Muller Martini signed an exclusive agreement with Chicago-based printing company R.R. Donnelley & Sons (RRD) to develop “the first fully integrated digital inkjet press and inline binding system.” This production line, according to Muller, will focus on producing books and reach speeds of up to 800 feet per minute.
The first six systems, to be formed through the combination of RRD’s proprietary ProteusJet press, which hits 1,200 dpi, and Muller Martini’s SigmaLine, are scheduled for United States-based deployment through 2010 and 2011.
Just days earlier, at PRINT 09, HP announced it had finalized plans to collaborate on the development of inkjet-based presses with RRD, still regarded as the world’s largest commercial printing company, although it also carries several print-related services.
While they have not yet signed formal agreements, HP and RRD stated that they initially plan to focus on the development of a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) printing system. MICR-based printing is primarily used by financial institutions for security reasons on products like cheques. The resulting printing system, which the companies expect will ultimately be offered as an “optional component” of the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press (formerly known as the HP Inkjet Web Press), would focus on transactional and direct-mail work.
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