Launched at Fespa earlier this year, the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 is the firm's first solvent model and its widest printer to date and was the highlight of the digital printing giant's show debut. According to Epson, the eight-colour, 1.6m large-format printer promises technical advances that will revolutionise the signage market in terms of quality and speed.

　　The machine will hit the market in September this year and copy shops, sign shops and printers looking for indoor and outdoor posters are expected to jump at the chance to harness the product’s print quality and speed. The UK price is expected to be £23,500.

　　Epson UK’s business manager of production graphics, Martin Johns, explains: “The price will depend on the strength of the euro and for this reason, we have not made a formal announcement yet. We have been happy with the printer’s reception at the shows it’s appeared at thus far with interest exceeding our expectations.”

　　According to Johns, print quality is what sets the GS6000 apart from the crowd. It has achieved a new standard for machines in its class, boasting a colour range that the manufacturer claims is the widest in the outdoor and indoor market to date and the machine is capable of achieving printing resolutions of up to 1,440dpi with a droplet size of 3.7 picolitres.

　　This performance capability is thanks to Epson’s variable-sized ink droplet and MicroWeave halftone technologies, which can print at speeds of up to 25m² per hour. Options include support for heavy rolls of up to 30kg and an auto-take-up reel.

　　Protective inks

　　Prints from the GS6000 are water and UV resistant for up to one-and-a-half years without lamination thanks to Epson’s UltraChrome GS solvent ink, which comes in eight colours.

　　The ink is available in 950ml cartridges and is able to print on nearly any solvent media. According to Epson, the colour palette is particularly suitable for branded applications and as well as being visually impressive, prints from this product also offer resistance to scratching and will dry quickly, eliminating the need for additional dryers.

　　Epson believes that colour fidelity and accuracy on the GS6000 surpasses that of any other solvent technology on the market and, as an added bonus, there’s also less nozzle clogging thanks to a new ink repelling coating technology.

　　“Our inks are developed in top secret and are unique to Epson,” explains Johns. “The inks have very low service levels which will offer greater ease of use to customers and eliminates a lot of hassle. We were able to run ours for three days in a row at Sign Digital UK without a change.”

　　High-end quality

　　The machine’s ability to produce lifelike photo images is not just a gimmick, according to Johns. The feature is designed to enable sign printers to crack premium service markets such as exhibition graphics, point-of-sale printing (PoS), marketing, photo applications and fine art reproduction.

　　“The quality is achieved by a combination of a new printhead and Epson’s new ink,” Johns adds. “The head enables small droplet sizes while the new ink has a greater colour range.”

　　Its piezo ink head technology allows greater control of ink placement on the page. It also enables the size and shape of the ink droplets to be controlled, making it more accurate. The printhead is designed with the demands of high-production solvent printing in mind and, as a result, it churns out work at an impressive rate.

　　Production speed varies from up to 32m² per hour for banner-quality printing, through to up to 17m² per hour for everyday production and 8.4m² for photographic signage output. Johns says that it’s these statistics that make the Stylus Pro the fastest 1.6m wide roll-to-roll printer in its class.

　　With the launch of the new machine Epson’s eco credentials also remain intact. The eco-solvent type ink set means that it does not release harmful volatile organic compounds and is the first major solvent ink set to be launched without the need for a hazard symbol.

　　“Solvent inks tend to have a bad name, but these are not the typical hard solvent inks that people expect. These inks are designed to be environmentally friendly,” says Johns.

　　The news that Epson’s UltraChrome GS delivers virtually odourless printing without the need for special ventilation or air purification systems, will also be welcomed by printers. In addition, the ink does not contain nickel compounds, which again minimises the impact on the environment and employees.

　　“This means that the machine should be safe to use in schools and offices,” claims Johns. “Doing away with expensive ventilation systems is one of the features that we think will help large-format printers reach new markets. The GS6000 is a printer that helps sign makers maximise profits while gaining competitive advantages with superior quality, performance and reliability, with lower impact on the environment and worker health.”

　　Another new feature launched in conjunction with the GS6000 is support from myEpsonPrinter.com. This web-based software allows users to monitor print jobs and consumables in real time, including tracking ink and media consumption, managing printers from remote locations, robust reporting, and intelligent support.
Bundled with each Stylus Pro GS6000 is the new ColorBurst Professional Production RIP, a PostScript Language Level 3-compatible RIP and print server.

　　The RIP is Pantone licensed for spot-colour matching, offers ICC output profile support, and boasts faster job processing.

　　Having seen what the machine can do first-hand, Larry Spevak, chief executive of ColorBurst Systems Engineering speaks glowingly about Epson’s machine. “Having worked with solvent printers for more than 10 years, I can honestly say that I have not seen a printer that demonstrates the level of quality and speed that the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 delivers,” says Spevak. “Its performance and quality coupled, with ColorBurst’s new robust RIP, will be unmatched in this market segment.”

　　Epson claims that it is in a fairly unique market, but cites the HP Designjet 9000 as its closest rival. HP’s model is also aimed at the fine art market and has a reputation as a high-quality, robust piece of kit. However, the low solvent model requires external ventilation, so is aimed at a different sector.

　　The Stylus Pro GS6000 has clearly made an impression since its launch and Epson is confident that sign printers with more than £20,000 to spend on a piece of new kit will be tempted to take the plunge.

　　SPECIFICATIONS

　　Max speed 31.5m² per hour for banner-quality printing, 16.7m² per hour for everyday production, 8.4m² per hour for photographic signage output
　　Max sheet width 1.6m 
　　Resolution 1,440dpi
　　Cost around £23,500
　　Contact Epson UK 0871 222 6702