How the Hongbo new generation Kirin 660CHD breaks through the limitations of coated paper printing
In the realm of book and periodical printing, digital inkjet technology has long been highly anticipated and seen as a key piece to achieving the vision of 'print-on-demand' and 'zero inventory.' However, for a long time, inkjet technology has faced an 'invisible ceiling' when printing on coated paper: due to the dense surface and extremely poor absorbency of the paper, traditional aqueous inkjet often encounters problems such as ink accumulation, slow drying, paper wrinkling, and low color reproduction.
Against this backdrop, Hongbo Intelligent has launched the new generation 1200DPI high-definition color book and periodical digital inkjet printer, Kirin 660CHD. Its core mission is singular: to break through the bottleneck of high-speed inkjet printing on coated paper, achieve high-definition color CMYK double-sided high-speed printing, support precise front-and-back printing, and offer optional functions such as barcode printing, variable data printing for forms, and the recording of order-specific color parameters.
Kirin 660CHD
Brand New 1200 DPI
Application of Industrial-Grade Piezoelectric Ceramic Recirculating Printheads
Book and periodical printing, especially high-end art books and hardcover books, have strict requirements for the sharpness of text edges and the tonal transitions of images. 'The Kirin 660CHD uses Single Pass piezoelectric inkjet technology, and Hongbo's mature mastery of Single Pass technology ensures that high-speed and precise printing processes remain consistently stable and reliable. The application of the brand new 1200 DPI industrial-grade piezoelectric ceramic recirculating printhead is key for the Kirin 660CHD to achieve fine printing on coated paper,' said a research and development engineer for Hongbo's intelligent book and periodical inkjet printing.
The Kirin 660CHD has a maximum printing width of 648 mm and a maximum media width of 660 mm, supporting both roll-to-roll (standard) and roll-to-sheet (optional) feeding methods. It can handle various paper substrates ranging from 45-165 gsm, including coated paper, uncoated paper, digital paper, newsprint, cardstock, and fine paper. The Kirin 660CHD reaches a maximum speed of 200 m/min, and even in the 1200×1200 DPI high-precision mode, the device maintains a production speed of 100 m/min, achieving speeds and quality comparable to offset printing.
According to the introduction, this is based on its 5,116 densely arranged nozzles, which can output clear images and fine text. The ignition frequency reaches up to 80KHz, enhancing printing speed while ensuring stable quality at high-speed inkjet printing. At the same time, it achieves ultra-fine ink droplet printing, reducing droplet size to 2pl-4pl, which is crucial for high-quality printing. The brand-new 1200DPI printhead also adopts large monolithic piezoelectric crystal technology, further ensuring the uniformity of image quality within the printhead and the overall stability and excellence of printing results.
Of course, a circulating printhead is not only about print quality but also determines device stability. The Kirin 660CHD achieves nozzle-level ink circulation, effectively preventing nozzle clogging and ensuring even heat distribution during printing. The printhead is equipped with a comprehensive plate water-cooling system, keeping it consistently at the optimal working temperature. In addition, the Kirin 660CHD also features a nozzle compensation function, which can solve white line issues through software compensation when a nozzle fails.
Self-Developed Ink & Three-Stage Drying System
Cracking the 'Core Challenge' of Coated Paper Printing
Inkjet printing on coated paper is like 'dancing on ice,' where even a slight misstep can result in smudging. How does the Kirin 660CHD address this problem?
'The key lies in our self-developed special ink that is compatible with general glossy/matte coated papers.' According to a Hongbo R&D engineer, the Kirin 660CHD special ink has multiple advantages: fast drying, wide color gamut, ink and energy saving, easy maintenance, and excellent wettability. The ink is deeply compatible with equipment, printheads, and substrates, ensuring printing stability and color consistency. It is also compatible with conventional offset paper printing, so customers do not need to repeatedly switch inks, enabling smooth operation and improving printing efficiency.
Fast drying is one of the core technical bottlenecks of inkjet printing on coated paper. To address common issues such as 'untimely drying, easy wrinkling, and incomplete ink layer curing' in general coated paper inkjet printing, the Kirin 660CHD innovatively developed a three-stage high-efficiency drying system. Through layered collaboration and precise temperature control, it creates a high-efficiency drying 'combo' adapted to the special ink.
The three-stage drying system consists of instant drying, drum drying, and hot air drying modules, forming a full-process drying closed loop:
01
Instant Drying System
It acts quickly on the freshly printed paper, effectively reducing ink penetration, leveling, and wrinkling, making text clearer and sharper and enhancing color rendering.
02
Drum Drying System
Adopting a semi-enclosed drum structure design, it not only extends the drying paper path for more uniform heat exposure but minimizes heat dissipation with its insulation design; each section's heat layout is scientifically arranged, ensuring stable and uniform drying efficiency. While maximizing ink layer drying, it saves energy, meeting long-term, large-scale production needs.
03
Hot Air Drying System
Further dries the ink layer while removing surface moisture, ensuring the paper surface remains dry, preventing sticking during stacking, and providing convenience for subsequent processes such as sheet collection and binding.
For more in-depth insights into the Kirin 660CHD-Hongbo Intelligent 1200DPI Color Book and Periodical Digital Inkjet Advanced Solutions, please stay tuned for our follow-up reports.