Editor's Note: This post was published before the announcement that drupa2020 would be postponed. The T250 HD was available shortly after this release in 2020. This week HP provided a pre-drupa peek at the HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD and new Brilliant InkTM that will be added to its inkjet portfolio this year. The new inkset enables HP to target application segments such as direct mail, commercial print and publishing that make heavy use of coated and uncoated offset stocks without requiring primer for the former and bonding agent for the latter. The new system delivers a single bonding agent selectively where needed, reducing additional fluid laydown as well as the need to maintain multiple fluid types. (This approach is similar to the Canon ProStream released at the end of 2018 targeting the same markets.) The HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD can print on inkjet formulated media that is ColorPRO certified without use of bonding agent. While the press will officially at drupa HP has provided a thorough overview of capabilities that serve as an upgrade to the HP PageWide Web Press T240 HD. [caption id="attachment_3396" align="aligncenter" width="500"]HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD - image courtesy of HP[/caption] New Press, New Heads The HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD offers native resolution of up to 2400 dpi with dual drop weights to simulate a grayscale head. Like the T240 HD, the T250 HD press operates in three modes:
  • Quality Mode: 2400 dpi with dual drop weights at speeds up to 250 ft (76 m) per minute. This mode delivers the highest quality for the press using dual—low and high—drop weights.
  • Performance HDK Mode: CMY 1200 dpi (single drop) with K at 2400 dpi (dual drop) at speeds up to 500 ft (152 m) per minute
  • Performance Mode: 1200 dpi, single drop weight at speeds up to 500 ft (152 m) per minute
The press has a web width of up to 22 in (559 mm) and a print width of up to 20.5 in (521 mm) and, similar to the T240, should support media weights of 40- 250 gsm and up to 10 pt. It will ship with an inline spectrophotometer system. For more on optional features and service plans, see David Zwang’s recent post and his video interview with HP's Carles Farre on WhatTheyThink.com about this announcement. As they did with HDNA enhancements, HP will provide an upgrade path on a platform by platform basis. Estimates are that upgrade costs run at around 15% of the cost of a new press. Getting to Market The HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD will be officially announced at drupa in June and is expected to be available by the end of 2020. It will be competing head-to-head with devices from other OEMs that are already on the market:
  • Released at the end of 2018, the Canon ProStream offers 1200 dpi with variable, drop-on-demand grayscale heads* running at 262 ft/ m (80 m/m). The ProStream uses selectively jetted ColorGrip, and a polymer inkset to enable compatibility with offset coated and uncoated stocks. In 2019, Canon added an inline spectrophotometer and heavy weight media package to the ProStream configuration.
  • The Ricoh Pro VC70000, released in 2019, offers resolutions of 1200x1200, 1200x600, and 600x600 with variable, drop-on-demand, grayscale heads*. The VC 70000 runs at speeds up to 492 feet /m reduced to 400 ft/m on offset coated papers. Unlike the T250, the VC 70000 can print on offset uncoated and coated papers without any priming or pretreatment. At top speed the press produces 600 x 600 output. At top quality of 1200 x 1200, speed is reduced to 164 fpm.
  • Screen Truepress Jet520HD+ achieves 1200x1200 dpi at 164 feet per minute and 1200x600 dpi at 246 feet per minute with variable, drop-on-demand, grayscale heads*. Like Ricoh, Screen does not require pretreatment for compatibility with offset media.
*When comparing resolutions, take into account both dpi and drop sizes and consider the impact of both on print quality. The announcement of the HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD  is a great leap for HP, particularly in shedding the requirement for both bonding agent and primer to work with the range of stocks using in commercial printing and direct mail applications. They will be playing catch-up with strong competitors already in the market, but have an advantage in upgrading the broad base of installed HP devices at a lower cost than competitors can offer.