PRINT 13 and CPP EXPO: Wrapping It All Up

PRINT 13 and CPP EXPO had a successful five-day run in McCormick Place. "Two common themes seemed to be repeated by attendees and exhibitors alike at the show this year," reported Ralph Nappi, president of the Graphic Arts Show Company. "First, a sense of optimism existed that has not been evidenced in our industry for a few years; the second was the surprising number of deals that were inked at the show."

The show got off to a really energetic start on Sunday and saw the normal tapering off towards the last two days of the show. In between, there was good steady traffic and some overflow crowds, especially at some of the larger exhibitors. The following is brief sampling of just some of the show news.

At the show

PRINT 13 marked the North American debut of EFI IQuote, a Web-based, JDF-compliant estimating software that can quickly calculate the most efficient production path for jobs. IQuote also provides a robust, simple-to-use interface for fast production simulations so users can make smarter decisions in less time. EFI also highlighted its eight Must See 'Ems selections, including two "Best of Category" awards: EFI VUTEK GS-TK System and EFI Complete Integrated Workflow for Inkjet.

The latest version of Enfocus' PitStop preflight and editing solution delivers a solution for the all-to-common missing font problem. Courtesy of Enfocus' partnership with Monotype, PitStop Server 12 and Pro 12 users will be able to connect to the new cloud-based Monotype Baseline platform to retrieve the necessary font. Licensing the font is $1.49 per font, per document, and it permits embedding of the font in the file, allowing it to pass preflight and print successfully.

Xeikon demonstrated its ThermoFlexX digital imaging system, which enables customers to produce high-quality flexo and letterpress plates at high resolutions. Its new ThermoFlexX 80 will handle plates as large as 50×80 inches. Also new is its ICE Toner, a dry toner system for Xeikon's digital label presses that is compatible with heat-sensitive substrates including PE facestocks and thermal labels. It will be available in Q4 2013. Xeikon also gave on update on its new Trillium technology that is based on the company's patented liquid toner technology (that boasts 2 micron toner particles). Beta testing is scheduled for Q1 2014, with commercial availability later in the year.

Simon Lewis, HP director of strategic marketing, Indigo Division, gave an update on the development of the company's HP Indigo 30000 sheetfed press for folding cartons and the HP Indigo 20000 web press for flexible packaging. Both platforms are based to a significant degree on the HP Indigo 10000, which is working on 100 installations. For the 30000, one of the main development areas is the inline priming system and for the 20000, a significant effort is focusing on materials development (film substrates, ink coverage, and lamination adhesives), which is required for flexible packaging applications.

INX International demonstrated new ink platforms, including a focus on the emerging use of UV LED. "UV LED will be a major concentration for us from both a traditional and digital printing perspective," said Rick Clendenning, president and CEO. Also of interest at the show was its agreement with Komori America Corp. to sell and market INX's NW140 inkjet UV digital narrow web press. Komori will serve as the sole national dealer in the U.S., effective immediately.

Allen Datagraph Systems Inc. (ADSI) showed off its two 2013 Must See 'Ems Award recipients: its iTech AXXIS HS Digital Label System, a complete turnkey table-top digital solution; and the iTech AXXIS HS Digital Label Finisher that laminates; integrates die-less diecutting; and then strips, slits, and rewinds to finished rolls of labels. According to Mark Vanover, VP, sales and marketing, a majority of these systems are sold to label printers, but a noticeable number are sold to both commercial printers getting into label printing and end users (brand owners).

Esko demonstrated its Suite 12.1, the latest version of software solutions covering the entire range of design, workflow, and collaboration. It also showed how its Equinox tools extend color gamuts for flexo and digital presses, while its sister company X-Rite demonstrated how Esko color management works with PantoneLIVE™. The combination of PantoneLIVE spot color profiles with Esko's spectral ink model provides absolute accuracy and predictability for spot color simulation.

FFEI has partnered with Fujifilm North America for the sale of FFEI's new Graphium digital UV inkjet press in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Graphium is designed for converters and printers producing labels, packaging, and specialty print who want to increase margins on their short-to-medium print runs. Graphium is a modular and flexible digital UV inkjet press that allows printers to tackle complex projects requiring a wide gamut of colors on virtually any substrate. "We are delighted that Fujifilm will be our first major partner for Graphium," said Andy Cook, FFEI's managing director. "Fujifilm has a tremendous reputation for product innovation, quality, and customer service, which are the key values underpinning the whole Graphium concept."

