Eastman Kodak Company has agreed to acquire the assets of Scitex Digital Printing from Scitex Corporation Ltd. Through this acquisition, Kodak will accelerate its participation in the growing, $30 billion industry for digital commercial printing equipment, part of the broader $385 billion info-imaging industry. The president and CEO of Scitex Corporation and Scitex Digital Printing, Nachum Shamir, is expected to join Kodak, along with other key managers of Scitex Digital Printing. Based in Dayton, Ohio, Scitex Digital Printing is the leading supplier of high-speed continuous inkjet printing systems primarily serving the commercial and transactional printing sectors. Kodak is moving decisively to implement its growth strategy by expanding into a range of commercial digital businesses. Scitex Digital Printing expands Kodak’s capabilities in digital commercial printing and complements Kodak’s existing businesses – including Encad, Inc., a leading maker of wide format inkjet printers; the Kodak Polychrome Graphics joint venture, the leading supplier of plates and other to the graphic arts industry; and NexPress LLC joint venture, a leading supplier of digital color presses. With its NexPress joint venture, Kodak is well represented in the on-demand, high-quality color printing segment, based on electro-photography technology. The company intends to incorporate its unique inkjet technology, workflow solutions and color science into future Scitex Digital Printing systems to broaden the range of applications that these machines can fulfill.

More information: www.kodak.com

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2) Arizona T220UV at SGIA

The Océ Arizona T220UV, the company’s first entry in the UV curable digital printing marketplace, has been on display at the SGIA. This new flatbed inkjet printer uses piezo printing technology and UV curable inks to produce outdoor-durable output. It can print directly onto rigid and flexible substrates up to 62” wide x 120” long x 2” thick. The Océ Arizona T220UV is a complementary product to the Océ Arizona T220 which uses solvent-based inks, and is ideal for low- to mid-volume production runs that require high quality output on a variety of rigid and flexible substrates. UV curing relies on polymerization instead of evaporation. The Arizona T220UV holds substrates stationary on a flat vacuum table while the print head assembly moves across the table to create the print. Océ ColorBlend technology is included, which adds light cyan and light magenta to achieve a wider color gamut, smoother mid-tones, and an apparent resolution of 600 dpi. Support for digital die cutting workflow is available for the T220UV with the purchase of Onyx ProductionHouse or Onyx PosterShop Color Production Software version 6.0 and the i-cut^® workflow add-on module from Onyx Graphics. Production shipments of the Arizona T220UV are expected to begin in the first quarter 2004.

More information: www.oce.com

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3) New Aetek UV Genie System

It is a high-performance ultraviolet curing system designed for both flexographic and lithographic printing and converting – the Aetek UV Genie System. This compact system is sized to fit most presses, with lamps available from 9 to 27 inches. It utilizes innovative lamp technology, which delivers 50 percent more peak irradiance to the substrate while reducing web temperatures by 55 percent or as much as 45° F at maximum power. Equally important, power consumption has been halved, thereby reducing temperatures at the web by 55 percent. Removing the Aetek UV Genie for servicing requires no tools, the lamp module is simply pulled from its case. Mercury, gallium or iron doped bulbs are available to meet specific applications, and either reflective coated shutter liners may be specified. The versatility of the Aetek UV Genie System makes it suitable for thin films running at slow press speeds, yet permits developing the necessary curing power for fast web speeds. Both modular variable power and multi-step constant wattage power supplies are available.

More information: www.aetekuv.com

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4) Caldera supports Teckwin printer

Caldera Graphics, a leading software editor for imaging solutions running on Mac OS X, Linux and Unix, will support the Teckwin large format printers. The support of the Teckjet series starts in January 2004. The large format printers Teckjet 2500/1800 are presently in the Caldera Graphics head office in Strasbourg for beta tests. These printers are Piezo, bi-directional printing machines with a width of 2.5 meters. The Teckjet series resolution is 360*370 or 180*185 dpi. These printers are easy to handle, and the daily maintenance is simple as well. The Teckjet series is ideal for large scale production. The Teckwin printers are very good tools for applications such as billboards, point-of-purchase advertisements, banners and signage, posters, exhibition graphics, backlit displays, vehicle graphic and so on.

