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Ricoh Pro Z75

Offset quality, digital flexibility and inkjet economics, says Simon Eccles

with 11 heads across the width to give
1,200dpi.
Although it handles offset papers as
standard, Ricoh will release an optional
Undercoater later this year that it says “may
enhance results on some coated and
uncoated offset stocks.” It isn’t needed for
inkjet coated stocks.
It shares ‘Swing & Shift’ sheet registration
technology with Ricoh’s toner presses, with
accuracy comparable to an offset press, the
company claims. Paper is transferred onto
the cylinder drum with grippers, then held
by vacuum during printing. An alignment
This B2-plus duplexing inkjet press is Dragon and given dramatic wrap graphics. mark printed on each top sheet is detected
aiming to take over short-run offset work The full sales release started on 1 April this for front-to-back registration.
– and give dry toner digital presses a run year. There’s an inline scanner for closed-loop
for their money – by offering higher Tim Carter, commercial print director at quality control. Jet-outs can be detected
capacity but lower operating costs. Ricoh UK Graphic Communications, says:
Specifications
“The Pro Z75 was developed to help com- and compensated for during the run.
What does it do? Process DoD piezo mercial printers reach new levels of pro- Printhead cleaning is handled by an auto-
This is a B2-plus format sheetfed duplex inkjet ductivity and image quality, with mated web and blade system. Drying uses a
inkjet press, with CMYK aqueous inks. It competitive operating costs. It is positioned combination of IR, LED lamps and air
can handle offset coated, uncoated and Inks Aqueous, CMYK to empower commercial printers to transi-
inkjet optimised papers, with Ricoh claim- Resolution tion from short-run offset to profitable knives.
ing high quality for applications including 1,200x1,200dpi high-quality digital inkjet printing.” This is a four-colour press but Carter says
commercial printing, direct mail, colour So far there are no inline finishing the print engine has “space for additional
books and personalised packaging. Throughput options. However, Ricoh points out that it’s rows of printheads and therefore extra col-
It’s intended to take over short-run offset 4,500sph simplex compatible with standard finishing kit
work, while offering higher capacity but or 2,200sph duplex developed for B2 litho presses. ours are a future possibility. However, the
lower operating costs than dry toner digital for up to 330gsm Ricoh’s other ‘Pro’ sheetfed digital colour inks already offer a broad colour gamut”.
presses. Although slower than offset weights presses, the Pro C7500 and Pro C9500, are Covers-open photographs show room for
presses, there’s no downtime for plate long-SRA3 formats that handle substrates two more rows.
changes and makeready, and paper can be Max paper size from 40-470gsm, compared with the
changed on the fly. B2-plus 60-400gsm of the Pro Z75. The Pro C7500 The standard high-capacity stacker takes
The Z75 name refers to the nominal Paper weight range also has a fifth colour station. The B2-plus about 7,200 sheets, with the optional sec-
750mm maximum sheet length (it will take 115-400gsm format of the Pro Z75 allows larger imposi- ond stacker allowing unloading without
banners longer than that). tion schemes if needed, and increases stopping. A tape inserter separates different
throughput with the optional pallet feeder
When was it launched and what and dual stacker. jobs. A proofing tray on top can deliver
markets is it aimed at? small, more urgent jobs.
How does it work?
Pro Z75 was first announced in 2020. It The Fiery Controller and HyperRIP are
was delayed by Covid, so it was late 2023 It’s a sheetfed inkjet press with inline common with the Pro C7500 and C9500.
before there was a limited “controlled duplexing that handles sheets of B2-plus. The press’ large control touchscreen shows
release” in Japan. It was demonstrated in There are two (optionally four) paper feed
Europe as a big part of Ricoh’s Drupa stand trays plus the dual output stacker option. status, paper settings, remaining paper and
a year ago, where in keeping with Ricoh’s The inkjet print engine uses Ricoh’s own ink, job queues and status, and the mainte-
new animal naming scheme, it was called drop-on-demand water-cooled printheads, nance schedule.
The B2-plus format of the Pro Z75 allows larger imposition schemes if needed.

30 PrintWeek MENA May 2025 www.printweekmena.com