The first morning of HP’s pre-drupa conference has already shown how, in reality, new products and innovations are based more on common sense than on the wow factor. In a world where, for many years, we’ve almost been relying on some pretty whacky announcements before a major exhibition, it makes a pleasant change laced with reassurance to discover that the current approach is based on pragmatism and practicalities.

But we’ve just had a nice surprise. You could say it’s not new, but it’s one of those logical additions which will open up new doors to PSPs who want to bring something different to their customers without adding any risk to their investments. After all, no-one can afford to gamble these days, can they?

HP’s freshly launched Indigo 10000 goes wide-format

HP’s taken its existing Indigo range and turned it into a family of new products by adding sensible options that people are going to want. These changes take on board application potential and how to achieve different results, rather than merely being demonstrative of improvements for the sake of a bit more speed or productivity. So what else could be added? How about a larger format?

So HP has gone wider with its Indigo platform, having just announced its Indigo 10000, which brings this technology to a whole new type of end user. No wonder its announcement received an enthusiastic round of applause from the assembled audience.

Yes, it’s a new concept using this technology, but it’s not based on whims and dreams. This is a fourth generation machine, so not a theoretical exercise, and it’s based on solid Indigo foundations so it will work. It’s a B2 press, or 29" (0.73m), and its larger format is certain to open up a whole gamut of new possibilities to PSPs who want to make a departure from narrower applications but who prefer to stay with familiar digital technology.

This is a machine with great potential, with seven colours and a host of features to whet the appetite. It actually extends the wide-format arena into new territories and brings about a new way of thinking about production. There are plenty of PSPs around who like the idea of larger sized production but who don’t want to adopt the same ink-jet technologies as their competitors.

Look out for the HP Indigo 10000 at drupa, of course. My bet is that it will be surrounded by all sorts of die-hard wide-format printers who want to take their applications in a new direction.