Actual News about Large Format Printing
A free of charge information service
Distributor: CREACT, Hamburg; chief editor: Wolfgang Hey
Published by: Neun Punkt GbR, Hamburg
2002-07-08
Dear readers, dear friends,
After a famous event in Madrid, where all the
industry leaders met at FESPA, even my colleagues and myself spent some
holidays, but here are the news you are waiting for. Susanne and Kai visited
some booths and spoke with manufacturers and providers to find out what was new
and will come to life to end this year. I hope that the information we
collected are helpful for you. Again you should know that even your company
news are welcome. I apologize the delay but promise that next release will be
right in time end July.
Have a great time and wonderful holidays !
Wolfgang Hey and the entire LFP-Newsletter team
1)
FESPA 2002 a success
The premier exhibition in the screen printing and wide-format digital
imaging sector, this year held at Madrid’s new IFEMA Exhibition Centre from 4th
– 8th June, attracted 27.891 visitors from around the globe. A small
reduction given the current economic climate, compared to FESPA’99 which
attracted 29.146 visitors. Whilst the majority of visitors were represented by
European countries, this year’s show reflected the continued global spread of
the attraction of the FESPA exhibition - a record 111 different countries being
represented. At the same time, FESPA lived up to the expectations of the
exhibitors. Reports from these exhibitors, who numbered more than 350 and
between them amassed over 40.000m2 of stand space – some 5.000m2
more than Munich’99 - cited the level and more importantly the quality of
visitors to be extremely high.
More information: www.fespa2002.com
2) GBC with new Falcon range
A new range of upgradable laminators for the
professional wide-format laminating market war presented at FESPA in Madrid by
GBC Films Group Europe. The new range includes several models with same basic
structure and design but different options like unwinds and rewinds. The Falcon
60+ C is a cold laminator of 1.6 m wide an mounting capabilities up to 3 cm
thick. The Falcon 60+ TH/DH, same as before but available in the two versions
TH with top-heated roller op to 160 C, and DH with double heated roll. Next is
the Falcon 80+ TH/DH, available also in both versions but the two can mount
prints up to 3 cm thickness an 2 m wide. An enhanced version of GBC’s popular
Titan 165, an entry level professional laminating machine for in-house
production was also demonstrated at FESPA.
More information: www.gbcfilm.com
3) Screen printing films via Inkjet
ColorGATE Digital Output Solutions GmbH,
Hannover Germany, has presented its new product family Screen&Sign for
screen printers and signmakers at Fespa 2002 in Madrid. With Screen&Sign
ColorGATE offers a selection of extensive solutions for the production of
screen printing films with digital large format printers, which are specially designed
for the target market screen printing and signage. By using special screening
algorithms and control of the dot structure the ColorGATE software obtains on
suitable media ink combinations a maximum UV density of up to Dmax = 4.3.
More information: www.colorgate.com
4) Big success for Tiara Systems
Brillant
720 dpi photorealistic prints done with environment and user friendly Lyson
developed Pentachrome ® LOD (Lyson Outdoor) ink set were reason for big success
Tiara Systems has had at FESPA. Lysons Pentachrome ink set offers enhanced
color space in red and blue areas. 27% wider color space and 50% more printable
colors result in this special development. Additional finishing is not needed.
Due to high print quality the outdoor prints are also good for indoor use.
Betatesting has shown that both printers could be used variable and
economically also for Solvent Subliming in textile printing environment. Inks
for these applications will be available later this year. Beside their key
applications users will be able to offer special products and ideas.
More information: www.tiarasystems.com
5) 3M - new printer systems, toners & inks
3M Commercial Graphics brought to Fespa the new
VUTEkÔ
UltraVuÔ 3360 printer, water-based liquid laminate for Seal’s AquaSealÒ
super wide laminators, the enhanced ScotchprintÒ Toner system and a series of piezo ink jet inks for Océ’s Arizona 180,
90 and 30 printers. All these products are backed up the 3MÔ
Matched Component System warranty, acknowledged as the industry’s most
comprehensive warranty. ScotchprintÒ Graphics Authorized Manufacturers using these new products and systems
for a 3M total graphics solution can claim the ScotchprintÒ
Graphics brand, the “brand that builds your brand” with unparalleled
consistency, reliability and durability.
