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The Drupa Discovery Tour

Are we there yet? Nearly but before we arrive at our Dusseldorf destination we sent John Taylor to Ghent the pre drupa Discovery Tour.

With over 1800 exhibitors and an expected 400,000 visitors, drupa will be bigger than ever. Heralded as the Olympic Games of the print and media industry, it opens its doors in Düsseldorf on May 29 for two weeks.

Agfa's new :Ananpurna XLS makes is debut at drupa.

Underlining the significance of the event as the world’s number one trade fair for the print and media industry, Werner M Dornscheidt, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, says, “No other event has as profound and all-encompassing an influence on the economics and technologies of the print media industry as drupa. What the Olympic Games mean to sportsmen and women is what drupa means to the print media industry.”

So it’s massive, again, as we’ve come to expect and a little help in what to target on the digital front should help you plan what is likely to be an extremely busy show schedule. If you’re not going to Düsseldorf, then what we have here from the companies we have seen at the pre-drupa press conference will give you a pretty solid base from which to find out more.

New Heights for :Anapurna
Agfa is targeting inkjet as a core growth area and in that it is lining up a new set of :Anapurnas. :Anapurna XLS, on Stand B63, Hall 8a, promises the highest in quality with a photorealistic print capability of 13m2/hr or 300 at billboard quality. The Mv features a varnishing head for spot or overall coverage and the M4f is the new entry level UV inkjet in the :Anapurna range.

“The addition of the XLS, Mv and M4f to the :Anapurna family,” says Willy Van Dromme, the company’s Inkjet Sales & Marketing Manager, “gives Agfa one of the world’s widest ranges of wide format UV printing engines in the professional inkjet marketplace today. Our industrial inkjet line addresses nearly every possible segment-specific need in the digital press marketplace. Visitors to drupa will see for themselves how Agfa’s research and development is taking digital printing to even greater heights.”

The :Anapurna family, now including XLS , Mv and M4f, boasts exceptional results for indoor and outdoor applications on uncoated rigid media, such as corrugated boards, rigid plastics, exhibition panels, stage graphics and advertising panels, as well as roll media such as film, vinyl and paper, canvas and banners.

:Anapurna XLS, with its up to 250cm print width capability, is said to obviate the need for compromise on speed and quality. It boasts photographic quality at high production speeds. There’s a choice of speeds to deliver, says Agfa, top quality printing with highly saturated, wide gamut colours in the medium, large and extra large formats. Borderless printing and the capability for dual board printing are also in its portfolio.

Output resolution for the XLS is 1440dpi, enabling fine text and line art to be easily reproduced. System features include advanced operator support, automated maintenance, calibration and remote diagnostics, all built around Agfa’s universal printhead technology. Ink for the XLS has been developed for optimum jetting reliability, for high image quality and adhesion to a wide range of media.

The new :Anapurna Mv builds on the image quality of the existing :Anapurna M, adding the spot and flood varnish capability for superb print enhancement. M4f is also derived from the M variant, with its robust design, adding four CMYK printheads. It enters the market as a rigid printer only with roll to roll as an option.

:Anapurna Mv and M4f have maximum print widths of 160cm. They feature 14pl printheads. Using Agfa’s own UV curable :Anapurna ink, the company says photo quality UV technology is now available to graphic screen printing and signmaking shops at an affordable investment cost.

Agfa has also upgraded its :Apogee software suite. The integrated workflow solution now features complete prepress and end to end quality and colour management production solutions, integrating all content, proofing, output, connectivity and other integral print elements. :Apogee Publish contains solutions focusing on all tasks from content management to page creation for print and web. It contains :Apogee Media which is tailored to the needs of content creators and brand owners, as well as departments at print service providers and design agencies. It interacts with existing tools for word processing and desktop publishing in a more automated workflow with a built-in content management solution.

The new :Apogee platform integrates easily with prepress environments and within :Apogee Publish, adds :Apogee Secuseal to provide a dedicated design and verification tool to generate complex security designs and patterns that make imitations recognisable and traceable.

:Apogee Color manages proofing so that everyone in the chain looks at the same proof wherever they are. Agfa says publishers, advertising agencies and pre-press shops need to focus on digital file quality and accuracy because their reputation depends on it. :Apogee Color can help preserve branding end to end quality and colour management a prerequisite to automated workflow. The module simplifies calibration, quality co ntrol and colour profiling.

Managing Colour
Software is the stuff of Alwan and on Stand 7.oc in Hall 7 you can get to grips with its new line of colour management solutions for the desktop environment. A new series of ICC colour management software is making its debut.

New ICC software from the colour management and standardisation software specialist builds on the success of Alwan’s CMYK Optimizer servers which have been installed in over 400 printers worldwide. The company boasts a firm commitment to making colour management affordable to all market segments using its ICC device and Dynamic DeviceLink profiles, enabling small, medium and large companies to integrate creative solutions that deliver the best value for money.

“ICC colour management still generates a lot of confusion in the industry and misconception,” says Elie Khoury, President of Alwan Color Expertise, “maintained and amplified by some proprietary systems vendors. Users are often convinced ICC colour management is inefficient, inappropriate for print workflows and unable to preserve black text and images or any primary ink purity. As an ICC member and strong advocate and supplier of standardised colour management solutions, Alwan continues to further develop ICC profile based solutions that address the needs of the graphic arts industry.”

Alwan's ICC colour expertise has been taken up by more than 400 printers worldwide.

Alwan’s new Photoshop plug-in enables CS3 users to apply ICC DeviceLink Profiles within the Adobe software for print orientated workflows. According to the company, non-colour experts will easily and effectively benefit from its advanced features such as individual ink calculations and total ink consumption in printing an image.

Alwan’s Color Processor is said to set itself apart as the most powerful and cost-effective colour management solution available. The hot folder based application is now server based using standard ICC profiles. Users are able to automate the application of an ICC Device and DeviceLink Profiles in colour management workflows, providing exceptionally accurate and efficient image and PDF optimisation, as well as print file management.

Alwan has also updated its four CMYK Optimizer packages to address the different colour management and standardisation needs of each segment of the graphic arts industry. “The strategy of Alwan,” says Patrick Van Dam, Worldwide Marketing and Sales Director, “is to become a major player in all market segments and to offer the best product for each profession at the lowest possible price. Simultaneously with the new pricing, we will also facilitate set-up with the support of predefined settings included in the installation procedure. Even for non-experts, the product will be much easier to use.”

Packaging Technology with a Punch
Scalable solutions for commercial, label and package printing take centre stage on the Atlantic Zeiser Stand C56, Hall 11. Omega 36 HD and 210 are new high resolution inkjet printing systems and Smartcure is a brand new, ecofriendly LED UV curing solution. You can also see the company’s latest in-house ink developments.

Atlantic Zeiser is a one-stop system integrator for modular and scalable product marking and coding, with its inkjet technology also available to OEMs. So also take a look at Mabeg’s two Omega 36i systems with inspection cameras and two SmartCure 36i units on Stand A21, Hall 9.

The new Omega 36 HD and enhanced 210 digital inkjets extend the Omega range, delivering lightweight and compact printers that are easily integrated into most existing equipment. Both the new printers can be installed on web or sheet-fed applications to deliver 720dpi print resolution. Omega 36 HD, meaning high definition, in conjunction with Atlantic Zeiser’s proprietary inks, are said to ensure clear and crisp printing of extremely small characters. Barcodes boast excellent readability and clarity.

The enhanced Omega 210 increases print width to 210mm using black and spot colour inks on a wide range of substrates including paper and carton, as well as aluminium, polymer foils and plastics. The printheads are said to achieve flexographic quality with the significant advantage of variable data print, enabling cost-effective short runs, previously reserved for flexo and silk screen printing, to be easily carried out at high quality and in a fraction of the time.

Second generation LED UV curing shapes up as Smartcure 36/36i from Atlantic Zeiser. The cost saving LED UV curing solution boasts eco-friendliness with its low energy consumption compared to lamp based systems and a tenfold lifetime. The system generates no ozone and has lower cooling requirements. It is also compact, making for easy integration, and has instant on/off functionality that eliminates energy consumption during machine downtime.

As part of its on-going process of innovation, new inks for difficult surfaces such as cotton, plastics or varnished media are constantly being developed and manufactured. Atlantic Zeiser has on its stand, its latest developments, said to be perfectly adapted to the new printer range and LED UV curing solutions. Its inks are considered as special fast curing, developing a high contrast with high adhesion to non-absorbent substrates. For security printing in particular, for example, specially developed security and colour inks, as well as spot and CMYK process colours, are used alongside ordinary inks.
www.atlanticzeiser.com

Canon Can
From its impressive new Professional Print Demonstration Centre in Diegem, Brussels, Canon demonstrated its new kit for drupa. You can see it on Stand B46, Hall 8a. There are also some other new developments that you can see on the stand, the details of which, Canon is keeping very close to its chest.

On its large format inkjet front, the company notched up some 40% growth in sales last year, a year that saw 11 new products join its portfolio. Over the past three years Canon’s market share in this sector has trebled to now stand at around 13% for 2007. For this year and beyond, it expects even greater things.

“Canon is always striving for further innovations in its product technology that can bring enhanced quality and productivity to its customers, whilst delivering a true return on investment,” says Anne Sharp, European LFP Marketing Manager. “Whether it’s a photographer or a commercial printer, every customer should have value for money. Not only that but Canon has continuously invested in its large format solutions over the last few years which has led to an increase in market share.”

Canon’s new Professional Print Demonstration Centre in Diegem, Brussels.

Brand new for drupa is Canon’s imagePrograf iPF720, a 36in wide, A0 inkjet featuring an 80GB hard disk drive. It’s ideal for CAD and GIS markets. The built-in hard drive makes for faster print throughput, optimising betweenpage processing to enhance productivity in consecutive printing. The new device, says Canon, is amongst the fastest in its class for these markets.

The integral hard drive makes for easier print management, as well as providing additional storage, enabling print mailbox creation and faster and easier access for reprints, for example. It also enables print job queue management for priority printing and desktop management of ink and media levels.

imagePrograf iPF720, which costs around e5000, can output an A0 print in just 56s! Prints can also be borderless and there is an economy mode boasting a 50% reduction in ink consumption. The machine has HP-GL/2 and HP RTL compatibility, as well as an HDI driver for Windows, meaning it is compatible with leading applications used by GIS and CAD professionals. “The launch of iPF720 means that we can further increase market share in the CAD and GIS markets,” says Anne Sharp. “We now have a product that is not only one of the fastest in its class it also has the additional benefit of a built-in hard disk drive.”

The new Canon LFP features its FINE printhead technology and five colour dye and pigmented ink system. With a 4pl droplet size and over 15,000 nozzles, the heads deliver accuracy and image sharpness at 1200dpi resolution. The five colour reactive ink system enhances print quality, ensuring less bleeding and solid image consistency.

On its imagePress front, new C6000 and C6000VP machines extend Canon’s high volume digital production colour range, delivering exceptional print quality that is complementary to offset. Based on existing technology, the machines incorporate the new V-Toner, T-Developer and E-Drum, in conjunction with an advanced image transfer belt, and an oil-less twin fusing system.

“Building upon the success of the imagePress C7000VP which to date,” says Mark Lawn, Canon’s European Marketing Manager for Professional Solutions, “has seen Canon ship in excess of 300 units, the imagePress C6000 and C6000VP provide more of the digital print market access to the benchmark imagePress range from Canon. The new imagePress models are also key elements in our drive to develop complete solutions and to increase our share of the digital colour production market.”

imagePress C6000 and C6000VP deliver quality prints at 1200dpi resolution with 256 graduations at rated speed of 60 colour impressions/min on paper stocks up to 135gsm. Print capability is on a wide variety of stocks up to 300gsm. A maximum media supply of 10,000 sheets, from up to eight different sources, can be configured on the C6000 and C6000VP, potentially delivering over two hours of uninterrupted production printing.
www.canon-europe.com

In-depth Workflow
EskoArtwork and its comprehensive portfolio of workflow solutions is set to be a hive of activity at drupa on Stand A23, Hall 8b. Its new Studio product line for integrated 2D/3D and CAD/graphics for packaging design, now features a toolkit for flexibles extending its capabilities to pillow and gusseted bags, as well as rectangular stand-up pouches. Brand owners with many product variants or active in tightly regulated markets such as pharmaceuticals, liquor and tobacco will benefit from the incorporation of dynamic content, linked to and automatically updated from secure databases.

Enfocus PDF pre-flighting, editing and certification tools, are now complemented by Switch desktop and workgroup automation products, to provide a reliable data connection between content providers and print professionals. Esko- Artwork’s expert production tools and know-how are widely recognised, as illustrated by ArtPro, ArtiosCAD, BackStage, Nexus, PitStop and more. At drupa, the company is demonstrating its progress with the integration between products from the former Esko and Artwork Systems portfolios. Notably, EskoArtwork is the OEM supplier of the digital front end systems for HP Indigo’s ws4x00 and future ws6000 industrial digital presses.

