Concerning the sheets, whilst the processing of them is a vital part of the process, what cannot be ignored is the feeding and delivery of this large sheet. Lithographic press manufacturers would most likely scoff at the feeding of a B2 sheet, but the technology of inkjet printers and the nature of the printers used here differs so the challenges are different. The PRO Z75 can be configured with a number of combinations but it comes as standard with a two-drawer system that holds up to the large B2 sheet. You can add two further trays should you need them and for dedicated longer-run production, a full pallet loading unit can be chosen. Due to the nature of work that the PRO Z75 is targeting, the drawer system will give the flexibility of changing between sheet sizes easily and with smaller print runs the number of sheets needing to be added will be small so handling is less of an issue. Regardless of the sheets needed, once they leave whichever feeding unit is selected, the sheet goes via a registration unit which aligns each sheet to the correct position prior to it being collected for delivery to the printing unit. The PRO Z75 can print on any sheet up to 600gsm whether it is coated, offset, or uncoated substrate; the latter may require adjustment within the process for the best results. Should uncoated stocks be the main substrate you are planning to use, Ricoh can add a coating unit to the PRO Z75 to get the best results on uncoated stocks. Post imaging the PRO Z75 has a pallet system to collect the printed sheets and stack them ready for further processing. The whole system from feeder to delivery is controlled easily from an oversized control screen which can be scheduled, moved, or adjusted depending on production requirements. Positioning the PRO Z75 The printer has made significant waves since being released and Ricoh is clearly positioning the PRO Z75 as a replacement for offset lithographic technology where the run lengths make it viable. The market is moving ever more to lower production run lengths and being increasingly likely to be internet-based from order placement. The added need for lithographic quality and variable data means digital technology is the only route that makes all this possible. The use of the Ricoh PRO Z75 gives production volume, speed, scope, and quality that will tick all the boxes for a modern printer and the gap closes even more between analogue and digital technology. Brian Sims Principal Consultant, Metis Print Consultancy, www.metis-uk.eu 37 www.printmonthly.co.uk July / August 2024 - Issue 349 Maximum speed 4,500 sheets per hour Colours 4 (CMYK) Sheet size (max) 585 x 750mm Resolution 1,200 dpi Statistics UNDER THE HOOD / RICOH PRO Z75
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