Printers flocked to Chicago to Graph Expo 2007 to see the latest graphic arts wonders.

By Bob Neubauer

Wide-format Wonders

Agfa demonstrated its :Anapurna M entry-level wide-format industrial ink-jet printer, which boasts a resolution of 720x1,440 dpi and produces 63? prints on a variety of roll or rigid media. With its 14-picolitre printheads and dedicated UV curable inks, :Anapurna M reportedly delivers photorealistic quality, sharp text and fine detail.

Canon showed its new imagePROGRAF wide-format printers, the imagePROGRAF iPF710 and imagePROGRAF iPF610. They feature a five-color dye/pigment reactive ink system, enabling them to produce black lines and texts that have a resistance against rubbing, moisture and bleeding of intersecting lines. The new S-Series imagePROGRAF iFP9000S and iPF8000S boast a 40 percent increase in speed over the imagePROGRAF iPF9000 and iPF8000 models.

EFI demonstrated a number of its VUTEk super-wide digital ink-jet printers, including the VUTEk QS3200 (a “Worth-a-look” winner) and VUTEk PV200SC UV-curing printers, and EFI VUTEk 3360EC solvent printers. Also on display were EFI Jetrion industrial ink-jet printing systems for label converters, package printers and mail houses.

Epson America announced three new wide-format printers at Graph Expo: the Epson Stylus Pro 4880, 7880 and 9880. These new models are designed to achieve even higher levels of quality by using Epson’s new MicroPiezo AMC print head, an enhanced version of Epson UltraChrome K3 Ink Technology, a radical new Epson AccuPhoto HD screening technology and several other advancements. Epson UltraChrome K3 ink technology has been enhanced with Epson’s Vivid Magenta pigments. Only eight colors are required to significantly raise the quality levels for professional color and black-and-white prints. An ink repelling coating technology is used to reduce nozzle clogging. The Epson Stylus Pro 4880 replaces the Epson Stylus Pro 4800 for printing images as wide as 17?, while the Epson Stylus Pro 7880 and Epson Stylus Pro 9880 replace the Epson Stylus Pro 7800 and 9800 for printing up to 24? and 44? in width, respectively.

Though at show time HP was still four days away from announcing its plans to acquire wide-format ink-jet company MacDermid ColorSpan, it had a pretty good arsenal of wide printers at its booth. It introduced HP Scitex X2 printhead technology, its first piezoelectric printhead. It was shown on the HP Scitex XL2200 industrial wide-format printer.

Also highlighted by HP was its Designjet Z6100, geared toward photo and fine art applications, as well as outdoor short-term signage. Deemed “Worth-a-look,” it is available in 42? and 60? models and delivers prints at speeds of 1,000 square feet per hour, using HP Double Swath technology and an Optical Media Advance Sensor.

Océ debuted the Océ CS9060 high-quality, eco-solvent ink-jet printer for creating indoor and outdoor display graphics prints. Designed for light production environments, the Océ CS9060 printer accepts roll media up to 64? and can print on a variety of paper, vinyl, textile and film media. Coated and uncoated media can be used for indoor and short- to mid-term outdoor applications. Resolutions range from 720x720 dpi to 1,440x1,440 dpi. Speeds of up to 166 square feet per hour can be achieved at 720x720 dpi in Production Plus printing mode.

GRAPH EXPO returned to Chicago last month, bringing printers together from all over the globe. Despite its earlier than usual start the weekend after Labor Day, the four-day graphic arts trade show packed a decent crowd. Granted, opening day attendance thinned noticeably around NFL kickoff time (it was the season opener, after all), but by day two McCormick Place was jammed solid.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page

Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.

Graph Expo: A Show For All Printers