OUTPUT

When the HP Scitex FB6100 originally appeared in its first incarnation, back in June 2003, it actually created something of a stir. Following trials and beta testing, it seemed that here was a machine which actually did what it said on the tin. It was an early industrial-strength UV-curable flat-bed printer with not an awful lot around to challenge it and, while it had a few rather odd idiosyncrasies, it relied on well-established print-heads and a tough construction.

Not a pretty beast back in the days when we still tended to regard new ink-jet engines as visions of jaw-dropping innovation, its street price was also on the heavy side, particularly for an ink technology which was yet to take off big time. Times change, of course, and developments move forward as users expect more.

Improvements and modifications must carry both technological refinements as well as enhancements which provide convenience and ease of operation. Thus the original design and construction of the early versions of what is now the HP Scitex FB6100 are considered by many to be cumbersome and outdated. Its 3.2m flat-bed is accompanied by a narrower roll-feed but, possibly its biggest disadvantage, it doesn't have a through media feed.

Despite the venerable length of its very respectable teeth, there are still plenty of the original versions of this machine carrying out work on a daily basis. So, compared with many of today's platforms, even at the lower end of the investment scale, it doesn't bristle with many of the high levels of technology lots of people have come to expect. And, true, it looks a little dated if aesthetics are your thing.

The HP Scitex FB6100 was part of the acquisition of NUR in late 2008. When I first ran some tests on the machine, then called the Tempo, not long after it was launched it represented something of a revolution in the flat-bed UV-curable market. Within a couple of years it had benefited from various firmware upgrades and it was also one of the first engines of its class to have the option of white ink.

But, today the world of high-end UV-curable printers is a different place and we expect more from them. So, in saying that, it's probably fair to admit that the FB6100 is no longer the shining star it was nine years ago. On the other hand, it provided a valuable glimpse into the future of flat-bed printing and, in many ways, was ahead of its time. Nothing lasts forever, but this engine has stayed the course of time for considerably longer than many of its counterparts.

Click here to read Laurel Brunner's response to the Question of the Week, Has the HP FB6100 had its day? What do you think? Use the comments form below to give your opinion.