Agfa Graphics today announced the extended color gamut on its :Dotrix Modular single pass digital inkjet press. At Label Expo '09, visitors will see samples printed with the extended 6-color UV curable ink jet inks.

Since its introduction to the marketplace, Agfa Graphics has continually invested and enhanced the :Dotrix Modular to meet the expanding needs of the packaging industry and specialty printing markets. Its 63cm wide printing width, high speed, modularity and robustness, together with its industrial Edale flexo base unit, make it a cost effective digital solution for innovative short and medium runs for the folding and flexible packaging market.

According to Jan De Vooght, Sales & Marketing Manager at Agfa Graphics, "The orange and violet color stations will considerably extend the current Agorix CMYK color gamut, matching 90% of the Pantone color spectrum and a wider selection of spot colors."

With this color gamut extension, :Dotrix Modular blends up to four out of six possible colors wet-in-wet, before actually fixing the final color. Combined with state-of-the art grayscale ink jet print technology and Agfa developed screening it is like having the actual spot color. No need for cleaning print stations and off-line ink mixing. The full color gamut is available at all times at a remarkable 1440 linear meter per hour. The ink consumption in 6 color print mode will be less than printing in 4 colors. As an example, to print an orange color, a 4-color process requires magenta and yellow inks whereas its six-color sibling only uses a single orange color station to get the same result. And best of all, unlike some other digital presses, Agfa adds to your profit as you only pay the amount of ink effectively consumed."

De Vooght continues: "Brand owners acknowledge the value created by going digital, it shortens the time to market for innovative products and reduces stocks and so waste. As packaging is being looked at more and more as a marketing tool, digital printing on a wide variety of substrates with accurate and vibrant reproduction of brand colors is a must. Agfa Graphics therefore developed this extended color gamut option for its :Dotrix digital press. It will be mid 2010 for new presses and as an upgrade kit for existing :Dotrix Modular customers."