Inkjet Printer incorporates UV curing systems.

Press Release Summary:



Inkjet Printer features 2 Fusion UV LH6 microwave-powered, 6 in. UV-curing systems. It prints up to 2,200 sheets/hr with A2 size paper. Printer is suited for on-demand printing in which user needs to customize poster, calendar, or other previously printed piece with specific company name or logo. Ink-drop delivery technique results in print quality equal to offset printing with water resistance.



Original Press Release:


Industrial Inkjet Printing Machine Incorporates Fusion UV's UV Curing System


GAITHERSBURG, MD, March 31, 2004 - TOPPAN Printing Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) has developed a high quality industrial use inkjet printer, which they will use in their internal printing facilities and which they will also begin selling to other printing companies. TOPPAN's inkjet printer incorporates UV curing technology to solve a common inkjet issue, which is to produce print quality equal to offset printing that is also water resistant.

Inkjet printers dominate the office and consumer markets, but have not penetrated into industrial use applications. This is due primarily to the fact that typically inkjet printing costs about ten times more than offset printing and also has lower water resistance when standard printing paper is used. TOPPAN solved these issues by using UV curable inks that immediately cure when exposed to UV energy. The new printer incorporates two Fusion UV Light Hammer 6 (LH6) UV curing systems. Fusion UV's LH6 is a six-inch, microwave-powered, high output UV curing system. TOPPAN chose the LH6 because of its long life and stable output, which is so important for industrial applications.

The application for this printer is "on demand printing" in which a printer needs to customize a poster, calendar or other previously printed piece with a specific company name or logo upon receiving the order. Over the last three years TOPPAN developed a new ink drop delivery technique that results in equivalent high resolution of offset printing. The new printer is capable of printing 2,200 sheets per hour with A2 (16.5"x 23.4") size paper. While this print speed is slower than high-speed offset printing, which is typically 5,000 sheets per hour, this is an acceptable print speed for "on demand printing" applications.

This is the first time TOPPAN has entered the printing equipment sales arena. Komori Corporation, a large printing press manufacturer, will be manufacturing the new UV inkjet printer for TOPPAN.

A pre-production machine is now being used for internal print testing. TOPPAN factories plan to start using the UV inkjet printer this October and sales to outside companies is expected to begin in 2005. The first year sales target for this printer is 600 million yen at a sales price for the single color system expected to be 30 million yen.

TOPPAN Printing Co. developed this industrial use inkjet printer, which uses two Fusion LH6 curing systems. It can print 2,200 sheets/hour with equivalent offset printing quality.

Formed in 1900, TOPPAN Printing Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan is a leader in the global printing industry. With its consolidated subsidiaries, TOPPAN had net sales of 1,293 Billion Yen (10.4 Billion US$) with 32,000 employees in fiscal 2000. TOPPAN applies the expertise it has gained from printing in diverse industry sectors that include securities & cards, commercial printing, publications printing, packaging, industrial materials, electronics, business forms and multimedia. For additional information, visit TOPPAN's Web site at www.toppan.co.jp/english/.

Fusion UV Systems, Inc., a member company of Spectris plc, Surrey, England, is the leading worldwide supplier of ultraviolet curing systems and UV-based process solutions. The Company's UV curing systems are used in manufacturing, printing and coating applications in a broad cross-section of industries with over 35,000 installations worldwide. The Company is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Offices are located throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and China with distributors covering 17 other countries throughout the world.

For more information visit the Web site at www.fusionuv.com

Susan Mitchell

Business Development Manager

301-990-8700 x8373

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