The first of Durst’s new p5 printers is due to start shipping. So what’s so novel about this technology?
Durst ran a teasing social media marketing campaign
ahead of its P5 launch in February. But is the technology
as clever as the marketing campaign surrounding it?
Unveiled at its Lienz site in Austria to a select group of
Durst customers and prospects – and to journalists – the
250HS is the first in a series that will include the P5
200HS, 320 and 200. The flagship 250HS is due to
start shipping this month (April), followed later this year
by the 200HS and 320 (roll/rigid hybrid). The 200 will
be introduced soon after.
According to CEO Christoph Gamper: “This is best in
breed technology utilising all our years of knowledge and
responding to customer requirements.”
Based on the Durst P10 250HS, the P5 250HS is
70% faster, boasts a 20% increase in resolution, a 80%
decrease in printhead maintenance, and 40% quicker
media changing. It has a top resolution of 1200dpi, with
a drop-size of 5pcl. In two-pass mode the P5 250HS can
run at up to 240m2/hr and is targeted at those wanting to
handle high volume production as well as bespoke runs in
offset quality.
“P5 represents a new level of customer co-operation
at Durst. We have a reputation for being secret but P5
shows we are opening up, addressing customer needs
and integrating at a much earlier stage,” said Barbara
Schulz, EVP sales, at the launch, held at the Lienz plant
because that’s where all the P5 printers – bar the P5 320
– will be built. The latter, being a roll/flatbed hybrid, will be
built at Durst’s Brixen plant.
A design studio from Munich canvassed opinions from
customers and operators with a view to integrating their
wishes into the new P5 concept. The result was five key
areas of development, which the name ‘P5’ reflects:
productivity, reliability, workflow, versatility and print
quality.
The new printers have specially developed Durst printhead
arrays built with Fujifilm Mems nozzle plates (designed for 24/7
production), use new inks (P5 Premium WG ink and P5 POP HS
ink available initially with other inksets under development),
have a new media transport system (with gearless direct drive
for precision, 16 vacuum chambers and a special synthetic
coating to prevent static friction), and incorporate a key
software development – Durst Symphony, which comprises a
new touchscreen icon-based user interface, a workflow suite
of applications (with features beyond Ripping such as print
data management and versioning and customisable colour
management), and an analytics platform for pre-emptive
maintenance and detailed machine and consumption data.
Durst will not be at Fespa 2018, preferring to show its new
technology to potential customers at its Austrian bases. The
first customer orders have been taken though names not yet
released at the time of going to print. But Durst is obviously
keen for the P5 technology to open up new customer bases.
“The P5 platform, including workflow software and advanced
service tools, represent our key strategy to further invest
into large-format printing technology and further afield,” says
Gamper. “We believe there is a lot to explore in this market
space and the P5 250HS is our firs statement. In an integrated
world printers need to change as well. With the P5 family we
provide tools for change and profit.”
