Venlo, The Netherlands - Océ, an international leader in digital document management and printing for professionals, today announced the new Océ Arizona 360 GT and Océ Arizona 360 XT flatbed printer models with enhancements over previous models that increase productivity and application versatility, and open doors to technical and industrial applications. The Océ Arizona 360 GT printer will be on display at the Océ booth #4258 at the International Sign Expo in Las Vegas, NV, April 28-30, 2011.

The Océ Arizona 360 GT model features the standard table size of 1.25 meters by 2.5 meters while the Océ Arizona 360 XT model features an extra large table size of 2.5 meters by 3.05 meters. Both offer an Express Mode print speed of up to 35 square meters (377 square feet) per hour, which is ideal for banner and outdoor work. A new High Definition print mode delivers incredibly fine feature reproduction including the ability to print text as small as two-point size, enabling print providers to offer higher-margin technical and industrial applications such as printing on lenticular lenses and membrane panels.

These new models include a UV curing system designed by Océ that provides more UV energy to support difficult-to-cure media while reducing heat at the media surface by 50%. This improves support for heat-sensitive media such as thin polystyrene or polyester films.

Both models also feature a new-style tabletop that allows very thin media to be printed directly on the table without mechanical distortion of the media into the vacuum holes. This enables users to print very thin, flexible materials on the flatbed table, if they do not have the Roll Media Option installed.
Océ VariaDot imaging technology for high quality, productivity and cost savings

The new Océ Arizona 360 GT and new Océ Arizona 360 XT printers use UV curable inks and Océ VariaDot imaging technology to deliver near-photographic image quality for nearly any application. Printers equipped with Océ VariaDot imaging technology can simultaneously jet smaller 6, 12, and 18 picoliter droplets for the production of sharp images with smooth gradients and quartertones. This technology also provides the ability to jet larger 30, 36 and 42 picoliter droplets for the production of dense, uniform solid colors. The result is near-photographic image quality with sharpness only before seen at resolutions of 1,440 dpi or higher. Print providers will never have to refuse a job because of their clients' expectations for high quality output, when using an Océ Arizona 360 GT or Océ Arizona 360 XT printer.

In addition to superior image quality, Océ VariaDot imaging technology requires only four-color inks to achieve the best image quality in the industry. The clever use of only four colors, jetted in variable-sized droplets, results in significantly lower ink consumption than printers that use fixed droplet inkjet technology or require six colors to achieve sufficient print quality. On average, all Océ Arizona Series printers consume less than 8 ml of ink per square meter, including all maintenance; less than any other flatbed printer Océ has tested to date.

Select the table size that fits the job

Designed as true flatbed systems, the Océ Arizona 360 GT and Océ Arizona 360 XT printers can print on a wide variety of rigid substrates up to 48 mm thick. Each uses a vacuum system to hold media stationary on a flat surface, assuring accurate registration even on multiple imaging passes. Full bleeds can be printed, saving time and labor costs in finishing.

The standard size table on the Océ Arizona 360 GT printer can accommodate a 125 x 250 cm (49.2 x 98.4 inch) rigid board, and is designed to handle the vast majority of display graphics jobs.

The extra large size of the Océ Arizona 360 XT printer enables printing of oversized sheets and objects up to 250 x 305 cm (98.4 x 120 inch) in size. Two independent vacuum systems in the Océ Arizona 360 XT model also enable the printer to be used in a continuous imaging mode for rigid media up to 125 x 250 cm  (49.2 x 98.4 inch). Two rigid boards can be placed on different areas of the flatbed table. While one board is being printed, the operator can change the other. Since the system never has to stop printing for a media change, no time is lost between prints and significantly higher net productivity can be achieved.

Available options for both models

A Roll Media Option is available, giving print providers the ability to print onto flexible media including vinyl, self-adhesive vinyl, scrim banner, paper and blue backed paper without compromising the rigid printing workflow.

A White Ink Option is also available that enables under-printing for non-white media or objects, over-printing for backlit applications on transparent media and/or printing white as a spot color. Since 2008, more than 90% of Océ Arizona printer purchasers have selected this important option for their printer, for the high-value, high-margin applications it provides.
The most honored flatbed printer series in the world

All Océ Arizona Series printers – including the new Océ Arizona 360 GT and Océ Arizona 360 XT models – share the same award-winning image quality and robust architecture, offering the Océ values of quality, reliability, productivity and user-friendliness. In all, Océ Arizona Series UV flatbed printers have earned 25 industry awards to date from organizations throughout the world. These awards validate the quality and innovation built into every Océ Arizona Series printer. With more than 2,500 systems sold to date, it is the best selling series of UV flatbed printers in history.