Large format and digital print specialist Nine Blinq has invested in HP Latex 360 to boost its capacity and benefit from the high drying speed offered by the press. Having an experience of more than 10 years in the signage industry as a freelancer, Haresh Rawat established Nine Blinq in 2015. The company is spread across 800 sq. ft. and is located opposite the Hindustan Unilever office in Andheri, Mumbai. Speaking to Indian Printer and Publisher, Rawat, director of Nine Blinq said, “We started our company with the installation of the large format Roland Versa Express RF 640 A to meet the demands of advertising agencies, printers who require proofing services and offer indoor as well as outdoor signage for international and national brands in retail, luxury, cosmetics, liquor and few other sectors in Mumbai Metropolitan Region.”
“In March 2015, we installed a Roland press which offers high-quality graphics. However, in order to expand our business, we are looking at opportunities in home decor and plan to offer wallpaper printing solutions. To fulfil the demands of clients in the home décor segment we have installed a HP Latex 360 digital press supplied by Mumbai-based dealer, Global 5 technologies,” said Rawat.
The HP Latex installed at Nine Blinq is a 5 feet large format printer and is well suited for producing better image quality on a wide variety of coated, uncoated and textured wall coverings, canvas and other materials used in the sign and display applications. “With HP Latex inks, a printer can get low maintenance, high-quality, odourless prints for water-based inks,” according to Rawat.
Some key features of HP Latex 360 are scratch-resistance prints which are totally cured and dried within the printer. Speaking about the decision to opt for HP Latex 360 Rawat said, “Earlier we were planning to invest in another Roland press, but with the intention to enhance productivity, we switched to HP’s latex press. The machine operates at a running speed of around 140 to 160 sq. ft. an hour and the total productivity is around 2,400 sq. ft. a day. Moreover, Roland runs at a speed of 80 to 90 sq. ft. an hour and produces around 1,600 sq. ft. a day. The maximum length we printed so far is 23,000 sq. ft. for a single job.”
“Frequently we receive orders as late as 9 p.m. for delivery on the next day. Till now, we have managed to split the jobs between two presses to enable us meet tight deadlines. For consistency in print quality across different substrates the latex press is equipped with HP’s Onyx color management software. We are able to achieve high-quality images. We are looking at fulfilling the demands of customers for wall coverings and few other applications with the HP Latex 360. In the near future, we intend to invest in a HP Latex 1500 press,” Rawat concluded.