MARCH 2006

FIRST PRESSTEK BRANDED DI HITS EUROPE (21.03.06)
The first Presstek-branded Direct Imaging (DI) press, the Presstek 52DI, will make it’s worldwide debut at IPEX.

“The 52DI is designed to be among the most efficient and profitable presses ever brought to market in the 52cm landscape format size. It is designed to efficiently produce the lowest cost per page for print runs of 250 to 10,000, while maintaining its cost advantage into much longer run lengths,” said Peter Bouchard, Presstek vice president of marketing.

The press prints at speeds up to 10,000 sheets per hour on a wide range of substrates up to 0.5mm (20pt) weight, as well as on synthetic materials. Presstek is making a lot of its patented Zero Transfer Printing (ZTP) process, whereby all four colours are laid down onto the sheet without any sheet transfer between colours.

Quen Baum, Presstek Europe managing director, said: “Its B3 (520 x 375mm, or 20.47 x 14.76 inches) sheet size ensures economic sheet usage, full bleeds, and enables 10,000-sheet-per-hour throughput in a press with a small footprint. It is designed to be just what the European market has been asking for.”

The Presstek 52DI press will be available as of IPEX.

Hall 4

The DigiCreaser is a bench-top model designed to fill the gap between semi automatic creasers, such as the Electro-Creaser, and fully automatic models like the AutoCreaser. Although hand-fed, all other DigiCreaser functions are automatic and perforating is a standard feature.

The AutoCreaser 50 is a bigger and faster machine than the earlier model, taking sheet sizes to 500 x 700mm and performing up to 6,500 creases per hour. It will perform up to 16 creases in a single pass and sophisticated controls include a ‘head-up’ display that provides a series of simple prompts to take the operator through the unit’s various functions. Like the DigiCreaser, the AutoCreaser 50 uses a blade and matrix technique to provide quality creasing without damage to the substrate.

Morgana will also use IPEX to promote its upgrade path and guaranteed buy-back scheme. At present, this upgrade path finishes with the Morgana DocuMaster, an intelligent feeder, creaser and bookletmaker that takes work direct from the digital printer.

Hall 3

The strategy announcement comes just before Océ launches what a system which it says demonstrates a “quantum leap in digital printing” for the transactional, commercial and book printing markets. At the time of going to press the company was keeping its cards close to its chest, but the system will be demonstrated at the show.

To ensure its new strategy is driven forward, Océ has made a series of appointments and created a new business unit to ensure that customers will receive the right support.

New technologies being announced as part of Océ’s convergence strategy include: the ability to accept transactional, variable publishing and traditional applications in the same workflow; printing single or multiple spot colour, full colour and mono applications cost effectively on the same hardware; print speed upgrades to mirror increased capacity requirements over time without replacing hardware and the ability to print security products on the same device as used for standard print.

The company has just launched another five mono MFPs: the Océ VarioPrint 1055/1065/1075 delivering 55, 62 and 72 ppm and the Océ VarioPrint 2062/2075 at 62 and 72 ppm.

Hall 1

For the high volume market GBC will show its new GBC 8556 thermal laminating system.

For smaller operators there will be upgraded GBC Delta and GBC Delta Junior laminating systems on show. The machines are compact and have fully integrated operating at speeds of up to 30 m/min and cover a maximum working width of 52 x 72cm. A new feature on the Delta is a sheetcounter.

The upgraded Delta Junior and Delta range are designed to process the GBC Lay-Flat and GBC Hi-Tac Lay-Flat films. Another new development is GBC digital OPP, which is said to have better initial adhesion compared to the GBC 9525 Premium gloss and GBC 8326 matte films, though it costs more.

For those wanting to upgrade their Delta system GBC will launch the GBC Delta 76, which can laminate up to a maximum width of 76cm at a maximum speed of 50 to 60mpm.

In wide-format focus will be on the GBC Falcon 3064WF 1.6m-wide bi-directional wide-format laminator and the GBC 2080WF cold top-heated laminating system up to 2m wide perfect for double sided posters and signage and the print for pay market.

Hall 3

The Lithrone LS29 Series has been developed in response to calls for a sophisticated, highly automated multi-colour B2 press in both straight and perfecting configurations. With this new range Komori has taken the technological innovations from its B1 Lithrone LS40 Series (launched four years ago) and incorporated them into B2 presses, meaning they have the highest level of automation Komori has ever offered to the B2 market.

