Fujifilm plans to display its range of Acuity wide-format printers for the first time at the upcoming Fespa exhibition in Berlin. The company, which will be making its first major exhibition appearance in two years, is set to unveil previously unannounced models as well as showcasing existing printers when the event arrives in the German capital.
Under the moniker of ‘Blueprint Live’, Fuijfilm will exhibit a total of six machines at Fespa, including the Acuity Prime and Acuity Ultra R2. These were the first two printers launched as part of the range, which was first announced three years ago, when the company says it ‘went back to the drawing board to define a new blueprint for UV inkjet print performance.’
First introduced less than a year ago, the Acuity Ultra R2 is a roll-fed machine available in 5m or 3.2m versions – with both set to be showcased on the stand. Fujifilm says that the Ultra R2 has the same levels of quality and reliability as its predecessor (the Acuity Ultra, first seen at Fespa 2018) but with a number of design improvements that improve ease of use and overall productivity. These include the designing-out of the light curtain for stray UV light and siting both maintenance and ink supply on the same side, with visual alert for low ink levels and larger ink tanks that should eliminate the need to store part-used cans.
The Ultra R2 is available in various colour configurations up to eight channels and with conventional UV curing as standard, or with an LED UV curing system for six colour and white configurations. To complement the LED UV curing system, Fujifilm has also launched Uvijet AU, a new ink for the Acuity Ultra R2 specifically for LED UV curing. On the ‘Blueprint Live’ stand, the 5m model will be printing using conventional UV inks, while the 3.2m model will be operating in LED UV curing mode to highlight the relative advantages of each option.
Meanwhile the Acuity Prime, first unveiled at the same time as the Ultra R2, was the first new Fujifilm flatbed since the company ended its long-standing agreement with Canon (formerly Océ) for the latter’s Arizona line of UV-curing printers. It’s a 2.54 x 1.7m model able to handle media up to 51mm thick that Fujifilm says is designed to optimise price/performance through features such as air cooling for the UV LED curing system and the ability to run from a single-phase power supply. The Acuity Prime 20 is available with four, five or six ink channels, while the Acuity Prime 30 can be configured for up to seven. Both models will be showcased running live throughout the show.
David Burton, business director for Fujifilm Wide Format Inkjet Systems, commented, ‘During a challenging time for the market, Fujifilm has been working on delivering a completely new range of printers that are set to define a new blueprint for wide format print performance. Fujifilm’s ‘Blueprint Live’ event at Fespa 2022 represents the latest milestone for the company to showcase this vision and provide print businesses with the very latest printers to meet the rapidly changing needs of its customers.’
