Drupa Scoops: High-Speed Inkjet, Giant Cutters, Buyer Events

-- Graphic Arts Online, 12/10/2007 9:18:00 AM

A super-fast, high-quality color inkjet web press from Océ and a massive Polar cutter (shown) that previews Heidelberg’s 56’’ and 64’’ intentions are among drupa technology news advances filtering in.

The Océ JetStream inkjet system, unveiled at events in Boca Raton, FL and Poing, Germany, said to be built on a Miyakoshi engine, incorporates Océ DigiDot piezoelectric technology, which generates small, variable drop sizes that let the user attain smoother image quality for localized or personalized printed offers, direct mailers and trans-promotional statements. A single-engine model 1100 prints one-sided full-process color 20.3” wide at 492 fpm on 20.5’’ paper roll. A dual-engine prints at speeds up to 500 fpm at 600x600 dpi resolution, the equivalent of 2,148 letter impressions per minute. The 1100 can use a narrow web (9.5”) to print on one side, then turn the form and print on the back side on the same engine without a loss in speed or performance, says Océ, adding that DigiDot doesn’t cause the paper to curl. Its MP IPDS controller makes it easier to embed variable personalization and TransPromo documents into standard workflows including Océ PRISMA. Tight web control holds precise register. The system supports a wide range of papers and weights; no special media is required. Finishing options include a cross-perforation device, a punch unit for creating pin-feed holes, roll slitter,folding and integrated finishing. The system will be available next quarter and seen at drupa.

Polar previewed its drupa offerings for 29 sales partners at its center in Hofheim, Germany, late last month including the highly automated cutting system for the large- format 7S, big enough to accommodate sheets from its partner Heidelberg’s large-format 56’’ and 64’’ Speedmasters that will debut at drupa. 

Heidelberg says that at drupa it will rebrand its premedia consumables line uniformly under the Saphira name; and that its Prinect operations management system will be fully integrated and include a dynamic scheduling system.

drupa 2008 will offer a special event for print buyers: the drupacube, says Manuel Mataré, drupa project director. It will focus on marketing-driven applications for printed products, the technology that makes it possible playing a secondary role, giving marketing and creative directors a compact overview of the potential of printing in the marketing mix through symposia and daily subject focuses. “We intend to attract print buyers to drupa in greater numbers,” says Mataré. “This type of information is often in danger of being overshadowed. The drupacube acts as a portal for print buyers by providing concise infotainment on everything concerning print communications and directs them to the exhibitors’ stands.”