The Digital Spot UV Coating Opportunity

MGI’s JETvarnish digital inkjet spot UV coater gives printers an economical, 100% digital method for offline spot UV coating.

Spot UV coating was previously possible via offset or screen methods. Both require static plates/screens (with additional costs incurred, plus messy makeready and required overruns) and are only cost effective on longer runs. As more jobs are being produced in shorter runs, printers need to be able to easily adapt to the changing market.

Digital operation means no makeready is required—just add a layer or mask to the document in DTP software, process the file through the JETvarnish’s front end system, then send to the unit, for beautiful, precise and inexpensive spot varnished prints. An optional RIP allows for full personalization through the JETvarnish’s integrated variable data capabilities, so each sheet can have unique text, bar codes, graphics and other custom options, a feature not available through traditional offset or screen methods.

The JETvarnish uses MGI’s patented drop-on-demand (piezo) inkjet technology, which ensures precise registration on all sheets and line widths as small as 0.5mm (1/144"). Accommodating sheet sizes up to 20x40" (52x105 cm) and speeds up to 0.5 meters per second, the JETvarnish is ideal for mid-to-large commercial operations using offset and/or digital presses. The JETvarnish has multi-substrate capabilities, handling paper and plastics (coated) from 50- to 220-pound cover (135-600 gsm). It’s also environmentally friendly, with ozone-free and solvent-free operation, uses a minimum of raw materials and utilizes recyclable packaging.

New features for 2010 include left and right guides that allow for alignment to offset gripper marks on either side of the sheet, resulting in precise registration, and the option to add a second print line to be used with either a single ink color (perfect for bar codes and other Variable Data Printing applications) or a second varnish formula.