Drupa--Direct Imaging Takes Center Stage

An interesting Drupa debut came from Aprion Digital, which showed off its MAGIC (Multiple Array Graphic Ink-jet Color) technology, based on multilayer ink-jet heads. IPG viewed this technology in February in Aprion's Israel headquarters. The heads are only a few millimeters thick and can be formed into virtually any length and width of printing area. Current products are rated at 25,000 droplets/second, but Aprion ink-jet heads can reach speeds of 100 KHz, equal to about 800 running ft/min. Aprion, an independent company set up by Scitex, showed a book publishing press called BookNet, capable of delivering bound, individual copies up to 600 pages thick in less than 10 minutes, with color printed covers.