HP Strengthens Graphics Portfolio with New Solutions and Alliances at PRINT 09

Technology advancements accelerate analog-to-digital printing transformation with new HP T300 and HP Indigo W7200 digital presses

CHICAGO, HP today announced significant advancements in its comprehensive range of solutions designed to drive print service providers’ (PSPs) profitable growth and competitive differentiation.

This week in booth No. 1229 at the PRINT 09 tradeshow, HP is highlighting the latest developments in its Graphics Solutions Business as it addresses the $115 billion(1) global market opportunity for digital color printing, including:

* Commercialization of the newly branded HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press, the industry’s first 30-inch (762-mm) wide, high-speed, color inkjet roll-fed production device;
* Industry relationships with leading technology vendors – and a new alliance with Pitney Bowes – designed to accelerate the HP T300 Press’s presence in high-volume digital print applications and offset markets that are transforming to digital;
* High-quality output with new ColorPRO Technology making its debut in media for the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press and HP Designjet large-format printers;
* Commercial availability of the HP Indigo W7200 Digital Press, a new liquid electrophotographic printing (LEP) solution that is one of the world’s most productive offset-quality digital presses for the printing of dedicated applications demanding the true look and feel of offset;
* Increased opportunities for HP Indigo customers with the launch of the industry’s first white ink for sheet-fed digital presses;
* Expanded workflow capabilities through a new HP Graphics Solutions Partner Program and new versions of HP Exstream software and HP SmartStream workflow portfolio products.

“Digital color is driving growth in the graphics industry, and a slowdown in momentum seen in the industry at large does not compare with the real, rapid and continued expansion of the digital color print opportunity for PSPs,” said Michael Hoffmann, senior vice president, Graphics Solutions Business, HP. “From last year’s drupa tradeshow through today at PRINT 09, HP has proven its value to customers by being first to market in the introduction and delivery of breakthrough solutions that are empowering customers to thrive as they establish digital as the industry’s preferred printing technology.”

Transforming print with an innovative platform and alliances with industry leaders

PRINT 09 marks the official commercial launch of the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press. Previously named the HP Inkjet Web Press, the groundbreaking 30-inch (762-mm) wide, 400-feet-per-minute (122-meters-per-minute) solution enables digital to move from niche applications to mainstream print volumes. The press places HP in a market for high-volume production printing estimated to generate 1 trillion pages annually by 2012.(1)

Available this year, the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press has already proven itself as a leading-edge solution for transforming business processes, with multiple installations in commercial customer environments that started in December 2008. Several more HP T300 presses are scheduled to be running in commercial customer printing environments by the end of 2009.

Following this week’s announcement of a planned technology alliance with R.R. Donnelley & Sons for development of HP Inkjet Web Press solutions, HP also announced the establishment of an additional sales channel for HP Inkjet Web presses that is managed and operated by Pitney Bowes, the industry’s leading provider of Intelligent Mail solutions.

Through this new alliance, Pitney Bowes is the designated HP Inkjet Web Press value-added system integrator for the transactional and transpromotional print markets. Pitney Bowes will offer the HP Inkjet Web Press as part of the Pitney Bowes IntelliJet Printing System, bringing the T300 press’s unique capabilities to the high-volume transactional output (HVTO) space.

“This is high technology business performance at its best: two global leaders coming together to offer something that customers have been asking for, and that neither company could provide entirely on its own,” said Leslie Abi-Karam, executive vice president and president, Mailstream Solutions Management, Pitney Bowes. “That is why I am so excited about the potential for this alliance, and so confident in its ultimate success.”

The alliance extends HP’s successful, long-term collaboration with Pitney Bowes to develop HVTO solutions for use with HP Indigo presses and HP Specialty Printing Systems imagers. In booth No. 1229, HP has a technology demonstration of the new HP Indigo W7200 Digital Press’s compatibility with Advanced Function Presentation data streams used in the HVTO space through an Emtex data conversion solution from Pitney Bowes.

Plus, the HP booth and the Pitney Bowes booth (No. 7708) are both showcasing an envelope inserting and imprinting line featuring HP Print Module technology, an innovative four-color-process imprinting solution running at speeds up to 400 feet per minute. Scheduled to be available in 2010, the HP Print Module is based on HP Scalable Printing Technology, a next-generation thermal inkjet platform also employed in the HP T300.

HP also announced that Rotolito Lombarda, one of Europe’s leading providers of web offset, sheet-fed offset, digital and gravure printing, has signed a customer agreement to install the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press. With the January 2010 scheduled installation, the Pioltello, Italy-based company will gain a competitive advantage by using the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press’s capabilities for medium-run-length production in color applications such as children’s books, atlases and educational and scientific publications.

“HP has taken a long-hoped-for market in digital books and made it a reality with the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press,” said Paolo Bandecchi, president, Rotolito Lombarda. “Our company has always embraced new, innovative approaches to growth, and we are pleased to be advancing the application of digital to optimize our production performances and gain cost efficiencies with the help and support of a technological leader like HP.”

In the HP booth, the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press is being showcased in a life-size interactive display, along with samples highlighting the wide range of compatible media and partner solutions.

