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New Product Announcements
NEW RESET DEVICE BREAKS EPSON'S Cartridge rechargers and printer owners can now refill Epson's
"smart chipped" ink jet In the past several years, printer manufacturers have attempted to thwart refilled and compatible cartridges from entering the market by installing "smart chips" on their original ink cartridges. These chips prevent the cartridge from functioning after the initial ink supply is depleted. This practice has kept the price of printing high by locking out refill kits and aftermarket cartridges. On September 5, 2001, Repeat-O-Type announced the availability of two electronic reset devices that address all of Epson's current chipped inkjet cartridges. The resetting process is accomplished by touching the resetting device to the "empty" chip for six seconds. Fred Keen, Repeat-O-Type's Director of Sales and Marketing, claims that the resetters have self-contained battery-operated circuitry that will reset hundreds of cartridges and that the battery will last for about five years of normal use. Model #R2 resets Epson's T007 and T015 black cartridges and
Epson's T008, T009 and T016 color cartridges. Model #R4 resets
Epson's T017 black cartridge and Epson's T018 color "We are already manufacturing bulk inks for most of the Epson chipped cartridges and now that we have developed the resetters we expect to have end-user refill kits for the various Epson chipped cartridges in production shortly," says Keen. A photo of the product can be seen at www.repeatotype.com Repeat-O-Type Manufacturing Corp. is a family owned corporation that has been engaged in the manufacture of office reprographic products since 1931. For Further Information Contact: Fred Keen, Director of Sales
& Marketing, by phone: (973) 696-3330 or toll free (US and
Canada) (800) 288-3330; by fax: (973) 694-7287; or, by e-mail: XEROX'S 100 PPM FUTURECOLOR: The company says FutureColor uses "dry ink", a euphemism
for xerography, Xerox's toner-based version of the electrophotographic
imaging process. According to Karin Stroh, Manager of Public
Relations for Xerox, FutureColor does not use the "chemical
toner" announced at a July 25 Press Conference at the Xerox
Research Center of Canada (XRCC) in Mississauga, Ontario. That
toner is produced by an emulsion aggregation (E/A) process and
is destined for other Xerox and Fuji-Xerox manufactured color
imaging products starting in 2002. The FutureColor machine was first announced at the May 2000 Drupa show and is scheduled for release in 2002. A digital color competitor, the NexPress 2100 from the Heidelberg-Kodak joint venture, was also unveiled last year at Drupa 2000. That digital press prints color on 13.8 by 18.5-inch sheets at a rated speed of 70 ppm; it will be officially released at PRINT 01 in Chicago. In addition to a release date that beats Xerox by at least a few months, the NexPress 2100 has been rated more favorably by some industry observers for other reasons. "Although Xerox says FutureColor will be revolutionary in its capabilities-mixing paper stocks, producing fully assembled process-color publications, and rivaling offset lithography in terms of quality," said Anita Dennis, Contributing Editor for creativepro.com (Portland, Oregon) "the FutureColor will compete with the Heidelberg/Kodak NexPress, a 70-ppm direct-imaging (DI) press that is expected six months sooner from a company (or rather, a partnership) that has a proven track record with direct-imaging technology and a positive reputation among commercial printers." "Technology could sway prospective buyers of tomorrow's digital color press," says Art Diamond, President of Diamond Research Corporation (Ojai, California). "Despite Heidelberg's entrenched position among commercial printers, the near 50% speed advantage and richly-featured capabilities of Xerox's FutureColor makes for an impending battle that seems too close to call. Perhaps the only certainty is that the high-end digital color press has been re-defined. What's more, if Xeikon and Indigo technology are leapfrogged by these immense color imaging devices, they may be prompted to redraw the market sectors they can best serve." Industry consultant Dr. Brian E. Springett (Fingerpost Advisers, Rochester, New York) views FutureColor as a "successful expansion of xerography into graphic arts and offset printing," noting that "Hewlett-Packard's version of the Indigo press operates at only 60 ppm, well below the new speed standard, hence below the productivity