Rho System Inkjet Printers with Quadro Array Technology

Rho System Inkjet Printers with Quadro Array Technology

Durst Trendsetter with tradition For more than 70 years, Durst has been setting the standard in picture reproduction. Its successes in photo technology, for example with the Lambda, are legendary and have made Durst a market leader throughout the world. The Rho System is continuing this success story and revolutionizing business opportunities for screen printing, photo laboratories and digital printers. Leaders in imaging solutions since 1936 is not only Durst s motto, but also its pledge. The Rho System reflects this leadership through its intelligent innovation. Once again Durst is more than living up to its role as a technological trendsetter, and is offering today the equipment that the market of tomorrow will demand.

Rho the future of screen printers, photo laboratories and digital printers Rho inkjet printers, the model series 600 and 350, print on a wide variety of materials: the Rho 350R on flexible roll materials, the Rho 600 on sheets and even corrugated cardboard. They are intended for interior and exterior use. No subsequent lamination is required; their print is weatherproof, of impressive quality and offer speeds of up to 160 m 2 per hour. Rho printers can be easily integrated with the existing machinery. Because of the unique way in which materials are registered, the screen printer is capable of combining screen and digital printing. This is ideal, for example, for all jobs with variable information. Rho printers open up completely new options for photo laboratories. Especially for those labs that also have access to the Durst Lambda, the Rho makes it possible to be an all-in-one provider with business opportunities that go far beyond photography alone. The Rho is the ideal addition to digital and other printing shops, and it may also be a replacement for flexoprinting or offset printing, since it is much more economical. The Rho System knows no compromise. The highest quality and maximum output are not mutually exclusive, thanks to high printing speed. Innovative technology makes it happen. Furthermore, the unique modular system not only makes it possible to make an initial investment in a machine that precisely matches the customer s current needs, but also enables him to upgrade the equipment quickly and economically as demands increase. Furthermore, every single machine in the Rho System is distinguished by its flawless work flow, which further enhances productivity and cost effectiveness. Rho System no other printing system brings together so many advantages and innovations

Take advantage of our quality for your benefit Durst regards the highest standard of picture quality as a point of principle. That s why our development has always taken advantage of every opportunity to further enhance the quality of our equipment. Accordingly, the quality standard of the Rho System is impressive: Sharp text The innovative Quadro array technology, with controlled droplet geometry, ensures a high degree of edge definition, even when printing very small fonts, while avoiding satellite drops. Printing very small font sizes, even as little as 6 pt, or A-class bar codes, pose no problem. Fine text on packaging, maps or information sheets comes out pin -sharp. a a a a a Colours But Quadro Array technology is also sharp in another sense. It enables the printing of critical colours across the entire printing surface without variations or fluctuations in density. This is thanks to the ink feeding system with its osmosis filter, which eliminates even the tiniest vapour bubbles and guarantees constant and reliable pressure. The result: printing speeds of up to 160 m 2 per hour with consistent, fullcolour, high-density printing. The photographic reproduction of skin tones, colour gradations or pastel areas with the option of 400/600 dpi, depending on the original poses no problem for Rho System equipment, owing to its small and finely adjustable dot size and precise dot size control. CMYK and more In addition to the CMYK spectrum, all Rho models can come equipped with the ink options of white underprint, white overprint or varnish, or can be upgraded to include these options. Not only was Durst the first manufacturer to introduce and patent a reliable method of digital printing in white, but it also offers an assortment of spot colours. This has the advantage of making it possible to print digitally special corporate colours.

At this speed, you re at an advantage 160 m 2 per hour no other flatbed inkjet printer on the market can equal this performance. Four Quadro arrays per colour allow the fastest Rho printer, the Rapid, this exceptional output speed.. It goes without saying that we have achieved this quantum leap in speed while still maintaining our high quality standards. Even with a feed rate of 1.3 m per minute, the Rho produces excellent and commercially viable quality, not just a theoretical figure.

