HP’s Inkjet High Performance Printing Solutions division yesterday, May 5, ran an Open House at O’Neil Data Systems in Los Angeles, the first installation of the HP Inkjet Web Press. The Open House yesterday was for press and analysts, and it continues on May 6 and 7 for both O’Neil Data Systems and HP customers and prospects. To my knowledge no other company has run a similar large-scale open house of this nature at a customers’ location. The reason for the Open House was to show the new HP Inkjet Web Press operating in a production environment producing live work.
O’Neil Data Systems was founded in 1973 by William O’Neil, one of Wall Street’s most seasoned and successful veterans. He originally started the company to produce time-sensitive investment research publications from his extensive database on publicly traded companies. In the mid seventies O’Neil Data Systems pioneered the field of automated composition and database publishing using state-of-the-art computer technology. Since that time the company has grown into a national provider of data-driven publishing and marketing communication services for major U.S. organizations. It has a range of printing equipment including both sheet and web fed offset presses and HP Indigo and Océ digital presses, plus a very extensive range of finishing systems for all applications including high security applications. It also provides print services for its parent company, William O’Neil+Company, a national investment information company supporting the institutional investment community. The main publications it prints for its parent company are the O’Neil Database, a weekly in-depth analysis of the performance of a wide range of stocks, a range of other investment publications, and Investor’s Business Daily, the first national business newspaper to compete successfully with The Wall Street Journal.
The use of the HP Inkjet Web Press has allowed O’Neil Data Systems to enhance the production of the weekly database publication that allows major comparison of all relevant stock information. This has now allowed all charts to be printed in color to improve the readability of the information, and has substantially reduced the overall production time allowing it to get to clients around the U.S. faster.
HP took the opportunity to show the Inkjet Web Press in operation. It is housed in an impressive facility linked up with a range of finishing systems. The press location has space for a second Inkjet Web Press in the future. The press is configured for a wide range of services and has an HP data processing and RIP structure allowing for very complex personalized production. To show just what the new press is capable of I had a personalized copy of today’s Investor’s Business Daily printed on the O’Neil Inkjet Web Press delivered to my hotel room before I awoke. This must have been printed yesterday after 4.00 pm when the offset newspaper is produced. This may be a first in having a current edition of a newspaper printed digitally in color delivered at the same time as the offset edition. It shows what could possibly happen in future with this publication also being printed digitally. In addition attendees at the event were given a number of other products printed on the Inkjet Web Press. These included a personalized version of William O’Neil’s book “How to Make Money in Stocks.” The covers for this were printed on the HP Indigo 5000 press at O’Neil Data Systems. Another product was the book Pirates published by Dover Publications. Both of these were finished with the Ehret VC770c Sheeter, MBO B30/B26 Folders and Palamides Delta703 Delivery. There was also a range of mailing products produced using CMC equipment.
Apart from seeing the HP Inkjet Web Press in action, the highlight of the Open House was a presentation by William O’Neil on the history of the financial markets in times of recession and the resulting developments that happened to the different markets on coming out of recession. This showed that technological changes led by entrepreneurs always in the past had created new markets and driven growth. He foresaw no difference on this recession and saw future growth again driven by entrepreneurial technology developments.
At the Open House HP and its partners took the opportunity to explain the structure of operation of the press. In particular they wanted to show how the press differed from other inkjet based web presses in the market. HP showed that this was a press built upon a modular structure that allowed further development without redesign. For example while the first press prints with a 29-inch print width, it is easy to scale this either in a larger or smaller format. HP showed the modular structure based upon the imaging width of an HP Scalable Printing Architecture print head. This allows for computing the data and driving the print head at full 400 ft per minute speed of the press. These hardware and software modules could be linked together to any width without changing the hardware and software structure for driving a press. They also showed how the structure of the press where there are fourteen print heads per color for the width of the press that provides four individual nozzles for each 1/600th inch area. This gives nozzle redundancy and nozzle load sharing to provide both fault tolerant operation and longer print head life. They also showed how this number of inkjet nozzles generates a printing resolution of 1,200 x 600 dpi with three levels at full press speed of 400 ft/min. No other color continuous feed press on the market can operate at this speed while maintaining this level of quality.
HP also emphasized the benefits of being a single supplier of the print heads, the press, the inks and the substrates. They showed how the different substrate approaches they offered provided optimum quality. This included the use of the HP bonding agent on uncoated papers that is printed wherever a ink drop is to print. This bonding agent worked with the ink to limit show through, provide high gamut and improve quality. They also showed their Paper Enhancement Technology for uncoated papers that provided what is perceived to be offset comparable quality on uncoated papers. HP also described their coated media for the Inkjet Web Press that is designed to work with the HP pigmented inks for high quality at full press speed. To my understanding this is the first inkjet web press to print on coated media at full speed.
