HP Designjet L26500 installed at Your Print Solution in High Wycombe

Your Print Solution

Your Print Solution in High Wycombe has recently given their system a complete overhaul in a bid to provide a more efficient large format printing service. After extensive consultation from CWE Solutions, the team at Your Print Solution found the answer to their requirements in the HP Designjet L26500 along with the GMG Production Suite and GBC Arctic Titan 1064 Laminator.

Steven Brown, director of Your Print Solution, contacted Graham De Kock at CWE Solutions about their printing requirements after receiving a recommendation. CWE Solutions are an award winning reseller of large format printing equipment. As an esteemed HP UK Partner, they were keen to assist Steven and his team in obtaining the best equipment for their business.

Your Print Solution offer a wide range of large format printing services, including pull up banners and backlit graphics; and with high profile clients such as restaurant chain Wimpy, they are constantly searching for ways to provide a more effectual service. After carefully considering the needs of the business, CWE Solutions suggested the HP Designjet L26500.

“We asked a lot of quite general questions, and we consistently received very detailed answers,” said Steven “they were very helpful.”

The HP Designjet L26500 offers increased efficiency and versatility, and allows users to print onto a wide variety of materials including paper, fabric and vinyl. CWE Solutions suggested that not only would this printer provide added flexibility, but would save Your Print Solutions valuable time. The HP Latex Ink technology means that every print leaves the printer completely dry, and in an industry where clients value speed just as much as quality, this feature is critical.

In addition to the HP Designjet L26500, Your Print Solution purchased the GMG Production Suite, a complete software solution for wide format printing. CWE Solutions are the sole UK reseller of the GMG Production Suite and they recommended the software primarily for the GMG Rip Software which allows colour matching between projects.

Your Print Solution will use the HP L26500 to produce large format projects such as the backlit graphics for Wimpy UK. However, smaller materials such as the menus are produced using a HP Digital Indigo Press. The GMG Rip Software will maintain consistency between the prints, thanks to its practical tools and colour rendering abilities.

Your Print Solution also purchased the GBC Arctic Titan 1064 Laminator which handles pressure-sensitive film up to 61″ wide. The GBC Arctic Titan 1064 Laminator also offers a cold lamination setting which is ideal for materials such as PVC, which are incompatible with the traditional hot lamination process.

CWE Solutions also supported Your Print Solution in implementing their new system.

“We have received constant support,” said Steven, “ I couldn’t fault the service, CWE Solutions provided us with a full solution to our large format printing requirements. The whole process is so much easier now, and our turnaround times have been slashed dramatically.”

If you would like to contact CWE Solutions to discuss the needs of your business, contact Graham De Kock on 08444 829895 or read more about the HP Designjet L26500

To discuss your printing requirements, contact Your Print Solution – www.yourprintsolution.co.uk

CWE Solutions Sets Another First With HP Designjet L26500 Sale

Stock Signs with HP Designjet L26500

The biggest reseller of HP Designjet latex printers in the UK, CWE Solutions has achieved another first with its sale of the latest HP Designjet in the UK.

CWE Solutions has become the first company to sell the HP Designjet L26500 large format printer in the UK, and Stocksigns the first company to receive.

Already holding an impressive track record for being the first to sell HP large format printers as they are released, its sale of the new HP L26500 to Stocksigns confirms CWE Solutions’ reputation as the UK’s leading HP print reseller.

The Designjet L26500 is the successor to the L25500 model, and boasts a number of improvements including extra width, increased speed and double-sided printing abilities. Plus, as a latex printer the HP device offers a cost-effective means of creating professional signage on a host of media, together with low maintenance, good green credentials and excellent reliability.

For Stocksigns, buying this latest HP latex technology has given the company more flexibility and signage options, as well as reduced printing concerns and costs.

Bruce Main, Managing Director at Stocksigns said: “Our new HP Designjet L26500 will increase our business opportunities thanks to the advantage of being able to print on an even wider media range using the more versatile HP latex ink. Our working environment will also improve due to there no longer being the solvent smell of our previous printers.

“There is also the added peace of mind, knowing CWE Solutions is only a phone call away if needed,” Mr Main added. “Their technical team is brilliant, and we know that should any issue arise with the HP printer, it will be fixed quickly and with minimum downtime.”

CWE Solutions has worked with businesses since 1999, providing the right printer solutions for each and every client. By understanding the printing industry and taking the time to discuss individual needs with companies, CWE makes sure the printer or related accessories and software matches the business requirements.