HP is highlighting at PRINT 09 additional partners that have developed systems for use with the HP T300, including CMC, Hunkeler, MBO, Muller Martini and Ultimate Technographics.

In addition, EMT International and MEGTEC Systems have built solutions that are integrated into core HP T300 product development activities. EMT will work on the development and manufacture of wide-web inkjet press platforms in addition to specialty finishing solutions for the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press. MEGTEC Systems, a new HP Graphics Solutions Partner, has developed and is supplying customized drying solutions for use with the HP T300.

Enhanced quality with ColorPRO Technology for media

HP also announced new media offerings for the HP T300 and HP Designjet printers. ColorPRO Technology represents a quality standard for color excellence in digital printing, based on use of a set of paper enhancement technologies and meeting a set of strictly defined performance specifications. Papers with ColorPRO Technology deliver visibly enhanced print quality including more striking colors, crisper text and graphics, and higher-contrast blacks when compared to standard, uncoated offset and untreated bond papers.

Paper manufacturers worldwide can gain access to ColorPRO Technology by entering into licensing agreements with HP. HP announced a business relationship with Domtar Corporation for the production of ColorPRO papers compatible with the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press.

The first ColorPRO Technology media will include uncoated text and book grades for use with the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press, and HP Universal Bond Paper and HP Bright White Inkjet Paper for use with HP Designjet large-format printers.

Continued leadership with HP Indigo W7200 availability

HP announced the commercial availability of the HP Indigo W7200 Digital Press – a roll-fed LEP dual-engine solution that combines proven HP Indigo offset quality with the productivity required to excel in a variety of applications, including on-demand and short-run book printing, high-volume personalized color direct-mail campaigns and high-value transpromotional statement printing.

Using liquid HP ElectroInks – including custom-mixed spot colors – in up to seven color stations, the press prints at 240 letter-size, four-color pages per minute (ppm), or 960 letter-size ppm monochrome. It features a large image area that can significantly enhance productivity(2) in postcard and 6- x 9-inch (153- x 229-mm) book applications. In addition, the format size enables the digital production and personalization of folders, folding mailers, folding albums and book jackets previously manufactured using analog processes.

The LEP process, which uses liquid HP ElectroInks instead of toner for unparalleled image quality, has already made HP Indigo the industry-leading production press technology for photo book and other photo specialty products.(1) In 2010, HP plans to provide enhanced capabilities for the HP Indigo W7200 Digital Press to enable higher-volume photo specialty production.

At PRINT 09, HP also is highlighting the HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press, as well as exhibiting the HP Indigo press 5500 printing with a new white ink scheduled to be available for users of 5000 and 5500 model presses in early 2010. The first such digital press ink for sheet-fed commercial printing, HP ElectroInk White enables customers to pursue an extended range of high-value applications that typically require clear, colored or metallic foil substrates, such as point-of-purchase materials, overlays and name plates.

Workflows and partners for streamlined productivity

PRINT 09 also features the comprehensive HP SmartStream Workflow Portfolio including the newest version of the HP SmartStream Director end-to-end workflow solution. Other HP workflow components on display include upgraded versions of HP SmartStream Designer and the HP SmartStream Production Plus, Production Pro and Ultra print servers. In addition, HP is featuring the newly announced HP Exstream 7.0 enterprise document automation software, which offers more than 250 enhancements to provide enterprises with a single source for enhanced enterprise document automation.

HP also introduced the HP Graphics Solutions Partner Program. Developed for partner solutions that integrate with products in the HP Designjet, Indigo, Inkjet Web Press and Scitex product lines, the program creates the open environment needed for streamlined productivity, with specific solutions to address key market segments that are customizable and scalable to unique business needs.

Analog-to-digital transition and the environment

The analog-to-digital printing transition opportunities presented by HP at PRINT 09 can help the printing industry minimize its environmental impact by significantly reducing waste and inventory. HP estimates that 90 percent of the world’s current analog printing carbon footprint can be addressed by digital printing solutions.(1)

By the year 2020, environmental benefits from changes in paper-based communications can achieve significant levels. According to HP analysts, the widespread adoption of digital printing by that year, when combined with optimal paper supply sourcing strategies outlined in The Climate Group’s landmark SMART 2020 report,(3) could result in a reduction of 30 percent or more in the world’s carbon-dioxide emissions, which is comparable to the estimated benefit achieved through a global transition to efficient vehicles.

HP offers flexible financing solutions for customers deploying next-generation HP digital printing technology through HP Financial Services, the company’s leasing and lifecycle asset management services subsidiary. An HP Financial Services representative is on-site at HP booth No. 1229 during PRINT 09 to provide details of applicable offers. Information is also available at www.hp.com/hpfinancialservices.

More information about the HP Graphics Solutions Business at PRINT 09 is available in an online press kit at www.hp.com/go/GSBatPRINT09. Up-to-date information about HP’s activities at the show is also available through the HP_IPG Twitter feed, or by searching for #hpprint09 on Twitter.

About HP

HP, the world’s largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.

(1) HP internal estimates.

(2) Compared to the HP Indigo press w3250.

(3) SMART 2020: Enabling the low-carbon economy in the information age. The Climate Group Global e-Sustainability Initiative. London, 2008. Available at http://www.smart2020.org.