Two LS29 presses will be demonstrating added-value printing at IPEX: a five-colour LS529 with coater, utilising the fifth unit for machine sealing and the aqueous coater for gloss varnish; and the ten-colour LS1029P perfector demonstrating four-over-four work changing through a variety of stocks, including cover board, with sealing on the fifth and tenth units. (see Ipex Preview 2).

The four-colour Spica 429P, launched at Drupa 2004 and designed for new entrants to the quality B2 four colour market, will also be at the show where it will include the new Komori PDM Print Data Manager, launching at IPEX, for downloading ink profile and job ticketing information.

Hall 5

On the Fujifilm Graphic Systems stand (hall 9) will be new portfolio of plate, platesetter and workflow products. Fujifilm will also use IPEX to launch its B1 Luxel V-8 HD and Luxel V-8 HS platesetters, imaging the new Brillia HD LP-NV2 plate.

Fuji has also announced the launch of the FLH-Z range of processors manufactured by Glunz and Jensen and dedicated for use with Fujifilm CTP plates. These are fitted with a ‘ZAC’ intelligent microprocessor control system that determines the optimum replenishment rate irrespective of changes in plate volume or image area.

Fujifilm Sericol (hall 9) will show Color+, a solvent-based inkjet ink for wide-format roll-fed priners.

Over on the Fuji Hunt stand (hall 5) will be the launch of two water based coatings designed to provide gloss levels similar to that achieved with UV varnishes.

Ivor Dixon, of Positive Focus, said “Now, with one product, printers can work with both ganged flat and folded jobs and conventional bound work. With ganged work we can rollover onto a second or third sheet if the layout does not fit conveniently on the first sheet. That has been one of the most requested features on the wish list.”

Metrix 2.0 will be a free upgrade for anyone purchasing the current version following this announcement. Product details and planned shipping date have not been released.

Hall 20

With an integrated touchscreen for ease of use, the machine can now feed sheets in excess of A3 and will foil stamp, blind and foil emboss, or die cut products at speeds up to 5,500 impressions per hour.

Also new is the AutoPro12 card slitter which cuts 10 up cards from an A4 sheet. The quick set up and size changing unit can run at speeds of up to 50,000 finished cards per hour.

Another kit upgrade on show will be the Zip21 Enhanced SRA3 Card Cutter.

Additionally, Caslon will be showing how the FoilTech sublimation foiling machines can now laminate as well as produce foil effects from tonered images. A simple option can be fitted to allow the Standard and Professional models to run double sided lamination. When combine with the Zip21 users can produce foiled and laminated cards in minutes.

Hall 3

There are two models in the range, starting at under £1,000. The heavy-duty Matrix system includes a roll perforator for easy separation and an anti-curl bar to ensure documents remain flat. The Matrix Lite is an entry-level system that has been designed for short runs, but will also laminate documents up to 650mm in width.

Hall 3

The bizhub Pro 1050 with the optional Prodigy 1050, includes PrintStation Manager; TrueEdit and TrueImage.

MicroPress Professional too is equipped with TrueEdit, TrueImage and PrintStation Manager.

The company will be demonstrating at two sites: XChange International and the ROI Distribution stand.

Hall 20

“This is the first step towards accurate and consistent colour so organisations can meet with the latest ISO standard,” said Alan Dresch, founder of Mellow Colour.

Hall 9

The range includes entry-level models for those still mounting and laminating by hand, as well as a series of professional heavy-duty systems for the more experienced print finisher. Whatever your budget you get lots for your money with the Easymount range.

All Easymount models are of the highest quality and their solid construction means they are built to last. They also include many features normally associated with more expensive wide format systems - our single hot roller models enable you to mount and laminate simultaneously! The Easymount is great for mounting prints to boards and applying cold laminates, as well as applying application tapes and double sided adhesives and vinyl's.

Vivid also offer dedicated technical support, help and advice on all makes and models of machines from a highly knowledgeable service department.

Visit Vivid at IPEX in Hall 3, stand D29.
Call Vivid on 0845 1 30 40 50
E: sales@vivid-online.com
W: www.vivid-online.com

The bizhub PRO 1050 has been supplied with an internal controller, but can now be supplied with the optional Prodigy 1050, providing a professional digital front-end for users and offering additional print and job management features. Key features of the Prodigy 1050 include:

• PrintStation Manager – a preview tool that allows users to view, merge, archive and catalogue documents.

• TrueEdit – an editing tool that can preview and edit both jobs and pages. It enables users to add or remove pages, text and images, re-order pages and de-skew and de-speckle images and documents.

• TrueImage – an advanced image quality editing function that allows images to be manipulated. Users can even adjust toner curves to enhance the output.

The digital workflow controller, MicroPress Professionall is designed to cluster up to four black and white or colour devices from one central system.

Like the Prodigy 1050, MicroPress Professional is equipped with TrueEdit, TrueImage and PrintStation Manager. It also offers colour split, a unique function that automatically recognises the colour pages of a print job and sends them to an available full colour device, while the black and white portion of the job will be printed on a networked monochrome device. This intelligent colour split function has the potential to save toner costs for print-for-pay and production businesses. In addition, it will make production much more efficient as the same job can be printed on two devices simultaneously.

Jos Kelly, Head of Production Print for Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) said, “These two sophisticated controllers are going to have a real impact on high-volume print and production users. The Prodigy 1050 enhances an already versatile device and will allow users to maximise their investment.”

W: www.konicaminolta.co.uk

The Epson stand will operate as the principle ‘kick-off’ central hub for those who wish to evaluate the latest developments in digital proofing techniques and creative large-format applications. Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity discuss the various technologies, receive best practice advice from Epson specialists, and guidance on where to find relevant applications in action around the show on a number of reseller and software partner stands, including Bodoni, Compose, GMG, Kodak, Litho Supplies, NCS, Turning Point Technologies and Xerox.

“Epson is the de facto engine for colour critical digital inkjet proofing,” explains Steve Dodds, Divisional Sales Director of Litho Supplies. “We will be showing a variety of Epson printers in action at IPEX driven by both EFI and GMG specialist RIPs supporting our CTP solutions within a fully-integrated production workflow.”

Specialist systems integrator Turning Point Technologies is highlighting Epson-enabled digital proofing for local and remote applications for offset and flexo applications driven by GMG ColorProof and FlexoProof high-end color management and proofing solutions. “In this market Epson provides the most stable and consistent printer for proofing and large-format applications supported by the best inks delivering the best colour gamut range which is highly critical for proofing applications,” says Tom Gent, Sales Director, Colour Products Division.

Says Simon Brown, Head of European Operations and UK Sales, Compose System Limited: “The reputation of our RIP and proofing solutions has been built on consistent reliability and quality. In turn, we require output partners for whom quality and colour accuracy is paramount. Epson continues to be the only inkjet printer manufacturer in the market capable meeting our expectations. The Epson Stylus Pro range offers cost-effective proofing without compromising on quality or speed. We are looking forward to working with Epson at Ipex 2006 to demonstrate the real strength of a fully integrated proofing solution.”

Adds Kevin Wooldridge, Sales and Marketing Manager, Professional Graphics, Epson: “IPEX 2006 is a great opportunity for us to illustrate the real flexibility of our products and a chance to both affirm our leading position in the proofing market and exhibit the range of wide format products that is helping Epson to continue to grow its share of the photo and fine art, 3-D rendering, CAD, POS and signage industries.

“The latest products in action on the Epson stand will be the 8-Colour Ultrachrome K3 inkset range of printers including the 24-inch Epson Stylus Pro 7800 and the 44-inch Epson Stylus Pro 9800 for remote, publication and packaging proofing applications.”

In addition, the Epson Stylus Pro 4400 and 9400 will be printing on a range of POS and signage materials and formats, with the Epson Stylus Pro 7800 and Stylus Pro 9800 printers, alongside the Pro 1000XL scanner, showing the strength of the company’s offering in the fine art and photograph markets and a Stylus Pro 9400 demonstrating vector and CAD applications. A range of the company’s popular laser printers, photo printers and projectors will also be on show.

Continues Mr Wooldridge: “The ‘Epson Everywhere’ IPEX concept is ideally suited to our strategy in 2006 and beyond. There are an extensive range of industry-leading software vendors right throughout the show - including Agfa, Compose, EFI, GMG, and FujiFilm - all working in conjunction with Epson’s inkjet technology. We have built our market share in the graphic arts sector on the accuracy, consistency, control and strong per-print ROI of our wide format products. At IPEX 2006, we want to take this one step further and demonstrate the power and versatility of these products across a range of markets, confirming why Epson is the engine of choice for so many industry leaders.”

W: www.epson.co.uk/proofing

More IPEX news:

• April 2006
• February 2006
• January 2006
• 2005 news