HP unveils 'breakthrough' imprinting system

HP has bolstered its burgeoning imprinting business with the addition of a 244m/min print module to take on market leader Kodak's Prosper S5 and S10 printheads.

The thermal inkjet C800 technology was primarily developed to be retro-fitted to conventional web printing lines, for single-pass, hybrid offset-digital print production.

According to HP, the technology is suitable for monochrome or process colour applications and has a print swathe of 108mm, with up to five heads capable of being stitched together. Each of the 600dpi, user-replaceable printheads feature 10,560 nozzles.

"We can offer a very flexible solution. The way we have implemented thermal technology and high precision ink drops means we are able to offer breakthrough running costs at the same quality and speed as rival technologies," said HP Specialty Printing Systems vice president and general manager Kathy Tobin.

The system can be installed with HP SmartStream Print Module Controller, which features auto alignment.

The latest addition to HP’s imprinting portfolio, which was among a clutch of new products unveiled in Israel last week, joins the C500 system, which was launched last September and is targeted primarily at mailing applications. Since entering the market four years ago, HP has supplied its technology for approximately 100 imprinting systems.