At CR&A Custom, we believe that innovation only makes sense if it produces technologies that offer both better quality and a greener future.
It was in keeping with this vision that we became early adopters of the HP Latex R technology by adding to our line of equipment the HP Latex R2000 Plus printer, the first of its kind west of the Mississippi.
This new technology produces more vivid, durable prints while leveraging technical solutions designed with the environment in mind.
What Is Latex Printing?
The term “latex” refers in this case to microscopic polymer particles that float suspended in a water-based solution together with pigment particles. This is the basic composition of latex inks.
The water-based solution serves as a vehicle, the pigment provides color, and the latex particles form a durable layer that protects the print. The entire process occurs inside the latex printer, so there’s no need to wait for prints to dry, a feature that improves productivity.
It’s important to note that here “latex” doesn’t refer to the elastic substance obtained naturally from certain plants. While some people are allergic to natural latex, the synthetic polymers used in latex printing are non-allergenic.
What Are the Advantages of Latex Printing?
Latex printing offers a host of benefits that place it a notch above other printing methods:
- More environmentally friendly
- Faster and more efficient than other alternatives
- Durability in both outdoor and indoor applications
- Prints are odorless, unlike solvent-based inks
- Latex inks are non-flammable and non-combustible
- Prints are safe to use even in sensitive environments, such as hospitals or daycares
A benefit exclusive to the HP Latex R2000 Plus is that it can print in white, a ground-breaking achievement in latex printing.
White ink is denser than inks of other colors, so storing it and using it presents unique challenges. The HP Latex R2000 Plus solves these obstacles with innovative solutions that blend technical ingenuity and an environmentally-minded approach.
Why Is Latex Printing More Environmentally Friendly?
Prints produced with latex inks emit very low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Additionally, latex inks do not produce ozone emissions during printing and contain no HAPs (hazardous air pollutants).
With latex printing, there is no special ventilation required to meet occupational exposure limits, an issue of special concern when using solvent-based printing technologies.
HP latex inks adhere to Ecologo and Greeenguard, two of the most stringent standards for low chemical emissions into indoor air. Finally, many of the latex printing supplies that HP produces are recyclable.
Greater efficiency and more environmentally-friendly solutions are often seen as goals that are at odds with each other. Latex printers demonstrate that it’s possible to enjoy the best of both worlds.
“The motto of the company is to let the designer’s imagination run wild and Latex has enabled to accomplish that,” says Carmen Rad, president of CR&A Custom. “This new printer opens the doors for a tremendous amount of new opportunities including the décor industry, achieving enhanced ink adhesion using a coating technology to print on an expanded offering of materials.”
About CR&A Custom
We are a large format printing company located in Los Angeles, California, and working with clients from all over the U.S. and around the world.
Whether it’s fleet wraps, building wraps, signage, flags, or banners, we have the visual solutions you need to take your brand to new heights.
Contact us today by email (info@cracustom.com), telephone (213-749-4440), or social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) for a free quote or to learn more about our full range of products.
