Oc introduces high volume digital colour printer

Oc has launched a new printing system that accelerates the transition at digital and offset printing operations from black & white printing to very high volume digital colour within the same printing system. The Oc ColorStream 3500 was developed at the Oc R&D technology facility in Munich, Germany. The first Oc ColorStream 3500 system placement is planned for early 2011. Oc, an international leader in digital document management and delivery, expects general availability by mid-2011.

Ongoing transition from black & white to digital colour
Over the next five years, independent research* suggests that customers across a broad spectrum of segments relevant to Oc will increasingly make the transition from black & white to digital colour printing.

1. The number of A4 sheets to be printed in color in the financial services industry, among others, is expected to leap from 10 billion today to approximately 50 billion in 2014 as customers move from pre-printed offset forms to a plain paper solution;

2. In the direct mail and collateral markets (flyers, brochures etc.), a surge is anticipated from 20 billion printed A4 sheets today to approximately 50 billion in 2014 as customers move from limited to increased personalisation; and

3. The number of book pages to be printed in colour is expected to double to 20 billion A4s by 2014 as customers move from long-run mass production (with all the associated inventory and stock issues) to short-run on-demand production.

Customers can start small and grow colour business
While the majority of the digital print volume is still black & white, the market is trending towards full color plus additional colours. An entry-level black & white configuration of the Oc ColorStream 3500 system allows print providers to start with small volumes while at the same time, as their business grows, preparing for future colour business including potentially fifth and sixth colour printing. The transition to colour often comes gradually, and typically not all print volume switches to full colour immediately.

A reliable and flexible solution
The high-speed Oc ColorStream 3500 - at over 1,000 A4 size images per minute using both engines - combines inkjet print quality, processing power and simplex-duplex flexibility in an environmentally friendly way. It offers customers a reliable solution for statement printing, direct mail, books and manuals.

A highly attractive business model
"With the new Oc ColorStream 3500 printing system, we listened to the market: we have expanded our inkjet offering with a solution that combines the quality, flexibility and full-colour productivity of well-established Oc products," said Sebastian Landesberger, Executive Vice President, Oc Production Printing. "By consistently expanding our color portfolio, we can cover the widest range of market requirements. Now, offset printers can move to full colour with a minimal impact on their infrastructure. They can then extend their range of print services, resulting in a highly attractive business model. This will help our customers build their business and reinforce the market leadership position we have held in the black & white continuous feed segment for more than 15 consecutive years."

*Independent research conducted by Caslon.