At the ISA Sign Expo 2018, HP Inc. announced the HP Latex R Series of wide-format inkjet printers. The new series merges HP’s flexible latex-ink printing capabilities with the ability to print on rigid substrates. The HP Latex Rigid printing technology in the HP Latex R series will bring speed, quality, and more vibrant colors to a wide range of rigid materials, such as foamboard, foam PVC, cardboard, fluted polypropylene, solid plastics, aluminum, wood, and glass.
Unlike UV-curable inks that create a thick layer of ink to completely cover the substrate, HP’s water-based Latex inks preserve the look and feel of the media. The Latex prints are also odorless, making them safe for both the environment and the printer operator.
HP has also introduced HP Latex White Ink. HP’s innovative White Latex Ink delivers glossy, high-quality “true white” that doesn’t yellow over time like traditional UV-curable white inks do.
The Latex printers with white ink will use an innovative system to recirculate the inks and keep them from settling.
According to HP’s Chief Inkologist Thom Brown, white ink traditionally uses bigger and heavier pigment particles. These particles frequently clog printheads, or the opaque mixture becomes separated and settles to the bottom of the ink reservoir: “Until now, physically shaking the reservoirs has often been the necessary solution. Through HP’s investment in innovation around chemistry and engineering, the white ink solution with the HP Latex R Series is an industry breakthrough.”
The HP Latex R Series of printers will be available during Q3 of 2018.
Beautiful, vibrant images output with HP Latex R printers on wood, acrylic, aluminum and other materials were showcased in the HP booth at Sign Expo. Even in the prints with white inks, the print surface was flat and uniform. The colors were rich and vibrant and the wood grain and brushed aluminum surfaces were clearly visible beneath the printed inks.
HP will show the first printers in the HP Latex R series at the FESPA global print expo May 15-18 in Berlin, Germany.