Macart unveils JetArt, a new UV inkjet label press

Based on the Piezo drop-on-demand technology, the four- and six-colour JetArt uses UV, water and oil inks and prints at a speed of 50-metre/min. The press is available with either a Konica Minolta or a Kyocera printhead in sizes of 6-, 8.5- and 13.5-inch.

“The benefit of UV is that it will allow print on all kinds of substrates, including porous, non-porous self-adhesive label stock,” said Atul Gandhi, managing director, Macart.

Macart claims that it is the first company in Asia to manufacture an edible ink inkjet printer, a solvent large-format printer and also the first corrugated sheet printer in the BoxJet, which was unveiled at Pamex last year. Gandhi, the brain behind many firsts for India, said, “In the business of print equipment manufacturing, you are always looking for something to carry the business forward. My view is that you cannot stand still in this business.”

Macart has also developed a new ripping software, StarRip, for designing labels. The StarRip can handle variable data and has features that will allow the user to manage colours.

Gandhi said the new JetArt is aimed at the existing flexo players who are already in the label business and are looking for short-run activities. “We will beta test it at a few sites before launching,” said Gandhi.

JetArt, after launch, will be available at a price tag ranging from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 2 crore, depending on the width, number of colours and type of printheads.