Much of the activity at the Mark Andy booth centered on its new Mark Andy Print Products division, through which the company will provide a total solutions approach for its customers and support a larger customer base. The division offers a wide range of prepress and pressroom supplies, consumables, and chemistries for flexo and offset printers. Mark Andy also featured Versa Max, its latest mid-web, in-line flexo press that is targeted for short-run film and flexible packaging applications.

GPA released its new digital catalog featuring an expanded offering of substrates for toner digital and HP Indigo presses—more than 100 new digital substrates. GPA's new toner digital offering includes dozens of papers, synthetic films, and pressure-sensitive papers. It has also significantly expanded its offering for HP Indigo presses, including new coated and uncoated papers, specialty fine papers, more C1S and C2S boards, a large offering of pre-converted substrates, and new pressure-sensitive papers and synthetic films.

KBA reported that it finalized a sale for a new KBA Rapida 164 64-inch, 6-color press going to Meredith-Webb Printing Company. The Rapida 164 press—introduced just this year—will include ten units with double coaters, UV capabilities, and KBA QualiTronic Professional inline color control.

GMG highlighted its GMG OpenColor proofing technology that precisely predicts the color appearance of printed inks, particularly overprints. As the trend in package printing increases for different combinations of inks, substrates, screening, and other variables, one of the most difficult challenges facing a printer is accurately and reliably communicating color to the supply chain. With OpenColor, instead of having to print the different combinations of overprints users can print the single color patches—e.g., color control strips—and combine the color and substrate properties in the software.

For PRINT 13, Mohawk added 168 SKUs to its product offerings. In the digital printing market, the company focusses on two segments—dry toner and HP Indigo materials. Molly Rosenthal, market development manager, digital, reported that about 30 percent of its digital business is in the packaging arena.

Masterwork highlighted both of its Must See 'Ems award winners—the MK21060STE Duopress foil stamping and diecutting machine with stripping and the MK 420 MINI Q full automatic carton inspection machine (also a Best of Category winner). The MK21060STE Duopress is designed with a one-pass integrated system combining the platen through the embossing and foil stamping onto the diecutting and stripping functions. The 420 MINI Q has an adjustable light source that can filter the reflective light on the sheets to provide accurate detection results. Masterwork reported that the MK 420 Q inspection machine was purchased at the show by folding carton manufacturer Ingersoll Paper Box.

MGI Digital Graphic Technology displayed what it called the world's fastest digital inkjet spot UV coater, the JETvarnish 3D, which is enjoying its U.S. premier at the show. It can produce spot UV coating jobs with 3D raised effects. MGI's original JETvarnish coater, introduced in 2008, now has 150 installations, remarked MGI's Kevin Abergel. "This JETvarnish 3D allows you to go three times faster," he reported. It boasts a throughput of up to 3,000 B2 sheets per hour.

The Epson Stylus Pro inkjet printer was selected to receive the Must See 'Ems 2013 Legacy Award. This distinction is awarded to a past Must See 'Ems winner that has had a significant and continuing influence on the graphic communications industry. "The 2013 Muse See 'Ems Legacy Award recognizes Epson's important contribution to the field of digital proofing," said GASC President Ralph Nappi. "It was an enabler for many of the automation breakthroughs that followed, including computer-to-plate and color management."

Scodix launched the Scodix Ultra™ Digital Press, which is capable of producing 1,250 B2+ (21.5˝ x 31.0˝) size sheets per hour. It is based on the company's Scodix SENSE™ technology, which provides pin-point enhancement positioning and registration; touch and feel features to make print stand out; the highest level of gloss units attainable for printed materials; and variable polymer thickness in a single pass.

Colter & Peterson (C&P) and Komori America Corp. announced a strategic sales partnership in which C&P's ancillary print finishing equipment will be marketed and sold as part of the KomoriKare program in the U.S. The KomoriKare program offers an entire line of value-added support, including service programs, press efficiency audits, ancillary equipment and consumables, to help print providers streamline operations with turnkey solutions.

Goss International continued to expand its commitment to the packaging sector, showing updates on its Sunday Vpak web offset presses at PRINT 13. Sunday Vpak press models for flexible packaging, label, and folding carton applications feature quick-change sleeve technology and are available in widths from 20.5 inches to 75 inches. pP