#Ipex: Fujifilm to Showcase Jet Press 720 Sheetfed Ink-jet Color Press

LONDON—02/10/2010—Fujifilm Europe today announces that it will be showcasing its ground-breaking B2 sheetfed digital inkjet press, the Jet Press 720, at the Ipex 2010 exhibition (18-25 May, NEC, Birmingham, UK). The development of the Jet Press 720 has progressed successfully, including some customer trials, following its first appearance as a technology announcement at drupa 2008.

Also on display will be version 3.0 of its XMF cross-media workflow solution, digital plate products, Xerox color printers and large-format printing solutions, including Acuity and Onset models.

Since the world-wide economic recession began in late 2008, print volumes have declined in most areas of the world, including the average run length per job. Printers and print buyers are therefore looking for more efficient print production and value-added services such as personalization for a much wider range of applications. The Jet Press 720 meets these requirements perfectly and will revolutionize the business of short-run printing. The press will be particularly suitable for traditional commercial printers looking to improve competitiveness for short-run work and digital printers who are looking to offer a wider range of digital print services.

Provisional specifications [*4]:
Productivity: 2,700 B2 sheets per hour
Resolution: 1,200 x 1,200dpi, 4 level greyscale
Paper size: 542 x 382mm (min), 750 x 530mm (max)
Printable area: 720mm x 520mm
Paper weight 100gsm – 300gsm
Input paper capacity: 800mm in height (max)
Output paper capacity: 600mm in height (max)
Variable data support: Yes
Workflow: FUJIFILM Workflow XMF
Dimensions: 2.7m (D) x 7.3m (L) x 2.0m (H)

The Jet Press 720 is ground-breaking in that it takes the advantages of digital print technologies one step further and is set to open up new markets for digital print through a combination of features unique to this inkjet digital press:

i) Unprecedented digital print quality

The Jet Press 720 takes the print quality produced by a digital printing system to new heights thanks to a combination of technologies. Firstly, the Jet Press 720 makes use of SAMBATM print-head technology for single-pass inkjet printing developed by Fujifilm Dimatix. This piezoelectric MEMS [*1] precision fabrication technology achieves resolutions of 1,200dpi x 1,200dpi with four levels of grey scale, a specification unobtainable from any other digital printing system.

As with any inkjet system, however, the performance of the ink through the print-head onto the printed sheet is critical to delivering benchmark quality. Fujifilm has therefore made use of the company’s advanced chemical technology to develop water-based inks which enable bleed-free, high quality images to be produced. The quality is enhanced through Fujifilm’s unique “anti-curling” and “rapid coagulation ink” technologies, which prevent paper curl and dot gain.

Finally, the repeatability from sheet –to-sheet is second to none. This is because the Jet Press 720 makes use of the superb registration accuracy of an offset press (the paper handling is identical to offset) and combines it with the inherent stability of an inkjet printing system. This is further enhanced through the use of a CCD sensor which scans every sheet and makes any necessary alterations in real time.

The combination of these technologies means Fujifilm is advancing the quality of digital print to levels never reached before.

ii) Unprecedented digital print productivity

Thanks to SAMBATM technology, the Jet Press 720 can print a B2 sheet in a single-pass, resulting in production speeds of approximately 180 sheets (A4 size equivalent) [*2] per minute or 2,700 B2 sheets an hour. This represents unprecedented productivity for a sheet-fed digital press and will move the break point for the cost effectiveness of digital as a print production technology further into the traditional litho area.

Fujifilm estimates that the Jet Press 720 will be particularly competitive for print runs under 2,000 sheets. Productivity is further improved as the B2 printed sheet emerges from the press completely dry, thanks to the drying process that occurs once the paper is imaged.

This means that 1,000 copies of a 32-page brochure can be printed and ready for finishing in half the time taken for the same job to be produced on a traditional offset press.

iii) Unprecedented flexibility

The Jet Press 720 has been designed to make digital print production much more flexible. Firstly, as the machine is B2 format, it fits into existing sheet-fed pressrooms without the need for any alterations in terms of paper handling and finishing.

Secondly, standard B2 coated paper can be used, removing the requirement to use specialised (and expensive) digital paper. This means, for example, that a B2 printer can take advantage of current B2 paper stocks, simplifying inventory and stockholding and reducing costs.

Thirdly, as the B2 sheet emerges from the Jet Press 720 completely dry, the range of finishing options available are much wider than with many other digital print technologies. Once imaged, the B2 sheet can be treated like an offset sheet, dropping into existing finishing equipment, with many special finishes possible. As a result, in terms of finishing flexibility, digital print can be treated more like offset print than ever before.

Finally, the Jet Press 720 can take advantage of one of the key benefits of digital print in the form of personalisation and variable data. With the Jet press 720, a printer has the flexibility to print a very cost-effective, short-run job without variable data and then produce another job requiring variable data on the same machine immediately afterwards.

iv) Unprecedented production efficiency

The Jet Press 720 makes B2 print production much more efficient as it removes the need for the pre-press equipment and time associated with plate production. It eliminates the requirement to run up to color with the associated make-ready material waste and reduces the time required to wait for the printed sheets to dry in preparation for finishing.

v) Unprecedented environmental performance

The advantage of digital print in terms of optimising the number of printed copies produced and minimising the amount of unnecessary over-runs is a key benefit of the Jet Press 720. There are a number of other significant environmental benefits. Firstly, the number of make-readies is considerably reduced. On some short-run jobs on traditional sheet-fed presses, the number of make-ready sheets can represent a significant percentage of the total run, up to 25% in some cases. This problem is significantly reduced with the Jet Press 720 as very few make-ready sheets are required.