Proud to have sold the latest HP Designjet printers to various firms – and to have been the first to do so – CWE Solutions continues to be a market leader. In addition to selling the first HP L26500 printer in the UK, the company was also first to sell the HP Designjet 5000, 5500, 6100, 6200 and L65500 models in the UK.

Learn more about the HP Designjet L26500

Road test of the HP Designjet L26500

HP’s latest Designjet L26500 is destined to be a good all-rounder for PSPs, sign-makers, architects and designers

Of the two new HP Designjet latex printers to have been introduced recently, I’m opting for a closer look at the smaller of these two units because it’s available now. The second, larger L28500 model (2.64m wide) will be ready to ship in the new year, but the Designjet L26500 is joining the European latex tour in this country which starts on November 15th.

Following on from the earlier Designjet L25500 printer, this new machine now incorporates some features that address options which became, perhaps, obvious omissions in the previous versions. One of the additions which is only small, but marks HP’s acknowledgment that soft signage is a market for which this technology is well suited, is the extra inch of width now able to be handled by this unit. Odd though it might sound, the move to a maximum width of 1.55m (61″) is significant as it means that people wanting to print to digital textiles can now do so, because this is a particularly common size.

In appearance terms, there are few obvious differences between the old and new Designjet L machines but some hard work has been going on beneath the bonnet in terms of enhancements. One of the most noticeable of these is a neat loading accessory which, combined with the edge holder, makes it easier to keep materials stable during the production process. There’s also a double-sided option which works best with HP’s matched media plus the latest version of the ink, designated HP 792, which has been Eco Mark certified by the Japan Environment Association.

The Designjet L26500 is a sturdy machine in a familiar chassis with a modest footprint, working with six colours, a maximum resolution of 1,200dpi and acceptable throughput speeds. It’s surprisingly easy to load and to work with, and is happy printing to uncoated low-cost and eco-solvent compatible materials as well as HP’s own growing list of products.

What’s of particular relevance in this machine, and its forthcoming big brother, is its ability to work with materials suitable for soft sign production. This can be extended into interior décor and other applications where a lightweight graphics solution is going to be beneficial, such as exhibition stands and banners.

It’s a versatile unit, too. Like its predecessors, the Designjet L26500 is also going to be suitable for vehicle graphics and wraps, plus other exterior jobs which compete with solvent-based technologies. One of the benefits of latex printing technologies has always been the ability to overlaminate prints immediately without fear of outgassing, thus speeding up the finishing process.

HP is also addressing training for its latex printing technologies, having just announced a ‘university’ as well as its Ecosolutions Trained Printing Company programme.

Target audience
Sign-makers and display producers who want a good, all-round machine which has the benefits of solvent-based technology without the smell, and who want to be able to participate more in the move to greener production methods. It’s also well suited to architects and designers who want to print their concepts for commercial and domestic interiors on a variety of different materials.

Relevant applications
General signs and displays on flexible materials, vehicle graphics and wraps, exhibition graphics and banners. The L26500 can also work with digital textiles to produce soft signs, wall coverings and interior décor.

Pros and cons
HP has built on the initial concept of its latex printing technologies and the earlier machines in the series with improvements to material handling and ink properties. The ability to work with digital textiles for soft signs complements the printer’s versatility for a wide range of indoor and outdoor jobs, including vehicle graphics. This makes it a good choice for users wanting to produce general six-colour jobs with an environmental emphasis. On the other side of the coin, PSPs won’t find white or metallic options on this machine, and nor is there yet a matched cutter for people wanting to produce print-and-cut applications.

Verdict
The HP Designjet L26500 is a good, flexible all-rounder for general display production and for those wanting an inexpensive step into soft signs but who don’t want to follow the dye sublimation route. The technology addresses plenty of environmental issues, helped by HP’s recycling programme and its new training courses.

Ease of use: 4/5
Speed: 4/5
Quality: 4/5
Versatility: 5/5
Value for money: 5/5

Article provided by Output Magazine

HP Designjet L26500 is ideal for Vehicle Wrapping

Wrap experts drives increased customer Traffic with the HP Designjet L26500

Watch the Wrap Experts Video

A mutual passion for cars and graphic design—that’s what first led Duston Noble, Robby Burnett, and Justin Schuldies into the vehicle wrapping business. But it’s been their devotion to the craft that has helped elevate the entire industry.

In 2007, Noble, Burnett, and Schuldies opened the doors to Wrap Experts—a school and business dedicated to the art and science of outfitting vehicles with custom vinyl graphics—after the trio had spent nearly a decade refining their skills through hands-on experience.

