Step with me around the curtain whilst we take you behind the scenes at QPS…
It’s not our style to go on and on about the kit we have. We’d prefer to show you whilst explain some of the reasons (and benefits to you) why we run it.
This post looks at UV flatbed printing and our 3 workhorses – the Fuji Acuity flatbeds.
Our Fuji Acuity UV flatbed printers handle all the image files that need to be printed on rigid substrates before being routed and trimmed for signs and displays.
Whilst we have rollfed printers here at QPS Print, the flatbed lends itself as you’d expect to flat boards and sheet media.
Our Fuji Acuity’s also have rollfed adaptors meaning roll media up to 2.2m wide can be printed using the same cost-effective yet super durable inks that we use to print onto the flat substrates.
They are in their element printing board and after board with incredible accuracy and with superb colour consistency.
Flatbed print tech has been around for a while now and has grown to be a perfect addition to the print manufacturers arsenal.
Being able to print directly onto sheets instead of the previous requirement of having onto print self-adhesive vinyl then apply to the board has enabled us to achieve much lower costs and massively increase throughput.
Our Arizona can handle sheet sizes up to 1250mm wide and 2500mm in length. It’ll also print onto flexible substrates like roller banner media, poster papers and thinner PVCs.
Eco-conscious as ever here at QPS, the Acuity’s use LED technology instead of the old style bulbs.
This enables the startup time to be virtually instant – no warming up of the bulbs is needed. It also means that the bulbs can turn on and off when it reaches parts of the substrate that doesn’t need curing.
Fast, incredibly accurate and energy efficient too! Is there anything these machines can’t do?
It’ll print onto pretty much any substrate that we can feed it. From MDF to acrylics, foam PVC to aluminium composite.
Depending on your requirement and if it needs print, the Acuitys are up to the job.
Correx estate agent signs? No problem.
Dibond sheets for flat signs? Quickly turned around and it’ll produce exactly what’s needed.
Ours also have the white ink and varnish options. If you need your print to be on clear media, without printing white on the reverse, the design can look wishy-washy and dull.
By being able to print white prior to the full-colour image, the Acuity’s give a much greater depth and clarity to the overall design.
UV Flatbed Printing For FSDUs
As well as the external signs for a business, we also print and supply the internal point of sale for many local and national companies.
The Fujis make creating free-standing display units about as efficient as possible.
The print software (and our experienced team) will produce the artwork to fit the boards – corrugated cardboard or something more innovative like the new Dispa board, Xanita or Reboard – and run the sheets needed.
From there we move the printed boards over to the CNC router. The cut paths are followed and trimmed away manufacturing the final product.
We then either put them together before shipping or send them out securely flat packed on a pallet. Job done.
The main advantage of having both pieces of equipment under one roof is in the time saving of moving the material from one machine to the other.
No need to print then send out to be cut, routed and finished.
We can have a turnaround in hours, not days.
This post should have given you an insight into our Fuji Acuity flatbed UV printers. As you can see, they come in might handy within our workflow.
Whether you’re looking for UV flatbed printing near Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire or you’re from further afield within the UK and beyond, we’ve got all the facilities in-house to get you up and running.
There are many reasons you need to be dealing directly with a print partner rather than through print brokers and agents. Our post here explains why.
Need to know more or have a specific requirement for UV printing? Get in touch with the team at 01782 413789 or by email at info@qpsprint.co.uk
