SwissQprint has announced two new large format flatbed printers, the Topi 5 and the Oryx 5, which both benefit from the fifth generation features introduced at the start of this year, but will sell at lower cost than the other models.
The Topi 5 represents the first of a new series that can be seen as an entry-level version of the Nyala series. As such it has the same 3.2×2m sized bed as the higher volume Kudu and Nyala 5. However, it only takes a single row of printheads, limiting it to a maximum speed of 126 square meters an hour. This sets it aside from the Nyala, which could be fitted with a second row of printheads to double its speed.
Petra Fetting, marketing communication manager for SwissQprint, explained, “The category of flatbed printers with a top speed of 126 square meters an hour is highly competitive and for many customers the ability to print a 10x5ft sheet is critical however they have lower capacity demands. We wanted to introduce a solution that would appeal to the customer needs.”
Likewise, the new Oryx 5 matches the 2.5x2m bed of the Impala 5 but can only be fitted with a single row of printheads leading to a slower speed, up to 114 square meters an hour.
The Nyala and Impalas are normally supplied with all the electronics and plumbing to support a second row of heads having already been fitted at the factory so that any upgrades can be added quickly. So SwissQprint has mostly achieved the lower price point in the new models by eliminating these fittings. Fetting adds, “We have been able to optimize several elements of the machines to provide a more competitively solution.”
Otherwise they can both be configured with up to 10 color channels, and both offer maximum resolution of 1350 dpi as well as using linear drives to maintain precision movements at speed. There’s the same range of options as with SwissQprint’s other flatbeds, including the roll-to-roll and the Collector paper for full bleed printing. Fetting says, “The only difference is the single row of print heads, otherwise customers can expect the same quality, performance and service as with the rest of the Generation 5 range.”
SwissQprint will continue to offer the faster Nyala and Impala, with Fetting saying, “In fact, the majority of our customers choose to invest in a two row system with white and varnish, and a significant portion will add special colors or primer.” However she also says that around 20 percent of customers start with a single row of heads and upgrade their machines “often after 6-36 months of initial purchase.”
All these flatbeds are fitted with Konica Minolta printheads but customers have an option to choose between the KM1080i and the KM1280i heads and this also applies to the new Topi 5 and Oryx 5 models.
Carmen Eicher, chief sales and marketing officer at SwissQprint, commented, “With the new, harmonized overall range, we have a tailor-made solution for every size of business, with Oryx and Topi being aimed at users with high quality standards and small to medium print volumes.”
The new model are already available worldwide. You can find further details from swissqprint.com.
It’s exciting to see SwissQ expanding its product range with the Topi 5 and Oryx 5. The printing industry is evolving rapidly, and these kinds of technological advancements could really help businesses keep up with demand and maintain high-quality output. I’m curious to see how these machines perform in real-world production environments!