Mimaki Expanding the Possibilities of Print Business and Supporting Growth Introducing the Roll-to-Roll UV Printer “NEXA-160UV”

Equipped with the Newly Developed “ALS-150” UV Ink for Emerging Markets  Launching in China at SIGN CHINA 2026 Shanghai in September

Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture; President and CEO: Kazuaki Ikeda) has announced the “NEXA-160UV,” a roll-to-roll UV inkjet printer designed for China and other emerging Asian markets. The company will debut the model at “SIGN CHINA 2026 Shanghai,” to be held in Shanghai, China, starting September 15th.

In growth markets where price competition is intensifying, the NEXA-160UV offers the high quality, stable operation, and ease of use that have been chosen by customers worldwide, at a price that makes the printer easy to adopt. The model is also equipped with the newly developed “ALS-150” UV ink, designed for the operating environments and applications of emerging markets. From high-quality graphics to high-value-added expressions made possible by white and clear inks, the NEXA-160UV expands the possibilities of customers’ print businesses and supports their long-term growth.

In China and other rapidly growing emerging economies in Asia, demand for indoor and outdoor advertising and promotional materials continues to rise, driven by urban development, new commercial facilities, and the expansion of the retail, food service, and entertainment markets. At the same time, the growing availability of lower-priced products is intensifying price competition.

To improve profitability and grow their print businesses, customers need more than an affordable initial investment. Stable print quality, maintenance functions that help minimize problems, ease of use regardless of operator experience, and the expressive capabilities to produce high-value-added applications are also essential.

The NEXA-160UV was developed to meet these practical needs in growth markets, combining the “Same Great Quality” trusted by customers worldwide with competitive pricing.

The NEXA-160UV supports a wide range of roll media, including PVC film for signage and poster paper, as well as transparent film for glass decoration and flame-retardant interior films . In addition to standard CMYK inks, it is equipped with white and clear inks, enabling vivid designs that stand out even on glass surfaces such as windows, as well as premium-looking, high-value-added designs that make full use of textured effects created with clear ink

Equipped with a highly precise print head, the NEXA-160UV utilizes our proprietary image quality control technology to produce uniform, streak-free solid colors and naturally reproduce photographs and facial expressions . In Standard Mode, it achieves a high productivity rate of 17.0 m²/h, enabling the rapid production of large-format signs and posters while maintaining high image quality.

Leveraging UV printing’s unique capability for multi-layer printing, you can freely express your designs on a variety of substrates, such as transparent and colored films. With up to three layers of printing using white and clear inks, you can create high-value-added applications such as event signs where the same design stands out whether viewed from the inside or outside of a glass surface, as well as upscale store displays . Even with multi-layer printing, the printer achieves a high-speed output of 9.0 m²/h, providing powerful support for the production of highly decorative graphics.

Furthermore, the NEXA-160UV is equipped with features that ensure stable operation regardless of the operator’s experience. Features such as “DAS2” (Figure 5), which automates adjustments during media changes, and a media jam sensor that detects media lift during transport help prevent print errors and equipment malfunctions before they occur, allowing even less-experienced operators to use the machine with confidence. Furthermore, it comes standard with the “Ink Save Function*,” which reduces ink consumption while maintaining image quality, and the “Nozzle Recovery Function,” which allows printing to continue at the same image quality and speed even if nozzle failures occur, supporting stable operation and high productivity in daily production environments.
*These are features of our software RIP, “RasterLink8.”

In addition, the NEXA-160UV is equipped with the newly developed UV ink “ALS-150.” ALS-150 offers excellent scratch resistance and is less prone to leaving marks when pressed with a squeegee during film installation, allowing for a smooth transition from printing to installation.

In addition to major trade shows in various countries, this product is scheduled to be unveiled sequentially at invitation-only exhibitions organized by our sales network.

Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. with its management vision of “Something New, Something Different,” and we are constantly working on new technological innovations. We will continue to provide the market with higher value-added visual communication by beautiful expressing our customers’ creation with our unique technology.

Main Specifications

*ALS-150 ink is available in specific countries and regions.

*Specifications, designs, dimensions, and other information stated in this list may be subject to change without notice due to technical improvement etc.