More information: www.3m.com
6) The SPARK 1612 Mid-Size Digital Printer
Matan Digital Printers (2001) Ltd. announced an all-new digital thermal
transfer printer, the SPARK 1612. Unique among mid-size printers, the SPARK1612
can print at widths of both 16” (40.5cm) and 12” (30.5cm), enabling
considerable savings on consumables due to reduced ribbon and media wastage. It
offers an extremely productive, high-quality solution for a broad variety of
indoor and outdoor applications. The SPARK 1612 is based on the unique thermal
transfer process implemented in Matan’s Sprinter wide-format printers, which
have been installed in hundreds of sites worldwide. In
addition Matan Digital Printers Ltd. announced the SprinterB40″ printer,
the newest offering in its acclaimed family of SprinterBä
wide format digital printers. The SprinterB40″ builds on the success of
the SprinterB, offering all the same productivity, quality, and durability
advantages, but in a wider format. Printing to a width of 40” (102cm), the new
printer is suitable for any wide format printing application and is
particularly ideal for the European and Japanese markets, where 1m is the
standard wide format printing size.
More information:
www.matan.co.il
7) Legget & Platt VIRTU™ RS … it’s huge !
The Virtu RS super-wide digital printer
provides the optional capability to image 8 foot x 10 foot (2.5 x 3.0 m) – and
larger – substrates via an X/Y axis and media indexing for 100 % bleed. L&P
Digital Technologies Virtu™ super-printers offer a new level of flexibility,
efficiency and production quality. The Virtu RS with bi-directional inkjet
printing, 4-color CMYK process (optional 6-color CMYK LCLM) – prints at 720,
360 and 180 true addressable dpi. Additional features include the company’s
proprietary jet-through system for textiles, a two-step curing process that
stabilises the ink drop within milliseconds of jetting, and a proprietary Cold
Curing UV Light System for temperature sensitive substrates.
More information: www.lp-digital.com
8) Rexam’s new gloss and lustre papers
DMPDQ2-G (gloss) and DMPDQ2-L (lustre) are the
new and improved micro-porous 10-mil photobase papers. Rexam Image Products
added both to its line of Magic® Brand photo-realistic media products, and they
are the latest in next-generation 10-mil resin-coated micro-porous papers
designed for high-speed, wide format display piezo or thermal inkjet printers
equiped with either dye or UV stable pigment inks. Both dry instantly with most
inks, enabling users to image on even the fastest printers and laminate
immediately afterwards. DMPDQ2’s polyethylene resin-coated base, combined with
a revolutionary pigment compatible gloss and lustre inkjet coating, yields
high-quality fade-resistant photo-realistic images. Magic’s DMPDQ2 can be
over-laminated with most cold laminates and most low-temperature hot laminates.
More information: www.magicinkjet.com
9) The ultimate in superwide flexible products
VUTEk Inc has exhibited
three high quality superwide printing systems, its new faster RIP station and
new version of RIP software. VUTEk’s PressVu UV
180 EC uses UV-curable inks to print on the widest range of rigid or flexible
substrates, and offers 600 dpi (1200 apparent) resolution. The PressVu UV can
print in either eight or four colors, on substrates up to 1.8 wide. The Auto
Sheet Feeder 180 is engineered to automatically feed a stack of rigid sheets
through the printer to facilitate fully automated material input, further
increasing the labor savings from the PressVu UV 180 EC printing system. The
UltraVu 2600 EC superwide printer, has been optimized specifically for high
quality applications requiring super-fine photographic line and text detail.
