HP Unveils Rigid Latex Printing Technology

At ISA Sign Expo, HP Inc. announced the HP Latex R Series, the first hybrid latex technology that merges HP’s flexible printing capabilities into rigid printing. The HP Latex R Series brings vibrant colors into the rigid printing world, and pioneers white ink capabilities with the introduction of HP Latex White Ink.
 
The HP Latex R series brings high speed and quality to a wide range of rigid materials, such as foamboards, foam PVC, cardboard, fluted polypropylene, solid plastics, aluminum, wood and glass among others. Unlike UV printing technology, which creates a thick layer of ink that completely covers the material, HP’s water-based Latex Inks preserve the look and feel of the media and delivers odorless prints that are both safe for the environment and the printer operator.
 
“With the new HP Latex Rigid Technology, our customers can expand their offering into new, high-value applications while also opening fresh creative ideas and concepts for sign and display that provide their users greater value,” said Joan Perez Pericot, GM, HP Large Format Graphics Business, HP Inc.
 
Tackling one of the industry’s most pervasive limitations in printing, HP’s White Latex Ink has an innovative system that recirculates the white to avoid settling. For the first time, HP’s White Latex Ink delivers glossy, high-quality “true white” that doesn’t yellow over time like traditional UV-based white ink does.
 
“White ink has been a consistent problem for the industry. Traditionally it uses bigger and heavier pigment particles that frequently clog printheads, or the opaque mixture becomes separated and settles to the bottom of the ink reservoir. Until now, physically shaking the reservoirs often has been the necessary solution,” said Thom Brown, chief inkologist at HP. “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 will be available during Q3 of 2018.





Photo courtesy Flickr user Don DeBold