Global printing industry leader Inkcups announced the release of its newest product, the Helix Hi-Fi, a 7-colour rotary digital printer that delivers photorealistic skin-tone matching with the addition of three new colour pockets.
The Helix Hi-Fi is an evolution of the Inkcups Helix, the industry’s best-selling printer in its class. In addition to Helix’s standard CMYKWV, the Helix Hi-Fi has three additional colours: light cyan, light magenta and light black. While the standard Helix already delivers the best image quality in the industry, the addition of the light colours brings output quality to a new level. The benefits are most dramatic in printing skin tones where true photorealistic images are generated with smoother shade transitions, less graininess, and higher-resolution edge effects.
The Helix Hi-Fi’s unique skin-tone matching function is increasingly in demand for personalised printing, which often requires one-off production of facial images. Helix Hi-Fi can import a series of unique image files and produce high-resolution printed products of stunning quality. Typical applications include personalised images on glass candle holders, drinkware including stemless wine glasses, stainless steel tumblers, pint glasses and many more.
Ideal for promotional and retail markets, the Helix Hi-Fi prints multi-colour graphics on straight-walled cylinders, tapers, and objects with limited wall curvatures. The system features a built-in programmable tilt to reduce change-over time and eliminate the need to optimise print recipes for each SKU change. The Helix Hi-Fi uses UV LED ink and prints 360 degrees with a maximum resolution of 1200 dpi. The machine’s printable area is 8.6 inches (218 mm); the system can print on items up to 12 inches (305 mm) in length with a diameter ranging from 2-5 inches (51-127 mm).
The Helix Hi-Fi is delivered as a turnkey package that includes software to integrate with web-based production solutions, as well as Inkcups world-class InkcupCare warranty and service coverage. The company offers multiple pre-treatment options (including newly released MagiCoat), inks and other supplies, along with application testing and sample prints upon request. Metals, glass, plastics, and ceramics are all validated for image durability from handling and washing.
“The Helix Hi-Fi is unmatched in price and performance,” said Ben Adner, CEO of Inkcups. “The addition of these three inks is a game changer for customers looking to achieve high-quality personalised results. Inkcups has always had a strong business with promotional printing, and we are pleased to lead the industry in the personalisation category.”
