Arrow Digital has installed its much-awaited Efi FabriVU 340i+, a soft signage and waterless polyester printer built by Efi Reggiani, at its demo center in Ahmedabad.
Speaking on the possibilities in the soft signage space, Sam Patel, MD & CEO, said, “Sustainability continues to be a key point of emphasis among most brands and corporates. The soft signage graphics stand out in that context. They are easy to store and reuse, compared to other display graphics that are often displayed once and then discarded. The EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340i+ printers are known for their low waste and efficiency.”
Explaining its productivity and efficiency, Patel said that the new 3.4-meter wide ‘plus’ model offers the same direct-to-substrate and sublimation printing options as the previous iteration. “This technology has changed the way the colors are mapped and the way it lays down ink. It gives better ink density, efficiency, and productivity. It features eight Kyocera printheads, rather than four, doubling the resolution from 300 to 600 dpi and increasing POP speeds by 48% when compared to the current VUTEk 340i model. The VUTEk FabriVU 340i + offers customers the widest application range, the lowest TCO in the market, the highest income yield, and the lowest acquisition cost.”
Other new features include a redesigned heat plate that regulates temperature uniformity, improved extraction with less outgassing, and a new flag ink removal kit that allows the system to manage high ink volumes without touching loaded materials. “This printer is perfect for use with all textile materials, including backlit, front-lit, blackback, and flag. It can handle both direct transfer and paper sublimation processes. The presence of an inline fixation unit negates the need for a separate heat press – saving time, money, and space.”
Patek said the VUTEk FabriVU 340i+ printer offers ultra-high resolutions up to 2400 dots per inch (dpi) and three-level grayscale printing with 7, 12, and 18 picolitre drop sizes. Its printheads optimize ink drops with no overlay for smooth transitions and perfect crispness. “The result is a dramatic four-color printing with a wide color gamut, rich black, and deep color saturation for exceptionally high quality on backlit fabric displays and other graphics. The FabriVU Plus series has a new CMYK x 2 configuration printhead array – along with new electronics, a new vacuum system, and a new heating element that delivers higher quality 600 dpi graphics with better saturation and more density.”
Describing its possibilities and opportunities in soft-signage, Patel said that the VUTEk FabriVU 340i+ delivers premium results using high-end, water-based dye-sublimation inks. “With this technology, you can produce ravishing exhibition graphics, backlit and front-lits, POS/POPs, flags, banner wraps, teardrops, tents, displays, wall graphics, furnishing, and other high-end display graphics, including one-offs, etc.”
The medium viscosity EFI ink contains a high concentration of dyes, which means less water, reducing the amount of energy needed for drying. The Efi FabriVU 340i+ uses up to 30% less ink than competing dye-sublimation systems and has an ink recovery system that saves more than 95% of the ink that other dye-sub printers lose during purging, he said.
“Soft Signage is the upcoming sustainable trend that differentiates you from others. You can produce premium quality products with high margins, and get into short to medium runs of home décor, wallpapers, apparel, and much more.”
