PACPRINT NEWS: HP
Wide format print systems developer HP was highlighting its environmental credentials at PacPrint, with every printer on its stand using water-based inks.
Star of the show for HP was its new HP R530, its hybrid flatbed and roll-to-roll print system, which Craig Hardman, ANZ country manager, Large Format, at HP said is aimed at every printshop “from the one-man band upwards.” He said, “There will be little need for outsourcing with the HP R530, you can produce a huge amount of print products with it. You can also see we have set it in a mock-up of a small functioning printshop, its compact space is a real benefit. Having a compact printer that you can run even in a small sign shop like this is increasingly important.”
According to Hardman, changeover from flatbed to roll is quick, he said, “It will take you less than two minutes to flip from one to the other.”
Jeremy Brew, at HP wanted to point out the flexibility of the new R530, he said, “Actually, what the team is running on the machine at the moment, is a multi-sheet configuration. So with this printer, you can run more than one sheet at a time. You can see different jobs coming out right now. And the beauty of this is it's so simple to operate and load.
“We've got these small sheets coming out. There's another row of sheets coming behind it, and because it's a built configuration, you don't ever have to stop it printing.
“So, you can just keep loading sheets, keep them running through, keep that productivity up. But importantly, there is no job set up, no taping down beds, masking off beds, with the R530 we just load one sheet, two sheets, four sheets. In fact, we can take up to eight small sheets across this print. Or we can put a 1500mm wide by three metre sheet. You can put a range of different materials, big sheets, small sheets, and the job setup is the same. You load it, the machine finds the width, you tell it the length, and then you just press print. So, super simple to operate.”
HP also unveiled its latest generation of water-based HP Latex large-format printing solutions – the HP Latex 730 and HP Latex 830 Printer Series.
According to the company, the HP Latex 730 and HP Latex 830 are designed to deliver high-impact print quality, enhance productivity and costs for small and medium-sized Print Shops (PSPs) “while continuing to differentiate with a sustainability edge.”
The new printers have a new colour pipeline, HP Pixel Control, and the latest generation of inks and printhead architecture
HP Pixel Control is the digital colour pipeline that HP claims enables PSPs to deliver a more robust and consistent image quality at a lower number of passes, allowing customers to print uniform solid colours and greater detail.
Additionally, it says, enhanced colour consistency and the ability to create colour profiles with the HP Embedded Spectrophotometer allows PSPs to confidently repeat print jobs across various media types without compromising quality.
These printers are a powerful tool for diverse printing needs. Equipped with HP Latex Ink to deliver vivid colours and universal user-replaceable HP Latex Printheads to deliver 4-point text, PSPs can print a wide range of applications – including branded campaigns, décor, and titled graphics - benefiting now from automated double-sided printing[i].
The new HP Latex Series is engineered to simplify production and optimise printing processes. Rapid production speeds significantly reduce printing time, while instant drying prints eliminate waiting times so more jobs can be done in less time. When coupled with the recently introduced HP PrintOS Production Hub software, PSPs can further enhance their operations by simplifying print workflows, order management, and remote production from a centralised, real-time platform[ii].
There is spindle-less front-loading to facilitate quick and easy media loading, and a new output platen which minimises material waste by allowing tighter media control of each print job. PSPs can also optimise inventory management with the new universal printheads and a new long-life maintenance cartridge with an extended lifespan of at least 50 per cent, says HP.
The HP Latex 830 is enhanced to further reduce running costs, featuring 3-litre HP ink cartridges that can be replaced without halting operations,
"With the introduction of the HP Latex R530, L730 and L830 Printer Series, we’re reaffirming HP’s commitment to empowering print service providers with cutting-edge, sustainable technology. These next-gen solutions combine exceptional print quality, breakthrough productivity, and operational simplicity, designed to help our customers grow efficiently in a competitive market. Together with innovations like the HP PrintOS Production Hub, we’re delivering an unmatched ecosystem that redefines what’s possible in large-format printing”, said Craig Hardman, ANZ Country Manager Large Format Printing at HP.
The HP Latex 730 and 830 join the HP Latex 630 as Epeat Climate+ registered printers, the only printers in the signage industry with this certification. The company says the HP Latex Series supports a more comfortable work environment while helping PSPs meet the growing demand for sustainable, high-impact print applications with water-based, odourless, and UL Ecologo-certified[iii] HP Latex inks, low emissions, and compatibility with fibre-based recyclable media.
[i] Automated double-sided printing available on PVC-free media
[ii] Based on a competitive comparison of HP PrintOS Production Hub and comparable competitive software solutions from the main large format vendors that compete with HP products commissioned by HP and performed by Sogeti. HP PrintOS Production Hub enables the PSP to remotely control the printer queue and manage the order intake all in one single platform, unlike any others
[iii] UL ECOLOGO® Certified HP 832 and 873 inks meet a range of stringent human health and environmental considerations. For certifications, see www.ul.com/EL and www.ul.com/gg