Roland have officially launched the brand new range of ECO-SOL MAX 3 inks, the new generation of their eco-solvent inks for the wide variety of roll-to-roll printers.
We currently have an upgrade incentive in place, please call +44(0)1420 511539 for further information.
You may be asking… what does this mean for my business? To help answer that question, we have put together a list of the frequently asked questions to help understand how this new development will affect you.
Q. Can I use ECO-SOL MAX 3 inks in my printer?
A. ECO-SOL MAX 3 inks have been developed to work with the following Roland eco-solvent printers; XF-640, XR-640, VS-i Series, SP-i Series, RF-640, BN-20 and in legacy machines; XC-540, XJ Series, RS Series, VS Series, RE Series, VP-i Series and VP Series.
Q. What sizes and colours are available in ECO-SOL MAX 3?
A. The new ECO-SOL MAX 3 inks are available in 500cc, a larger cartridge than the previous ranges. The 500cc cartridge will be available in Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Light Cyan, Light Magenta and Light Black. Users of metallic and white can upgrade but will continue to use their current white and metallic ink types.
220cc cartridges will also be available in C,M,Y,K for BN-20 users. If users are not using Eco Sol Max 2 metallic and white already this will need to be upgraded in the process.
Q. Will there be a difference in price?
A. There will be a difference in cartridge price due to the cartridge being larger in size, however the cost per cc is cheaper, allowing for lower and improved running costs.
Q. Will I see any colour variation from the new inks?
A. You may see some variation in the colour from the output of the new inks, however, this has been minimalized by the introduction of the Roland Profile Centre, offering accurate media profiling.
Q. How can I upgrade?
A. The upgrade itself is relatively simple and straightforward, it is a user upgrade with online assistance and telephone support at hand.
To upgrade you will need to order a full set of new inks and a conversion kit (the conversion kit is free of charge, the inks are chargeable but are usable for your printing). Inside the conversion kit you will find a leaflet containing a website address which will take you to the conversion website. The website will guide you through the firmware install, the VersaWorks update and any additional instructions.
The average upgrade time is 60-90 minutes, however if you are using white ink it will take slightly longer due to additional steps required.
Q. What do the new inks offer, that the old inks couldn’t?
A. The new generation of ECO-SOL MAX offer a wide range of benefits including faster drying times, larger cartridges, cheaper cc of ink, and an overall improvement to performance. They also meet newly updated health and safety legislation requirements along with having a GREENGUARD Gold Certification which covers safety factors ensuring that they are acceptable for use in environments like schools and hospitals.
Q. What is the new Roland Profile Centre
A. The Roland Profile Centre is a new service offering users access to over 1,000 media profiles which is set to continually grow in line with consumer demand and product development, it is free of charge for Roland users.
If your chosen profile is not available here currently, the profile centre also offers a converter tool which enables users to transform ECO-SOL MAX and ECO-SOL MAX 2 profiles into those that will work optimally with the new ink.
What Roland have to say:
New generation of Roland ink
Bigger cartridges meet production demands
ECO-SOL MAX 3 inks are available in CMYK, Lc, Lm and Lk, and can be combined with ECO-SOL MAX 2 white and metallic (for machines that use those ink colours). Packaged in clean-hands 500cc sized cartridges, ECO-SOL MAX 3 is designed to meet the needs of those customers running busy print shops. 220cc cartridges are also available for customers with low usage requirements*.
*500 cc cartridges are available in CMYK, Lc, Lm and Lk. 220cc cartridges are available in CMYK.
GREENGUARD Gold certified
As with previous generations, ECO-SOL MAX 3 offers the peace of mind ofGREENGUARD Gold Certification, providing assurance that the ink meets some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air.
Safe-to-use without special ventilation or environmental equipment, the ink’s GREENGUARD Gold Certification also includes safety factors that ensure a product is acceptable for use in environments like schools and hospitals.
Stunning quality
ECO-SOL MAX 3 has an extremely wide colour gamut that delivers rich, vibrant and solid colours, which look stunning up close or when viewed from a distance. Light black ink improves the reproduction of gray scale gradations, and the stability of skin tones or natural tints. Printing even the finest details beautifully, ECO-SOL MAX 3 will delight the most discerning of customers.
Highly durable and scratch resistant
Ideal for use externally or indoors, this tough, scratch resistant ink can withstand outdoor environments for up to 3 years without lamination*. ECO-SOL MAX 3 is also ideal for the production of graphics that require finishing techniques, offering high scratch resistance when undertaking common finishing processes, including welding, sewing and attaching grommets.
*The life span for outdoor use is based on accelerated weather testing. Results may vary depending on the location and the application. Lamination is necessary for some applications and weather conditions.
Fast drying times increase productivity
ECO-SOL MAX 3 ink dries fast. Bonding powerfully to a whole range of substrates, your prints can be handled as they roll off your printer. When used in tandem with a take-up unit, ECO-SOL MAX 3 enables you to achieve long, unattended print runs, even in high-speed mode.A whole range of media options
With ECO-SOL MAX 3 you can print onto an extremely wide range of coated and uncoated materials, enabling you to achieve a versatile range of output. Whether you print onto paper, vinyl, banner, canvas, coated textiles, high gloss, heat transfer or much more beyond, ECO-SOL MAX 3 delivers a quality result.
Free download of media profiles
You have free access to over 1,000 media profiles for ECO-SOL MAX 3 via theRoland Profile Center. Finding, downloading, importing and converting a profile only takes a few clicks.
Convert your current printer
ECO-SOL MAX 3 ink is supplied with the purchase of every new eco-solvent printer and printer/cutter. It is also available as a performance upgrade to existing printers^, enabling our loyal customers to benefit from the latest technology developments.CLICK HERE to learn how to convert your current printer to ECO-SOL MAX 3.