Hewlett-Packard has unveiled an expanded portfolio of HP Latex Printing Technology solutions “designed to broaden production capabilities for a greater number of customers and provide a viable alternative to eco-solvent technologies. The o erings enable small and midsize digital print and sign shops…to produce indoor and outdoor applications with ease while reducing their environmental impact,” HP says.

The company offered industry reporters a special sneak peek at the new HP Designjet L25500 in Barcelona earlier this year, and then showcased the printer at SGIA in New Orleans. In addition, HP debuted six original HP media compatible with its latex printers and announced an expansion to its HP Planet Partners program.

Available in 42- and 60-inch models, the HP Designjet L25500 printer builds on the technology of the 104-inch L65500, which debuted last year. The 6-color (CMYKcm) rollfed uses HP’s water-based Latex inks (775-ml cartridges) that produce odorless prints and require no special ventilation, the company reports. Outdoor prints produced with HP latex inks onto HP media achieve display permanence up to three years unlaminated and up to fi ve years laminated, HP says.

The L25500 features three pairs of HP 789 Designjet printheads that are user-replaceable and do not require daily manual maintenance or special cleaning when the printer has been turned off overnight (or longer).

The printer boasts a maximum resolution of 1200 dpi. Top speeds for the 42-inch model are 228 square feet/hour, while the 60-inch version can hit 246 square feet/hour. Top speed in production mode at 1200 dpi for the 60-inch model is 97 square feet/hour.

Other features include: an embedded spectrophotometer for automated color calibration; HP’s Optical Media Advance Sensor to deliver accurate media motion control; an embedded Web server; automatic nozzle testing; and more. Note that the L25500 uses a two-cord power supply.

Various RIPs have been certified for use with the L25500, including those from Onyx, ColorGate, Wasatch, SAi, Caldera, AIT, and ErgoSoft.

Price: 42-inch, $20,000; 60-inch, $25,000.

HP also has introduced six HP printing media compatible with HP Latex Ink printers. Sizes range from 42- to 99-inch widths. The new HP media include:
• White Satin Poster Paper: a multi-layer, brightwhite coated paper for indoor and outdoor advertising;
• One-view Perforated Adhesive Window Vinyl: self-adhesive vinyl with a perforated, black back film and white paper liner;
• Air Release Adhesive Gloss Cast Vinyl: high-performance white vinyl with an opaque permanent adhesive for clean removability, and laminated outdoor durability;
• PVC-free Gloss Adhesive Film: PVC-free white film with a gloss-satin finish and a permanent, repositionable adhesive;
• PVC-free Wall Paper: fl ame-retardant, strippable, pre-pasted wall paper with ultra-smooth finish; and
• Light Textile Display Banner: PVC-free, fl ame-retardant,
uncoated polyester textile banner material.

And, HP has expanded its HP Planet Partners program to include the HP Large-Format Media Take-Back Program in the United States (and select countries in Europe), allowing customers to return and recycle prints produced with HP Latex Inks on HP recyclable media (as well as HP 789 Latex Designjet ink cartridges and printheads) at no additional cost.

HEWLETT-PACKARD
www.hp.com