HP expands DesignJet and PageWide XL portfolios

The DesignJet Z6 Pro and Z9+ Pro can be used to produce professional photo quality prints

Commercially available from 1 October are the HP DesignJet Z6 Pro and Z9+ Pro, which can be used to produce professional photo quality prints and high precision colourful Geographic Information System (GIS) generated maps.

Marking the 30-year anniversary of the first DesignJet product, the new machines will replace the existing DesignJet Z68 family of printers.

They use chromatic RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, which according to the manufacturer enable users to achieve 93% pantone coverage – 26% more gamut compared to the previous generation, while prints with the image quality of a 12-ink printer can be produced with nine inks.

Additional features include the High Definition Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) printheads and dual drop technology, which reduces visible grain and eliminates the need for light coloured inks.

The DesignJet Z9+ Pro, which HP said “offers the widest colour gamut in its category”, is targeted at businesses looking for a professional photo quality printer.

Users can customise ICC profiles for their print jobs and achieve desired colour accuracy and consistency. Users also have the option to include the HP Gloss Enhancer Upgrade Kit “to produce superior gloss uniformity”.

Additionally, the HP PrintOS mobile app allows users to monitor performance, react to issues, and share media presets remotely.

The new machine also incorporates the cloud-based HP PrintOS Service Center application, which enables users to gain a single, real-time view of all ongoing service cases, with updates that are accessible anytime, anywhere.

The DesignJet Z6 Pro, meanwhile, is targeted at GIS analysts looking to produce very precise maps, print sharp contour lines, and text with close attention to keeping data secure.

The Adobe PDF Print Engine is said to enable “excellent transparencies and layer reproductions”, while HP’s HDNA printheads and HP Pixel Control deliver high precision as well as smooth gradients and distinct shades of colour that are particularly needed for printing complex maps.

The DesignJet Z6 Pro also promises “the best data protection” through encrypted communications and Access Control List. Additional features include HP Connection Inspector, HP Secure Boot, and Whitelisting to ensure the best network protection.

Separately, commercial availability for HP’s three new PageWide XL Pro printers starts from 15 September.

The manufacturer said these machines, which are additional to its existing portfolio, will enable users to leverage new short-term applications including the potential to print on boards, cardstock, and paper from A2 to B1, and thickness up to 10-mm.

The PageWide XL Pro 5200 and PageWide XL Pro 8200 offer print speeds up to 20 D/A1ppm and 400-sqm/hr, and 30 D/A1ppm and 500-sqm/hr respectively.

The PageWide XL Pro 8200 can print mixed outputs of both CAD drawings and presentation boards while the PageWide XL Pro 5200 and PageWide XL Pro 8200 can both be used for two-sided, short-term retail posters. Both printers use up to three-litre original HP Eco-Carton ink cartridges.

Meanwhile, the compact PageWide XL Pro 10000 can produce up to 700sqm or 1,000 B1 posters per hour, and can print on different sized materials, ranging from paper and boards to cardstock and cutsheets. The device offers instant-dry prints on compatible substrates.

The PageWide XL Pro 10000 also features the first HP large-format auto sheet feeder and versatile stacker.

“As our customers continue to grapple with uncertain business conditions following a uniquely challenging past couple of years, we know that expanding their print application reach, an ability to move fast, and outstanding colour and graphics performance define their large-format printing needs,” said HP Large Format Business general manager Daniel Martinez.

“This is why we’re introducing the new HP DesignJet Z Pro and HP PageWide XL Pro series. Both portfolios are designed to help users navigate uncertain demand, respond to tighter deadlines, and unlock untapped potential in their own offerings.”