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Fujifilm's announcement of the release of its new sheetfed inkjet commercial printing press, the Jet Press 720, is highly important, because it shows that it is really moving its business into inkjet-based digital printing.

As a company, it has invested heavily in the acquisition of inkjet technologies, as well as in companies including Sericol and Dimatix. But, up to now, it has not manufactured any inkjet printing equipment, despite the fact it is already a major player in digital printing through its 75% ownership of Fuji Xerox.

It is interesting to note that Fuji Xerox was involved in the development of this press. Being a sheetfed B2 digital press, it fits into a unique space in the market where there are no equivalent presses. Up to now, the largest-format sheetfed digital press has been the Xerox iGen3, with a maximum sheet size of 364x521mm.

It has always surprised me that no supplier has introduced a larger-format digital press. I have predicted in the past that Kodak Nexpress, Océ or Xeikon, with their experience in building LED imaging arrays, would produce a 20-inch-wide sheetfed press, but so far they have opted to do otherwise. Assuming the quality of output and the pricing are acceptable, I think there will be a major opportunity for the new Fujifilm press. No price has been given, but I understand the target price was around $1m (£510,000).

Unique offering
There are some unusual facts about the machine that makes it very different from other digital presses. For a start, it is built upon a paper-transport system from an unnamed offset press supplier. Fuji Xerox added an impression cylinder for the paper and the inkjet printhead assemblies for the four colours. I also understand that there is space for an additional colour.

Then there is the fact the press has a paper-coating system to lay down the binding agent that prevents the ink from being absorbed into the paper. Because of the use of this, the press can run standard offset papers. At the time of writing, Fujifilm is not saying if this agent is applied by another printhead array, or by a roller. Fujifilm refers to this as Water Penetration Defence Technology. The inks are aqueous and specially formulated by Fujifilm and use what they call Rapid Pigment Ink Coagulation Technology.

Once the paper is imaged, it is then passed through a dryer and fixing system. This is different from electrophotographic digital presses as there is no way that the press can perfect or duplex to print both sides of the paper in one pass. For
double-sided printing, this will mean there will need to be two printing operations, with the first print being run through the press a second time.

The move by Fujifilm into manufacturing its own inkjet equipment, as well as supplying consumables such as ink and printheads to other developers, confirms the company’s transition to be a major force in the future of inkjet printing. The other major film companies, Kodak and Agfa, have already moved into this area.

Fujifilm already sells a number of wide-format and UV flatbed printers through its Sericol operation. This operation has the exclusive distribution of the Screen-owned Inca flatbed printers. Fujifilm also has very close working arrangements with Screen in distribution of its thermal CTP engines. Screen, however, is also busy establishing itself as a major player in the inkjet business, with both high-speed and wide-format printers. One must wonder if there is the possibility of further consolidation between these two companies in the inkjet area in the future.

I will certainly be looking at the new Fujifilm sheetfed inkjet press at Drupa. I first heard rumours of an inkjet press development within the company more than two years ago, before it had acquired Sericol or Dimatix. The company appears to have identified a unique market slot with a B2-format press and I predict this will turn out to have been one of the hot new products at Drupa. I also predict that Fujifilm will be seen in future as one of the key players in the inkjet printing business alongside the
likes of HP and Kodak.