DALLAS—HP unveiled plans for a new monochrome version of its T-series inkjet web presses, along with new finishing options and a priming agent for coated papers, at a customer and media event at O'Neil Data Systems early this week. These are a few highlights from the day.

O'Neil, a large data-driven printing company headquartered in Los Angeles, is an early adopter of HP's inkjet webs. It just took in its tenth press, the T410, making it the largest HP production inkjet printer worldwide. The event at its two-year old, five-press strong Texas facility, brought together HP customers from all over the world for a closer look at the impressive shop and the presses in action.

To kick off the event, Aurelio Maruggi,  vice president and general manager of inkjet high-speed production solutions, announced the fourth quarter availability of the new 26" monochrome T260.

Printing 800 ft. per minute at 1,200 dpi, the press features a smaller footprint than other models and grew out of a customer request to shift black-only book work from the colour devices. It will carry the same upgradeability features as other T-series presses but will  not be upgradeable to colour

T260 monochrome web press

Available exclusively for the HP T410, Canada's own Magnum Digital Solutions has developed the FlexCut digital sheeter/stacker, boasting automated makeready and on-the-fly stack changes, among other features, and production capability of 42" x 39.4" sheets at speeds up to 14,440 sheets per hour, putting it in offset territory. Expect it in the second half of the year.

HP also announced a new aqueous-based priming agent for coated offset stock to run on the inkjet web press portfolio. First up is a matte finish. Components of the system include the Epic PrimeCoat priming system from Epic Products International, an industry leader in developing custom priming and coating solutions. HP’s media strategy also includes a bonding agent for printing on uncoated offset papers.

One of the highlights of the visit and plant tour was a  one-of-a-kind digital perfect binding system developed by O'Neil, that binds personalized booklets at extremely high speeds.

Working with VITS International, a variable repeat sheeting and finishing systems supplier, and Kolbus, a bookbinding supplier, O'Neil's system eliminates delays caused by changing out multiple paper rolls feed into the press during printing and prior to binding. Instead, multiple rolls can be fed continuously for uninterrupted printing resulting in binding speeds up to three times faster.