Hardware - Industrial Print

HP today announced that The Ad Art Company has invested approximately $5 million in HP Scitex digital large-format printers to capture new sign and display printing opportunities.

 

The new additions, which include two HP Scitex FB7500 Printers and HP Scitex TJ8550, XL1500 and XP2750 printers, will help the Los Angeles-based shop profitably handle print runs that were previously reserved for screen printers. The Scitex printers' speed and efficiency reduce turn-around time on client requests for low-volume, customized large-format graphics.

 

Ad Art is already using its new fleet of printers to provide the high quality and speed required by its large retail customer base.

 

Build-a-Bear Workshop Campaign

Ad Art recently produced a promotional campaign for Build-a-Bear Workshop tied to the launch of its new limited-edition Ice Cream Bears Collection, which included vibrant, colorful pieces printed on 3/16-inch thick foamcore and 13 ounce vinyl substrates. Ad Art selected its HP Scitex FB7500 Printer for the campaign to provide the customer with litho-quality output at a lower price than was possible with analog devices.

 

Using its new HP Scitex FB7500 Printer, Ad Art delivered 1,200 double-sided displays and banners totalling more than 27,680 square feet. Ad Art's client preferred the higher quality available with the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer, and the printer's speed and productivity exceeded expectations.

 

"We've migrated a significant amount of screen and litho work over to the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer and have it working around the clock to keep up with the demand," said Joe DeMarco, president, Ad Art. "Many of the projects we would have printed with screen or litho processes are significantly less expensive on digital, and the quality is as good or better for our customers."

 

With maximum speeds of up to 5,380 ft2/hr. (500 m2/hr.) and three-quarter automated loading to reduce idle time between sheets by up to 85 percent(1) with only one operator, the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer delivers the highest productivity of its price class.(2) Designed for fast-paced, industrial printing environments, the printer offers a versatile UV flatbed printing solution for a variety of outdoor and indoor applications and a compelling digital alternative to screen and litho devices.

 

"Companies such as Ad Art are realizing what is possible with digital printing and taking advantage of these capabilities to attract new clients and grow their business," said Jan Riecher, vice president and general manager, Graphics Solutions Business – Americas , HP. "HP Scitex printers deliver significant benefits in terms of flexibility, turnaround time and cost, without any sacrifice in quality."

HP today announced that Fosco Hayes & Hurdley (Fosco's), of Birmingham, UK has installed the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer.

Established in 1936, Fosco's has kept up with changes in imaging technology and today carries out a range of large format digital printing services including flexible and rigid substrate printing, die cutting, finishing and installation work.

The company was running at capacity with its existing printers, so new machine was taken on in order to absorb existing work as well as to allow the company to pitch for new jobs. In preparation for the arrival of the FB7500 and the anticipated increase in work the company doubled the size of its facility to 20,000ft².

"Clients expect high quality and fast turnarounds these days and there is normally a trade-off between these two desires. However, with the FB7500 you get both high quality and speed," said David Nicholas, managing director, Fosco's "A job which would have previously taken us two days to complete can now be done in as little as two or three hours. The machine creates the potential for increased capacity, which will allow us to put more jobs on-press and offer a new trade print service at a low cost, with fast turnarounds."

The HP Scitex FB7500 Printer is highly efficient, featuring three-quarter automated loading which reduces loading time between sheets by up to 85 percent. The printer maximises uptime using HP Scitex X2 piezoelectric printheads that are easily accessible and can be replaced and calibrated quickly, without the need for a service call. With these features and print speeds of up to 500m2 per hour the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer delivers the highest productivity of digital flatbed printers in its price class, ensuring that it is ideal for print service providers in fast paced production environments.

The FB7500 uses UV-curable inks to achieve vibrant colours with two years outdoor durability(3). For maximum versatility the FB7500 can print on a wide range of flexible and rigid materials.

"Our new machine has already made it possible for us to pitch for work we wouldn't have previously considered," continues Nicholas. "Clients are particularly impressed with the quality of the FB7500 and its ability to print on such a wide variety of substrates".

Print-Leeds, the plastics printing specialist that takes its name from its home city, has installed the UK’s first Screen Truepress Jet1600UV-F large format digital inkjet printer to take the company to the next level with digital production directly on to substrates up to 50mm thick.

The company is strong in the niche market of lenticular printing, which it currently produces on its Heidelberg CD74-6-LX-UV – also the first UK installation – and has seen a marked increase in the demand for very short runs and one-offs. The Truepress Jet1600UV-F has a head positioning system which features a high-resolution linear scale, enabling extremely precise dot placement.

