By Cassandra Balentine
Part two of two
Envelope printing is challenging. Issues like curling, warping, and melting all occur, ruining the output and damaging the printer.
In part one of this series we outlined specific challenges envelopes present and discussed advantages offered by toner- and inkjet-based machines. We highlight available solutions here.
Afinia Label
Afinia Label offers the CP950 envelope and packaging printer. With an MSRP starting at $18,995, the device supports a monthly volume of 1,000 to 100,000 prints. Using dye-based ink it handles materials up to 10 millimeters (mm) thick and offers a maximum print width of 8.66 inches. The CP950 allows users to print full-color on envelopes, cardstock, boxes, and other inkjet-receptive materials.
Bluecrest
Bluecrest’s Print+ Messenger color inkjet systems are designed to increase mailpiece effectiveness by printing high-quality, variable, full-color text and images on envelopes—including business reply envelopes—inline within your mail inserter. Improve operational efficiency by eliminating preprinted envelopes, reducing storage needs, streamlining application changeover, and commingling mail.
Document Data Solutions (DDS)
Building on the successes of previous iterations, DDS’ third generation iDataPrint FS-1200 inkjet print system now includes an option for automated cleaning of the printheads. This new feature is in addition to the powered print module elevator that automates module-to-paper spacing and splice avoidance available on previous models.
Both speed and quality have improved with Document Data Solutions’ new FS-1200 family of inkjet products that are capable of running a range of inks including dye, pigment, latex, and UV curable. Equipped with 1,200 dpi printheads, the FS-1200 is capable of speeds of nearly 2,000 feet per minute.
DDS’ iDataPrint F-12000 inkjet print system features 2,048 individual nozzles per 1.7-inch printhead, drop sizes as small as 2.7 picoliters, and parallelogram shaped printheads for seamless stitching. Standard printbar widths include 3.3, 6.7, 8.4, 10, 17, and 27 inches. Custom widths are available.
Intec Printing Solution
The Intec ColorSplash Envelope System is a dry-toner LED printer that prints up to 3,500 envelopes per hour. The envelope feeder stacker can hold up to 1,000 envelopes. It also features self-centering guides for print registration, has a special window buckle separator to ensure smooth feeding of window envelopes, an adjustable jogging back wedge to sit the envelopes at the perfect angle for feeding, and an adjustable speed shingling conveyor helps with quality control and ease of packing finished product.
More than an envelope press, the Intec ColorSplash Envelope printing solutions are versatile in that they are modular systems so the envelope feeder and conveyor elements can easily be wheeled away and additional output options added for use in long paper and banner printing, unusual media lengths and widths and card up to 500 gsm/micron as well as synthetic medias, white and clear toner options are also available too.
To combat issues that come about from paper path, Intec features a straight through path that enables feeding and print throughput unlike standard presses that use a ‘S’ shaped bend path where envelopes can easily become jammed.
The device starts from $11,999.
OKI Data Americas
The C942DP+ from OKI Data Americas targets profitable new markets with color-on-color production envelope printing. Leveraging the capabilities of the C942dn printer enables the C942DP+ to produce sharp text and rich, saturated press-like colors on a vast array of light or dark media. The device utilizes full-color electrophotographic printing.
Printware LLC
The iJetColor Inkjet Envelope Press (Classic/NXT) utilizes Memjet inkjet technology and offers output speeds of 1,800 to 6,000 envelopes per hour and material size handling of 3×4 to 1/8 inches up to 10 to 1/2×17 inches and material thickness of .375 inches or 430 gsm. The press offers a print quality of 1,600×1,600 dpi or 1,600×800 dpi and full-color, full-bleed output.
While the iJetColor Inkjet Envelope press is designed specifically for envelopes, it can also handle sheets for letterhead, business cards, and postcards. It is suited for monthly envelope volumes of 20,000 to more than 50,000. The retail bundle price—including print engine, output conveyor, iJetColor rip, computer/monitor, benchtop table, supplies, installation and training, plus one-year of warranty and support is $17,000 to $27,000.
RISO
All of RISO’s inkjet devices are capable of printing on envelopes and include presets for that application. For example, the ComColor FW 5000 is a cutsheet color printer that accommodates printing envelopes of all sizes. The FW 5000 prints at 90 pages per minute (ppm), while the FW 5230 and 5231 print at 120 ppm. The ComColor GD 7330 and 9630 print envelopes at 130 and 160 ppm, respectively.
W+D Machinery
W+D Machinery offers the Halm I-jet 2.0 inkjet envelope printer. The machine handles envelopes, flat sheets, and a special feeder enables bag handling. Its target volume range is five million impressions a month or greater. The Halm I-jet 2.0 offers a resolution of 1,600×1,375 dpi and prints at speeds of up to 32,00 #10 envelopes per hour. The cost for the base model is approximately $300,000.
Xanté
The Impressia Digital Multi-Media Print Systems are complete, turnkey solutions that allow users to print on a variety of media and sheet sizes. The system is powered by the included iQueue Prepress Workflow, which handles complex digital files, makes critical color adjustments, and applies screening and imposition.
The systems print on a variety of media and sheet sizes, offer print speeds of up to 3,000 full-color envelopes per hour, a resolution of up to 2,400 envelopes per hour, and output that is 100 percent waterproof.
The Impressia system prints on a variety of stocks including uncoated, coated, NCR multi-part forms, card stocks, textured stocks, label stocks, and envelopes. It offers multiple feed options including the new Enterprise High Speed Feeder, two standard feed trays, and an optional large capacity feed tray.
Envelopes for All
Dedicated digital envelope printers help free up your digital press, while tackling some common challenges presented by envelopes. A variety of options are available, including inkjet- and toner-based solutions. dps
Read part one, Taming Tricky Envelopes
Jul2020, DPS Magazine
