Arizona 318 GL UV Flatbed Printer

Océ has announced the new Océ Arizona 318 GL printer, a highly-capable introductory UV flatbed model that offers smaller print producers entrance to the world of award-winning, high-quality UV flatbed printing. The Océ Arizona 318 GL printer makes its worldwide debut at the FESPA Digital 2012 exhibition in Barcelona, February 21-24, 2012. It will make its US debut at the International Sign Expo in Orlando, March 22-24, 2012.

Popular UV Flatbed Printer Series

According to IT Strategies, a Hanover, MA industry research firm, the Océ Arizona product range (including Océ Arizona Series printers and FUJIFILM Acuity printers) has the leading installed base of printers in the <$200,000 UV Flatbed category. Since the first shipment of an Océ Arizona Series printer in 2007, nearly 3,000 systems built on this platform have been shipped to date.

"The popularity of the Océ Arizona Series in the market is validation of the benefits and opportunities it provides to our customers," said Attilio Mainoli, CEO of Océ Display Graphics Systems. "The Océ Arizona 318 GL model gives smaller shops – those that thought they couldn't afford an Océ Arizona model – the same application versatility as our other Océ Arizona models at an affordable price point."

Affordable Flatbed Printing

The Océ Arizona 318 GL printer delivers quality printing on the same robust platform as the Océ Arizona 360 GT printer at a price positioned for low-volume production environments – while delivering the same application versatility. The Océ Arizona 318 GL printer is available fully installed and operational for less than $100,000. (Note: Dollar amount includes Océ Arizona 318 GL printer with standard features, delivery, installation and starter kit. Other options, software and accessories are available at additional cost.) It is ideal for sign makers, smaller print providers, reprographers and other graphics producers that need true flatbed quality and capability but cannot afford a large capital investment.

"For quite some time, we have been looking for a UV curable, rigid substrate printer to sell as an introductory model," said Jamie Powers, Digital Specialist with Reece Supply, a distributor of Océ Arizona Series printers in the U.S. "Nothing that I have seen to date could provide the quality at a price point that I felt the small and mid-size sign shops need in order to compete with the larger print providers. After seeing the Océ Arizona 318 GL printer in action, I am glad to say we have finally found the printer I have been looking for. The overall image quality, speed and options you get for the price will make the Océ Arizona 318 GL printer a big hit."

With the Océ Arizona 318 GL printer, print providers can produce sellable output with print speeds of up to 194 square feet per hour in Express Mode, producing more than twenty 2- by 3-foot boards per hour.

In addition to the lower price-point, value-priced ONYX PosterShop X10 Océ Edition software is available to drive the printer. ONYX PosterShop software increases productivity by giving users flexible control over their workflow. It includes advanced and custom nesting tools for maximum media savings as well as a white ink tool for fast job preparation.

True Flatbed Enables a Versatile Range of Applications

The Océ Arizona 318 GL printer can print on rigid media up to 49.2 inches wide by 98.4 inches long and up to 1.89 inches thick. The true flatbed design holds media stationary on a flatbed vacuum table assuring registration. The true flatbed architecture allows for edge-to-edge printing (full bleed), the printing of multiple boards simultaneously, registered double-sided prints and the printing of large displays tiled over several boards – all applications that are difficult to produce on printers that move the media through the printing system. This true flatbed architecture enables printing on irregularly-shaped or non-square items, heavy substrates, unusually smooth media such as glass, or materials that have an uneven surface such as plywood or framed canvas.