With 600 dpi (1200 apparent) capability, the eight-color digital printer
(switchable between eight-color and fast four-color modes) provides the ideal
solution for high quality indoor and outdoor applications. The UltraVu 3360 EC
eight-color, three-meter printer offers quality and versatility and is ideal
for printing on paper, vinyl, mesh and pressure-sensitive materials. With a 360
dpi resolution capability (720 dpi apparent), the UltraVu 3360 EC produces
images that are sharp, crisp and consistent. VUTEK’s new RIP station has been
reengineered to rip files twice as fast as before and to transfer files four
times faster. The ColorBurst 7.0 software enhancements greatly improve file
preparation and improve the versatility of VUTEk printers in the proofing
process and for short-run jobs that need to more closely match the results from
screen printing. The collection of innovative new features incorporated into
the RIP station and software allows users to dramatically reduce RIP time,
improve workflow and better control overall print quality.
More information: www.vutek.com
10) FLEXcon’s latest novel products
LITEcal™, In- and Outdoor Floorgraphics
Systems, SEE THRU-Sign series as well as the new UV resistant overlaminating
films – FLEXcon exhibited all at FESPA. LITEcal™ as a highly translucent
calendared vinyl film designed primarily for exterior-mounted backlit graphics.
This outdoor floor graphics system is the perfect complement to their existing
line of indoor floor graphics. FLEXcon’s SEE THRU-Sign™ products allow
see-through viewing from inside out. Graphics printed on these
perforated one-way signage products are visible from the outside of a glass
window or door, but are invisible from inside.
More information: www.flexcon-europe.nl
11) Successful FESPA
for NUR Macroprinters
Beside NEW FRESCO HiQ 8C (8 colours) NUR welcomed
more than 500 invited visitors at FESPA for a preview of the new and the
technological preview of the new NUR TEMPO. NUR TEMPO is an UV ink flat bed
printer (2 by 3 m, 50 mm thickness) with integrated curing system. More
information will follow soon.
More information: www.nur.com
12) Lyson enjoyed quality
and quantity
Insiders know Lyson inks for a long time and most of
large format printer users do well with their inks without knowing that Lyson
is behind. Lyson still will continue to deliver inks to main OEM printer
manufacturers but also will supply inks for piezo, thermal, continuos ink jet,
airbrush and valve jet technologies Lyson branded with higher quality levels to
end users direct. Lyson inks are available for large format printers (in and
outdoor), textile printing, proofing, photography, fine art, office printing as
well as for industrial labelling and encoding. Especially due to brilliant
colors and economic pricing the new oil based inks for Colorgrafx (XES) and
Rastergraphics were minded by the visitors. So it’s no wonder that the
direction at Lyson is expansion. More and more dealers, distributors and of
course end users decide to go with Lyson inks and Lysons support.
More information: www.lyson.com
13) ColorSpan charts new course
MacDermid ColorSpan is refocusing its business
operations and marketing direction to better address the growing demand for
wide-format piezo-based inkjet printing in a wide variety of graphic arts
printing and packaging related applications. ColorSpan is undertaking an
intensive development program to add piezo-based inkjet Printing capabilities to
its product line to ensure added value for current and future customers looking
to more productively address new business opportunities and a broader range of
wide-format printing applications. This will also give better position to the
company for long-term growth.
More information: www.colorspan.com
14) ASLAN was a good address
ASLAN presented its range of products including
ink-jet films, films for digital printing, laminating films and specialist
mounting films. For ink-jet printing ASLAN presented a new PVC-vinyl, in white
matt, which is highly water resistant (ASLAN IF 83), a PE-film with a
microporous surface (ASLAN IF 84) as well as a new banner material, giving
excellent coverage (ASLAN IF 93N). There were also on show different new
polyester films to complete the ink-jet program. With digital printers using
solvent based printing systems ASLAN offers an superb range of products such as
white and transparent films, matt or gloss, in all popular widths.
