Introducing OBH’s New HP Indigo 12000

Introducing OBH’s New HP Indigo 12000

 

This article was submitted by OpenBook Howden | SA/NT Chapter Partner

 

No matter your familiarity with printing, you’ve likely heard of Digital and Offset printing. Both methods have unique strengths and applications. Offset printing—the traditional method using ink stations and printing plates—excels with large-scale publications, offering greater efficiency as job sizes increase. Digital printing, on the other hand, is ideal for smaller runs, especially considering schools and colleges are printing more on demand. This allows for frequent updates to marketing collateral, taking advantage of technical advances and supporting sustainability by conserving paper.

Traditionally, Offset printing offered economies of scale for larger print runs but required producing “make-ready” sheets to achieve the picture-perfect imagery you see in final products. When we introduced our digital OCE printer in 2019, we immediately saw an environmental benefit. For SASTA, for instance, we saved over ten pallets—equating to 356,400 sheets—for their textbooks, also reducing electricity usage by 60%.

This year, we’re excited to announce a groundbreaking addition to OBH: our new digital offset machine, the HP Indigo 12000. This machine combines the best of both worlds—the efficiency of traditional offset with the digital technology that supports sustainable practices. With the HP Indigo, we no longer need printing plates, excessive make-readies, or time for ink drying. As soon as sheets are printed, they’re ready for binding. We anticipate a 30-40% reduction in paper usage for book and publication projects.

The HP Indigo 12000 surpasses traditional offset quality with 812 dots per inch, with an ability to produce prints that meet art gallery standards. Its seven ink stations ensure precise colour accuracy, covering up to 97% of Pantone colours.

An independent Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) comparing the HP Indigo with traditional Offset highlights the HP Indigo’s environmental benefits:

  • Global Warming Potential: ~80% reduction
  • Ozone Depletion: ~75% reduction
  • Resource Scarcity: ~80% reduction
  • Water Use: ~85% reduction
  • Fine Particulate Matter Formation: ~90% reduction
  • Land Use: ~80% reduction
  • Ecotoxicity: ~60% reduction

This transition to digital isn’t just a game changer for OBH; it’s also a step towards reducing your environmental impact. Reach out to us today to explore how we can make a sustainable difference together.

To find out more … openbookhowden.com.au