PMA March 2010 : Page 23 The same technology is in every current Rho machine, he says. It’s a 30 picoliter droplet size delivering 600-by-600 dpi. The Rho lineup includes both flatbed and roll machines; the flatbed models are actu- ally hybrids, handling both rigid and roll. Flatbed models handle materials up to 98 inches wide, with model variations relating to speed. The Rho 800 delivers 624 square feet per hour in POP mode, the 900 almost doubles that, and the 1000 hits 3,000 square feet per hour in POP mode and 6,000 square feet in draft. The latter machine can print 4-by-8 feet sheets at the rate of 100 per hour, which, as Howard puts it, is “crankin’ fast.” The Rho 320 roll machine handles materials to 3.2 meters, and the Rho 500 to 5.0 meters. In the Rho 500, there are 2,048 nozzles per color, with printing at speeds to 4,300 square feet per hour. In addition to CMYK colors, all Rho models have the option of white underprint, white overprint, or varnish. The Rho series, says Howard, is a natural extension of the Lambda line, created in response to the needs and demands of Lambda users, with eco-friendly inks able to print to board and various substrates. The Rho was a “big investment” for Durst, Howard acknowledges, but it has paid off. ■ Publication List |
