Durst launches P5 350 high-speed printing system

Full LED ink portfolio and “Automat” automation system introduced

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From L to R in front of the new P5 350 HS printer in the Durst Customer Experience Center – Christian Harder, Manfred Glantschnig, Andrea Riccardi and Michael Deflorian

Durst, the manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, has unveiled a raft of innovations as it continues its journey to become a complete solutions provider in line with its “Pixel to Output” strategy. Central is the P5 350 high-speed printer – together with the Durst “Automat”, a new full automation system, enhanced Durst software, a full LED ink portfolio, and partnerships.

Launched in a virtual event, “Firework of Innovations”, the P5 350 HS is the newest family member from the P5 technology platform with Durst Automat, the fully automated inline solution that makes production processes far more versatile and efficient for customers. The Durst Workflow is now available for non-Durst printers, following the announcement of a partnership with PrintFactory, which superior API software enables an easy management of mixed print environments. In line with its strategy, Durst has expanded its offer with Workflow, Analytics, automation, and ink solutions for printers to deliver complete solutions from Pixel to Output.

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Durst’s new P5 350 HS printer in the Customer Experience Center at the headquarters in Brixen, Italy

The new Durst P5 350 HS can print at over 600 square meter per hour, which is twice the speed of the Durst P5 350 standard model, thus being the most productive hybrid printer in the market. Additionally, thanks to the same unique features that made the P5 350 successful, such as the multiroll and the multitrack 6 option, the new model retains the level of high versatility. It can be configured with up to nine colour channels, including light colours and white, and varnish for special multilayer printing applications such as “Day&Night”, “In&Out”, and up to 12 layers hapt-printing.

The high versatility is also maintained in combination with Durst Automat, the new fully automated board feeding and stacking system, which can manage up to two lanes, even with different board sizes up to 3.5 meter width (137.8 inch) and 2.2 meter (86.6 inch) length and has a loading capacity of 90 centimeter (35.5 inch). Thanks to its sliding registration tables, a comfortable access to the roll tool enables a fast material change operated by only one single operator.

Installations of the Durst P5 350 HS – combined with Durst Automat – will start from the end of Q1 in 2021. Durst Workflow is a browser-based data management handling system that includes pre-press functionality as well as the ripping. The proven workflow for PDF toolbox, colour management, and rip engine ensures highest quality and ink cost optimization.

At the Firework of Innovations event, Durst announced the introduction of the new POP flexible LED ink. This has impressive colour gamut, unmatched combination of flexibility, stackability, and adhesion. It is a best-in-class hybrid ink suitable for a wide variety of roll-to-roll and board media. Another future-proof ink that can be loaded into Durst’s full portfolio of LED printers.

Durst has been steadily building its workflow offerings in line with its end-to-end thinking for 360-degree business solutions aimed at the Smart Factory concept to streamline production and processes. Durst Smart Shop, Workflow, Analytics, Lift ERP – and now Durst Automat – are all pushing the boundaries of automation and innovation. All are backed by consultancy and seamless integration provided through Durst Professional Services.

Christian Harder, Durst Group’s Global Sales director, Graphics Segment, said, “The launch of our latest family Durst P5 member, the P5 350 HS, is an important statement of our firm commitment to continue to be at the forefront of innovation in the large format market. It’s among a raft of innovations that we have unveiled to the market as part of our Pixel to Output strategy. Customers are demanding all-in-one solutions, which we provide as we move towards becoming a complete solution provider. In an integrated world, printers need to change as well. And we’ll help them on that journey through hardware, software, inks, and collaborations.”

Christoph Gamper, Durst Group’s chief executive officer and co-owner, said, “We’re looking forward to the future. I am confident that in 2021 the economy will recover and, in some fields, be even stronger than before. So we will continue what we do best: innovating with passion. In 2019, we launched the P5 platform, and we now have more than 100 systems around the globe. This is a great achievement, so a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of our customers, partners, and our great Durst team members across the world.”

2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India

Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.

The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry. While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.

The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.

Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.

Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.

Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.

– Naresh Khanna

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