bar for digital color printing now set by Xerox." Editor's note: Neal McChristy, a freelance writer well-known to the imaging industry, is now contributing articles to Imaging News Online. You may contact him directly, by Fax: 708/260-3045; or e-mail: Neal McChristy at freelance9@kscable.com XEROX ROLLS OUT TWO B&W According to market-research firm CAP Ventures, the retail value of digitally printed documents was $21.4 billion last year and is projected to more than double to $52.5 billion by 2005. CAP Ventures estimates that 82 percent of the black-and-white pages printed on high-speed print on demand systems are already produced on Xerox equipment. The DocuTech 2000 Series 75 and DocuPrint 75 offers print shops a way to capture additional pages with its compact footprint, high-quality 600 dots-per-inch (dpi) output and print speeds of 75 pages per minute (ppm). The DocuTech 75, specifically engineered for on-demand printing, also is designed with customer replaceable units (such as fuser and toner cartridges), helping operators maintain the product, while maximizing print production through increased uptime. It is also compatible with all of the major network and mainframe printing environments. The Xerox DocuPrint 75, built on the same 75-ppm print engine is optimized for printing transaction applications requiring merging of variable data; for mission critical documents such as bills and invoices. "Building on the success of the DocuTech and DocuPrint 65 products, these new systems provide print shops and data centers with an entry-level option that includes many features of a larger DocuTech and DocuPrint product and is easy to install." said Tom Wetjen, Vice President and General Manager, Xerox Production Systems Group. The products expand what is already the industry's broadest line of black-and-white production printers ranging from 65 pages to 500 images per minute designed to address the needs of the fast-growing digital printing market. Both the DocuTech 75 and DocuPrint 75 also support more production printing applications through such capabilities as printing on tab stock and tight front-to-back registration for demanding forms and book publishing environments. The DocuTech 75 and DocuPrint 75 are available immediately in North America and will be available in Europe later this year. The base DocuPrint 75 has a list price of $51,700 in the United States. List prices for the DocuTech 75, which includes a scanner and DigiPath software, begin at $69,700. For more information on Xerox monochrome production printers, call 800-ASK-Xerox or visit www.xerox.com FLINT INK EXPANDS ARROWJET LINE Each of these performance-driven inks is intended for industrial piezo DOD printheads and is specifically engineered for wide format printing, direct mail/addressing, packaging and other emerging digital applications. With these new offerings, Flint Ink has effectively established itself as a single-source solution for the commercial inkjet market. Flint Ink's proprietary pigment technology is a result of
its exclusive Pigment Micronization Process, which produces consistently
fine pigment dispersions for optimum color and ink flow integrity.
This process prevents clogging and delivers uninterrupted ink
flow for razor-point "These Arrowjet inks exhibit exceptional durability and fade-resistance and offer a wide color gamut," says Mike Green, Vice President of Flint Ink's Digital Division. With the introduction of these pigmented inks, Flint Ink is taking DOD color to bold new levels. The pigmented formulations produce a wider gamut of colors than conventional dye-based inks, with superior brightness and tone, for enhanced four-color inkjet printing. They also exhibit outstanding lightfastness compared to dye-based products, and can withstand extended outdoor exposure. According to Flint, the ArrowJet DOD Series Inks also offer excellent rub resistance, dry time, water and weather resistance, resolubility, heat and cold stability, and pigment dispersion stability. The three new Arrowjet inks are: Founded in 1920, Flint Ink offers a comprehensive range of flexographic, sheetfed and web offset, gravure, UV/EB curable and digital inks. Operations are organized into five customer segments: packaging, publication, commercial, news and digital inks. Flint Ink operates nearly 100 facilities worldwide, employs approximately 4,000 people and has sales in excess of $1.4 billion USD worldwide. For more information about the new Arrowjet inks, please contact Nate Schwartz, Business Development Manager, at +1 734-622-6813. In Europe contact David Francis, Vice President of Business Development, at +44-1902-871028. For additional information on Flint Ink's value-added products and services contact: Rita Conrad, Director of Communications, Flint Ink: 4600 Arrowhead Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; Tel: 734-622-6362; Fax: 734-622-6131; E-mail: rconrad@flintink.com; Internet: www.flintink.com ARKWRIGHT LAUNCHES IJ TRANSFER PAPERS