In addition to HP, HP’s partners were all at the O’Neil Open House to discuss their offerings. In the finishing area these included CMC, EMT, Hunkeler, MBO/EHRET, Muller Martini, Pitney Bowes, Timson and Ultimate. There were also representatives from other HP partner groups including HP Exstream. HP was also showing the Smartstream servers that drive the HP Inkjet Web Press and also solutions from HPs ink and substrate operations. These were showing examples of HP’s Paper Enhancement Technology outlined above.
Naturally one expected HP to have something new to say at the Open House, and we were not disappointed. At drupa it announced the beta test programme with O’Neil Data Systems, and also with leading European book print, CPI. At the Open House HP announced that Courier Corporation, the third largest book manufacturer in the U.S. is to install an HP Inkjet Web Press. Unlike CPI whose press is one for monochrome printing only, the press for Courier will be the full four color press. The CPI press will use the new Timson T-Book Digital Finishing System specifically developed by Timson to work with the HP Inkjet Web Press. This converts the press’s output into jogged and collated stacks ready for the bindery, in an array of finished book sizes, while minimizing wa
These two major book printers overall produced more than 800 million books in 2008 and it is felt that their combined influence using inkjet printing will impact upon publishers’ buying strategies. CPI indicated that they are targeting the market for runlengths up to 3,000 copies of books as this is the fastest growing market with an 8% growth in 2008. Courier who also own Dover Publishing see the need for this new technology to allow for changing book publishing approaches in order to reduce the use of working capital, reduce waste and support lower run lengths.
Another major announcement was the Consolidated Graphics has also joined the HP Inkjet Web Press pilot programme and will be installing their press during the 2nd quarter of 2009. Consolidated Graphics comprises 70 companies in 27 states around the U.S. plus sites in Canada and Eastern Europe. It is also the largest HP Indigo customer in the world. Consolidated see the installation of the HP Inkjet Web Press as a game changing strategy that together with its major commitment to digital printing with HP Indigo will allow them to change their business models.
The HP O’Neil Open House was an event of great interest and showed HP’s commitment in building a new market with its Inkjet Web press that would be a generator of future growth for innovative printers and publishers.
Discussion
By William Songer on May 06, 2009
Mr. Tribute,
The appropriate spelling is Timsons.
Regards,
By Steve Brown on May 06, 2009
You have a typo in your article. Consolidated Graphics has "70" companies in 27 states. Thanks.
By Michael J on May 06, 2009
Thanks for the detailed update. Much appreciated.
I think it's interesting to note that O'Neil and the Ace Group which is doing the mine magazine project, both started as typesetters in the 1970's.
To me it shows how evolution creates winners as well as losers. It also tells me that organizational DNA , usually in one or a small team of people, creates the resiliency that the globals usually don't.
By Eric Vessels on May 06, 2009
@William: Thanks. Corrected.
@Steve: Thanks. Fixed.
By Lou Berceli on May 06, 2009
Regarding the HP digital inkjet web press print quality, I have not read any comments on how its quality compares to other print systems. I would imagine that for O'Neil Data Systems needs that text and graphical charts dominate the images. I would also imagine that HP's Digital Inkjet web press will be similar in print quality to Oce's JetStream 2200 that has two full color inkjet web press installations at the Direct Group in NJ. Can anyone comment on the print quality they have seen of the HP Inkjet web press or the Oce JetStream?
I have seen about 30 full color print samples from the Oce JetStream and was very impressed to see such high quality that would easily match and rival the very best 200 line or Stochastic FM Screened 4 color offset litho print quality.
I am sure that these and other inkjet web press pioneers will show us all that Print continues to evolve and is far from dead. Guttenberg would be proud!
By Michael J on May 06, 2009
Lou,
Thank you for the new-to-me data point.
http://toughloveforxerox.blogspot.com/2009/05/data-point-oce-jetstream-2200-running.html
By Howie Fenton on May 06, 2009
Good question about the quality. While there were in-depth conversations about spots, dots, RIPing, heads and imaging technology, there was no discussions about print quality. And unlike most traditional toner or offset printing product announcements there were very few samples made available. I asked repeatedly for more but without success. And there were no traditional test targets. We did get two books, a newspaper and a transpromo VDP piece. The samples were more spot color then 4c. I would categorize the quality as below the highest quality electrophotographic but near 120-133 lpi seen in uncoated paper in books or newsprint. But to be honest, after seeing competitive products I was pleasantly surprised.
By Michael J on May 07, 2009
So based on people's observations, would it be fair to say that the HP is good enough, but the Oce is closer to offset?
Also, does anyone know about comparable total cost of ownership and/or per page consumable costs?
By Lou Berceli on May 07, 2009
From the dozens of very challenging press sheets I saw from the Oce JetStream 2200 in 2008,(which included some traditional color calibration print evaluation test forms) on both coated and uncoated stock, I know that the Oce JetStream inkjet full color process print quality is clearly SUPERIOR to most of the best offset print quality that has traditionally used 175 or 200 line screening. The smooth tonal gradations and color saturation I saw with JetStream 2200 printed samples reminded me of the highest end 10 and 20 micron Stochastic FM Screening offset litho which I have printed and won several national print awards for. This level of Inkjet print quality at 400 feet per minute is revolutionary.
