Additional functionality on Graph-Tech's high-speed monochrome inkjet printing press for MICR

Switzerland, - Swiss-based Graph-Tech AG, a Domino Group Company, today announced its latest highly cost efficient MICR ink solution for the security print market. The enhanced MonoCube for MICR is equipped with twin print bars, allowing users to print conventional black ink and MICR ink simultaneously, AND independently, irrespective of the job requirement.

MICR ink printing remains widely used in specific regions around the world and there is a demand for a more effective solution to the challenge of continuously changing between MICR and conventional inks per document and per job. MICR inks are used to magnetically read printed codes during high speed automated processing of cheques and transactional documents, using unique CMC7 & E13B MICR code fonts. Standard MICR press solutions tend to print with either MICR ink or conventional black ink, with expensive production down-time between ink change-over's.

″Feedback we received following the launch of MonoCube earlier this year, suggested that customers were not entirely happy with current market offerings for MICR printing. Our new solution meets the needs for (transactional) printers who print high volumes of mixed production – both cheques and conventional text, ″ remarks Graph-Tech's Commercial Director Bryan Palphreyman, ″this coupled with the added cost of MICR inks prompted us to make the existing operational interface better, simpler and with a lower cost-per-page for the user, whilst keeping the overall solution affordable, ″ Bryan adds.

It is important not to print using MICR inks for non-MICR applications as automated sortation systems divert MICR printed documents thinking they include cheques. If these turn out to be pieces of direct mail or transactional statements, this can add cost and time to document processing, leading to bulk rejection and possible vendor exclusion. The new MICR solution from Graph-Tech delivers an enhanced and more intuitive, 'designed for production' experience. If the user is printing high volumes of conventional non-MICR black text , the MICR print bar parks itself on its automated cleaning and capping station – leaving it ready for immediate use whenever required for the next MICR job.

The high speed, continuous feed inkjet press can print at widths of up to 783mm (30.8 inches), at speeds of up to 150m/minute (492 feet), and can print simplex or duplex within the same single MonoCube chassis. The Cube has an incredibly small footprint of 2.5 m (8.2 ft) deep x 1.7 m (5.58 ft) wide x 1.7 m (5.58 ft) high. According to Graph-Tech, the printer has been specifically engineered to be compatible with most pre and post-finishing equipment, making it extremely simple to incorporate into existing print lines.

Bryan continues: ″As part of our continuous improvement process, the independent MICR system, which can even be retro-fitted to most MonoCube systems, provides additional functionality and supports our concept of delivering a cost effective inkjet press, which is simple-to-use and maintain. We are confident that this product enhancement will make the MonoCube even more attractive to its target market.″

Following a successful preview of MonoCube at Drupa 2012 earlier this year, and launch at Graph-Expo in September, Graph Tech already has three 'early adopter' sites across Europe and USA.

A 150m/min (492ft/min) high-speed MonoCube monochrome press with enhanced functionality will be shown at the Hunkeler Innovation Days 2013 in Lucerne, Switzerland, between the 11 & 15th February where customers will have the opportunity to see the press in action.

For more information on Graph-Tech, visit us at www.graph-tech.ch or find us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube