Callback
Several years ago at printMAX we took the decision to focus our efforts solely on Roland large format printers along with the supporting consumables and vinyl cutters. We felt that our knowledge combined with the reliability of the printers/cutters and the Versaworks rip software was strong enough for us to specialise.
It was a decision that has since proven to be a great one. As Roland's most successful authorised dealer for the second consecutive year, we have gained a level of expertise with the Roland printers that allows us to continue to 'exceed expectations' when installing the latest large format printer.
The Roland brand is continuously evolving, so in turn are we. Here's a brief history of the relationship between Roland and printMAX. The technological advances that have taken us from 1981 in Tokyo to a leader in the large format printer industry.
- 1981 - Roland was founded in Tokyo and soon became the world's No.1 provider of large format printers.
- 1988 - Roland launch their CAMM-1 vinyl cutter
- 1991 - printMAX is founded
- 2002 - After over twenty years of product developments and earlier releases, Roland introduce the Soljet Pro II range of large format printers and printer/cutters. A range that is still available and very popular today.
- 2003 - Roland introduces the Versacamm SP-300, the lowest priced large format printer/cutter in the market. This year also saw the introduction of Roland's Eco-Sol Max ink, the mild solvent ink for the Roland Versacamm and Soljet large format printers.
- 2004 - Roland introduce the new 54" Versacamm - the SP-540v including the Roland Versaworks software.
- 2005 - Roland introduced Versaworks onto the Soljet printer range. A new 30" Roland Versacamm with Versaworks was also released along with another industry first - White eco solvent ink from the Eco-Sol Max range. The CAMM-1 GX-24 vinyl cutter was also released in this groundbreaking year, which became Roland's fastest vinyl cutter to date.
- 2006 - Roland release the AdvancedJet AJ-1000, the Roland Soljet XC-540 printer/cutter along with the portable vinyl cutter range - the Roland STIKA along with larger models of the CAMM-1 vinyl cutter; the GX-500 and GX-400.
- 2007 - Roland launch the Versacamm 540 and 300 series within their range of large format printers.
- 2009 - The Roland Eco-Sol Max ink was awarded as 'DPI product of the year' for the metallic silver. Roland also introduced the i version of both the AdvancedJet and Versacamms. This year also saw the entrance of the Roland Soljet Pro XC540MT, the world's first metallic inkjet printer to use both the white and metallic Eco-Sol Max ink.
- 2010 - Roland release the GX-640, their largest vinyl cutter to date. The Roland Versacamm VS-300/VS-420/VS-540/VS-640 also became best sellers this year. printMAX became the first Roland dealer to install a VS-640 and went on to sell more large format printers from the Versacamm VS range than any other UK Roland dealer. printMAX were consequently named as Roland's most successful authorised dealer for 2010.
- 2011 - Roland launched it's smallest printer/cutter - the BN-20. However, the biggest release of this year was the ground breaking introduction of the Roland VersaUV range. The Roland VersaUV large format printers allowed users to print something different, with the LEF-12 and LEJ-640 the end results are spectacular and you really can print anything onto most objects. printMAX were the first Roland dealer in the world to sell the LEJ-640 and went on to sell more than any other UK dealer. We were announced later that year to have kept the title of Roland's most successful authorised dealer through not only sales of the large format printers but also the Roland cutters and Eco-Sol Max ink.
- 2012 - Thus far in 2012 there has been the release of double white and extended heaters on the Versacamm VS range along with the option of Eco-Sol Max white ink on the small desktop BN-20 printer. July will see the release of the VersaArt RE-640. The upgraded offer from the RS-640 large format printer.
