Options or Essentials: Making Sense of Wide-Format Technology

Buying new wide-format presses can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. It's easy to get caught up in all the proverbial bells and whistles, and figuring out what is standard, what’s optional, and what your shop really needs can be a lot to parse through.

To that end, Wide-format Impressions talked to three of today’s many wide-format equipment manufacturers to get their take on the core features print service providers (PSPs) should expect to find on most models these days, what makes them stand out, and how they can get the best machine for their specific production needs.

Let’s start with the things most modern presses offer — the standard features that have been adopted by the industry as the baseline for what a wide-format inkjet device needs to have to be a productive part of a shop.

» What is Expected Today

“Across today’s wide-format market, there has been a clear leveling of core capabilities, with many features now considered baseline rather than differentiators,” says Mark Crawford, product and business development manager, Vanguard Digital Printing Systems.

“Most modern flatbed and hybrid printers utilize industrial grayscale printheads capable of variable drop sizes, enabling smoother gradients and improved image quality without sacrificing speed. White ink has also become standard on many platforms, particularly for printing on colored, transparent, or specialty substrates. In addition, UV-LED curing systems are now widely adopted due to their lower energy consumption, reduced heat output, and ability to handle a broader range of materials.”

UV-LED also stands out for swissQprint’s key account manager, Adriano Gut. He notes, “Most wide-format printers now come with LED curing, white ink capability, and the ability to handle substrates up to 50 mm thick. These features have largely become baseline expectations across the market.”

And finally, Daniel Valade, senior product manager, Roland DGA, breaks it down a bit further, listing, “Either single or dual printheads, print widths ranging from 24" up to 100", specialized inks (aqueous, solvent, UV-curable, latex), high-resolution output, sheet cut, integrated cutting (printer/cutter models only), multi-ink systems (CMYK + specialty inks like white and gloss), touchscreen displays, media feeding systems, calibration systems, color management systems, media take-up systems, RIP software, design software.”

All these things, he stresses, are seen across the spectrum of OEMs and the models they offer, making it a good bet that PSPs searching for equipment can consider these a “given” and focus on what sets the equipment apart.

» The Differentiators

Before we dive into some of the features and options that help equipment stand out, it’s important to note that these are just three of the many wide-format OEMs out there. Other manufacturers also have their own unique elements that separate them from the pack. Anyone in the market for a new wide-format press should use this as a starting point to get an idea of what to look for when doing comparisons, not as a comprehensive list.

For swissQprint, differentiation comes from being a true flatbed with elements such as precise registration for double-sided prints and solid reliability. | Credit: swissQprint

swissQprint focuses on flatbed printers designed to be workhorses in a production environment. Gut explains, “Our systems stand out through an exceptional speed-to-quality ratio, combined with practical features that improve daily production. These include efficient vacuum control, thanks to the patented Tip Switch Vacuum system, highly efficient printhead management requiring only minimal cleaning cycles, and very low ink waste.”

He continues, “In addition, we offer true flatbed functionality alongside a full-width roll-to-roll (and dual-roll) option, as well as highly accurate double-sided printing using our unique registration pin system. All of this is complemented by certified high energy efficiency. The printers are Swiss-made and offer long-term and low-maintenance reliability, ensuring low total cost of ownership.”

Vanguard, on the other hand, has focused its efforts on providing a very flexible system that can be tailored to meet the needs of users on a more granular level.

Crawford explains, “At Vanguard, differentiation comes from a combination of engineering flexibility, performance, and real-world usability. Our platforms are built around industrial-grade printhead technology, giving us the flexibility to tailor each configuration to the customer’s specific production goals. Whether the priority is maximum throughput, high quality, or application versatility, we can scale head configurations and ink channel layouts accordingly. This modular approach allows customers to invest in the performance they need today while maintaining a path for future growth.”

He also notes that, especially in the more recent models, the company is putting more emphasis on some of the mechanical elements, improving performance.

“In two of our newest models, we place a strong emphasis on high-efficiency vacuum systems designed to stabilize a wide range of substrates — from perfectly flat boards to more challenging, warped materials,” Crawford notes. “Consistent substrate hold-down is critical for maintaining precise dot placement, especially at higher speeds, and directly impacts overall print quality. In addition, our media handling systems are engineered for accuracy and repeatability. From registration systems that ensure consistent board placement to transport and conveyor designs that minimize skew and vibration, every element is designed to support reliable, production-level output.”

