ColorSpan Announces DisplayMaker 98SX 'ElonGator' 98'' / 2.5m Solvent Inkjet Printer

MacDermid ColorSpan, Inc., an innovator and leader in the wide-format color inkjet printer market, introduces a 2.5-meter wide, high-speed piezo-electric solvent inkjet printer, the DisplayMaker 98SX. Developed as an extension to the highly acclaimed and award-winning DisplayMaker 72s "Gator," the new printer, code-named "ElonGator" offers the ability to print on a variety of media up to 98" wide. It is designed around sixteen (16) 600-dpi Micro-Quad� piezo-electric printheads to deliver true 600 x 600-dpi quality at print speeds up to 438 square feet / hour and 600 x 300-dpi quality at print speeds of up to 700 sq. ft./ hour. The DisplayMaker 98SX will be shown for the first time at the USSC SignWorld USA exposition in Atlantic City, NJ, December 2-4, 2004 with deliveries beginning later that month.

Bruce Butler, director of marketing, stated, "We have taken what we have learned from the success of the DisplayMaker 72S and 72SR "Gator" printers and elongated its design to accommodate 98-inch wide media. The "ElonGator" sets a new standard for printing performance and value, combining production speed with award-winning quality, ease-of-use and low cost of operation." Butler went on to say, "In addition, we have added a 600 x 300-dpi print mode that can produce stunning Production Quality mode prints at up to 438 square feet per hour, and an even faster 700 square feet per hour in Billboard Quality mode."

The DisplayMaker 98SX can be optionally configured with two 36-inch (91 cm) x 96-inch (2.44 cm) roller tables that attach to the front and rear of the printer it can accommodate rigid sheets up to 60-inches (152 cm) in length, 98-inches (250 cm) in width and up to �" thick. The tables can easily be removed for printing of roll-to-roll of flexible media. The media drive system has been designed to accurately and consistently feed wider and heavier rolls of media.

Other Product Features
Micro-Quad� Printheads - Sixteen (16) industrial-quality, long-life piezo-electric printheads are configured as four interlaced heads using 384 jets per color. These 600-dpi printheads jet a micro-sized <30-picoliter droplet. The result is higher quality prints at lower production costs when compared to typical 308- or 360-dpi, 70-picoliter, 6-color printers.

Production-Oriented Speed - Designed-engineered as a production sign system, the DisplayMaker 98SX uses 16 piezo-electric printheads with 1,536 total jets. The printer boasts a print speed of 700 square feet (65 m2) per hour in its 600 x 300-dpi Billboard Quality print mode. In its 600 x 300-dpi Production Quality mode, the printer turns out 438 square feet (40.7 m2) of high quality, sellable graphics per hour

Print Mode - DPI - Ft2/hour - M2/hour - Jet Mapping Available
Billboard - 600x300 - 700 - 65.0 - No
Billboard - 600x600 - 438 - 40.7 - No
Production - 600x300 - 438 - 40.7 - Yes
Production - 600x600 - 225 - 20.9 - Yes
Quality - 600x300 - 225 - 20.9 - Yes
High Quality - 600x600 - 112 - 10.4 - Yes

Advanced Automation Eye - Consisting of a high-resolution imaging sensor, built-in spectrophotometer, and embedded software, the printer automates the setup and calibration steps critical for achieving and maintaining print quality.

AutoSet Calibration - analyzes dot placement of printed patterns and automatically sets the head-to-head alignment and bi-directional (bi-di) dot placement alignment to compensate for variable print speeds, head height settings and media thickness.

AutoJet Calibration - eliminates banding in prints and extends the useful life of the printheads by mapping out jets that are not up to performance standards and compensating by using another jet in their place.

AutoTune Scheduler - schedules the AutoJet calibration to occur during unattended print runs to ensure maximum print quality and minimize waste or reprints.

AutoEdge Detection - uses the image sensor to aid in the loading of rigid materials by detecting right, left and leading edges. It also checks for and warns user if the board appears to be loaded askew.

Linearization - the on-board spectrophotometer supplies color and density data to the external RIP�s color management software. The color management system then linearizes the color curves to ensure accurate and consistent color.

Color Profiling - using the on-board spectrophotometer, the DisplayMaker 98SX prints and automatically reads hundreds of color swatches to allow the RIP and ColorMark+ color management software to create custom ICC and ColorMark� profiles for 3rd party media.

SolaChrome-HR inks - Solvent-based, pigmented inks available in cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are designed for reliable jetting, low maintenance, long head life, low cost of operation and long-term outdoor display life � up to 5 years depending on application. SolaChrome-HR inks print directly on standard uncoated vinyl and other substrates for durable, indoor and outdoor graphic applications. Priced at $249 per 2-liter container, typical photo images print with an ink cost less than $0.15 per square foot.

Ink Delivery System - The SolaChrome-HR inks and solvent cleaning solution are held in easy-to-refill 3.5-liter Big Ink� reservoirs that can be filled during printing for non-stop production printing.

Self-Cleaning Printhead Maintenance -The printhead�s self-cleaning service station along with the on-board solvent cleaning solution makes printhead and jet maintenance easier than ever. Together they maintain jet health so the printer is ready to print, at any time, on demand. Featuring a one-button purge and wipe procedure, it uses a unique combination of a solvent bath and sixteen motorized wiper blades to automatically clean and prepare the heads for printing.

Media Options - The DisplayMaker 98SX is capable of printing on a full range of flexible materials including banner vinyl, adhesive vinyl, canvas, paper, fabric and film. Using the optional tables it also prints on a wide variety of uncoated rigid materials up to �" (6.35mm) thick, such as UltraBoard, Fome-Cor, GatorPlast, polystyrene sheets, cardstock (tag board), clay-faced corrugated and more.

Markets
The high speed, low cost of operation, ease of use and extended outdoor durability of the DisplayMaker 98SX make it ideal for print-for-pay service providers that produce signs, banners, fleet graphics, backlits, floor graphics, indoor POP and other high volume work.

Availability
The DisplayMaker 98SX is available through MacDermid ColorSpan�s worldwide network of value-added distributors and resellers. Initial deliveries will begin in December 2004.

About MacDermid ColorSpan, Inc.
MacDermid ColorSpan, the recognized creator of the Big Color� graphics market, designs, manufactures and markets large-format digital color printing systems, supplies, software and services. ColorSpan products are available through a worldwide network of value-added distributors and resellers.

MacDermid ColorSpan, Inc.
Phone: (800) 477-7714 and (952)944-9330
Fax: (952) 944-0522
Website URL: www.colorspan.com


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