Mutoh Announces New Environmentally Friendly Printer Solution

ValueJet 1608-64” Hybrid Using EPA Recognized MUBIO INK

Phoenix, AZ (October 2007) - Mutoh America Inc. wide-format printer manufacturer announces an environmentally friendly printer called the ValueJet 1608-64” (Hybrid) using Mutoh’s NEW MUBIO Ink. The printer will be deputed at SGIA in Orlando, FL located at the Orange County Convention Center booth #2254.

Finally a flatbed with brilliant results at a price you can afford, reaching speeds up to 140
square feet an hour in production mode. For the first time Mutoh brings you a printer you can use for both car wraps and rigid substrates. Mutoh’s new ValueJet 1608 – Hybrid printers print directly onto corrugated plastics, polystyrene, PVC, acrylic, Polycarbonate, foam board, aluminum composite, banner, wall covering and more.

“Our new ValueJet 1608 will be great for Sign Shops who are producing In- Store POP while protecting and preserving the environment, says Randy Rickert, Director of Sales, Service and Marketing.

Mutoh’s new MUBIO INK is recognized by the EPA Design for the Environment program. The ink is composed of 80% plant derived substances, contains no harmful VOC’s and has faster drying times. The ValueJet Hybrid features drop–on–demand Micro Piezo Inkjet Technology. It is a 4-color printer with a maximum resolution of 1440 dpi, and automatic media thickness detection. The MUBIO INK is available in 880 ml ink packs.

Using Dynamic Variable Dot Imaging Technology, each ink droplet is individually adjusted to provide high speed and high quality with low ink consumption. Each head allows print resolutions of 1400 x 720 dpi, 1440 x 1440 dpi, 540 x 720 dpi and 720 x 720 dpi.

The new printers incorporate Mutoh’s Intelligent Interweaving print technique (i² - pronounced i-squared). Mutoh has taken a totally new approach with its i² technology. Ink is laid down carefully in optimized wave forms, not in straight lines used in traditional printing practices. This approach drastically reduces or even eliminates typical inkjet printing artifacts such as horizontal banding, step mismatch banding, ink mottle, etc. In short, i² will allow bi-directional printing of all images, even for the most critical jobs.

The new ValueJet 1608 Hybrid printer will be delivered standard with an ink starter kit (2 x 4 CMYK) and table. Pricing is TBD and the printers will become available for shipping near the end of January 2008.

About Mutoh
Mutoh Industries, Ltd. was founded in 1952 in Tokyo, Japan, to manufacture and distribute mechanical drafting products. Mutoh later introduced a broad line of flatbed and roll-fed pen/pencil plotters that established Mutoh as a worldwide leader in X-Y motion systems and printer and plotter technology. Since then, ISO9000-certified Mutoh Industries, Ltd. has become the world's foremost manufacturer of large format piezoelectric printers. Mutoh manufactures printers and related peripherals for some of the biggest names in the pre-press, sign and graphics industries. Mutoh has key engineering manufacturing and distribution centers in Japan, Belgium and Tempe, Arizona, home to subsidiary Mutoh America.

For more information about Mutoh America, please email us at sales@mutoh.com or by calling 602-414-4613, or 800-99-MUTOH (800-996-8864).