Durst Introduces Rho 600 and Rhopac Printers

Durst Image Technology introduced two
new flatbed UV printers at the recent
FESPA show: the new Rho 600 series and
the Rhopac.

According to Durst, the new Rho 600
series will “eliminate the frustrating tradeoff
between speed and quality that imaging
professionals have had to make in the
past.” It will strive to do so by utilizing
Durst's new Quadro Array printhead technology
in conjunction with the company's
existing modular and upgradeable platform.

A flatbed UV printer (roll optional), the
Rho 600 can handle a maximum media
width of 80 in. and a media thickness of
up to 2.75 in. It offers four colors standard
(CMYK), plus optional white, spot color,
and varnish.

The Rho 600 series includes three models,
all of which utilize a piezo inkjet system
labeled the Durst Quadro Array, a printhead
designed, developed, and manufactured by
Durst. Each array comprises four nozzle
plates (from Spectra) and contains a total
of 512 nozzles (nearly twice that of standard
configurations, says Durst). The difference
in the three Rho 600 models is in the
number of arrays deployed:

• the Rho 600 Basic employs four
  arrays, for print speeds up to 400 sq ft/hr
  (400 dpi);
• the Rho 600 Presto employs eight
  arrays, for print speeds up to 800 sq ft/hr
  (400 dpi); and
• the Rho 600 Rapid employs 16
  arrays, for speeds up to 1600 sq ft/hr
  (400 dpi).

Each array can print up to 600 dpi (and
an apparent resolution of 1200 dpi), applying
variable droplet sizes (40 to 55 picoliters),
depending upon the dpi setting.

The platform is designed to be upgradeable;
options include higher print speeds,
more colors (white, spot), and specialeffect
varnish. In fact, the 600 series can
hold up to 24 arrays, allowing even more
options in the future.

Many print providers need to be able to
resolve fine text for small print applications,
“such as header cards or danglers,”
says Christopher Howard, vice president
for sales and marketing, large-format
imaging, Durst US. “As the run length of
these items lowers, it becomes justifiable
to put these applications on a UV digital
printer, but the printer [must] be able to
handle fine text. The 600's ability to
resolve 4-pt text and 6-pt reverse text is a
huge advantage to a print shop.”

The Rho 600 is compatible with
Durst's auto feeder/stacker system and
preparation station. It employs a Dice
America Cheetah RIP.

Price: Basic: $299,000; Presto:
$425,000; Rapid: $550,000. Price includes
training and 6-month warranty (12 months
on printheads).

The company also has introduced its
RhoPac, a large-format UV flatbed that's
been designed specifically for package
printers. It's a 4-color printer (CMYK)”?
plus white, spot color, and varnish”?that
can also handle rolls of media (optional).

It provides printers with the ability to
produce print-on-demand and print lowvolume
projects profitably, reports Durst,
and is equally suited to those companies
seeking to focus on market niches such
as personalization of display materials,
promotion, and P-O-P materials. Applications
include highly finished concepts or
printed mockups, short-run prints for test
marketing, in-store sales projects, lowvolume
product packaging, in-store display
materials, and more.

The RhoPac can handle a maximum
media width of 80 in. and a media thickness
of up to 1.58 in. It's available in two
models, which like the Rho 600, feature
the Durst Quadro Array: The Rhopac Presto
has 8 arrays, generating print speeds up
to 800 sq ft/hr (at 400 dpi); the Rhopac
Rapid has16 arrays, generating print
speeds up to 1600 sq ft/hr (at 400 dpi).

Special package-printing features
include: auto-adjust left- and right-side
board guides for reliable transport of corrugated
sheets and other package materials;
an in-line board-cleaning unit; an
auto-sheet loading/unloading unit, and a
special vacuum and cover system.

In addition to the standard UV-resistant
pigment inks, the Rhopac also offers
a special Paper Board set of flexible, lowodor
inks that have been specifically
developed for corrugated packaging applications.
These can be changed out as
necessitated by a print provider's jobs.

The RhoPac employs a Dice America
Cheetah RIP, with additional software
tools for packaging workflows.

Price: $550,000 to $750,000, depending
upon configuration. (Durst Image Technology US: www.durstus.com)