Why the Mimaki UJ330H-160 Might Be the Printer to Watch in 2027
Every year, new printing equipment hits the market promising better speeds, higher quality, and improved efficiency. But every once in a while, a printer comes along that offers something much more exciting: the ability to completely change what your business can offer.
For us at Blue Ridge Screen Products, the Mimaki UJ330H-160 Hybrid UV Printer is one of those machines.
It's easily one of our favorite printers of 2026, and we believe it could be one of the most impactful printers for growing print businesses in 2027.
Why? One word: versatility.
One Printer. Two Worlds of Opportunity.
Traditionally, print shops have had to choose between equipment designed for roll-to-roll printing and machines built for rigid materials.
If you're producing UV decals, window graphics, wall coverings, or other roll media, you probably already have a roll-to-roll printer. If you're making rigid signage, you're likely using a flatbed printer or outsourcing that production.
The Mimaki UJ330H-160 brings those capabilities together into one system.
With a printing width of approximately 64 inches and support for rigid materials up to 2 inches thick, the UJ330H-160 can take on everything from flexible films to large-format rigid signage.
Think about what that means for your business.
If you're already selling UV decals and stickers to local businesses, why not offer those same customers rigid signs, branded displays, and other promotional products?
If you're already producing signage, why not expand into custom wearable patches and specialty UV products?
You're not starting an entirely new business. You're expanding what your existing business can do.
And that's what makes this printer so exciting.
The Vacuum Belt System Changes the Roll-to-Roll Experience
One of our favorite features of the UJ330H-160 is its innovative vacuum belt transport system.
Many traditional roll-to-roll printers rely on pinch rollers and grit rollers to move media through the machine. The UJ330H-160 uses a full-surface vacuum conveyor belt to help keep materials stable as they travel through the printing area.
That might sound like a relatively small difference, but when you're working with specialty UV applications, it's a big deal.
One of the coolest things you can do with UV printing is build up multiple layers of ink to create raised textures and dimensional effects.
We're talking about graphics that don't just look good. They have texture you can actually feel.
The UJ330H-160 supports multilayer printing, clear ink finishes, and pullback printing workflows that make these effects possible.
With properly calibrated pullback registration, you can make multiple printing passes to build texture and dimension. The vacuum conveyor helps maintain stable media positioning, which is especially valuable when those layers need to line up accurately.
This opens up some incredibly creative applications, including UV patches designed to mimic the appearance of embroidery, silicone, and other dimensional finishes.
Registration is everything when you're stacking ink. Having a machine designed around stable media transport makes these specialty applications much more practical.
And the best part? You're getting these capabilities on a printer that's already an excellent roll-to-roll UV production machine.
From UV Stickers to Rigid Signs: Grow With the Customers You Already Have
Let's say your business currently specializes in UV stickers, decals, and promotional graphics.
You've already spent time developing relationships with your customers. They trust your work, they understand your quality, and they're already buying from you.
But when they need a rigid sign for their storefront, a display for an upcoming event, or a branded panel for their business, they might have to go somewhere else.
With the UJ330H-160, that doesn't have to be the case.
Now you can offer those additional services yourself.
Instead of focusing entirely on finding new customers, you can increase the number of products your existing customers purchase from you.
We think this is one of the most overlooked opportunities for growth in the printing industry.
Customer acquisition takes time and money. Expanding your services to people who already know and trust your business can be a much more efficient way to generate additional revenue.
The UJ330H-160 makes that type of horizontal growth possible without needing two separate, dedicated production printers.
Already in the Sign Business? Let's Talk About Patches.
Now let's flip that scenario around.
Maybe your shop already specializes in signage. You're printing window graphics, banners, wall coverings, and rigid displays.
With the Mimaki UJ330H-160, you've also got the opportunity to start exploring wearable UV patches.
And in many cases, getting started can be as simple as adding the right specialty TPU film and transfer workflow to your existing capabilities.
TPU film offers exciting opportunities for creating flexible, dimensional patches that can be applied to hats, apparel, bags, and other products.
The UJ330H-160 uses Mimaki's flexible LUS-170 UV ink, making it particularly interesting for these types of applications. Combined with the right TPU media, adhesive, and heat application process, the flexible ink can accommodate movement in the finished patch.
You can also use layered printing and clear ink to create unique finishes, including raised embroidery-inspired designs or smooth, silicone-style effects.
As with any wearable application, proper testing for adhesion, flexibility, and wash durability is important.
But think about the potential.
That customer who orders storefront signage might also need branded hats for employees.
The restaurant purchasing window graphics might need patches for staff uniforms.
The contractor ordering vehicle graphics might want branded workwear.
You're already doing business with these customers. Now you have another reason for them to come back.
If you're interested in seeing what's possible with TPU film, check out our Blue Ridge University guide to creating embroidered-look UV patches.
More Than Just Printing: Premium Finishes Without Extra Steps
Another feature we love about the UJ330H-160 is its ability to produce both matte and gloss clear ink finishes.
Clear ink can add depth, highlight specific areas of a design, or create a premium appearance that helps printed products stand out.
In certain applications, clear UV ink can also provide the desired surface finish without requiring an additional lamination step.
That can mean fewer production steps, faster turnaround, and more opportunities to create specialty products.
Of course, lamination may still be necessary for applications requiring additional abrasion resistance, environmental protection, or specific durability standards.
But having the option to create different finishes directly on the printer is another advantage of UV technology.
Why We're So Excited About the UJ330H-160 for 2027
There are plenty of great printers on the market, but what makes the Mimaki UJ330H-160 stand out to us isn't just its specifications.
It's the combination of what it does well and what it makes possible.
It's a powerful roll-to-roll UV printer. It's a capable rigid-substrate printer. It can produce dimensional graphics, specialty finishes, and unique products that allow businesses to differentiate themselves.
And it does all of that without requiring separate machines for every application.
For print businesses looking to grow in 2027, we think versatility is going to matter more than ever.
The goal isn't necessarily to completely change what your business does. Sometimes the smartest move is to build on what you're already good at.
More products. More applications. More opportunities to serve the customers you already have.
That's why the Mimaki UJ330H-160 is one of our favorite printers of 2026, and why we believe it could become one of the most exciting equipment investments for print shops in 2027.
Ready to Explore What's Possible?
At Blue Ridge Screen Products, we're passionate about helping print businesses find equipment that creates real opportunities for growth.
Whether you're looking to upgrade your roll-to-roll UV production, bring rigid signage in-house, or expand into specialty products like dimensional TPU patches, we'd love to talk about what the Mimaki UJ330H-160 could do for your business.
