FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division announces a recent install of the all-new Inca Onset R40-LT, an upgradeable wide format UV flatbed inkjet press, at Middleton Group, a Toronto-area based design, merchandising, and print facility providing innovative solutions since 1952.
For more than sixty years, well known North American brands have called on Middleton Group to provide state-of-the-art strategic direction for large format printing, creative concepts, and eye-catching retail displays.
“Inca Digital offers proven products, the R40-LT is our third Inca press,” said Craig Riethmacher, chief operating officer, Middleton Group. “We’ve had nothing but success with Inca products. I didn’t have to shop around too much before I bought our new Inca R40-LT. The decision was simple.”
The truly remarkable output of the Inca Onset R40LT produces the quality that customers demand and have come to expect from the Onset series of printers. Built utilizing Inca’s unique scalable architecture, the Onset R40LT delivers stunning quality prints at speeds of 40- 5’ x 10’ beds an hour, and can be field upgraded to boost speed as well as enhance the press productivity. With an efficient and cost effective plan to modify this press into a full Inca Onset R40i, print providers have the unique ability to upgrade the Inca Onset R40LT as their business grows.
In 2005, Middleton Group purchased their first Inca press, the Eagle, and the technology was ‘unbelievable.’
“It met our needs, and we ran it all the time,” added Riethmacher. “As technology advanced we bought the Columbia Turbo, which was another giant leap. We ran two shifts constantly for seven years; it was our only digital machine at the time of purchase. The Columbia Turbo was a really good machine.”
Fast forward to 2015, and their purchase of the Inca R40-LT, and Middleton Group is ‘very excited’ about Inca Digital’s technological innovations.
“We are in the visual display business, we need to be able to print on thick substrates, with a variety of highly creative outputs,” said Riethmacher. “Our new R40-LT has been fantastic thus far. Having the option to upgrade the R40-LT over time is perfect for our business model; it complements our other equipment nicely.”
The very first job produced on their Inca R40-LT was a series of rustic-looking wooden plaques for one of North America’s largest home improvement stores.
“The client was very pleased with the output, and we will be receiving additional jobs from them in the future,” said Riethmacher.
Middleton Group is using Fujifilm’s Uvijet OZ ink on the R40-LT, and they are extremely satisfied with the results.
“The quality of Fujifilm’s Uvijet ink is top notch,” affirms Riethmacher. “One of our current projects involves heat-bending, while printing on quarter-inch acrylic with a curve, for a globally known high-end vacuum manufacturer, and the adhesion is amazing.”
White ink is a well-talked about topic among industry professionals, and the Middleton Group is also experiencing success with Uvijet white ink.
“The white is really opaque, it’s truly amazing,” said Riethmacher. “We manage a lot of work on black signage, and this process is very efficient on the R40-LT. I see us using a lot of white ink.”
“Additionally, the ‘gloss mode’ with the R40-LT looks like UV clear,” adds Riethmacher.
With their new R40-LT, Middleton Group expects it to bring in more sales, more jobs, and more work. They are eager to become bigger, stronger and faster.
“Middleton Group has enjoyed a great relationship with Fujifilm for many years,” concludes Riethmacher. “Everyone at Fujifilm I have worked with has been very accommodating and helpful. The install of our R40-LT went perfect, it was seamless. We’ve been a customer for 20 plus years, and Fujifilm is always innovating and exceeding my needs. I consider many Fujifilm folks my friends, they are good people all around, and I always feel comfortable when working with Fujifilm.”
