Palo Alto, Calif. – HP today announced that Consolidated Graphics Inc., the world's largest user of HP Indigo presses and the commercial printing company with the largest digital footprint, has purchased five HP Indigo 7500 Digital Presses.

The purchase is the latest example of how large printing companies are accelerating the shift from analog to digital presses.

CDS Publications, one of CGX's five digital centers, installed the first HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press as a beta test unit in its Medford, Ore., facility and is now using the press for custom book, magazine and personalized printing programs. CGX subsequently purchased the press after the successful beta testing period validated the unit's features, including high-quality imaging, excellent color consistency and high productivity.

Four additional units have since been purchased, one to be installed at CGX's European digital hub in Prague, Czech Republic, and three at its PBM Graphics company in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

"CGX is confident that digital printing is an integral component to the next generation of printing, and we are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality capabilities that technology can offer," said Aaron Grohs, executive vice president, Sales and Marketing, Consolidated Graphics. "The HP Indigo 7500 is an example of that promise."

High automation on print's leading edge
The top-of-the-line HP Indigo 7500 model offers:
-    Intelligent Automation features that increase press productivity by up to 10 percent.
-    The Vision System – developed by HP Labs, the company's central research arm – which automates manual calibrations and diagnostic troubleshooting to save time and reduce waste.
-    Color consistency and uniformity improved by up to 20 percent, consumption of up to 10 percent less energy per printed page and reduced use of imaging oil.

The HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press is ideally suited to replace small and midsize analog offset presses and to handle high-value applications, such as variable-data-driven marketing collateral, photo books and personalized direct mail. Available options for the press include a white ink upgrade for full-color printing on colored, transparent or metallic media, and additional light cyan and light magenta inks for six-color-process, high-end photo imaging. An optional thick substrate kit lets users print on folding carton stocks and other thicker media up to 400 gsm/460 microns.

Progressive leadership in digital print adoption
"The HP Indigo 7500 presents a host of new possibilities in the shift from mass-produced, static and commoditized analog offset manufacturing to high-value, offset-quality print-on-demand and personalization," said Jan Riecher, vice president and general manager, Graphics Solutions Business – Americas, HP. "Given its progressive involvement with digital printing, it comes as no surprise that CGX is once again at the forefront of the industry with the adoption of this advanced commercial printing solution."

CGX ranks as the world's No. 1 user of HP Indigo digital presses, with more than 50 presses installed in facilities across North America and Europe. The company's fleet of HP Indigo presses produces photo books, direct mail and commercial print jobs requiring offset- or photo-quality imaging and high ink coverage, including highly effective hybrid offset and digitally printed customized brochures for new Ford vehicles.