Signs of the Times - December 2013 - (Page 36)

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW By Chris and Kathi Morrison Chris and Kathi Morrison own and operate The Image Specialists, a full-service graphics company based in Clements, CA. Chris is also a Microsoft-certified systems engineer. CET Color X-Press 500K Flatbed UV-Curable Printer Grayscale, a variable-dot print system, 2,656-nozzle printheads - and it's fast. "M ore for less" is CET Color's claim. The company says its machines, designed for the wideformat, digital-print community, have much to offer. And, although CET Color is a relatively new company (founded in 2008), its chiefs - Ernest Chin and David Cich - have strong experience in the large-format-print world. CET's four-color, native, 600-dpi (apparent 1,800 x 1,200), K-Series 500 UV flatbed printer was conceptualized around Kyocera's printhead technology. The 2,656-nozzle printheads feature a grayscale, variabledot print system that produces 3.5-, 7-, 11-, 14- and 21-picoliter ink drops; thus, the printer's CMYK (or CMYK, plus white) colors can produce high-quality prints with great tonality. Kyocera claims the world's fastest print speed for single-pass, 600 x 600-dpi inkjet printheads with a printing width of 4.25 in. Formed as Kyoto Ceramic Co. (Kyoto, Japan), Kyocera today manufactures various products - ceramics, telecommunication, semiconductors, document solutions and electronic devices. Its international headquarters and Key Information CET Color 4705 Bakers Ferry, Ste. A Atlanta, GA 30336 www.cetcolor.com (404) 228-1254 Contact: Dave Cich, president (404) 228-1254 dcich@cetcolor.com North American sales ofﬁce are in San Diego. CET says you don't need six-, eight- or 12-color inks to achieve smooth images. The K Series fourcolor systems cost 30% less to operate compared to six-color systems. Four-color systems also Specifications: K-Series UV Flatbed Printhead Kyocera Ink UV-cure; CMYK; CMYK plus white Print Swath 4.25 in. Print Speed Up to 960 sq. ft./hr. Resolution Up to 600-dpi native, 1,800 x 1,200 apparent Table Size 5 x 10 ft. or 3.2m hybrid Vacuum System Four-zone (reversible-blower) vacuum table UV System Dual, mercury-UV lamps, LED lamps optional. 36 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / DECEMBER 2013 / www.signweb.com require less ink stock. The Kyocera printheads produce a broad, 4.25-in. print swath, which increases the overall print speed. It operates at speeds up to 800 sq. ft./ hr. in quality mode. The 5 x 10-ft., fixed table or 3.2m hybrid, K-Series 500 UV can print 20 boards per hour; 30 per hour in production mode. The printer's RIP, spooler and integrated, four-zone (reversibleblower) vacuum table also contribute to the production speed and ease of use. The table features a pinregistration system that reduces set-up time and the need for custom jigs. The system also allows fullbleed printing, which reduces printhandling time (no need to trim). And, get this - 4 in. is the maximum-acceptable media thickness. CET says the UV-cure ink feature offers three advantages over other technologies: a diverse media list (PVC, styrene, MDF, glass, polycarbonate, HDU, cast vinyl, backlit vinyl, films, canvas and paper); a strong, but flexible, ink-to-media bond; and less printhead maintenance. CET Color builds and markets several wide-format flatbed and hybrid printer lines that include its X-Series 500 and 1000 line and the Q-Series 500 and 1000 series. The machine's build quality is high, and the print speed is quick. If you operate a medium-to-large shop that wants to increase its print volume, we suggest you study CET's new K-Series 500. ■ http://www.cetcolor.com http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - December 2013

Signs of the Times - December 2013
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Electric
LED Update
Software Update
Technology Review - Universal Laser’s ILS9.75 and ILS12.75 platform lasers
Technology Review - CET Color’s 500K X-Press flatbed, UV-cure printer
New Products
The Hands Have It
Digital Print Update
The First Neon Sign in America
The USSC Design Awards
Advertising index
Editorially speaking

Signs of the Times - December 2013