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HP Indigo's 5000 was the first product launched by the newly-branded firm following the acquisition of Indigo by Hewlett-Packard in 2002. "This was really the press that took digital from a niche market to a mass-market application," says Robert Stabler, UK and Ireland country manager for Indigo Digital Print.

Launched at Drupa 2004, its first UK installation was beta-tested by Sheffield-based ProCo. It signed up to HP’s ‘Go to Market’ strategy, targeting the print-on-demand sector.

A successor to the 3050, the 5000’s feed mechanism was re-developed, boasting three feed trays simultaneously accommodating a variety of substrates to reduce paper switching. Targeted at customers wanting offset-type quality from a digital printer, its ability to reproduce spot colours as well as pantone colours made it an instant favourite.

According to Stabler, the 5000 meant that printers could now produce offset quality jobs digitally alongside short-run commercial and variable data work. In 2007 its successor, the 5500, was launched. It featured a new feeder system with a new four-tray feeder, and included the ability to have more drawers added. The machine could handle various types of substrates and was designed to produce high-quality images for the photo and fashion industry.

An added bonus for owners of the 5000 is HP’s ability to retrofit some of the 5500’s software onto the machine. We’ve also made it possible to use the inks for the 5500 on the 5000, says John Jones, Indigo product manager for graphic solutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

This means 5000 users can add the 5500 ink set such as light cyan and light magenta to produce images of a higher quality. Three months ago, the on-press fast ink replacement system, which allows you to replace one colour while printing others, was introduced on the 5000, adds Jones.

Optional extras
The machine comes as standard with four-colours but can also be configured as a five-, six- or seven-colour machine. Users can also have an optional output stacker, as well as substrate adaptive processed parameters as an option, allowing you to use a wider range of substrates.

Production of the 5000 stopped with the launch of the 5500 – We haven’t shipped the 5000 for eight months. We now refurbish the machine, explains Stabler.

Machines can be traded up and HP will send the old models back to Israel to be refurbished then relaunch them officially under the name 5000R. The refurbished models are sold with a full six-month warranty and full maintenance agreement.

The lifespan of spares is around seven years from the end of production line. The refurbished machine costs £209,000 for a standard four-colour machine with feeder and stacker, which also includes the price of an onboard RIP.

SPECIFICATIONS

Speed 4,000 216x279mm four-colour images per hour /16,000 full monochrome
Image quality 812dpi/812x1,624dpi (HDI mode)
Max image area 307x450mm
Price 5000R £209,000
What to look for general wear and tear
Footprint 4mx2.2m
Weight 3 tonnes