Orlando, Fla. – HP today announced new business development tools and print technologies at this year’s Digital Solutions Cooperative Dscoop6 HP users’ group conference to help print service providers (PSPs) generate more revenue from digital printing.

The new offerings – which include enhancements for users of the latest HP Indigo press models, as well as upgrades and features for the broader base of PSP customers – represent HP’s continued investment in its customers’ success. Amid a challenging environment for the overall printing industry, customers continue to see more opportunities with HP: page volume for HP graphic arts solutions reached a new, record level in fiscal 2010, with much of the growth stemming from a 25-percent increase in customers’ HP Indigo page output.

“HP witnessed a 19-percent increase overall in commercial printing hardware shipments last year. In the graphics space, that growth was a direct reflection of our ability to offer PSPs more productivity, more value and better profit opportunities,” said Christopher Morgan, senior vice president, Graphics Solutions Business, HP. “The success of the Dscoop conference – the industry’s largest and fastest growing users’ group meeting – reflects this positive momentum in the transformation from analog to digital printing.”  

New HP offerings on display in Dscoop6’s Solutions Center exhibit area include:
- new HP Capture business development offerings to help customers strengthen their marketing efforts and secure additional, profitable growth opportunities
- print quality tools and feature upgrades for the HP Indigo 7000, 7500 and WS6000 digital presses
- an HP SmartStream Production Pro server available in a more convenient tower configuration
- HP SmartStream server upgrades for 4000- and 5000-series HP Indigo presses
- HP Graphics Solutions Partner technologies, including in-line UV coating and finishing systems for the HP Indigo 7500, an Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) data stream tool for HP Indigo presses and GMG ColorServer color management software for HP Scitex large-format printers.  

“Dscoop members have created one of the industry’s best learning environments, as demonstrated by the record number of registrations for this year’s Dscoop conference,” said Mark Sarpa, president of HP Indigo customer Progressive Solutions and Dscoop6’s conference chairman. “This year’s event is invaluable as a forum where HP, customers and other industry partners can connect and develop new, positive business strategies.”

In addition to the new offerings, the Dscoop Solutions Center includes some of HP’s best-selling graphic arts solutions, including HP Indigo 7500, WS6000 and W7200 digital presses, HP Designjet Latex Ink large-format printers, HP Designjet Z series printers, the HP Scitex TJ8600 UV-ink large-format printer and HP Exstream customer communications management software.

HP’s Solutions Center exhibit also includes highlights and updates on innovative HP Inkjet Web Press systems that are transforming industry best practices for high-volume direct mail, transpromotional and publishing applications.  In 2010, HP inkjet web presses produced 1.46 billion letter-size pages, printing for some of the world’s leading book manufacturing, print fulfillment and commercial printing businesses.

HP has installed more than 20 presses with additional installations in progress, setting new record levels for productivity and exceeding customers’ expectations for quality and reliability.

For example, Los Angeles-based O’Neil Data Systems recently produced a single-day peak volume of 2.69 million pages on its HP T350 web press. The company also uses HP T200 and T300 Inkjet Web presses to produce a range of transactional and health care documents for clients in the insurance, financial publishing and other industries.

Growing digital together through HP Capture initiatives

HP announced several improvements in its HP Capture business development offerings, including new ways for Dscoop members to receive the customized support and guidance they need to pursue new markets and applications, secure new revenue and grow their businesses.  

A new toolkit in the HP Capture program helps customers sell targeted, high-value direct marketing applications, and includes step-by-step sales meeting guidelines, industry case studies, and an ROI calculator that pinpoints the value opportunities possible with full-color, variable-data printing campaigns.

“HP has challenged us to think differently, and present different things to our customers,” said one user of the toolkit, Krista Fischer, director of marketing for L&D Mailmasters in New Albany, Ind. “It’s good to get a few more tools in our arsenal, to go to customers and say, ‘Did you know this was possible?’”

The list of new HP Capture program offerings also includes:
- version 3.5 of HP Smart Planner software, a comprehensive estimating tool to help customers make more informed decisions about the return on investment possible when comparing digital printing with analog
- community network relationships with the Print Services Distributors Association (PDSA) and MarketingSherpa
- six additional segment-focused classroom courses scheduled to be delivered in more than 100 locations worldwide in 2011
- an expanded educational curriculum for signage and customers.  

HP also announced upgrades to its HP Capture website. Currently in English, the site is scheduled to be available in 10 languages by the end of March. The revamped, secured-access site features hyperlinks to and from Dscoop.org, the My HP Indigo customer portal, and HP’s main graphic arts website.

With its improvements, the HP Capture website is an important access point for the information customers need, including: customer success stories, news, business development tools, educational course descriptions and networking and community resources.

Expanded Dscoop business development and community offerings

The Dscoop organization, which HP sponsors through the HP Capture program, also has launched additional business development tools. New case studies, press releases and customized newsletters, as well as a new, six-month training program, help members educate their teams and their clients on the benefits of multi-channel marketing.

A new Dscoop website launching at Dscoop6 now offers social networking tools to help members communicate with each other and share ideas. Dscoop also is expanding its outreach to organizations such as PSDA and MarketingSherpa to help educate marketing professionals about digital printing.

To drive incremental demand for Dscoop members, HP is expanding its efforts to educate the creative end-user community on the value of HP digital output. One new HP and Dscoop collaborative effort focuses on direct outreach to brand owners, designers and agency creatives. HP and Dscoop also are working with respected creative-market outlets, including Print magazine and the HOW Design Conference, to highlight HP digital printing’s unique value in the communications landscape.

