VUTEk QS220 extends superwide capabilities at wide-format price levels

Foster City, Calif. - EFI, a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today unveiled the VUTEk QS220, a direct-to-substrate, two-meter UV-curing flatbed printer with High-Definition Print (HDP) quality and superwide productivity that boasts lower ink running costs than traditional wide-format printers and unique application abilities that allow print businesses to expand into higher-end, premium-margin applications. The QS220 is ideal for businesses that want to fuel profitability by adding flexible, production-level equipment that will support their growth.

"More and more businesses are exploring out-of-home advertising as a way to reach customers, but unfortunately many print businesses are forced to choose between high production speeds and high image quality," said EFI VUTEk senior vice president/general manager Dick Wissenbach. "The QS220 is an all-in-one printer; it has the speed to print 16 4'x8' boards per hour as well as the ability to print in high definition. This is a great time to be involved in superwide format printing, and with pricing comparable to wide format printers, the QS220 is not only affordable, it's a smart investment for any print business."

Breakthrough Technology

VUTEk's HDP technology provides resolution up to 1080 dpi for dazzling graphics and sharp text. It produces four- or six-color images, and features a special seventh channel for six variations of white ink. This configuration is unique to EFI and means the QS220 is capable of printing color and white in three independent layers all in one pass for perfect registration and more advanced printing applications, which results in graphics that really pop. This in-line, three-layer white printing capability grants the ability to produce new, high-margin applications that other businesses cannot provide, such as enhanced-definition back-lit displays or layered, art-quality graphics printed on dark substrates.

The advanced technology of the QS220 allows it to effectively replace multiple wide-format printers. Its small footprint and optional roll-to-roll capability fulfill the functions of multiple printers, especially with its production speeds of up to 750 square feet per hour, outstanding resolution and lower ink running costs than other superwide printers. With this one two-meter printer, print businesses can produce the high-resolution images required for Point-of-Purchase applications, without forgoing the high-production abilities that has become an industry benchmark for leading print shops.

EFI, a manufacturing leader of digital UV inks, specifically designed the QS220 inks for the applications that enable businesses to increase production and profitability. By utilizing one ink set, the QS220 delivers enhanced reliability and performance on a wide range of substrates, with brighter, more durable automotive-grade pigments and greater flexibility, all at per-liter costs that are much lower than most wide-format printers. This ensures that businesses not only expand their capabilities, but also increase profitability.

Streamlined Workflows

A cohesive, intelligent and efficient workflow solution from one supplier is the secret to truly maximizing the profit potential of every job printed. From online job acquisition to internal shop management and job preparation and production, EFI's award-winning solutions streamline customer interaction and management of the entire print business. EFI Digital StoreFront delivers a world-class, print-centric e-commerce solution for print service providers, while EFI's Print MIS products, PrintSmith, and Pace automate business processes from estimating to invoicing. All VUTEk printers are optimized for use with EFI's Fiery XF RIP, EFI's color management solution for accurate, vibrant colors on superwide and wide-format printers.