HP Scitex FB6300, Scitex Vision VEEjet+

It is rare to see the Scitex Vision VEEjet at trade shows, so it was nice to see one at the Milan Visual Communications 2005 in Italy.

When people come to FLAAR to ask which UV-cured ink flatbed printer to buy, they usually ask our opinion on the Durst and Inca. At entry level they ask about the ColorSpan 72 UVR. Occasionally they ask about the Zund 215 or Vutek 200/600.

Because of its large size, the Scitex Vision VEEjet+ UV-cured ink flatbed printer has not been shown at most trade shows. It is either at an off-site demo center or otherwise elsewhere in the city, where we rarely have time to go. So the Scitex Vision VEEjet+ is the only wide format UV-cured inkjet flatbed printer on which no FLAAR Report exists.

At FESPA 2005 the printer was visible, but it was rarely printing, and when it was, it was we do not understand why it was so slow. So we spent the five days studying the Durst Rho 600, the Durst Rhopac, the exciting Thieme M Press, the innovative Agfa Anapurna 100 and Mutoh Cobra 100. There was even a 7-hour special press event by Durst so we had plenty of opportunity to learn about their printers: and both were printing full steam ahead, and fast. The Inca printers were fast also.

The Scitex Vision VEEjet+ UV-cured ink flatbed printer has not been shown at most trade shows. FESPA trade show, 2005.

In the future, if we have an opportunity to visit the Scitex Vision factory in Israel we hope to go. We have a high respect for Israeli produces such as Leaf cameras, Creo scanners, and HP Indigo printers. Besides, with our background in archaeology, Israel museums would be heavenly to visit.

But until we can make such a visit, we at least are adding this page, to indicate that we are aware of the good reputation of the Scitex brand name.

History of the Scitex Vision VEEjet

 It is not usually known that Scitex Vision was one of the pioneers of UV-curable inkjet printers, through buying technology from another company, Sias Digital. The current HP Scitex FB6300 VEEjet+ is the evolution from the earliest development of UV printer technology, years before Vutek had one, and years before Inca even existed.

Scitex VEEjet printer showing samples at FESPA trade show 2005.

Seemingly this early prototype was first offered to NUR, but in the 1990’s, no one felt that UV-curable inkjet would go anywhere. NUR turned down the opportunity at that point. Sias developed the printer, and the Scitex Vision VEEjet+ is the grandson, so to speak.

As a professor, I am keen on learning the history of UV-curable inkjet printing, and the Scitex Vision VEEjet is a key part of this early history. We are curious to see what will replace the venerable VEEjet in order to match the growing competition.

But if you are running a screen printing shop, a photo lab that has to make the switch to digital, a sign shop that is already switching to digital, or any large commercial  printing company, you face the need to decide whether to select the VEEjet+, a Vutek PressVu 200 or 320, a Durst Rho 600 or new 350R, an Inca Columbia Turbo, or, the Gandinnovations Jeti UV flatbed.

The Oce Arizona T220UV is out of the running; it was cancelled. The Zund 250 is out of the running for another six months: a re-launch has been postponed until later in 2006. If you are curious why, just order the FLAAR Reports on the Oce 220 and the FLAAR Reports on the Zund 250.

If you want to see the differences, pros and cons, capabilities and glitches of each one of the major industrial-strength production-capable UV flatbed printers, just look at everything FLAAR offers.

All in one place, over 53 publications on UV-curable flatbed printers. It is a challenge to keep up with all the new UV-cured inkjet printers, but whenever sponsored research funds become available, we do our best to add new titles. There are new UV printers from China and even a new UV printer from France.

Samples printed by the Scitex VEEjet printer.