However, there is still a market for these proofers and, in January, distribution of DuPont’s analogue and digital proofing products was taken on by GPS, part of the Wifac Group.
DuPont high-end systems, such as the Cromalin AQ, B-Series and Blue, are still distinguished products, says GPS international dealer manager Wim Plaggenburg. There is still a lot of demand for these machines and GPS is offering used and refurbished products to the market with warranty, training and support.
Launched in 2000, the AQ2 and AQ4 both incorporated gamut-enhanced inks, engineered by DuPont, that could match 95 per cent of the standard Pantone range. This appealled to the packaging and commercial markets as well as the glossy magazine and heatset web market.
The AQ series was DuPont’s top-of the-range machine and is a continuous-flow inkjet proofer with a high-resolution mode of 600/1,200dpi. It followed DuPont’s Cromalin MX6, launched in 1995, and the AX4, unveiled in 1996. The AX4 was also a continuous-flow inkjet machine with an automatic loading unit and 50 sheet cassette.
This evolved into the AQ, which gained the attention of the PPA back in 2004 and was one of the first digital proofers to gain the proof4press accreditation. In fact, the Cromalin made the PPA alter its standard to DuPont’s.
In the past, the price of a new Cromalin was high, but today an AQ4 or AQ2 can be had for less than $AU19,000. The AQ has been superseded by the Blue series, which Plaggenburg says is now the top-of-the-range machine and sells for around $AU34,000, although the price is coming down.
The machine uses a printhead that allows for 1,500dpi at a speed of 12 minutes for B2 or seven minutes for B3. Although DuPont has pulled out of the hardware market, GPS has continued development of Cromalin and launched a range of software products three months ago.
We introduced the GPS X-Proof and GPS X-proof Xtra proofing systems, says Plaggenburg. X-proof Xtra is targeted at high-quality proofing for production applications such as offset, flexo and silkscreen. X-proof is a combination of sophisticated colour management software.
We are also in the process of introducing a proofing system for packaging printers in a couple of months, continues Plaggenburg. This product may be positioned on the level of B-series and Blue with extra features. This will include consumer control, certification control, i-certification, transparent proofing and comprehensive spot-colour control.
He adds that DuPont’s global customer base has been waiting for the next generation of proofing products for some time, but despite the changes to DuPont’s structure and the advance of soft proofing systems, there seems to be life in the old hard-proofing dog yet.
SPECIFICATIONS
Max imaging speed AQ and AX: 12 minutes A3 proof, iG: nine minutes per A3 proof
Resolution 600/1,200/1,500dpi
What to look for
• Ink delivery pipes, tubes and connectors
• Auto-loading mechanisms
• Hard disk on the internal PC
• Controller
Read the original article at www.printweek.com.
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