Océ reveals details of 'hybrid print technique' breakthrough

CrystalPoint combines elements of toner and inkjet printing to produce mono and colour waterfast documents for large-format applications.

The manufacturer showcased the first machine to use the new technology, the Océ ColorWave 600, at a worldwide launch held at the company's headquarters in Venlo on Wednesday.

The CrystalPoint process consists of having small balls of toner, which Océ calls TonerPearls, converted into a gel.

The toner-gel is then jetted and crystallized on to paper, including recycled and untreated stock, to produce semi-gloss, waterfast images.

Océ is pitching the ColorWave 600 at two primary clients: those in the architectural, engineering and construction sectors which require detailed CAD (computer-aided design) prints, as well as those producing retail displays and point-of-sale material.

The machine can output an A0 sheet in half a minute while in economy mode, and up to three minutes in the higher quality presentation mode.

Neil Westhof, international product manager for Océ wide-format printing systems, said recent trends in wide-format colour have represented a "blurring of applications".

He added this had led to an increasing need for a machine which can print "both fine details and sharp lines, as well as posters as separate prints, but also within a single print".

The company is also pitching the CrystalPoint technology as an "entirely sustainable concept" as the TonerPearls used in toner-gel jetting release neither ozone nor odour.

In addition, Océ said the semi-gloss finish helps eliminate the need for paper coatings.

Chief executive of Océ N.V Rokus van Iperen said: "The ColorWave 600 is going to change the way our customers print wide-format colour documents."

The Océ ColorWave 600 will begin shipping from July with prices starting from £30,000.