News

The European Specialist Printing Manufacturers Association (ESMA) will be on two pavilions at Drupa 2016, with members and partners showing functional and industrial printing possibilities.

KCI will run a 3D fab + print touchpoint at Drupa with the intention of bringing together those working in 2D printing/packaging production, and in 3D printing industries to share technologies and knowledge. The ultimate objective of the touchpoint is to encourage new technological integrations across the sectors.

Following its international launch at Fespa Digital 2016, Colourgen will present the new Mutoh ValueJet 1604X (64in) at Sign and Digital in April.

Fespa said 16,309 unique visitors attended the combined Fespa Digital 2016, Fespa Textile, and European Sign Expo exhibitions in Amsterdam earlier this month, an increase of 34% in footfall since the last Digital show held during a similar time period in 2012. Visitors were from 120 countries - unsurprisingly, topping the numbers were those from the Netherlands (355).

70% of apprentice employers recently surveyed by the BPIF said they did not have a training budget.

The Xaar 1003 family of printheads sets a new benchmark for industrial inkjet printing according to the developer. The new head includes the XaarGuard which provides nozzle plate protection to achieve long maintenance-free production runs.

Zund is teasing the market that it will unveil “an ultra high-performance digital cutting system” at Drupa 2016.

MIS specialist Tharstern has appointed John Murphy as a pre-sales consultant to focus on third-party integration projects.

The first UK installation of the recently-launched hybrid AXYZ Trident integrated digital print finishing system has taken place at Hampshire-based Key2 Group.

Lewis and Wood is the first UK company to take delivery of the MTEX Blue pigment ink textile printer. “We’ve spent two and a half years building our knowledge of wallpaper printing and now we’re ready to start experimenting with fabrics,” said co-founder Stephen Lewis.

Innotech has become the official UK reseller of Spike, a smart laser measurement solution for sign and graphics professionals undertaking site surveys.

Venice-based W2P firm Pixartprinting has launched two initiatives to help spread the word about the possibilities of print: the blogazine Pixarthinking; and LooktheBook, the first volume in a collection aimed at graphic designers and creative minds.

Peerless Plastics and Coatings has bought a Signracer UV LED printer to enable it to become a trade print house. Ordered at Fespa Digital 2016, the new machine will be installed at the company’s site in Thetford, Norfolk.

Icon has picked up the inaugural ‘Innovation Award’ at the Retail Design Expo held at Olympia earlier this month. From an initial field of 85 entries, Icon pipped 18 shortlisted finalists to win the award for its meshh hyper-local wifi technology.