UNDER THE HOOD / LIYU Q2 & Q3 HYBRID 23 Issue 248 - August / September 2023 email: news@signlink.co.uk ▲ Both machines have been designed with a sturdy overarch which carries the printhead Liyu International is a name that may not be immediately known, however, the company is one of the new up-and-coming Asian manufacturers of a range of computer-based equipment. Prior to this over the past 20 years, Liyu has focused on the production of wide-format printers. Originally founded in 1993, Liyu Company started producing computer equipment and this experience and product knowledge gave it the option to produce the first Chinese plotters with the company priding itself on producing all parts for this equipment in-house. As stated, in 2004 Liyu decided it had the relevant experience to produce large-format printers for the high-end products used in point of display, marketing, and many other applications requiring large coverage with high-quality printed images. Two decades on and Liyu International has distributors over many European countries and throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Showing dedication to building markets far to the west of China, Liyu International now has headquarters in Ankara, Turkey and a large showroom in Milan, Italy. This certainly demonstrates the view that the product has a place up against the better-established manufacturers. Liyu International has over 15 different machines all under the branding of ‘Platinum’ and the two printers this article will review are the Platinum Q2 Hybrid and the Platinum Q3 Hybrid, both being high-volume hybrid inkjet printers. All In One Liyu International describes the two printers as ‘all in one’, and when you look in detail at the specification, you can easily see why this phrase is used. Both machines have been designed with a sturdy overarch which carries the printhead spanning 2,050mm for the Q2 printer and 3,200mm for the Q3 model. The printhead is driven precisely by servo-motors and you can see the quality of the build in the use of linear bearings ensuring the printhead does not deviate from the designated position. Only by building with this depth of quality can you be sure you can reach the elevated resolution of 2,880dpi. Liyu has not only focused its attention on moving and supporting the printhead, but the manufacturer has paid particular attention to the way the material is either transported or held when being printed. Both machines can print on roll or sheet substrates up to 50mm in thickness and Liyu has designed what it calls the strong ‘quadro’ local vacuum. This grasps the substrate firmly to the machine bed to ensure when the printhead passes over the substrate, it is in the same place every time. Obviously, you can have the architecture but the deployment of the ink is the vital component and Liyu has gone for some of the best printheads on the market; either the Konica Minolta 1024i, Ricoh Gen5 or as recently announced the Ricoh Gen6 updated version of the Japanese giant’s printhead. Ink droplet deployment is available in four different volumes; 13, 7, 6 and 5 picolitres. Colourful Print The Q2 and Q3 come with various resolutions, the highest being 2,880dpi but lower output at higher speed is possible at 2,400dpi and 1,220dpi respectively. This is accompanied by the printers having eight colours available which would be expected Liyu International has been producing high-quality inkjet printers for the point of display and advertising industries for nearly 20 years. Brian Sims takes a look at two of its hybrid models The Promising Newcomer The Platinum Q2 Hybrid and Platinum Q3 Hybrid inkjet printers both use Ricoh Gen6 printheads Printheads Konica Minolta 1024i - Ricoh Gen5/Gen6 Colours CMYK + Lc + Lm + W + V Resolution 2,880dpi - 1,200dpi - 2,400dpi Print Width (Q2) 2,050mm (Q3) 3,200mm Statistics
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