Aarque Graphics NZ Limited recently announced Epson's entry into the global sign and display market with the launch of a 64-inch eight-colour photo quality printer, and a new solvent based ink.
Craig Heckenberg, business solutions manager for Epson Australia, says the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000, the company’s first solvent inkjet printer, along with its new Epson UltraChrome GS ink, makes a strong statement about Epson’s intention to set new quality and performance standards for the sign and display market.He says, “Epson has an enviable reputation for quality and reliability in the large format graphics market. We are now combining our latest print technologies with over 15 years experience to significantly raise the bar in the sign and display market. The Stylus Pro GS6000 represents the latest in durable graphics print technology, making it a very efficient and highly capable addition to any print or sign shop looking for that high quality competitive edge.”
Equipped with a newly developed dual-array micro-piezo print head with 360 nozzles per colour for fast print speeds producing variable sized ink droplets between 3.7 and 20 picolitres, depending on speed and quality options selected, the Stylus Pro GS6000 possesses a maximum print resolution up to 1440 x 1440 dpi with an ultra-micro dot of 3.7 picolitre.
The company says that its new ink is easy to work with, and has a much lower environmental impact than other solvent inks. Developed by Seiko Epson chemical engineers, it is nickel-free. Epson says the ink has fewer harmful VOC (volatile organic compounds) than other solvent based inks and that prints made with it are virtually odourless, asserting that this eliminates the need for expensive ventilation and air purification systems to protect the operators.
Epson also claims that superior colour accuracy is made possible by the addition of orange and green inks, which expand the gamut beyond the colour range of both 4 and 6 colour ink sets. It says that important corporate colours and ultra-vibrant images not previously seen from a solvent-based printer can now be reproduced with its new ink.
The Stylus Pro GS6000 is available through Aarque Graphics from October 2008.
