HP’s Latex 3000 technology.

Rochester-based large format print specialist, PressOn has become the world’s first customer for HP’s new Latex 3000 printing system, which was shown at FESPA last week. The printer is to be installed at PressOn’s facility after the show, and will be employed immediately to enable the company to meet demand for high quality, HP Latex-produced self-adhesive vinyl graphics.

‘We are currently at capacity, so the new HP Latex 3000 will enable us to take on further work and utilise its increased speed and industrial design to improve customer response times,’ said Andy Wilson, co-director, PressOn. ‘Additionally, with the 3000’s five litre ink cartridges, it can run unattended overnight, reducing operator costs but maximising achievable production time and increasing our revenue potential.’ 

According to Wilson, the HP Latex technology is much more stable than any other technology, especially for self-adhesive vinyl graphics, typically used for fleet and vehicle graphics applications. This stability has given the company the confidence to provide a customer guarantee for the durability of its HP Latex graphics, enabling it to expand year on year, and win work against much larger businesses and in-house production departments.

Since installing its first HP Latex printer in 2010, this technology platform has been the backbone of the PressOn business with a portfolio including an HP Scitex Latex 600 Printer and an HP Latex 850 – last year printing roughly 110,000m2 on its HP Latex 850 alone.

The HP Latex 3000 Printer is a six-colour, 3.2 metre device with resolution options up to 1200dpi. Printing at outdoor quality, the system can run at speeds up to 120 square metres per hour.

The new printer also offers important versatility improvements for indoor and outdoor applications savings. Water-based HP Latex 881 Inks, developed for the printer, offer scratch resistance comparable to hard-solvent inks when printed on self-adhesive and PVC banner substrates, according to HP.The prints from HP 881 Latex Inks are odourless and are ideal for applications from indoor retail displays, outdoor advertising, vehicle graphics and interior décor. Internal HP testing also suggests that the inks offer a 15 to 20 per cent wider gamut than six-colour UV printers.

Mr Wilson added: ‘Since we began as digital printers, we haven’t had to undergo the process of migrating from screen or litho, so our mind-set is purely digital, which has been a great advantage to our growth. The new HP Latex 3000 Printer will help us to maintain this progress and better meet the virtually on-demand customer requests for high quality print applications.’

Giant Italian trade printer Pixartprinting also placed an order for three HP Latex 3000s at FESPA last week.