A modular system offers more advantages It s your choice... The successful concept of joining and then growing with the Rho System has become even more comprehensive. If the customer s production needs increase, the Rho Basic model can be expanded in two steps, with the Presto and then the Rapid. So it is not necessary to replace the entire machine in order to meet one s needs. An upgrade can be accomplished immediately, simply by means of additional arrays. Thus production can be increased from 40 m 2 to 160 m 2 per hour, with no decline in quality.... and even more Furthermore, every Rho model can be expanded from CMYK to integrated printing in white and varnish or spot colours. This makes not only your Rho versatile, but you as well as you plan your investments and the possibilities you can offer to your customers.

Speed is not the only prerequisite of economical production. An optimum work flow is crucial as well. Durst takes this into account in a number of ways. File prep station A computer prep station makes it possible to prepare files ready for immediate printing. Changes and corrections can be made on-the-fly, without wasting time. If required, several Rho machines can be driven from one prep station. Transport mechanism The materials are transported precisely and with the help of sensors by a seamless belt, using adjustable low tension. Rigid and semi-flexible sheets of up to 40 mm thickness (in the industrial version, up to 70 mm) go through the machine smoothly and without jerking. Roll printing A motorised system for winding and unwinding rolls makes it possible to print flexible materials up to a roll diameter of 19 cm. As in the case of rigid media, the Rho ensures perfect results with printing on flexible material, this is in part due to specially developed inks. Automated feeding and stacking Work flow has been optimised particularly by the use of an automatic feeding and stacking system. The Durst feederstacker is the ideal optional equipment for use in higherproduction settings. Automatic cutting When cutting is required, the i-cut system is the ideal solution.. This makes it possible to cut printed materials automatically, according to precisely set parameters and in any shape desired. This, too, is a significant contribution to an optimum work flow. Optimum work flow offers advantages

With technology in minds Revolutionary Quadro array technology Durst s Quadro array technology is based on Spectra ink jets. There are four slots in a single heated jet plate in an array configuration. This provides a total of 512 nozzles which are supplied with continual ink flow. This makes it possible to achieve the greatest drop density yet recorded in the smallest amount of space, and at the same time to eliminate the tolerances between the jet heads. The drops are set at precisely defined points. But printing quality has been improved still further: Durst s own electronic system controls the size and shape of the drops. Thus when text with a font size as small as 6 pt is printed, the result is comparable to that achieved with conventional offset printing. With precision drop setting electronics, at either 400 or 600 dpi resolution, the customer need not make the usual choice between the best quality and a high rate of printing speed. Quadro array technology makes the Rho both high-quality and fast, without compromise. And Quadro technology, with its constant control of drop geometry, makes it possible to print full-area, critical colours without variation.

CMYKW TM Tailor-made for Rho A UV-hardening ink especially made for Durst is used for printing. Viscosity, surface tension and UV light absorption wavelength are coordinated in such a way as to ensure optimum hardening with maximum adhesion to the largest possible variety of materials. Various inks are available, all of which are, of course, compatible: Rho ink flexible set This is the most flexible UV ink on the market, and extremely well suited to flexible materials such as blue-back paper, transparencies, vinyl etc., or for sheet materials that are moulded or creased. Rho ink rigid set This ink is particularly appropriate for rigid materials for which adhesion is usually a problem, such as metals, acrylics, plexiglass and glass. Rho ink rigid set achieves the highest adhesion rating, according to the cross-hatch test, for materials that are otherwise impossible to print upon. Paperboard ink A cost-effective UV ink, it is used specifically for paper, laminated/absorbent surfaces and inside applications. Rho roll ink/rho cat ink These UV-hardening inks free radical inks or, alternatively, cationic inks are characterised by a lack of odour and a high degree of flexibility/adhesion on flexible materials such as transparencies (PE, PP, PVC), vinyl and various textiles. Cationic inks are odourless and particularly environmentally friendly, which may be used in connection with foods and are especially elastic as a colour film on media, for example used in applications on voile fabrics or for shrink wrapping or creasing processes. In addition, Durst is the first company in the world to supply the colour white in addition to the CMYK inks. A separate ink feeding system with an antisediment device makes it possible to print with white combined with CMYK. The system for varnish is similar. Latest technology for Durst inks, too