“We have been printing litho for a long time and we wanted to replicate that quality on a smaller scale as there is a tendency for customers to order less, more frequently,” says managing director Rod Fisher. “The key to success in lenticular is printing in exact registration and that is what the Truepress Jet1600UV-F gives us, as well as fantastic quality to match that of our litho production.” Fisher adds that the makeready for litho can get through upwards of 300 sheets, which at around £1 per sheet for lenticular work, is a costly process. “Therefore there are huge savings in short runs using the Truepress Jet1600UV-F,” he says.

As much of Print-Leeds output is point of sale work, another feature of the Truepress Jet1600UV-F that appealed was its sophisticated white ink capabilities. “Being able to print a selective fitted white rather than a flood white across the whole image is a definite advantage,” says Fisher, “And not many machines can do that.”

The Truepress Jet1600UV-F is also economical to run with its UV-LED lamp which generates significantly less heat during imaging, drawing little electricity and giving a long lamp life. “The lamps also have instant start up which saves a lot of time,” says Fisher, “The machine is also almost odorless, which means we can have it in an ordinary room.”

Print-Leeds grew out of a repro house in 1986 and extended into print in 2002. With repro in decline Fisher saw a specialist niche in UV, an area where printers seemed reluctant to diversify into. “There was a gap in the market in litho printing predominantly on to plastics,” says Fisher. “Printers who were used to printing on paper didn’t want to print on plastic. They were worried about getting the ink to dry, whereas we went in with an open mind. Now with the demand for short runs we are developing our expertise into new technology and therefore new markets.”

The next step, says Fisher, is to get a cutting bed to handle the larger sheet size of 3100×1600mm that the new acquisition can handle. “The Truepress Jet1600UV-F is a key factor in our on-going venture into a digital future,” says Fisher, “particularly as we expand further into web-to-print applications, including large format and short-run lenticular printing.”

FUJIFILM Dimatix, the world's leading supplier of drop-on-demand inkjet printheads for industrial applications, today reported its participation at the 18th annual Shanghai International Ad, Print, Pack & Paper Expo July 7-10 exceeded expectations. An eager reception for its industrial printing and materials deposition products, and a strong showing of its new Q-Class printheads in dozens of OEM printer products around the show floor were defining factors.

 

The new Q-Class family of piezoelectric drop-on-demand (Piezo DOD) inkjet printheads dominated the company's APPPEXPO 2010 presence at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. There, FUJIFILM Dimatix unveiled three new Q-Class products and displayed nearly 25 different applications of inkjet printing.

 

The Q-Class product lines now include:

- Dimatix Spectra Polaris printheads for a broad range of graphics printing applications, which utilize the binary operating mode of Dimatix' VersaDropTM jetting technology and the Q-Class product platform to deliver ink drop sizes from 15 to 150 picoliters from 512 individually addressable nozzles at frequencies up to 45 kHz with exceptional straightness.

- Dimatix Performa brand printheads for high-performance graphics printing applications, including the Q-Class based Sapphire and Emerald printheads with VersaDropTM grayscale operating modes.

 

Materials Deposition- Asian Market Introduction

APPPEXPO 2010 with its more than 100,000 visitors from around the world also served as the venue in Asia for FUJIFILM Dimatix to introduce the DMP-3000 Materials Printer, featuring the new D-Class printheads, for use with the DMP-3000-- and to showcase live demonstrations of the DMP-3000 producing printed electronics.

 

Based on Dimatix' proprietary Silicon MEMS (Si MEMS) technology, the new D-Class printheads feature 1 and 10 pl drop sizes and 128 individually addressable channels with driver per nozzle (DPN) technology to compensate for any variability between channels.  Designed for non-contact printing of functional fluids for applications such as displays, electronics and biotechnology, the new printheads can deposit conductive lines and features so small that they are not visible to the naked eye.

 

Proof in the Booth…

The steady stream of visitors to the FUJIFILM Dimatix booth were also treated to a display of nearly 25 different applications of inkjet printing. These samples printed by Dimatix' OEM customers from around the world using Dimatix inkjet technology represented a wide array of commercial applications. The products included tabletops printed to look like metal and marble, along with fired ceramic tiles, glass panels, wood, 3-dimensional models, and electrical components. To demonstrate textiles, the booth rug and conference room drapes featured inkjet-printed designs, mannequins were outfitted in inkjet-printed apparel and chairs were upholstered with fabric printed using Dimatix inkjet technology.