More information: www.ASLAN-Schwarz.com
15) Mutoh at FESPA
Mutoh notified a great success with their new
two printers Toucan and Rockhopper. Mutoh’s Toucan series printers consist of
two models: Toucan 64” (1626 mm) and Toucan 87” (2210 mm). The Toucan 64” is
equiped with four colour channels (C, M, Y, K) with a maximum print width of
1600 mm and a top printing speed of 37.1 m²/h. The Toucan 87” offers four/six
colour channels (C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm), with a print width of 2159 mm and a top
speed of 79.1 m²/h. The machines offer multiple print modes, i.e. a high speed
print mode (360 x 180 dpi), a production print mode (360 x 360 dpi) and a high
quality print mode (360 x 720 dpi). The Rockhopper printers offer various print
resolutions, from 360 dpi x 720 dpi, up to 1440 x 720 dpi and diagonally
interpolated 1440 x 1440 dpi. Print speeds vary between 14.49 m²/h at 360 x 180
dpi, 3.6 m²/h at 720 x 720 dpi and 0.68 m²/h at 1440 x 1440 dpi. The Rockhopper
Eco-Solvent inks not only offer the advantage that users do not need to invest
in special ventilation or environmental equipment, but moreover offer a wider
colour gamut when compared to standard pigmented inks. Ink consumption for the
Rockhopper printers moreover is extremely low, with figures of 4.66 ml per m²
in 360 dpi print mode and 7.98 ml per m² in 720 dpi mode.
More Information: www.mutoh.be
16) IMPRINTA 2003 moved to 2006 !
It
is an important message: IMPRINTA is being moved to 2006 – the next date
according to its staging cycle. Since crucial names in the industry decided not
to participate in IMPRINTA 2003, it cannot be realised on the planned
international scope. Because of IMPRINTA is a leading, internationally
established event for the print and media industries with a respected
reputation world-wide, explains Dr. Manfred Kotschedoff, division director at
Messe Duesseldorf. Instead, a complementary trade exhibition, tailored to the
German print and media market, will be held parallel to the BVDM’s (German
Printing and Media Industries Federation) print & media Congress from
February 20th to 22nd in 2003.
More information: www.messe-duesseldorf.com
17) New market study for German LFP market
A new study analysing the German market for
digital large format printing is ready for delivery. Subject of the report are
both product groups of LED- and inkjet technology. From 36 manufacturers are
found out annual deliveries of the last three years and printer population as
end of 2001, break down to model level. The findings together with further
company information are collected on tables offering the database for detailed
analysis, including manufacturer ranking by product groups. The installed units
further are divided by application areas into CAD-CAM and graphic art use,
allowing to derive different market developments. Thus LED-plotters release the
growing importance of digital copying, while inkjet printers in quantities
still are focused on thermal output, but new models show concentration on piezo
head technologies with pigmented inks due to increased dominance of outdoor
applications. Please request further information from the author.
More
information: DJWeberHG@aol.com
18) Two New Products Announced by UIGS
UIGS has added 2 high-performance products to
its product range of large-format inkjet media. The new inkjet media, White PP
Films are versatile and cheaper alternatives to traditional photo-based media
products. The White PP film with 7.5mil PP base combined with special coating
formula, engineered for heavy ink absorption in short drying time. There are
two options on gloss level, Gloss and matte. We recommend the product for the
use with popular thermal inkjet plotter with dye-based ink. In addition, we
like to introduce the Reflective PET Film (Silver/Gold) which creates a special
effect that catches a lot of attention. It can be used for formal invitations,
holiday greeting cards, fashion design, interior design and stunning portraits
and will produce a dramatic and eye-catching result every time you use it. All
of these are available in sheets and rolls.
More information: www.uig.com.tw
19) EPSON Stylus PRO 9600 and PRO 7600
The new EPSON Stylus PRO 9600 and EPSON Stylus
PRO 7600 professional printers deliver brilliant large-format printouts.
Featuring the new EPSON UltraChromeTM ink for vivid, lightfast
prints, the additional seventh “Light Black” ink for smoother gradations in
colour and black&white printing and the additional, optional “Matte Black”
ink specifically for printing on matte paper, these two inkjet printers
guarantee the highest level of print results. With a resolution of up to 2880 x
1440 dpi (on suitable media), the printers have a wide range of applications: be
it for professional portrait and commercial photography, proofing or printing
advertising and art prints, the new EPSON large-format printers provide
outstanding quality and economy in all fields of application. Sales launch was
mid-June.
More information: www.epson.com
20) Sihl introduced new vinyl
3972 matt is a permanent self-adhesive vinyl, 240 µm,
which is supplied with a matt, waterfast and scratch-resistant inkjet coating.
