Horizon Leads The Way With First Mimaki JV300 In Ireland

Hybrid

As the first company in Ireland to install the recently launched Mimaki JV300 solvent digital inkjet printer; Horizon Digital Print is embracing this neat, compact addition to its otherwise sizeable large-format production line and is positive about the surge in productivity shown in the few weeks since its arrival.

To think of a ‘Horizon’ gives a sense of expanse and possibility and it is a fitting name for the award-winning Dublin-based printing company, which has recently become the first in Ireland to install the new Mimaki JV300 solvent printer

With two purpose-built sites on the Phoenix Industrial Estate in Dublin, over 60 employees and a 24-hour shift rota in operation to manage its substantial workload, Horizon offers a holistic service from design to print through to installation. Take a tour around the premises and the sheer size and scope of Horizon’s printing setup becomes apparent. Its vast capacity is made possible by an array of grand-format digital production presses which instantly evokes a sense of ‘anything is possible’. According to the company’s website, the formula for its success is excellent quality, short lead times and reasonable prices; and there is certainly the capability there to fulfil its customer promise.

Mimaki JV300-160

which at first glance looks dwarfed by the other hardware on site. However, in true David and Goliath form, this 1.6m solvent printer is not only holding its own, but proving itself by holding the fort, as digital manager, Kenneth Kavanagh explains. “What we’re loving about the JV300 is that it gets on with the job, quietly and unattended, freeing up manpower to be used with the bigger machines. Even better is that we are finding the speed and quality it brings is allowing us to divert an increasing number of jobs away from larger machines and over to the JV300, so it has been running continuously since it was installed. There has been a definite increase in productivity since it came on board and it’s low maintenance too.”

Supplied by authorised Mimaki reseller, Reprocentre Group, the Mimaki JV300 Series is compatible with both solvent and dye-sublimation ink sets with a top speed of over 105m²/h, and is available in both 1.3m and 1.6m widths. It has a staggered dual print-head system which, coupled with variable ink dots and large ink drops means excellent quality is maintained at high speed, as Kavanagh describes; “We’ve been running the JV300 in 4-colour mode because it runs at tremendous speed this way. What is really impressive is that we are getting the same colour gamut on the JV300 that, on our previous eco-solvent printer, we’d previously only achieved in 6-colour mode. It’s enabling a very noticeable increase in productivity but without having to compromise on print quality which is perfect for the volume of outdoor advertising we produce.”