Epson Raises Industry Standard for Solvent Printing with New SureColor S50670 and S70670 Next-Generation 64-Inch Printers

LONG BEACH, Calif. – July 10, 2012 – Epson America today introduced the all new EPSON® SureColor® S50670 and S70670, rounding out its line of industry-changing 64-inch solvent printers. Joining the SureColor S30670, these new printers incorporate Epson’s latest technological breakthroughs and use the EPSON MicroPiezo® TFP® print head to bring previously unseen levels of quality, performance and value to the signage, vehicle graphics and fine art markets.

“These new solvent-based printers will redefine what is possible with a solvent printer,” said Reed Hecht, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “The SureColor S50670 and S70670 will introduce new levels of speed never before seen in this class of products, and a level of image quality that far surpasses any solvent printer available today. Together with the SureColor S30670, the three revolutionary SureColor S-Series products are poised to drastically raise customers’ expectations for solvent printing, allowing new applications and higher quality printing at dramatically faster speeds.”

These new products utilize Epson’s dual array EPSON MicroPiezo TFP print heads to deliver extremely small droplet sizes and four times the nozzles of Epson’s previous solvent printer for extremely fast print speeds. Under development for over 20 years, this is the first time this revolutionary dual array print head is being used with a solvent ink technology. To match the capabilities of this new print head, Epson developed two revolutionary solvent-based ink technology breakthroughs which enable a level of image quality and color capability previously unseen. Featured on the SureColor S50670, EPSON UltraChrome® GS2 ink delivers up to five colors with a radical new high density White ink to accommodate a broad range of indoor and outdoor signage applications. The all-new EPSON UltraChrome GSX ink featured on the SureColor S70670 delivers up to ten colors (a technology first for solvent printers), including an optional White and Silver Metallic, as well as a first ever standard Light Black for improved grayscale and reduced metamerism to deliver a level of image quality and color gamut previously unattainable in a solvent printer.

The SureColor S-Series is built on an all new print engine and is comprised of three models offering varying performance and feature sets to accommodate a range of signage, vehicle graphics and fine art solvent printing needs:

Product Ink Colors Print Speeds

SureColor S30670 UltraChrome GS2 CMYK Draft Speed1: 620 Sq. ft/hour

SureColor S50670 UltraChrome GS2 Dual CMYK, Optional White Draft Speed1: 980 Sq. ft/hour

SureColor S70670 UltraChrome GSX CMYK, Lc, Lm, Lk, Or, Optional White and Metallic Production Speed1: 225 Sq. ft/hour

More About the SureColor S-Series

Boasting groundbreaking all-Epson engineering, each model in the SureColor S-Series integrates an entirely new print engine and introduces new convenience features that help automate previously time-consuming processes such as nozzles checks, media feed adjustments and tensioning, and complicated media and print head alignments. Additional features include:

– MicroPiezo TFP Print Head: One-inch wide, high performance print head with 360 nozzles per channel capable of handling ten separate ink channels; low vibration meniscus control for highly accurate dot shape and placement and ink repelling coating for reduced nozzle clogging; both the SureColor S50670 and S70670 leverage two print heads for maximum performance.
– UltraChrome GS2 and UltraChrome GSX: Epson exclusive ink technologies deliver virtually odorless printing without the need for special ventilation or air purification systems[ADD FN. 2] and do not contain Nickel (Ni) compounds, reducing the impact on the environment.
– Take-Up Reel System: Efficient take-up reel for unattended production of large print runs supporting both wind-in or wind-out; standard heavy roll support in rear for up to 90 pound roll with motorized take-in; optional high-capacity roll support for rolls up to 150 pounds.
– Roll Media Loading: All new spindle-less design with manual Epson LiftAssist™ allows for easy loading and unloading of heavy roll media.
– High-Capacity Ink System: Individual ink cartridges up to 700 ml enable users to avoid production downtimes and maximize profitability; the S50670 offers 1400 ml of installed ink per color for maximum productivity. Each printer in the series is designed exclusively for use with EPSON ink cartridges3 for greater reliability.
– Control Panel: Full color LCD panel provides easy access to menu items and controls.
– Included ONYX RIP Software: Epson has partnered with Onyx Graphics, the leading manufacturer of signage RIP software, to include a customized, fully functional version of Onyx’s standard layout RIP including the full Pantone® color library with each S-Series printer. This powerful layout RIP will also include over 100 media profiles for standard 3M, Avery, Epson, Ultraflex, and Neschen media, enabling customers to make high quality prints right out of the box.
– Media Heater and High-Speed Dryer: Individually controlled pre, platen and post heaters for optimum media support all controlled via a front control panel or front-end RIP software; additional high-speed dryer (standard on the SureColor S50670 and optional on the S30670 and S70670) provides additional drying for fast print speeds.

Pricing, Support and Availability

Both the EPSON SureColor S50670 and S70670 will be available in the fall of 2012 through authorized Epson Professional Imaging resellers for a list price of $25,995 each. The SureColor S-series offer a standard EPSON PreferredSM Limited Warranty, a one-year program that includes toll-free advanced telephone access Monday through Friday and usually next business-day on-site service in the unlikely event of any hardware failure. Epson Preferred Plus service plans are available that cover both the hardware and software for up to two additional years. For additional information, visit www.proimaging.epson.com.

About Epson

Epson is a global imaging and innovation leader whose product lineup ranges from inkjet printers and 3LCD projectors to sensors and other microdevices. Dedicated to exceeding the vision of its customers worldwide, Epson delivers customer value based on compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies in markets spanning enterprise and the home to commerce and industry. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 75,000 employees in 97 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates. To learn more about Epson, please visit http://global.epson.com.

You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (http://facebook.com/EpsonAmerica), Twitter (http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica and http://twitter.com/EpsonEducation) and YouTube (http://youtube.com/EpsonTV).

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1 All print speeds shown are based on bi-directional print engine speed only. Total throughput times depend upon such factors as front-end RIP, file size, printer resolution, ink coverage, and networking, etc.
2 Based on testing of one printer in a room of 180 m3 and a ventilation coefficient of 2.2 (without any fan or air conditioning).
For more information see the MSDS sheets at www.proimaging.epson.com.
3 Each printer is designed to use only EPSON ink cartridges and not other brands of new or refilled cartridges, or other brands of ink or bulk ink systems. Using EPSON cartridges is important for reliable performance and high image quality. Epson offers voluntary recycling of spent ink cartridges.

Note: EPSON, EPSON UltraChrome, MicroPiezo, SureColor, and TFP are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. LiftAssist is a trademark and EPSON Preferred is a servicemark of Epson America, Inc. All other product brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.