HP Unveils Innovative Large-format Printing Solutions

New technologies bolster HP’s offerings in the sign and display market

ATLANTA, Georgia, HP today unveiled the latest additions to its portfolio of large-format digital printing solutions, bolstering the company’s efforts to target the estimated $53 billion page-value opportunity for the global sign and display market projected for 2010.(1)

These additions – demonstrated at SGIA ’08 – strengthen HP’s position as the leading provider of large-format technologies and solutions, and include:

* The HP Scitex FB7500 Printer, which delivers industry-leading productivity along with high print speeds and standard three-quarter automation.
* The HP Scitex FB950 Printer, which provides consistent high-quality point-of purchase/point-of-sale (POP/POS), tradeshow and event signage on virtually any rigid(2)or flexible media.(3)
* The HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer, which delivers higher print speeds and quality at lower costs than its predecessor.
* The U.S. debut of the HP Designjet L65500 Printer, the first of a new category of large-format signage printers to feature HP Latex Inks.

HP’s product showcase, demonstrated live in HP booth 2203, features a full range of digital solutions designed to help print service providers (PSPs) profitably grow their businesses while reducing the total impact of their printing on the environment.

“HP is dedicated to providing the broadest portfolio of large-format digital printing technology and end-to-end solutions, along with an unwavering commitment to our customers’ success,” said Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager, Large-format Printing, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “The recent additions to HP’s portfolio strengthen our leadership position in the large-format printing industry by providing our customers increased value, productivity, quality and versatility, and offering the ability to lower the environmental impact of their printing.”

Convert high-quality production volume to digital

With speeds of up to 500 m2/hr (5,380 ft2/hr) and three-quarter automated loading to reduce idle time between sheets by up to 85 percent,(4) the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer delivers the highest productivity of digital flatbed printers in its price class.(5)

An ideal solution for close-view POP/POS applications, exhibition graphics, signage, backlit displays and posters, the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer is built on the proven HP Scitex TJ Series printing platform, and offers the added benefit of HP Scitex X2 Printhead technology, which combines silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology and innovative piezoelectric inkjet technology. Supporting a native resolution of up to 500 dpi in the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer, the printheads delivers the heavy ink flows required for high-speed, high-quality printing.

The HP Scitex FB7500 Printer will be available for purchase worldwide in May 2009.

High-quality prints and high productivity

The HP Scitex FB950 Printer is a robust flatbed UV printer that delivers high-quality prints and high productivity on virtually any rigid(2)or flexible media(3) for the production of durable outdoor and indoor applications, including POP/POS signage, tradeshow graphics, interior decorations, banners and street furniture. Designed to increase productivity and profitability with efficient media loading and the ability to print multiple sheets at the same time, the HP Scitex FB950 Printer enables PSPs to accommodate a greater range of customer requests and grow their businesses.

“With the HP Scitex FB950, our company is able to target the high-end event and POP signage markets that we previously could not enter,” said Mike Ottens, owner, Visual Marketing. “We have changed our workflow from printing on pre-laminated posters to printing directly on less costly media, which has given us a higher profit margin on signage and helped our cost of goods to decrease substantially.”

The printer’s six HP Scitex FB250 color inks and printheads with variable-sized drops combine to produce great image detail – up to 1,200 x 600 optimized dpi – and smooth color transitions across a wide variety of media. Advanced features, such as an onboard camera, spectrophotometer, embedded software and a solid media feed system, ensure consistent results and worry-free operation.

The HP Scitex FB950 Printer will be available for worldwide general purchase on November 15, 2008.

Increase speed and lower costs

The HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer features up to a 50 percent increase in print speed and up to 20 percent lower cost per print compared to the preceding HP Scitex TJ8500 Printer. With the new HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer, PSPs can confidently respond to a wide range of customer requests for the high-speed production of indoor and outdoor applications, including sheet-to-sheet or double-sided applications with the built-in HP Scitex Double-sided printing upgrade.

Additionally, HP is offering field upgradability for existing HP Scitex TJ8500 Printer owners. The upgrade kit includes hardware, software, on-site installation and training.
To complement the new HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer, HP also introduced HP Scitex TJ200 Ink, a UV-curable ink that delivers improved quality and reliability while lowering operational costs.

The HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer and upgrade kit will be available in February 2009.

New for the North American market

The HP Designjet L65500 Printer featuring HP Latex Printing Technologies offers PSPs a compelling alternative for creating a wide variety of indoor and outdoor applications while reducing the environmental impact of printing and delivering quality and durability at breakthrough print speeds.(6)

The 104-inch-wide printer offers sign and display PSPs a versatile system that can produce a broad range of applications with new water-based HP Latex Inks. Prints produced with HP Latex Inks are odorless,(7) emit extremely low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), require no special ventilation(8) and are not classified as hazardous waste.(9)

HP has also expanded the HP Graphic Arts Capture Business Success Program, a collection of tools, training and programs to help HP customers gain a competitive advantage and add value to their companies’ bottom lines. Designed for HP large-format customers and HP Indigo press customers interested in offering large-format printing, HP Capture offers a full range of tools to help PSPs gain a competitive edge in large-format printing, including customizable marketing templates, cobranded advertising templates and data sheets.

HP at SGIA

HP is participating in the High Production Inkjet Printing Future Forum at SGIA’08, a panel discussion with industry leaders on high-production inkjet and technological developments that allow for high-quality, high-speed inkjet imaging. The forum takes place on Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET in room C-205 of the Georgia World Congress Center and will include Dr. Ross Allen, senior technology specialist, HP Imaging and Printing Group.

Additionally, Len Koerts of Scitex Strategic Marketing at HP, will present a seminar titled “Choices for Wide and Superwide Format Printers,” on Oct. 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. ET in room C-201 that will include a discussion of current printhead technology and tips for ink selection and differentiating between wide and superwide format printing.

More information about the conference is available from the SGIA ’08 website: www.sgia.org. More information about large-format printing solutions from HP is available in an online press kit at www.hp.com/go/gsbfall08.

About HP

HP, the world’s largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) HP internal estimates for the year 2010.

(2)Reflective substrates are not supported.

(3) Flexible media printing with an optional Roll-fed Media Supply and Takeup system.

(4) Manual loading and unloading of a sheet can take 45 seconds or more; the loading mechanism reduces that time to no more than nine seconds.

(5) Based on published manufacturer specifications as of July 2008.

(6) In the price/performance category for which printers based on HP Latex Printing Technologies are intended.

(7) Printers using HP Latex Inks use internal heaters to dry and cure the latex polymer film. Some substrates may have inherent odor.

(8) Special ventilation is not required to meet U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements on occupational exposure to VOCs from HP Latex Inks. Ventilation equipment installation is at the discretion of the customer – no specific HP recommendation is intended. Typically no air discharge permitting required with inks that emit extremely low levels of VOCs. Customers should consult state and local requirements and regulations.

(9) HP Latex Inks are generally not considered hazardous waste. Customers should consult state and local requirements and regulations.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected results; and other risks that are described in HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2008 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.