier models, the colours from the 570 looked much more vibrant than those produced on the 360
If I was starting out again with choosing a print system I would give the new latex HP machines much more consideration.
There again I would probably be too nervous to spend £20k plus on my first machine. And I think I would be disappointed with the 3 series.
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