EFI targets analogue switch with Nozomi for display

EFI: Single-pass inkjet has potential to change every print vertical it touches
EFI: Single-pass inkjet has potential to change every print vertical it touches

EFI believes its new Nozomi for display graphics will revolutionise the market for high-volume work, thanks to single-pass printing speeds that are “three-to-four times faster” than even the most productive shuttle or multi-pass printers.

The manufacturer announced the new model at its recent Engage virtual customer conference.

Some companies have already adopted the original Nozomi C18000 for display graphics, including Delta Group in the UK and McGowans in Dublin, which was the first firm to install a Nozomi for that specific application.

Ken Hanulec, vice president of worldwide corporate marketing at EFI, stated: “Single-pass technology, done right, has the potential to change every print vertical it touches and give our customers unprecedented new opportunities.”

The Nozomi for display graphics is 1.6m-wide, compared with 1.8m for the original. The UV LED inkjet printer can print up to 1,000 boards per hour.

It prints in up to seven colours: CMYK plus orange and violet for extended gamut printing, and white.

The EFI Fiery frontend features Smart Ink Estimator for “more precise estimates of ink costs”, with EFI claiming it can potentially deliver “the lowest cost per square foot in the market”.

“Users can eliminate the significant waste associated with analogue screens and production makereadies, bringing a significant environmental advantage to digital display graphics printing,” EFI stated.

EFI is also planning a future upgrade for roll-to-roll operation.

The Nozomi for display graphics is slated to ship later this year and joins EFI’s portfolio of super-high-speed large-format printers for that market, including the Vutek h5 hybrid printer and new Vutek XThybrid.