EPSON launches new large format 6-colour inkjet printer

EPSON South Africa has announced the local availability of EPSON`s first large format printer - the Stylus Pro 9000. Targeted at large organisations and professional graphics users, the Stylus Pro 9000 can be utilised for high end repro such as signage, in-plant printing, fine art reproduction, imposition proofing, layout proofs, 3D visualisation, and Global Information System (GIS) applications.

The new addition to the Stylus range of inkjet printers is based on the Stylus Pro 5000 MicroPiezo printhead technology, which utilises a mechanical rather than thermal printing technique that allows users to vary the printing speed, since it functions with an electronic pulse. Hans Dummer, EPSON SA`s general manager explains that this technology offers users a high quality, 1440 dpi (dots per inch) printer, incorporating its 6-colour ink technology known as Photo Reproduction Quality.

"The new system is easy-to-use and is able to print onto cut sheet paper from A3, and also roll paper to a maximum of 44-inches in width," he says. "The Stylus Pro 9000`s straight paper path means that EPSON coated art board with a thickness of up to 1.5mm can be directly printed onto, making this the first time that a large format printer of this quality has come to the market at this price point."

Dummer goes on to say that the Stylus Pro 9000 supports an 133 megahertz RIP station, a risk processor PC, with resident colour matching profiles from Dupont. "The RIP station saves all work from the hard drive allowing for all creative work to be done digitally with perfect colour matching capabilities. When printing, one doesn`t have to wait for the printer to finish printing before continuing with work on an Apple Mac."

The standard Stylus Pro 9000 will be competitively priced at R 100 000 VAT inclusive. "The printer opens up large format printing to Copy Shops and Quick Printers, corporate design and marketing departments, who have found the price of existing large format solutions prohibitive and of an inferior quality," adds Dummer. "The Stylus Pro 9000 offers the image resolution, smoothness, consistency, and flexibility needed for critical colour evaluation and colour proofing at a fraction of the cost of professional printing."

According to Dummer, in order to maintain consistent print quality throughout the full printable area at a high resolution of 1440 x 720dpi, while maintaining acceptable printing speeds, extremely accurate components are needed for print head and paper feed drive mechanisms.

EPSON is employing bi-directional printing at 1440dpi on a Stylus printer for the first time. This requires the implementation of a highly accurate DC Servo carriage feed motor and steel carriage drive belt. "For accurate paper feed control the use of a media vacuum mechanism is used, which results in the capability of the Stylus Pro 9000 to print up to a class-leading 6m2/hour," Dummer adds.

Dummer goes on to say that the Stylus Pro 9000 also uses the same six colour ink formulation as the Stylus Pro 5000, which is now incorporated in individual high capacity (220ml) ink cartridges. "Unlike competitor products, output from the Stylus Pro 9000 dries virtually instantaneously without the need for ink drying fans, due to EPSON`s Quick-Dry ink formulation," he concludes.

Standard connectivity includes IEEE 1284 bi-directional Parallel interface, and Macintosh Serial interface and the EPSON range of optional Type-B interfaces can also be incorporated. The Stylus Pro 9000 will also be available with a second-generation hardware PostScript 3 advanced colour server, based on EPSON`s proven Proofer technology.