OEM aims to accelerate switch to digital for small and medium printing companies with new “low cost” devices.
Pro Print reported on the launch of three low-volume 300 series latex printers by HP, as well as its Designjet Z6600 and Z6800 inkjet printers, with the OEM claiming that the latex printers will “slash turnaround times in half” while the inkjet devices “will boost print speeds by up to 50 percent”.
The devices, which have been launched in Sydney, are designed for small and medium printers that are “increasingly interested in short run work” but looking to save money, with prices ranging between AUS$18,500 (US$17,000/€12,400) and AUS$34,500 (US$32,000/€23,000).
Jeremy Brew, Sign and Display Application Specialist for HP South Pacific, stated that the OEM plans for its new latex printers to become the new standard in flexible signage production using “cleaner, more efficient latex technology”.
He commented: “Latex gives printers huge flexibility as it can print on any media, unlike solvent-based models – it has nearly unlimited applications […] it’s dry and ready to go as it comes off the printer and is easy to use for even the smallest print shop with a simple operation design and automated daily maintenance. There is no easier to use printer of its type on the market.”
Noting that latex is an area of high growth for the company, with HP expecting 50 percent of its low-volume sales to be latex by 2018 and claiming 60 percent market share in the three-metre category – 30 percent of which are first-time latex users, Brew explained that “most of the growth is coming from printers switching from eco-solvent to latex”.
Jeff de Kleijn, Sign and Display Director and General Manager at HP Asia Pacific and Japan, highlighted the issues faced by small to medium printing companies as they “face the challenge of simultaneously addressing more applications to reach more customers while reducing costs and fitting into smaller spaces”; with Brew explaining that the low cost and compact size of the new devices make them a “viable” choice for those looking to go digital but who “lack the floor space or funds for new investment”.
The new 300 series feature a new optimiser design and print resolution of 1200 dpi, using water-based ink that is “eco-friendly, scratch-resistant and has user-replaceable heads”. The total consumable cost of the devices, including the average life expectancy of print heads, comes to around AUS$260 (US$241/€174) per litre compared to more than AUS$1,500 (US$1,400/€1,000) for the print head alone on a solvent printer.
Meanwhile the Designjet Z6600 and Z6800 are said to be “the world’s fastest 60-inch graphics production printers”, with the former using 30 percent less ink than previous models and the latter using “advanced colour management features” including an embedded spectrophotometer and HP Chromatic Red ink.
Further features of the printers include anti-sway bars and built-in take-up reels, print speeds of up to 140 square metres an hour in fast mode and 20 square metres an hour in high quality mode, and the ability to print unattended 24/7 in “colour that will last 200 years”. In addition, easy user changeability means that users “can change consumables and heads themselves and can tell the printer to work without certain features” if they fail.
Craig Hardman, Designjets Production Manager at HP South Pacific, said: “We are expanding our offering to grow the market into new sizes and applications. More models gives customers more choice to suit their needs […] we want a broad range of solutions to deliver the highest production capability.”
In terms of costs, the Z6800 is priced at AUS$28,050 (US$26,000/€18,700) and the Z6600 at AUS$22,550 (US$21,000/€15,000).
Tags: HP, Products & Technology, Australia