Opening up a wealth of opportunities for display producers, label and packaging specialists and sign-makers, Roland DG (UK) Ltd has launched its innovative SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT wide-format inkjet printer which features, for the first time, a metallic ink capability. Printable either as a special colour or in combination with process options, the company's exciting development provides users with the opportunity to create a range of metallic hues, including gold, silver, bronze and pearlescent effects, which were hitherto impossible with this medium.
 
The 1.37 m (54 inch) machine, which incorporates the company's ECO-SOL MAX ink (ESL3-MT), has been engineered especially for a range of high-value applications, such as vehicle wraps, labels, decals, T-shirt transfers, banners, and a range of point-of-sale and sign applications. Offering vibrancy and richness previously unavailable to the wide-format inkjet market, the SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT features CMYK plus metallic silver and white (CMYK+MT+W) and is compatible with a broad range of media, including vinyl, PET film, canvas, paper, transparent film and banner substrates. A double-white (CMYK+WW) model without the metallic option is also available for users who want to create high-opacity white text, graphics and other elements.
 
Key to this technology is the gamut of dense, vivid metallic colours in a modestly-priced wide-format inkjet print-and-cut machine which includes all the hallmarks of Roland's precision engineering. The ECO-SOL MAX inks – which won the DPI's Product of the Year 2009 – incorporate superior resistance to scratching or vandalism as well as fast drying time and uncoated media support. Outdoor durability has a maximum of three years for CMYK and the metallic ink, with one year for the white option; this can be extended with over-lamination. The company's Advanced Ink Circulation System prevents the pigment in the additional inks from settling, avoiding clogging and reducing ink consumption by up to 84 percent compared with previous models.
 
"In the past, gold and silver effects could only be produced using more complex printing systems such offset and flexo presses, screen printing equipment or by foil stamping," says Brett Newman, Roland DG (UK)'s head of product management. "Each of these technologies requires plate processing, making it difficult and costly to produce metallic graphics in small quantities.  The new XC-540MT has transformed this process. For the first time, users can take full advantage of Roland's advanced inkjet technology to produce brilliant metallic graphics on demand – easily, profitably, and in any quantity."
 
With a 41 square m/hour maximum throughput speed, the SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT features Roland's renowned automatic contour-cutting capabilities, representing a removal of steps in the workflow and resulting in cost- and time-reducing benefits. The print-and-cut unit is engineered for unattended operation, a crucial asset to print and display producers with tight turn-around times and reduced budgets. Optimum resolution is 1440 x 1440 dpi, making the machine particularly well-suited for the production of high-quality, short-run labels and decals as well as for several display applications.
 
Heavy-duty media handling, automated maintenance and Roland's proprietary Intelligent Pass Control inkjet technology are all features of the SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT, complemented by the DU-540 dryer/blower unit to ensure that output can be handled immediately after printing. The machine is supplied with the company's VersaWorks 3.3, the latest version of its versatile RIP software. This also includes full metallic ink and white workflow options and Roland's Metallic Colour Library from which users can produce a multitude of their own shades.