Inkjet & Digital Printing
Screen Truepress Jet650UV Opens Up Opportunities for Automotive Instrument Panels and Gauges
Friday 19. June 2009 - The Screen Truepress Jet650UV offers the automotive industry substantial financial rewards and new levels of product performance. At NPE: The International Plastics Showcase, Screen (USA) will demonstrate how the Truepress Jet650UV can bring exceptional quality and print-on-demand efficiency to the production of instrument clusters and other dashboard graphics.
“The market for industrial printing continues to evolve, so new possibilities are constantly emerging,” observed Bill Brunone, Vice President of Targeted Inkjet Systems. “One manufacturing segment that is turning to digital ultraviolet inkjet printing is the automotive industry. Demand exists for fast turnaround of small-lot, high-quality printing of different versions of operation panels and gauges an objective that is difficult to achieve with traditional screen printing methods. The Truepress Jet650UV makes these products stand out from those of competitors while accommodating the shift to just-in-time, inventory-less production.”
The Truepress Jet650UV flatbed printing system is a new ultraviolet (UV) inkjet alternative to screen printing and pad printing in graphic manufacturing applications. Compared to current manufacturing equipment, the Truepress Jet650UV allows manufacturers to integrate outsourced processes directly into production lines, produce samples and custom designs, and print directly on components or parts. It delivers high-resolution, multicolor imaging on a wide range of substrates, including polycarbonate, a substrate used for many types of gauges.
The Truepress Jet650UV’s linear motor drive, unique multiple printhead array (up to 32 printheads can be installed) and high-powered UV light source combine to achieve the highest quality for an industrial printing system. The Truepress Jet650UV outputs up to 45 sheets per hour when printing on 17.7 x 23.6-inch polycarbonate sheets.
Fine lettering and lines and extremely accurate images are faithfully rendered thanks to the piezoelectric drop-on-demand inkjet heads and the maximum imaging resolution of 2,400 dpi x 2,400 dpi, the highest resolution available in an industrial inkjet printer. Newly developed screening technology ensures gradations of unprecedented vividness and precision.
Screen’s flexible UV inks provide superior vibrancy and deposit a thicker layer of print material than solvent-based inks. The inks exhibit strong opacity for gauge clusters that are backlit, but also can be controlled for unique shading and backlight gradations. The adhesion and appearance are maintained even after exposure to light and the elements. As a result, the Truepress Jet650UV also is ideal for printing instrumentation systems for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, water craft and snowmobiles.
Four process colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) plus the option of additional white, clear and black inks enable variable color density with high visual quality. Printing of white foundation allows for areas not printed in white to be illuminated.
“The Truepress Jet650UV increases productivity and reliability,” Brunone said. “The quick turnaround time is a huge benefit in the on-demand production environment. The ability to produce small runs in-house more economically opens up a world of possibilities.”
To see the Truepress Jet650UV demonstrated live printing instrument panels and other samples, visit the Screen (USA) booth #109054 at NPE 2009, June 22-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago.