Saving the best for last
Nov 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By American Printer staff
“Better than expected,” was vendors' typical response to the perennial Graph Expo question, “How's the show going?” When Graph Expo opened on Sunday, October 26, the industry seemed to hold its collective breath. The spate of stomach churning economic news in the preceding weeks, coupled with depleted travel budgets, didn't bode well. Over the next four days, however, all concerned seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as it became obvious the show was attracting a good crowd.
“We'd rate Graph Expo a seven on a scale of one to 10,” said one press vendor.
Consultant Ray Prince, celebrating his 50th year in the graphics arts, observed that visitors approached the show with a purposeful attitude. “The attendees were serious buyers and attentive,” says Prince. “The ‘go to a show for the fun of it’ people were not there. If you wanted to see what was new or wanted to buy, it was a good show.”
Pressing on
At least two ink vendors, apparently responding to challenging business conditions, changed their exhibition plans. Veteran show goers also noted less press iron was shown. While this may have generated more comment in 2008, vendors have wrestled with the equipment display question for years. Some, like Heidelberg, opted to conserve resources in a favor of a splashy Print 09 presentation.
Heidelberg, which has shown three or four presses with a variety of prepress and postpress offerings in years past, chose a more streamlined approach. The Speedmaster XL 105 perfector, surrounded with workflow, proofing, cutting, folding and stitching options, took pride of place. The xpedx booth featured the 6-up, 10-color Ryobi 7510P with UV interdeck dryers. Attendees saw extensive demos of Mitusbishi's Diamond V3000LX. Komori could claim bragging rights with three presses on display: the Lithrone SX40, SX29 and Spica 429P. KBA showcased its small-format Genius 52 UV press, and distributed one of the most keenly sought show souvenirs: world maps printed back home on its 80-inch Rapida 205. Taking advantage of Graph Expo's proximity to it suburban Chicago demo center, manroland invited prospects for preshow visits.
Given the tight credit market, virtually every press conference featured questions about equipment financing. Generally speaking, vendors said that customers are facing more scrutiny, but none reported insurmountable difficulties. Prior to the show, the Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC) worked with six lenders — also exhibitors — to ensure potential buyers would be in good hands. (See www.hydingout.org.)
With tough sledding ahead, press vendors are joining their customers in moving beyond putting ink on paper. Several announced consulting programs designed to help printers boost productivity across all facets of their operations and are expanding their service plans and consumables offerings.
Inkjet is a hit
Neither Screen nor Fuji displayed the ink jet prototype presses seen at Drupa, but Screen indicated we can expect more news in March 2009.
HP's 30-inch-wide Inkjet Web Press promises to make things interesting in the book world. HP announced it is working with book press vendor Timsons to pair its press with a new high-speed Timsons Digital Book Finishing System. Standard Finishing Systems announced a broad partnership agreement with HP for Standard Hunkeler paper handling solutions and service support for HP customers. The Inkjet Web Press also is a good fit for the SigmaLine high quality, on-demand book line Muller Martini debuted at Drupa 2004.
Oce's expanded JetStream portfolio now includes five models for direct mail, transactional and other high-quality color applications. Speeds range from 715 to 2,865 letter-size images and the potential to upgrade. The JetStream system can now integrate MICR into the print engine. A multilevel printing capability allows customers to vary drop sizes within a job.
Digital print vendors continue to carve out their territory. At a venue where it was once a novelty to see an Indigo, DocuColor or Xeikon, it's now commonplace to see Canon, Infoprint, HP, Konica Minolta, MGI, Océ, Ricoh, Screen, Xeikon, Xerox and others.
Read on for more show news.
Meet Joe the Printer
Playing off political headlines, EFI's Guy Gecht presented the plight of “Joe the Printer.” He explained how EFI's MIS, RIPs and wide-format products can help users achieve greater efficiencies and enter new markets.
But the real story for Joe the Printer was on the platesetter front.
Fujifilm's Brillia HD Ecomaxx-V chemistry-free violet CTP plate debuted.
Glunz & Jensen's PlateWriter 2000 features its inkjet CTP (iCTP) technology. It “prints” the image onto a metal plate, and the integrated finishing unit dries and gums it. The PlateWriter 2000 accepts plates up to 18 × 22 inches; the 2400 can handle up to 24.5 × 30.9 inches.
Mitsubishi Imaging showcased its processless Thermal DigiPlate System; DPX 4 Eco Platesetter and SDP Smart Tools workflow software.
Presstek introduced the Vector FL52, a new version of its small-format, chemistry-free metal platesetter. Also new: the Compass thermal platesetter line including the 4000 (4-up) and 8000 (8-up) series.
Printware (St. Paul, MN), debuted JetStream inkjet polyester plate materials designed for use in industry leading inkjet printing devices.
Xanté, which prides itself on supporting small and midsize printers, featured the VM4 violet metal CTP 4-up platesetter as well as a chemistry-free polyester system, the Platemaker 5XL.
More Graph Expo news
Our October 2008 issue featured a comprehensive overview of digital, inkjet and offset introductions as well prepress and postpress highlights. We'll conclude our coverage next month.
Xpedx to open new Cincinnati technology center
xpedx will open the xpedx Technology Center at its metropolitan Cincinnati headquarters in January 2009. Visitors will be able to evaluate products from multiple prepress, press and postpress.
The move combines the company's two print technology centers currently located in Cleveland and metro Kansas City. Those centers will relocate to the Cincinnati center by the end of 2008. The xpedx Technology Center will be housed at xpedx North American headquarters and within International Paper's global technology center.
The center will showcase equipment from Ryobi, Kodak, Epson, Konica Minolta, Agfa, Esko, Day Intl., FMA, C.P. Bourg, Morgana and Perfecta.
Separately, xpedx said the parts department for its Ryobi offset press business will be moved from Kansas City to a state-of-the-art distribution hub in Memphis, TN, by early 2009.
See www.xpedx.com.
Agfa's North American debuts
Several products from Agfa Graphics (Ridgefield Park, NJ) made their North American debut.
The :Azura TS thermal CTP plate is an upgrade of the original chemistry-free :Azura plate. :Azura TS offers up to 50 percent higher throughput and sharper contrast.
Agfa's :Anapurna XLS wide-format inkjet printer hit the North American indoor/outdoor signage market. Built to handle heavy workloads, the :Anapurna XLS UV printer deploys new Agfa-developed technology including: the Universal Print Head with resolutions up to 1,440 dpi; a closed-loop inking system; automated media handling; and maintenance systems to ensure minimal operator intervention. It prints on rigid and flexible roll media up to 100 inches wide.
See www.agfa.com/usa.
4over's big-time expansion
Trade printer 4over, Inc. (Glendale, CA) is going nationwide. At Komori's press conference, 4over CEO Zarik Megerdichian announced a 42,000-sq.-ft. production facility in Miami; a 47,000-sq.-ft. Newark, NJ, operation; and a 50,000-sq.-ft.plant in Dallas. 4over, an all-Komori shop, will put two Lithrone S presses — one 5-color and one 6-color — in each location. The Miami, Newark and Dallas facilities will be fully operational by the end of Q4 2008. Earlier this year, the company opened a Dayton, OH, plant.
4over also announced a new wide-format imaging business, Grand4mat.com, will launch early next year, specializing in banners, building wraps and large posters.
See www.4over.com.
Spotlight on efficiency
Heidelberg went with a smaller booth (20,700 sq. ft.) and a streamlined presentation showcasing its Speedmaster XL105 perfector. The completely integrated print shop demonstrated the benefits of the Prinect workflow connectivity from the front office to the loading dock.
Jim Dunn, president, Heidelberg USA, said order intake at the show was slightly better than anticipated. After observing six of the thrice daily workflow presentations, he said the new approach was working. “People are going deep into Prinect integration, spending 15 minutes learning about it [in the theatre] and then going right over to specific equipment to learn more.”
He noted that three “true” show orders were placed for presses that weren't at the show, including a Speedmaster 52.
Earlier this year, Proteus Packaging (Milwaukee) bought an XL 145, Heidelberg's first U.S. VLF installation. “There's great interest in the machines, but it's a longer sales cycle,” says Dunn. On the upside, he added that there's a large base of 8 to 10-year-old equipment ripe for replacement.
While the company — and the industry — are facing some tough times, Dunn said Heidelberg's move into consumables and the systemservice program, several years ago, is reaping rewards. Saphira Violet Chemfree plates are the latest addition to Heidelberg's consumables line.
Citing the “destructive outcome” of counterfeit parts that can cripple a press, Dunn stressed the value of Original Heidelberg parts.
Heidelberg's Business Development Group, under Steen Jensen's leadership, is working with customers to improve their overall equipment efficiency. “Utilization of machinery will be the No. 1 issue [going forward],” said Dunn. “We're helping printers find extra production [capacity].”
Jensen's group, originally projected to do 12 projects this year, has worked on 45 to date, typically with midsize printers in the $4 to $10 million range.
EFI wins Must See 'em accolades
EFI (Foster City, CA), won three Must See ‘ems awards for two MIS products and one Internet offering.
EFI Pace offers end-to-end print shop and production management for midsized commercial and specialty printers. EFI Pace recently added JDF certification from PIA/GATF and integration to EFI Fiery, EFI Digital StoreFront, EFI Auto-Count and EFI PrintFlow.
EFI Monarch is a new, integrated management and production workflow solution that combines four field proven products into a single end-to-end workflow and management solution: EFI Hagen OA's Print MIS, EFI Prograph, a workflow and planning solution, PrintFlow dynamic scheduling for global optimization and Auto-Count Direct Machine Interface.
Digital StoreFront is EFI's web-to-print platform that provides an on-ramp for customers to connect with their preferred print service provider. The latest version has new VDP features, super wide-format product options, enhanced integration, and new fulfillment features.
See www.efi.com.
Clear toner on the imagePRESS
Canon U.S.A. (Lake Success, NY) introduced the new imagePRESS C1+ with clear toner for proofing and light production. With 1,200 × 1,200 dpi imaging, it produces up to 14 ppm in color; 60 ppm black-and-white; 40 ppm clear printing. It handles a wide range of paper stock including coated and textured stocks. Canon offers three print controllers for the imagePRESS C1+ that are able to handle graphic demands ranging from entry-level graphic and design to intensive graphic and variable-data files.
See www.usa.canon.com.
HGI beefs up its P-O-P power with Inca Onset
Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A. (Valhalla, NY) sold an Inca Onset flatbed UV digital press to HGI Co., LLC (Burlington, WI). This is the 10th tenth Inca Onset installation in the world.
HGI prints catalogs, publications, specialty books, marketing collateral and POP materials through its four operating divisions.
“Fujifilm understands that print buyers require an integrated solutions provider that can fulfill all of their printing needs — including POP and display graphics, offset and variable — and maintain consistent color and quality across all platforms,” says Steve Bennett, vice president, wide format and marketing, Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A., Inc.
Handling print sizes up to 10.5 × 5 ft . at speeds of up to 6 458 sq. ft./hr. using new bidirectional modes, the automated Inca Onset delivers 125+ full bed (or 375 60 × 40-inch) posters an hour. Edge-to-edge printing allows images to be printed to bleed on substrates up to 0.39 inch (10 mm) thick and up to 10 kg at full speed.
See www.incadigital.com.
High-speed, economical punch
Spiel Associates' (Long Island City, NY) Sterling DigiPunch features a variable pile lift, which allows for punching up to 60,000 sph. Users can punch sheets from 5.5 × 5.5 inches to 13 × 13 inches for comb, coil and double loop wire or any hole pattern.
Miyao to succeed Carter as Komori America's president and COO
Stephan Carter, president and COO of Komori America Corp. (Rolling Meadows, IL) will be leaving Komori America effective November 30, 2008.
During his seven-year tenure at Komori America, Carter effectively launched the Komori Lithrone S series and drove significant growth of market share across all product lines. Effective December 1, 2008, Carter will join Hudson North America as president and CEO. Hudson is a leading provider of permanent recruitment, contract professionals and talent management services worldwide.
Komori president and CEO Yoshiharu Komori wished Carter success in his new endeavors.
Kazuyoshi “Kosh” Miyao (pictured) will replace Carter as president and COO, Komori America Corp. Currently serving as executive vice president of marketing and product development, Miyao has played a key role in the technical, product design, service, sales and marketing of Komori products.
Komori says, “Mr. Miyao has played a significant role in the establishment of the Komori brand in North America, and I am confident that his knowledge and expertise from manufacturing to marketing will help us achieve even greater growth.”
Avanti delivers on JDF promise
Avanti Computer Systems Ltd. (Toronto), announced that its core MIS product has been JDF certified by the CIP4 Organization. Having passed the rigorous standards for JDF product certification, Avanti's Print MIS is now certified to create and accept updated job details as the job is running, via JDF/JMF.
Avanti's JDF framework lets print shops send automated JDF job instructions directly to the prepress department; and subsequently, to the digital and lithographic presses as well as finishing equipment. Upon completion, the job costing and accounting information is automatically passed back to Avanti using JMF messaging.
At Graph Expo, vendors including Adobe, Avanti, Kodak, FOLDrite and Duplo showed how streamlined a fully automated workflow, including web-to-print, digital printing, automated post-press, web-to-print and JDF technologies, can be.
See www.avanti.com.
Pazazz' Warren Werbitt, stars in “Printing's Alive” on YouTube. See http://youtube.com/watch?v=VpAuDrs5ocg.
A passion for large format printing
KBA North America, (Williston, VT, and Dallas), announced that Pazazz Printing (Montreal), has invested $5 million to purchase a new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch six-color hybrid UV press, which was installed in July 2008 at the firm's new facility. The investment totaling $7 million includes a unique KBA 56-inch hybrid UV press along with a Fuji Film Ultima CTP large format platesetter, Busch pile turner, and Perfecta large format cutting system.
“We are officially seizing the large-format specialty market and differentiating ourselves from the 40-inch sector,” says Warren Werbitt, Pazazz founder and CEO. “We now have the largest KBA press in Canada, the first of its kind.”
The KBA Rapida 142 can produce a variety of high-quality print effects and textures. “Unique finishes and coatings such as strike-through, soft touch, and gator, as well as scented inks, enhance the final product,” explains Werbitt. “We can now print on multiple substrates up to 48 pt. as well as compete with the silkscreen market. Paper, board, foil, flute, corrugated, plastics, vinyl, and styrene can all be used.”
Werbitt learned of KBA through his alliance with the Independent Printers Worldwide (IPW) group, for which KBA is a supplier.
See www.kba-usa.com.
MacDermid blankets are ‘Rollin’ along
At Graph Expo, Trelleborg announced a new name for the former MacDermid blankets: Rollin. In June 2008, Trelleborg, an industrial rubber company headquartered in Sweden, bought MacDermid's offset printing blanket division. Trelleborg acquired Reeves Brothers — known for its Vulcan blanket line — in October of 2006.
Citing Vulcan's strength in commercial offset and Rollin's in newspaper and specialty markets, George Christian, director of sales and marketing said U.S. customers will benefit from the full portfolio.
See www.trelleborg.com/printing.
Inkjet press cranks out variable-data books
Dainippon Screen teamed with Standard Horizon and King Printing (Lowell, MA) to showcase inkjet efficiencies for full-color variable book printing.
A tandem-configured Screen Truepress Jet520 printed the book's inside pages, the covers were printed on the Screen Truepress 344 DI press. The dual-engine duplex arrangement enabled full-web printing on both sides of the roll. A Standard Hunkeler Gen6 paper handling system provided high-performance unwinding, consistent web tension, perfing, rotary double-cutting and precision stacking. The double-cut capability allows full-bleed trimming across and inline with the web. Stacked books with edge-to-edge color exit the system ready for downstream processing.
King Printing (www.kingprinting.com) is the first national book manufacturer to use the combined Truepress Jet 520 and Standard Hunkeler finishing full-color variable printing system.
See www.screenusa.com.
Big inkjet news for the book market
HP is teaming with U.K.-based Timsons Ltd., the world's largest book press manufacturer, to develop a digital inkjet system for short- and medium-run book production. The 30-inch-wide HP Inkjet Web Press will be able to connect with a new high-speed Timsons Digital Book Finishing System.
