Digital inkjet roll-to-roll UV LED printers from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. continue to deliver innovations for superwide-format graphics production printing, and they have now achieved an important certification for the quality and durability of prints used for décor applications. EFI roll-to-roll UV LED printers have earned a Type II certification for wallcoverings based on The Wallcovering Association W-101 and ASTM F793 standards.
Wallcoverings submitted to gain the certification were printed and tested on the 20 oz. DreamScape line of wallcovering base material from Rockaway, N.J-based Roysons. The Type II certification is an indicator for quality, safety and durability of wallcoverings and, unlike other Type II certifications for digital inkjet printers, EFI’s new certification covers wallcoverings produced without lamination or coating.
“These certifications should assure print service providers that the product they can produce meets all of the critical regulatory aspects of a true commercial wallcovering,” said Roy Ritchie, Jr., president of DreamScape. “In addition, EFI customers who print on DreamScape base wallcoverings can enjoy increased efficiency and productivity, since they do not require the additional step of coating or lamination to reach this level of durability. DreamScape has worked closely with EFI for several years and it is easy to recommend their advanced and versatile roll-to-roll machines.”
EFI’s new Type II certification applies to EFI’s extensive portfolio of UV LED roll-to-roll printers – including the EFI Pro 32r+, and VUTEk 3r+/5r+, D3r/D5r, and new Q3r/Q5r printers. The wallcoverings were tested for durability and tear resistance; scrubbability and washability; colour fastness; Class A fire retardancy and safety; and more.
Along with the Type II certification, EFI roll-to-roll digital UV LED printers also received the Class A fire rating according to The Wallcovering Association’s evaluation and ASTM E84.
“There has been a rise in popularity for wallcoverings and interior décor applications these last years, which for us is an exciting trend as we offer a wide range of products for that growing market with our roll-to-roll UV LED printers,” said Hanan Yosefi, vice president, EFI Inkjet Israel. “This certification proves once again EFI’s approach to delivering the best to the market – giving its customers the ability to produce a wide range of challenging applications with the highest print quality at the lowest cost of production.”
The Type II designation and existing UL GREENGUARD Gold certifications for select inks make EFI roll-to-roll solutions ideal for wallcoverings, décor and other indoor applications. These certifications complement each other and provide a complete picture of certification covering the performance, safety and durability of indoor applications.
EFI offers a wide range of roll-to-roll printers, available for customers at the lower-, mid- and higher-volume end of the signage and display graphics market. EFI roll-to-roll printers can deliver up to nine colors, feature a true resolution of up to 1,200 dots per inch and EFI UltraDrop™ Technology with native 7-picoliter printheads with multi-drop addressability for high-definition image quality with outstanding smoothness in shadows, gradients and transitions, as well as precise and sharp size text. The line-up of EFI roll-to-roll printers covers a broad range of production needs, with the most productive solution in the portfolio, the EFI VUTEk Q5r, capable of printing up to 7,233 square feet (672 square meters) per hour.
The roll-to-roll printers’ UV LED curing ensures not only cost savings, but also a more environmentally friendly printing solution, consuming less energy and enabling the use of thinner, lower cost substrates. The printers also feature EFI’s “Power Tool” options for advanced productivity and capabilities, including in-line quality inspection, in-line slitting and cutting, roll and tape collection, auto-calibration, automated backlit printing, automated blockout printing and much more.
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