Scitex Vision and sister firm, Aprion Digital, have predicted that their new wide-format sheetfed digital press will be available for shipping by September.


The six-colour 1.56x2.4m ENjet is Scitexs first digital printer capable of printing on to rigid substrates including cardboard, vinyl, and foamboard.


Scitex Vision marketing manager for Europe Jan Denies said: "Until now you needed to screen print on to boards, or print digitally on to a self-adhesive material and then stick it on. With the ENjet you can print directly on to a rigid sheet. So its a new class of machine in a new market: point-of-sale."


The ENjet, which weighs in at the 10-tonne mark, can achieve a resolution of 600dpi, has a maximum production speed in excess of 150m2 per hour, and has automatic loading and unloading.


It uses Aprions MAGIC (Multiple Array Graphic Ink-jet Color) technology, which produces 25,000 droplets per head per second.


Aprion chief executive and president Miki Nagler said: "MAGIC is a unique technology thats heavily patented. It uses water-based inks, which is good for the environment, but has a high level of rub resistance and light fastness."


Denies said the ENjets price had yet to be decided, but it would be around the 523,000 ($750,000) mark.


See Product of the Week, p28.


Story by John Davies