Q&A: Inside Roland’s DTO Printers for Promotional Products Decoration

By Allee Bruce

Editor's Note: This article was written for Promo Impressions. For more content on promotional products decoration, be sure to subscribe to the biweekly newsletter at PromoImpressions.com.

In March, Roland DGA announced the launch of a new compact printing solution – the MO-180 benchtop UV flatbed printer. The company shares some key highlights, including:

Compact size with speed: It fits in small spaces but delivers high-speed performance with dual staggered printheads and up to 20.48 sq.ft./hr. print speed.

Expanded color and effects: Uses EUV5 inks, including orange, red, white, gloss, and primer.

Versatile media handling: Prints on objects up to 8" thick and supports cylindrical items with an optional rotary unit.

Operation and smart tools: Features a 7" touchscreen, auto-cleaning, VersaWorks 7 RIP software, and access to Roland DG Connect for remote monitoring, support, and workflow optimization.

To understand more about the MO-180 desktop UV printer, its larger MO-240 counterpart, and how they serve the promotional products space, Promo Impressions chatted with Philip Chu, UV printer product manager, Roland DGA for some insight.

PRI: For those looking to bring more promotional products production in-house, how do the MO-240 and MO-180 make it more doable?

PC: Roland DG’s VersaOBJECT MO Series UV flatbed printers are perfect for those seeking to increase their in-house production of promotional products and for many other applications. Perhaps the biggest advantages these compact yet powerful benchtop UV flatbeds provide are that they deliver high-quality UV direct-printing capabilities at attractive pricing, while also taking up very little space.

Not long ago, buying a UV flatbed was considered to be a ‘large’ purchase, as these were primarily large-format machines with 48x96" print areas that were priced up to $200,000. That limited this type of purchase to larger shops with bigger budgets. Now, with the availability of advanced VersaOBJECT benchtop-sized flatbeds like the VersaOBJECT MO-240 and the new MO-180, which offer the ideal balance of capabilities and cost, high-quality, high-productivity direct-to-object printing is now within the reach of smaller print providers.

For those looking to do volume production with these benchtop flatbeds with bed sizes of 24x18" and 18x12" respectively, getting fixtures and jigs made is easy, so you are working smarter, not harder, to meet the demands of your customers.

PRI: What kind of edge do the EUV5 UV inks give promotional products decorators?

PC: The biggest benefit of the red and orange inks, which are options with Roland DG’s EUV5 UV inks for the MO Series UV printers, is the deep and vibrant color gamut you get compared to traditional CMYK-only ink sets.

White and gloss, also available for the MO Series, makes it possible to add eye-catching special effects, such as unique textures and simulated embossing, into prints. The addition of such effects make for graphics that aren’t just visually stunning but also have tactile appeal. They give promotional products a special look and feel and increase the perceived value of the item. In addition to EUV 5 inks, MO Series users also have the option of using specially formulated, durable, and cost-effective V-BOND ink with their devices.

V-BOND not only images beautifully and adheres well to many different substrates, it’s CPSIA-certified and compliant with California Proposition 65. That provides assurance that it’s safe for use on children’s products, pet products, food packaging, and more. It also works great with the MO Series flatbeds for producing indoor and outdoor signage, and for many other applications.

Items printed used V-BOND inks. | Credit: Roland DGA

PRI: With optional rotary unit, what kind of speeds can the MO-240 and 180 print cylindrical objects?

PC: When using a Rotary Rack unit with an MO-240 or MO-180 to print on cylindrical objects, speeds can vary depending on how large the item is and how many layers of ink are needed.

For example, let’s say you will be adding graphics on a clear water bottle – will you be printing white underneath the entire design? Is the design wrap-around, or will you be printing just on specific spots?

These are the type of factors that can impact overall print speed. With Roland DG’s VersaWorks RIP, however, getting this kind of information is quick and easy. You can enter the diameter of your item, and it will quickly and accurately calculate printhead usage.

PRI: What should folks consider if they’re deciding between the MO-240 and MO-180?

PC: There are a several factors to take into consideration – first and foremost, the variety and quantity of items needed and the space you have in your print environment. A lot of our customers use fixtures or jigs to help them line up their products. While both of the VersaOBJECT MO Series flatbeds are highly productive printers, a device like the MO-240 with a 24x18" print bed will give you more yield than the MO-180 with its 18x12" bed. That’s just basic math. However, let’s say you need a wider variety of products but fewer of them. In that case, table size won’t matter as much due to lower quantity of printed items needed.

Another important consideration is physical space. The footprints of both the MO-240 and MO-180 are significantly smaller than those of large-format UV flatbeds, however, both devices are larger than our VersaSTUDIO desktop UV flatbed – the BD-8. I like to think that the MO-180 is perfect for, let’s say, an online seller looking to do print-on-demand from a converted garage or rental unit. The MO-240, on the other hand, would feel right at home in a sign shop, where in addition to promotional items, it can produce light industrial signage.

Visit rolanddga.com to learn more.