Océ has announced the launch of the 'fastest ink-jet press' in its portfolio, the JetStream 5500, which is capable of printing up to 30,000 B2 sheets per hour. Designed for printing newspapers, books and transition documents, the machine's speed equates to 254mpm.

The JetStream 5500's 'incredible productivity' and low running costs are hoped to 'accelerate the transition from traditional offset printing' to a digital ink-jet process, explains Océ. The full-colour engine produces 5,140 A4 images per minutes on a 30"-wide (76cm) web, with a resolution of 640 x 480dpi at 254mpm or 1,200dpi at 200mpm. As an example, Océ states that 6 x 9" (15 x 23cm) books can be printed four-up, 'allowing for maximum productivity' and reducing the cost per book.

"With over 8,000 tabloid newspapers per hour and more than 30,000 B2 format sheets per hour for book production, at a continuously high image quality, this is a game-changer for the newspaper and book publishing market," says Sebastian Landesberger, executive vice president of commercial printing, Océ. "Never before could we so dramatically accelerate the transition from offset printing to digital printing."