Epson has been taking action in the process of transforming traditional printing to digital inkjet. six years ago, Epson launched a series of UV print heads, including L1440-U1, I1600-U1, I3200-U1, S3200-U1/U3. In July this year, Epson launched the T3200-UV print head in the Chinese market. Mr. Liang Jian firmly told us: Although Epson is not the first print head manufacturer to enter the UV market, based on the MEMS process used in Epson print heads, the difference between chips is very small, the internal structure is very precise, the ink is accurately placed, and the ink drop size is consistent, Epson believes that it can occupy the Chinese market with these advantages. The launch of T3200 this time is based on Epson's manufacturing capabilities, optimizing the product line to provide customers with better solutions and promote the entire market. Epson's series of UV print heads are the results of optimization after combining actual market applications.
So, how to interpret Epson UV print heads? How to segment the application market? How do Epson UV print heads implement color management solutions? How to choose a matching print head? What mature applications are currently on the market? How to use these print heads to solve application solutions in different application fields? In the future, what potential can Epson UV print heads bring to the market? I believe these are topics that everyone is concerned about! Through interviews with Mr. Uchida, Mr. Gao Yue, and Mr. Liang Jian, we have summarized three parts of the content, hoping to give you some reference, and more application solutions are also welcome to discuss!
Topic 1: Epson UV print head segmentation and selection
At present, Epson's main UV print heads include I3200-U1, S3200-U1/U3 series, and the new product T3200. Mr. Gao Yue told us: The common features of these three series of print heads include: first, they all use Epson PrecisionCoreTM micro-piezoelectric printing chips, which can well achieve high precision and image quality; second, they all have 3200 nozzles, and the extremely high nozzle resolution supports one head four-color printing; the ink drop size is uniform, and the variable ink drop technology can achieve multi-grayscale printing; finally, the high drop waveforms corresponding to the three print heads can stably print objects with a drop of 10mm. This means that the three main print heads can inherit the consistent advantages of Epson print heads, achieve image quality stability, and ensure the durability of the print heads.
The differences between the three print heads are broken down. Specifically, the Epson I3200-U1 is a print head with a high usage rate in the market. It has a very outstanding cost-effectiveness and is suitable for large, medium, and small machines. If the equipment supplier wants to create a product with both good printing quality and an attractive price, the I3200-U1 head can be selected.
The S3200-UV series print heads are widely used in advertising, printing and packaging, and other fields. It belongs to the S-type combination design structure, which is a perfect combination of precision and speed. The S3200-UV series includes U1 and U3 print heads, which are more suitable for scenarios with high production capacity requirements. Therefore, the S3200-UV series is a configuration for large and heavy machines, high-capacity industrial machines, and mid- and high-end machines such as Single Pass.
T3200 is a new print head launched by Epson in 2021. It has an internal heating function, which can realize the printing of high-viscosity inks, and the inkjet is more stable. Epson T3200 U3 does not require recycling and external heating, and the print head application is more convenient, so it is more suitable for users who need inks of different viscosities to achieve more special application needs.
Topic 2: Existing application fields and solutions
Since 2018, Epson's UV print head series has occupied a large position in advertising, labeling, corrugated paper packaging, and other markets, providing solutions for market applications in different fields. For example, the Single Pass label inkjet machine equipped with the I3200-UV print head is widely used in the label field, the innovative book edge machine developed in the printing field, and the high drop object printer developed in the advertising field. At the Guangzhou Printing Exhibition, Epson and its partners jointly exhibited equipment and application solutions for multiple application scenarios. There are several major types:
1. Process presentation under multi-mode conversion of large-scale jet machines
In addition to providing the needs of traditional advertising businesses, the roll-to-roll machine equipped with multi-head I3200-UV also meets the needs of more printing processes. Take Shanghai Xiyan Company as an example: the industrial UV roll-to-roll machine developed and produced with 4 I3200-UV print heads has a width of 3.2 meters and can realize full color1, color and white, white and color varnish, and other printing processes. At the same time, it can realize the conversion printing of different-sized media within the range of 3.2 meters. There is no need to change the print head or ink. One device realizes the application of multiple process scene conversions, which can meet the printing needs of indoor and outdoor advertising, decorative artworks, etc.
