At Graph Expo 2004, Xerox Corporation demonstrated what it calls the world's fastest cut-sheet, highlight color printing system, operating at 180 ppm (nearly twice as fast as the previous Xerox speed benchmark of 92 ppm). Xerox showcased the new product as part of its 12,600-square-foot display at Graph Expo, the largest printing exhibition in the United States.
The new Xerox 180 Highlight Color (HCL) system is one of three highlight color printers designed for print-on-demand and publishing applications, such as newsletters and reports as well as invoices and statements that use data from transactional databases. In these applications, highlight color focuses the reader’s attention on the most critical information, improving document impact, reader comprehension, and response rates. The three products run at speeds of 128 ppm, 155 ppm, and 180 ppm respectively.
The new highlight color platform is built on the technology of the Xerox DocuTech platform for black & white printing and incorporates technology from the Xerox iGen3 Digital Production Press for highlight color imaging. The system creates two images in sequence – first the black image, then the color image – in a single pass of the media. This approach delivers full rated print speed that is more efficient than models that use two passes, one for each color.
The technologies from the iGen3 press incorporated into the new highlight color products include SmartPress image management systems such as trickle development that delivers toner and developer in one user-replaceable bottle and cyclone cleaning, which automatically vacuums leftover toner particles from the imaging system, enabling "white glove" changing of highlight color toners.
The systems' red and blue toners are only slightly more expensive than black, enabling the impact of color on a page for under a penny per print at 180 ppm. Print resolutions are 2,400 x 600 dpi for monochrome and 600 x 600 dpi for color. Paper capacities range up to as many as 12,100 sheets for input and 10,100 for output. Paper sizes range up to 14'' x 17'', a size required for many publishing applications.
The HLC family uses the same Xerox DocuSP controller as the 32 other Xerox digital production printers and presses, delivering PostScript and PDF printing, print management capabilities, and easy operator training. The new systems are compatible with the full portfolio of the Xerox FreeFlow Digital Workflow Collection.
A phased launch for the new highlight color systems is planned beginning in late 2004 through early 2005 in select markets in North America, Europe, and Latin America. List prices will range from $320,000 to $472,000.