Features Printing
Ricoh launches world’s first B2 perfecting sheetfed aqueous-based inkjet press

Ricoh debuts the Ricoh Pro Z75 digital press, the first B2 perfecting (auto-duplexing) sheetfed inkjet platform using aqueous ink.

The press will be officially available for public orders in North America as of November 15, 2023.

In June 2022, Heeter Printing, a Pittsburgh area full-service secure marketing provider for highly demanding industries like insurance, retail, and gaming, teamed up with Ricoh to serve as the official beta site for the B2 sheetfed inkjet press platform.

“There’s a significant gap in the industry today when it comes to the size of jobs that are most efficient to run on offset, continuous feed inkjet and cutsheet digital production platforms,” said Kirk Schlecker, president, Heeter Printing. “The RICOH Pro Z75 is like a multitool for our operation. It gives us flexibility in how we produce customer jobs by bridging that gap, with the productivity to take on work from our traditional 40-in. offset, inkjet web and cutsheet toner devices. It combines the image quality, efficiency, print size, substrate flexibility and economics that allow us to say ‘yes’ to more jobs, and ultimately deliver a better customer experience for our clients. With the support Ricoh provides and their commitment to stand behind their products, the Ricoh Pro Z75 makes a compelling case for any print service provider looking to achieve what they once could have only imagined.”

The RICOH Pro Z75 offers print speeds of up to 4,500 sheets per hour (SPH) in straight printing or 2,250 SPH in duplex / perfecting printing. Stainless steel piezo print heads bring 1,200 dpi native resolution at all speeds with 4 colour (CMYK) pigment-based inks. The RICOH Pro Z75 also expands substrate flexibility, handling uncoated, inkjet treated and offset coated media up to 400 gsm (24 pt) with a max sheet size of 23 x 29-in.

“As shorter runs and increasing demand for data-driven communications push print service providers to adapt their production strategies, we are helping them leverage the latest hardware, software and data to become indispensable to their end customers with the Ricoh Pro Z75 as a powerful example of that commitment in action,” said Gavin Jordan-Smith, senior vice-president and general manager, head of global sales strategy division and Ricoh Graphic Communications North America Sales, Ricoh Graphic Communications. “The result is a new level of performance that enables easier, faster and more profitable production of applications like direct mail, postcards, marketing materials and other commercial print work.”