Price remains one of the main barriers to entry in the hybrid UV market. With the GZ HB18UV-Pro, Plateforme Imprimeur, based in the Bouches-du-Rhône region, offers a practical solution for printers who want to produce on both rigid and flexible substrates without committing to the budget or space required for a larger machine.
A large-format printer without being a "cathedral"
The Gongzheng HB18UV-Pro printer features a particularly useful configuration: 1.85 m print width, CMYK + white printing, four to eight Epson I3200-U1 printheads at up to 2440 dpi, vacuum conveyor, rolls up to 50 kg, and retractable extension tables. In other words, the machine doesn?t go overboard, but strikes a balance between production capacity, compactness, and operating costs.
"A UV hybrid printer shouldn't take up the whole workshop. With the GZ HB18UV-Pro, the idea is simple: keep it to the essentials, but at a price three to four times lower than other brands and with a footprint of just 5 m²." 2 " , explains Christophe Bader, CEO of Plateforme Imprimeur.
The rigid section can accommodate substrates up to 55 mm thick. Dibond, PVC, wood, glass, or signage materials can be loaded using the retractable tables. When folded away, these extensions free up the work area for flexible media.
On the roll side, the built-in unroller and re-winder can handle rolls weighing up to 50 kg. The vacuum grid conveyor ensures smooth feeding of flexible media, including vinyl, tarps, and other visual communication materials.
CMYK + white or white + CMYK printing offers a wide range of possibilities on colored, transparent, and decorative substrates. The four or eight Epson I3200-U1 PrecisionCore printheads deliver a resolution of up to 2,440 dpi and speeds of up to 65 m 2 /h.
Optimized profiles, validated inks and media
However, for a printer, performance isn?t limited to speed or resolution. It?s also measured by ink costs, print consistency, and the time saved during media setup. Plateforme Imprimeur addresses these issues by offering media-specific profiles, tested media, and Greenguard Gold-certified inks selected to work with the machine.
"A cheaper machine shouldn't cost more to produce. Our job is to optimize profiles, media, and inks to keep ink costs low without compromising the quality of the print." , notes Christophe Bader.
Another benefit for printers: Plateforme Imprimeur can directly finance the purchase of the GZ HB18UV-Pro, with monthly payments via SEPA direct debit, at virtually no cost. This solution avoids expensive bank leasing.
For printers, this is where the machine really comes into its own: a UV hybrid capable of switching between sheet-fed and web printing, but also designed to fit within a shop?s floor space, ink costs, and budget.
