Consumables
Mimaki and 3M announce Cooperation on UV printing solutions
Wednesday 09. July 2008 - At drupa in Düsseldorf (May 29th to June 11th, 2008) Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd. and the 3M Company have developed a new range of UV inks for UV printing.
Mimaki Engineering, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and cutting machines for the Sign / Graphics, Industrial markets, and Textile / Apparel, and 3M jointly announce their cooperation on the development of new ranges of UV inks for the UV printing market.
For over twenty years 3M and Mimaki Engineering have enjoyed a fruitful strategic relationship and have now jointly developed a new range of inks. 3M vinyl print media has been an important supporter of the best selling Mimaki printers JV3 and now the award winning JV33 wide format solvent inkjet printers. Many independent and franchise sign shops, as well as specialty graphics producers rely on the 3M media and JV series (solvent) products for their day to day business. However, both companies anticipate a shift toward UV printing for various applications such as POP, print on clear and metallic substrates, textiles, rigid materials, as well as vehicle graphics.
Mimaki has developed the new hybrid UJV-160 UV LED printer. Its groundbreaking technology puts the company in the vanguard of large format printer suppliers employing this technology. Likewise 3M is in the leading position for developing these inks which will be employed in the UJV-160 printer.
3M is going to provide their 3M MCS Warranty. It covers 3M media and the finished graphics for the stated durability period when used as recommended by 3M including solutions for inkjet printed, screen printed, electrostatically printed, and cut film graphics. Mimaki is therefore now a partner with 3M on all three levels of warranty: 3M Basic Product Warranty, 3M Performance Guarantee and now also 3M MCS Warranty.
“Mimaki feels that as the wide format printing industry becomes more environmentally aware of the benefits of the new jointly developed UV inks, the UV roll-to-roll and flatbed machine market increases.”, says Akira Ikeda, President Mimaki Engineering. “This relationship benefits the user by providing key quality and enhanced performance.”
“3M is excited to work with Mimaki and is proud to apply our industry-leading UV ink and film technologies to Mimakis expanded line of hybrid printers. More importantly, we believe this partnership will enhance UV and graphic solutions for our customers and the graphics industry.” says Mark Schaeffer, Technical Director, 3M Commercial Graphics Division.