HP with new High Definition ink jet nozzles.

[Deleted member 16349]

On WTT there is an interesting article about HP's new High Definition ink jet nozzles that can easily upgrade their existing inkjet web presses.

New High Definition Nozzle Architecture for HP Inkjet Web Presses! - Printing Industry Blog

Nice little video too.

The article also implies that there are more innovations on the way. On Monday there will be more information available.

One might ask, why is it that digital press suppliers can innovate their inkers to improve performance while traditional press manufacturers can not? It is not so much a question that they can't but more a question that they won't. They are failing due to their stubbornness.

Anyhow, the future belongs to those who will innovate and make the future happen.

 

[csawatzki]

Digital presses are built to be long-term disposable. They are not supposed to be built to last more than 5-7 years. They do not build in new technology because they want to sell you a new press. Now, having said that, you may notice little things like fountain servo controls, color management closed loop, auto inking. Things like this, the big Iron manufacturer does not like to sell aftermarket either. They too want you to buy a new press at some point. Problem is that the initial investment is much greater.

Apple will keep upgrading there OS, and pushing you out of your computer. Welcome to the new concept of disposable technology.

Cory Sawatzki
[email protected]

 

[David Murphy]

Hi Cory and Erik,
I work for HP in the Inkjet Web Press group. There is merit in your points and I'd like to add some context from my perspective.

With new inkjet technology platforms being announced by various press manufacturers, PSPs are concerned about the presses they buy today becoming obsolete when their manufacturer introduces a new platform. HP believes that a clear upgradability path should be offered to ensure customers’ confidence that their investment will be protected.

As an example, there is a PSP in the US named O’Neil Data Systems that purchased the first HP T300 Inkjet Web Press in 2008. In 2011, HP launched the T350 model with much faster speeds, a new writing system and improved data processing workflow. These are the kinds of improvements that would justify the creation of a new press platform, but HP delivered them to the market as upgrades to the existing T300. O'Neil converted its T300 to a T350 without the press leaving the floor.

Then at drupa 2012, HP introduced the T360 model with even faster speeds, a new advanced inkjet printhead technology, and new nanotechnology pigment inks. Same situation: O'Neil upgraded that T350 to a T360.

Over the years, HP has historically and will continue to develop and introduced new inkjet inks, printheads, software, drying capability, DFE upgrades and faster speeds. The commitment to the market is that these enhancements will be upgradable to the presses installed in the field. So that original heavy-iron (not plastic) industrial frame press that O'Neil installed back in 2008 has the state-of-the-art capabilities and configuration of a new press sold today. In all likelihood, we would expect O'Neil to upgrade that T360 to the High Definition Nozzle Architecture technology when it is available in 2016 and that press would likely remain on the production floor for years to come.

By the way, this confidence in the upgradability path has contributed to O’Neil’s ongoing partnership with HP, leading this customer to recently install its tenth HP inkjet web press. Ten!

For a third-party view, you might like this InfoTrends blog post that was published today, assessing HP's customer protection strategy as a real value differentiator. InfoTrends InfoBlog » HP Future-Proofs Customers with its Next Generation Printhead Design

 

[Deleted member 16349]

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Then at drupa 2012, HP introduced the T360 model with even faster speeds, a new advanced inkjet printhead technology, and new nanotechnology pigment inks. Same situation: O'Neil upgraded that T350 to a T360.

Over the years, HP has historically and will continue to develop and introduced new inkjet inks, printheads, software, drying capability, DFE upgrades and faster speeds. The commitment to the market is that these enhancements will be upgradable to the presses installed in the field. So that original heavy-iron (not plastic) industrial frame press that O'Neil installed back in 2008 has the state-of-the-art capabilities and configuration of a new press sold today. In all likelihood, we would expect O'Neil to upgrade that T360 to the High Definition Nozzle Architecture technology when it is available in 2016 and that press would likely remain on the production floor for years to come.

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David, yes, I think the strategy is right. It will result in some confidence in having a press that can continually advance.

Personally I have wanted offset press manufacturers to move in a similar direction by making the modifications that will make fundamental changes. Even if they have made remarkable refinements, many of the refinements are just band aid technologies that are applied to the existing process to cover up existing faults that were not understood.

It would be very interesting for the general printing community to understand the breadth and depth of the engineering and science talent that is behind the efforts of HP to develop its products in comparison with what is being used by the traditional offset press manufacturing community. I suspect it is night and day.

To make the advances HP has done in inkjet and other products requires leading edge science and engineering knowledge, while the nature of what has been going on the in the development of offset presses has been mainly the application of mechanical engineering for a process that these engineers did not actually understand and still don't after almost a hundred years.

 

[gig0]

a little off topic but the best thing about this forum is getting a little insight from the top brass in our industry.