Digital print giant HP is launching a swag of new hardware and software at a customer event in the company’s headquarters in Israel.
Australian printers including Roger Kirwan of Foxcil, Chris Zapris of PMI, which prints for Aussie $1bn rated start up Canva, and Ken Williams of Excel Australasia made the trip to see the technology first hand. HP is supplied by Currie Group in Australia, with Currie’s sales and marketing director Phillip Rennell also attending.
HP launched its new Indigo 12000 HD Digital Press, and says that B2-sized press ‘surpasses offset quality’, using a new High Definition Imaging System, with 48 parallel laser beams and high screen sets up to 290lpi.
The company also launched the HP Indigo 6900 Digital Press for labels, it made the PageWide C500 for mainstream corrugated printing commercially available, it announced improvements to the Indigo 30000 folding carton press.
The new HP Indigo 6900 will be driven by HP’s digital front end technology, Production Pro for Indigo Labels and Packaging, which the company says features five times faster rip power and the Esko Color Engine.
HP says, “The Indigo 12000 HD Digital Press doubles image resolution, delivering sharper print, enabling print service providers to surpass offset quality and open new digital possibilities in high-end commercial and photo applications.”
Having been tested at beta sites in Germany and Italy, HP is now starting commercial shipment of the press.
The labels and packaging focused Indigo 6900 Digital Press can produce high-resistance labels for food, household, chemical, and pharmaceuticals. Four beta sites are currently producing commercial jobs.
The HP Indigo 12000 HD also features ColorUP!, which delivers an extended colour gamut using colour profiles to expand the on-press colour gamut using additional hits of CMY inks.
In addition there is now HP Indigo ElectroInk Vivid Pink and HP Indigo ElectroInk Vivid Green, a new set of brighter inks for high-end photo applications including wedding photography, allow printers to reach more vibrant pink, green and blue shades.
And there is the commercial release of HP Indigo ElectroInk Fluorescent Green, Yellow and Orange, in addition to the previously available Fluorescent Pink.
Alon Bar-Shany, general manager, HP Indigo, says, “HP print service providers are experiencing unprecedented growth and momentum as print buyers, agencies, and brands are looking for ways to connect the online world with the physical world.
“HP's digital print technologies are blending these realities, providing amazing new application opportunities, alongside higher productivity.”
The HP PageWide C500 Press for mainstream corrugated production will begin shipping next month to customers worldwide, and there are significant improvements to the HP Indigo 30000, which the company says are aimed at delivering new opportunities for folding carton converters with up to one million sheets a month, including brand protection and security solutions.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter