Inkjet Wholesale News aims to provide updates on the latest significant occurrences in the field of printing. Whether it’s the launch of a new technology or volatility of market prices, we’ll be here to give you the lowdown on what happened, when it happened, and what it means!
OEM Introduces Mimaki JFX200-2531 Dual Flatbed Printer To As an Upgrade to JFX200-2513
Even though we don’t report on Mimaki so much on this blog, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) still has a lot of clout in the professional printing sector. Last time, we reported on Mimaki was in February, this year, when they launched their TS500P-3200 super wide format printer. We’re going to correct the said oversight here today.
The company, last month, announced the release of Mimaki JFX200-2531 dual-bed UV-LED flatbed printer. The new printer is designed to be an upgrade on the OEM’s much appreciated JFX200-2513. The Mimaki JFX200-2531 is an upgrade on the earlier model because it doubles the print area available to the users. With two beds being available for use simultaneously and independently, users will be able to boost their productivity considerably. For example, since the two flatbeds are independent, users can continue printing on one while preparing the other for a fresh print task.
Moreover, this also means that users will no longer have to stop the printing process for the mundane tasks of loading and unloading the flatbed. Along with the two independent flatbeds, the Mimaki JFX200-2531 also boasts of two independent vacuum pump systems. These systems make it possible for operators to use the printer for printing multiple small pre-cut pieces, multiple jigs, and two separate 4 foot by 8-foot boards. Furthermore, the 10-foot flatbed can also support oversized sheets measuring nearly 250 cm wide, 310 cm long, and 5 cm thick.
There are a number of other features of the Mimaki JFX200-2531 designed to boost efficiency and productivity as well. There is an ioniser bar whose purpose is to augment image quality as well as minimise static electricity. Along with this, the Mimaki JFX200-2531 is free from media alignment issues at the two origin points owing to its threaded layout pins. Another highlight of this flatbed printer is that it is based on UV-LED lamps. The UV-LED lamps don’t only save resources by requiring less energy and prolong their life by reduced wear and tear but also allow heat sensitive substrates to be printed.
The Mimaki JFX200-2531 is also a versatile UV-LED flatbed printer because it can work with a wide variety of Mimaki ink sets including LUS-350 ink for higher elongation-dependent thermoforming applications, LUS-200 ink for highly flexible outdoor applications, LUS-150 ink for a balance of flexibility and adhesion, and LH-100 ink for applications where high chemical and scratch resistance are critical.
As can be expected, the OEM has incorporated its proprietary core technologies into the Mimaki JFX200-2531. These include their Nozzle Recovery System, the Mimaki Circulation Technology, Waveform Control, and the Mimaki Advanced Pass System. The purpose of the Nozzle Recovery System is to counter increased production costs and reduced efficiency levels caused by nozzle outages. The Mimaki Circulation Technology ensures that white ink is in continuous circulation through the printing system so as to reduce the frequency of manual maintenance and keep wastage in check.
Waveform Control is a highly advanced technology that ensures high quality, resource optimised images even at lower resolutions. It achieves these goals by ensuring the use of refined frequencies determined on the basis of every ink type’s specific viscosity and gravity. Refined frequencies allow accurate shaping and placing of ink droplets. The Mimaki Advanced Pass System prevents banding in images by utilising a unique and advanced algorithm pattern. This system is even effective at high print speeds especially since it is supplemented by variable dot printing.
Finally, it is worth noting that the Mimaki JFX200-2531 ships with its two flatbeds separated into four components so as to ensure minimal fuss and hassle at the time of installation. Installing wide-format printers can often be challenging owing to their dimensions but separating the larger flatbeds can help resolve such challenges. The Mimaki JFX200-2531 has been made available to potential buyers, starting this month, through the OEM’s authorised representatives.
HP To Face Two Different Lawsuits Revolving Around Consumer Protection Laws
There’s a lot of hullaballoo surrounding HP Inc. right now. For a long while, everything was hunky-dory and all anyone could talk about was the rosy revival of the OEM. However, all that changed recently as the OEM tried to enforce its own brand of justice against aftermarket cartridge manufacturers. As explained in our last post, the OEM snuck in HP firmware updates that shut down all printers using aftermarket cartridges, whether generic or remanufactured. The firmware updates were implemented in two forms i.e. software updates via the internet and hidden time bombs in newer printer purchases. They resulted in the error message, “Cartridge Problem. The following ink cartridges appear to be missing or damaged. Replace the cartridges and resume printing.”
Needless to say, these updates caused a lot of furore amongst HP printer users with countless negative social media updates and forum comments. There were even threats from various quarters of lawsuits revolving around consumer protection laws. Now, one of those threats has materialised in form of a lawsuit from a leading US law firm called Heninger Garrison Davis LLC. The allegation from Heninger Garrison Davis is that the OEM was in violation of US antitrust laws as well as consumer protection laws by ensuring that its printers fail while using non-HP cartridges through a “preset failure date”.
Heninger Garrison Davis in its press release has also claimed that apart from harming the end user, HP’s move has resulted in significant financial damage to aftermarket cartridge manufacturers and sellers. Since the update, consumers have, en masse, returned their generic cartridges. Moreover, all generic cartridges meant for HP printers that have already been manufactured also amount to significant financial damage for the manufacturers.
What is notable is that this case is going to be decided on the interpretation of the aforementioned laws because HP Inc. has already admitted to implementing the said “preset failure date” so as “to protect HP’s innovations and intellectual property”.
In a separate case, HP Inc. has been sued again by a California consumer, Anthony Fehrenbach, for misleading and false advertising. The class action lawsuit from Fehrenbach revolves around “substantial financial injury” caused by HP’s advertisement of HP Smart Install feature. Fehrenbach claims that HP falsely advertised that the Smart Install feature will be installed automatically via the internet.
Instead, Fehrenbach says that the OEM ended up benefiting illegally since the advertisement made him buy the printer. Furthermore, according to Fehrenbach, the company also benefited from the sale of the HP Smart Install Feature post purchase of the printer in question. The case has been filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of California.
Mimaki screwed us out of our rebates! Dealer no help.