Yes, You Can Print on That!

Print service providers (PSPs) look too wide format flatbed printers for a variety of applications that require the ability to print directly onto rigid substrates, at production speeds, and in high quality. However, recently, smaller format UV flatbed printers have gained attention among wide-format professionals.

These devices tend to offer a minimized footprint, lower investment cost, and support thicker materials, enabling them to print to objects like phone cases and golf balls. They are also enticing for industrial environments enabling mechanical components printing.

Flatbed Potential

Smaller UV flatbed devices are attractive to a variety of printing and manufacturing environments. They appeal to those already providing wide format printing as a way to add services and revenue potential.

Printing on custom products is an endless opportunity and could be anything from book covers to metal bicycle parts. Adding a flatbed UV printer could really open up some new doors and help increase profits.

The public’s increasing desire to personalize just about everything is translating into nearly unlimited growth opportunities for on-demand printing onto an ever-widening range of items. More businesses use these printers for custom printing accessories, products, and gifts.

Smaller formats like desktop UV LED flatbed printers to offer a wider range of materials to print on and bring print providers opportunities to capture new customers in new markets where they may not be playing with their current print technology.

The wide-format market can leverage smaller, tabletop UV LED printers for many aspects including prototyping and testing. They can use it to maximize profits on short-run projects or offer products to existing customers that they can’t do on the wide-format machines, like ADA/Braille signage and water bottles.

These units only need a small workspace area and can be placed in an office environment, requiring no special room or electrical requirements. Additionally, the operational learning curve is short, as they tend to fit well into existing workflows. Depending on the product mix, the supplies inventory—such as rigid media and even inks—may overlap, so there may be no additional investment required in this area.

Wide-format PSPs more than likely look to adding traditional flatbed printers for the ability to handle large sheets. Smaller tabletop machines are used in the promotional products market segment where items are smaller and require fixtures for registration purposes. These are also becoming popular with the traditional screen and pad printers as it gives them the ability to print four-color efficiently and run small jobs with variable text economically.

While wide-format printers focus on productivity, smaller flatbeds are more focused on flexibility and functionality, like better control of UV curing and pinning for spot glossy effects or layered printing.

Ink Sets

Due to the range of substrates and items these devices print on, the ink set is critical. The UV inks offered in these machines don’t differ all that much—if at all—from traditional wide-format UV inks.

Many UV inks are classified as hard or soft. Soft inks allow more flexibility after curing and are less prone to cracking under stress. Hard inks provide the best adhesion and abrasion resistance once cured, however, they are not designed to be highly flexible. For markets that smaller format printers service, a hybrid ink with the best properties of both hard and soft inks is utilized

Green believes UV inks are good for hard surfaces that need a strong bond.

The chemistry of the inks are similar to those found in a traditional wide format flatbed printer, but the lamps used by the bigger wide format devices are much larger and more intense.

Cost is another consideration that affects specialty uses like white ink and textured printing. Ink costs vary depending on coverage, profile, and image type. A liter of ink will last a long time with these machines because the print sizes are generally a lot smaller.

Time equals money. Having the ability to print onto the finished product far outweighs the difference in cost compared to traditional solvent ink costs. UV ink becomes a production tool. Add the special effects like gloss ink, and your final UV printed products end up being dramatically more profitable then solvent output.

New Revenue Opportunity

For a minimal investment in training and floor space, PSPs consider adding smaller UV flatbed printing devices for the ability to effectively print onto a wider range of substrates, including objects like cell phone cases, golf balls, and awards.