At the event, titled HP Industrial Road to Drupa 2024, the manufacturer gave an overview of the product launches it will be showing in Hall 17 at Drupa in Düsseldorf from 28 May to 7 June.
Held at the Tate Modern, the day kicked off with a cocktail masterclass and a networking lunch and was then followed by introductions and keynote sessions from Peter Jolly, UK & Ireland manager at HP Indigo, and Markus Weiss, general manager of HP Industrial Print EMEA.
The roadshow has already visited York on 16 April, Bristol on 18 April, and Leicester on 23 April prior to reaching London, with the final UK date taking place in Dublin on 2 May. Across EMEA, HP is holding 35 similar events across 14 countries before Drupa to share its plans with customers and prospects.
Jolly said the UK dates were being held in art and design galleries “because we believe in the value of high-quality print”.
Ade Onabanjo, FE Burman production director, also gave an overview of the Dscoop initiative before HP Indigo commercial and HP PageWide UK & Ireland sales manager Clare Revell hosted an engaging panel discussion that saw Del Simmons from Dayfold Print, Gareth Roberts from Bishops Printers, Steve Baker from Baker Labels, and Ian Conetta from Meliora Group give an overview of their businesses and their own journeys with HP and how its technology has supported them.
The day was rounded off by Matt Brien, HP Industrial UK and Ireland sales account manager, giving the room full of printers an overview of the launches that were first announced by HP at its Dscoop Edge event in Indianapolis last month.
Key launches are set to include the HP Indigo 120K Digital Press, which can reach speeds of 6,000 sheets per hour and features an Eco mode option that reduces the machine’s carbon footprint by 11%, supporting sustainability goals.
Also new is the next-generation of the company’s B2 sheetfed digital press – the HP Indigo 18K Digital Press, and the HP Indigo 7K Secure Digital Press.
HP also spoke about its PrintOS Production Beat Support for analogue printing and finishing equipment, enabling HP customers to monitor their entire production floor, not only the HP presses.
Creating particular buzz during the event was the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press, a narrow web digital press and the first press to utilise new LEPx technology. This is now commercially availabile following successful beta site installations.
Weiss said the LEPx technology was originally introduced in 2020, when the previous planned Drupa was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.
“It was a very difficult situation – we knew Drupa would not take place, but we decided we couldn’t wait because [LEPx] is a huge step for the industry, and a huge step towards more transformation from analogue to digital. So we had to start with our beta tests in order to be ready with our future plans.”
He added: “We have to introduce innovations to the market when they are ready. The speed for innovations is not Drupa, the speed for innovations is [to meet] your needs in the market.
“We all have a common challenge – to keep print attractive in the media mix. It’s not a given that general commercial print orders are coming in like they did in the past so we have to be innovative with solutions, which is why we’re investing not only in technology, but also in talking directly with brands and agencies about the benefit of digital printing.”
A full round-up of the new technology that was referenced yesterday and that HP is taking to Drupa can be found here.
Through talks during the day, there was also a heavy focus on the areas of sustainability, automation, and AI, all of which are expected to be major talking points at Drupa.
Speaking to Printweek, HP EMEA head of marketing Andy Pike said HP was hosting around 150 people at its five events across the UK, with just shy of 1,000 registrations from around 650 companies for its 35 events across EMEA. Reception to the UK roadshow had been “really positive”, he said.
“Having not had Drupa for eight years, I really think people are excited to see the products, and one of the objectives of this roadshow was to give a sneak peek, to give that trailer as to what they’re going to see at Drupa.
“We’re in a physical industry and people love to see print, hold print, touch it, smell it, and it’s the same with the equipment – people love to see the ink going onto the paper, and that’s something we’re going to be able to bring at Drupa with our full portfolio, so it’s very exciting.
“Automation really is one of the big key messages. With PrintOS we focus a lot around on what our presses are doing and on how they work, but I think the key difference with Production Beat is that you’re able to see your entire production portfolio, and how it’s performing – it’s all about data.
“And with automation is AI, which is driven by data – the more data we can input, the faster it’s going to learn and adapt. It’s not all about speed, it’s about production and becoming efficient – that’s the beauty of how AI is going to help us, and Production Beat is just giving us more information to help.”