In addition, the S3200-UV print head better highlights its image quality and industrial-grade speed in the 3.2-meter and 5-meter solutions. Taking Jinhengfeng Company as an example, the JHF Mars 8R5-meter ultra-wide high-speed imaging-level UV roll-to-roll printer uses 16 S3200-UV industrial-grade print heads and 8-color output, achieving imaging-level quality and comprehensively improving printing speed. It is suitable for commercial display output such as outdoor large-scale advertising images, ultra-wide light boxes, signage, etc., including PVC light cloth, PET light sheets, various textile fabrics, and other roll-to-roll materials. JHF Mars 8R can handle them with ease. In addition, JHF also uses S3200-UV print heads on industrial-grade flat-panel equipment, which plays an important role in the inkjet printing production of home decoration and other panels.
2. Process presentation of multifunctional mesh belt machine
Take the products of Wuhan Yili Company and Shanghai Hexuan Company as examples: Yili used 6 I3200-UV print heads to develop a 2.3-meter UV mesh belt machine to demonstrate the color-white and black-white printing process on-site. This process can realize the printing application of soft film, light film, car stickers, glass stickers, leather, including some fabrics. Hexuan used 8 I3200-UV print heads to develop a mesh belt machine to print plates and other media on site. The mesh belt machine developed with Epson UV print heads is a model of flat and roll dual-purpose multifunctional printing cases and has been greatly recognized by customers in the market in the past two years.
3. High-drop printing process presentation
With the continuous growth of consumer demand for digital printing of special-shaped items (such as bottles, helmets, balls, plates, and other daily necessities, and crafts), Epson UV print heads have also made corresponding solutions in high drop processes. The key to high drop is the need for precise jetting points. In response to this, Epson's technical department has improved the waveform and the signal that controls the output of ink drops to achieve high drop, so that all Epson series UV print heads can respond. At this Epson application display, everyone saw the performance of the I1600 and I3200 print heads in high-drop processes.
Case 1: Cylinder process presentation. Take Guangzhou Maiqian Company as an example: EP-colour, which is designed for personalized customization of cylinders and cones, uses 3 I1600-UV print heads and can print cylinders and cones with a diameter range of 40-150mm. On-site, we saw that the printed pattern has a delicate texture, clean edges, rich colors, and a comfortable feel. This solution can print 240 thermos cups per hour.
Case 2: Sphere process presentation. Take Guangzhou Nuocai Company as an example: The high-drop small flatbed printer developed with 3 I1600-UV print heads can print special-shaped objects with a high drop within 10mm, such as golf balls, shoes, helmets, plates, and other non-planar printing. The printing of golf balls was demonstrated on site, with a high drop printing speed of 2㎡/h. The equipment can also be used for popular crystal stickers, mobile phone cases, small logos, and other process printing.
4. More applications of industrial flatbed printing
The flatbed printer developed with multi-head I3200-UV and T3200-UV print heads can achieve industrial-grade plate printing. It can be widely used in printing advertising plates, home decoration plates, glass plates, leather, and other fields. For example, Dongguan Tuchuang Intelligent Company developed a 2512-UV flatbed device using 3 new T3200 print heads, which uses 6pass mode and can print 18 square meters per hour; Shenzhen Dacheng Guangchi developed and produced a 2513-UV flatbed machine with 10 I3200-UV print heads after Pantone color management.
So far, Epson UV print heads currently have 1-inch, 2-inch, and 4-inch print heads in terms of product lines. In the corresponding small flatbed, roll-to-roll, flat roll dual-use, to medium and large industrial rolls and flatbeds, there are corresponding products. At the same time, Epson has cooperated with partners to continuously improve color management solutions and develop more application solutions that meet market needs and lead the market direction.
In the past six years, Epson has spared no effort to expand many product lines to cope with each industry according to the different industries and uses of users. For example: S3200-A1 was born for the transfer paper printing application in the textile market; the large ink drop version of the print head was launched for direct injection; the upgraded version of I3200, I3200 (8) -A1HD (1200dpi) print head, was developed for customers with higher precision requirements; T3200-UV print head optimized for special applications of UV printing, etc.
In the field of UV printing, the use of I3200-UV print head on 1.8m, 3.2m rolls and mesh belt machines has created new processes for the market, such as color white and color, color white and black and white; the high drop printing process developed by I1600-UV head proves the applicability of Epson print head; the application of S3200-UV head on industrial rolls and flatbeds has opened a new chapter in Epson's high-speed printing.
Finally, Mr. Uchida concluded: "With users' pursuit of stable printing quality, the use of Epson print heads has become a consensus. Epson will also give users strong support. In the future, high precision and high speed of UV printing will definitely be the future trend. Epson will continue to use its own R&D capabilities and advantages in high-precision products to strengthen technical support for supporting equipment manufacturers, continuously optimize product lines, and meet the development needs of diversified applications of end users."
