Three Roland DG TrueVIS printers and the Ricoh Pro L5160 have won the wide format categories in Keypoint Intelligence Buyers Lab awards for 2020. The industry researcher noted: “New technologies are introduced and new applications for wide format are discovered, both at a faster rate than ever before. Lines are once again blurring, and the growth potential in this product category can be a thing of beauty.”
Keypoint Intelligence - Buyers Lab (BLI), ‘the world’s leading independent provider of testing services and analytical information to the document imaging industry’, said in a statement: “In conjunction with the opening day of Viscom Italia 2019, and less than two weeks from the start of PRINTING United (SGIA), we’re positively thrilled to reveal the winners of our once-a-year Wide Format Picks—the first of our awards for 2020!
“We’ve got four well-deserving recipients from a pair of manufacturers, all of the eco-solvent/latex variety, with the accolades going to excellent hardware from Ricoh and Roland DG. These awards acknowledge the products that gave the best performances in Buyers Lab’s field tests over the prior year.”
The BLI 2020 Wide Format Pick awards go to the following devices:
Ricoh Pro L5160 (Dual CMYK) - Outstanding High Production CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54"/64" Printer
Roland DG TrueVIS SG2-540/SG2-640 (CMYK)- Outstanding Entry-Level CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54"/64" Printer
Roland DG TrueVIS VG2-540/VG2-640 (Eight-Colour with Orange)- Outstanding Gamut Expansion Eco-Solvent/Latex 54"/64" Printer
Roland DG TrueVIS VG2-540/VG2-640 (Eight-Colour with White)- Outstanding Enhanced CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54"/64" Printer
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| David Sweetnam, Keypoint Intelligence |
“The dual CMYK Ricoh Pro L5160 is designed with the end user in mind, and the end result is pure class,” said David Sweetnam, Keypoint Intelligence’s Director of EMEA/Asia Research & Lab Services. “Highlights include an intuitive colour touchscreen with 30 configurable media presets, simplified and automated maintenance, ergonomically friendly roll loading, and high (1,200 ml) capacity latex ink cartridges. Print shops will also benefit from the Ricoh Pro L5160’s rapid turnaround. It excelled in our productivity assessment with speeds that were 54 percent faster than average when printing on Avery Dennison MPI 3000 monomeric vinyl and 24 percent faster than average printing on MPI 1105 premium vinyl at the most productive setting.”
Versatility and Quality Reap Awards for Three Roland DG TrueVIS Printers
“Roland made several significant upgrades to the TrueVIS printers that clearly offer an enhanced user experience,” Sweetnam said. “The printers now feature automated sheet cutting as well as inline perforated cut capabilities that will surely be appreciated in busy print shops.” New TrueVIS inks are included in the entire device portfolio, from the entry-level four colour SG2-540 to the enhanced and extended gamut VG2 models with either white or—a first for Roland—orange ink. “The VG2-540 with orange and VG2-640 with white received exceptional scores in every aspect of image quality. Most notably, the VG2-540 with orange produced wide colour gamuts that exceeded the Adobe RGB colour space in the orange region of the spectrum, a feat some devices have approached but never surpassed—until now.”
In its announcement, the research company noted the “momentum” of the wide format market. “It continues to evolve, and customer demand just keeps on building. New technologies are introduced and new applications for wide format are discovered, both at a faster rate than ever before. Lines are once again blurring, and the growth potential in this product category can be a thing of beauty.”
For over 50 years, Buyers Lab has been the global document imaging industry’s resource for unbiased and reliable information, test data, and competitive selling tools. What started out as a consumer-based publication about office equipment has become an all-encompassing industry resource. Based on rigorous testing in the lab or in the field, as well as comprehensive analysis in categories such as image quality, usability, and speed, Buyers Lab Wide Format Picks stand alone in the industry and are hard-earned awards.
