Agfa has recently signalled its intention to dominate the large format print market. Laurence Roberts, head of Agfa UK, is now claiming: "A company of Agfa's size needs at least 30% of any market to make it viable, and we will spend what we need to achieve that."

　　The man charged with accomplishing this is David Preskett, Agfa's LFP sales manager for Europe. Mr Preskett says that large format is the fastest growing sector in printing, and that Agfa has the right skills in terms of colour knowledge and media coating to be successful.

　　Totally different culture

　　Agfa has already been selling large format printers for a number of years into the proofing market, although Mr Preskett is keen to distance himself from this business, saying that large format is a totally different culture from proofing. To this end Agfa has established a large format printing division, and Mr Preskett is busily recruiting a Europe-wide sales team.

　　Mr Preskett acknowledges that Agfa is a late entrant to the large format printing industry, but says now is the right time: "Currently we see a growth industry being driven by a technology standards war. This deals with three areas: head technology ­ piezo or thermal; media technology ­ thermal coated or microporous; ink technology ­ aqueous, solvent, eco-solvent, and maybe uv in the future."

　　Firmly committed

　　For its part Agfa is firmly committed to piezo heads, with microporous media and eco-solvent inks, and has launched a new printer and media to emphasise this.

　　The printer is the Grand Sherpa Universal, based on Mutoh's Rockhopper II. It is almost identical to Agfa's existing Grand Sherpa, using the same Epson piezo heads, and available in the same sizes ­ 50, 64 and 87ins. Resolution is the same 360, 720 or 1440dpi, but the print speed has doubled to 24sq m/hr at 720dpi.

　　Real difference

　　The real difference lies in the new Eco-Solvent Plus inks, which can print to coated and uncoated media, for indoor and outdoor graphics. Mr Preskett is confident that these inks will put Agfa ahead of the curve, saying that the market has shifted away from aqueous inks and that solvent inks are likely to fall foul of forthcoming EU legislation.

　　The Eco-Solvent Plus inks have less of the harmful volatile organic compounds, so they do not give off unpleasant odours, and no filtration unit is required. Instead, the printer is fitted with four heaters around the print heads, which heat up the surface of the media to 70°C, allowing the inks to penetrate beneath the surface. This has the added advantage that the prints are dry as they leave the printer, and can be rolled up immediately.

　　Embodies new approach

　　The printer comes with an Agfa edition of the Onyx Postershop 6.0 Rip, complete with Agfa ICC profiles, and this is where Agfa has really added value to what is after all a Mutoh printer and inks. These profiles embody a new approach, which Agfa has rather grandly termed variable drop density. The printer itself is capable of three drop sizes ­ 5.4, 11.5 and 25 picolitre, but it is the Rip that determines how those three drop sizes are used.

　　Normal practice is for progressive distribution of small, medium and large drop sizes to fill tints from 0-100%, which tends to result in a lot of small drops in the lighter tint areas.

　　The variable drop density in the Agfa profiles uses a smaller number of larger dots for tints and highlights, resulting in less overall ink being put on the media. This avoids banding, leads to less printing artefacts such as coalescence and gives higher saturation in single colours. Mr Preskett says that this uses up to 25% less ink, with less ink drying problems and lower costs.

　　Completely new range

　　Perhaps the most important feature, from Agfa's point of view, is the completely new range of Universal-branded media. These are highly specialised media, featuring multilayer, microporous coatings making them scratch and water resistant, with no need for further laminating, and a three year outdoor life.

　　Agfa gained a lot of experience of complex multi-layer coating through its film business, and Mr Preskett is keen to emphasise the benefits of these coatings, predicting that only media coaters with this type of experience will survive in the future.

　　However, this type of media is more expensive ­ up to 20% more than other coated materials, and four times more than uncoated material. Mr Preskett says this cost will be offset by the lower ink costs.

　　Price conscious

　　In essence, he believes that Agfa can use attractive media deals to grab a large market share, much as it has used its platemaking to drive ctp sales. However, the large format market is even more price conscious than the plate market, and Agfa is primarily selling its media on quality.

　　Mr Preskett says that the Grand Sherpa Universal's flexibility, printing to a range of media, coated and uncoated, should mean there is something for everyone.

　　Confident users will save

　　He is confident that users will save money over three years by switching to the new Sherpa piezo technology, through lower ink and support costs. Agfa is also offering a mix of monthly rental schemes over a period of two or three years, plus trade in deals and upgrades.