HP Australia showcased its latest innovations in large format printing at this week’s Visual Impact event in Brisbane.
The print industry has been transformed by HP Latex Printers over the past 16 years. Starting with the HP Latex Gen 1 water-based durable inks, the technology has evolved to the HP Latex Gen 4 with reclaimed water and recycled plastics, demonstrating HP’s commitment to sustainability and printing quality. HP recently introduced the HP Latex 630W at Visual Impact Brisbane 2024, along with new software and solutions showcased at drupa 2024.
Craig Hardman, HP’s ANZ Country Manager for Large Format Print, commented, “HP’s solutions are designed to push the boundaries of what large format printers can achieve, which means producing top-quality images, creating smarter workflows, with sustainability in mind.”
He continues, “In today’s fast-paced market, HP’s large format printing category is at the forefront of innovation, merging streamlined workflows with sustainable practices to deliver products of outstanding quality. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint by adopting water-based inks, optimising logistics, and leveraging digital technology to ensure operational efficiency.”
HP demonstrated the following printing solutions at the event:
HP Latex 630 W Print and Cut Plus Solution: Showcased for the first time in Australia, this new white ink printer features a media width of up to 1.63 meters (64 inches) and cut speeds reaching 1.13 meters per second (44 inches per second) diagonally. It incorporates the HP Barcode system, OPOS marks, HP FlexiPRINT and CUT RIP, and the HP PrintOS app. This solution differentiates itself with impressive speeds up to 14 square meters per hour (150 square feet per hour) at indoor quality, adjustable cut force ranging from 0 to 600 grams in 5-gram increments, and the use of HP 832 Latex Inks in 1-litre cartridges, including white ink capabilities.
HP Latex 800 W Printer: This printer has a maximum media width of 1.63 meters (64 inches). It uses 3-litre ink cartridges and supports rolls up to 55 kg (121 lb). The printer can achieve speeds of up to 36 square meters per hour (388 square feet per hour) for outdoor applications. One main differentiating feature is its capability to print with white ink, enhancing its versatility and quality for various printing needs.
HP Latex R1000 Plus Printer: This printer is designed to handle boards up to 1.6 meters (64 inches) wide with a maximum media thickness of 5 cm (2 inches). It features 3-litre ink cartridges for both colours and white ink. The printer supports indoor production speeds of 28 square meters per hour (301 square feet per hour), equating to seven boards per hour. A standout feature is its ability to accommodate a single roll weighing up to 68 kg (149.9 lb), enhancing its versatility and operational efficiency.
By adding HP Latex Technology to their operations, customers can now print on a wide range of substrates, offer high quality over time and deliver projects the same day. Andrew Slane, Director at Blink in New Zealand, said, “The R series allows us to execute a lot more of our creative projects in-house as well as make our work life easier. It has improved our service offering, allowing us to make a range of new products, and we have been really happy with the level of quality it can hit.”
New software solutions introduced at drupa 2024, including:
Live Production Printer Remote Control: This expansion of HP’s Live Production software enables small to medium-sized print service providers (PSPs) to remotely manage their end-to-end workflow from any PC or mobile device. This software supports unattended printing, allowing users to control devices remotely, streamline production, and achieve greater efficiency.
Design & eCommerce Software: HP Large Format is offering PSPs the opportunity to simplify end-user demand with upgrades to its award-winning Design & eCommerce software. This software generates print-ready PDF files optimised for common large format applications, like canvas or wall coverings, and expands compatibility to a broader range of websites, supporting on-demand quotation sales processes.
During Visual Impact Brisbane 2024, Jeremy Brew, Sales Enablement Strategist, HP Large Format Printing, hosted education sessions on printer décor and white ink. HP is predicting growth for PSPs using ‘décor’ printing and the utilisation of white ink. With these trends on the rise, HP large format printers allow decorative print to bring out colour, design, and brand identity to show incredible in-depth personalisation. This also provides printing businesses a roadmap to thrive in this space, generate higher revenue and widen their customer base and business vision.