"The launch of our truly one-step fabric fashion transfer products brings the ease and creativity of an ink jet transfer to virtually all light and dark colored fabrics. Our products greatly reduce the temperamental aspects of traditional transfer papers," says Frank Shea, Director of Marketing for Arkwright, Inc. "Arkwright's patented process increases the consumer success rate significantly, allowing the user to visually monitor the transfer process until completion." The products are available in 8.5 x 11-inch and A4 sizes. Street prices on both products will range anywhere from $1.25 to $2.50 per sheet. Founded in 1810, Arkwright's business is to develop, coat, convert, and market specialty papers, film and other media for digital imaging. Arkwright is ISO 9001 and 14000 registered and services computer printer, plotter and copier supplies markets throughout the world with five manufacturing facilities across the United States and eleven distribution centers in North America and Europe. For additional information, please contact Ms. Deborah Wendell, Product Manager, by Phone: 401/821-1000, Ext. 3444, Fax: 401/826-3926; or E-mail: dwendell@arkwright-ri.com REXAM MAGIC UNVEILS The Magic PrintLam and DMFTP products represent important technical breakthroughs for Rexam, and present considerable opportunities for high-production photo labs, service bureaus and other printing professionals. By offering a single-step finishing solution for indoor promotional and display graphics, PrintLam allows producers of laminated photobase graphics to enhance their profits and productivity without sacrificing quality. By bringing Rexam's patented Fluorex brand protection to ink jet graphics, the DMFTP film enables users to more easily and cost-effectively achieve high-quality protection for their flexible graphics. Magic PrintLam is a 4-mil thermal-activated polyester laminate with both adhesive and image-receptive properties. Designed for short-term indoor rigid promotional and display graphic applications, PrintLam's distinct advantage is that it requires only a single mounting finishing step-simply print on the image-receptive side and then mount on a rigid substrate. There is no need for the additional steps of applying adhesives and laminating. PrintLam delivers all the image quality and durability of laminated photobase with half the materials and production time. To demonstrate PrintLam's cost-saving benefits, Rexam has included a cost analysis calculator on its Web site that enables potential users to plug in their own variables to see how much they can save using PrintLam versus traditional methods. The cost analysis calculator can be found at www.magicinkjet.com under the PrintLam link. PrintLam is compatible with Hewlett-Packard's DesignJet® 2500/3500 series and DesignJet® 5000 printers with dye-based inks, and ENCAD Novajet® Pro Printers equipped with GS inks. Recommended substrates for mounting include common clay-coated boards such as Ami-Sign®, JetMount and cardstocks, foam and corrugated boards. Fluorex Transfer Protection DMFTP is a transferable protective film designed for ink jet graphics. The DMFTP's thin and flexible Fluorex coating delivers maximum surface protection against stain, water, chemicals, graffiti and abrasion at a lower cost than cold laminates, and is easily applied to a variety of ink jet products using heat roll laminators. Because it is flexible, thin and durable (the film has a one-year life expectancy for outdoor applications), DMFTP is ideal for banners. It is also an excellent solution for digitally printed wallcoverings. "Both these products offer groundbreaking benefits to the market," said Ed McCarron, Product Manager at Rexam Image Products, adding, "PrintLam represents a quantum leap improvement in the production of mounted graphics by delivering the same quality and durability as traditional, multi-step methods in a single step. And the Fluorex Transfer Protection film finally brings to the ink jet market all the cost-saving and productivity-enhancing benefits that have been enjoyed by