 |
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||||||
Now renamed the Mimaki JF-1631 and Mimaki JF-1610 flatbed printer
The Mimaki JF-1631 and Mimaki JF-1610 are good examples of how a printer is improved through re-design as feedback comes in. The first model (the prototype, IPF 1326) had no cover (no hood) when first shown in spring 2006. Then when it was introduced to all European distributors and dealers during a two day gala event in The Netherlands, it had a hood, but there was still excessive light leak (from the UV lamps). Based on suggestions both from FLAAR (Nicholas Hellmuth was the featured speaker at this introduction), and from others attending this festive event, the hood and a few other aspects were redesigned. So since 2007 you see a more finished printer.
Our evaluation of the Mimaki JF-1631 and JF-1610 is based on all this experience with these printers, as well as comparisons with other flatbeds: it's an increasingly crowded market out there: Gandinnovations has two new flatbeds. Oce has its new Arizona 250 GT (but it has some serious potential health and safety issues, as you will see in the FLAAR Reports on this Oce printer). Then there is also the GRAPO Manta as well as all the Inca flatbeds: Spyder 150, Spyder 320, and Columbia Turbo.
And now all the Chinese flatbeds are coming, especially from Teckwin.
Mimaki JF-1631 and Mimaki JF-1610 flatbed printer continue to have minor issues
Most of the people in the industry that speak about the Mimaki JF-1631 are surprised about the number of issues that affect the Mimaki JF-1631. I continue to be disappointed as each year there are still issues (still into 2008). We are in the process of updating the FLAAR Reports to comment on the problems.
To have problems over 18 months after a printer was launched is not usual. Now I am receiving a list of issues with an early model Mimaki 605C flatbed (one installed in Australia). If the Screen TruePress Jet650UV or Lotte InnoJet UV900 or RasterPrinters dedicated flatbed Daytona T600 turn out to have zero problems, then these flatbeds will be worth considering if their smaller size is what you need for your applications.
At the larger size, the Gandinnovations Jeti 1224 flatbed UV-curable printer is selling well; the Oce Arizona 250 GT has sold over 600 units (before ISA 2008, by summer 2008 Oce will have sold over 700 units and by after DRUPA probably over 800 units).
I would be surprised if Mimaki has sold over 200 units of the JF-1631 and the number may be actually half of that. The Gerber ion has pre-sold over 240 units before it is even available!
Since Mimaki is a respected Japanese inkjet printer engineering company with many years experience, since their managers both in US and European offices are fully capable, the issues and low sales of their flatbed are a surprise. FLAAR hopes the JF-1631 has been re-designed, or replaced by a newer design, and that someday we can inspect it in a demo room to document its improvements.
It will also be essential to find a printshop somewhere that has the Mimaki JF-1631, and do a site-visit case study. I have undertaken site-visit case studies of many Gandinnovations Jeti flatbed printers, indeed there are several in Guatemala that I hope to document this summer.
I have been to the Gandy factory once already and am abut to return a second time. You can download the FLAAR Reports on our UV printer factory visits; it's a free download.
Surprise at IPEX '06 trade show in England, Mimaki IPF 1326
Thanks to observant colleagues who attended IPEX '06 we have plenty of photos of the new Mimaki IPF 1326 from where it was first introduced.
So far the Mimaki IPF 1326 did not appeared for public view at ISA 2006. But the Mimaki JV5 was being shown, as well as the Roland Advanced Jet, AJ-1000.
Later during ISA we found that the Mimaki IPF 1326 was not in the booth, but instead was in a private back room. The next day Mimaki invited us to view the printer.
Then a few weeks later, at FESPA Digital trade show in Amsterdam, the printer was shown in the booth, so it was easier to photograph. Since then we have seen the Mimaki IPF 1326 (and its new names, Mimaki JF-1631 and Mimaki JF1610 flatbed printer) at SGIA and at Sign Spain (Madrid 2006). The IPF 1326 was the name used only for the prototype.
FLAAR already has a Report ready, and is already in the process of updating it with additional notes from FESPA, such as the brand of printheads used to obtain such high quality output.
 |
 |
Most recently updated March 18, 2008.
First posted April 6, 2006. Updated May 30, 2006 , Aug. 24, 2006, Oct. 30, 2006.
 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Dilli NeoPlus |
| HP Scitex XP5100 and HP Scitex XP5300 |
| HP Scitex XP2100 and HP Scitex XP2700 |
| HP Scitex FB6100 |
| L&P Spuhl RS |
| Sun FastJet |
| RIP Software |
|---|
| Caldera RIP software |
Interesting inks & Alternative Inks |
HP latex ink |
UV-Curable ink, OEM (in preparation) |
UV-Curable, third-party ink |
| Encres Dubuit (others in preparation) |
Fine Art Photography Giclee & Proofing (on other FLAAR sites)
|
Epson 4880 |
Epson 7880 |
Epson 9880 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most of our updates for 2008 onward are in FLAAR Reports in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. It is more efficient for us to make new information available in PDF format. So if the web page itself is not updated, check out www.wide-format-printers.NET to see if the printer, RIP, or other subject is covered in an update in a PDF download.
|