HP Accelerates Momentum of HP Indigo Digital Press Portfolio

PALO ALTO, CA—March 18, 2013—HP announced today the strong momentum of the current HP Indigo digital press portfolio, with significant hardware unit growth since drupa 2012.

HP also announced the worldwide commercial availability of the HP Indigo 10000 digital press, with 16 units already installed to date.

The first offset-quality digital press in a B2 size format, the HP Indigo 10000 digital press is helping print service providers (PSPs) grow their businesses through increased efficiency and a wider range of digital print applications.

“PSPs constantly look to improve productivity, expand capabilities and diversify applications to deliver more value as well as higher quality products to clients," said Alon Bar-Shany, vice president and general manager, Indigo Division, HP. “The HP Indigo 10000 is delivering on its promise to change the economics for our customers by helping them produce a broader range of applications that allows them to increase their profitability.”

Wider possibilities with the B2-format HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press
The HP Indigo 10000 digital press maintains all the capabilities distinct to the HP Indigo portfolio in a wider format that expands the digital printing capabilities, while crossing over into traditionally offset markets.

The HP Indigo 10000 digital press debuted at drupa 2012 and underwent beta testing by 10 PSPs across the globe beginning in September 2012. Many of the beta customers, including Courier, Pureprint Group and Sandy Alexander, are considering adding a second unit. Installation of production units are expected to start this month.

Precision Printing is using the press to create personalized, localized and on-demand photo books, in addition to packaging and marketing pieces that it could not produce on its B2-format offset presses. The company also optimized the positioning of smaller formats on B2-sized sheets to multiply the amount of prints the press can produce in one run.

“As print organizations, we need to be much better at not only aggregating, but also producing, thousands of small orders on a daily basis as items become localized and printed on demand,” noted Gary Peeling, managing director, Precision Printing. “The HP Indigo 10000 digital press allows us to streamline bulk printing and brings great efficiencies to our production. It also allows us to provide small quantities of personalized products in formats that we weren’t able to support on narrower digital presses such as landscape books, six-page roll-outs and pocket folders.”

The HP Indigo 10000 digital press also is allowing beta customer Zazzle, a manufacturer of customized goods, to increase profitability by adding new applications.

“The HP Indigo 10000 allows us to apply the same digital workflows that drive our business to a new, larger form factor,” relayed Charles Ohiaeri, vice president, Operations Technology, Zazzle. “Alongside a few SmartStream portfolio products, we were able to integrate the press in virtually no time and kick off the process of bringing several new products to market."

Cober Evolving Solutions, one of Canada’s leading marketing and communications providers, signed a purchase agreement for the HP Indigo 10000 digital press. The company will be the first in Canada to gain a competitive advantage by using the B2 press’ capabilities to provide shortened lead times and wider formats on versioned and personalized marketing materials.

“We are continuously under pressure to produce the most effective printed materials with the shortest turnaround time for our customers,” stressed Peter Cober, president, Cober Evolving Solutions. “With the HP Indigo 10000 digital press, we will be equipped to deliver unique pages that add value in a timelier manner. This press will also make us more responsive and able to take on projects we would not have otherwise been able to do.”

Increasing production and profitability with HP Indigo series four presses
Customers across the globe are taking advantage of the HP Indigo 5600 and 7600 digital presses to create high-value applications with special effects such as digital watermarks and raised print. Customers also are gaining a competitive edge with Enhanced Productivity Mode (EPM), a new feature available on the latest HP Indigo digital presses that significantly reduces turnaround times and production costs by printing up to 33 percent faster.(1)

Integrated marketing services provider International Business Solutions of Mexico recently installed an HP Indigo W7250 digital press to produce personalized campaign materials. Using EPM helps the company print offset quality pieces while shortening turnaround times, cutting costs and reducing press downtime and maintenance.

“We wanted to differentiate our business from the competition by being able to offer a broader range of high-value products that leverage electronic data and HP Indigo’s digital printing technology,” said Salvador Anaya, senior manager, International Business Solutions of Mexico. “Enhanced Productivity Mode significantly boosts our production capacity while reducing running costs. This gives us greater confidence to meet customer deadlines and eliminates any need to back up production with traditional offset production.”

Another customer, Bridgeport National Bindery, installed an HP Indigo W7250 digital press. The company’s fourth HP Indigo digital press is being used to create book covers and small books in black and white as well as color. The addition of the new web-fed press is opening up more business opportunities and the company is running the press a second shift to accommodate for the growth.

“We produce a lot of high-end photo books and art replications that demand offset-quality prints with perfect color consistency,” noted Bruce Jacobsen, executive vice president, Bridgeport National Bindery. “HP Indigo digital presses deliver the results we look for, and many of our customers request HP Indigo by name.”

HP Indigo Print Care 2.0
With continued focus on press productivity and fast service and support, HP developed HP Indigo Print Care 2.0 as a complete toolset for the HP Indigo 7600 and 10000(2) digital presses comprised of diagnostics, troubleshooting and maintenance tools, remote support and automatic calibrations and alerts. This toolset aids PSPs in maximizing print quality and press uptime.

Additional information about HP Indigo digital printing solutions is available on the HP Graphic Arts YouTube channel and on the HP Graphic Arts Twitter Feed.

About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

(1) Compared to the HP Indigo press 5500 and HP Indigo 7500, WS6000 and W7200 digital presses.
(2) Full toolset on the HP Indigo 10000 digital press will be available October 2013

Source: HP.