 

…And Around the Show Floor

In addition to the various displays at the FUJIFILM Dimatix booth, the company's Spectra printhead products were represented around the Expo floor by a dozen leading OEMs and manufacturers who collectively exhibited 36 high-performance UV and solvent inkjet printers. These included an exceptionally strong showing by Chinese printer manufacturers Runjiang Group, GongZheng Technology Development Co., Ltd, Honghua Digital Technology Stock Co., Ltd., Wit-Color Digital Science & Technology Co., Teckwin International, Hi-Jet and Anhui Liyu Computer Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

 

Many OEMs have incorporated new FUJIFILM Dimatix 512-jet Spectra Polaris printheads in their latest wide format inkjet printer designs. Most of the printers were UV and solvent ink designs featuring Spectra Polaris PQ-512/15 and PQ-512/35 printheads. These included the new Rodin P9320 solvent printer from Hi-Jet and a new design from Flex Europa that featured eight Spectra Polaris PQ-512/15 heads. Other configurations included as few as two printheads with a total of 1,024 channels to models with as many as 12 printheads for jetting ink through more than 6,000 independent nozzles.

 

The Spectra Polaris PQ-512 series are general-purpose drop-on-demand printheads that utilize the binary operating mode of Dimatix' VersaDrop jetting technology and Q-Class construction to deliver adjustable ink drop sizes from 512 individually addressable nozzles. Polaris series printheads are compatible with a broad range of inks, including UV-curable inks, aggressive organic solvents and most recently aqueous inks, making them suitable for a wide variety of commercial and industrial printing applications such as wide-format, label and decorative printing, at resolutions up to 1000 dpi.

 

Additional printer models displayed by OEMs on the show floor included a Dimatix Spectra Nova-based solvent printer from Korean manufacturer DGI Company as well as several other Spectra Galaxy and Spectra Skywalker based printers.

 

"The Shanghai International Ad, Print, Pack & Paper Expo has become one of the world's prominent venues for the global advertising and sign industry and a showcase for inkjet technology in the Far East," said Martin Schoeppler, CEO and President, FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.

 

"Our growing presence at APPPEXPO 2010 – and our success there by every conceivable measure – reflects our determination to play a leading role in the Chinese inkjet printing market, and demonstrates that FUJIFILM Dimatix offers developers in China and around the world the most comprehensive range of inkjet printhead products capable of addressing the broadest spectrum of industrial applications."

When The Old Globe, a Tony Award® winning theatre in San Diego, California, received a grant to create an exhibit on its history, the organisation was thrilled. It immediately began creating a visual timeline featuring illustrations by costume designer Anna Oliver of iconic theatrical figures. There was just one challenge: the theatre needed to execute its ambitious vision-involving detailed graphics and a difficult installation-on a set budget.

 

Fortunately, Quantum Digital Imaging had the solution: the HP Designjet L25500 Printer and HP PVC-free Wall Paper. Using the HP technology, Quantum Digital Imaging printed the timeline of detailed illustrations cost-effectively and with remarkable quality.

 

According to Brett O'Connell, founder and owner of Quantum Digital Imaging, "The HP Designjet L25500 and HP media enabled us to compete with the solvent market and accomplish the theatre project within the budget and timeline."

 

New media offers an edge

 

When it came to meeting the theatre's budget, one of the new media options designed specifically for the HP Designjet L25500 provided a unique advantage. HP PVC-free Wall Paper hit the price point that fit the organisation's needs, and proved to be ideal for the curved walls of the installation space.

 

"HP PVC-free Wall Paper allows us to offer a very cost-effective, simple-to-produce and easy-to-install product for customers wanting customisable large-format graphics," says O'Connell.

 

Previously, Quantum Digital Imaging needed to laminate printed media and apply wallpaper paste. HP PVC-free Wall Paper, however, is pre-pasted, self-adhesive and requires no lamination. O'Connell says: "This very cost-effective wallpaper is now one of the main focuses of our new product line."

 

"We're able to offer more products because we can simplify production. The wallpaper is ready to install right off the printer," he adds. Along with HP PVC-free Wall Paper, Quantum Digital Imaging used HP Permanent Adhesive Matte Vinyl mounted to gatorboard to create text panels explaining each historical phase along the timeline.

 

Quality that sets the curve

 

The HP Designjet L25500 and HP PVC-free Wall Paper proved to be an ideal combination to create high-quality prints that could be installed on the theatre's interior. According to the project designer Llance Bower, wallpaper was the only feasible solution.

