DGI targets rivals with Velajet

Digital Graphics Incorporation (DGI) has handed a European debut to a new 1.9m version of its Velajet eco-solvent roll-to-roll printer.

The new eco-solvent Velajet comes in two variations the VE-1908 with eight printheads, for double CMYK, and the VE-1904 with four. The VE-1904 can field upgraded to eight heads.

DGI said the printers targets a higher production level than competitors at a similar price point, reaching a maximum speed of 52sqm/hr at 720dpi in four passes on the VE-1908, and 29sqm/hr at the same resolution and pass rate on the VE-1904. It was initially released to customers in March.

Marketing manager Young Bae said: “Our competitors in this range, such as EFI and MS Printing, are reaching speeds of 10-20sqm/hr, whereas we are reaching up to 52sqm.

“This puts our price slightly above theirs, but it has already been hugely popular in our biggest market – the Middle East, as well as Portugal and Eastern Europe.

“With Fespa, we are looking to bring it into new markets such as Germany and will be building relationships with distributors across Europe to put the machine out there. None of our competitors are really at this level yet.”

Printing signage and graphics jobs on vinyl, banners and panaflex materials, the new Velajet also boats technology to control the gap between the print head and media allowing from print on media of various thickness. It can vary distance from the media by intervals of 0.3mm.

DGI is also exhibiting machines from its dye-sublimation and direct textile printing ranges at Fespa.