PHOENIX, Oct. 1 Mutoh America Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mutoh Industries Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, the world's leading manufacturer of wide format piezoelectric inkjet printers, today formally introduced its new NXPro Toucan large format color inkjet printer for outdoor applications. Toucan sets a new standard in large format outdoor printing performance and value, combining production speed with quality imaging, ease- of-use and affordability. Featuring maximum throughput of up to 864 sq. feet per hour and print resolutions up to 720 dpi, Toucan greatly enhances the production of all types of banners, soft signage, fleet and floor graphics, and backlit displays. Because the Toucan inks are waterproof and highly abrasion- and UV-resistant, printed images can last outdoors for up to three years, without lamination ... even on inexpensive, uncoated materials. "The Toucan signals a new era in cost-effective large format printing for outdoor applications,'' said Guy Cipresso, Vice President of Business Development for Mutoh. "With Toucan, you can effectively produce durable outdoor graphics at production speeds, without the additional cost of specially coated media and lamination.'' The NXPro Toucan is available in two different versions: the four-color Toucan-64, with a maximum print width of 63 inches and a top speed of 405 sq. feet per hour, and the six-color Toucan-87, with a print width of 86 inches and a top speed of 864 sq. feet per hour. In production mode, the Toucan-87 can print a 4-foot by 8-foot panel in less than five minutes, while the Toucan-64 can complete the job within 10 minutes. Both models include digitally-controlled heating elements for drying, a 21GB HDD and an automatic take-up system. Each of the NXPro Toucan models also includes a PostScript-3 compatible network RIP server known as the Thunderbird PS-1000. This advanced, Mutoh- developed RIP allows direct printing from any Windows or Macintosh application. By simply connecting the RIP to their network, users can print with spooling capabilities to handle multiple jobs from multiple clients simultaneously. The RIP also features automatic job status reporting, unattended print monitoring and a graphical Web-based user interface. Assembled by Mutoh at its ISO9000-certified factory, the NXPro Toucan incorporates 20 years of design experience in precision motion control, with five decades of manufacturing, to ensure a lifetime of reliable operation. For customer investment protection, the Toucan comes with installation and six months of on-site warranty service (extended warranty also available) and toll-free technical support. "Going 'digital' has never been easier or more affordable,'' noted Cipresso. "The Toucan will help to revolutionize our industry, so that more firms can take advantage of the efficiency and flexibility offered by digital inkjet printing.'' The NXPro Toucan will be shown for the first time at the Big Picture Conference, October 10th through the 13th at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida. www.bigpicture.net/conference.