The system for rigid material, and much more Rho 600 Basic Presto Rapid The quality you want the technology you need. The modular concept Durst offers with the Rho system makes Der Quadro Druckkopf - Technologie die scharf macht. the decision to purchase much easier. It can be made on purely economic grounds. Depending on the customer s production needs, there are three versions of the Rho 600 available: Rho 600 Basic Four Quadro arrays guarantee a production output of 40 m 2 per hour Rho 600 Presto Eight Quadro arrays produce 80 m 2 per hour Rho 600 Rapid Sixteen Quadro arrays reach a speed of 160 m 2 per hour Rho 600 Print unlimited All Rho 600 models are designed for sheet materials that are up to 205 cm wide. There are a variety of applications for costeffective printing: decorations for fairs, exhibits, logistics/ communications, bus shelters and of course all types of advertising are only a few examples. It goes without saying that they can be used in interior and exterior applications, and on sheets of up to 40 mm thickness, in the case of the industrial version even up to 70 mm. Whether used on wood, aluminium, glass, cardboard or some other material, with the help of UV-drying ink, the printed sheets are ready for use immediately.

What s good for flat materials works for roll materials, too Based on the Rho concept, there is now a brand-new roll printer, Rho 350R, for use in printing roll materials with a width of up to 3,500 mm. A specially developed UV ink that is suited to the flexibility of such materials ensures perfect printing on textiles (polyester, canvas, cotton, synthetic silk, banner materials, etc.), vinyl, tarpaulin, paper (blue-back), transparencies and much more. It is also ideal for producing advertising materials to attach to construction scaffolding, and for flags, advertising on lorries and other uses. The Rho 350R offers a number of advantages: 400/600 dpi resolution CMYK colour printing and 2 special colours in a rapidchange system No additional drying time is needed Quick changing of materials and minimal material loss Direct printing onto untreated materials Special ink, odourless and environmentally friendly Very good ink adhesion Superior light and weather resistance Unattended printing Maintenance friendly Precise registration for two-sided printing Advantages resulting from innovative technology The Rho 350R makes use of every technological innovation that the Rho system has to offer. For example, this equipment also utilises the revolutionary Quadro array technology. Using the four-colour mode, the machine can process up to 120 m 2 per hour. UV ink drying makes it possible to use materials immediately after printing. Two roll loading positions with roll holders for a maximum of 240 mm roll diameter and 300 mm. Rho 350R The system for roll material

Photo laboratories need the Rho more than ever Daniel Oschatz Cologne, Germany With digital photography, photo laboratories find themselves faced with an entirely new situation. Those who fail to seek new business opportunities will be left behind. For us, the Rho has opened up a completely new business segment. We are producing large-format advertising for brands, POS, POP, exhibitions, fairs, and business facilities, with perfect quality. We have had no problems with colour reproduction, colour gradations, skin tones or small font sized text. Even these come out pin sharp.

Tom Smith, President of Shaw & Slavsky in Detroit, Michigan, runs one of the first printing companies in the western hemisphere to install a Durst Rho 600. He says that he immediately transferred a large number of employees to the Rho 600 that he had previously employed in screen or digital printing with water-based varnish. The result: a smaller amount of work and larger printing capacity at the same time. We used to have to print a picture, then laminate and mount it, says Smith. But since the Rho 600 is so productive, we can now print a picture directly on a board, bring it to our i-cut router and we re done. Interior signs make up about half of our business. In order to keep retail chains as our customers, we have to be cost-effective. With the Rho 600 we have added a work- and cost-saving tool that gives us fantastic picture quality and enormous versatility with respect to printing and media options. Tom Smith Detroit, USA Rho is the crowning touch for the digital printer

