HP expands latex printer range
HP has brought out two new latex Designjet printers, the 61in L26500 and the 104in L28500. The 61in machine, which replaces the 60in L25500, costs £21,892 and is available as of now, while the £45,000 104in machine will be available from 20 January.
Both machines use the HP 792 latex inks, introduced six months ago for the LX printers, and said to produce richer blacks and glossier results on banner and self-adhesive vinyl. Also of note is their minimal intervention double-sided print capability via HP’s Optical Media Advance Sensor (OMAS) which controls registration automatically. For unattended operation more robust take-up reels have also been introduced, handling up to 40kg on the L26500 and 100kg on the L28500.
The L26500 and L28500 can print on a wide range of HP and non-HP materials (over 500 currently certified) including a new HDPE Reinforced Banner and various textiles, where HP sees huge potential growth.
“The 104in machine will print up to 98% of textile sizes and the 61in twice as many textile sizes as the L25500” said Joan Pericot, worldwide marketing director, HP's Large Format Print division. “The soft media handling has been improved too and we see big potential in this market, especially for retail.”
The L26500 can run at up to 22.8m2/hr in four-pass mode and the L28500 up to 40m2/hr in the same mode, though up to 70m2/hr in two-pass.
In conjunction with the new printer introduction is the launch of the HP Latex University, a set of training materials and application workshops, and the online HP Ecosolutions Trained Printing Company Programme for educating latex printer users in sustainability best practice.
Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager, HP's Large Format Business, said 9,000 latex systems have been installed worldwide since their introduction at Drupa 2008, proof that the technology is seen as an alternative to solvent output.