Ricoh targets industrial decor market with first flatbed

Ricoh has premiered its first wide-format UV flatbed, the Ricoh Pro T7210.

The T7210 is being shown at Viscom Italy 2017 in Milan this week (12 to 14 October) and will be available to EMEA customers from early 2018. Pricing has yet to be finalised.

Optimised for industrial decoration printing, the T7210 runs at 50sqm/hr in standard mode or 100sqm/hr in high-speed mode. It is intended for applications such as interior decoration and building materials, especially rigid and heavy materials, including glass, wood, aluminium composite and metal.

“The Ricoh Pro T7210 spearheads our expanding solutions range as Ricoh continues to drive innovation in inkjet printing technology,” said Ricoh Europe head of commercial inkjet business Graham Kennedy. “Incorporating Ricoh’s own leading inkjet technology, it is designed to inspire user confidence and provides new potential and value to a fast-evolving market sector.

“We have already been contacted by some direct customers showing interest ahead of the launch scheduled for early in 2018.”

According to Kennedy, Ricoh is currently looking at pricing for the T7210, but hopes to “bring an exceptional level of productivity at a competitive price”.

The T7210 uses 12 Ricoh MH54 series industrial printheads, which the company said delivered outstanding jetting performance and reliability. It has a maximum print size of 3.2x2.1m and can print on substrates of up to 110mm thick.

Kennedy added: “In terms of future developments in UV flatbed tech, based on customer requirements, we will prioritise our investment decisions in the future. Thanks to our own Ricoh technology including Ricoh’s printheads or UV ink formula, and our R&D department, we are very flexible and able to develop any customer requirements.”