Eighty of the original Eagles 44s and its cousin, the Eagle H, are still in operation with customers in Europe, Australia, Asia and the US – a quarter of which were installed at UK print sites. The Eagle 44 is no longer manufactured – the faster Columbia Turbo or its lower-cost mid-speed sister unit, the Spyder 320, being the current alternatives.

However, the Eagle remains popular as a general-purpose large-format, flatbed printer. They are often used for point-of-sale material and signage that requires rigid and flexible display material. A range of substrates can be used including board, wood, different types of plastic and even sheets of steel. Sheet sizes go up to 2.44x1.6m with thickness of up to 40mm.

The Eagle was also the only machine manufactured by Inca that used Xaar printheads. Subsequent lines have used Spectra heads. The printers, as with all Inca machines, can interface with Wasatch RIP and be used with most of the key MAC or PC applications.

Personalised extras
In 2002, Inca offered off-the-shelf electronics and software kits for controlling inkjet print heads. The ability to provide bespoke components and kits for individual customers quickly became a part of its overall service.

The Columbia Turbo was launched in 2004 by the Cambridge-based manufacturer. It could produce up to 160sqm an hour, which at its time made it the fastest flatbed inkjet printer on the market. The Turbo has a maximum print area of 3.2x1.6m and can be used on uneven surfaces such as single-faced corrugated board and foam.

Inca production manager Roger Walkley says that demand for secondhand machines is starting to build.

“We have two printers in the US currently trying to get hold of one used machine, they are actually competing to purchase. Depending on the condition of the machine, a secondhand Eagle 44 would be on the market for around £120,000.”

Walkley advises customers wanting to buy secondhand to check the wear of the bearings and bearing rails. “Wearing of the bearings could cause vibrations that may affect the engine and motion systems. Compared to a belt driven machine, however, the effect would be minimal,” he claims. “These can easily be brought back into specification, as can the printheads, so that a customer will not find any compromises on quality.”

It is the moving parts that will need to be given the most attention if a secondhand machine is to be considered as an investment. The Inca printer has a moving table, print engine and motion system. All these need to be inspected thoroughly and brought up to spec accordingly.

Less wear and tear
Most secondhand buyers would be advised to check the impression count on any conventional litho equipment. However, on these machines it should not be a factor. This is because there are no rollers that result in heavy contact areas. Inca is confident that its components will continue to work well even during a second life. It still has many Eagles in their fifth year that run 24 hours a day producing high-quality work.

Sericol was the UK distributor of Eagle 44 machines and has remains a sales outlet for Inca’s Turbo and Spyder wide format ranges. Secondhand Eagles are supplied with a six-month parts warranty with the option to purchase a normal support contract.

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SPECIFICATIONS
Speed
• up to 60m per hour (depending on resolution)
Max print area
• 2.44x1.6m
Max print thickness
• 40mm
Printheads
• 16xXaarJet XJ500
Resolution
• 360x720dpi (dependant on spec)
Price
• Used: Inca Eagle 44 up to £120,000
• New: Inca Columbia Turbo from £390,000
• Inca Spyder from £180,000
What to look for
• Inspect moving parts
• Wear to bearings and bearing rails