Screen printers appreciate the advantages Rho has to offer Ricardo Rodríguez Villalba Madrid, Spain Before buying the Rho 600, we had already had a great deal of experience with the Rho 205 as well as with the excellent support provided by Durst regarding our day-today work and the extensive practical printing possibilities that were available. Our recent investment in the Rho 600 was a well-considered decision, and of course it was also based on the positive experiences we at Panorama had already had with Durst. Just like the Rho 205, the Rho 600 fully met our expectations, and even exceeded them. The range of services that Panorama can offer its customers has been expanded further, and the 600 dpi resolution has helped us reach a standard of quality that fully satisfies even demanding customers like those in the fashion industry, with extensive and demanding POS materials.

Durst Phototechnik AG Large Format Division Vittorio-Veneto-Straße 59 I-39042 Brixen, Italy Telefon +39/0472 81 01 11 Telefax +39/0472 83 09 80 www.durst-online.com info@durst.it Durst Phototechnik Digital Technology GmbH Julius-Durst-Straße 11 A-9900 Lienz, Austria Telefon +43/4852/7 17 77 Telefax +43/4852/7 17 77 50 www.durst-online.com info@durst-online.at The latest technical developments are constantly being incorporated into Durst products. Illustrations and descriptions are therefore subject to modification. All rights reserved on images and illustrations. Durst Phototechnik AG, 10/2005 IX20305

Rho 600 Technical data Significant Features of the Software White Print The unique CMYKW printing technology developed by Durst enables digital printing of coloured and transparent materials. White can be used as a colour in three printing types: 1. White as background colour. For use on transparent and coloured media in order to produce the perfect 4 colour print with powerful colours. 2. White as a spot colour. It enables the printing of white patterns on transparent and non-white materials. 3. White as a background colour. Used for spot colours, in order to highlight coloured logos on transparent media. Clear Coating for Special Effects Used to highlight picture elements and create a 3 dimensional effect of selective areas also intensifies colours. In addition the coated areas are better protected against external elements. Spot Colours As an option 2 specific spot colours can be used at the same time. Picture Processing in Real Time (On-the-fly) Durst s proprietary user software and patented picture processing system on-the-fly offers fast and reliable production with minimal hard disk usage (on-the-fly pixel interpolation/scaling, Colour, density, contrast, saturation, and sharpness correction, black and white printing, multiple job printing, cuttings, etc). The on-the-fly picture processing system eliminates the need for additional print files, which significantly reduces overall printing times and minimises hard disk usage. In addition to this various print sizes can be printed at maximum resolution without needing to re-rip after changes have been made. Autonesting For optimal use of materials and fast printing. This function enables automatic positioning of different files and formats alongside each other for printing. Stack Processing For fast processing of jobs with multiple, similar or differing documents or pages. Multiple Printing Minimal hard disk usage and optimal use of a wider range of media. This function enables series of pictures with the same image to be automatically cloned and printed alongside each other during printing (on-the-fly). Colour Management System Integrated Colour Management System with Kodak CMS Colour Calculator for Durst Printer Software. The CMS contains an independent colour conversion system for PostScript, EPS, PDF, TIFF, TIFF/LZW, BMP and JPEG files (using Load from Disk ) and recognised embedded ICC- Profiles. The Durst Colour Management System also contains an automatic independent colour conversion system for pantone colours in PostScript files via Vector pallets during a ripping. MGE i-cut Software (Accessory) MGE i-cut software module for automatic workflow when used with the Esko ixl- Cutter. Individual pictures, series of pictures with the same image or pictures created using autonesting printed using the Durst Rho can be automatically cut out. The Durst printer software creates a reference point which is printed onto the printing material during printing along with the print file. In doing so, production times and costs are reduced to a minimum. No further steps are necessary in preparing the pictures for cutting. Durst Phototechnik AG, www.durst-online.com IX20075-04/2006

