The Virtu RR50 from WP Digital, distributed in the UK by Digital Print
Innovations (DPI), has been recognised as best in its class by the
European Digital Press Association Awards' 2010 edition. Winning in
the 'superwide-format printer larger than three metres' category, the
five-metre UV-curable machine was given the nod for its combination of
speed and quality, although the judges also cited its abundance of
versatile production options and practical user features.

"The award is given, among other reasons, for the [RR50's] white ink option, options of 36 or 48 print-heads, multi-roll print capability, maximum resolution of 1,200dpi, [and] front and rear loading options," the judges concluded. They also noted its maximum speed of 320sq m/hour, as well as heavy-weight reel handling, longitudinal and cross-cutting facilities and its functionality with mesh.

The Virtu RR50 is the biggest brother of the WP Digital (formerly Spühl) range of UV-curable devices, for which DPI provides a complete service channel in the UK and Ireland. Available in configurations which can include six colours (CMYK, Lc and Lm) and white, it delivers addressable 1200dpi resolution on a wide range of materials, including banner, PE and – surprisingly – flag. DPI also explains that the bulk system for its highly durable VOC-free inks, which allows six litres per colour to be stored, is among the productivity-orientated benefits of the engine.

"There are technology advances within the RR50 which set it apart from everything else on the market, such as the linear motor system which eliminates vibration problems and improves dot placement," comments Stewart Bell, managing director of DPI, "but it's also a practical machine for display and industrial applications alike. A single operator can, for example, load extra rolls using a remote control device. This kind of productivity and versatility in the same machine is the innovation that the superwide market has been waiting for."

These benefits come as a result of its heritage in precision Swiss engineering, Bell continues. "We're delighted to see the RR50 from WP Digital getting the recognition it deserves, and grateful to the panel for electing it. The truth is that the Virtu range of printers are powerhouses for display production onto almost any flexible material, and have a well-earned reputation for being both reliable and versatile," he emphasises.

The EDP Awards are nominated by a panel of five judges from the European trade press which focuses on the innovation that the machine presents to the market. They include Sophie Matthews-Paul, wide-format digital printing technology consultant and technology editor of Image Reports; Martin Spaar, editor of Swiss publishing trade magazine Publisher; Chris Cooke, publishing director of Image Reports magazine; Herman Hartman, respected industry journalist and consultant, currently editor of SignPro Benelux; and Italian Adobe-certifiedinstructor and expert Luca Chiavegato.