HP Indigo: Print’s high point for high-value pages

PSPs have new competitive advantages following the successful introduction of HP Indigo technologies at the Ipex 2010 trade show. For example, HP has installed more than 30 of its flagship, sheetfed HP Indigo 7500 Digital Presses worldwide. PSPs benefit from the press’s high quality and high productivity, as well as from press options that open new opportunities in folding cartons, point-of-purchase signage and other markets.

At Dscoop6, HP is highlighting additional technological benefits, for users of new and existing HP Indigo press models, with a series of announcements, including:
- improved print quality with automated calibrations for the HP Indigo 7500’s Vision System
- early defect detection on the Vision System using inline scanning
- availability of white ink, light cyan and light magenta photo inks and thick substrate options for the HP Indigo 7500
- a new version of HP Indigo Print Care diagnostic and maintenance solutions for HP Indigo 7000 and 7500 models
- the addition of HP Vision System features to the HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press.

HP is showing the Indigo 7500 with two new finishing solutions: the Lasermax Roll Systems PageReady in-line slitter/cutter/stacker (available in August 2011), and a new UV coating solution that is available now from GMP. The PageReady system – which can be used for direct mail applications and other print collateral pieces – has fully-automated job setup features that help customers go directly from file to finished product.

The HP Indigo WS6000 Digital Press for labels and packaging production is on display with 20 recently announced upgrade features, including new blankets for better substrate compatibility; a new enhancement unit for the photo imaging plate; compatibility with HP Indigo Print Care; and Continuous Color Control, a tool that gives operators added assurance of consistency on long runs.

Dynamic workflows for faster, real-world productivity

The popular HP SmartStream Production Pro Print Server is available in a new IN100T tower configuration for HP Indigo 7500 Digital Presses. The new, scalable IN100T version eliminates the need for dedicated A/C and power requirements. Users of HP Indigo press 5000 and 5500 models can now migrate their HP SmartStream OnBoard Print Server to the HP SmartStream Production Pro platform using a new Production Pro IN040 or IN050 upgrade.

A newly available interface for HP SmartStream Production Pro – Pitney Bowes’ P/I Output Manager – helps PSPs pursue more opportunities in the transpromotional and other high-volume applications. With the new interface, customers can incorporate the AFP data streams commonly used in high-volume applications with their HP Indigo printing operations.

The HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging Print Server has also received a significant update for HP Indigo press ws4500 users. Version 1.2 of the server offers ws4500-model users improved performance,(1) as well as a new, premium variable-data printing option. The new server also adds application support for Adobe Creative Suite 5 and improved barcode handling.(1)

Flexibility and high-quality color in HP Scitex print solutions

For the high-volume sign and display market, the HP Scitex TJ8600 Printer at Dscoop6 features full and selective gloss print modes with exceptional quality and new HP TJ210 Scitex Inks. It supports an expanded range of applications, including most fleet graphics and point-of-purchase applications, due to higher elongation, improved flexibility and reduced odor compared to HP TJ200 Scitex Inks.

HP is announcing a preferred partnership agreement with color management technology provider GMG, including an innovative new workflow solution – GMG ColorServer Suite for HP Scitex Printers. The new workflow solution – GMG’s first and only customized product tailored to a specific printer line – provides automated color conversions between color spaces using predefined HP Scitex printer settings for quick setup. With the new ColorServer version, HP Scitex customers can significantly reduce the amount of time they spend establishing fully color-managed workflows.

Profit opportunities with low-volume, large-format HP Designjet printers For low-volume signage and graphics printing, the HP Designjet L25500 Latex Ink Printer delivers easy, low-maintenance printing with unrivaled versatility(1) for a broad range of high-quality and flexible, outdoor and indoor applications.
The HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer delivers fast photo-quality output at up to 2,400 dpi with the versatility to produce indoor applications from line drawings, to photographic output to signage. Water-based HP Vivid Photo Inks, featured in the HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer, offer improved scratch resistance, gloss levels and gloss uniformity, as well as a wider color gamut with deeper blacks, compared to previous HP inks.

The HP Designjet Z5200 PostScript® Printer is a simple, affordable device suited for a broad range of applications. The 44-inch printer also uses water-based inks and includes an HP Instant Printing Pro software package that offers fast, easy file preparation and automates production tasks.

Fast forward at the industry’s largest independent users’ group meeting

The Dscoop conference, the graphic arts industry’s largest independent users’ group meeting, is being held Feb. 17-19 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in the Orlando, Fla., area. The annual event draws many of Dscoop’s 2,000-plus worldwide members, and features presentations from industry experts in digital printing, multimedia marketing, design, lean manufacturing and many other topics.

HP presenters at the event include HP Executive Vice President Vyomesh Joshi, and HP Graphics Solutions Business executives Christopher Morgan, Alon Bar-Shany, Jan Riecher, Aurelio Maruggi and Yariv Avisar.

HP offers flexible financing solutions for customers deploying the latest HP digital printing technology through HP Financial Services, the company’s leasing and life cycle asset management services division. An HP Financial Services representative is on-site at Dscoop6 to provide details of applicable offers. Information also is available at www.hp.com/hpfinancialservices.

More information about HP solutions for the graphic arts industry is available at www.hp.com/go/gsb or through the HP Graphic Arts Twitter feed.