SurePress gives Print21 the Epson wrap

The February issue of Print21 magazine is wrapt with the launch of the Epson SurePress L-4033A. The ground breaking digital label press pumped out over 6,00 front and backa wraparound for the magazine on self adhesive paper so readers can judge for themselves the press’ vibrant colour.

According to Epson’s SurePress product manager, Trevor Crowley, who oversaw the production of this wraparound on the unit, the SurePress is notable for its colour fidelity from the beginning to the end of a print run, even very long print runs.

“For what is designed as a high quality, short-run label press, its consistency across the run is remarkable,” he says. “We ran 7,000 of these wraps, and from wrap one to wrap 7,000, they are all identical. Your customer wants label one and label one million to look the same.”

Since its release into the Australian market last year, local label converters have been witness to the SurePress’s ability to faithfully reproduce vibrant colour, half tones, and solid text—some examples of which you will find on the section of the wraparound covering our back page.

In regards to its digital colour mastery, the unit takes on more expensive digital label presses in providing affordable access to digital processes for many established label converters as well as commercial printers. The unit’s new price performance nexus is likely to change the dynamics of the label sector and tempt many more participants to review digital technology.

The Epson brand reputation remains solid in terms of colour and inkjet technology. Using its patented MicroPiezo inkjet technology and a six-colour, industrial quality, water-based pigment ink, the SurePress will print on a wide range of off-the-shelf substrates with no pre-coating required.

“We’re still testing substrates but so far we haven’t found anything the SurePress cannot print on,” says Craig Heckenberg, Epson Australia’s business unit manager. “The SurePress is able to print on all the standard label stocks from the major suppliers.”

Opening a window
The arrival of this new option for digital label production looks set to invigorate the sector. Coming to the market with a price tag under $400,000, the SurePress is the first Epson venture into digital production, but it’s not likely to be the last. It provides an optimum investment window for converters and printers to get into digital labels.

Heckenberg expects the industry to recognise the Epson imaging and technology quality as well as be reassured by the company’s track record and stability. “We have taken our time to bring the SurePress to the market,” he says. “It is a thoroughly tried and tested solution that will allow buyers to make money from short-run labels.”

The SurePress has 15 six-colour high performance and highly accurate print heads that produce printing speeds up to five metres per minute. Its AQ Ink is made of pigment colour particles coated with resin that promote quick drying and strong bonding. The ink was developed to improve image quality over analogue printed labels, maintain water fastness and resistance to rubbing, and is engineered to dry quickly for increased productivity.

The upshot of all this technology is that the unit can produce vibrant and consistent results that will continually draw attention to themselves for all the right reasons, just like the main focal point in the wraparound image on the front of this issue—the lollipop, that is, not the girl.