Company: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.

Website: www.efi.com

Technology Snapshot: Direct-to-board digital corrugated printing just got even better, as Electronics For Imaging, Inc. has launched a new version of its award-winning, breakthrough single-pass digital inkjet corrugated printer. The new EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus builds on the already outstanding performance features of the Nozomi C18000 with significant improvements that ensure even greater productivity, quality and versatility for post-print corrugated packaging and display operations.

The new Plus model—which also includes important variable-data, ink savings and cloud-management capabilities for the printer’s EFI Fiery digital front end (DFE)—is available now. Current users of EFI Nozomi printers can also purchase the Plus model as a field upgrade.

“The new transport of the ‘Plus’ version is a game changer!” said one Nozomi user, Howard Bertram, president of Complete Design & Packaging, Concord, North Carolina. “It has provided consistent throughput at higher speeds and with fewer interruptions, and with enhanced print quality. It is now definitely the machine we knew we were purchasing. Thank you, EFI!

Key enhancements for the 71-inch wide, direct-to-board LED UV inkjet printer include new advanced transport feed and patented vacuum table systems that eliminate warping while maximizing printer productivity and uptime. The Nozomi C18000 Plus also features an improved post-print quality inspection system to help users monitor quality and quickly identify inkjet nozzle issues or other defects.

The printer can also detect and recover from jams within seconds, with automated continuation of jobs in sequence—an important factor in variable-data work. Busy shops will also appreciate the Nozomi C18000 Plus printer’s improved rush proof feature, which can generate and output a proof within 90 seconds while another job is running on the printer.

Operating at speeds up to 246 linear feet (75 linear meters) per minute—producing up to 10,000 35x35-inch (890x890-mm) boards per hour two-up—the printer also features new coater options, including a quick-change anilox coater for improved performance. In addition to its standard CMYK inkset, the printer is available with optional orange, violet or white inks for an imaging gamut of up to 97 percent of PANTONE Colors.

EFI has significantly enhanced its Nozomi Digital Solutions Program of professional services, including training and support capabilities, with the Nozomi C18000 Plus launch to further ensure users’ success with their investment.

Job processing for the Nozomi C18000 Plus is 5 percent faster thanks to the latest version of the EFI Fiery NZ-1000 DFE used to control the printer. In addition to its impressive speed improvement, the blade-server based DFE features Adobe PDF Print Engine 5 for quick, high-impact color rendering and smoother edges on graphics.

The Fiery NZ-1000 DFE also features Smart Ink Estimator, an advanced solution that accurately analyzes image data for more-precise control of ink costs. Fiery Edge, EFI’s next-generation profiling technology for Fiery Driven printers, is included as well. Fiery Edge provides powerful ink saving technology that combines GCR and black generation controls with proprietary technologies so users can further reduce ink costs with no visible loss to image quality. Plus, a Fiery Intensify solution within Edge is a reliable, high-quality rendering intent innovation that can increase color and saturation while maintaining neutral grays and realistic skin tones.

There are several additional Fiery products included with the EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus, such as Fiery JobFlow Base, which automates repetitive job setups; Fiery Spot Pro, which helps ensure maximum accuracy of brand and other spot colors; and Fiery FreeForm Create, a visual variable-data print creation application.

Nozomi digital corrugated production enters the cloud era with another new capability on the Plus model—integration with EFI IQ, a new suite of free and paid applications. The IQ applications give Nozomi C18000 Plus users the ability to better manage their operations by extracting value from operational data. This includes the EFI IQ Dashboard for a personalized view of the day’s digital printing activities; EFI Insight for deep historical data in an easy-to-use, interactive environment; and EFI Notify, which enables automatic distribution of reports and provides users important alerts for production-blocking events.

Across North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, some of the world’s leading pulp and paper companies, along with independent corrugators, boxmakers, and display graphics producers, rely on EFI Nozomi single-pass, direct-to-board digital printing for superior high-graphic production. The Nozomi C18000 Plus extends users’ profit potential, accelerating the digital transformation of medium-run and versioned jobs that are too costly to produce using analog post-print flexo or litho lam processes.

“Without exception, users worldwide consistently achieve double-digit increases in production year over year thanks to the Nozomi C18000’s ability to meet or exceed brands’ strict throughput and quality requirements,” said Evandro Matteucci, vice president and general manager, Packaging and Building Materials, EFI. “The Plus printer, its superior Fiery DFE enhancements, and our new, comprehensive service, support and training offering extend the remarkable market advantages our customers have today.

“The corrugated packaging world has never been the same after the appearance of EFI Nozomi technology,” Matteucci added, “and we are excited to help our customers achieve even greater successes with the new EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus.”

The EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus is part of a complete ecosystem for corrugated manufacturing available from EFI, with leading edge inks, Fiery DFE technology and a complete EFI Corrugated Packaging Suite business and production management workflow. For more information about direct-to-board, single-pass digital corrugated production printing using EFI Nozomi technology, visit nozomi.efi.com.