ROCHESTER, NY—At a recent media briefing, Xerox released details of its new entry-production digital press, the Versant 2100, and offered a look at Xerox strategy in the graphic arts space.

The Versant 2100 is a new, ground-up design that builds on the best of what Xerox has learned from other presses, said Chris Irick. Fitting between the C75/J75, and the Docucolor 800/1000, it replaces the Docucolor 8080 and aims to raise the bar in the light-production space with key automation features.

The new Versant 2100 digital press

A new compact belt fuser delivers 100 pages per minute on weights from 52 to 350 gsm on an array of substrates that includes linen, polyester, vinyl magnet and specialty  stocks. Other features include auto sheet clearing, for near hands-free jam clearing, automated colour management via image-to-media alignment profiles, and new technology that maintains tight registration throughout the press from page to page and run to run. 

 On side to deliver higher image quality is the new Ultra HD Resolution, which produces smoother gradients and sharper images with the low-melt EA dry ink at 1,200 x 1,200 dpi at up to 10 bits, capturing four times the pixels than a 600 x 600 resolution. On the front end, there's three options: the Fiery EX and EX-P from EFI and the Freeflow from Xerox. 

Order taking beings in July for third-quarter installations.

During a media lunch, Andrew Copley, president of the global graphics communications group, and  Robert Stables, senior vice president, offered some insights into Xerox's future plans. The current strategy hovers over three strategic planks: lead in digital printing with cutsheet devices; capture new growth with inkjet technology; and enable the digital transformation with workflow and services.

Asked about the role of inkjet in the commercial printing space, Stabler said that in his view, the technology needs to address issues of ink coverage, substrate variety, speed, and drying before offset work can migrate to it. All these issues will be solved in time, he said, but progress will come in stages. 

Xerox's arsenal in this area consists of the continuous feed devices, including the Cipress and the recently acquired Impika series. Asked about what's coming down the road for the Impikas, the execs pointed to MICR capability, workflow improvements, new heads, VHQ modes, and a 30" device coming on the back end of this year.