See world’s first B2 toner-based printer

The QPress hits 100 pages per minute

While attention at the show seems to have shifted to major inkjet announcements, another long awaited development has been made at drupa, albeit quite quietly.

Hong Kong-based manufacturer Jadason is showing QPress a B2-format simplex production colour printer with a full-sheet speed of 20 sheets per minute. Jadason Technology, involved in entertainment, industrial design and virtual reality, said it has been developing the machine for eight years. Three years ago, it acquired an unnamed Japanese company that provided the technology for the print unit.

Jadason claims a calculated A4 speed of 100ppm (based on a five-up imposition) at a resolution of 1,200dpi: "Instead of using a complicated paper transport system, QPress uses a horizontal paper transport design with air suction paper feeding mechanism." QPress is said to print all supported paper (64-350gsm coated and uncoated) at rated speed.

The compact-designed machine (total footprint less than 6m2) offers full-colour printing plus an optional fifth colour. It handles paper from A4 up to 520x740mm, printing an area of 515x724mm. Jadason has made the machine commercially available at drupa, and it can be seen running live at on Stand C02-4 in Hall 5.