Ricoh has exhibited at China Print in Beijing, China, putting on display its Pro VC80000, launched at drupa, and its Pro Z75 inkjet presses.

Ricoh graphic communications Asia Pacific Customer Experience Center head Alexander Quek took Sprinter on a walk around its stand, highlighting why Ricoh is spearheading digital technology.

“The market itself demands personalisation, media flexibility, and quick turnaround times, combined with declining print volumes,” he said.

“These demands are driving the digital transformation of print because printing on offset just doesn’t make financial sense anymore. Plus, with skilled labour being an issue – necessary to operate offset presses – digital machines are growing in popularity.”

The biggest highlight of the Ricoh stand was the Pro VC80000, Ricoh’s continuous feed high-speed inkjet printing system that has the ability to print from 40gsm inner pages to 300gsm postcards, and support 584mm wide rolls for efficient production of books and publications.

It operates at speeds of up to 150m/min, delivering 1200dpi by 600dpi output. With automated features, it performs preset tasks through the intelligent start-up function to improve work efficiency. The real-time compensation function can dynamically adjust to solve quality problems, improve satisfaction and reduce wastage.

The length of the four-colour, twin-engine printing unit is also less than 9m from beginning to end (excluding the unwinder and rewinder), making it one of the smallest inkjet presses available today.

“The Pro VC80000 is the pinnacle of our inkjet development today. We haven’t launched it here yet, but we already have an installation in China. The key aspect of the Pro VC80000 is the integration of AI and machine learning,” Quek said.

“In the theme of trying to reduce manual interventions as much as possible, AI is able to track what needs to be done for the printer and inform the operator so they can take the necessary preventive measures.

“It also has a ‘Ricoh Smart Start Printing’ feature, where the machine starts up before the shift itself, so that the operator can start printing immediately when they get on site. Plus, the Pro VC80000 is able to check for clogged printheads while it is still printing.

“You get very good front and back registration as well, and that is all controlled by AI. The scanner also does automatic colour registration, colour checking to make sure that colour consistency is there. It’s truly an amazing piece of technology.”

Also on display, amongst other machines, was the Pro Z75, which Ricoh calls “the world’s first B2 perfecting inkjet printing system with water-based pigment ink”.

Its efficient drying technology, automatic double-sided printing, reliable paper transmission and new DFE controller architecture enables productivity. Using 1200dpi × 1200 dpi piezoelectric nozzle technology, clear text and fine lines can be printed.

The four-colour machine with extended gamut ink achieves speeds of up to 4,500 prints/hour, with duplexed sheets delivered at up to 2,250 per hour. It has a wide range of applications and supports printing media from 60gsm to 400gsm. It can achieve excellent quality on uncoated paper such as offset copperplate paper, inkjet paper and offset paper.

It also can handle a variety of applications such as commercial printing such as posters, business cards, albums and customised short-print packaging on B2 paper with a maximum size of 585mm by 750mm.

Quek said the Pro Z75 was developed as part of the offset to digital solution and includes the addition of a few different options to create more flexibility for the user.

“Even for a press of this size, all you need is one operator. We have designed the machine to run in a streamlined way. There is an option to add a pallet feeder if the customer chooses to do so, further automating the machine,” he said.

“Some of the other smart technologies include the printer being able to prepare itself before a work shift. It is also able to detect jet outs and compensate before printing to minimise makeready time.”

The first installation of the Ricoh Pro Z75 in Asia was in Taiwan, since being launched in the region in September 2024.

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