HP extends reach in outdoor signage market with new low-solvent based printers

The Designjet 8000s and 9000s Printer series open new business opportunities for the region's print service providers (PSPs). The printers will help foster the adoption of durable digital printing technologies for fast and easy production of signs, banners, vehicle graphics, POP/POS, tradeshow signs and displays, window graphics, flags and decals.

As part of a forward looking and long-term strategy from HP, the Designjet 9000, showcased for the first time globally at the exhibition and targeted at customers with high print capacity demands, is available from March, while the Designjet 8000 for lower capacity printing, will be commercially introduced later this year.

The new six-colour HP Designjet models make low-solvent printing safe, productive and easy and are the first products to be developed through HP's partnership with Seiko I Infotech. With print speeds of up to 20 m2/h, PSPs will be able to provide a faster response time to their customers, allowing them to win and fulfill more print jobs. In addition to the fast print speeds, users will appreciate the rich and vivid colors - up to 720 x 720 dpi on low-cost uncoated substrates and prints that will resist fading for at least three years even without lamination.1

HP provides a one-stop-shop for PSPs, offering printers, accessories, Raster Image Processors (RIPs)2, dedicated supplies, media and support services. This new series of low-solvent based printers along with accessories, consumables and compatible substrates will be distributed by resellers covering most of the countries in EMEA. HP implemented a rigorous qualification process to identify and certify only a few resellers per country to ensure the new products are installed, maintained and supported by trained and skilled resellers.

First customer already on board

These benefits are already attracting PSPs to the new HP Designjets. Propaganda Prints, a PSP based in Barcelona, has tested the new HP Designjet 9000s with excellent results and will be using the printer to grow its business.

"HP's new low solvent solution adds outdoor graphics applications to our business, greatly reducing our production costs. Only HP could give us the confidence and peace of mind to safely and successfully expand into this field," said Arnau Sallent, general manager of Propaganda Prints.

New price points and productivity accelerating shift from analogue to digital

The HP Designjet 8000s and 9000s Printer series are designed to accelerate the industry-wide transformation from analogue to digital in the large-format graphics marketplace. These high-performing, cost-effective solutions are meeting the growing demands for durable printing technologies that can handle complex graphical content yet operate in a highly competitive pricing market.

With the HP Designjet 9000s Printer series, PSPs can drastically reduce response times and increase print capacity. The HP Designjet 9000s Printer series is the fastest printer in its class with speeds of up to 20 m2/h. Its high print speeds and low running costs increase the break-even point for PSPs, creating a huge competitive advantage when competing with screen printers.

By offering low-price printing without compromising speed, the HP Designjet 8000s Printer series will aim to set a new price/performance point for the industry when it is made available later this year. Producing a wide variety of signs and banners, users will be able to print up to 10 square meters of vivid, long-lasting color output per hour. The HP Designjet 8000s Printer series is a comprehensive 64 inch (1626 mm) wide solution which includes an in-the-box RIP2, HP support, and other accessories which simplify the implementation process.

New ink and media supplies increase reliability and productivity. Both the HP Designjet 8000s and 9000s Printer series will feature a new low-solvent printing system which includes innovative low-solvent ink formulations, ink cartridges, cleaning and maintenance kits, and printing material. All elements are designed and tested together with HP Designjet products for reliable performance.

To make low-solvent printing safe and easy, HP provides detailed guidelines to help users achieve the safe handling and use of the HP low-solvent ink printing system. With HP Smart printing technology4, which monitors status and confirms correct installation, HP supplies are easy to use and manage. HP low-solvent inks also produce a wider colour gamut for more vivid outputs. Durable prints resist fading for three years even without lamination1 and are scratch, smear and crack-resistant.

HP is also introducing a variety of new media specifically created to work with the low-solvent inks and the HP Designjet 8000s and 9000s Printer series. Addressing the vast opportunities in the durable graphics production printing markets, HP's new portfolio of media features durable best-in-class image quality, superior dependability, enhanced productivity, and HP custom media profiles for superior image quality and productivity.

Meeting a range of applications at competitive prices, the new media includes:
- HP Universal Scrim Banner
- HP Premium Scrim Banner
- HP Premium Self-adhesive Vinyl
- HP Premium Backlit Film
- HP Universal Photo-realistic Paper.