The HP Indigo 3050 was a landmark machine for the manufacturer. It was developed in 2002, just after HP's acquisition of Indigo and made its debut at Drupa in 2004. The press was part of the second series of HP Indigo commercial colour devices and productivity levels were boosted compared with its predecessor, the 3000.

"The aim is for our products to achieve the same quality, look and feel of offset, so the first step we took was to increase productivity," explains Lyle Rainey, European supply business manager at HP Indigo. "We doubled the speed compared to our series-one press - it went from 2,000pp to 4,000pp per hour."

That increase in speed helped, but HP's efforts to match offset performance went further. The machine was designed like a traditional press with a ‘plate' and blanket using electrophotographic digital print technology - this was designed to offset ink to a plate, a heated blanket and finally onto the substrate. HP reckoned that this process benefited the substrate as it's not heated in the same way as with toner-based systems. The press also incorporated a feeder draw rather than a suck and blow feed system.

Ink innovation
The 3050 also used HP's ElectroInks - liquid inks designed for digital print. This was another innovation intended to set the machine apart from toner-based machines. The inks meant printers could produce spot colour work and use very fine ink particles, unlike toner-based systems where those particles have a tendancy to become airborne and migrate.

The market for the press has changed little from its early days and the 3050 is still targeted at commercial printers.
The machine's competitors include the Kodak Nexpress, Xerox iGen and Xeikon's range of digital presses. "If you wanted to do tri-folds you'd go for a Xeikon. If you wanted quality, you would go for the 3050," claims Rainey.

There were other models in the series-two range: the 5000, which could achieve higher productivity because it had three paper tray feed systems for non-stop production; and the 7000, HP's latest press launched last year, running at 7,200 four-colour A4 images per hour. All machines are available in up to seven-colours.

Production of the 3050 has now stopped and the machine has been replaced with the 3500. HP often has a stock of used machines from firms upgrading their old machines for the faster 7000. Secondhand presses are sent back to Israel to be rebuilt and renamed 3050r.

There have been several software upgrades since the press was launched, but these can be retrofitted when it is refurbished. HP will supply spare parts up to 15 to 20 years after the initial launch of the machine. "By that time, we hope the market has moved on," says Rainey.

Service contracts are a standard monthly fee, but vary according to the level of operational training required. A number of printers source secondhand machines from India or America, but Rainey warns that HP cannot guarantee those presses. HP can also offer a service inspection.

"We can notify you if it needs upgrading and about the quality of the press," says Rainey. A fully refurbished four-colour 3050r will cost £149,000.

Specifications
Speed 4,000 four-colour images per hour (two-up)
Max image size 308x450mm
Max paper format 320x470mm
Image resolution 812x812dpi
Line screens 230lpi
Footprint 2.1x2.1m
Weight 2,900kg
Price four-colour 3050r:£149,000
What to look for
• Service history
• Inspection