67 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 266 - August | September 2026 HYBRID PRINTERS | JONATHAN PERT Hybrid by Name, Hybrid byNature Another UK company that has detailed knowledge on hybrid print technologies is the aptly named Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland. Among its many offerings is the Mimaki UJ330H-160, a new hybrid UV inkjet printer that enables switching between roll media and rigid substrates. According to Andrew Edwards, partner sales manager for Sign & Graphics at Hybrid Services, the origins of the UJ330H-160 date back almost two decades, when Mimaki offered a UV hybrid printer that used pinch rollers and folding tables for flexible roll and rigid media production. He explains: “While this was a popular machine, research has since then focused on dedicated roll-fed and flatbed machines, until the recent launch of the UJ330H-160. Drawing on its expertise in both roll fed and flatbed technologies alongside its LED UV ink development, the new hybrid UV printer brings together the key strengths of the Japanese manufacturer’s hugely successful UCJV330 and JFX ranges.” The UJ330H-160 is designed to address multiple challenges faced by PSPs. This includes a highly compact footprint, which offers a solution for businesses operating in older or smaller premises. With a front-to-back measurement of just 785mm, the printer can fit through standard single doors making it immediately attractive to companies that may have space but can’t easily access it. As Edwards puts it: “For a sign-maker and PSP who would have hitherto outsourced their rigid media work because of access, floorspace, or simply budget to invest in a dedicated flatbed printer, it very readily brings the capability in house.” Edwards also says that customers appreciate the flexibility that the printer offers, with it capable of printing a vast range of media including roll-fed materials and boards up to 8’ x 4’ in size. While a sign-maker may have had to previously print roll media and then apply to board, they can remove a layer of cost and additional process by simply printing direct to rigid materials on the new machine. Edwards comments: “Starting from under £36,000 including a set of tables and Mimaki’s powerful RasterLink RIP software, it completely rewrites the rulebook for this sector.” By utilising a proprietary vacuum belt, the UJ330H removes the need for pinch rollers to transport roll and rigid materials through the printer. This can resolve the challenges presented by delicate media such as leather and vegan leather, some window films, heavy gauge magnetic rolls, and other softer substrates that are prone to denting from the pressure created by pinch rollers. Edwards adds: “The Mimaki UJ330H-160 enables a print company to be incredibly agile, covering almost every application conceivable across both roll and rigid media.” According to Edwards, the response from customers and reseller partners has been extremely enthusiastic, with the first set of machines already installed in the UK. He attributes this to UJ330H-160’s price-to-performance ratio in contrast to full-size flatbed printers, which many PSPs may have found financially out of reach in the current economic climate. He adds: “We’re also seeing customers who had previously looked at alternative hybrid UV printers, but found them too large for their premises, choose the Mimaki because its compact footprint makes access to their premises possible.” The UJ330H-160 will have a prime position on Hybrid’s stand at The Print Show 2026. Sitting alongside a wide range of the latest Mimaki technology on the largest stand Hybrid has ever had at the exhibition, it is set to be a key focus for demonstrations throughout the show. For those that want to see the machine in action and can’t make it to Hybrid’s purpose-built showroom in Crewe, The Print Show will offer a unique opportunity. The Full Ecosystem We conclude our look into hybrid print solutions with digital printing equipment manufacturer, Roland DG. The company offers a range of belt-driven hybrid UV models including the 64-inch print-andcut TrueVIS LG-640, which supports optional extension tables to process semi-rigid stock alongside traditional rolls. The range also includes the more entry-level TrueVIS MG-640, which ▲TheMimaki UJ330H-160 offers a front-to-back measurement of just 785mm The Mimaki UJ330H-160 enables a print company to be incredibly agile, covering almost every application conceivable across both roll and rigid media
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