At the Dscoop Edge Rockies trade show, held in Denver, USA, until March 11, HP presented several new additions to its industrial printing offering. The American manufacturer launched new digital presses, software and automation tools for commercial print providers, label and packaging producers.
The HP Indigo 7K+ Digital Press for the A3 market
The main announcement concerns the HP Indigo 7K+ Digital Press. This sheetfed press is based on the Indigo 7X00 platform, of which more than 2,200 units are installed worldwide. It is aimed at the A3 segment of the commercial market.
A mid-range machine, the Indigo 7K+ digital press, available in 4 to 7 colors, incorporates an AI-driven analysis tool that enhances automatic defect detection, and Nio, an AI printing assistant that instantly answers questions with data, analysis or recommendations.
The Indigo 7K+ press also features an ECO Print mode, intended for text-rich jobs or less demanding visuals, which uses thinner layers of four-color ink. Florida-based printer Xerographics Digital Printing, quoted by HP, says it has extensively tested the ECO Print mode and found that color quality meets its requirements for most jobs, even for the most demanding customers. "The colors are natural and pleasing to the eye. We plan to use ECO mode for at least 50% of our total HP Indigo 7K+ production volume."
The Indigo 120K Value Pack for upgrading from an Indigo 100K to an Indigo 120K
HP also offers the Indigo 120K Value Pack, for users of Indigo 100K presses. This package combines hardware and software upgrades to improve machine availability and production consistency.
"Since installing the HP Indigo 120K Value Pack, we've seen increased productivity and a smoother, more stable workflow. After a short learning period, our operators now favor the new software. It's intuitive, easy to use and makes troubleshooting faster and more efficient. Overall, the new Value Pack has considerably improved operator efficiency and confidence" says Raul Lopez, Director of Operations at San Diego-based printer L&L.
Robots to automate handling
HP is also extending its automation tools with the integration of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) developed with Movi?o Robotics. These robots transport pallets, carts or racks between different production stages.
This equipment will now be marketed and supported directly by HP. The models launched today are designed for Indigo B2 sheetfed presses, mailing environments and web presses.
A new robot, the Sharko 5 RT, is designed to transport reels and media in HP Indigo and HP PageWide rotary printing lines.