Rho 600 Technical data General specifications Dimensions: Width: 552 cm (218 in.) Length without roller tables: 195 cm (77 in.) Length with roller tables: 425 cm (167 in.) Height: 175 cm (69 in.) Weight: Approx. 3.400 kg (7.500 lb) Safety standards: Complies with currently valid guidelines Printing specifications Printing system: Patented Durst flatbed system with Quadro array technology for the finest quality and the highest speed Resolution: 400/600 dpi selectable Colours: Standard: CMYK Optional: White, clear varnish for special effects, spot colours (on request) Inks: UV-resistant pigment inks for interior and exterior applications. Ink supply: Integrated ink tanks with 10 litre capacity per ink, refillable during the printing process. The refill inks are in 5 litre, non-returnable containers, easily disposed in collapsed condition, thus avoiding pollution to the machine and the environment. Software/RIP: Durst Rho Linux software with on-the-fly image processing (scaling, pixel interpolation, sharpness correction, cropping, panelling and further corrections) for very fast processing with minimum storage capacity on the hard disk. Integrated Cheetah PostScript Level 3 RIP (400 MB in approx. 1 min.) File formats: Grey levels CMYK, RGB and Lab TIFF Grey levels CMYK and RGB JPEG Windows Bitmap (BMP) PostScript Level 2/3, EPS (only Type 1 fonts) PDF RGB PPM raw format Productivity Rho 600 Basic: up to 40 m/h (32,5 cm/min 12,8 /min linear speed) Rho 600 Presto: up to 80 m/h (65 cm/min 25,5 /min linear speed) Rho 600 Rapid: up to 150 m/h (122 cm/min 48 /min linear speed) Printing speed is measured on full width at continuous production at 400 dpi Media specifications Media types: Wide range of uncoated and coated materials also textured surfaces such as hard foam sheets, soft foam sheets, aluminium, acrylic glass, cardboard sheets, corrugated sheets, etc. Maximum printing width: 205 cm (80 in.) Maximum printing length: Only restricted by media length Maximium thickness: Standard: 40 mm (1.58 in.) Industrial model: 70 mm (2.75 in.) Maximum media weight: Standard: 50 kg Industrial version: 70 kg Smallest sheet size: DIN-A3 29.7 x 42 cm (12 x 17 in.) Registration of materials: Materials are registered at the leading edge by means of fibre optic sensors. An encoder measures the transport sequences, ensuring utmost precision in image alignment. Location requirements Space requirement: min. 8 x 8 m (27 x 27 ft.) Maximum height: 2.4 m (8.0 ft) Temperature range: +15 C to +30 C (+59 F to 86 F) non-condensing Relative air humidity: 25-80 %, non-condensing Durst Phototechnik AG, www.durst-online.com IX20075-04/2006

Rho 350R Technical data Important Performance Features of the Software Simple Touch-Screen Operation The first state-of-the-art printer software developed for Durst Rho 350R with the comfortable touch-screen operation without a separate keyboard guarantee a simple operation of the device. Efficient CMS Workflow/RIP Efficient workflow with color management in the production via Hotfolder at the Rho workstation. The Rho 350R is triggered through print drivers specially developed by ONYX for Windows Computer and by Caldera for Linux workstations and MAC. Printer parameters related to the print job and the print order can individually be preset with Rho and thus provide an automatized working process. Durst Rho 350R can easily be integrated into an existing workflow. The files are prepared at the external ONYX or Caldera RIP server with an integrated Contour Cutting workflow option and are then transferred to the Rho Linux workstation for printout. Double-sided printing with registration Image files, graphs and texts of large advertising spaces can simply and costsaving be printed double-sided with registration due to the intelligent True Touch-Screen printer software of Durst Rho 350R. Skip White Function Enhanced productivity when printing large advertising spaces due to the new Skip White function. The software recognizes areas without image information within the file to be printed. These areas are automatically skipped while printing, i.e. only the media transport function is active and the print carriage is not moved thereby. User-Defined Gloss- and Matte Printing function The proved gloss or matte printing function of Durst Rho Inkjet printers is also integrated in Rho 350R with the additional option of defining this set-up in the Hotfolder as presetting for certain applications. Utmost Ease of Use During the printing process new jobs can be provided with individually selectable printer parameters in the visible Hotfolders and thus put in queue for automatic printing. Interface for Job Tracking The new Durst printer software has a dynamic interface for ProjectTrac (workflow monitoring software for digital printers http://pt.apartmedia.de). The linkage of the Durst printer software with ProjectTrac allows for a most precise pre-calculation of printing time and office supplies for a comfortable production disposition. The software analyzes all printer parameters in concise statistics and then completes the calculation by real machine data. ProjectTrac shows at a glance the current production status of all projects and documents each step of the project for the purpose of overview, analysis and storage. Workflow Options Image editing station / RIP server Windows PC with ONYX PosterShop RIP Macintosh or Linux Workstation with Caldera Grand RIP+ Workflow The external RIP server with the printer driver developed especially for Rho 350R copies the file directly in the Hotfolder of Rho for automatic print with print options especially adjustable at the printer. For every Hotfolder the most various printer parameters can be preset as default settings. All settings for each job are thus reduced to a minimum. Durst Rho 350R with integrated HP LINUX Workstation Durst Phototechnik AG, www.durst-online.com IX24055-10/2005

