Northprint saw the launch of the long-awaited production model of the Ryobi 3404DI direct-imaged offset press.


The four-colour 3404DI, which was shown in prototype form at Drupa last year, is a joint development between Ryobi and US company Presstek, and uses Pressteks ProFire multibeam imaging heads. Total job changeover time, including imaging, takes approximately 7 minutes at 1,270dpi and 9 minutes at 2,540dpi.


"We are aiming at traditional printers who want to get into DI, who need quick makeready together with the quality of offset print," said Ry-Offset Graphics MD Neil Handforth, launching the press at Northprint on Tuesday (24 April).


The 3404DI uses specially-developed PEARLdry plus waterless plates, which will produce up to 20,000 impressions the fact that the press is waterless also means it produces saleable sheets in a shorter time.


Internally, the 3404DI uses a V-shaped cylinder configuration, mounting two plates on each cylinder: the sheet is held on the impression cylinder and rotated twice for four-colour printing without a gripper change. While this does mean that the 3404DI uses only two imaging heads (which keeps costs down), it has the side-effect of slowing maximum speed down to 7,000sph.


The 3404DI will be sold by DI Solutions, a company jointly owned and funded by Ry-Offset Graphics and pre-press partner Apex Digital, and is being shown at Northprint on the DI Solutions stand (355). Apex will sell the PEARLdry plates on an exclusive basis in the UK, although Apex MD Bob Usher was quick to point out that customers can also source plates direct from Presstek in the US.


Usher described the 3404DIs reception at Northprint as "unbelievably enthusiastic". "I was giving demonstrations to a large number of people in the very first hour," he said.

However, there are no UK customers yet for the 3404DI, which has a forecast price of around 300,000 including as standard an IR dryer and Ryobis Ink Volume Setter (duct presetting) and Print Density Control System (on-the-fly measurement and adjustment of ink density). The press will leave Northprint to embark on a series of roadshows around the UK, of which the first will be held in Leeds next month.


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Story by Karen Charlesworth