HP updates Indigo 12000 B2 digital press

HP has launched the HP Indigo 12000 HD B2 digital press with breakthrough high definition imaging, and new print performance technology for HP PageWide Web Presses.

An upgrade on its existing Indigo 12000 B2 press, the new 12000 HD digital press, uses new high-definition writing heads to double image resolution to 1,625dpi, which HP said delivers sharper, smoother and finer print.

“We see more and more graphics businesses reinventing with HP digital. These new technologies can help PSPs address a wider range of commercial printing applications and open new revenue streams," commented general manager for HP Graphics Solutions Business Santi Morena. 

“With the new HP Indigo High Definition Imaging technology, the output is much higher quality than any competing digital solution and can even surpass the caliber of offset printing.”

The new high definition imaging system, which incorporates new software and writing heads, will also be available for retrofitting onto most HP Indigo 10000 and 12000 presses. The four-colour Indigo 12000 was launched in 2016 and can print at speeds of up to 4,600sph on sheets up to 750x350mm. 

Additionally, HP has also announced the commercial availability of the HP Indigo 50000 B1 digital press, following successful beta customer testing at Creel Printing in the US.

The oversized duplex B1 press can print 42m/min in colour and 142m/min in mono on virtually any type of paper; and is designed for ‘high-coverage’, high-volume printing, making it possible to move more jobs from offset to digital.

Alongside the press launches, HP has also added a new Performance HDK mode to its PageWide web presses, which optimises the HDNA printheads. It’s available now for the T240 HD presses and HP claims that this will improve quality in mono and colour at full press speed, an improvement that would be particularly attractive to the direct mail, publishing and commercial print markets.

HP says that the volume of pages digitally printed by its Indigo and PageWide Web Press customers is growing by approximately 15% compared to last year, according to figures produced by IDC.

“B2 has been a market that the big digital players have really invested in. It’s exceeded our expectations and it is continuing to grow,” said UK and Ireland marketing manager for HP Indigo and HP Pagewide Web presses, Andy Pike to PrintWeek.

“We have seen a huge change to the way the market is now – we have a very strong focus on B2 digital because it has opened us up to so many applications and if we look at litho migration this is enabling people to do things completely differently and gives them so many options like personalisation and variable data that they just couldn’t do before,” Pike concluded.