Bonanza of digital printing engines comes to market

A flood of new digital printing presses covering the complete range of outputs provides something for everyone.
The first HP Indigo 7000 in the region fires up this week at the Currie Group showroom in Hawthorn. The high-end, high-productivity digital press is in live demonstrations to selected customers ahead of a planned Open House in the near future.
Launched at drupa this year, the arrival in Melbourne is being hailed by Phil Rennell, Currie Group’s HP Indigo product manager, as an indication of how important the company considers the local market. “It’s very unusual to see machines here this early after worldwide launch. It gives our customers here a head start on the region,” he said.
The HP Indigo 7000 is the fastest engine from the company and is being promoted as the top of the range press. At 120 x A4s per minute it is an impressively productive machine.

Fuji Xerox comes in on both sides now
Launching this week too is the 700 Digital Color Press from Fuji Xerox. Aimed at the rapidly growing ‘digital lite’ market the 70 ppm engine is slated for its first local installations in November.
The 700 Digital Color Press is being promoted by the company as an affordable way to start or expand a digital printing business, especially for in-plant operations, quick printers, commercial printers, creative agencies, photo specialty retailers and departmental environments. The system has the image quality and productivity of a high-end production press and is ideal for photo books, brochures, direct-mail pieces, catalogues, calendars and postcards.
On the other end of the productivity scale comes word that the first iGen4 has been sold in the US. The Fuji Xerox top of the range machine was also launched at drupa and is due to be installed at the company’s Epicentre in Redfern in the next few weeks.
The company reports there is already great interest from its customers and expects to begin installations early in 2009.

Canon expands its imagePRESS range
In Sydney, Canon unveiled its imagePRESS C6000, the 60 ppm second tier machine in the new product lineup. Announced by Tony Wills, GM business imaging solutions group (right), at the opening of Canon’s new production print centre in North Ryde, the C6000 is designed for the smaller end of the market, as opposed to the production printers using the top of the range C7000.
With this launch Canon is announcing its determination to be a major player in the production printing space and Wills flagged other products to come from the same stable.
“This product series is still young in Australia, but its global success bodes very well for it here. The imagePRESS C6000 has very much been designed around customer need, so it will be a natural fit in the marketplace,” he said. “Launching this device, however, means a lot more to us than just unveiling a new machine. Canon is committed to the print production market and will remain so for the long haul.”

Epson unveils its first solvent inkjet printer
To round out the week’s debuts Epson showcased its first solvent inkjet printer at an open day at Positive Camtec in Sydney. This was the first time sign printers in the eastern states were able to examine the GS6000.
Targeted firmly at the outdoor signage market it uses Epson’s UltraChrome GS ink, which is nickel-free and has few harmful volatile organic compounds. According to Andreas Johansson, product manager (pictured at the Positive Camtec Open House) prints made with the new solvent ink are virtually odourless, eliminating the need for expensive ventilation and air purification systems to protect the operators.
With a speed rating of 25 sq metres per hour the GS6000 is Epson’s first foray outside its traditional dominance of the high-end colour market. It is relying on its image quality reputation in the more combative signage sector.

Something for everyone
The bonanza of digital printing engines arriving on the market is a fine example of the strength of the digital printing sector. At a time when sales of offset presses are slowing the digital printers are being spoiled with choice.
All the new machines target different markets, with the possible exception of the HP Indigo 7000 and the Fuji Xerox iGen4, which are engaged in a mammoth struggle for the top end of the digital production printing market. All the companies report good sales and plenty of interest in the products, which can only be a good sign for the industry as a whole.