In four short years, Wrap Experts has become renowned for its training programmes, custom wrap services, and www.thewrapresource.com, a networking site for wrap professionals with more than 3,000 members in more than 120 countries.

To maintain that reputation for quality and innovation, Wrap Experts has turned to HP Latex Printing Technologies and the HP Designjet L26500 Printer to meet the demands and expectations of its students, clients, and peers.

“Being a training facility requires us to be on top of new tools, new techniques, and new materials,” Noble says. “HP has been very good to us in providing superior technology that really no one else on the market is using and it has benefited our company greatly.”

A new solution 

Noble, Burnett, and Schuldies spent years plying their craft with solvent-based printers before switching to HP Latex Printing Technologies last year, first with the HP Designjet L25500 Printer and now with the new HP Designjet L26500.

“We absolutely love it,” Noble says. “Compared with the solvent world that we’re used to dealing in, it’s really a breath of fresh air. The latex technology allows us to do a lot of things that solvent didn’t, and it has increased our productivity by leaps and bounds.”

Routine challenges included solvent ink not outgassing properly, seeping through the wrap, becoming extremely sticky, degrading the vinyl adhesive, and compromising the graphics. As a result, the solvent machines often necessitated continuous monitoring.

“I don’t want to babysit a printer,” Burnett says. “I want to queue up five jobs and be able to let it print at night and not have to worry about it piling up on the floor or anything else.”

The quick-drying advances of HP Latex Printing Technologies have saved Wrap Experts up to 24 to 36 hours on every job, which was previously spent outgassing solvent prints. Now the company can go from printing to lamination to installation without interruption.

“We want to have the best equipment that makes our job easier and faster,” Burnett says. “I love the fact that I can print and laminate it all in the same hour if I need to. That makes my life a lot easier.”

The company’s solvent printers also typically required frequent and costly maintenance. In contrast, the low-maintenance HP Designjet L26500—along with easier and more affordable access to routine replacement parts like printheads—has meant less downtime and more savings.

“Time is money,” Burnett says. “The less time we’re down and the more we can streamline production, the more money we save and the more money we make.”

School of thought

Wrap Experts is first and foremost a training facility, providing tutelage to as many as 150 students annually. A large part of the curriculum involves teaching trainees to use the best technology available. In this case, that’s the HP Designjet L26500.

“All the students who come here are introduced to the HP Latex printer, and they all leave here wanting one,” Noble says. “It sells itself.”

In addition to training, Wrap Experts also offers custom wraps primarily for high-end vehicles, including racing teams, hot rods, and other “show” cars worth up to $100,000 USD.

“The owners of these cars are extremely particular,” Noble says. “If it looks like a sticker, they don’t want it on their car. It has to emulate the look of paint, and so perfection in the installation process is paramount.”

With discerning customers, students, and the industry itself looking to Wrap Experts to set the standard, there’s no room for anything but the best.

“We want people to come up really close and scrutinise everything,” Noble said. “I’ve actually had people at car shows come up to one of our wraps, look at it for a few minutes, reach out and touch it, and say ‘That’s a nice paint job.’ At that point, my job is done.”

Download a PDF version of the article

ONYX Graphics Supports New HP Designjet L26500 and HP Designjet L28500 Printers

ONYX Graphics, Inc. has achieved HP Certification of ONYX Graphics’ raster image processing (RIP) software to drive the recently-announced HP Designjet® L26500 and HP Designjet® L28500 printers. Both ONYX drivers will be available to licensed users of ONYX ProductionHouseTM.

“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HP as a Platinum Partner,” said Danielle Mattiussi, Director of Product Marketing. “The ONYX drivers for the HP Designjet L26500 and L28500 printers are another successful joint development effort. ONYX Graphics has, once again, achieved the maximum certification rating for both printers. With ONYX ProductionHouse or ONYX PosterShop products, customers can be highly productive and achieve superb quality.”

Through the HP RIP Certification Program, HP Designjet L26500 and HP Designjet L28500 printer owners can be confident that ONYX Graphics – as an HP Platinum Partner – is helping them maximize their investment. HP confirms which RIPs reach a superior level of integration, compatibility and performance with a particular HP printer. The overall level of integration and performance is reflected in the ‘star rating’ awarded. ONYX workflow software version X10.1 received full “Three Star Rating” marks for both the HP Designjet L26500 and HP Designjet L28500 double-sided Printing Support feature of the printer driver.

Supported Features

The ONYX drivers for the HP Designjet L26500 and HP Designjet L28500 printers include support for the following features:

Double-sided printing: The ONYX drivers are HP certified as a “Premium” double-sided workflow, including configurable, automatic generation of jobs for the reverse side.

