L-R Tony Barnett and Océ's Neil McMinn after signing the dealUK reprographics firm John E Wright has signed a contract at Sign + Digital for an Océ Arizona 360 XT printer.
Designed with an extra large 2.5 x 3.05m flatbed table this Océ product targets display graphics print producers wanting to increase capacity. The Océ Arizona 360 XT can print up to 36.4 m2/h in express mode and the extra length and independent vacuum zones of this UV inkjet printer enable continuous printing of rigid media up to 125 x 250cm (a standard 4ft by 8ft board). A special feature of the machine is that one board can be printed while another can be changed for non-stop production printing.
Tony Barnett, a fourth-generation owner of John E Wright, said at the official signing on Océ’s show-stand, E10 in Hall 3: “We did consider other manufacturers, but the Océ Arizona 360 XT is a fantastic product to fill a gap we had in our signage and graphics business. It will be based in our main graphical operation in Nottingham. We have had an extremely busy time recently, winning important new contracts in key areas including retail, fashion products and general signage. This is just the first – we expect to buy other Océ systems going forward.”
John E Wright, over 100 years old, has grown to become a £6 million-turnover business employing 96 people across nine branches. Of these, 25 work in the Nottingham graphics department. This major supplier of varied digital print solutions to trade, retail and end-user clients has a long history in the CAD and small format colour printing industry. In addition it operates in poster printing, POS production, signage and direct UV cure print to many substrates, as well as canvas and fine art printing, large format photographic quality ink jet print, scanning and archiving services.
Dominic Fahy, business group director, display graphics and imaging supplies, Océ UK, said: “This represents a significant investment by an organisation that plays a key role in the market. John E Wright has been a long-serving customer and while the product is excellent, so are the backup, support and knowledge of the Océ team, who will continue to support its success in the market.”
The contract signing was another measure of success for Océ, part of the Canon Group, which provided live demonstrations at the Sign + Digital UK show. Systems on display included the newest model, the Océ Arizona 318 GL unveiled in February, the Océ Arizona 360 GT and the Océ ColorWave® 600 poster printer, which incorporates Océ CrystalPoint® technology that uses toner pearls.
Océ Imaging Supplies also had a significant presence demonstrating the new ONYX® Thrive™ workflow software, a scalable print production solution based on Adobe® PDF Print Engine technology.
Océ was partnered at the exhibition by Zünd Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd.
http://global.oce.com/products/arizona-360-xt/default.aspx
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Two of HP's customers – O’Neil Data Systems, Los Angeles, and CPI Group, Paris – have installed a sixth HP Inkjet Web Press, bringing the firm's total installed base to more than 60 inkjet web presses worldwide.
HP says it now has inkjet web press customers in 11 countries, including the first installation in Latin America, São Paulo, Brazil-based BMK (which has just has installed an HP T350).
Since entering the market in 2009, HP has worked with many of the world’s leading book, transactional statement and direct mail print service providers (PSPs) to improve productivity, reduce costs and offer a more-efficient publication and collateral supply chain management. So HP's latest figures from show the collective number of pages produced on its inkjet web presses since 2009 have passed the 10 billion mark. In addition, its customers produced more than 2.5 billion of those pages in HP’s most recent fiscal quarter alone.
“We are helping our PSP customers transform their businesses through profitable new solutions that in turn deliver higher value to their customers,” said Aurelio Maruggi, vice president and general manager, inkjet high-speed production solutions, HP. “The productivity and print quality of our inkjet web presses help PSPs extend the advantages of digital even further into traditional analogue markets.”
One of O’Neil Data Systems’ new presses, a 42-inch wide HP T400 Colour Inkjet Web Press, is the centrepiece of a new digital production facility in Plano, Texas. Joining the T400 at the facility are a newly installed, 22-inch wide HP T200 Colour Inkjet Web Press, and a sheet-fed HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press. O’Neil Data Systems highlighted all three of its new HP installations during a grand opening celebration earlier this month.
CPI Group, Europe’s largest book manufacturer, recently installed its sixth press, a 30-inch-wide HP T350 Colour Inkjet Web Press at its Antony Rowe facility in Chippenham, UK.
Communisis recently announced its investment in two HP T400 pressesHP says CPI is witnessing many new growth opportunities as a result of its rapid adoption of its equipment. The company’s proprietary Quantum solutions – a series of integrated CPI book manufacturing lines based on HP Inkjet Web Press technology – recently produced their 10 millionth, digitally printed monochrome book. The company also has expanded opportunities in colour publishing with HP. Its newest press is the first HP Inkjet Web Press at CPI to be used for colour printing.
