RICOH Pro L4100 series can help print service providers grow their businesses
Commercial printing businesses can now easily expand into a growing signage and display market with new wide-format color graphics printers from Ricoh Americas Corporation that employ aqueous latex ink - a more environmentally-friendly ink as compared to traditional petroleum-based inks due to its lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The new RICOH Pro L4160 and RICOH Pro L4130 deliver high print productivity and quality as a result of technological innovations, which include the use of Ricoh piezoelectric print heads. These roll-to-roll large format printers handle media sizes up to 63.8 inches (L4160) or 54 inches (L4130) wide, and support up to seven colors in various configurations, including orange, green and white inks in addition to CMYK.
The L4100 series - Ricoh's first entry into wide-format graphics - is intended to help customers expand their service offerings and increase value to their customers. An additional benefit is that the L4100 series may reduce the environmental impacts of printing through its use of aqueous latex ink and ability to operate with low power consumption. Both printers use standard 100-120v power, eliminating the need for rewiring to 220-240v. Additionally, the RICOH Pro L4160 and RICOH Pro L4130 are designed to help lower energy consumption and costs, and have the ability to use a much broader range of heat sensitive media, which make the L4100 series a smart choice for customers.
The L4100 series' use of latex ink eliminates the need for special ventilation that traditional wide-format graphics printers require. But more importantly, the prints are quickly ready for finishing after exiting the system, because of a low curing temperature. Employing Ricoh's latest generation of high quality, stainless steel multiple jetting piezo inkjet heads, up to three different drop sizes are produced at once, with drops as small as four picoliters (pL). Varying drop sizes result in smoother gradations and sharper details, especially with fine lines and small fonts.
Ricoh latex inks offer outdoor durability of one to two years, or two to three years with lamination. With white ink, printers' clients benefit from brilliant color on all substrates - including transparent and dark materials - for signage, branded materials and window displays. The addition of orange and green extends the color gamut to encompass a wider range of vibrant colors, ideal for both indoor and outdoor materials, and to reproduce corporate colors or spot colors accurately.
The L4100 series quickly and easily create durable outdoor and indoor signage, including banners, POS/POP posters, vehicle wraps and wall coverings. Both systems print on a wide range of substrates, including PVC, tarpaulin, synthetic paper, coated paper, non-coated paper and textiles.
"Our customers are constantly looking at ways to differentiate and increase their market opportunities," said Tim Vellek, Vice President, Production Printing Business Group, Ricoh Americas Corporation. "The L4100 series can be that stepping stone for customers that want to offer multi-tiered marketing campaigns."
Analysts predict strong growth in the wide-format printing market. For example, InfoTrends expects the retail value of wide-format printing in North America to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9 percent, reaching $23.6 billion by 2016.
L4100 series features summary
-- Up to seven color printing -- CMYK, orange, green, and white
-- Latest generation Ricoh piezo variable drop print head, with drops as
small as four pL
-- Aqueous latex ink can have low environmental impact
-- Durable printing for outdoor and indoor applications
-- Fast throughput
-- Wide range of media supported, from PVC to paper to textiles and more
-- Choice of two print widths (63 inch or 53 inch)
-- Lower ink curing temperatures for reduced energy consumption and use of
lighter-weight and heat sensitive materials
-- Includes Ricoh Software RIP
-- Print drivers for third party RIP's available
-- Supported by ONYX
