Publishing (predominantly books, but also newspapers and ultimately magazines) or graphic arts (publishing plus marketing collateral, such as brochures, catalogues and graphically rich mailings) need more paper stocks and heavier ink coverage. Paper requirements include heavier weights and more finishes – especially silk and gloss.
Those requirements were beyond earlier inkjet systems, but are enabled by advances in software, printers, inks and substrates. On display at HID was a balancing act between aesthetics and economics. Both are beginning to get more favourable, which is key to unlocking new applications.
The market wants to have its cake and eat it – printers desire better stocks at lower prices. A contradiction without breakthroughs in technology or increases in print volume enabling economies of scale to kick in and the same is true in terms of inks. To get higher value work means higher ink coverage. To support higher coverage, the cost of ink has to fall. At HID, there were signs that the circle is starting to be squared.
Silk and gloss papers optimised for inkjet from Mitsubishi, Mondi and Ziegler are coming onto the market. Some carry a significant price premium, but there are signs that as the volumes have increased, the costs have started to fall. With more mills devoting R&D to high-speed inkjet, this should continue. A battle rages over whether it is better to apply the inkjet coating at the mill or on the press. Mills face a challenge from printer vendors developing inline treatments that enable the use of offset stocks. The market stands to benefit from both approaches.
Inks represent another avenue. KBA launched a polymer pigmented ink for the RotaJet to improve performance on plain paper, but other firms are taking a two-pronged approach. Formulations are enhanced and ranges widened to offer a choice of premium quality or economy. Océ has gone from dye-based ink for its JetStream and pigment inks for its ColorStream presses to both flavours for both platforms.
Coated stocks and higher ink coverage put additional demands on the presses’ dryers. Kodak has re-engineered the paper path on the Prosper 5000XLi, KBA has tweaked the RotaJet 76 drier and Ricoh has added an IR dryer option to the InfoPrint 5000, all to tackle these issues. Xerox, taking advantage of its waterless inkjet approach, has pushed the extremes of stock on the CiPress down to 29gsm. This makes it interesting for applications that demand low paper and mailing costs.
There was no shortage of innovation at the Innovationdays; but it was evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Across the board – with baby steps in hardware, software and substrates – it contributed to a step-change as continuous-feed continues to expand its application.
