HP has announced the launch of the Latex 3000, a 3.2 metre machine that will be unveiled at FESPA in London later this month. This is in addition to rebranding the whole Latex portfolio of printers.
HP Latex printing was introduced at the 2008 Sydney show with a view to replacing solvent and eco-solvent technology with a water-based alternative. The company has spent millions marketing the technology and has received much support world wide in response. Not surprising as solvent related health issues, drying times and outgassing have been a headache for printers since the inception of solvent printing.
 |
| The HP Latex 3000 |
HP claim more than 15,000 HP Latex printers have been shipped worldwide and more than 100 million square metres have been printed with HP Latex inks to date with forecasts that promise a tripling of these figures in another 2-3 years, all at the demise of the solvent printers.
The HP Latex 3000 Printer will help drive this growth, allowing a broader range of sign and display customers to shift pages from traditional solvent and UV-curable technologies to HP Latex Printing Technologies.
Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, Large-Format Sign and Display Division, HP said recently, "Industrial print service providers constantly battle increasing competition along with shrinking timelines and budgets for big projects in this buyers' market," said . "As the leader in large-format printing, HP is offering latex solutions that give our customers a unique advantage to cost-effectively address these challenges with new levels of productivity, quality and application versatility."
Third-generation HP 881 Latex Inks also provide a scratch resistance comparable to hard-solvent inks on certain substrates, making them ideal for many applications whare solvent has ruled the roost. With no outgassing, immediate lamination can easily be done where required.
The printer's production capacity is 77 m2/hr of indoor applications and 120 m2/hr of outdoor applications. Dual-roll spindles enable faster media loading times.
HP believe that the rebranding of the Latex products will offer a printers a simpler understanding of which printer would suit them best.
-- The HP Latex 260 Printer, formerly the HP Designjet L26500 Printer
-- The HP Latex 280 Printer, formerly the HP Designjet L28500 Printer
-- The HP Latex 820 Printer, formerly the HP Scitex LX820 Industrial
Printer
-- The HP Latex 850 Printer, formerly the HP Scitex LX850 Industrial
Printer
-- The HP Latex 3000 Printer
HP Latex inks and supplies also will be rebranded to reflect the updated product naming.
The HP 3000 is expected to be available from August 2013.
HP Australia
www.hp.com.au
