HP unveils T350 colour web press

HP has taken pole position in the digital colour web printing race at Graph Expo earlier this week following the unveiling of its latest colour web press, the T350.

The new machine offers print speeds of up to 200 metres per minute, the equivalent to 3,927 letter-size pages, which is 66% faster than the previous T300 model's 122mpm output.

HP's latest addition also trumps Screen's Jet520ZZ offering, also announced at the show, which outputs at 220 metres per minute but features a narrower 520mm web width.

The T350 features a 762mm web, the same as the existing T300, and can also print at resolutions up to 1,200 x 600dpi.

It is being pitched at customers in the high-volume book printing, transpromotional and transactional statements as well as direct mail sectors.

Although the model will not be available till the second half of 2011, the announcement comes little more than six months since the existing T300 had its first UK installation at Communisis.

Robert Stabler, Robert Stabler, direct marketing, transactional and publishing manager, HP EMEA, said the T350 was an evolution of the T300 platform that was indicative of the flexibility of HP's scaleable printing technology.

"Existing T300 users will be able to upgrade to the T350 press, which offers increased throughput on a stable, secure infrastructure," he added.

In the US, O'Neil Data Systems is the beta site for the ramped up T350 model.