UK customer Communisis plc is a leading marketing services provider which already has HP T300 presses and recently invested in two HP T400 presses for its Liverpool facility.
The first T400 has already been installed with the second due for installation this June. This will triple Communisis’s digital capacity and allow it to migrate all of its existing transactional production onto a digital print platform.
Andy Blundell, chief executive, Communisis, said: “The T400 investment by Communisis is driven by our key transactional customers wishing to access benefits which include greater bill clarity and personalised marketing communication. Building on the success of our earlier T300 deployment at Leeds, this is pioneering technology and our strong relationship with HP has ensured both an effective installation with great support plus a roadmap to ongoing technology upgrades.”
Worldwide HP has also made major inroads. Another customer expanding its use of digital printing is King Printing, which bought its second HP Inkjet Web Press, an HP T350 model, to pursue growth opportunities in short-run book manufacturing. The new press is being installed at King Printing’s Lowell, Massachusetts, headquarters, where the company operates a high-speed inkjet production operation that also includes another HP T350 Colour Inkjet Web Press.
“As we continue to expand our services to book publishers, which are transitioning analogue pages to digital pages, the installation of our second T350 will help our customers to continue their pursuit of short-run, on-demand book manufacturing,” said Adi Chinai, managing director, King Printing. “With our inkjet web press capacity, we are able to offer better time-to-market solutions that are progressive and profitable for our customers.”
HP also has continued to expand its business in the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, which it said represented a significant growth opportunity.
Tokyo-based Kodansha – Japan’s leading manga (Japanese comic books), book and magazine publisher – has signed a sales agreement for an HP T300 Colour Inkjet Web Press. Kodansha is the first company in Japan to buy an HP Inkjet Web Press. It also is the first publishing company to buy this technology, a potentially huge boost for digital printing in the publishing value chain for HP.
One of Kodansha’s key bookbinding suppliers will instal and operate the publishing company’s new press alongside a newly installed SigmaLine bindery system from Swiss finishing equipment manufacturer Muller Martini.
“We feel very pleased and excited to adopt and introduce an advanced book production system consisting of the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press and the Muller Martini SigmaLine to lead Japan’s publishing industry,” said Kenjiro Umezaki, leader of Kodansha’s operations division. “The main and decisive reasons Kodansha chose HP’s inkjet digital web press are HP’s high-level inkjet technology and the record of good performance seen with HP web presses in many past installations.
“By introducing this latest book production system,” Umezaki added, “Kodansha will be able to produce required volumes for many kinds of books with quick delivery. We also believe Kodansha will be able to reduce production and storage costs while fully meeting readers’ diverse needs.”
HP recently completed the APJ region’s first HP T400 installation, at Kingsgrove, Australia-based McPherson’s. And upcoming installations in the region include HP Color Inkjet Web Presses to be installed at Sinjin in South Korea, and at Hucais Group, Dongguan, China.
More information about HP Inkjet Web Presses is available at www.hp.com/go/inkjetwebpress
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Mohawk Fine Papers, headquartered in Cohoes, New York, will begin the transition for its sourcing of cast coated products from the Kromekote brand to Chromolux, manufactured by M-real, (soon to be known as Metsa Board Corporation).
Mohawk, which should be accepting orders by August, will in the meantime continue to support sales of Kromekote until current inventories are depleted.
Mohawk Fine Papers is one of the largest premium paper manufacturers in North America and operates three mills (six paper machines) with over 175,000 tons capacity producing writing, text, cover, and digital papers.
It operates four distribution centres in North America and one in the Netherlands to serve the European market. Today Mohawk papers are distributed in over 50 countries worldwide.
Mohawk will offer Chromolux for traditional commercial printing, and will also launch a new range of Chromolux digital papers to complement its digital paper products in the rapidly growing digital printing market.
Thomas D O’Connor, Jr, chairman and chief executive, Mohawk Fine Papers, says:
“Cast coated papers play a key role in our product offering and we intend to create a world-class line up for every leading print platform. We are happy to announce this partnership with a globally recognised brand and to be working with the M-Real. This partnership is strategic to our growth plan."
