SINGAPORE—Hewlett-Packard is targeting to lead the accelerated growth in the graphics space. One in three pages worldwide is now being printed digitally. Although analog, which still accounts for 67 percent of printed pages, is still growing, although minimally at less than 1 percent per year, the digital printing business has posted growth of nearly 33 percent. HP has observed three paradigm shifts in this field—that is, analog-to-digital transformation in graphics, maximizing the print value and harnessing the power of Web print solutions, particularly in using the cloud.
HP now has an expanded portfolio of products and end-to-end digital print solutions that will enable print service providers (PSP) to transition from analog to digital seamlessly and capture new business opportunities.
Gido Van Praag, vice president of graphics solutions business, imaging and print group for Asia Pacific and Japan at HP, said the potential in the graphics space is enormous. He said P studies have shown that there are 52.5 trillion pages being printed worldwide—of which 24.5 trillion are in publishing valued at $11.1 billion, 7.4 trillion pages are in packaging with a value of $16.8 billion and 6.72 trillion are for marketing collaterals valued at $9.7 billion. However, more than 90 percent of this total number of printed pages is still printed using analog systems.
But this is seen to change as clients “demand” for better quality and less costly print outputs. Van Praag noted that Jeppesen, a leader in map and navigation charts, have more clients requesting print on demand with better quality than offset printing. The company’s move from analog has allowed it to cut turnaround even for small orders into half and has also reduced physical warehousing of materials. Beauty products maker L’Oreal said digital printing has enabled it to ensure the integrity of the Disney characters now being printed on the package of a product line, allowing customization and improved quality prints. A premium wine maker based in Bordeaux, France, uses its digital printing system for the security tracking and tracing icons on its labels.
HP’s new introductions offer alternatives to traditional used solvent solutions, delivering versatility and ease of use that customers demand and, at the same time, lower their impact to the environment.
The HP Latex University offers a set of training materials and applications workshops led by industry experts. Included here is Dscoop or the Digital Solutions Cooperative, which is a users/community and serves as a platform for sharing ideas and getting education about the industry. HP has already created business development courses to create opportunities for customers to learn and develop their marketing capabilities to look for strategic growth plans and examine new applications and business ideas. The company has also made available segment-focused business development and marketing tool kits, estimation and planning software and calculators, samples, templates, success stories and guides for customers. HP is also planning events to bring together print service providers (PSPs) and brand owners to create a unique opportunity for customers to interact with potential clients, pick up opportunities and develop them into additional businesses.
HP also introduced two HP Designjet printers capable of handling a broader range of indoor and outdoor signage applications with better durability than eco-solvent inks.
The 104-inch-wide HP Designjet L28500 printer delivers speeds up to 70 percent faster than the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, while the 61-inch HP Designjet L26500 printer is ideal for customers entering the growing soft-signage market.
Both systems feature new HP 792 Latex Designjet Inks, which produce rich blacks and glossy results on banners and self-adhesive vinyl, and offer double-sided printing capabilities with less user intervention and more accurate, automated registration. Compatible with more than 500 media solutions, including the new HP Double-sided HDPE Reinforced Banner material, HP Latex Inks provide a consistent, reliable performance across a variety of substrates.
“With about 9,000 HP Latex Ink systems installed worldwide, HP is offering a superior alternative to eco-solvent solutions that delivers the versatility and ease of use our customers demand while lowering their impact on the environment,” said Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager for Large-format Printing Business. “By allowing customers to cost-effectively print a wide array of new applications and providing the training required to succeed, our updated HP Latex portfolio helps PSPs differentiate their businesses and seize new growth opportunities.”
Ideal for high-impact point-of-purchase displays, soft signage, bus shelters, vehicle graphics and more, the HP Designjet L28500 and L26500 Printer series can print on a broad range of materials, including eco-solvent compatible media and low-cost uncoated options.
The new devices produce 1,200-dpi output with outdoor display permanence of up to three years unlaminated or five years laminated for high-quality, long-lasting prints. The output also dries inside the printer, boosting productivity for double-sided print jobs, and allowing immediate finishing or use.
“Compared with the solvent world that we’re used to dealing in, the HP Designjet L26500 is a breath of fresh air. It allows us to laminate immediately, installing at the same time, and do reprints in real time, increasing our productivity considerably,” said Duston Noble, founder of Dallas-based Wrap Experts and a beta tester of the HP Designjet L26500 Printer. “We want to have the best equipment that makes our job easier and faster, so we love the fact that we can print and laminate jobs all in the same hour if we need to.”
With new soft signage printing capabilities, customers can produce applications from retail banners to tradeshow signs and interior décor, which are easy to fold and pack, inexpensive to ship, simple to hang and have improved durability outdoors.
Building on the introduction of HP HDPE Reinforced Banner, the new printers also are optimized to work with new HP Double-sided HDPE Reinforced Banner, a compelling alternative to PVC scrim for advertising applications. The substrate offers the image quality, durability and tear strength of standard vinyl without the environmental disadvantages of a PVC-based substrate.
Availability of the HP Designjet L26500 Printer will vary by region while HP Designjet L28500 Printer is expected to be available January 20, 2012.