By Michael J on May 07, 2009
Lou, thanks for the info.
By Michael J on May 07, 2009
Anyone know anything about costs?
By Noel Ward on May 07, 2009
In my opinion, the color print quality on the HP press is adequate for some applications but all we really saw at O'Neil was what is usually termed "business color." At this point, the HP system is not remotely in the same league as the Océ JetStream when it comes to producing higher quality color. I don't doubt that it will improve by the time this beast is commercially available, but based on what I saw it has a ways to go.
By Andrew Tribute on May 07, 2009
While I normally agree with Noel Ward, this time I totally disagree with him. I also disagree with Howie Fenton about samples. He forgot to mention that he took away a copy of Investors Business Daily newspaper printed on the HP Inkjet Web Press. The interesting thing about this was that part of the paper was printed offset and part inkjet. Not one of the analysts including Noel and Howie identified this. What it showed was that the quality of inkjet was at least comparable to offset. In fact if you looked further at the pages the inkjet quality was better, but one has to say the offset printing was on an old Goss Urbanite, so this was not the best that offset could do on newsprint. In terms of comparison with the Océ JetStream, recently the UK newspaper publication Production Journal printed some of the pages of their publication on the JetStream at Océ's facility in Poing, Germany. The quality was not good, certainly nowhere near as good as offset, and certainly not as good as the HP Inkjet Web Press quality. The differences are the higher printing resolution, the number of gray levels and the use of the bonding agent on the HP press. The bonding agent is key, as with other inkjet presses such as the Océ Jetstream. the Screen Truepress Jet520 and others, there is major show through and loss of sharpness and gamut unless you print on special higher cost inkjet enabled substrates.
By Michael J on May 07, 2009
Interesting...I've never seen a sample of either.
I think the issue for now is
1: is the quality good enough for newsprint color? and
2: What are the comparable total cost of ownership and running page costs?
I remember all the arguments about good enough color back in the day.
Since I believe one of the low hanging fruits is versioned newspapers, perhaps someone from Oce or HP could weigh in with TCO and Click + supply charges. I know each deal might be different in details, but it would be really helpful to understand the ball park and how it might compare to web offset printing.
By Howie Fenton on May 07, 2009
Wow as if quality was not controversial enough, now you want to tackle cost per page. One thing is pretty clear most people will agree that the main advantages of production speed inkjet printing over production speed toner printing is speed and cost. But the cost really depends on exactly how you calculate it (years of life, maintenance, utilization rate, coverage, etc). The numbers I see most often for a fully burdened cost per page from production speed toner printing range from $.05-$.10/pg. Most estimates for inkjet are below that. But let the games begin and see what others say!
By Michael J on May 08, 2009
Thanks Howie,
The thing is that without a transparent all in cost, the quality discussions aren't very useful. The one thing we've learned from living through typographers and separation trade shops v "desktop color" is that the implied part of the "how good is the quality?" is "how much do I have to pay for what level of quality."
For a newspaper, if the deal is a 48 page tabloid for $2.40 to 4.80 an issue that means someone has to figure out how to earn over $2400 or $4800 per thousand issues, including the costs of distribution and composition. Put the numbers into a spreadsheet and run "what ifs"
If the vendors can show the newspapers how to do that, they will do it. Designing the paper to meet the quality possible is a well defined skill. But if they can't get the numbers to work, why would anyone want to buy it.
In my opinion it's much easier to make the numbers work in black ink only or in two colors. If the numbers work, quality is good enough. If not, no level of quality is good enough.
By Tony C-U on May 08, 2009
Andy mentioned the HP bonding agent. At the IMI Inkjet conference in Foster City, Axel Fisher of Ingede showed the results of recycling tests done on paper samples from drupa on the output from various IJ web presses. The HP prints with the bonding agent seemed to be as recyclable as standard newsprint: a real surprise. This was not an exhaustive test but suggests a path forward for Kodak, Oce, and Ricoh to be equally environmentally responsive.
By Howie Fenton on May 08, 2009
The final recycling story is not clear yet. A few of us sat with an HP engineer at the end of the show who is looking into existing and new ways to deink inkjet paper. The data and research was detailed, technical, and frankly confusing. But the take home story is that there are existing and new strategies to deink using existing equipment. It may be possible to change the existing deinking procedures and deink both offset and inkjet products.
By Andy McCourt on May 10, 2009
From Tony C-U: "This was not an exhaustive test but suggests a path forward for Kodak, Oce, and Ricoh to be equally environmentally responsive."
The three companies you mention are all foundation members of the Digital Print De-Inking Alliance, along with HP. They are therefore equally environmentally responsive and in the case of Oce, a dedicated sustainability website: www.sustainability.oce.com is avialble to address all related issues.
It's easy to be misled by hype and politics but the facts are pointing towards inkjet de-inking in the real world (i.e. recycling mills)not being an insurmountable issue, for all types of IJ production.
Discussion
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