Barco has announced a new 800m²/hour CMYK variable information digital press. The.factory ("the dot factory") will compete with existing digital narrow webs from Nilpeter and Xeikon, but if the.factorys speed lives up to its promise, Barcos offering will be a faster production model. Initial markets are anticipated to be in labels, films, security print and plastic card printing.

Barcos market studies indicate that by 2011, as much as 40% of the total annual print requirement in all sectors will be produced digitally. It is Barcos aim to position itself as a major supplier of presses for high-quality digital print, said Rob Haak, manager of Barcos digital and special products division.

The.factory is a roll-to-roll non-contact printer available in web widths from 14-63cm. Imaging technology is based on Xaars 500S piezo inkjet heads, dubbed "greyscale" for their ability to deliver seven drop volumes, giving a "perceived" dot quality of 1,080dpi despite an actual top resolution of 360dpi. Using ordinary UV-cured inks, the.factory is currently a CMYK printer but will also be available in six or eight colours for Hexachrome support and extended-gamut CMYK.

The.factory will begin shipping in Q2 of 2001, and will cost between 650,000-975,000 (Euro1,000,000 and Euro1,500,000). Barco is also considering re-badge and OEM deals.

Story by Karen Charlesworth