 

"I can't imagine a trickier application," says Bower. "We had to hit very specific marks on a curved wall with corners and beams." After the installation, Bower was impressed with the results: "The beautiful finish and vibrant colour astonished me. Solid colours are difficult, but there's no striping or colour variation. It holds the ink beautifully. It really looks like paint."

 

What's more, the theatre doesn't have to worry about potential damage to the work, which lines a busy hallway. If it's ever damaged, it can be easily peeled off and replaced. Plus the prints are odour-free, making them ideal for the high-traffic area.

 

The project also met the high-quality standards set by The Old Globe's executive producer, Lou Spisto. "We strive for excellence in everything we do, from the lobbies and surroundings to the productions and the actors on the stage," he explains.

 

Setting the stage for the future

 

Along with helping Quantum Digital Imaging meet the theatre's needs and increase its competitive edge, HP Latex Printing Technologies enable the company to improve its printing environment. O'Connell says, "The HP Designjet L25500 allows us to have cost-effective materials and inks, and speed-without having to worry about the impact on ourselves or the environment."

 

The Old Globe agrees, as Bower explains: "I was thrilled to learn about HP's commitment to environmental responsibility. Combined with the great price point, it was a slam dunk."

Grapo Technologies, a manufacturer of wide format printers based in the Czech Republic, is proud to announce that Georgiadis Colorsign, a leading Greek signage company, last week installed the Manta, the company’s large format UV flatbed printer. With the ability to print on almost any type of material, the Manta paves the way for a whole new range of innovative signage and advertising in the Greek market.

Established in 1992, Georgiadis Colorsign has been delivering customised signage solutions to the Greek advertising market for more than 18 years. With innovation as a cornerstone of its success, the company has earned a reputation for delivering visual impact by combining the latest technology with creative thinking. The addition of the Grapo Manta to its existing fleet of printing machines reinforces this successful strategy, opening up a whole new range of creative design opportunities for both the company and its clients.

“With the Manta, there are virtually no limits,” says Nikos Georgiadis, Managing Director of Georgiadis Colorsign. “We can now offer our clients a new level of innovation and create real visual impact by printing on all kinds of materials and formats. Point-of-Sale advertising will be just one of many applications where we can put this technology to work, “adds Georgiadis. “Checkouts are often the only place where cigarette brands, for example, can reach their target audience. The Manta’s ability to create unusual eye-catching signage is just made for this task.”

With its 3x2m flatbed design and the ability to handle media thicknesses up to 60mm, the Manta can print directly on rigid, heavy and odd-shaped materials including those with structural surfaces such as wood, metal, plexiglass, glass, ceramic and carpet.

Right price, good quality, fast response

The close partnership between Georgiadis Colorsign and Grapo Technologies has been formed over a number of years. “To be successful today, a company needs three things,” says Georgiadis. “The right price (not too cheap, not too expensive), good quality and responsiveness. Grapo has all three.”

During the run up to the Olympics there was increased demand for high quality printing in Greece. Today, with the economic downturn, the same demand for quality remains, but the focus is also on price. “With its 720dpi print resolution, the Manta delivers almost photographic quality with natural skin tones and sharp vibrant colours,” comments Georgiadis. “Its quality is on par with the big-name brands in the industry, but it comes at an affordable price.”

After sales support

Georgiadis also points out that Grapo Technologies is not a product company: “Grapo seems to understand that they are not in the business of just delivering products,” says Georgiadis. “They’re in the service business, and this is particularly important to companies in our line of business,” adds Georgiadis. “If we need more ink, we need to get a price today. If we have a technical problem, we need engineers down here to fix it straight away. Providing this after sales support is where Garpo stands apart from the rest of the pack.”

Enhanced productivity

While quality and the ability to create unique, eye-catching signage are key elements, overall production throughput is critical in running a successful printing operation. The Manta has been specifically designed to keep preparation time to a minimum – ensuring optimum production efficiency. With no minimum print area, smaller items can be placed on the working desk without having to cover up the empty area – as with other flatbed printers on the market today. Use of Grapo Svang inks also ensures strong adhesion to printing media eliminating the need for any pre-coating.

The Manta also features a unique twin-mode function, which enables operators to print on one half of the working desk, while preparing the next job on the other – further enhancing productivity. Its vacuum system holds material firmly in place for perfect registration, even with multiple and bidirectional printing.

Featuring a printing speed of up to 110 square meters per hour, the Manta is the fastest printer in its class. Use of UV-curable inks produces instant-dry prints ready to cut and apply.