GZ (Gongzheng) ThunderJet Eco-Solvent Printers

Commercial-quality, wide-format printing for growing businesses without the industrial price tag.

Take control of your signage production, point-of-sale displays, window graphics and banners with this full-featured commercial printer. Built for businesses ready to scale beyond heat presses and outsourced vinyl, the AQ1602S delivers precision, durability, and vibrant results at a price that makes sense for small-to-medium operations.Commercial-quality, wide-format printing for growing businesses without the industrial price tag.

What Makes the Thunderjet & the AQ1602S Different?

The AQ1602S isn’t just another wide-format eco-solvent printer; it’s built to bridge the gap between high-volume performance and user-friendly setup.

Included as standard!

GZ Variable Dot Technology

GZ Variable Dot Technolgy delivers flawless skin tones, Smoother Gadiantes with crips & intricate detail with no compromise on speeds

GZ Intelligent Heating Systems

Heated Head Ink delivery system, ensuring smooth delivery of ink flow with stable jetting for colder seasons.

Optimised Cleaning Systems

Single Pass, Capping and wiping docking station for precise control and maintenance easy use

Electronic Driven Pinch Rollers

Electronically controlled pressure adjustable pinch rollers for precise wrinkle free media printing for different media thickness

STANDARD THUNDERJET AQ1602's FEATURES

Perfect For:

What’s Included

When you buy the ThunderJet AQ1602S from YES Group, you get more than a printer you get everything you need to get started with confidence.

Gongzheng AQ1602S 1.6m Eco-Solvent Printer

Dual Epson i3200-E1 print heads (pre-installed)

Bulk ink supply system with a lower cost of usage

Built-in media take-up unit

Internal IR drying system

On-site installation by YES Group-trained engineers

Initial training session (on-site or remote)

12-month parts and labour warranty

Access to ongoing UK-based support

Intelligent Print Head Heating Unit

Need More? See All Our Models Below:

Model Max Width Colours Print Heads Best For
AQ1601S 1600 mm 4 (CMYK) 1 × i3200-E1 Entry Level, Cost-Effective signage production with Photo Quality output
AQ1602S 1600 mm 4 (CMYK) 2 × i3200-E1 High Speed, 100% faster then the AQ1601S with all the same benifits
AQ1802S 1800 mm 4 (CMYK) 2 × i3200-E1 High Speed, Extra width 1.8mtr print width for broader format jobs
AQ1804S 1800 mm 4 (CMYK) 4 × i3200-E1 Ultra High Speed 100% faster than the AQ1802S, Super-wide 1.8mtr banners, vehicle wraps, exhibition graphics
AQ3204S 3200 mm 4 (CMYK) 4 × i3200-E1 Ultra High Speed, throughput for contract or industrial use with a larger print area up to 3.2mtr in width

AQ1602S Technical Specifications

Features

Print Heads

Dual Epson i3200-E1

Print Resolution

Up to 720 × 1800 dpi

Max Print Width

1600 mm

Print Speeds

Draft Speed - (71㎡/h), Production Speed - (51㎡/h), High-Res Speed - (40㎡/h), Photo Quality Speed - (28㎡/h)

Ink Type

Eco-solvent (CMYK)

Ink Supply

Intermediate pressure system, 1.5L per colour

Media Types

Banner, coated PP, vinyl, PVC film, canvas

Max Media Diameter

300 Mm (12 Inch)

Max Roll Weight

50 kg

Core Sizes

3" (76.2mm) or 2" (50.8mm) supported

Power Supply

220V ±10%, 50Hz

Printer Dimensions (L×W×H)

2790 × 790 × 1530 mm

Net Weight

290KGS (Gross) / 190KGS (NET)

Connectivity

External Ethernet + Internal Fibre Optic

Software

PhotoPRINT, Onyx (optional), GZ Printer Manager

We’re With You from Day One

When you buy from YES Group, you get more than a machine. You’re getting:

We’ve been helping UK decorators, printers, and signmakers grow their businesses since 1995.

Not Sure if the AQ1602S Is Right Model for You?

Frequently Asked Questions

Gongzheng ThunderJet AQ1602S Eco-Solvent Printer

What types of materials can I print on with the ThunderJet AQ1602S?

This eco-solvent printer is designed for a wide range of flexible media including self-adhesive vinyl, banner material, PET film, canvas, wallpaper, window cling, and more — perfect for signage, point-of-sale, and promotional graphics.

The ThunderJet AQ1602S uses Epson i3200 printheads to deliver exceptional resolution and colour accuracy — especially on soft signage and wrap films. Unlike latex, eco-solvent ink bonds more naturally to PVC and similar materials, producing more vibrant prints with a thinner ink layer.

The AQ1602S is built for 1.6m (63”) wide media rolls, making it ideal for full-sized banners, posters, and large-format graphics. It includes a heavy-duty feed and take-up system for stable operation on long runs. For wider print widtk’s up to 1800 & 3200mm, you need to look at the AQ1802/4 or AQ3204 series.

While eco-solvent printers aren’t designed for direct-to-garment printing, many customers use the ThunderJet to print onto solvent-compatible transfer films, which can then be heat-pressed onto garments. If you’re looking for direct textile printing, you might want to explore our Coldesi or DTF Station direct to film printers or even our latest direct to garment DTG printers.

Yes. The ThunderJet AQ1602S comes bundled with professional RIP software to manage colour output, nesting, and job queuing. We’ll help you get it set up during your installation and training.

Like all wide-format printers, regular nozzle checks, head cleaning, and capping station maintenance are essential. We provide full training on how to keep your printer running smoothly — and YES Group is just a phone call away if you need support.

Absolutely. If you’re currently outsourcing vinyl or banner printing — or struggling with the limitations of small-format print-and-cut systems — the AQ1602S offers serious productivity gains. It’s built for small-to-medium sign shops ready to grow.

The printer uses eco-solvent inks which are weather-resistant, scratch-resistant, and suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. With proper lamination, outdoor prints can last 3–5 years or more dependent on the media used.

Yes — we keep the AQ1602S in stock and available for live demos. Book an in-person or virtual demonstration and we’ll walk you through everything from media loading to finishing options.

We offer full UK-based installation, on-site or remote training, and lifetime tech support. As a family-run business with real engineers on staff, we don’t just sell printers — we keep them running.

Looking to Print Peel-and-Stick Decals?

If your goal is to print full-colour, cut-free, ready-to-apply decals (especially for hard surfaces, packaging, or product branding), you may be better suited to one of our UV DTF printers from ColDesi.

 

These are designed specifically for decal printing no cutting or weeding required.