Mimaki JV400-130LX and Mimaki JV400-160LX latex ink printers

It is nice that something new and innovative (Mimaki JV400-130LX and Mimaki JV400-160LX latex ink printers) was launched at FESPA Digital Barcelona 2012, since otherwise all the news for 2012 has been focused on DRUPA. Even Durst withdrew from FESPA this year (but, like HP, bussed clients to their demo room or events). HP simply uses its Barcelona area demo room instead of needing a larger booth at a trade show. Very clever of HP to arrange this.

Mimaki JV400 160LX at ISA 2013 Trade Show.

The Mimaki Latex printer is different to HP Latex printers in some aspects: first, it comes with 6 colors plus white ink (the HP Designjet L26500 printer comes with CMYK, Lc, and Lm, but no white latex ink (yet)). Mimaki also claims the drying temperature of this model is below the 60 degrees C, while the HP printers need around 120 degrees C, which implies a lower energy consumption on the Mimaki Latex printer.

At FESPA Barcelona, there were three Latex models in the booth of Mimaki, but only one was printing, at least the times I visited the booth. If you have seen a solvent printer printing, you will realize that Latex ink technology does not compete with solvent technology in speed: the Mimaki JV400-160LX was printing at about 9 m/hr (must have been a high quality mode), which would mean a higher quality. However, the sample being printed on had some noticeable banding in dark areas. We realize that most of the times innovation comes with inevitable issues, but we hope Mimaki will soon deal with this initial problem.

Mimaki is the first printer manufacturer to launch a competitor printer for the HP Designjet Latex printers. Here, at FESPA Barcelona 2012. It is a first good step, although HP has around 5 years worth of experience with its Latex ink line of printers.

Presently four of us from FLAAR are in Beijing, learning more Chinese so we can produce even better TRENDs info for the D-PES China Sign expo and Sign China Guangzhou expos in southern China (both the same week, starting this weekend).

So the two really super-large expos in China are the same week as FESPA, so we send a second team (from Ukraine, from Barcelona itself, from Guatemala office, and I fly from China to Spain so I can also attend all three expos (the two in China and then FESPA Barcelona).

In spite of being a new printer, the ink system is still based on cartridges. We spoke with an after-market printer manufacturer, and he believes there will soon be a third-party version of the Mimaki Latex ink.

Mimaki JV400-130LX, Mimaki JV400-160LX latex ink printers as helpful competition

It is helpful to have new printers with new inks. And kudos to Mimaki for being the first serious competitor to the successful HP latex ink with the new Mimaki JV400-130LX and Mimaki JV400-160LX latex ink printers.

Mimaki JV400-130LX latex ink printer brings back to the wide-format inkjet industry an interesting form of resin ink. Question is to when will Canon launch their "outdoor printer" (which also uses a latex ink).

What will Canon do now that the Mimaki JV400-130LX and Mimaki JV400-160LX latex ink printers are out and available?

Canon was indicating (off the record) that their own latex-like or resin-like printers would not be out at FESPA this year. But now that the Mimaki JV400-130LX, Mimaki JV400-160LX latex ink printers are being launched with huge PR, will be interesting to see how Canon reacts.

Detail of Mimaki JV400-130LX latex ink printer working

Mimaki JV400-130LX latex ink printer launched at FESPA Digital 2012 Barcelona offers competition for HP Designjet L26500 latex ink printer.

Why does Mutoh have to compete with the Mimaki latex ink printers?

And the next question is, why did the other Japanese printers wait so long and let Mimaki launch their Mimaki JV400-130LX, Mimaki JV400-160LX latex ink printers first?

These are all questions that we will address in the FLAAR TRENDs, where we also discuss printhead brand and model in addition to ink manufacturer for this Mimaki Latex ink printer. You can Subscribe at www.FLAAR-Reports.org.

Most recently updated March 8, 2012.

First posted Feb. 13,2012