Pitney Bowes targets short-run transactional printers with AcceleJet

Pitney Bowes has launched the AcceleJet, a new roll to cut-sheet print and finishing colour inkjet system aimed at transactional printers handling short to medium-length runs.

The manufacturer said print and mail firms that generate 4 milion to 10 million transactional or direct-mail printing impressions per month can use AcceleJet to form part of an end-to-end white paper factory operation.

The machine enables users to start every job from rolls of white paper, which eliminates the need to warehouse pre-printed forms and allows them to create personalised communications.

“A number of mid-volume mailers with cut-sheet workflows are looking for a cost-effective way to transition to inkjet,” said Pitney Bowes document messaging technologies president Jason Dies.

Dies said the AcceleJet makes the features of the firm’s IntelliJet printing systems available to a broader market segment.

The 7.7m end-to-end machine is based on a print system by Graph-Tech AG, which is a subsidiary of Domino.

The machine has a 1-up duplex print engine that uses Piezo inkjet head technology for 1,200dpi perceived resolution. It also features a high-capacity dual conveyor stacker for continuous operation.

The AcceleJet has dual print modes; Productivity mode, which prints at speeds of up to 75m/min, and High Quality mode, which runs at up to 50m/min. It has a duty cycle of up to 7.75m letter impressions per month.

The system also features a range of built-in finishing options including dynamic cross perforation, linear perforation, automated job separation and servo-controlled precision cutting.

Pitney Bowes Global Operations and Product Management vice-president Grant Miller said: “The IntelliJet is a great high-volume machine that is very focused on people that are leveraging that volume in a large scale operation. The challenge with the AcceleJet was to fill in a couple of gaps that we had in the marketplace.

“For people that are in a truly cut-sheet environment with a lower duty cycle on their machine – people focused on run lengths as small as 500 or 1,000 pieces – it’s very difficult to do that on a roll-to-roll device and leverage the full advantages of a white paper factory.”

Miller added that pricing for the AcceleJet starts from around $850,000 (£553,000) and said the machine is available to order globally with immediate effect, with deliveries to start in Q4.

Pitney Bowes will demonstrate the AcceleJet at Graph Expo 2015, which takes place in Chicago next week.