The Océ Arizona 1240, 1260 and 1280 models are aimed at the sign and display, speciality print, reprographics and photo lab sectors and print at up to 35sqm per hour in express mode.
This is the fourth generation of Océ Arizona machines, of which 5,000 have been sold worldwide. The range borrows features from the 6100 series launched at Fespa last year and introduces a number of new features. There are two bed sizes: 1.25x2.5m and 2.5x3.08m and an additional roll media option for flexible media up to 2.2m-wide.
The devices feature Océ VariaDot grayscale print quality, can use up to six colours and can also be equipped with white and varnish, with an added optional addition of light cyan and light magenta ink. There are seven different sizes of nozzle, from 7-42pl.
Registration has been boosted by the addition of 'active pixel placement'. The machines scan the bed and media, adjusting the ink deposits accordingly.
Channel director wide-format printing group Dominic Fahy said this allowed for more even registration on odd shapes and heavier materials.
“This is especially important for the larger the bed size," he said. "The vacuum system is also improved. You can use a wider variety of media. Some media can be ever so slightly porous, you need a stronger vacuum to hold the media down."
Another simple but important improvement is pneumatic media registration pins for easy and precise rigid media loading.
“You can slide the board up to them so you know it is in place,” Fahy added. “Previously you would have to measure it against a rule; now you can do it very quickly, you just slide it onto the pins and away you go. That for our customers is something they really like because it’s easier and there’s less wastage.
A third-generation UV lamp curing system, which emits less heat than previous models, also allows for more applications and more flexibility, Fahy said.
And the addition of in-situ automatic printhead maintenance that takes three minutes diminishes the risk of human error or simply forgetting to clean the heads regularly, he added.
“The more carefully you take care of the heads the longer life you’ll get from them, and it’s a quite expensive side of the solution. We think it’s going to play a key role in extending the life of the heads."
He said maintenance did not always happen as often as it should.
“Print service providers can be small businesses growing rapidly or they are extending an existing business, so the operatives may be part-time or there may be a high turnover of staff. In a busy business sometimes mistakes happen. This is insurance.”
He added: “The combination of these things really give the series unique quality. The quality has gone up from what was considered to be a very high quality system in the market.
“It’s a very important product range for Canon. The 1200 series offers a significant improvement in quality, versatility and ease of use.”
“The Océ Arizona is the best selling flatbed in the market. We’re expecting this to be a huge success based on the consumer feedback we’ve had already.”
List prices for the Arizona 1200 series start at £98,523.
Today Canon also launched imagePrograf iPF770 MFP and iPF770 MFP L24, two new entry-level wide-format multi-function printers aimed at office users in sectors such as construction, engineering and architecture.