Scott Forsberg, sales director, M-real USA, echoes these sentiments: “We couldn't be more pleased than to be partnering with a company the calibre of Mohawk Fine Papers which is clearly the leader in premium and fine printing papers in North America."
The new partnership is expected to create significant business opportunities for both companies. It is the second joint venture that Mohawk has formally announced this year. In January, it teamed up with MOO.com to create a custom paper application for Luxe business cards.
For more information, visit www.mohawkpaper.com
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Esko logoHighcon Systems Ltd based in Yavne, Israel, has announced details of a commercial and technological co-operation agreement with Esko. The deal will integrate Esko’s ArtiosCAD structural design and manufacturing software with the world’s first digital cutting and creasing machine, the Highcon Euclid.
ArtiosCAD is one of the world‘s most popular software for packaging professionals with dedicated tools for structural design, product development, virtual prototyping and manufacturing. The Highcon Euclid will process ArtiosCAD designs to be digitally cut and creased.
Miki Zimmer, Highcon co-founder, said: “Throughout the development of the Euclid we have focused on combining our own technology with that of best-in- class suppliers, to deliver optimised solutions to the customer. There is no doubt Esko is our first choice of workflow partner.”
Bernard Zwaenepoel, Esko’s senior vice president of software business, said: “We are proud to be part of the game-changing revolution that Highcon is bringing to the folding carton market. As the world’s major player in packaging prepress workflow, Esko is the natural partner to also drive this digital cutting and creasing revolution together with Highcon.”
Highcon Euclid digital cutting and creasing machine
As DPNLive reported previously (January 27th) Highcon’s Direct-to-Pack solution uses entirely new technology to eliminate conventional dies and deliver high-quality cut and creased sheets from digital data. The Highcon Euclid is the world’s first entirely digital cutting and creasing production machine for folded cartons. With jobs accepted from standard prepress software, the Euclid uses Highcon’s “digital adhesive rule technology” (DART) to create the crease lines within minutes, with no need for traditional dies. With the Highcon Euclid, turnaround times are cut dramatically while run lengths up to 10,000 sheets become attractive and profitable for the converter. Under the new agreement, the Highcon Euclid will accept digital files from standard sources, such as Esko ArtiosCAD, that contain the carton’s cutting and creasing information within two layers. The creasing layer information is used to swiftly create the Highcon DART, laying polymer rules onto a foil mounted on the creasing cylinder. The complete setup takes about 15 minutes and then production begins. The second data layer controls three CO2 lasers and an innovative Highcon scanning system which cuts and perforates the cartons in high quality at production speeds prior to stacking.
Both Esko and Highcon will exhibit at drupa 2012 in Dusseldorf in May and visitors can see the results of the collaboration on the Highcon booth, B28 in Hall 4.
http://www.esko.com/en/Products/overview/artioscad/overview
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Hybrid FootballVisitors to the Hybrid Services stand at this year’s Sign + Digital UK exhibition are in for a real treat on March 28th.
Mimaki’s exclusive distributor is inviting people to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary by reliving the glory days of the late 1980s with Manchester United football legends: Arthur Albiston and Lou Macari.
Hybrid Services will give its guests the chance to have their photograph taken with the stars. Photographic consultant to the club, Frank Wilson, will do the honours. Visitors can also reminisce with Albiston and Macari about the soccer club in the late 1980s, an era which also saw the early years of the exhibition. Hybrid will later email the photos to the visitors and send them this free memento to show off to their friends and family. It will also be possible to enjoy a Q&A session with the former Scottish internationals, recall celebrated victories over local rivals and remember a time famous for its haircuts, music, team kits and of course – great football.
Pre-registering for Sign + Digital UK 2012 and then attending the exhibition automatically enters visitors into a terrific football themed competition. They’re also in with a chance of winning an unforgettable VIP trip for two to a top flight game at Manchester United’s Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, hosted by Hybrid Services. There they will experience football and hospitality at their finest.
Hybrid’s stand at the exhibition will host Mimaki product launches, a comprehensive range of Mimaki printing, cutting and software solutions and also allow visitors a chance to gain valuable advice from the Mimaki Learning Zone.
