Over the next few years we will be inundated with a variety of inkjet press options and associated pressure to jump on board before our competitors do. The consequences of making a wrong decision here could be disastrous. The cost of the equipment is high and functionality varies greatly by equipment. In the past, if you were making a press decision and if you stayed with a major manufacturer you were in pretty good hands.

Today, options such as web or sheetfed, speed, quality, substraight flexibility, operating cost and variable imaging flexibility, make this equipment decision very complex and dependent on the application and your market. Betting on the wrong piece of equipment for your needs or not understanding the cost model could put you in dire straits.

Looking at the applications and needs of the market you serve must come first.  Then decide if there is a press out there that meets those needs. The Fuji J Press 720 was awarded a 2012 InterTech award. It is the world's first half-size sheetfed inkjet press. It produces accurate and consistent color work with virtually no makeready waste. The InterTech judges singled out the J Press for its pioneering role in what is expected to be a major pressroom shift to inkjet. The J press was the only inkjet press to receive an award.

Looking at the applications and needs of the market you serve must come first.  Then decide if there is a press out there that meets those needs.

The J Press 720 combines inkjet technology with a conventional offset press subframe. This is an easy drop in for a conventional printer since you are able to use your existing bindery equipment. The 4 up format size is similar to what a number of printers already have with their offset equipment. Offset press operators are used to the feeder and delivery set up.

This press is most effective on run lengths that are not cost effective on pay-per-click digital presses and where traditional offset presses struggle because of the longer prepress and makeready times. The sweet spot is typically between one hundred to a few thousand sheets.

Another feature is the ability to offer press proofs on the exact stock you will be using for the job. There is a new batching capability that allows you to print any number of sheets required and automatically change over to the next job without interruption.