the electrostatic community for years." . . . EXPANDS MAGIC MEDIA OFFERINGS "Rexam continues to expand its grand format media options to meet the growing needs of print producers who are incorporating Raster Graphics' Arizona printers into their shops," said Ed McCarron, Grand Format Product Manager of Rexam Image Products display market unit. "By giving them the materials they need to take advantage of their grand format printers for a broader range of indoor and outdoor signage applications, Rexam is helping digital printers to attract new customers and generate incremental revenue increases." A banner grade of Tyvek, Magic GFTB9AZ is designed for longer-term outdoor and indoor promotional banner applications where tear resistance is required. Rexam Magic's robust ink jet banner coating applied to DuPont's Tyvek base performs well in tough environmental conditions. New GFTB9AZ delivers water resistance, excellent color density, image resolution and durability. Magic GFBL5AZ backlit polyester film is recommended as a front printing and viewing film where high ink density is required. It is ideal for backlit display signage applications, and provides maximum transmitted and reflected ink density, ensuring vivid color and high image resolution. GFBL5AZ's 5-mil polyester film can also be mirror imaged for "back print" displays. In this application, the polyester surface provides a high level of protection for the final image. Magic GFPC16AZ 10-mil semi-sheer 100-percent polyester knit fabric features a special treatment that makes the fabric flame retardant. This media gives digital printers using the Arizona an attractive fabric alternative for trade show applications and other uses where flame retardancy is critical and often required. GFPC16AZ is also ideal for indoor flags, banners, partitions and window treatments due to its drapeable characteristics. It also is suited for producing colorfully printed strike-off samples for textile proofs, and for novelty short-term indoor promotional garments. For more information about Rexam Magic products, call 800/628-8604 or visit the company's web site at www.magicinkjet.com. XEROX FUELS INDUSTRY GROWTH WITH Xerox also announced a milestone of success for its DocuColor 2000 Series of digital color presses, installing its 2000th DocuColor product at C2 Media.com, a major New York-based graphic arts firm, as part of a $9 million contract. The DocuColor 2000 Series was launched less than one year
ago. Underscoring The Xerox DocuPrint 500 CF is the first in a series of fast, continuous-feed printers that Xerox plans to introduce this year. It is optimized for printing transactional data from databases, such as financial information for invoices and statements. Meanwhile, the DocuColor 12 Laser Printer's superior imaging quality makes it an ideal proof printer for pre-press departments and production printing operations. It is a printer-only version of the DocuColor 12 Copier/Printer, which was named "Product of the Year" for 2000 by PrintImage International's commercial printing members. In addition, the Xerox Premier Partners program, designed for graphic arts service providers, has its first services available through, a global directory that lets print jobs be routed or shared among 220 member companies. Xerox also has an exclusive "color locking" capability in its new color proofing solution. The solution, which includes technology from Imation and the DocuColor 12 copier/printer, allows graphic arts professionals to consistently achieve the accurate color required for professional-level printing and proofing. Other new solutions include three production software upgrades that improve commercial printers' ability to produce customized documents for their customers; and enhancements to the Xerox Book Factory solution that lower the production costs of perfect-bound books-a fast-growing market for Xerox. For example, Xerox's digital book publishing revenue jumped from $4 million in 1999 to $73 million last year, and is expected to top $100 million in 2001. Xerox offerings designed for high-speed, high-value printing markets include about 30 solutions that span the areas of just-in-time printing, customized publishing and e-services; a complete family of DocuTech and DocuPrint digital production publishers and printers, ranging from 65 to 500 ppm; and a complete family of DocuColor digital color printers and presses, ranging from 12 to 400 ppm. Q-PANEL ROLLS OUT AN AFFORDABLE The Q-Sun Xenon Test Chambers use xenon arc lamps to simulate the full spectrum of sunlight. This provides an excellent simulation of bright indoor lighting, sunlight through window glass, or natural sunlight. This is especially useful for testing printing inks and graphic materials for fading and color change. Q-Sun is the first affordable xenon arc tester of its kind. In the past, only the largest labs could afford to do this kind of testing. Now, it is feasible for any size lab as it is available in two sizes: the Q-Sun 1000 is an economical, table-top tester, with a small footprint; the larger Q-Sun 3100 is a fully featured, self-standing tester. All models of the Q-Sun Xenon provide all the features you
