Press Release Almanac: 22 May 2008

Keep up to date with the latest industry news and releases.

Fujifilm Sericol rolls out the Acuity HD2504 RMO
Océ transforms wide format printing industry with introduction of new Océ CrystalPoint color technology

Fujifilm Sericol Australia Pty Limited announces the release of the highly anticipated Acuity HD2504 roll media option. Launching in June 2008, the roll media option for the flatbed Acuity HD2504 provides customers with the versatility of being able to print on both rigid and flexible media. The roll media option supports substrates up to 2.2metres wide with a maximum roll weight of 50kgs.

Manufactured with the view to incorporate both Flatbed and Roll to Roll technologies, the Acuity HD2504 can be upgraded with the roll media option on both new and existing installations. Printers can meet all of their customers campaign needs including POP, banners, posters, illuminated or rigid signs and much more with this breakthrough technology.

The Acuity HD2504 provides a fast return on investment and ongoing savings derived from the variable drop size technology, using up to 35 per cent less ink than a six-colour machine. Fujifilm Sericol continues to add value to the relationship through their experienced technical assistance, applications support, software and colour management specialists.

The Acuity HD2504 with Roll Media Option will be demonstrated at the upcoming Image Expo in Adelaide (June 12th and 13th)

Océ, an international leader in digital document management, today announced the launch of a fundamentally new printing technology called Océ CrystalPoint(tm). The first product based on this new technology is the Océ ColorWave(tm) 600, also unveiled today in The Netherlands.

Océ CrystalPoint technology changes the way wide format prints are made by combining the best of both toner and inkjet printing. The Océ CrystalPoint process converts color Océ TonerPearls(tm) toner into a gel. This tonergel is then jetted and crystallized onto any type of paper, producing crisp, waterfast high quality images with extremely accurate dot placement.

The first printing system to utilize Océ CrystalPoint technology is the Océ ColorWave 600. With the Océ ColorWave 600, customers can print both color and black & white on lower cost untreated and recycled paper. Most existing color wide format products require specially coated inkjet paper. The Océ ColorWave 600 also prints an A0 sheet (one square meter) in half a minute, which enables wide format customers to print at least twice as fast as conventional inkjet systems used by competitors. Prints dry instantly so they can be handled immediately. Furthermore, there is no longer a significant difference between color and black & white output with regard to productivity and print quality. Color output enables construction and engineering projects to move more quickly through regulatory and approval processes, cutting costs and saving time.

"With the introduction of Océ CrystalPoint technology, we are unleashing an important wave of innovation that's changing the face of the wide format printing industry," says Rokus van Iperen, CEO of Océ N.V. "We will deliver high quality color on plain paper and recycled paper. Since the mid-90s, we have been developing this groundbreaking technology. Océ has invested approximately Euro 150 million in developing this technology and anticipates for the coming 15 to 20 years it will be fundamental for developing new generations of Océ color printing systems. Océ CrystalPoint technology represents a major milestone for our company in a market segment we have led since the 1920s. Customer trials with the Océ ColorWave 600 began in March of 2008. Based on these trials, market demand for the product is already very high."

CrystalPoint technology creates an impressive new category that appears uniquely and competitively to address the dynamic digital printing markets in both the Wide Format Technical and Wide Format Graphics segments," said Tim Greene, Director Wide Format & Jetting Technologies at InfoTrends. "Because this new Océ platform is designed to significantly address overall running costs, reduce environmental impact and improve both productivity and workflow, we think it will have a serious and provocative impact on the wide format printing industry."

As a leader in wide format systems for the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) market, Océ CrystalPoint products and solutions will provide more options for this growing digital print segment. Océ CrystalPoint technology will also attract interest in the reprographics and business graphics markets. This will bring Océ new growth potential and another opportunity to expand its share of the wide format color market. In Q1 2008, Océ generated 31% of its wide format sales from the color market (Q1 2007: 25%). The market value for these printing systems within wide format printing is estimated at more than $4.5 billion.