This is the first installation outside Japan in the Asia region. Japan has 10 installations of the Surepress, already.
The six-colour narrow web press uses the same type of micro piezo inkjet head as Epson's established large-format machines, together with a new ink developed to print directly onto paper or synthetic substrates without the need for pre-treatment or special coatings. It can handle web widths of between 80-330mm.
"Inkjet is not just about speed, it's about quality," said Vasudevan L K, the senior manager, commercial and industrial department at Epson India. "If Indian print firms are going to invest in a short-run device they need the flexibility to be able to switch between flexo and digital without compromising on quality."
During an interaction with this correspondent, Yamamoto Hiraki, the director of Epson highlighted the "array of 15 one-inch (25.4mm) printheads images a ‘frame' of up to 914x330mm at a time, giving an average print speed of five linear metres per minute."
Depending on the print quality required and the substrate type, the array can swipe four, six, eight or 16 times to achieve the desired quality. "For optimum productivity we expect people to use four or six passes," Hiraki added.
The presentation saw Endo Koichi, the chairman of Epson Singapore highlight the engine powering SurePress and why it is expected to be precise and rugged.
According to Vasudevan, "the SurePress digital label press which was launched during Ipex 2010 is designed for label converters, large scale product manufacturers, and commercial printers". During the on-site demonstration it was evident that the press could fit easily into existing digital workflows and print on a range of off-the-shelf substrates with no pre-coating required.
The Epson team display the micro piezo inkjet head array
SurePress micro piezo print head array