Secondly, the Jet Press 720 removes the need for a number of the pressroom solutions used on a typical offset press, for example founts, sprays and potentially harmful VOC washes, and of course removes the requirement for water. The Jet Press 720 requires only two consumables in addition to the water-based ink. These include a wash for the inkjet print-heads and a solution used for pre-coating the paper prior to printing.

Finally, as part of the life cycle analysis Fujifilm carries out on all its products, the company estimates that the carbon footprint of the Jet Press 720 compared to an equivalent B2 sheet-fed press (internal estimate [*3]) is approximately 25% less. In addition, early internal studies indicate that paper printed with Fujifilm water-based inks on the Jet Press 720 can be recycled. These internal studies are subject to further external qualification, but potentially represent a significant advance in the drive to reduce the environmental impact of inkjet printing.

Customer feedback on the performance of the Jet Press 720 has been extremely positive. The combination of color consistency, easy operation and print stability makes the Jet Press very appealing in helping to reduce the stresses within current print operations. It is anticipated these factors will also help improve client relationships and provide an opportunity for business growth.

Fujifilm Europe's Graphic Arts strategy for Ipex 2010 and beyond is represented by the banner "POWER TO SUCCEED." It will demonstrate how its technologies, solutions and sound business advice will give printers of all shapes and sizes the ‘power to succeed’ in today’s tough economic climate.

In Hall 9, stand number 9-CD360, Fujifilm will focus on how printers can drive their businesses forward and succeed in a highly competitive world by optimising offset print processes, maximizing the opportunities that digital production brings and managing this complex, integrated print production environment in the most efficient way. Fujifilm is in the unique position of being able to offer benchmark printing solutions across a wide portfolio of applications, all based on the latest technologies. The highlights of the Fujifilm stand are outlined below:

i) Optimizing offset print production

Fujifilm will showcase a range of solutions designed to optimize the offset print process. The company will demonstrate how its range of thermal and violet plate production solutions can help printers increase productivity, reduce costs and minimise waste production, and so improve environmental performance. In particular, Fujifilm will be showing how its Brillia HD PRO-T2 plate can deliver real benefits, such as the complete elimination of chemistry, to larger B1 printers without impacting on quality or productivity. In addition, Fujifilm’s latest ‘lo-chem’ plates will be on show for both violet and thermal imaging applications.

Alongside the company’s benchmark plate production solutions, by using the concept of a ‘virtual pressroom’, Fujifilm will demonstrate how its wide range of pressroom solutions can help printers improve production efficiencies on both sheet-fed and web presses. This area will highlight how Fujifilm founts, washes, sprays and auxiliaries can help improve quality and maximise press performance, and how its wide range of coatings can add value to offset print with minimal impact on production and the environment.

ii) Maximising the opportunities that digital print production brings

Fujifilm will also demonstrate how a ‘best-of-breed’ digital production solution combined with sound business advice can give printers the ‘power to succeed’ in digital print. A major part of the company’s 1,700m² Ipex stand will be devoted to digital print production, presenting one of the widest ranges of high quality digital presses, making use of some of the latest Fujifilm technologies. The company will show how these production devices, combined with the right workflow, web-to-print solution and business approach, can result in a successful digital print business. In addition, it will highlight how digital production can be managed efficiently in an integrated offset/digital environment.

For A3+ applications, the very latest range of Xerox color production machines will be used to show how, with a modest investment, printers can add a successful, high quality digital print service, or build on an existing capability with the addition of a high volume production machine. In both cases, Fujifilm will demonstrate how printers can achieve success from digital print production.

A considerable area of the stand will be devoted to wide-format print production. Here, the company will exhibit the new Inca Onset S20 printer, the latest Acuity Advance HS wide-format device, and the new, recently announced Uvistar UV inkjet roll to roll machine, in addition to its Euromedia range. Fujifilm will focus on demonstrating the very latest production techniques and applications and, in particular, how commercial printers can maximise the opportunities that wide-format print production brings.

iii) Managing integrated print production

With its expertise in both digital and offset technologies, Fujifilm is ideally placed to help printers manage complex, integrated production environments. At Ipex 2010, Fujifilm will be launching version 3.0 of its XMF cross-media workflow solution. This latest version has been specifically designed to accommodate the integrated production demands of larger print companies and provides a range of new options including advanced imposition and color management capabilities, and an improved version of its innovative 3D proofing module.

Client facing web portals are increasingly important to print service providers, and Fujifilm will also be showcasing the latest version of its online job approval module, XMF Remote version 5.0, which offers many developments to enhance the printer/client interface, including improvements to automation and job submission.

In addition to this broad portfolio of offset, digital and wide-format solutions, the company will also be presenting its latest flexo plate developments. Following the technology announcement at drupa 2008 of a new Fujifilm Direct Laser Engraving (DLE) flexo CTP plate, at Ipex 2010 the company will show how its core Polymer Material and Imaging Technologies will create revolutionary new solutions for flexo packaging print applications.

Finally, throughout the stand, Fujifilm will be showing how printers can lower their environmental impact by maximising the efficiency of their production processes and introducing technologies that give them the ‘power to succeed’ whilst minimising material use and waste disposal.

*1: MEMS is a general term that refers to technologies that are used to create 3-dimensional electronic and mechanical structures on silicon substrates on the micrometer level, and manufactured parts using such technologies. Also referred to as MST (Micro System Technology).
*2: Number of sheets printed when printing large sizes of 720mm by 520mm.
*3: Effective CO2 produced (Kg) estimated on a print run of 1,000 sheets.
*4: The specifications are provisional and are subject to change without notice

About Fujifilm
Fujifilm Holdings Corporation brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, photofinishing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company employs more than 70,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2009, had global revenues of 18 billion Euro. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.