HP today announced new solutions in its large-format portfolio that allow print service providers (PSPs) to capture a larger share of the digital sign and display market opportunity and grow their businesses with broader application versatility and improved productivity.

The new offerings include:

• HP FB225 White Scitex Ink and the HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit, which deliver high-opacity prints with white inks and rich, saturated colors on a wide range of applications.⁽¹⁾
• HP SmartStream Production Analyzer for HP Scitex, the complete data analysis and operations monitoring software available for large-format PSPs.

• Comprehensive solutions to improve workflow efficiency and media versatility, including the Hostert Automatic Loader and support of 6.2 points (130 grams per square meter) thin media for the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press.

“Our customers’ ability to capture high-value pages and grow their businesses using HP’s sign and display systems is a core focus at HP,” said Christopher Morgan, senior vice president, Graphics Solutions Business, HP. “PSPs can now pursue new applications knowing that HP digital solutions will deliver versatility, increased efficiency and a clear competitive advantage.”

The new solutions position HP and its customers to take advantage of the 6.2 billion square meter (sqm) opportunity in the sign and display industry, where only 38 percent of materials are now printed digitally.⁽²⁾ The biggest potential for growth in this market lies in digitally printed retail and point-of-purchase signage, where 85 percent of pages are printed on analog and screen equipment. Beyond signage, corrugated packaging represents another growth opportunity with an addressable market of 6 billion sqm for digital printers.⁽²⁾

With the new, high-quality white ink option designed specifically for retail environments and industrial workflow solutions that simplify operations, more PSPs can benefit from digital technology.

Driving new business opportunities with white inks
Designed to work with HP FB225 process color Scitex inks and HP Scitex FB7500 and FB7600 Industrial Presses, new HP FB225 White Scitex Ink is ideal for a wide range of applications, including backlit signage, window displays and short-run corrugated packaging. The white ink integrates seamlessly with the full set of process colors to produce durable, rich, saturated color on clear or colored materials.⁽³⁾ The inks also help customers reduce labor and prepress costs compared to analog solutions, and improve efficiency with precise white-to-CMYK registration.

With the HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit, the more than 100 existing HP Scitex FB7500 and FB7600 Industrial Press customers⁽⁴⁾ can expand their offerings and create business opportunities by offering new, high-value white ink applications.⁽¹⁾ These presses include extra printhead beams, which allow the white ink kit to be added without sacrificing process colors or image quality.

“Since installing the HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit, we have printed a wide range of unique, high-value applications for our customers, ranging from clear self-adhesive vinyl with white underprinting for vehicle graphics to white overprinting for large-format window stickers to blockout prints for double-sided glass applications,” said Karlheinz Kaiser, chief executive officer and co-owner, Christinger Partner AG. “With the kit, we can produce traditional screen printing applications with our digital technology easier, with better quality and the fastest possible turnaround times.”

HP FB225 White Scitex Ink and the HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit are expected to be available in May.⁽⁵⁾

Real-time monitoring and data analysis with HP SmartStream
HP SmartStream Production Analyzer for HP Scitex is ideal for medium to large PSPs seeking to improve production efficiency with automated data analysis and 24/7 visibility to gaps and trends in operations.⁽⁶⁾

This easy-to-use, cloud-based tool offers a complete view of the HP solutions in the print shop, including:

• Current and historical reports on presses, operators and shifts, such as ink and media consumption, which identify an operation’s strengths and areas for improvement, help decrease waste and compare data with HP industry benchmarks.
• A web-based dashboard view that provides real-time information on what each machine is doing, who is operating it, how it is being utilized and if it is meeting targets and goals.
• Monitoring of production operations virtually anytime, anywhere with a cloud-based tool that is compatible with most mobile devices and has the ability to send event reports by email or SMS.
  
  

HP SmartStream Production Analyzer is compatible with HP Scitex TJ8350, TJ8550, TJ8600, FB7600, FB7500, XP5500 and XP2500 Industrial Printers and Presses that have HP Scitex Print Care installed. It is expected to be available June 15.⁽⁵⁾

Enhanced productivity with comprehensive workflow solutions
HP is expanding its portfolio of comprehensive workflow solutions that increase efficiency for large-format customers from media loading through production and finishing.

The Hostert Automatic Loader, a partner solution developed for the HP Scitex FB7600 and FB7500 Industrial Presses, allows high-volume print shops that produce long repeating runs to reduce production costs, improve turnaround time and create an automatic working environment with stack-to-stack operation. With this automatic media loader, PSPs can also improve production flexibility by distributing resources where they are most needed when running long jobs to reduce labor costs.

As of May, new HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Presses will have the ability to load thin and flexible media down to 6.2 pts (130 gsm) using the press’ three-quarter automated loading capability instead of manual mode. The patented vacuum system and six-zone vacuum table found on the press make this improvement possible. The new capability allows PSPs to further enhance media versatility, improve productivity and reduce turnaround times.

More information is available at www.hp.com/go/HPPredrupa12, www.hp.com/go/drupa and through the HP Graphic Arts Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/hpgraphicarts and YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts. Join or follow the conversation using the #HPdrupa hashtag.

1. Use of white ink with the HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press requires installation of the HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press Upgrade Kit and the HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit.
2. According to HP internal analysis.
3. Use of white ink with the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press requires the HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit. Use of white ink with the HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press requires installation of the HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press Upgrade Kit and the HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit.
4. According to IDC reports in Q4 2011.
5. Availability date may vary by region and country and is subject to change.