Chippenham, UK-based Image Factory has installed an HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press to provide cost-effective, versatile solutions for its customers.  The installation of the new machine follows the installation of an HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press less than a year ago. The company is now able to continue the migration of POS/POP and other graphic displays from screen to digital.

In October 2011, when HP launched the FB7600 press, it also made an optional Upgrade Kit available to HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press users, which Image Factory installed. Image Factory has added the optional HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit to one of its presses and can use HP FB225 White Scitex Ink on the full range of substrates.

"The addition of the white ink was part of the process to phase out screen printing," said Tim Boore, head of digital technologies, Image Factory. "The results are excellent and it is far more cost-effective. The ability to print white really puts the last nail in the coffin for screen as far as we're concerned. We will retain our last screen line for one- and two-colour jobs and special projects requiring metallic inks, but our normal work is going to be digital."

For Image Factory, the migration from screen to digital is about being able to deliver what its customers want, at a price they want to pay and making a decent return.

"The speed and capacity of these printers has enabled us to shut down one of our three screen printing lines, and when we've completed the options and upgrades, we'll be able to shut down a second."

The HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press uses UV-curable inks and is capable of imaging a broad range of substrates, from films, papers, and boards to more unusual materials like metal, glass and wood up to 25mm thick. With the optional multi-sheet loader on both presses enabling the simultaneous printing of four sheets, Image Factory is able to maximise productivity.

"The result of these investments is that we have presses with identical functionality that enable us to move work from screen to digital," said Boore.

While the market remains challenging, Boore feels that Image Factory is well positioned to give its customers the quality and service that they want, while ensuring its competitiveness and margins.

"Using our MIS system we have been monitoring our press speeds, ink, and material use and production throughput carefully," he said. "The presses are performing at the levels promised by HP, and our customers have been impressed with the improvements in the print quality and speed of delivery."

The HP Scitex FB7600 Digital Press can print up to 95 full-size sheets per hour, but for POP/POS display quality, POP55 mode (up to 55 sheets per hour) offers maximum productivity of 290m2/hr (3120ft2/hr).