Johannesburg, 11 Jul 2012
Oc'e, an international leader in digital document management and delivery, has introduced its Oc'e ColorStream 3500 high-speed inkjet system, with a unique combination of CMYK output, fifth and sixth colour printing, and simplex/duplex flexibility previously available only on Oc'e industry-leading, toner-based continuous feed printers.
The new Oc'e ColorStream 3500 product line extends the proven Oc'e JetStream inkjet series as part of the fastest growing inkjet portfolio in the industry. In addition, the new system extends the reach of the Oc'e inkjet systems as solutions for mailstream environments to transition to full-colour printing.
The flexible, full-colour Web press gives customers a reliable solution for transaction, TransPomo, direct mail, book and manual applications.
“The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 provides a modular offering in various single and twin configurations. The production and media flexibility contributes to a future-proof system that simplifies the transition of applications and business models to more sophisticated documents with variable personalisation and smarter communication in colour,” says Jaco Smit, DDS product manager at Oc'e South Africa.
Users can choose from a combination of specialty inks, including MICR, along with CMYK printing, to support the widest range of business opportunities. The broad range of standard and special papers between 60g/m2 and 160g/m2 ensures versatility for all types of printing requirements.
Productivity and flexibility for high-speed colour production
The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system offers extreme productivity for users with volumes up to 12 million A4 pages per month on a single system or up to 24 million A4 images per month on a twin system.
The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system prints at 75 metres per minute with a print width of 540mm. That translates to 505 A4-size pages per minute (ppm) for a single unit, or 1 010 A4-size ppm for a twin configuration, at 600 x 600dpi resolution. With optional multilevel dot modulation, crisp details and smooth halftones can be produced at full-rated speed.
The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system is the first high-volume, full-colour inkjet system that combines Oc'e DigiDot piezoelectric drop-on-demand technology, Oc'e SRA MP controller power, and the flexibility of Oc'e VarioStream L-, H- or U-shape twin configurations. Users can quickly switch from duplex to simplex printing without compromising productivity.
Customers can start small and grow colour business
Smit says that while the majority of the digital print volume is still monochrome, the market is trending towards full colour plus additional colours. An entry-level monochrome configuration of the Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system allows print providers to start with small colour volumes and just the same be prepared for future colour business.
“The transition to colour often comes gradually and typically not all the print volume switches to full colour immediately. In the early stage, the majority of the volume remains monochrome, while a small but growing share switches to colour,” he adds.
The flexible Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system allows users to adapt the printing mode to match their pace of colour transition. A fifth or sixth colour is easily field-upgraded. A full-colour Oc'e ColorStream 3500 can be set up as a monochrome-only system when needed.
In addition to Oc'e's new high-fidelity pigmented inkset for CMYK printing, customers may add MICR or other specialty inks.
The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system encourages greater daily operational efficiency through its high ease-of-use for the operator. Printer operators can manage the inkjet system as easy as their existing continuous feed devices through wide operator intervention spaces inside the system, easy-to-adjust sensors, paper feed support and the familiar Oc'e GUI look and feel.
Low-impact integration and coexistence with data centre infrastructure
The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 was specifically designed for data centre suitability and coexistence with their toner-based systems. Its size, weight, power requirements and modular set-up allow the Oc'e ColorStream 3500 to be installed in almost all environments. Print and data centres can migrate to high-volume full-colour inkjet production with minimum impact on existing infrastructure and workflow.
“The traditional right-to-left printing direction of toner-based continuous feed systems was chosen for the Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system for easier integration into existing paper logistics. Printed rolls leave the printer on the same side as they do on toner-based machines. From there, rolls can either be rewound or processed with appropriate post-processing equipment. Post processing coexistence with current and future systems is also enabled through Type1 connectivity that allows direct integration with a wide range of partners' finishing systems,” explains Smit.
The transition to full-colour printing is also supported by the smooth integration of the SRA MP controller and Oc'e PRISMA software, which integrate Oc'e ColorStream 3500 systems into existing toner- or ink-based workflows without disruption. This makes it easier to embed new full-colour applications such as personalised direct mail and TransPromo documents into existing workflows.
Building on a market-leading colour portfolio
The market-leading Oc'e colour continuous feed technology has helped many printers transition to high-volume, full-colour printing. At the same time, the flexibility and reliability of the Oc'e VarioStream family helped secure market leadership for Oc'e in the monochrome continuous feed market for more than 15 consecutive years. The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system brings the best of both product families into one solution, along with the colour workflow, processing power and consultancy competence that have made Oc'e the leader in continuous feed colour.
“With the new Oc'e ColorStream 3500, we listened to the market and expanded our inkjet offering with a solution that combines Oc'e DigiDot quality, the flexibility of the Oc'e VarioStream family, and the full-colour productivity of the well-established Oc'e JetStream products,” says Smit.
“By consequently expanding our continuous feed colour family, we can cover the widest range of market requirements. The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 meets both full-colour and monochrome demands, along with the need for efficient simplex and duplex printing.
“Oc'e introduced simplex/duplex twin flexibility to the monochrome continuous feed market in 1984, and now brings this experience to the fast-growing continuous feed colour arena. The productivity and reliability of Oc'e DigiDot technology, up to six-colour printing and high-end print quality, make the Oc'e ColorStream 3500 the foundation customers need for a smooth transition from monochrome to full colour. Print producers can move to full colour with minimal impact on their infrastructure and then extend their range of print services, which results in a very attractive business model.”
Powerful controller handles high-speed colour workflow
The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system fits ideally for the transition to full-colour inkjet and for operations requiring versatility, speed and uncompromising monochrome and colour quality.
The Oc'e ColorStream 3500 system incorporates proven Oc'e JetStream capabilities, including Oc'e DigiDot inkjet technology and the next generation of the SRA MP (Massively Parallel) controller architecture, which draws on more than 25 years' of experience in high-speed controller development.
The Oc'e SRA MP controller enables high-speed, uninterrupted workflow for AFP/IPDS data streams and rigorous full-colour digital printing. It incorporates the latest advances in AFP colour technology and PDF printing through the Adobe PDF Print Engine 2.5.
Please click here to view the Oc'e ColorStream 3500 high-speed inkjet system.
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