March 19, 2008 -- Punch Graphix, legendary for pioneering the first digital colour presses, introduces the Xeikon 8000 which is more than twice as fast as its nearest competitor. With an astonishing printing speed of 230 A4 pages per minute and true 1200 dpi imaging quality, the new Xeikon 8000 takes a double leap and counters the increasing market need for fast printing without compromising on quality. The machine's state-of-the-art technology has been developed to optimise print productivity and to provide exceptional quality.

Xeikon's flagship system takes a productivity leap by printing multi-page documents at an impressive speed of 230 A4 pages per minute, which translates into 13800 A4 pages per hour and a monthly volume of 8,5 million. Building on the previous success of Xeikon equipment, the Xeikon 8000 uses optimized dry toner electrophotography, engineered to perfection. The new press produces true 1200 dpi imaging quality, offering the exceptional sharpness essential for today's demanding customer. Two in-line densitometers and high-performance process algorithms guarantee perfect colour consistency over time and in-between presses. Capable of handling expanded substrate widths from 320 to 512 mm and offering a 504 mm imaging width, the machine allows 2-up A4 and 3-up A5 printing, opening up a whole new range of applications.

The web-fed Xeikon 8000 incorporates Xeikon's unique X-800 digital front-end that enables a seamless and fast integration into any existing workflow. The IPDS controller is able to keep up with the increased engine speed without any start-stop interruptions and brings graphic arts print quality into transactional markets.

Punch Graphix' CEO Wim Deblauwe comments: "The launch of this first-rate engine represents a major step forward for Xeikon. With the Xeikon 8000, Punch Graphix has the leading edge in digital printing and demonstrates that we have continued to evolve in order to address user needs and anticipate future market demands. The press offers high productivity benefits and eye-catching graphic printing capabilities, leading to maximum profitability."

"With the Xeikon 8000 we target the well-established commercial print market as well as the direct marketing and fast-growing transactional printing markets. The commercial power of transactional documents is vastly increasing since personalized full-colour documents lead to faster and greater response. As the market standard in variable full-colour digital printing, the machine adapts easily to the degree of personalisation desired by its customers. Combined with the X-800 digital front-end and Xeikon's trademark One-Pass-DuplexTM functionality, the Xeikon 8000 ensures data integrity and delivers rich, accurate colours, making for an ideal solution to provide fast, precise output at top image quality," adds Frank Deschuytere, Chief Technology Officer Punch Graphix. 

In review, the Xeikon 8000 offers:

•    230 ppm or a duty cycle of 8,5 million A4 pages per month
•    stunning 1200 dpi image quality at 4 bits per spot
•    real-time variable data handling capabilities
•    an extended range of paper input and output options
•    eco-friendly design and consumables