On its machine front, in the Kongsberg stable, you can see the new high performance XP digital cutting tables for short-run digital converting. For more information on this machine before you go to the show, Check out last month’s issue of Image Reports.

While you are on the stand, also take a look at the live demonstration of a real life integration in which EskoArtwork worked together with a printing press vendor, a finishing equipment supplier and an SAP integrator to build a full business system for a packaging converter.
www.esko.com

Indigo to Latex HP
has announced a host of news recently, with much activity ferrying journalists and key customers to pre-drupa conferences. Much of what we have picked up has or already is in the process of being amply covered, so we will concentrate on just a couple of big announcements from the company.

Indigo 7000 Digital Press promises 120 high quality, four colour, A4 pages/min for commercial, direct marketing, photo merchandise and book and publications printing, in print runs from one offs to thousands. It is optimised for variable data. Designed to produce up to 3.5million, four colour pages or 5million single and two colour pages/month, boasting true offset and photo quality, Indigo 7000 is targeted at average monthly volumes in excess of 1million pages.

The machine supports Pantone emulation with four, six, or seven colours including Pantone Goe, and the Indigo ink mixing system can match up to 97% of Pantone colours. JDF architecture simplifies integration into print MIS and JDF enabled workflows.

A virtually all new development, Indigo 7000 Digital Press also features a new charging roller replacing coronas. The ink cans are three times the size of previous products and the high speed writing head delivers 812dots/in, with the 8bits/pixel writing head capable of speeds up to 775Mpixels/sec: HP says this may be the fastest in the industry.

The new high speed off-setting mechanism, a new double- diameter blanket drum, has external heating and is quickly mounted. According to HP, this new concept is superior to the previous generation’s internal blanket heating feature, allowing printing on a wider range of uncoated, lower grade media. Imaging area of the new 7000 is 12.48x18.26in. A new touchscreen interface makes for automated operator tasks and faster system start-up, and the On-press Fast Ink Replacement, OFIR, technology enables on the fly replacement of special and spot colours.

On HP’s inkjet front, it’s its latex inks that are causing more than a stir of interest. Designed with the environment in mind, says the company, they provide a new alternative for outdoor and indoor applications. Used with HP’s thermal inkjet solutions, latex inks boast durable, odourless prints in sharp, vivid image quality for a wide range of applications including high productivity.

The inks are said to produce great results across a wide range of media, including most low cost, uncoated solvent compatible media, as well as eye-catching, consistent prints on original HP large format media designed for latex. HP’s latex printing technologies deliver outdoor permanence for up to three years unlaminated. Prints are said to be scratch, smudge and water resistant on a range of media.

Says HP, its wide scan printing technology makes it possible to develop new printing systems that can achieve breakthrough print speeds, for example, outdoor quality prints at around 800ft2/hr and 400ft2/hr indoor.

The water based latex ink formulation is said to provide many benefits of solvent inks without imposing environmental or health and safety considerations. Output is odourless, emitting extremely low levels of VOCs so no special ventilation is required during printing.
www.hp.com

Xeikon Packs More Punch
New from Punch Graphix, is its Xeikon 8000 digital colour press with an astonishing printing speed of 230 A4 pages/min and true 1200dpi imaging quality. Says the company, Xeikon 8000 takes a double leap and counters the increasing market need for fast printing without compromising quality.

As the new flagship, Xeikon 8000 uses optimised dry toner electrophotography. Two in-line densitometers and high performance process algorithms make for colour consistency over time and in between presses. The machine can also handle substrate widths up 512mm and imaging widths up to 504mm. With a handling capability of two up A4 and three up A5, the 8000 is said to open up a whole new range of applications.

The 8000 is web fed, incorporating Xeikon’s X-800 digital front end for seamless and fast integration into any existing workflow. The integrated IPDS controller is said to easily keep up with the increased engine speed without any start-stop interruptions, bringing graphic art print quality into transactional markets.

“The launch of this first rate engine represents a major step forward for Xeikon,” says Punch Graphix’s CEO Wim Deblauwe. “With the Xeikon 8000, Punch Graphix has the leading edge in digital printing and demonstrates that we have continued to evolve in order to address user needs and anticipate future market demands. The press offers high productivity benefits and eye-catching graphic printing capabilities, leading to maximum profitability.” www.punchgraphix.com