Ricoh has made its globally recognised name in office solutions, providing document services, consulting, software and hardware to customers around the world.
Its experience in this market - which stretches back to 1936 - has given Ricoh an innate understanding of business practices and the changing role played by technology. It's not just about the machinery, but how it is used in modern workplaces by real people. This means Ricoh is constantly developing new solutions for its customers including, more recently, in the wide format printing market.
Ricoh's wide format printer range bridges the gap between large format graphics demands and everyday office needs. Each offers the quality and precision essential for a productive workplace. The Ricoh Pro T7210 large format UV flatbed printer was launched in 2017, showcasing Ricoh's continued innovation in inkjet printing technology with twelve robust Ricoh MH5421 series industrial print heads. This system is optimised for industrial decoration printing and is compatible with a wide range of rigid and heavy substrates including glass, wood, aluminium composite and metal. However, with its print area of up to 6.9' x 10.5', it is also ideal for signage, POS, promotional products, short run speciality packaging and murals, with many customers utilising its excellent image quality for these applications. The Ricoh Pro T7210's productivity is industry-leading, with print speeds of up to 1,106 ft2/hr in four-colour draft mode and 539 ft2/hr in four-colour standard mode.
Building on the Pro T7210 to meet the strict demands of the graphic arts sector is the flagship Ricoh Pro TF6250 UV LED flatbed printer. This industrial system can print directly to an extensive variety of rigid substrates up to 4.3" thick at speeds up to 1,248.6 ft2/hr in four-colour draft mode and up to 516.7 ft2/hr in four-colour standard mode. Its UV inks achieve vivid colour and crisp details, delivering the quality needed for high-spec work including art reproductions and speciality packaging, plus signs, posters, backlit displays, exhibition graphics, POP/POS displays and more.
Completing Ricoh's trio of powerful solutions for large format graphics applications is the Ricoh Pro L5160 latex printer. This system uses second generation aqueous resin latex inks, including opaque white, and Ricoh MH5441 long-life stainless steel printheads to produce touch-dry, durable prints at speeds of up to 502.5 ft2/hr. As well as banners, posters, POP displays, fine art prints and vehicle wraps, the Pro L5160 gives users the image quality and versatility to pursue new revenue streams such as wall coverings and interior decor.
Many users of Ricoh UV LED printers cite flexibility as the key selling point for them. Ricoh UV and latex printers can print directly to a vast range of substrates - UV with primer can print on practically anything.
White inks strengthen colour prints on dark substrates, expanding the potential material selection even further. This versatility helps businesses target valuable niche markets, hit trends and offer a wide selection of products. Moreover, the ability to print with instantly-dry inks directly to a substrate cuts production times significantly. UV inks creates a durable coating which means lamination may not be required, making turnaround even faster. It's possible to print, cut and ship a printed graphic in an hour or two, adding significant value to a business's service.
While its roots go back over 80 years, Ricoh understands what it takes to run a successful business in 2020. Its large format solutions are constantly evolving to help users go beyond meeting market needs to get ahead of the competition.
For further information on Ricoh wide-format products and services, please click here
NB. Ricoh has recently been holding a series of advisory webinars including one focused on wide format print. The full series of webinars is available for download at https://tools.ricoh.co.uk/anything-in-print-webinar-series.
Authored by Stewart Cobby, Ricoh Inkjet Sales Manager (UK), Commercial & Industrial Print Group
