Domino has launched the N730i digital label press, the first to use its new Generation 7 inkjet platform.

N730i is available with up to seven colours and offers an optimal printing speed of 70m/min for all print jobs according to Domino, including those with screen-like white, but with a consistent high-quality print rather than reduced print quality or reliability as often necessitated to achieve such speeds with current inkjet printing options.

N730i incorporates a host of brand new features including the Brother Bitstar 1200dpi piezo printhead, the SunLight graphical user interface, and the latest automated Domino i-Tech intelligent technology features, SetAlign and CleanCap2.

The Brother Bitstar 1200dpi printhead uses a combination of the smallest drop sizes of 2.1pl and nominal drop sizes of 2.8pl and 3.3pl to provide consistent ink density across the image, with claimed sharper edges and smoother gradients. Patented triple-layer polycrystalline micro piezo technology minimises cross talk and delivers precise nozzle control for optimum drop placement accuracy.

SunLight is a flexible graphical user interface designed to be intuitive and configurable. A new enhanced version of the Esko digital front end has also been adopted, including improved variable data printing performance, and producing process colours including orange and violet, for lower ink usage and an increased colour gamut. Support for the industry standard JDF/JMF data transfer format allows for automated job set-up and reporting. This allows upward integration with MIS software.

i-Tech SetAlign is a new automated system that sets density and accurately aligns the printheads. i-Tech CleanCap2 is an automated printhead cleaning and capping system, which is a controlled process reducing manual operator intervention and waste.

Philip Easton, director of the Domino Digital Printing Solutions division, commented, ‘This is the most significant new product we have launched since we started in the digital label press business. It has been a huge collaborative team effort, spread over five years, involving our colleagues at Brother Industries, supplier partners, our development team and our existing customers. Today, we are so proud of what the N730i delivers, as we truly believe it is setting new standards in high performance inkjet label printing.’

Louise Adcock, global product manager at Domino Digital Printing Solutions, noted, ‘We have almost 1000 global installations already using our existing Generation 6 inkjet platform. During the development of the N730i, we really listened to our customers, so we are confident that this press will enable label converters to get the best return from their digital printing investment. Based on customer feedback, we focused on three key areas in providing consistent print quality at high speed, ease of use and flexibility.’

As a modular platform, N730i is available with optional flexo stations for priming to facilitate consistent quality even on challenging media types, and for spot colours or varnishing, increasing the range of jobs that can be achieved, or for reverse white for cost-effective shrink sleeve applications. These flexo stations can be retrofitted.

N730i runs Domino’s UV90 inkset, including a white ink that is commonly used by customers as a screen replacement achieving an opacity of up to 76%, and features Textures by Domino printing capability, which enables tactile three-dimensional label design effects to be created for greater shelf appeal.

Mr Easton concluded, ‘When we introduced our N600i and then the N610i digital label presses, our focus was to be as good as flexo. With the N730i, we believe we are offering a quality of output that sets a new high performance inkjet standard, and perhaps now flexo needs to start catching up.’

UK converter Olympus Print Group has installed the first Domino N730i.