Rho 350R Technical data General specifications Dimensions: Width: 210 cm (6.88 ft.) Length: 740 cm (24.28 ft.) Height: 220 cm (7.21 ft.) Weight: Approx. 5000 kg (11000 lb.) Safety standards: Complies with currently valid guidelines Printing system Patented Durst Roll to Roll transport system with Quadro Array-Technology Front-end Workstation Workstation: Type: HP Workstation XW 8200 with dual Intel Xeon 3.4GHz processor RAM: 2 GB RAM Harddisks: 3 x 36 GB SCSI with 15.000 RPM Drive: DVD Rom and CD-RW Operating system: RedHat Enterprise Linux WS EM64T Monitor: integrated 19 Touch Screen Monitor Printing specifications Productivity: Rho 350R-8 Draft mode: 65 m 2 /h (700 sq.ft./hour) Standart mode: 45 m 2 /h (484 sq.ft./hour) Rho 350R-16 Draft mode: 120 m 2 /h (1292 sq.ft./hour) Standart mode: 85 m 2 /h (915 sq.ft./hour) Resolution: 400/600 dpi (addressable) 800/1200 dpi (apparent) Colours: Standard: CMYK Optional: CMYKW and 1 Spot color with Quick change system Inks: Odorless for Roll media types optimized UV-resistant pigmented ink for indoor and outdoor applications. The pollution free ink are solvent-free (without VOC). Ink supply: Integrated ink tanks with 10 liter (2.19 gal.) capacity per ink, refillable during the printing process. The refill inks are in 5 liter (1.09 gal.), one-way cubitainers, easily disposal in collapsed condition, thus avoiding pollution to the machine and the environment. RIP Onyx PosterShop for Windows Computers Caldera Grand RIP+ for Linux Workstations and Macintosh RIP-Input file formats: All from ONYX and Caldera supported file formats Media specification Media types: Wide range of uncoated and coated flexible media types like textiles (polyester, canvas, cotton, rayon, banner media etc.), vinyl, tarpaulin, paper, self adhesive foils and other media types. Maximum printing width: 350 cm (11.48 ft) Maximum printing length: limited by media roll length Maximum media thickness: 2 mm Two media feed positions: Pos 1: For media rolls up to 240 mm (9.5 in.) outside diameter Pos 2: For media rolls up to 300 mm (12 in.) outside diameter Automatic accurate registration for double sided printing with tracking control Medium cutoff: Approx. ca. 60 cm (24 in.) at the leading edge of the roll Media cutting: Mechanical guide for manual cutting of the roll Environmental requirements: Maximum height: 2.400 m (8000 ft.) above sea level Temperatur range: + 15 C bis +30 C (59 F to 86 F) Relative air humidity: 20 bis 80 %, non-condensing Durst Phototechnik AG, www.durst-online.com IX24055-10/2005