Electronics For Imaging Inc. (EFI) has announced the availability of two more next-generation printers in its Wide Format Pro Series portfolio. Designed to help sign and display graphics producers be more competitive and grow their businesses, the EFI Pro 16h+ hybrid LED printer and the EFI Pro 30f+ flatbed LED printer deliver high-quality imaging at production speeds and even more printing capabilities — all with a low total cost of ownership (TCO).

The 65-inch EFI Pro 16h+ hybrid flatbed/roll-fed LED printer offers image quality with resolutions up to 1,200 dpi and true variable drop grayscale printing with a 5pL drop size, and production-level printing up to 50% faster than the Pro 16h printer. Production quality printing, new front and back media pressure rollers for handling a wider range of media, semicontinuous board feeding, an advanced, four chamber media-platen vacuum system with independent power controls for efficient media hold down and easy transition between jobs, and an embedded Fiery proServer Core digital front end with FAST RIP acceleration technology make it ideal for higher-demand, faster job turn environments.

The Pro 16h+ printer features LED curing technology and comes with CYMK plus two white ink channels and up to five-layer printing in any color in a single pass, expanding the range of applications that can be produced at a low cost to manufacture.

The new EFI Pro 30f+ flatbed LED printer also offers outstanding image quality with resolutions up to 1,200 dpi and true variable drop grayscale printing with a 5pL drop size and achieves speeds up to 25% faster than the original Pro 30f printer, significantly accelerating operations. Its large bed size with a printable area of 120-by-80 inches and bleed printing, the ability to print on media up to 4 inches thick, CMYK plus white ink, and up to five-layer printing in a single pass allows users to print more applications at a lower cost per print. It also ships with an embedded Fiery proServer Core.

"These launches represent a significant milestone for EFI," said Ken Hanulec, vice president of worldwide marketing, EFI. "The Pro+ Series printers, in addition to the next-generation Pro 33r roll-to-roll LED printer launched earlier this year, raise the bar for entry-level, wide-format, production-level printing and empower our customers to be more profitable. The Pro 16h+ and Pro 30f+ printers not only meet the current demands of the market, but also anticipate future needs, providing our customers with the tools to grow and innovate in a competitive landscape."

New EFI ProGraphics+ Inks for Higher Performance

EFI has also rolled out new high-performance ProGraphics+ Series LED inks for the EFI Pro+ Series printers. Custom-formulated, tested and optimized for the new printers' Ricoh Gen6 printheads, the inks offer enhanced adhesion, elongation and water resistance, while maintaining the same surface cure as the ProGraphics POP UV inks. EFI ProGraphics+ inks eliminate the need to purge or wipe printheads between jobs due to their remarkable open time and increase uptime and reliability through improved jetting performance.

The Pro 16h+ and Pro 30f+ printers with ProGraphics+ LED inks are sure to appeal to businesses looking to further their sustainability goals. The ProGraphics+ inks are environmentally friendly, as they do not contain heavy metals, have virtually no VOC emissions, are TPO- and THFA-free, and are formulated to meet future EU regulations. This builds on the sustainability message of EFI's green LED curing technology, which lowers power consumption, and reduces media and ink waste and consumables for a smaller overall footprint.

"These new printers, plus the wow-factor of the new ProGraphics+ inks, have really resonated during early customer engagement, and we believe they will be a hit with the larger marketplace," Hanulec said. "If you're looking for a highly versatile wide format printer that offers a greener print solution and simple operation, these printers tick all the boxes."

The EFI Pro 16h+ hybrid and the Pro 30f+ flatbed printers are available for immediate ordering worldwide.