(L-R) André Stutz, Marco Schuhmacher and Herbert Voser with their fourth VUTEk printer. 

Swiss-based richnerstutz ag has installed a VUTEk GS3250lx Pro, the company’s fourth VUTEk grand format printing system since 2005.

The company’s new printer is a hybrid machine with a 320 cm print width for flatbed and roll-to-roll printing. According to EFI it gives the ability to print faster with better quality and colour and at a higher resolution, while significantly reducing power consumption. At the same time, the company is also able to free up capacity on its five metre VUTEk press by moving roll-to-roll jobs up to 320 cm wide to the new VUTEk hybrid LED printer. 

‘We chose the new VUTEk hybrid LED printer because it gives us the latest technology, allowing us to deliver the best quality in our market and, therefore, increase our competitive edge,’ said joint managing director André Stutz. ‘Another reason for our decision was the ability to move narrower-width jobs off the five-metre machine so as not to interrupt the production of large-format jobs with smaller ones, which are now printed on the new machine.’ 

With the resolution of 1000 dpi and eight colour printing plus white over 110 msq/hr, the VUTEk printer produces up to 32 sheets in 120 x 240 cm format every hour in outstanding quality. 

‘Another important factor is that the new printer can be changed from roll-to-roll to flatbed printing in under two minutes,” said Stutz, “as well as the fact that you can print three layers really fast, laying colour, white then colour on top of each other in one pass.’ 

What he values most, however, is the ink curing using LED lamps at full print speed. Since the material does not get as warm and does not bend, transport is more reliable, the whole machine heats up less and the lamps save energy.

‘All in all, the VUTEk hybrid LED printer has given us high print quality and fast production as well as the ability to run both roll-to-roll and flatbed jobs, and, therefore, be extremely flexible in our production. Plus we get the reliability of VUTEk printers that we have come to know and appreciate over the last 10 years,’ said Mr Stutz.