need in a xenon arc machine: For more information, contact: Ms. Julie Lucas at Phone: 440/835-8700, Fax: 440/835-8738, or send e-mail: Jlucas@q-panel.com. Ramora INTRODUCES NEW INK JET "The new Ramora product has been in development for some time now," said Mark Ansier, Managing Director. "The goal has been to penetrate a market that is untapped to expand the pie, rather than wrestle for existing market share. We achieved long-term growth potential with an agreement signed in Paris between TonerPlus/ALBAAT and Superjet Ltd. of the United Kingdom. The agreement calls for a minimum of 350 units to be placed in storefront operations throughout the UK and Ireland. We are very positive about the growth potential for this newly tapped market segment." If the Ramora X is bought for use in a store, it can be rolled in, plugged in and a customer can walk up and have about any ink jet cartridge refilled, Ansier said, adding "The significance of this is that we're opening up a brand new market. Our goal is to bring this to the office-supply store application." The Ramora X unit carries the same "no excuses warranty" as the entire Ramora brand line of products. Ramora Automated Ink Jet Cleaning, Filling and Recovery Systems are in place in 48 countries. "The return on initial investment can literally be recouped within weeks of installation. We provide the total solution for the in store application. From training and on-going support, to ink and supplies, we have the program fine tuned to quickly and easily create a new in store profit center," said Tom Goebel, President. "We will certainly have a Ramora X prominently displayed and in use in the retail storefront of our new facility." A special dedicated descriptive web page for the Ramora X has been created to aid in set up and training. The page, which contains illustrations of the machine and how it's used, can be viewed at www.RamoraCFR.com/ramx. TonerPlus Inc. and ALBAAT Ink Jet Fills merged as of January 1, 2001. The combined company provides re-manufactured toner and ink jet cartridges, plastics, supplies, inks, toner, labels, IT solutions, Ramora equipment and certified training globally. For information contact international sales at 512/339-8213 or send e-mail to: info@RamoraCFR.com REPEAT-O-TYPE OFFERS NEW INK REFILL The cost of new HP "23" series color cartridges can rapidly exceed the price of the printer itself when printing photos and graphics. By using Repeat-O-Type's Refill Ink Systems, the cost of printing can be reduced by two-thirds or more. Repeat-O-Type's DJ1823RC tri-color Refill Ink System extends the life of the HP C1823D cartridge by 500%, according to Fred Keen, Repeat-O-Type's Director of Sales and Marketing who emphasizes that further savings are realized because the cartridge no longer has to be discarded with two of the three colors not yet depleted. Suggested retail price for the DJ1823RC kit is $47.95. The kit includes cyan, magenta and yellow inks; starter fluid; a cartridge holding clip; a fill plug removal tool; and a dispensing syringe. Complete instructions for use are also included. As with all of Repeat-O-Type's Refill Ink Systems, the product is warranted not only against defects in materials and workmanship, but in the unlikely event that it damages a printer, Repeat-O-Type will repair or replace the printer at its expense. The patent-pending technology used in these new kits is also
being made available to the recharging industry. A special starter
solution, cartridge clip, and syringe used in the "The refill kits we have developed," says Keen "include
a special cartridge holding Family-owned Repeat-O-Type Manufacturing Corp. has been engaged in the manufacture of office reprographic products since 1931. For further information contact: Fred Keen, Director of Sales & Marketing by Phone: 973/696-3330; toll free 800/288-3330; Fax: 973/694-7287. |