Why Choose UV Printing? Comparing the Mimaki UCJV330-160 and Roland LG-640

Wide-format print service providers today are no longer just choosing a printer, they’re choosing a production strategy. As customer demand shifts toward faster turnaround, premium finishes, and more sustainable processes, UV printing has become the technology of choice for many sign and graphics businesses.

But why choose UV over Latex or Solvent, and how do two of the leading UV print-and-cut solutions - the Mimaki UCJV330-160 and Roland LG-640 - really differ?

64-inch Mimaki UCJV330-160 UV Printer / Cutter

64-inch Roland LG-640 UV Printer / Cutter

Why UV instead of Latex or Solvent?

Latex and eco-solvent technologies have served the industry well for years (and continue to do so), but UV brings several fundamental advantages that directly impact productivity, profitability, and application range.

1. Instant Curing, Immediate Finishing

UV inks cure instantly under LED lamps unlike Solvent, which means:

• No outgassing time

• No waiting before lamination or cutting

• Prints are ready to finish straight off the machine

This dramatically shortens production cycles and enables true same-day turnaround.

2. Greater Media Versatility

Because UV ink cures rather than dries:

• There’s no heat-sensitive media distortion

• Excellent adhesion to plastics, films, foils, wallpaper, and specialty substrates

• Ideal for transparent and coloured materials

UV also excels on PVC-free and alternative media, supporting sustainability goals without compromising output quality.

3. Value-Added Effects

Unlike Latex or Solvent, UV allows:

• White ink printing without compromising on production speed

• Clear ink for gloss, texture, and emboss effects

• Fast multi-layer printing for day / night and backlit applications

This opens the door to higher-margin and premium products, as well as faster production.

4. Print and Cut

Unlike Latex, both the Mimaki UCJV330-160 and Roland LG-640 combine printing and contour cutting in a single device. 

This eliminates:

• Re-registration errors

• Manual handling between devices

• Extra floor space requirements

For labels, decals, stickers, window graphics, and short-run signage, UV print-and-cut offers one of the most efficient workflows available.

Mimaki UCJV330-160 vs Roland LG-640

Where the Real Differences Lie

While both machines share UV-LED print-and-cut technology, their strengths are clearly differentiated.

Mimaki UCJV330-160: Designed for Premium Effects & Creative Applications

The UCJV330-160 is built around value-added print capability. 

Key Strengths

• Up to 5-layer printing in a single workflow

• Advanced use of white and clear inks

• Industry-leading 2.5D emboss and texture effects

Mimaki’s approach prioritises visual impact and differentiation. Clear ink can be used not just as a gloss layer, but to create tactile textures, watermarks, and raised surfaces - perfect for retail signage, luxury branding, décor, and point-of-sale.

The Mimaki UCJV330 is fit with eight 1-litre ink bottles and runs at an average speed of 20 square metres per hour (when configured with Dual CMYK) or 5 square metres per hour (running two-layers with White ink). This speed remains the same whether printing CMYK then White (reverse-printed window graphics) or White > CMYK (typically used for front-facing transparent films or coloured stock). 

Best Suited For

• Print businesses selling premium or decorative graphics

• Customers demanding unique finishes

• Window graphics, interior décor, POS, and short-run signage where appearance matters more than raw speed.

64-inch Mimaki UCJV330-160 UV Printer / Cutter

Roland LG-640: Built for Colour Flexibility & Production Efficiency

The LG-640 focuses on colour performance and streamlined production.

Key Strengths

• Flexible ink configurations, including Red, Orange, Gloss, and Primer

• Expanded colour gamut for brand-critical work

• One-pass multilayer capability for faster throughput

• Strong automation and calibration features

Roland’s philosophy is about repeatability, colour accuracy, and productivity. The option to add Red and Orange inks helps hit difficult brand colours without complex profiling, while gloss and primer inks expand substrate compatibility and finishing options.

The Roland LG-640 is fit with eight 750ml ink bottles and runs at an average speed of 16 square metres per hour (when configured with Dual CMYK) or 8 square metres per hour (running two-layers with White ink). 

It’s also worth noting that the arrangement of the printheads on the Roland LG-640 plays a pivotal role in the print speed. As the printheads are staggered, the print order needs to be identified ahead of installation. If White ink is introduced to the front printhead, this will apply White ink first, ideal for front facing graphics that need a White base layer. If White ink is introduced to the rear printhead, this will back graphics in White ink instead - this is the most common set up for reverse printed window graphics. 

Whatever arrangement is prioritised will run at the most optimum speed. The secondary arrangement will need to feed the media back and forth in a ‘concertina’ motion to get both layers to align, which takes roughly twice as long (4 square metres per hour). 

Best Suited For

• High-volume production environments

• Brand-driven work requiring colour consistency

• Labels, decals, signage, and packaging prototypes

64-inch Roland LG-640 UV Printer / Cutter

Choosing Between Them: It’s About What You Want to Sell

Rather than asking which machine is better, the real question is:

What kind of work do you want to produce?

• If your business thrives on creative, high-value graphics that stand out visually and tactically, the Mimaki UCJV330-160 offers unmatched layered and textured print capabilities.

• If your focus is efficient production, strong colour control, and broad application coverage, the Roland LG-640 delivers a powerful, dependable UV workflow.

Both represent a significant step forward from Latex or Solvent - not just in speed, but in what’s possible to print and sell.

To understand more about where Solvent and Latex hold their place in the industry, check out our Blog 'Solvent, UV Or Latex? Decisions, decisions…'