For Roland, ensuring improvements across the entire system, including inks and software, has been the focus. Valade breaks down just a few of the areas the company has spent time improving:

• Automated pinch rollers for seamless workflow, increased productivity, and added convenience.
• True Rich Color print settings that allow for increased color vibrancy, realism, and accuracy.
• Expanded gamut ink sets that include new options like red, orange, and green.
• Innovative features like automatic media gap adjustment, automatic media take-up system, and perforated sheet cut function.

VersaWorks 7 RIP — Roland DG’s most user-friendly RIP to date, includes a host of tools and features that help optimize output quality, improve efficiency/productivity, and increase ease of use.

And those are just a few places the company has worked to refine and improve, with a strong focus on color — whether it’s expanded gamut inks, better software calibration, or better color-matching tools built into the press and RIP, Valade says Roland has positioned its presses as a good option for shops where color is a major part of the process.

» Making Sense of It All

Given that every manufacturer has its own priorities and strengths, where should a PSP start when the time comes to invest in something new?

Before doing anything else, Valade urges PSPs to take stock of what is already running and to not just consider the purchase price of the machine. Instead, he says PSPs should take into consideration the “lifetime value” of the device, based on performance factors like print quality, reliability, productivity, and ease of use.

“Print providers should evaluate whether their existing printers are enabling them to sufficiently handle the current workload and are allowing them to provide all the applications they want to offer,” Valade says.
He continues, “It’s important for the provider to determine whether their current equipment enables them to achieve the quality, productivity, and ROI they are seeking. The PSP should also evaluate current operating costs and explore whether they should invest in devices, inks, and media that deliver the desired results more cost effectively.”

That is advice Crawford echoes, noting, “The evaluation should begin with a clear understanding of current bottlenecks. Printers should ask themselves: ‘What is limiting our growth today — speed, quality, labor, or application capability?’ If a shop is turning away work, experiencing excessive downtime, or relying heavily on manual processes, those are strong indicators that new equipment could deliver immediate ROI. It’s also important to evaluate whether current equipment is limiting entry into higher-margin applications such as specialty finishes, layered printing, or rigid substrates. Ultimately, the decision should be driven by opportunity cost as much as equipment capability.”

Gut has similar advice, with identifying problems before even starting to look at equipment being the key starting point.

He says, “The starting point should always be a clear understanding of current bottlenecks and future business goals. Printers need to decide whether they want to compete on standardized, price-driven work, or invest in versatile technology that enables both high-volume jobs and specialized, higher-margin applications. As print volumes shift, flexibility, fast turnaround times, and consistently high quality are becoming decisive factors. Few solutions deliver all three.”

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all wide-format press. There are numerous factors that can impact which one is right. Shops need to have a solid picture of what’s currently working — and what isn’t — before the process of evaluating equipment can even begin.

But with that in mind, today’s OEMs offer something for everyone, in every budget, and for every application focus. Whether it’s billboards, vehicle wraps, posters, Plexiglas, or even promotional items, wide-format offers endless possibilities. And the equipment to produce it is just as varied and versatile.

All three OEMs had a final piece of advice to offer for those just starting the equipment-buying journey.
Gut stresses, “See the equipment in action and evaluate it under realistic conditions. Beyond that, talk to industry peers about both the technology and the people behind it. Investing in a printer is entering a long-term partnership, so reliability, both technical and human, matters.”

Similar, Valade notes, “Don’t evaluate printers based solely on specifications or showroom demos. Instead, focus on how the equipment performs in your specific applications. Run real jobs, with your files, on your materials. Evaluate ease of use, setup time, and repeatability. Also, spend time understanding your relationship with the manufacturer — service responsiveness, parts availability, and long-term support often matter more than incremental differences in speed or resolution.”

Finally, Crawford says, “Don’t make a purchase solely on purchase price. Consider the overall print quality, productivity, efficiency, and ease of use to determine life-time value. Make your decision based
on those factors, as well as the warranty and level of service/support the manufacturer provides.”

In the end, there are no bad options. All of today’s wide-format inkjet devices and OEMs bring solid equipment and service to the table. It comes down to specifics. Choosing a new press should be done with deliberate care to ensure it will serve for many years to come, no matter what is thrown its way.