The ColorWorks C7500 tops Epson's range of compact colour label printers for the in-house production of short-run digital labels, which also includes the C3500, C3400 and C831.
It has a maximum print resolution of 600x1,200dpi and can print up to 18m/min on a variety of roll-fed or fan-fold media, including plain paper, fine paper, PET film and synthetic.
Maximum print width is 104mm, while the device can handle reels from 50-108mm wide and substrates thicknesses from 0.12-0.19mm. It uses Epson's DuraBrite Ultra pigment ink in 300ml cartridges and features an auto-cutter as standard and an optional rewinder.
David Spratt, head of business systems at Epson UK, said: "With the C7500 manufacturers can now produce outstanding quality, individually customised colour labels in-house, on-demand, at a low cost per label and without the costs associated with producing and stocking pre-printed labels for secondary overprinting.
"It is the ultimate in short-run colour printing for those for who want the flexibility in-house to reliably meet their label printing needs. It eliminates the costs associated with pre-printing, by producing short-run, customised labels on demand for a variety of applications such as product packaging, food, beverages, EU energy labels and GHS labels."
Epson said that machine selection would depend on factors including usage and the type of label, but that the ColorWorks C7500 might be used for runs of more than 500 labels per batch (for a typical 10x15cm or 4x6in label) whereas the C3500 would be used for batches from 1-500 labels.
However, Spratt said that there was no reason why a small business would not be able to print a run of 1,000 labels on a C3500, adding "it is just a case of their working practice and what they find acceptable".
"Equally you can print just a few labels on the ColorWorks C7500," he said.
The ColorWorks C7500 is the latest of Epson's new generation of inkjet printers that use it's PrecisionCore Micro TFP printhead, which combines MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) with advanced piezo materials that are one micron thick.
Following the launch of the head in 2013, Epson president Minoru Usui said: "PrecisionCore has the potential to place piezo inkjet as the dominant printing technology. We are just getting started. It can expand the scope of printing and open up new markets."
The heads can be arranged in modules, making them suitable for both desktop and industrial printing devices. PrecisionCore self-monitors every ink chamber and nozzle, detecting and compensating for blockages on the run.
The ColorWorks C7500 is available from Epson's reseller network and has a list price of £5,295.
