Each year more digital printing shops are experimenting with flatbed printers and discovering some of the advantages they offer. From faster printing times to improved image quality, flatbed printers are continuing to allow shops to expand their business for both established markets and markets that are normally reserved for other production methods. A continually growing range of substrates are compatible with flatbed printers, which naturally increases the types of projects a digital printing shop can undertake, and many shops using this technology are pleased with the results and the increased business. 

 

Displays are a popular application for flatbed printers. Photo courtesy of Source One Digital.

SOURCE ONE DIGITAL

For the last 16 years, Source One Digital, a full-service print shop in Norton Shores, Mich., has been in the digital printing business, where flatbed applications have been a large portion of its work, says President Randy Crow. Point-of-purchase displays, menu boards, museum graphics and fine art are all popular applications for Source One Digital’s two Jeti flatbed printers with 48 print head configurations. 

 

Crow especially likes using flatbed printers because of the dimension they give the final products. By layering the flatbed products that have been cut by a router, Source One Digital can create 3-D displays with multiple-tiered images, which are popular for retailers and other specialty applications. 

 

“Flatbed printers add a lot of impact to the graphics because of the dimension,” Crow says. “That dimension really gives it a ‘wow’ factor.”

 

Flatbed printers also have increased in speed over the past several years, and this has been a large advantage for Source One Digital. To print on a 4' x 8' substrate, some older flatbed printers took about 15-16 minutes per board; however, the new flatbed printers on the market can print that same sheet in under a minute, Crow says, which makes Source One Digital more competitive.

 

“The more speed you gain, the more efficient you become,” Crow says. “You’re printing more per hour on your machine, so then you can be more competitive on your costs; you’re not trying to pass that cost along to just one customer.”

 

Because of the direct-to-print nature of flatbed printers, there is no need to mounting or other extra steps. Photo courtesy of Source One Digital.

This flatbed application is a replica of stone for the building materials industry. Photos courtesy of Brilliant Graphics Group.

As Source One Digital continues to grow, Crow expects flatbed printers to continue to be a large portion of his shop’s business. White ink is especially becoming a more popular feature for his flatbed printers, one of which will help direct future applications. 

 

“They’ve come a long ways with white ink, and the new inks that we’re testing that are out there are getting better,” Crows says. “I think that’s the future.”

 

BRILLIANT GRAPHICS GROUP

Brilliant Graphics Group, a large-format digital printing company in Pittsfield, Mass., was first established to support its parent company, Sampco Companies, which specializes in developing marketing and sales tools for the building materials industry, says CEO Michael O. Ryan. In addition to creating marketing tools for this industry, Brilliant Graphics Group also provides other traditional signage and point-of-purchase displays, and these are often produced on the shop’s Durst Rho 800 flatbed printer. 

 

One of the major benefits of flatbed printing is its direct-to-substrate quality, Ryan says. By printing directly to the substrate, there is no need to worry about cutting and mounting. Time and labor costs are both cut, which allows for a more affordable, streamlined option. 

 

“Digital printing eliminated the need and expense of film separations, thus enabling us to print high-quality, full-color images directly to substrates,” Ryan says. “Being able to print directly to the substrates allows for many unique displays, P.O.S., signage and event graphics applications. One, few or high-volume runs can be produced cost effectively and efficiently.”

 

Flatbed printers have become faster over the years, which increases a shop’s efficiency. Photo courtesy of Source One Digital.

Museum displays often use flatbed printers. Photos courtesy of Source One Digital.

With flatbed printers, it’s important to keep a maintenance schedule, Ryan says, which includes daily cleanings. The print heads can easily become clogged, leading to a poor image quality and breakage. Replacing print heads is expensive, and it’s not a problem you want to deal with when a quick maintenance check can prevent the issue. 

 

“It becomes frustrating if the jets are misfiring or firing at angles that cause the print quality to degrade, which puts you in a position of having to determine whether to purchase a new print head,” says Mike Elrod, general manager at Brilliant Graphics Group. “Keeping those heads clean and all those jets firing is paramount in terms of maintenance.”

 

For Brilliant Graphics Group, the flatbed printer will likely continue to play a large role in the future, Elrod says. Brilliant Graphics Group’s flatbed printer is in constant use, and Elrod doesn’t see that going away anytime soon.

 

“It’s become a stable product line, and I’m sure we’ll continue to invest,” Elrod says. “We find we use it almost daily.”

 

RUSH GRAPHICS

Rush Graphics, a creative and printing solutions firm in Hawthorn, N.J., has spent the last 26 years focusing on graphic design, packaging design and prototyping, and digital printing, all with an artistic twist, says President Zora Kassaii.

 

To constantly create high-quality prints, daily maintenance is necessary. Photo courtesy of Source One Digital.

“We have an artistic background,” Kassaaii says. “I’m always looking for the unique substrates because of that. Flatbed printers are a wonderful application because you can make a photo print on rigid substrates that are 2½ inches thick. They’re easy to operate, and the quality is much better than other large printers for this size in this category we’re talking about.”

 

Considering Rush Graphics’ background with artistic applications, the shop is constantly exploring new ways to create unique projects with its HP 64-inch flatbed printer, Kassaii says. The interior design market, in particular, is an industry that Rush Graphics serves with its flatbed printer. Granite, tile and glass are all substrates that are popular in the interior design market, and Rush Graphics has even printed on tabletops for a unique, customized look. 

 

When looking into Rush Graphics’ future, Kassaii believes her flatbed printer is an important element to success. Today’s economy is tough, and diversifying Rush Graphics’ targeted demographics is a major key to success. 

 

“The flatbed printer brings in new people, and that is very important to me in this market,” Kassaii says. “I’m trying to offer services so I can attract new people and different environments.”