What does the machine do?

The Fujifilm Jet Press 540W is an inkjet web press, available either as a standalone machine or, with the integration of elements from Fujifilm’s post-press line-up, as a complete production system. It can also integrate with Hunkeler post-press equipment, predominantly for newspaper use, and Muller Martini equipment for commercial print.

When was it launched and what market is it aimed at?

It was announced and shown at Drupa 2012 and is now commercially available. It is aimed at printers looking to produce short-run books, manuals, leaflets, newspapers and transactional print more efficiently. Fujifilm adds that the machine’s ability to integrate with the XMF workflow and a wide range of different finishing solutions also makes it suitable for customers looking to produce more customised work.

How does it work?

The Jet Press 540W uses a combination of Fujifilm technologies, including the manufacturer’s Vividia inks range, which was also unveiled at Drupa.

"This range has been developed specifically to facilitate superb image quality," says Graham Leeson, head of European communications at Fujifilm Graphic Systems. "It allows high-density images to be printed at high speed, with less ink transfer from sheet to sheet, with high-quality reproduction possible even on thin paper. A variety of ink types, including both pigment and dye-based inks, have been developed for use here."

The 540W also utilises Fujifilm’s own screening technology which is based on FM screening and, reports Leeson, delivers smooth colours and sharp text.

How fast is it?

The Jet Press 540W has a top printing speed of 127m/min when operating at 600x480dpi. This falls to 100m/min at the machine’s highest resolution setting, 600x600dpi.

What is the USP of the product?

The Jet Press 540W is unique in that it enables duplex printing within a single tower design, resulting in an extremely compact footprint, according to Leeson.

He adds that digital web presses offer two major advantages over their offset cousins, beyond the obvious one of being able to handle short-run, variable-data jobs. The first, he says, is that with conventional web-offset presses, the printing sizes are limited by the size of the plate cylinder, whereas the Jet Press 540W provides more flexibility in the cut-off length. The second advantage is derived from Fujifilm’s ‘job merge’ mode, which was developed to reduce paper wastage.

"A certain amount of paper wastage is expected on a regular web machine, but job merge enables the customer to print multiple jobs continuously, with no gap between," says Leeson. "Also helping to save paper is the fact that the press doesn’t require colour adjustment, resulting in the best quality sheet from the roll’s start."

How easy is it to use?           

"The Jet Press 540W is very easy to use, thanks to its 15in touchscreen monitor and software interface," says Leeson. "And the single-path duplex system means the customer can easily adjust registration of both front and back sides."

What training and support is on offer?

Fujifilm provides operator training on site at the end of installation. Service is structured so that local engineers in each country act as a first line of support, with a central support centre located in Brussels, which, in turn, works closely with Fujifilm’s Worldwide Support Centre in Japan.

What are sales targets like?

Fujifilm declined to share specific sales targets, but Leeson comments: "There was a great deal of interest in the technology showcase at Drupa, and we’ve got high expectations for the press in Europe over the coming months."

SPECIFICATIONS

Contact Fujifilm 01234 245245 www.fujifilm.eu/uk  

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