Océ has shown an innovative streak in recent years, exemplified by its new CrystalPoint ink jet technology, which has the ink in the form of small balls. Originally devised for the cad / cam and technical drawings market ColorWave is now finding the commercial print market is demanding its capabilities, mainly due to its low cost of ownership and production, which Océ managing director Servio Notermans puts at between a third and half the cost of a regular wide format printer.

Wide format automation was to the fore with the Océ Arizona 350GT and accompanying ProCut automated cutting device. Able to print four colour plus white on a 2.5×3.05m flatbed the Arizona 350GT is developed in Vancouver and aimed at the POS and signage markets. Notermans says that with the Pro Cut it presents a ‘powerful business argument.’

A new Varioprint was launched at the show, the 4000 model, which is base do the 6000 but with lower price point and productivity. Océ is now guaranteeing its 6000 for up to one billion impressions.

It is in high speed reel to reel colour that much interest centres in commercial print, and Océ has been one of the first out of the blocks, claiming a 25 per cent market share. Its Jetstream range of inkjet printers, now available in seven different versions. In newspaper application the Jetstream can produce up to 5000 48pp newspapers an hour, each with variable data if required.

Notermans says, “It is not by accident that Océ is leading the field in high volume colour, we have been working on developing this technology for the past ten years.”

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