A New Generation of Latex Print & Cut from Roland

Roland has introduced the new TrueVIS AG-640, a 64-inch latex printer/cutter designed for professional print businesses looking to expand what they can produce while keeping production efficient.

At first glance, it might look like another large-format latex printer.

But there are a few things that make the AG-640 particularly interesting.

It's designed to combine high-quality latex printing, expanded colour, dense white ink and integrated print & cut in a single machine.

For the right sign maker, that could mean taking on jobs that previously required another machine or a different production method.

So the obvious question is:

What does that actually mean for your business?

It's not just another Latex printer

The AG-640 uses Roland's TA2 Latex Ink system, with a configuration of:

CMYK + Optimizer or

CMYK + Orange + Red + Optimizer + White

The addition of Orange and Red expands the colour gamut, helping produce more vivid and accurate colours, while the White ink opens up additional possibilities for transparent and coloured media.

For print businesses producing brand-critical graphics, vehicle graphics, displays or detailed signage, the AG-640 is designed to deliver richer blacks, smoother gradients, crisp detail and reduced grain.

But colour is only part of the story.

Print AND cut from one machine

One of the most interesting features of the AG-640 is its integrated print-and-cut capability.

Rather than printing a job and then transferring it to a separate cutter for certain applications, the AG-640 can print and contour cut decals, stickers, labels and short-run graphics on the same device.

For a busy print business, reducing the number of production steps can be just as important as increasing print speed.

Less handling.

Fewer transfers between machines.

Less setup.

And potentially a simpler workflow for smaller or varied jobs.

For higher-volume cutting work, the AG-640 can also be incorporated into a workflow alongside dedicated cutting equipment.

What can you produce?

This is where the AG-640 gets particularly interesting.

Roland positions the machine for a wide range of applications, including:

• Vehicle graphics
• Window graphics
• Signage and displays
• Exhibition graphics
• Decals and stickers
• Labels
• Interior graphics
• Wall graphics
• Short-run promotional graphics

That's quite a broad range.

And for a smaller sign making business, that's potentially more important than simply being able to print faster.

The question becomes:

What jobs could you take on that you don't currently offer?

White ink opens another door

White ink isn't new to the wide-format world, but having it as part of the AG-640's latex workflow gives print businesses another option for specialist applications.

The AG-640 uses a dedicated White ink system with circulation technology designed to keep the ink ready for use while minimising maintenance.

That makes it suitable for applications where a strong white foundation or white-over-colour (or colour-over-white) output is required, including certain window graphics and transparent-media applications.

For businesses that regularly turn away this type of work, that could be particularly interesting.

What about running costs?

The AG-640 has been designed with running costs and ownership in mind, using long-life piezo printhead technology and efficient ink usage.

Unlike systems that rely on frequently replaced consumable printheads, Roland's long-life piezo technology is designed to reduce ongoing printhead replacement costs over the lifetime of the machine.

The machine also incorporates media-saving functions and efficient curing to help reduce unnecessary production time and waste.

Of course, the actual economics will depend on your workload, media, ink usage and the applications you're producing.

That's why it's worth looking at the numbers based on your business rather than relying on a generic cost-per-print figure.

Built around a modern workflow

The AG-640 is supplied with support for VersaWorks 7 and Roland DG Connect.

VersaWorks 7 handles job preparation, colour management and production control, while Roland DG Connect provides connected monitoring and production information.

For businesses running a busy production environment, having visibility of machine status and production performance can help keep work moving and identify potential issues.

Who is the AG-640 for?

We don't think the answer is simply:

“Anyone who wants a new latex printer.”

It's more interesting than that.

The AG-640 could be worth considering if you're a print business that:

• Wants to expand beyond traditional signage
• Is looking to offer higher-value applications
• Produces a mixture of different job types
• Wants integrated print & cut for certain applications
• Needs stronger colour performance
• Wants to introduce White ink into its workflow
• Is looking to reduce production steps
• Is conscious of long-term running costs

For a smaller sign maker, the biggest attraction may not be the machine itself.

It may be the additional work you could say yes to.

So, is it right for you?

That's the question we'd want to answer before talking about buying one.

If you're currently running a latex, solvent or print-and-cut machine, we'd want to know:

What are you producing?

What jobs are you turning away?

Where are you losing time?

What would you like to be able to offer customers?

How much are you actually printing?

Those answers are much more useful than simply asking which printer is “best”.

If you'd like to find out whether the new Roland TrueVIS AG-640 could make sense for your business, get in touch with the Granthams GT team.

View the Roland TrueVIS AG-640 →

Or contact us to discuss your current equipment, applications and production requirements.

sales@granthams.co.uk
01772 250207