Gandinnovations Jeti 3348 and 5048 JetSpeed

I saw the output at 1-pass mode. Very nice a year ago, when there were not so many other roll-to-roll printers. Today in 2009, a lot has changed since these Gandinnovations roll to roll printers were launched to catch up and try to match the success of the NUR Expedio.

In theory you can dial out the banding that results from feeding discrepancies. The print path looks like it's about 5 inches deep with each print pass.

At 2-pass mode the output is even better, but for billboards, an adjusted 1-pass mode is the desired goal. But I would want to interview end-users in actual printshop production to see how this printer actually functions out in the real world. A trade show booth is not a realistic demo, but it does get an initial impression. This printer can print on canvas, vinyl, polyester and other banner, billboard, and building-wrap materials.

Here is the Gandinnovations Jeti 3348 JetSpeed printer at factory visit 2008.

Gandinnovations Jeti 3348 JetSpeed roll to roll UV-curable inkjet printer

Now that it has been possible to test this printer at the factory there is a FLAAR Reports on the 3348 JetSpeed. Originally this was called the JetStream, but when it was formally launched it was named the JetSpeed.

The Gandinnovations 3348 JetSpeed roll-to-roll UV printing samples at ISA trade show 2009.

Basic information of the Gandinnovations 3348 UV JetSpeed roll to roll.

This is mainly competition for the NUR Expedio printers which are now rebranded by Hewlett-Packard.

HP Scitex XP5300 = NUR Expedio Revolution 5m,

HP Scitex XP5100 = NUR Expedio,

HP Scitex XP2700 = NUR Expedio Inspiration,

HP Scitex XP2100 = NUR Expedio 3200

The HP Scitex XL2200, that was shown at SGIA '08, has issues with its X2 MEMS printheads and was withdrawn by HP.

Another newer printer that is available is the Matan Barak 3000 and Barak 5000 (now called the Matan Barak3 and Matan Barak5).

The dedicated roll-to-roll Durst Rho 351R UV printer is for a different market than these billboard printers, as is the Durst Rho 320R (for backlit quality, for example). A new contender in this space for sophistication and precision will be the WP Digital Virtu RR50, the new version of the Spuhl Virtu RR50. The WP Digital printer is being launched Feb. 26 and 27 in Wittenback. FLAAR will be there for several days to take notes.

VUTEk's roll-to-roll UV printer, QS3200r, turned out to be an adaptation of existing platforms rather than an innovative new platform that I had hoped to see, so has not sold as well when compared with the NUR Expedio, Durst Rho or the Gandinnovations models. But now VUTEk has come out with another competitor, the GS5000r. At both ISA '09 and FESPA Digital 2009, the EFI VUTEk booth was of substantial size.

Here is Nicholas Hellmuth inspecting the Gandinnovations 3348 JetSpeed at factory visit in Canada, 2008.

Plus the JetSpeed 3348 or 5024 now have a gradient mask feature to improve print quality at high speeds.

The printer is available in several iterations:

3348 Galaxy RTR

3348 JetSpeed RTR

5024 Galaxy RTR

5024 JetSpeed RTR

5048 JetSpeed XL

Until it is realistic to have a site-visit case study, there is no FLAAR recommendation on these printers because we need to check on tech support after all the corporate downsizing during 2009. The manufacturer has gone through several changes during the world economic crisis, and it is best to check to see how this has impacted each company.

Comparative comments on 5-meter roll-to-roll grand format UV-curable printers

Today, in summer 2009 you have several more 5-meter UV-curable roll-to-roll printers to consider: Durst Rho 500R, WP Digital RR50, and VUTEk GS5000r.

I have visited the factory of WP Digital RR50 north of Zurich twice and inspected this Swiss-made roll to roll printer during its InHouse launch in February 2009.

The Durst Rho 500R will be inspected at the factory in Brixen, South Tirol during summer 2009. The FLAAR Report on the Rho 5-meter roll to roll will be available within two weeks after the visit.

 

 

Most recently updated June 17, 2009.