And what’s more: The vinyl substrate is thoroughly compatible with both dye and
pigmented inks (piezo and thermal). The product is primarily intended for
outdoor applications, as well as indoor. 3972 is giving
high color graduation, excellent sharpness and short drying time. The waterfast
coating gives the opportunity of two to four weeks outdoor use (recommendation
for European climate), without lamination but with appropriate pigmented inks.
Laminated, a use of up to six months is possible. In principle, lamination is
recommended for extra protection to reduce the impact of dirt, physical
abrasion or environmental impact.
More information: Europe - www.mpa-bern.com as well as USA - www.sihlusa.com
21) Visual Communication Europe 2002
At a time when
know-how cannot exist without “making known”, visual communication lies at the
heart of all challenges. It’s essential to find the right communication
vehicles to promote awareness, image, products and services. Companies of all
sizes have so many strategic choices and so many practical applications. But
how do they go about choosing from the myriad of offerings? Supported by Synafel
(French National Union for Signs and Signage), Visual Communication is the
European meeting place for visual communication professionals and users. The
exhibition features manufacturers and resellers of technologies as diverse as
digital printing, sign, signage, cutting, engraving, screen printing, textile
marking, video screens ...Visual Communication Europe 2002, September 18-19-20,
will be held at Porte de Versailles in Paris.
More
information: www.reedexpo.fr
22) Fuji Hunt Digital
Solutions
As a major supplier to the photographic
industry of EPSON digital printers, Fuji Hunt Digital Solutions has been able
to bring to the sector a range of systems which directly enable prolabs,
minilabs, studios and photographers to adapt to digital image handling, quality
control and output, while retaining all their unique and individual standards
and criteria. That situation now takes a major step forward with the
introduction of the 24-inch EPSON Stylus Pro 7600 and 44-inch EPSON Stylus Pro
9600 large format printers – the last barrier to photo compatible images has at
last been breached.
More information: www.fujihuntdigital.com
23) Sales Office in Lyon/France opened
Best GmbH, provider of solutions for the
printing and publishing market, continues its expansion course. After opening
subsidiaries in the USA and in Asia as well as a sales office for Latin America
in the past three years, the company is now concentrating on increasing its
direct presence in important European markets. France is leading the way – a
sales office was opened there in May of this year. Best would like to take this
opportunity to announce that Régis Thivend (44) has taken on the job of Sales
Manager for France and is responsible for the reorganization and support of the
sales network in France. Mr. Régis has experience in the IT and graphic arts
industries and his previous employers include IBM in Lyon/France, International
Color Posters in Los Angeles/USA and Aire Informatique in Paris/France.
More information: www. www.bestcolor.com
24) KODAK appoints new CEO for ENCAD
Carl Marchetto, President of Eastman Kodak Company’s Commercial Imaging
Group (CIG) has announced that Brad Kruchten has been appointed to CEO of
Encad, Inc.. Kruchten, a 20-year veteran of Kodak, has held several executive
sales, marketing, and management positions with copy products, printer
products, and business imaging systems. He also has extensive experience in
business management as a Product Line Manager for Business Imaging Systems with
profit and loss responsibility for the Retrieval Product Family.
More information: www.encad.com
25) Scitex Vision and Avery Dennison
Avery Dennison
Graphics Division and Scitex Vision have joined forces to develop digital
super-wide format inkjet warranted printing solutions embracing Scitex Vision’s
printing systems and VisionInk Supreme inks together with Avery GraphicsTM
top-performing substrates. Large-format graphics
printed on recommended and approved Avery-brand substrates, using Scitex Vision’s
approved VisionInk’s inks, with the Scitex Grandjet printers or the new top of
the line Scitex XLjet printers, will enjoy the coverage of the Avery®
Supreme Cover warranty. The
program supporting this cooperation is in effect globally as of June 4th 2002.