Register for Sign + Digital UK 2012 by visiting its website – www.signanddigitaluk.com and for more details on Mimaki – visit www.hybridservices.co.uk
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 MUTOH ValueJet 1628TD |
 MUTOH ValueJet1324 |
Mutoh is ready to showcase the latest print engines from its ValueJet line-up at FESPA Digital later this month (Booth P90). Its product display will include the new ValueJet 1324 and 1624 Eco printers, which feature new print head technology, as well as the new ValueJet TD series direct-to-fabric printers. The latter are available in 165cm and 260cm widths. During the exhibition, visitors can attend live demonstrations of Mutoh’s entire range of products for commercial print, signage, print-to-cut, dye sublimation and direct-to-fabric applications.
The company will also sponsor FESPA’s Print Shop Live initiative (Booth S10), a fully functional live print shop, where the new 2.6m ValueJet TD direct-to-fabric printer will be shown in combination with an autonomous thermo-fixation unit.
Product highlights
New ValueJet 1324 and 1624 Eco printers
The recently launched ValueJet 1324 – 54” and ValueJet 1624 – 64” printers target the sign and display market. They are suited for the production of long-term outdoor posters, signs and banners, backlit signage, POS displays, vehicle graphics as well as high-quality durable prints for indoor use.
Both printers incorporate new print head technology including Mutoh’s Intelligent Interweaving print technology. The company says the machine printers can deliver typical production speeds up to 14.5 m2/h and top speeds up to 29 m2/h.
ValueJet 1604W
The ValueJet 1604W four-colour dye sublimation printer targets the sublimation transfer market for the production of high quality graphics for businesses focusing on the production of banners, flags, soft signage, interior decoration, curtains, bed linen, sportswear and so on. It uses Mutoh’s high speed dye sublimation inks and has a stated speed up to 17.4 m2/h at 720 x 720 dpi.
New ValueJet TD series printers
Mutoh will display its new ValueJet TD series printers for printing on both open and closed structure fabric. The new eight channel ValueJet TD printers incorporate two new 1440 nozzle piezo drop-on-demand print heads. Mutoh maintains that these new machines will allow typical production speeds up to 24 m2/h and top speeds up to 41 m2/h making them suitable for volume printing as well as for customised one-off projects.
The printers utilise Mutoh’s worry-free water-based direct disperse inks for direct-to-fabric printing. They can also be used with Mutoh’s high-speed dye sublimation inks for transfer paper printing.
FESPA’s Print Shop Live
Mutoh is a key sponsor of FESPA’s Print Shop Live (Booth S10). Here, visitors can view a live demonstration of Mutoh’s new ValueJet 2628TD 2.6m engine, in link with a SETeMa I-Fix thermo-fixation unit. The ValueJet TD will print directly to fabric with Mutoh direct disperse inks. The printed graphics will then be immediately heat-fixed by the in-line I-Fix. The demonstration aims to enable print service providers to get acquainted with a full end-to-end workflow solution.
Visitors can subscribe for a free demo tour hosted by global inkjet experts at http://www.fespa.com/digital/en/print-shop-live.html
For more information on Mutoh and its products, visit www.mutoh.eu
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Highcon will instal the first HighconTM Euclid machine at a beta site at converting company Graphica Bezalel, in Yavne, Israel next month.
Based in Yavne, Highcon develops, manufactures and markets digital converting solutions for the direct-to-pack folding carton sector.
The company claims the recently announced Highcon Euclid is the world’s first entirely digital cutting and creasing production machine for folded cartons. With jobs accepted from standard prepress software, the Euclid uses Highcon’s “digital adhesive rule technology” (DART) to create the crease lines within minutes, with no need for traditional dies.
L- R Aviv Ratzman Oded Harpak MD Eyal Harpak DGM Miki Zimmer of Graphica Bezalel LtdThe Euclid is equipped with multiple lasers, along with new and innovative precision optics to cut cardboard sheets, delivering high quality on-demand cut and creased sheets with a format size up to 76cm X 106cm (30” X 42”).
Highcon says turnaround times can be cut dramatically while run lengths up to 10,000 sheets will be profitable for the converter.
Graphica Bezalel is a 66-year-old family converting company that provides packaging solutions for many well-known international brands. It sees its key strength in its versatility and ability to print and convert a wide variety of substrates.
Graphica’s deputy general manager, Eyal Harpak, said: “We have been following the progress of the Highcon Euclid for a while now and are delighted to have the opportunity to put it through its paces. We look forward to exploring the features and potential of the Euclid and testing it under production conditions. We are excited by its potential to transform our customer responsiveness and increase our profitability through increased flexibility, productivity and cost-savings.”
