FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2006

New Rho 600 Pictor Printer Delivers Durst Quality, Productivity, Versatility In Low-Priced Flatbed Inkjet Platform

Compact, Versatile Workhorse Prints on Almost Anything Up to 62” Wide, 1.58” Thick

LAS VEGAS, NV ­ The new Rho 600 Pictor Flatbed UV Inkjet Printer ­ a fully featured printer with a small footprint and an economical price tag ­ is making its U.S. debut at SGIA in Las Vegas this week in the Durst booth (#4400). The Rho 600 Pictor, first introduce at FESPA Digital in May, is an ideal flatbed UV inkjet printing platform for digital print facilities, sign shops ­ virtually any commercial imager that produces output wider than 24 inches, the company said.

The Rho 600 Pictor is equipped with proprietary Quadro™ Array print head technology that lays down 30-picolitre droplets for crisp, color-accurate images at true 600-dpi resolution. Available with a proven white ink printing capability, plus special-effect varnish and spot colors, the Rho 600 Pictor can print directly onto virtually any surface up to 62 inches wide and 1.58 inches thick ­ at print speeds of nearly 200 sf/hr. Designed primarily for rigid substrates, the Rho 600 Pictor has a productive hardware-and-software option for printing small signs placed at close viewing distances, Durst said. There’s also a roll feed-and-take-up accessory, Durst said.

“Durst has engineered the best characteristics of its Rho 600 Large-Format Flatbed UV Inkjet printer into a compact, affordable platform that makes Durst quality, productivity and versatility accessible to a much larger audience of commercial imagers,” said A. Ron Waters, President and CEO, Durst Image Technology U.S., LLC. “Our new Rho 600 Pictor can do the job of several 24-inch inkjet printers while providing new output capabilities, workflow efficiencies and business opportunities to the user.”

The Rho 600 Pictor is controlled by the same advanced Linux workstation that comes with the Rho 600. The RIP system is comprised of Durst printer software with an integrated Cheetah RIP.

Tailor-Made Durst Inks
High-quality UV inks made especially for Durst are optimized for use in the Rho 600 Pictor and all the company’s Rho printers. The Rho Flexible Ink Set and Rho Rigid Ink Set are especially well suited for Durst’s compact new printer. The Rho Flexible Ink Set is ideal for such flexible substrates as vinyl, transparencies and blue-back paper. The Rho Rigid Ink Set is formulated for rigid materials ­ metals, acrylics, Plexiglas and glass ­ for which adhesion is often a problem.

In all cases, Durst’s Rho UV inks provide the appropriate viscosity, hardening, adhesion and flexibility, along with the short drying times, long durability and vivid, true colors that lead the industry and satisfy the demands of professional imagers, Durst said.

Durst’s Quadro™ Array Printing
Until recently, all of the major inkjet printer manufacturers have purchased their print heads from one of several head makers ­ which means performance has been rather consistent among manufacturers. But the family of Rho UV inkjet printers uses a unique, Durst-designed inkjet system called a Quadro™ Array. An array is made up of four nozzle plates with a total of 512 nozzles ­ nearly twice that of standard heads ­ in a configuration that permits previously unattainable coverage and color saturation.

Each Quadro™ Array prints at a user-selectable 400 dpi or 600 dpi, applying variable drop sizes (between 30 and 55 picolitres) depending on dpi setting and equipment configuration. A straight ink feed system and other design features enable an extremely reliable jetting function with minimal nozzle dropouts and a reduced need for purging. Durst-designed fire-pulse electronics assure precise ink laydown to create smooth solids and fine text. Durst Quadro™ Arrays, specifically designed for UV inkjet inks, are covered by a 12-month warranty.

The Rho 600 Pictor Flatbed UV Inkjet Printer is available now in North America, and Durst U.S. is now taking orders for delivery in the fourth quarter. Interested parties can obtain pricing and other information by phone at (888) 480-3588, by e-mail at info@durst.com, or online at www.durstus.com.

About Durst
Durst Phototechnik AG is a leading manufacturer of digital imaging systems for graphic, pre-press, signage, commercial/retail display, packaging, industrial and photographic applications. Headquartered in Brixen, Italy, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Brixen and Lienz, Austria; has major offices in the U.S., France, United Kingdom, Germany and Mexico; and partners with exclusive agents in 120 countries. Durst’s reputation for quality, precision and reliability spans nearly 70 years.

Durst Image Technology U.S., LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Durst Phototechnik Group, is the exclusive distributor and service provider for all Durst professional digital imaging equipment in the United States and Canada. Durst’s professional imaging products include the renowned Lambda laser imagers, Rho large-format UV inkjet printers, Theta family of imagers, Zeta Plus roll-to-roll laser printer, Sigma high-speed film scanners, and other products.

Durst Image Technology U.S., LLC
Phone: (585) 486-0340
E-Mail: rwaters@durstus.com
Website URL: www.durstus.com