THE NEXT EVOLUTION IN MIMAKI WIDE FORMAT INNOVATION

Print production is evolving fast. Customers expect shorter turnaround times, more customisation and a broader range of materials. Meanwhile, print facilities face tighter labour markets, limited floor space and increasing pressure on capital investment. For many shops, the challenge is no longer print quality alone, but how to grow services and revenue without growing complexity.

The Mimaki UJ330H160 was designed specifically for this moment. Positioned as Mimaki’s ‘next evolution in wide format innovation’, it delivers true hybrid production – roll and rigid in a single system. At the same time, it removes the traditional barriers of space, cost and workflow inefficiency. For growing print shops, educational institutions and in-plant facilities, the UJ330H160 represents not just a new printer, but a new way to do business.

At its core, the UJ330H160 dramatically expands what a single device can produce. Facilities can continue printing familiar roll applications – such as banners, wallpaper, window graphics, films and soft signage – while adding direct-to-board production without outsourcing or secondary processes.

Rigid applications, including foam board, PVC, acrylic, corrugated board and aluminium composite panels, can now be printed fully in-house, such as standard 4×8 board sizes. With support for materials up to 50.8mm thick, the UJ330H160 unlocks opportunities that previously required a flatbed printer, mounting tables or third-party vendors.

This shift is especially powerful for smaller shops and educational or corporate in-plant facilities. Instead of turning down rigid work or losing considerable margin by outsourcing, it becomes possible to offer a vastly broader service menu, attract new customers and keep more revenue under one roof.

“One of the UJ330H160’s most disruptive advantages is its physical footprint”

One of the UJ330H160’s most disruptive advantages is its physical footprint. Traditional flatbed printers and many hybrid systems demand deep chassis designs and extensive in-feed and out-feed space, putting them out of reach for many facilities. Just getting them into the print shop can be expensive and time-consuming without the correct door opening size. The UJ330H160 changes that equation.

With a main unit depth – without tables – of just over 76cms, the UJ330H160 has the smallest profile of any commercially available hybrid printer. This compact design allows shops to literally roll the printer in through any standard size door and plug it into 110v outlets. As a result, printers are able to add true roll and rigid capability without sacrificing floor space or reconfiguring their entire production environment.

For facilities that do not currently have the space or capital expenditure for a large flatbed, the UJ330H160 makes hybrid production a realistic, scalable upgrade.

“The UJ330H160 balances productivity with precision”

At the heart of the UJ330H160 is Mimaki’s newly developed vacuum belt transport system. This system is engineered to provide stable, consistent media handling across both roll and rigid applications.

Unlike traditional grip-roller systems that support media at points, the belt transport system supports materials across their entire surface. This results in dramatically improved stability, reduced wrinkling and virtually no roller marks – even on transparent or delicate media.

The system combines three stabilisation mechanisms:

Auto vacuum – with segmented zone control that applies suction only where needed.

Rear clamp rollers – correcting lift and warp during transport.

Power lock rollers – managing edge curl and leading-edge deformation.

The result is reliable transport of both rigid media, thin films, soft-signage fabrics, stretchable media and speciality substrates down to 1mm thickness. These materials were previously difficult or impossible to handle consistently.

Speed only matters if quality keeps up. The UJ330H160 leverages Mimaki’s proven 330 print engine, delivering exceptional image quality while maintaining practical production speeds.

With throughput of up to 7217.6cms/h – in four-colour, high-speed mode – the UJ330H160 balances productivity with precision. Solid colours remain uniform, gradients are smooth and skin tones are rendered cleanly, even at speed.

Mimaki’s core imaging technologies ensure reduced banding, consistent dot placement and smooth tonal transitions. This makes output suitable for high-visibility retail, brand-critical graphics and premium applications.

Rigid printing is where the business impact becomes most tangible, unlocking new revenue streams. Many shops lose margin by outsourcing rigid-board printing or sacrifice productivity by printing on vinyl and mounting boards in-house. The UJ330H160 eliminates both.

By printing directly onto rigid substrates, facilities can remove mounting steps, reduce labour, shorten lead times and deliver more consistent results. Jobs that once required multiple processes or external vendors can now be completed start-to-finish on one machine.

For sign makers, event producers, educational institutions and in-plant teams, this means faster turnaround, higher margins and greater control over quality and schedules.

Included RasterLink7 RIP software further enhances efficiency. With its multi-page layout functionality, operators can print up to seven boards at once. As a result, handling time can be reduced and throughput maximised. This is especially true for small-lot, high-mix production. This capability is critical in today’s market, where short runs and customisation are the norm, rather than the exception.

From an investment perspective, the UJ330H160 delivers compelling economics. Purchasing a roll printer and a flatbed separately, requires higher capital investment, more space and greater operational complexity. The UJ330H160 delivers both capabilities in a single system – at a significantly lower cost – providing production flexibility without exceeding budget.

The Mimaki UJ330H160 is more than a hybrid printer. It is a growth platform. It is designed to help facilities vastly expand services, attract new customers and protect margins, without increasing complexity.

With the smallest footprint in its class, rapid switching between roll and rigid, outstanding speed and image quality – 
and the ability to bring high-value rigid production fully in-house – the UJ330H160 opens the doors to what a growing print facility can achieve. For shops ready to do more with less, the future is hybrid and it starts with the UJ330H160.