Los Angeles-based O'Neil Data Systems is scheduled to receive the first HP Inkjet Web Press beta unit in December 2008. The press is expected to be commercially available in the latter half of 2009.
HP also is planning to significantly expand the addressable market for the Inkjet Web Press with the development of a new solution for coated media that enables production at high speeds.
See www.hp.com.
Diamond V3000 wins design honors
Mitsubishi's (Lincolnshire, IL) Diamond V3000 series sheetfed press finished in the top 15 award-winning designs out of a field of 3,023 entries worldwide in the recent Good Design Award 2008 competition, sponsored by the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization.
Super plastic zinc (SPZ) alloy is pressure-formed to create the ergonomic contours and curves of printing unit covers. The contours and curves incorporated into the press ensure excellent access, operability and safety. The lower part of unit panels are cut diagonally, and the corners of printing units, paper feeders and ejectors are rounded.
In selecting the Diamond V3000 for recognition, the judges said, “This offset printing press is designed with consideration for the operator's psychological well-being and work environment. It has an LED display that allows operators to instantly determine the status of the printing units. From the smallest detail to the overall scheme, it was manufactured with utmost care.”
See www.mlpusa.com.
New inkjet proofing papers
Epson America's (Long Beach, CA) expanded portfolio of proofing papers includes Standard Proofing Paper (205) and (240), Proofing Paper White Semimatte, Proofing Paper Commercial, Standard Proofing Paper Adhesive, Crystal Clear Proofing Film, and Proofing Paper Publication.
Optimized for use with Epson inks, including new Epson UltraChrome HDR ink technology, the papers offer color accuracy and stability for general proofing, composition and contract proofing. Key proofing papers are being certified to adhere to GRACoL and SWOP specifications, adopting new G7 calibration, printing and proofing process control methods.
Presstek Dis bundled with KMBS system
Presstek's (Hudson, NH) Graph Expo 08 exhibit included the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C6501. Under an agreement announced earlier this year, Presstek will offer the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C6501 color digital printer as an optional bundled solution with its DI digital offset presses. The intent is to help print shops more cost-effectively deliver a wider range of applications.
See www.presstek.com
X-Rite announces joint developments with Fuji and Canon
At Graph Expo, X-Rite (Grand Rapids, MI) announced developments from its partnerships with both Fujifilm and Canon.
Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A. and X-Rite have combined Taskero Universe 2.0 — a suite of performance analysis and monitoring tools — with X-Rite's IntelliTrax 1.5. IntelliTrax is an automated color measurement system for press-side color control, which scans the color bar of a typical press sheet automatically, in seconds, and sends the data to the Taskero Universe 2.0 website for verification and analysis.
X-Rite and Canon U.S.A announced the immediate availability of the i1Process Control software for Canon imagePRESS digital presses. Developed exclusively for Canon by X-Rite, i1Process Control provides imagePRESS digital press customers with increased control over their color print production output. Designed to be integrated with the Canon imagePRESS digital press technology, i1Process Control will help production print businesses maximize their color workflow. Used with the i1Pro Spectrophotometer from X-Rite, i1Process Control allows users to easily profile their displays and imagePRESS digital presses, create libraries of spot colors, and generate simulation recipes for use in DTP applications and in the Canon imagePRESS server to ensure color consistency with each print job.
See www.xrite.com.
Print Council launches new campaign
The Print Council (Washington, DC) is stepping up its drive to unite print providers and media decision-makers behind the effectiveness of printing as a marketing, entertainment and educational medium. Member company Jet Inc. (www.imaginejet.net) produced two publications using the latest printing techniques to showcase the power of print as a communications medium.
The first brochure targets printers and graphic arts vendors. Titled “Put It in Print: An Invitation to Join The Print Council,” the guide covers such topics as leveling the competitive communications landscape, winning new business, becoming an authority, and energizing your brand.
The second booklet, “Please Print: An Invitation to Join The Print Council,” targets art directors, graphic designers, agency account executives and corporate marketers.
Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus
Most Recent Story
advertisement
