Today at Fespa Digital in Amsterdam, Inca Digital announces the global commercial launch of the Inca Onset S20 UV flatbed printer.

The Onset S20 delivers POP quality production at speeds up to 250 sqm/hr or 50 full bed sheets/hr (3.12m x 1.6m) on substrates up to 50mm thick. Aimed at companies with high-volume production needs, this new high-speed printer produces superb quality display graphics economically. The printer is being demonstrated for the first time worldwide at Fespa Digital by Inca’s global distributor Fujifilm Sericol (stand C30).

The Onset S20 builds on the technology of the successful Inca Onset, the world’s fastest inkjet printer (at a throughput of 600 sqm/hr or 120+ full bed sheets/hr) launched two years ago. Having established a print quality benchmark, and recognizing a need and a gap in the market for a high-volume machine at a price level that suits many more companies, Inca developed the Onset S20 launched today.

“The Onset S20 is set to transform the economics of volume display graphics production,” says Dr Linda Bell, CEO of Inca Digital. “Both our Onset models represent a breakthrough in digital printing that has redefined wide format performance and print quality levels and brought profitable new business opportunities to our customers.”

The Inca Onset S20 has been engineered to provide superb levels of performance, quality and flexibility. It features new automation options, user replaceable printheads, expanded colour gamut and new gloss levels. Inca-configured printheads on a full print width colour bar deliver a 28 picolitre drop size which, along with Inca’s high standard for delivery of precision ink drop placement, produce excellent print quality. Inca’s know-how of, and capability with, printhead electronics controls pulse width and voltage to each printhead to high levels of accuracy. Uniquely with the Onset S20 there is the ability to replace individual printheads easily, which further reduces cost of ownership.  Inca’s signature vacuum table design with its accurate pin positioning allows users to print single and double sided on a variety of sheet sizes repeatably and accurately.

While the standard colour set of the Inca Onset S20 is Fujifilm Sericol’s Uvijet four colour CMYK, Ultratone inks (lights, orange, violet) or white are also available. This, as well as a choice of satin, semi-gloss and gloss finishes, delivers enormous versatility in the range of products that can be printed, e.g. display POS, exhibition graphics, backlit/frontlit displays, outdoor signage printing etc. The choice of Wasatch or ColorGATE RIP delivers easy file set-up and in-depth colour management control for a variety of applications. As with the faster Onset, an integrated scanner is used to ensure print quality.

PPE, UK, one of Europe’s leading 3D POP manufacturers, has been beta testing the Onset S20 for the last few months. The productivity of the printer has been instrumental in the company deciding to diversify into offering pure display print at volume levels. “We are really impressed with the capabilities of the new printer,” says Neil Parker, joint MD. “The cost benefit is amazing. Not only can we now offer a very competitive display print service, it also wins hands down against offset litho for display on cost and speed and more than matches it on quality. It represents a real step change for our business.”

With the addition of the Inca Onset S20, Inca now offers an impressive range of digital UV inkjet flatbed printers to suit any budget and throughput need. First commercial shipments of the Onset S20 will begin in July 2009.