Ricoh has edged a step closer to the commercial launch of the much anticipated B2 sheetfed inkjet press. The first beta site has been revealed as US print company Heeter. This was also the US beta site for the VC70000 continuous feed inkjet press, so printer and supplier have a good understanding.
The Pennsylvania printer has created a $4 million digital factory to house both web and sheetfed inkjet. It now runs three of the web presses, Ricoh toner machines as well as the Pro Z75. It is an enthusiast for the digital print technology. “What we’ve seen over the years is that inkjet can deliver better quality than offset, in less time and with less stress on our staff. And thanks to the investments we’ve made, our customers are seeing it too,” says, president of Heeter Kirk Schlecker.
“The print profession is evolving. We see it every day with our team and from our customers. Investments in digital are the way forward. With partners who are equally committed to the digital future and a team who is energised by its possibilities, we’re living proof of the innovation and longevity of the print industry in ways many might have doubted in the past.”
The beta press is closer in footprint to the web presses than to the toner machines. This is necessary to accommodate the lengthy drying section needed to ensure that the water based inks are fully dried before the reverse side of the sheet is printed and to avoid cockling on lightweight papers. It will print on 60-400gsm uncoated paper and 73-400gsm coated.
The press runs with 1200dpi piezo printhead at 4,500 B2 sheets an hour, half that when printing both sides. Ricoh says it is positioned to accelerate the transition from offset to digital printing and has been pressing this argument across the industry. Inkjet has a lower operating cost than toner and combines this with a “competitive” capital cost to create the appeal.
One of the companies from Europe that has visited Heeter (along with others from Germany, UK and Netherlands) is Realisaprint, another VC70000 user, from France. It would be high on the list for a beta installation in Europe. Cofounder Rafael Mari says: “We are under greater pressure to deliver a wider range and mix of applications while meeting tighter deadlines. This is against a backdrop of escalating raw material and energy costs, as well supply chain and staffing pressures. The Pro Z75’s combination of print quality and product versatility perfectly addresses demand for visually stunning, fast turnaround, customised communications while ensuring cost efficiency.”
Development has clearly been a challenge. Ricoh would have intended the press to be at Drupa and it has used social media since to promote the imminent arrival of the press using a animation of a dragon. This time around the company seems more confident that it has overcome the challenges of printing on both sides of a sheet with the right quality of image and in precise back to front register.
The machine itself was not at the Printing United exhibition in Las Vegas this month though samples were available.
This is likely to be the case at the Hunkeler Innovation Days at the end of February. Ricoh says that commercial shipments in Europe will come midway through next year.
