UV Printing refers to a digital inkjet printing process that uses ultraviolet curing technology. Also known as Ultraviolet Printing, the UV Printing process uses special inks (called UV ink) which can cure the printing quickly when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. When you are using a UV flatbed printer to perform a printing task, the UV ink applied is subjected to ultraviolet light from the machine. This UV light instantly cures or dries the ink to the substrate (surface) during the printing process.

Smaller sized UV Flatbed printers cost somewhere between $5000 - $8000, while larger sizes cost $20,000 to $50,000. Even though the initial price tags on many of the best large format UV flatbed printers on the market may be unnerving, the potential return on investment for your business can be sky-high – as long as you find the right printer and partner. Feel free to send your inquiry about different configurations of the printhead and printer formats to Lily@UniPrintcn.com.

Before buying a UV Flatbed printer, you need to understand which size of the products you would like to print. This helps you decide which printer model to choose from. Whether it's the smaller-sized models like the 6090, 1313, 1316, or larger format like 2513, 2030, or even customized models.

Another thing to consider is the printing resolution and the printing speed you are looking for. If you receive regular bulk demands from your customer then you should go for the industrial G5 or G6 printhead.  Epson printhead also works great in a smaller format like 6090, 1313

We are committed to your success and we are always ready to prove it. Kindly contact us at sales@UniPrintcn.com if you would like to have your sample sent to us for printing. You can also request our existing samples. Anyone you choose will be made available to you before purchase.

UV inks, now widely used in inkjet printing have a special fast cure feature without penetration or evaporation. UV inks have three major characteristics: energy-saving drying, extensive printability to substrates (almost on all materials), and a fast cure to reduce subsequent process times. In printing, the damage to the human body is usually caused by the volatile solvent in the ink, but UV printer ink is without volatilization. So, UV ink is not poisonous. Although UV ink is not poisonous, it is not completely harmless. The UV ink used in UV flatbed printers produces a distinct smell during printing. We suggest the printing workshop is properly ventilated in case of allergies.

UniPrint machines have 12 months machine warranty and lifetime after-sale service, including FREE machine training, setup, and continuous operations. You will also receive 24/7 online support for any technical issues associated with our product. UniPrint Digital offers custom service for your unique business needs. Customers can contact us through email, Wechat, WhatsApp, or phone calls. We are happy to answer all customers' machine inquiries and provide overseas after-sale service to you in time.

As the world progresses, the demand of each industry is constantly updated and improved. The printing industry is not left behind, especially with the emergence of the popular UV flatbed printer. A wide range of design products today are being printed using UV flatbed printers, including ceramic tile background walls, carpets, curtains, leather bags, glass, sliding doors, mobile phone cases, etc. Some industries that make use of UV printers include the advertising industry, screen printing industry, high-end gift box processing industry, signage industry, furniture industry, personalized printing, glass industry, exhibition display, cardboard packaging, leather textile industry, mobile phone notebook shells, etc.

UV flatbed printers can print signage in shopping malls, PVC boards, ceramics, glass, lightbox, phone cases, outdoor and indoor signage, art craft, and wood, including promotion products such as cups, flash drives, keyholders, pens, etc.

Small size UV Flatbed printers have a bed size of no larger than 36" by 36" and they usually have a high-resolution quality. Although these machines are maybe smaller than their larger format siblings, they are just as technologically advanced - perhaps even more so - and are capable of supporting high productivity demands. UniPrint Digital has small-sized UV flatbed models like  A3, 6090 or mid-sizes like 1313 and 1316.

For best results, UV Flatbed printers can only be applied on flat surfaces. Products with uneven printing surfaces will be difficult to print on and usually cause poor printing results.

UV print inks are widely used in the advertising industry. Different UV ink types are best suited for certain materials. Hard UV print inks are best applied to hard substrates. Soft UV print inks can be applied to leather substrates, while neutral UV print ink can be applied to both hard and soft materials. Typically, UV cured prints have an outdoor durability of at least 2 years without fading. With coating and lamination, UV cured prints can reach up to 5 years or more. However, the specific environment and application in which the print is used will ultimately determine whether the print will last for more or less than 2 years.

Although UV flatbed printers are ideal for a wide range of applications, there are still some jobs that are better suited for roll-to-roll printers. This is mostly due to the ink type. There are oil-based inks & water-based inks. Examples of oil-based inks include UV ink, solvent ink, and eco-solvent ink. Oil-based inks are used in printing non-textile products. Examples of water-based inks include sublimation ink, reactive, acid, pigment inky, and latex ink. Because water-based inks are more eco-friendly, they can be used in textile printing.

Also, as the name suggests, UV flatbed printers are typically designed to print on flat substrates.  There are hybrid printer models designed to offer the best of both worlds with both roll-fed and flatbed capabilities. UniPrint Digital only has the flatbed UV models in stock for now.

While the upfront cost of any UV flatbed printer may be unnerving, purchasing a UV Flatbed printer is a good investment for your business. Ensure that the printer you are buying is of good quality from a reputable manufacturer. While the upfront cost of larger-sized printers may try to put you off, it has the potential to transform your business operations beyond your imagination.

Different printer models are designed with different printhead configurations. The Epson printhead is found in the smaller sized UV flatbed printers and has a printing speed of about 3~5sqm/hr. Ricoh printheads are more expensive and have a speed of about 8~12sqm/hr. Ricoh printheads are industrial heads. Note that printing quantity and printing pass (resolution) are all factors that affect the printing speed of UV flatbed printers.

UniPrint UV flatbed printer comes with a 1-year warranty after the setup of the machine and a lifetime after-sale service. However, note that some spare parts related to the ink system are not included in the warranty contract. This is not just peculiar to UniPrint digital. Some of the factors that may cause the printhead (ink system) damages include human operation mistakes, short circuits of electricity, etc.

UV flatbed printers can print on t-shirts. The inks can be cured quickly as well. However, the result cannot be compared to that from a DTG printer. UV inks cure properly on the flat and hard material surface, not into yarns. We recommend that you use a DTG printer to print on T-shirts.

UV inks are free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and are environmentally friendly. However, UV rays irritate when exposed to the skin and eye. When there is prolonged direct contact, it can also lead to chemical blister burns on the skin. As a safety measure, we recommend wearing impervious safety gloves, protective glasses, safety overalls, and safety shoes for machine operators. Also, while the UV printing fumes are not harmful, ensure that your production room is well ventilated because UV printing produces some odor.

Once we confirm your machine order, UniPrint Digital will take the next 15-20 days to produce your UV flatbed printer based on your specification. After that, delivery might be about one month or one week depending on your delivery option, either sea or air respectively.  The only exceptions will be unavoidable circumstances like natural disasters or governmental policies restricting movement to and from your location.

The service life of the Ricoh G5 is proportional to the frequency of usage. This is known as ignition frequency. The more you use the Ricoh G5, the less the service life will be.

Ideally, Ricoh nozzles are designed by manufacturers to be used 300 billion times.

This roughly translates to 3-5 years of service if you operate your UV flatbed printer for 8 to 10 hours a day. At the end of the service life, the print head will not be broken but you may notice a lesser printing quality.

You may consider buying a second-hand printer because of the high cost of new ones. UniPrint Digital doesn’t recommend this. We also do not sell second-hand UV flatbed printers. While the price of second-hand UV printers may be lower, the risks associated with purchasing a second-hand UV flatbed printer are too high. In the long run, you may spend more money maintaining a second-hand UV flatbed printer than you would spend purchasing a brand new one. After-sales service is usually not guaranteed when you purchase a second-hand UV flatbed printer. Also, second-hand UV flatbed printers usually do not come with any warranty.

One of the most delicate parts of your UV flatbed printer is the UV print heads or nozzles. Once there is a problem with the printhead, the printer cannot function. Some tips to maintain and increase the service life of UV flatbed print heads or nozzles include

1. Avoid using tools or your finger to touch the surface of the nozzle. This is to avoid any damage to the surface of the nozzle or blockage by oil, debris, alcohol, or sweat.

2. Avoid blowing air toward the nozzle. This usually leads to changes in the composition and viscosity of the UV ink causing the ink to condense and block.

3. Do not turn off the power suddenly when the UV flatbed printer is working. In some cases, when power is turned off suddenly, the UV printer will not be able to perform capping operations on the nozzles. When the nozzles are not capped, they will be exposed to air causing the UV ink to dry and the nozzles will be blocked.

The right way to turn off your UV flatbed printer is to put it in the OFFLINE state first, then wait for the nozzle to be capped. After the nozzle is capped, you can then turn off the power and unplug it from the power source.