KEY INNOVATION STORIES
Transforming Product Customisation
Transforming Product Customisation
Difficult to imagine in today’s world where printing capabilities are almost endless, but initially product customisation was a challenging and costly endeavour. Requiring expensive, energy and time-consuming processes, one-off personalised printed goods and promotional items were just not sustainable – especially for small companies with more limited resources.
Steps to achieving customisation
Mimaki had already been expanding application possibilities for achieving customisation with both industrial and promotional applications, namely with the release of its UJF-605C, the world’s first printer with UV-curable white ink in 2004. Bypassing the extra steps usually required to print in white, efficient flatbed UV printing was now possible on dark and non-white materials – and even non-paper ones too. Additionally, UV curable inks allowed for layering due to its quick drying capabilities help to create a unique 3D or textured effect.
Building on the momentum of previous innovations, Mimaki saw that the next step was to create operationally efficient solutions adept at short runs, especially as concerns around sustainability were emerging. Existing technologies, such as offset and screen printing, often required bulk orders due to high setup costs, in addition to significant energy consumption. Offset printing, for example, needs metal plates and test runs, while screen printing requires separate stencils for each colour—both making small batches impractical.
The Mimaki UJF-3042
So, in 2010, Mimaki democratised customisation with the world’s first cost-efficient UV LED flatbed inkjet printer, the UJF-3042. UV-LED flatbed printing eliminated those inefficiencies by enabling on-demand production, reducing waste at every stage while offering greater flexibility when it comes to operation and applications available. With this more accessible technology on the market, both large and small businesses could now print on-demand, reducing overproduction and excessive wastage of material and inks.
Not only did this have a significant impact on expanding businesses’ offerings to personalised items, but it allowed companies to operate more sustainably and efficiently. Minimum order quantities were a thing of the past, meaning that businesses were not left with excess stock and unsold items on their hands. In the promotional sector, this development meant that customers no longer had to look for companies far and wide to produce personalised items, with local printers offering localised production, minimising transportation costs and emissions.
Keeping a personal touch in print
Mimaki’s early innovation and adoption of UV technology – particularly UV flatbed technology – helped pave the way for today’s extensive and efficient printing workflows. The UJF Series continues to this day, with the latest desktop range, the UJF-MkII e Series, offering a high performance UV-LED printer, which can be easily automated to reduce downtime and operate more efficiently.
Innovation for all is still key, and so, seeing the success of UV LED technology for product customisation, Mimaki introduced it into its large format product line too. As Mimaki’s latest large format UV-LED printers, the JFX600 and the recently-launched JFX200-1213 EX, offer high, competitive performance in a large and compact flatbed machine respectively. The unique layered printing capabilities introduced by the UJF-605C continues into many of Mimaki’s large format printers, with the JFX Series able to print 2.5D textured effects.
Mimaki Inks are GREENGUARD GOLD Certified
With innovation in sustainability not only reserved to the printers themselves, Mimaki’s UV inks have also achieved the GREENGUARD Gold certification. This means that they fulfil the strict requirements to improve environmental impact.
The UJF MkII e Series: Create Your World
The enhanced UJF-3042 / 6042MkII e series allows customers to choose their preferred print surface size, print head configurations, ink types and ink configurations. This makes the e series ideal for companies that want to start with personalisation printing or simply expand their existing offerings.
Add 360-degree printing capability to your UJF Series printers and expand your product range to include applications like tumblers, bottles, cylindrical packaging, and more!
The JFX200-1213 EX: Our latest UV flatbed printer
The JFX200-1213 EX is a high-performance flatbed UV printer designed for businesses needing compact size without compromising productivity. It offers top-class printing speeds of up to 25m2/h in the mid-size flatbed range, significantly outpacing its competitors.
The JFX200-1213 EX also supports 2.5D embossed printing, creating textured, raised effects on prints, adding depth and tactile appeal to designs. With easy media loading and bi-directional Braille printing capabilities, the JFX200-1213 EX enhances versatility and ease of use, providing a reliable and efficient printing solution.
Mimaki is Transforming Product Customisation
UV printing remains a key solution for the industrial sector, meeting the demand for customisation and efficiency, while also offering a sustainable workflow with significantly reduced energy and wastage. Mimaki continue to be committed to driving innovation in this space, ensuring new solutions stay at the forefront of both technology and environmental responsibility.
Mimaki’s Print Different campaign traces Mimaki’s past, present and future of innovation and transformation across the past 50 years, to build a more sustainable and forward-thinking printing industry. Click here to read more about what Mimaki is doing for the Sign Graphics and Textile sector.
What Sustainability Means To Us
Innovation
Developing solutions that minimise environmental impact.
Operation
Implementing policies that improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Community
Supporting our communities to create positive social impact.
Ready to print different?
Connect with our experts to discover how Mimaki’s sustainable printing solutions can help transform your business. Whether you’re looking to reduce water use, cut energy consumption, or minimize waste, we’re here to help.
