SHAWNEE, KS - Nazdar, North America's largest manufacturer and distributor of screen and digital inks, equipment, and supplies, announced that it has signed an agreement to distribute the Matan Spark1612 and Matan Spring12 thermal printers.

According to Nazdar's Digital Product Manager, Dan Wenger, "As digital printing technology continues to develop, Nazdar Digital is expanding its product offerings to reflect the changing needs of our customers. The new Matan thermal machines represent the high quality, cost-effective solution that label and decal printers have been looking for to help them with short run jobs."

Wenger went on to state that the Spark1612 digital thermal transfer printer is the only printer in the mid-size class that can print at widths of both 16" and/or 12", enabling considerable savings on capital expenditure as well as consumables due to reduced ribbon and media wastage. One of the fastest mid-size printers in the market today, the Spark1612 prints any 1-meter application in one minute, enabling hundreds of prints to be produced in a single shift. The Spark1612 prints a true 400 dpi glossy finish at 100% coverage.

The Spark1612 utilizes resin-based ribbons in both CMYK process color as well as 23 spot colors, including white, metallic gold and silver, which are suitable for printing on a wide range of pressure sensitive films, and a selection of specialty products. Wax-resin ribbons in a CMYK set can be printed onto a range of paper and foil label stocks. CMYK dye-sublimation transfer ribbons can produce heat-transfer decals for textiles, ceramics, glass, wood and other surfaces.

According to the company, prints from the Spark1612 are ready for use and require no coating or lamination. They offer outstanding resistance to humidity, UV light, water, abrasion, and industrial and cleaning chemicals. When printed onto durable vinyl films using resin-based ribbons, Spark1612 graphics are warranted to be UV-stable and outdoor weatherable for 4-5 years without top-coating or laminating. Protective over-laminates may extend the outdoor life of printed graphics to as much as 10 years.

The Matan Spring12 is a fully digital 12" industrial thermal printer offering high-speed 6 color output capability in a single pass. Ideal for short runs of labels and decals, the highly efficient Spring12 eliminates the need for films, plates, dies, and make-ready. The Spring12 prints in four, five, or six-color process or a wide range of spot colors, including metallic gold and silver, opaque white, double black, and many others.

Designed to meet the special needs of OEM label and decal manufacturers, both printers utilize Matan's advanced digital thermal transfer technology. No special media is required. Color thermal transfer enables printing directly on any smooth media or transfer to fabrics and provides the UV and scratch resistant durability of screen inks. Available in a wide range of spot colors as well as four-color process and metallics, thermal transfer is extremely fast (over 60 sq. meters per hour) and very cost-effective, making it ideal for short runs.

For further information regarding Matan printers or any of Nazdar's complete line of quality screen printing and digital imaging products, or to find your nearest Nazdar location, visit the Nazdar website at: www.nazdar.com or contact Nazdar at: 8501 Hedge Lane Terrace, Shawnee, KS 66227-3290. Phone: 913-422-1888. Toll-free: 800-767-9942. Fax: 913-422-2296. E-mail: cserv@sourceoneonline.com.