Full ink set color bars: ONYX includes support for printing color bars (print gutter) with all ink channels to help ensure consistent ink output across images.

Spectrophotometer support:  The HP Designjet L26500 and HP Designjet L28500 printers each have an onboard spectrophotometer color device for color calibration. ONYX software fully supports all of the functions of this color device.

Media Flexibility:  The ONYX drivers utilize the full bidirectional communication capabilities of this printer. This assures customers that, when a firmware upgrade is issued or a new media package from HP is installed on the printer, the ONYX drivers will receive the updated information dynamically and automatically support any new media types and print modes.

Printer Status: The ONYX drivers also support full printer status information and job management including flexible media mismatch handling and job cancelation support.

Color matching:  Out-of-the-box PANTONE®, HKS and RAL spot color matching works extremely well with the included HP media profiles built with the ONYX 32-bit color engine.

The ONYX drivers include over 20 HP Media profiles, and over 50 third party media profiles supporting many latex ink applications including double-sided applications.

Availability

The HP Designjet L26500 driver is available to licensed users of ONYX ProductionHouse and ONYX PosterShop version X10.1. The ONYX driver and media profiles for the HP Designjet L26500 printer are available now from the Printer & Profile Download Manager on the ONYX Graphics web site: http://www.onyxgfx.com/index.php?area=downloads. All existing ONYX ProductionHouse and ONYX PosterShop version X10.1 customers can download and run the printer with no additional driver permissions needed. For more information, visit www.onyxgfx.com or contact an authorized ONYX Reseller.

The HP Designjet L28500 driver is available to licensed users of ONYX ProductionHouse version X10.1. The driver is available as an option for ONYX PosterShop version X10.1. The ONYX driver and media profiles for the HP Designjet L28500 printer will be available from the Printer & Profile Download Manager on the ONYX Graphics web site when the printer is available for purchase. All existing ONYX ProductionHouse version X10.1 customers can download and run the printer with no additional driver permissions needed. ONYX PosterShop customers will need the optional driver permission. This permission is available through the ONYX Advantage “any driver, any time” feature or a la carte.

More information can be found at www.hp.com/go/l26500/solutions/Onyx

See videos of the new HP Designjet L26500 & L28500

HP yesterday launched two new additions to their HP Designjet latex printing family, the HP Designjet L26500 printer, and the HP Designjet L28500 printer.

The HP Designjet L28500 is a 104-inch-wide latex printer delivering speeds up to 70 percent faster than the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, while the 61-inch HP Designjet L26500 Printer is ideal for customers entering the growing soft-signage market.

Want to be among the first to see them in action? Don’t worry, no travelling involved, you can see it all from the comfort of the chair you are currently sitting in – we’ve uploaded the HP videos onto our YouTube channel for your viewing pleasure.

Watch the new HP latex printers in action on YouTube…

Working with HP as a beta test site for the new HP Designjet L26500 printer, FASTSIGNS International is a multinational corporation with more than 530 franchise locations in seven countries.

“Our ability to test the HP Designjet L26500 Printer ahead of market allows our franchise partners to be more competitive by implementing new technology faster than their competitors,” FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson says.

NEW HP Designjet L26500 latex printer in action on YouTube: HP Designjet L26500 Video

Nivell Publicitari is a print service provider based in Barcelona in Spain. For over six months, Nivell has been beta-testing the latest addition to HP Latex Printing Technologies, a wider, 2.5-meter (104-inch) HP Designjet L28500 Printer for durable, high-quality indoor and outdoor applications.

NEW HP Designjet L28500 latex printer in action on YouTube: HP Designjet L28500 Video

Availability of the HP Designjet L26500 Printer will vary by region beginning November 3rd. The HP Designjet L28500 Printer is expected to be available towards the end of January 2012.

Article provided by Large Format Review.

HP launch new faster, wider Designjet L26500 and L28500 Latex printers

HP has just announced the introduction of two new HP Designjet printers capable of handling a broader range of indoor and outdoor signage applications with better durability than eco-solvent inks.

Furthering HP’s strategy to disrupt the eco-solvent market, the 104-inch-wide HP Designjet L28500 Printer delivers speeds up to 70 percent faster than the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, while the 61-inch HP Designjet L26500 Printer is ideal for customers entering the growing soft-signage market.