More information: scitexvision.com
26) Message from Wasatch
We've been getting some great prints with the
latest version of the DGI Rex solvent printer and Wasatch SoftRIP. Support from
Wasatch is now available for the full line of solvent printers from DGI. We've
seen many improvements in this printer since we first received one this spring,
and we've been updating our own software to match. A wide range of ICC color
profiles are now available from Wasatch, and more are being produced. More
information: www.wasatchinc.com
27) Markzware is welcomed into CIP4
Markzware Software joined (CIP4) The
International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press
and Postpress as a full member. JDF (Job definition format) is an emerging
industry standard designed to simplify information exchange between different
applications and systems in and around the Graphic Arts industry. CIP4 brings
together vendors, consultants and end-users in the print communications,
Graphic Arts industry and associated sectors, covering a variety of equipment,
software, peripherals, and processes. Members participate in focused working
groups to define future versions of JDF SDK. CIP4 is based in Zurich,
Switzerland with offices in Darmstadt, Germany. In addition to this Markzware®
announced the release of PM2Q5, which is an Xtensions module that imports Adobe
PageMaker files into a QuarkXPress v5.0 document easily and efficiently.
More information: www.markzware.com
28) The new XEScan Solution
Xerox Engineering Systems (XES) announced the
new XEScan Solution that provides monochrome and color scanning and copying for
wide-format documents. This new solution provides scan-to-file, scan-to-email,
scan-to-print, and file-to-print capabilities, as well as several upgrade
options, which do not require new hardware. XEScan Solution combines the speed
and quality of the XES Synergix Scanner with XEScan software and applies a
common user-interface for both printing and copying that is simple and
intuitive, while maintaining a powerful digital engine. The new XEScan solution
supports XES' Synergix 8825, 8830, and 8850 printers. The color XEScan Solution
also supports the X2-TECH color printer. Later this year, the solution will
also support HP wide-format ink jet printers. In addition to this XES offers
ImageSite(R) version 4.0, a major update to its Web-based document management
software solution. ImageSite 4.0 minimizes data entry needs, allowing users to
more efficiently access and print a broad range of technical documents using
Internet Explorer.
More information: www.XES.com
29) The TR51 large format media series
The tear resistant photo gloss and photo satin
papers stand above all other medias of its kind. The technology used to develop
this innovative product is exclusive to Dr. Graphix Imaging. And now, with
their latest break through in coating technology, the TR51 media series becomes
universally compliant with hp and encad printers, dye and pigment based inks. A
seemingly perfect product has just become even more user friendly. The ability
to use dye or pigment inks with the TR51 media series will allow users to be
more flexible and creative with their printing applications. Internal quality
assurance testing indicates that with this new coating technology, dry time, adhesion,
color gamut, clarity and durability, heighten in quality. The exceptional tear
resistant quality of the TR51 series steps into the next generation of media
technology.
More information: www.drgraphix.com/index.htm
30) Founding of Gent PDF Workgroup
Enfocus Software announces the establishment of
the Ghent PDF Workgroup, an international assembly of industry associations
whose goal will be to develop and maintain Certified PDF Quality Standards for
the Publishing and Print Production Industry. Peter Camps, founder and CEO of
Enfocus Software will chair the Ghent PDF Workgroup. In recent weeks the group
has approved draft bylaws, objectives and a meeting agenda. The founding
meeting of the Workgroup is taking place on June 19th in Gent,
Belgium.
More information: www.enfocus.com
Your LFP-Newsletter team
You will get the next
LFP-Newsletter at the end of July. If you want to cancel the
subscription in the meantime please send a mail to following e-mail account.
You like to have a short view on already
published releases? www.lfp-newsletter.com
There is something you like to publish? Mail to
press@lfp-newsletter.com
You have any question or incitation? editor@lfp-newsletter.com
You like to subscribe the LFP-Newsletter subscribe@lfp-newsletter.com
or cancel subscription? unsubscribe@lfp-newsletter.com
Ó by
LFP-Newsletter.com, Neun Punkt GbR.
Reprint and or use of
the entire Newsletter or parts of it does need the written agreement of the
publisher. All news and publications in the LFP-Newsletter.com are done without
recognition of existing patents, trademarks are used without any guaranteed
free usage. All rights reserved.