HP aims to accelerate print business growth

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The demand for striking vehicle graphics is continuing to grow year-on-year, driven in part by the rapidly expanding market for home delivery services

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The market for car vinyl printing and vehicle wrap printing services is buoyant, with the growth in e-commerce and home delivery having driven demand for branded vehicles on the road. [1]

While this presents a big opportunity, today’s customers want personalisation, flexibility, sustainable options, and fast turnaround times. For print-service-providers (PSPs) and vehicle graphics specialists to take advantage, they need to invest in new technology to speed up delivery, differentiate themselves through outstanding design, and reduce their environmental impact—as well as finding more skilled installers to take on the extra work.

The good news is that print and ink technologies are evolving, enabling printers to overcome these challenges, transform into modern digital print businesses, and build a solid base for future growth. HP Latex is one of these technologies, so what does the organisation feel are its key strengths?

Wrapping 900 T6 Mini
A key strength of HP Latex Ink is once applied to vinyl is its ability to flex and stretch around tight vehicle curves

A bright future

HP’s creative approach to printer technology innovation is aimed at creating, “a fast, bright and efficient future in vehicle graphics” for PSPs.

For vehicle graphics providers, time is money. If they can deliver high-quality graphics to clients faster, they can say yes to more jobs. To help save time, prints come out of HP Latex printers completely dry, and ready to be laminated and installed immediately – saving the time required to degas prints. HP Latex also enables you to confidently take on same-day and quick turnaround jobs with excellent results.

Media waste is another big cost-base for graphics printers, and in particular, inks cracking during installation is a common problem. HP Latex Inks are highly flexible and easy to work with, allowing you to work with the most difficult surfaces and shapes. And, because they are fully compatible with all major vinyl brands from monomeric, polymeric, and cast, you can guarantee high-quality printed vinyl wrap sheets with most materials.

When applying a printed vinyl onto a complex shape, like a wing mirror or spoiler, the inks will stretch without cracking or losing saturation–even when printed with white inks. This shows how using a Latex Printer for vehicle wraps can save time and money spent on re-prints.

Creative ambitions

HP are also passionate about helping print-service-providers to unleash their creative instinct with the whitest white ink[2]

Traditionally, white ink has been difficult to work with, and so it is largely been avoided in custom car wrap printing. But inks have moved on and HP Latex White Ink has become an industry standard[3]. It adds the possibility to print vibrant white on coloured, metallic, and transparent media, adding incredible effects, with all the flexibility of our other inks—without fading or turning yellow.

HP Latex inks are also water-based and designed to avoid the hazards associated with eco-solvent, UV and UV-gel inks. HP passionately believe that working with advanced printing and ink technology – such as HP Latex series – can help PSPs say yes to more (and more challenging) jobs. Are you ready to step into the future of vehicle graphics?


[1] Insider Intelligence, Ecommerce Industry Statistics, https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/ecommerce-industry

[2]  Whitest white based on ISO/DIS 23498 compared to top sellers competitive alternatives using UV technology between $100,000 and $200,000 USD as of February 2022. Test performed on black opaque self-adhesive vinyl (L*:2.35 – a:2.73 – b:4.26) with 260% Spot printmode using HP 883 3-liter White Latex Ink Cartridge. Visual opacity = 94.7%#

[3]  Whitest white based on ISO/DIS 23498 compared to top sellers competitive alternatives using UV technology between $100,000 and $200,000 USD as of February 2022. Test performed on black opaque self-adhesive vinyl (L*:2.35 – a:2.73 – b:4.26) with 260% Spot printmode using HP 883 3-liter White Latex Ink Cartridge. Visual opacity = 94.7%


Get in touch with your HP sales representatives who can advise you on the best printer of the HP Latex range and inks at the FESPA UK Wrap Fest.

Book your ticket here: avolio.swapcard.com/wrapfest/registrations/Start

To explore exclusive HP content, webinar and videos go to: hp.com/gb-en/printers/large-format/applications/car-wraps.html

Request your free printing sample kit at: hp.com/gb-en/printers/large-format/latex-printers.html

  For any additional information on the HP Latex printer range call 0800 4084 348 or send an email to: andy.white@hp.com

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