Both systems feature new HP 792 Latex Designjet Inks, which produce rich blacks and glossy results on banners and self-adhesive vinyl, and offer double-sided printing capabilities with less user intervention and more accurate, automated registration. Compatible with more than 500 media solutions, including the new HP Double-sided HDPE Reinforced Banner material, HP Latex Inks provide a consistent, reliable performance across a variety of substrates.

HP also launched HP Latex University, a set of training materials and application workshops led by industry experts, as well as the HP Ecosolutions Trained Printing Company program for educating HP Latex Printing Technologies users in sustainability best practices.

“With about 9,000 HP Latex Ink systems installed worldwide, HP is offering a superior alternative to eco-solvent solutions that delivers the versatility and ease of use our customers demand while lowering their impact on the environment,” said Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager, Large-format Printing Business, HP. “By allowing customers to cost-effectively print a wide array of new applications and providing the training required to succeed, our updated HP Latex portfolio helps PSPs differentiate their businesses and seize new growth opportunities.”

Driving business growth with broad application versatility

Ideal for high-impact point-of-purchase displays, soft signage, bus shelters, vehicle graphics and more, the HP Designjet L28500 and L26500 Printer series can print on a broad range of materials, including eco-solvent compatible media and low-cost uncoated options.

The new devices produce 1,200-dpi output with outdoor display permanence of up to three years unlaminated or five years laminated for high-quality, long-lasting prints. The output also dries inside the printer, boosting productivity for double-sided print jobs, and allowing immediate finishing or use.

“Compared with the solvent world that we’re used to dealing in, the HP Designjet L26500 Printer is a breath of fresh air. It allows us to laminate immediately, installing at the same time, and do reprints in real time, increasing our productivity considerably,” said Duston Noble, founder of Dallas-based Wrap Experts and a beta tester of the HP Designjet L26500 Printer. “We want to have the best equipment that makes our job easier and faster, so we love the fact that we can print and laminate jobs all in the same hour if we need to.”

With new soft signage printing capabilities, customers can produce applications from retail banners to tradeshow signs and interior decor, which are easy to fold and pack, inexpensive to ship, simple to hang and have improved durability outdoors.

Building on the introduction of HP HDPE Reinforced Banner, the new printers also are optimised to work with new HP Double-sided HDPE Reinforced Banner, a compelling alternative to PVC scrim for advertising applications. The substrate offers the image quality, durability and tear strength of standard vinyl without the environmental disadvantages of a PVC-based substrate.

Availability of the HP Designjet L26500 Printer will vary by region beginning Nov. 3. The HP Designjet L28500 Printer is expected to be available Jan. 20, 2012.

HP L26500

Designed with the environment in mind

Helping to address the demands of environmentally conscious print service providers and their clients, HP Latex Inks produce odourless prints. These water-based inks are nonflammable and noncombustible, and, unlike many eco-solvent inks, they do not require hazard warning labels and contain no hazardous air pollutants.  Additionally, no special ventilation equipment or external dryer is required for safe and productive operation, helping to keep energy costs down.

HP 792 Designjet ink cartridges are now Eco Mark certified by the Japan Environment Association, demonstrating relatively few environmental impacts through the product life cycle from production to disposal. PSPs can return their HP 792 Latex Designjet supplies through HP’s free, convenient recycling program, including ink cartridges, printheads, the printhead cleaning cartridge and the printhead cleaning container.

A recycling program also is available for a range of HP High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyester (PET) printing materials, including the new HP Double-sided HDPE Reinforced Banner.

Additionally, the new printing systems reduce the amount of ink used during maintenance routines compared to eco-solvent technology.

Application and sustainability education for HP Latex customers

Now available through HP Capture, HP Latex University provides PSPs with training to successfully produce a wide range of outdoor and indoor wide-format graphics applications using HP Latex Printing Technologies.

By signing into HP Latex University, PSPs can access free application workshops led by specialists, online webinars and other tools that help maximize the use of their technology. The first webinar series kicks off in November and focuses on producing vehicle graphics and textiles.

Also available through HP Capture, all HP Latex Printing Technologies users can now participate in the free HP Ecosolutions Trained Printing Company program. This downloadable training is available in 10 languages to coach PSPs to take advantage of the environmental profile of their HP Latex printers, build an ongoing commitment to sustainability within their businesses and engage clients on their sustainability goals.

PSPs that complete the training will receive a framed certificate and an icon identifying them as an HP Ecosolutions Trained Printing Company that they may use for promotional purposes.

More information about the latest additions to the HP Latex Printing Technologies portfolio is available at www.hp.com/go/latex , through the HP Graphic Arts Twitter feed and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts .

Article provided by Large Format Review.