Highcon is confident that the Euclid will integrate smoothly with Graphica’s existing pre-media software and workflow, and is compatible with its existing high-quality offset printing.
Mike Ferrari of Ferrari Innovation Solutions, LLC, who had a 32-year career at Procter & Gamble and is now a packaging industry consultant, has also said: “Having seen the Highcon Euclid in action myself, it is clear it will also change the consumer experience, enabling marketers and designers the freedom to change cartons, shapes and windows. It will be fascinating to see what the machine is capable of during its beta testing.”
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Azon TexPro - direct to garment printerAzonprinter, whose mission is to develop sustainable designs and protect the environment with its skilful, sensitive machine design, is busy planning for six fairs next month.
Andrea Skarica, marketing spokesperson for the Croatian company, said the main focus of Azon’s sustainable design was to avoid non-renewable resources, minimise the environmental impact, and promote eco-friendly materials to distributors and partners all the way to end users of its direct to garment and direct to substrate flat-bed printers.
“Azonprinter knows what is important: inks without solvent chemicals, machines with less energy consumption and no environmental pollution. We care about proper employee education and training with around-the-clock technical support and a wholesome work environment. We keep a green planet while you make green profit.”
Last year, Azon developed markets in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Romania, India, Colombia, Qatar and UAE. The firm believes this success indicates the global recognition being given to environmentally-sustainable digital technologies.
Skarica added: “After years of effort we are proud to present our eco-friendly products at no less than six fairs during February where we hope potential new customers will learn more about our new eco sustainable digital technology.”
The Azon extravagance starts off in Dubai during January 31st to February 2nd at the Dubai World Trade Centre which is hosting a major exhibition for signage, graphic imaging, screen and digital printing industries, Sign Middle East (Azonprinter stands H-03 and A-42).
Azon DTS White - direct to substrate printerThen during February 1st-3rd, Warsaw, Poland, hosts the number one show for advertising and printing trade fairs in central Europe, Rema-Days. Azonprinter can be found on stand 4F11 in Hall 4.
Third up is TV TecStyle Visions on February 2nd-4th at Messe, Stuttgart in Germany (stand no 8B44), which is an international trade fair for textile printing, embroidery, transfers and flocking.
On February 7th-9th you’ll run into Azonprinter in Lyon, France, and in Hardenberg, Netherlands. Lyon hosts the Salon CTCO exhibition, now the key professional event in promotional products and all types of personalisation techniques. At the same, in Hardenberg, Netherlands, Azon is on stand 201 at the Grafische Vakbeurs 2012 fair.
However as all companies know, there is only one place to be this year and that’s FESPA, Barcelona, where Azonprinter occupies stand R12.
On what to expect from her company, Skarica said: “Come visit us on any fair, get inspired and enjoy the performance of both direct to substrate and direct to garment Azon printers. Discover the possibilities of our best selling direct to substrate inkjet printers Azon DTS and Azon DTS White that makes it possible to print white colour on any substrate. They come in all formats A2+, A1 and B0 and print directly on glass, metal, stone, wood, plastics and all others surfaces, but textile. For textile, meet our well known Azon TexPro that is a perfect solution and a necessity for any textile business together with our new Azon TwinTex easy exchangeable dual-platen platform textile printer that is specially designed for industrial production and large quantities. All printers are eco-sustainable and promoting eco-friendly green technology. For the printing industry 2012 will be the year of continuously growing importance of the environmentally-sustainable digital technologies.”
Contact: Andrea Škarica Azonprinter
Tel: 00385-1-461-8003
M:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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 Vista System International suspended signs 2 |
 Vista System International suspended signs 3 |
 Vista System International suspended signs |
Vista System International, a leading supplier of MCFT or Modular Curved Frame Technology, recently supplied its durable suspended signs to ‘AAA Business Solutions India Pvt.Ltd’, for installation at GMR Hyderabad International Airport in India.
The brief was to replace, to certain specifications, the airport’s existing non-illuminated signs with brightly lit departure signs.
The new signs had to be durable enough to withstand high wind velocity as Hyderabad’s departures’ forecourt areas are not fully covered.
Vista System confirmed that its suspended signs were chosen for their design flexibility which allowed them to be mounted in various ways to increase durability, and because they supported internal illumination.
Vista sign System Ireland
Tel: 00353 (0) 402 24505
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.vistasystem.com/Ir-home
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