Star Product: HP Indigo 10000

By Melanie Defries Thursday, 19 July 2012

The manufacturer claims this B2 press meets 98% of the sector's requirements and says it will "change the way people look at digital print"

What is it? The B2 format HP Indigo 10000 aims to provide digital print at the same quality as offset. The press has a maximum sheet size of 750x530mm, prints up to seven colours and has a monthly duty cycle of 2m sheets. It has been designed to be compatible with standard sheet sizes, offset pallet feeding and conventional finishing devices. What does it do? HP GSB worldwide marketing director François Martin says that the 10000 will be the "first quality B2 digital press on the market", and that the device has been designed "from beginning to end like an offset machine." "This is really going to change the way people are looking at digital print. Adding this press to our range means we can potentially address 98% of all jobs that customers produce today," he adds. The Indigo 10000 offers the same full variable data capabilities as other Indigo machines, while its 3,450sph simplex print speed is equivalent to 230 A4ppm. The machine is part of a trio of fourth generation Indigos that includes the 20000, a 34m/min web press capable of "gravure-quality" printing onto films as thin as 10micron (0.01mm), targeted at the flexible packaging and label markets, and the 30000, which can handle boards up to 600micron (0.6mm) thick. When was it launched? HP unveiled the machine in March and live demonstrations of its capabilities were given at Drupa 2012. The Indigo will not be commercially available until 2013 but UK companies Pureprint and Precision Printing have been signed up to beta-test the machine. The presses are set to be installed at Precision in August and Pureprint in September. How does it work? It uses HP’s ElectroInk technology and has full variable data capability. Other features of the machine include automatic blanket and photo imaging plate (PIP) changes, which save operator time, along with an automatic registration system and integrated spectrophotometer, to help ensure consistent print quality. What markets is it aimed at? HP says that the machine opens up opportunities for print service providers to extend their product offerings with a range of new services including photo applications, short-run publications and direct mail. The machine is also suitable for printers that need to match brand or corporate colours – it offers Pantone-certified colours, including white, to provide accurate colour matching HP Indigo UK and Ireland marketing manager Julia Cole says: "This new press opens up a vast array of new applications thanks to the larger sheet size. Such applications include pocket folders, six page brochures, posters, large covers, landscape books and oversize lay-flat photobooks, but the possibilities extend beyond commercial jobs into the photo-specialty, publishing, direct mail and transpromo sectors." How fast is it? The Indigo 10000 can print up to 3,450 B2-format sheets/hour or 4,600 sheets/hour in enhanced productivity mode (EPM). EPM enables full-colour printing using just CMY, which reduces the press’s colour gamut by 10% but boosts production speed by one third. What is its USP? HP says that the machine’s B2 format and built-in duplex mechanism means it is now possible to digitally print any size application, including pocket folders, six-page brochures and large lay-flat books. According to the manufacturer, the machine was "designed with the environment in mind from the very outset" and has new energy efficient techniques and consumes less oil per page compared with other HP Indigo presses. The breakeven point of the HP Indigo 10000 versus offset is around 2,500 B2 sheets which is approximately double that of the HP Indigo 7500, says HP. How much does it cost? The machine is not yet commercially available but its list price is expected to start at around $1.5m (£950,000).

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