Océ launches CrystalPoint wide format printing color technology (Press Release)

-- Graphic Arts Online, 5/8/2008 4:20:00 PM

Venlo, The Netherlands, 7 May 2008 — Océ, an international leader in digital document management, today announced the launch of a fundamentally new printing technology called Océ CrystalPoint™. The first product based on this new technology is the Océ ColorWave™ 600, also unveiled today in The Netherlands.

Best of both toner and inkjet printing

Océ CrystalPoint technology changes the way wide format prints are made by combining the best of both toner and inkjet printing. The Océ CrystalPoint process converts color Océ TonerPearls™ toner into a gel. This tonergel is then jetted and crystallized onto any type of paper, producing crisp, waterfast high quality images with extremely accurate dot placement.

Color and black & white on inexpensive plain paper

The first printing system to utilize Océ CrystalPoint technology is the Océ ColorWave 600. With the Océ ColorWave 600, customers can print both color and black & white on lower cost untreated and recycled paper. Most existing color wide format products require specially coated inkjet paper. The Océ ColorWave 600 also prints an A0 sheet (one square meter) in half a minute, which enables wide format customers to print at least twice as fast as conventional inkjet systems used by competitors. Prints dry instantly so they can be handled immediately. Furthermore, there is no longer a significant difference between color and black & white output with regard to productivity and print quality. Color output enables construction and engineering projects to move more quickly through regulatory and approval processes, cutting costs and saving time.

“Unleashing a wave of innovation,” says Océ CEO

“With the introduction of Océ CrystalPoint technology, we are unleashing an important wave of innovation that’s changing the face of the wide format printing industry,” says Rokus van Iperen, CEO of Océ N.V. “We will deliver high quality color on plain paper and recycled paper. Since the mid-90s, we have been developing this groundbreaking technology. Océ has invested approximately Euro 150 million in developing this technology and anticipates for the coming 15 to 20 years it will be fundamental for developing new generations of Océ color printing systems. Océ CrystalPoint technology represents a major milestone for our company in a market segment we have led since the 1920s. Customer trials with the Océ ColorWave 600 began in March of 2008. Based on these trials, market demand for the product is already very high.”

“Provocative impact on the industry,” says Industry Analyst “Océ CrystalPoint technology creates an impressive new category that appears uniquely and competitively to address the dynamic digital printing markets in both the Wide Format Technical and Wide Format Graphics segments,” said Tim Greene, Director Wide Format & Jetting Technologies at InfoTrends. “Because this new Océ platform is designed to significantly address overall running costs, reduce environmental impact and improve both productivity and workflow, we think it will have a serious and provocative impact on the wide format printing industry.”

Industry impact, growth opportunities

As a leader in wide format systems for the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) market, Océ CrystalPoint products and solutions will provide more options for this growing digital print segment. Océ CrystalPoint technology will also attract interest in the reprographics and business graphics markets. This will bring Océ new growth potential and another opportunity to expand its share of the wide format color market. In Q1 2008, Océ generated 31% of its wide format sales from the color market (Q1 2007: 25%). The market value for these printing systems within wide format printing is estimated at more than $4.5 billion (*).

(*) Based on wide format market data sourced from InfoTrends.

Moving beyond initial applications

As well as the technical document market, Océ expects to take Océ CrystalPoint technology beyond this initial and other paper printing applications. Therefore, it has set up an applications center at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Océ is working with High Tech Campus companies to explore, using Océ CrystalPoint technology, a range of high tech manufacturing processes.

Durable in any setting

Océ ColorWave output is durable in the office and on construction sites. In addition, users in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environments will find the instantly dry and waterfast Océ ColorWave prints beneficial in developing city planning or coordinating emergency services. Mass market retailers can rapidly produce high quality color signage with adjusted prices or localized promotions that optimize sales opportunities.

No ozone, odor or fine powder

Océ CrystalPoint technology offers significant environmental benefits. The solid Océ TonerPearls used in tonergel jetting release no ozone, odor or fine powder. This makes Océ CrystalPoint technology ultra-low when it comes to emissions. Furthermore, because it prints an even semi-gloss finish on uncoated paper, the technology reduces the use of paper coatings that impact the environment.

About Océ

Océ is one of the world's leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The broad Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 90 countries and employs some 24,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in 2007 amounted to € 3.1 billion. Océ is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam. For more information on Océ, visit www.oce.com