HP Designjet L65500 with Latex Inks

HP showcased its 104-in. HP Designjet L65500 printer at Drupa. This is the first of the company’s new printers with water-based HP Latex Inks (see May, p. 12), which are odorless and emit extremely low levels of VOCs, HP reports. The printer, slated for an early 2009 rollout, is designed for outdoor as well as indoor applications-ranging from point-of-purchase displays, transit signage, wall murals, and exhibition graphics to vehicle graphics and fleet marking.

The 6-color roll-fed machine (CMYKcm) boasts a maximum speed of 800 sq ft/hr for outdoor-quality prints and a speed of 400 sq ft/hr for indoor-quality output. Its top resolution is 1200 x 600 dpi.

HP reports that the HP Latex Inks require no special ventilation to meet occupational exposure limits, and there are no requirements for air-discharge permits. In addition, they are not classified as hazardous waste, don’t contain hazardous air pollutants or sensitizers, and do not produce ozone emissions during printing (users should consult state and local agencies, says HP).

The L65500 also utilizes the company’s new HP Wide Scan Printing Technology, which utilizes three HP Wide Scan Printheads for precision drop ejection (12-pl drop size) over a wide print swath at high speeds, and HP’s Optical Media Advance Sensor for accurate media advance between wide print swaths. The Wide Scan Printheads have been designed together with HP Latex Inks for low user maintenance, reliable performance, and maximum productivity. When necessary, individual printheads can be replaced by the user. The HP Optical Media Advance Sensor is designed to accurately control media advance to minimize banding.

Additional L65500 features include:

* Six 3-l HP 786 Latex Designjet ink cartridges with a recyclable cardboard-container (hot-swappable);

* An HP embedded spectrophotometer with Advanced Closed Loop Color Calibration; this allows the L65500 to execute fully automated color calibration by automatically scanning a printer-generated color target, measuring its properties, then making and recording any corrections; and

* Two integrated heaters.

Outdoor prints produced on the Designjet L65500 achieve display permanence of up to 3 years unlaminated and up to 5 years laminated, HP reports. Indoor prints achieve in-window display permanence up to 5 years unlaminated and up to 10 years laminated on a range of media.

HP says that it is working with major RIP vendors, including AIT, Caldera Graphics, ColorGate, Ergosoft, Onyx Graphics, SA International, and Wasatch, to develop workflow solutions for the machine (RIP will be optional).

In conjunction with the printer’s release and its Latex Inks, HP also has introduced 14 new large-format media, segmented into three categories:

* HP Banner Media for Latex Ink and Low-Solvent printers: HP High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Reinforced Banner, recyclable alternative to traditional PVC scrim; HP Tyvek Banner, recyclable lightweight media for outdoor and indoor use; HP Heavy Textile Banner, fire-resistant woven media; HP Outdoor Frontlit Scrim, layered PVC over mesh; HP Durable Frontlit Scrim, 14-oz PVC scrim with matte finish; HP Backlit Scrim Banner, 16-oz tear-resistant scrim; and HP Mesh Banner, lightweight with liner.

* HP Specialty Media for Latex Ink and Low-Solvent Printers: HP Permanent Matte and HP Permanent Gloss Adhesive Vinyls, highly opaque self-adhesives; HP Premium Backlit Film, durable film for backlits; HP Satin Canvas, for fine art and photo reproduction; and HP Wrinkle-Free Flag, removable liner polyester.

* HP Paper Media for Latex Ink Printers: HP Photorealistic Poster Paper, recyclable alternative to photo media; HP Blue Back Billboard Paper, specifically designed for outdoor apps.

Additionally, HP will be launching a Registered Developer Program intended to ensure that adopters of HP Latex Printing Technologies will be able to select from a wide range of substrates suitable for new and existing applications.

HEWLETT-PACKARD
www.hp.com