Made in India: Pixeljet UV wide-format series from Monotech Systems

The Pixeljet UV series from Monotech Systems offers seven varieties of wide-format printers. The classification of these seven variants depends on the web width (six- to 10-ft) and printing speed (100- to 700-sqft/ hour) of the printer. It includes Pixeljet 3218 RMO UV hybrid printer; Pixeljet 2512 RMO UV hybrid printer; Pixeljet 2512 faster; mid-volume UV flatbed printer; Pixeljet 2132 high-volume UV flatbed printer; Pixeljet UVmini true flatbed printer and Pixeljet POWERPRO 3.2M UV LED roll-to-roll printer.

The Pixeljet series works on digital inkjet printing technology. The printing occurs on DOD (drop on demand) technology for perfect and maximum use of printing ink.

According to Manoj Garg, general manager – sales (signage), Monotech Systems, the focus has been on UV curing technology, “so that our printers can print on a wide range of printing substrates.”
Garg adds that the printers in this series are capable of printing on almost all available substrates in the market for all possible applications. It prints through its imported Japanese printing heads.
The Pixeljet can print on glass, tiles, PVC, laminates, wood, signage, POP and PSP. Pixeljet UV series is an essential printing device for each and every printer who wants to produce enhanced print for beautification and attractive applications. 

Economic solution

“We, at Monotech Systems, provide most economical products and solutions compared to other Indian integrators and overseas suppliers. We are installing wide-format printers in our facility at Chennai. Being a local integrator, our dependency for after-sales service is almost zero. The running cost of our products is comparatively low thanks to the patented Thin Technology. It provides much higher coverage in minimum ink consumption,” Garg says. 

Thin Technology is an Agfa technology, and since Monotech Systems is its Indian partner, it has the access. 

“Because of the patented technology, our customers print almost double the area of printing substrates compared to non-Thin Technology. Our printing inks come under Pixeljet brand,” Garg explains.

The company has installed more than 220 wide-format printers since 2012. Most of these machines have been installed in Asian and Gulf countries. Around 80% of the customers come from India. These include New Delhi-based Hi Graphix, Amritsar-based Dolphin Glow Sign, Pune-based Octopus Advertising, Mumbai-based AGS Marketing and Asansol-based Kamalalaya Digital Print. Garg says all of the companies are using the machines to their full capability. 

“During our more than 220 deals, we noticed that a wide-format print service provider looks at quality of printing, production speed, stability of printer, after-sale services and the number and types of applications that can be done on the machine,” Garg says.

Monotech Systems also offers hybrid printing machines at affordable prices. “A Kolkata-based customer is doing fantastic jobs producing natural hues and colours,” Garg says. 

The technology

Garg says Monotech Systems is one of the only two Indian companies integrating wide-format printers in India. The rest import from neighbouring countries and sell in India. The main technology and component are the imported printing heads.

Monotech Systems' machines contain body frame, printing heads, printing ink, software, customised motor drives and other essential components. 
Garg says the company has been constantly upgrading its wide-format printers. Initially, it launched the 8x4-ft fully flatbed machine with lamp technology in 2012. Later, a bigger size of 7x10-ft, with US-based Spectra head from Fuji, was introduced.

Two years later, in 2014, the company associated with Konica Minolta for printing heads and started offering wide-format printers with Konica Minolta printing heads.
In 2016, it opted for Ricoh gen-five printing heads. “We are planning to install Ricoh gen-six and Kyocera printing heads in the future models. “Drop size and resolution (BPI) are the basic changes in the next-generation printing heads,  Garg says."

The UV lamps are imported from United Kingdom and Germany. 

User-friendly

A person with no printing background can run our wide-format printer after a few days of training. Only two people are required to run the machine,” Garg says.
The company provides onsite and offsite training as per customers’ requirements. Usually, the training period ranges from seven to 10 days. The company also has a dedicated demo centre and a separate team for customised applications. 

Monotech Systems has pan-India presence, which includes 30 support engineers, four regional managers to look after every region and one national head to provide uninterrupted services to its customers. It has toll free number and online log in facility as well. 

“We have found that the new generation is managing things — stock of printing inks and substrates and job orders — according to customers’ demand. Basically, they are filling the gaps and putting things in a system,” Garg says.

Being an integrator 

Garg says, being an integrator, Monotech Systems feels that printers want machines that can produce faster with perfect printing quality and cost-effectiveness. Also, printing ink prices needs to be reduced. 

Monotech Systems is working toward this. “We are planning to provide curing and varnish in one go,” he adds.

Looking ahead, the company is working to install around 80 wide-format printers this year to bring the total number of installation to 300. 
“We have sold 20 wide-format printers in first quarter of this year,” Garg says. “We can integrate 25 wide-format printers in our facility at Chennai. A team of 75 people work in the wide-format segment of Monotech Systems.”