Since Roland DG’s inception in the early 80’s, the company has gone through some remarkable phases of evolution. Starting with analogue to digital converters, moving through musical synthesisers, then into our first digital X-Y plotter. This became the foundation for later products that would go head to head with the likes of Hewlett Packard and Calcomp in the mainstream engineering and architectural CAD plotter market.

By the mid 90’s Roland DG was the world leader in production and distribution of Sign Writing machines with a range of vinyl cutters, engravers and a range of desktop milling machines that can be used for everything from jewellery making to engineering prototyping.

Roland DG’s first Ink-Jet was designed with UV stability and production reliability as the two key product specifications. Roland DG was the first to combine piezo head technology with a bulk, cartridge based ink system. Now nozzle failures were a thing of the past. The machine runs pigment inks which have proven to be colour stable in outdoor applications with prints lasting over three years.

Roland DG’s second generation Ink-Jet, the Hi Fi-Jet, combined two significant developments that made it an ideal machine for Digital Pre-Press. The first barrier removed was resolution. The new machines could print up to 1440 dpi, which produce a print with a quality that matched 150 lpi. The second was colour reproduction.

Roland DG proceeded to form a strategic alliance with Pantone to produce the world’s first Pantone Calibrated, Hexachrome Ink-Jet. Roland DG’s Pantone Calibrated, Hexachrome machines  reproduce a staggering 97% of the PMS colours.

By solving the gamut limitations of a pigment based ink-jet, Roland DG had also produced a machine that had a CMYK gamut that mapped almost perfectly with an Offset Press. When utilising the increased gamut of the Hexachrome, orange and green inks, the machine can accurately simulate PMS spot colour.

Today Roland DG provides a range of services to people in need of colour work flow and colour management advice throughout New Zealand and Australia. Roland DG was appointed Pantone Key Graphics distributor for the South Pacific region and also distributes colour control product produced the GAIN (formerly known as the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation or GATF).

Engineered for performance, Roland wide-format inkjet printers are ideal for the creation of signs, banners, vehicle wraps, decals, labels, posters, trade show exhibits, retail displays and apparel decoration.

Roland DG continues to pioneer new technology with the recent release of the world’s first UV inkjet printer/cutter - the Versa UV LEC-300.

The LEC-300 utilises the latest in UV print technology, from wide gamut ultra flexible UV inks to economical and long lasting LED UV curing lamps. Hybrid print and contour cut functionality, high density white ink and the ability to print a UV clear in matte, gloss or a 3D emboss mode are some of the other unique features of the LEC-300.

In 2008, Roland introduced ECO-UV inks for the VersaUV LEC-300, the industry’s most advanced UV inks.  ECO-UV inks are offered in CMYK+White+Clear Coat to facilitate a wide range of packaging and prototyping applications.

Roland DG also is leading the way in specialised technologies for the Industrial Arts, design and technology markets with a range of 3D milling, modelling and engraving machines, as well as market-leading vinyl cutters. Roland’s subtractive rapid prototyping (SRP™) products include 3D laser scanners and CNC milling machines that together serve as complete design-to-finish prototype solutions. Targeted for engineers, CAD/CAM professionals, educators, jewellery designers and other professionals involved in product design applications, Roland SRP products offer high levels of precision at affordable price points.

Loaded with high-speed and high-precision technologies, Roland engravers produce everything from awards and gift engraving to ADA signage, custom apparel decoration including rhinestone motifs and personalized jewellery. These innovative devices combine remarkable versatility and ease of use with unsurpassed value. Each one is backed by the best support in the industry and comes bundled with a complete suite of powerful software.