The Print 09 show was aptly themed “myPRINT” and featured an expanded focus on new market segments and the latest technological developments from leading industry suppliers. Over 650 companies exhibited their products and services in Chicago, September 11-16, 2009.
Here is a list of leading-edge products from the show that I am calling “Peter’s Picks.”
Inca Onset S20 UV flatbed printer
The Inca Onset S20 UV flatbed printer appeared publicly for the first time in North America at the Fujifilm Corporation booth. This printer delivers POP-quality production at speeds up to 2,688 sq.ft./hr or 50 full bed sheets/hr, edge to edge, over a 123” × 63” area on substrates nearly 2” thick, offering the highest output in its class.
Aimed at companies with high-volume production needs, this new high-speed printer produces superb quality display graphics, economically. While the standard colour set is 4-colour CMYK, Fujifilm Sericol Ultratone inks offer lights, orange, violet and white as an option. This, as well as a choice of satin, semi-gloss and gloss finishes, delivers enormous versatility in the range of products that can be printed (e.g. display POS, exhibition graphics, backlit/frontlit displays, outdoor signage printing, etc).
The choice of Wasatch or ColorGATE RIPs delivers easy file setup and in-depth colour management control for a variety of applications. An integrated scanner ensuring accurate print density, along with printhead nozzle mapping and alignment, provides assurance that print quality is not compromised.
The Inca Onset S20 features new automation options, user replaceable printheads, expanded colour gamut and new gloss levels. Inca-configured printheads on a full print width colour bar deliver a nominal 28-picolitre drop size, which, along with Inca’s high standard of precision of ink drop placement, produce excellent print quality. Inca’s vacuum table design with its accurate pin positioning allows users to print single- and double-sided on a variety of sheet sizes repeatedly and accurately. A three-quarter automated material handling system is available as an option.
Mutoh ValueJet 1608 Hybrid Printer
The ValueJet 1608 is unique because of its revolutionary, high-quality and environmentally-friendly ink. The MUBIO ink is composed of 80 per cent plant-derived substances, contains no harmful VOCs, has faster drying times than the leading ink and is available in 880 ml ink packs.
The ValueJet 1608-64” reaches speeds up to 120 sq.ft./hr with an automatic head adjustment function, allowing up to 1/4” media thickness and a maximum resolution of 1440 dpi, incorporating Mutoh’s Intelligent Interweave Printing Technique (i2), which virtually eliminates banding. The ValueJet 1608 Hybrid prints direct on a wide range of rigid and roll-to-roll materials.
Ideal applications would encompass production of photo-realistic prints, POP displays, corrugated plastics, polystyrene, PVC, acrylic, polycarbonate, foam board, aluminum composite as well as long-term outdoor graphics, posters, banners, street furniture, backlit displays, wall murals, signs, stickers and much more.
Color imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9075 PRO
Canon unveiled the new imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9075 PRO and C9065 PRO. The new imageRUNNER ADVANCE models will open up new opportunities for digital colour printing in light production environments. Built using an entirely new system and hardware platform, these new models will be ideal for high-volume colour environments, including Central Reprographics Departments (CRDs) and Print Service Providers.
The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9075 PRO is a light-production, full-colour multifunction system that produces output at fast speeds up to 75 pages-per-minute in black-and-white and up to 70 ppm in colour (letter size).
This new model features a 10.4-inch upright full colour LCD control panel and a customizable user interface. Through a variety of optional hardware accessories, the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9075 PRO can have a paper capacity up to 9,300 sheets and will support sizes up to 13 × 19.2 inches with a weight up to 300 gsm (110 lb. cover)
The imageRUNNER ADVANCE delivers exceptional output image quality through the new architecture and technologies, including true 1200 × 1200 dpi print resolution. This new model will come standard with Canon’s Ultra Fast Rendering II (UFRII) printing technology as well as optional Adobe PostScript 3 and PCL 5c/6 capabilities.
The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9075 PRO uses a high-capacity Single Pass Duplex Document Feeder with scan speeds up to 200 images-per-minute for black-and-white, two-sided letter-sized documents. Additionally, this new model will be available with a variety of finishing solutions. The manufacturer’s SRP will be around $50,000 for the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9075 PRO.