---

Inca came relatively late to the digital press game and, as a result, its rivals had the upper hand in terms of product portfolios by offering lower-cost, entry-level machines compared to Inca’s Eagle and Columbia presses. The company decided to tackle this gap by launching the Spyder 320 at Fespa 2005 .

"Our machines were around £300,000-£350,000, while other manufacturers had machines on the market at around the £200,000 mark," explains Heather Kendle, Inca Digital’s director of marketing. "The Turbo had a speed of 160m2 per hour, so they were offering high productivity. However, this was reflected in the price point."

In comparison, the Spyder 320 runs at 80m2 per minute, dropping to 50m2 per minute in production mode.

Constant updates
On its launch, the press went up against the likes of Gandi units, the early versions of the Durst Rho and the Vutek QS. Since then, frequent small changes have been made to keep it up to date and current.

For example, while the 320 started life as a four-colour-machine, it can now print in up to eight colours – in 2006, the manufacturer added the option of printing white and in 2007 the other three colours were added. The machine also went from a carriage format with one block of printheads, to being modular machine.

"If someone buys an old four-colour machine then they can pay to have it upgraded to a six-colour, depending on the serial number of the machine," says Kendle.

Having a modular printhead gave more flexibility to customers and meant that the replaceable unit offered a quicker changeover for colours. As for speed, Kendle says there is little difference between the early 320s and later models.

Custom-built
Kendle is keen to point out that the machines have always been application-led.

"We’ve never gone down the hybrid route. We build our machines specific to the application, so we have dedicated flatbed printers," she says.

The latest addition to the 320 range is the Spyder 320 Q, launched at Fespa 2007. Designed for high-quality application, it features a new printhead that prints using a 10-picolitre drop at speeds up to 37m2 per hour.

A new machine will cost up to £200,000 installed and supported, while a used press installed and brought up to the latest specification will be 50% of the current new price.

Recently, the 320 has increased sales in Brazil. This is a growing market as printers in that country are starting to build their digital business.

"When refurbished, we will change the printheads, and look at what else needs doing to it," says Kendle.
Inca does not sell used machinery direct, but secondhand models can be sourced through its UK distributor, Fujifilm.

When buying a used press from a dealer, Kendle suggests checking with Inca when the machine was last serviced and whether it is up to date technically. She adds that you should always check the printheads on any used digital printer.

---

Specifications
Speed
Poster application: 80m2/hr
Spyder 320-e: 40m2/hr
Resolution 600- 1,000dpi
Max print size 3.2x1.6m
Weight 2.5 tonnes
Footprint
Four-colour machine: 3.2x4.7m
Price
New: up to £200,000
Used: around £100,000
What to look for
Audit test
Service history