Heidelberg Primefire 106: the new 7 colour digital Speedmaster

Heidelberg introduced their first digital Speedmaster last week, the Primefire 106. The Primefire is the result of a cooperation between Heidelberg and Fujifilm. It is a 70x100cm format, seven colour plus coater digital press using Fujifilm 1200x1200dpi Samba inkjet heads. Inkjet heads which are also used in Landa Nanographic and Fujifilm Jetpress presses. Every 2 picoliter water ink drop is brought to preconditioned media via the patented VersaDrop grayscale and multi-pulse technique. Samba inkjet heads were developed by Fujifilm´s Dimatrix division. The past three years these heads were further developed and are being used by various manufacturers. The Fujifilm water based inks are fully recyclable and adhere to the strict Swiss Ordinance Conformity which is great for the packaging market.
Packaging is the target market for the Primefire 106, because of the added value of the larger colour scale and coating possibilities. This market depends on smaller quantities and variable data for client or regional printing and is therefore willing to pay a bit more.
After introduction at drupa the Primefire 106 will be beta tested. Delivery is not expected until 2017. Prices and cost price per print are not yet known, but bearing in mind the target market it will not be cheap. A video about the first print of this drupa sensation, can be seen on our videos page.