More information: www.teckwin.com

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5) Rho 205 grows with a business

Durst has launched the new Rho 205 flatbed inkjet printer. It is an important landmark in the development of Durst within the large format “direct to media” inkjet market. Designed to grow with a business the Rho 205 is an industrial standard flatbed inkjet printer for smaller businesses mainly in the screen-printing market. It features a modular design approach, which will allow the machine to “grow” with an owner’s business for example in speed and, as other options become available. It can also be used with Durst’s new feeder/stacker system for sheet fed material. Used for printing boards mainly, it features CMYK workflow and can print boards up to 205 cm wide by any length. Using Durst’s own highly regarded UV curing ink and piezo inkjet technology as the Rho 160 Plus, the Rho 205 has 3 levels of productivity. At standard mode it is capable of printing 20 sqm per hour at 360 dpi on a vast range of different materials including those with a structured surface i.e. hard or soft foam boards, aluminium, acrylics, cardboard corrugated boards etc. It will print on boards up to a thickness of 40 mm, and as an option for special industrial applications, up to 70 mm.

More information: www.durst-online.com

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6) Canon printed a star-studded exhibition

Canon’s latest large format inkjet color graphics printer, the W8200, was used to print all the images for the “On the other side of the lens” exhibition, held from 13^th November to 1^st December. More than 80 celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman and David Coulthard submit images of “what inspires them” for the joint Canon/Red Cross initiative. The device has been designed to deliver industry-leading productivity and high image resolution through revolutionary new wide print head technology and it was chosen to produce this unique photographic collection for display in an exhibition that will beside London also tour Berlin (Nov. 11^th – Dec. 14^th), Milan (Nov. 20^th – Dec. 7^th), Stockholm and Paris (Dec. 9^th to 30^th). The Canon W8200 accommodates print media of up to 44” and incorporates Canon’s revolutionary one-inch-wide, high-density print head. The W8200 is available in both dye-based and UV resistant pigment-based ink versions. The pigment-based version was chosen for the exhibition. Based on Canon’s proprietary Bubble Jet technology, the new print head incorporates 7,680 tiny ink nozzles. The W8200 is flexible, functional and designed to save space. Operating controls and handling positions for cut and roll media are located at the front of the machine.

More information: www.canon-europa.com

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7) PhotoPRINT 4 Family – Over 14.999 Virtual Hybrid Devices supported

Scanvec Amiable’s recently announced, all new, PhotoPRINT 4 Family of professional digital printing software solutions, sets new standards in the Print&Cut workflow arena: combine any of the +300 supported LFP/WFP printers with any of the +500 supported cutters to create your own unique Print&Cut Virtual Hybrid device. The PhotoPRINT 4 Family not only enables any type of user to produce Print&Cut jobs as easy as 1-2-3, these products also leverage the investment in your existing hardware, and in the desktop publishing programs that your creative professionals are familiar with, such as Photoshop®, Illustrator®, QuarkXPress®, Freehand® and CorelDRAW®, to create the irregular/freeform Print&Cut designs such as stickers and POS-displays. For increased connectivity and productivity, the PhotoPRINT 4 Family provides, out-of-the-box, driver-support for all popular LFP/WFP printers, including the newest devices from Eastech, Gongzheng, Infiniti, Runjiang, Teckwin, Yaselan, as well as full support for cutters featuring auto-registration from Graphtec, Mimaki, Mutoh and Summa. This Virtual Hybrid technology is just one of the many product highlights you will find in the new PhotoPRINT 4 Family.

More information: Info@ScanvecAmiable.be

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8) PROOFGATE with FOGRA license

With the new PROOFGATE software for the creation of contract proofs according to media standard, ColorGATE completes its product portfolio. The product focuses on delivering a turnkey solution for legally binding contract proofs which contains as a standard the media wedge CMYK 2.0a, developed by the FOGRA. The implementation of the media wedge shall give users the possibility to check by themselves if the produced proof is really a legally binding contract proof. The integration of the media wedge as a standard instrument in PROOFGATE was contractually agreed recently between ColorGATE and the FOGRA. One research branch of the FOGRA is the standardization of proofing solutions to give users security in the quality of their proofs. The media wedge will be printed as a measurement instance for later automatic evaluation. According to the media standard, legally binding contract proofs include the media wedge, and a control line can be created with the new software. The digital test-form media wedge is an eps-file which contains certain, fixed CMYK values as color reference values for offset printing. Any proof print from PROOFGATE contains the media wedge.

More information: www.colorgate.com

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9) Shiraz RIP V6 with more features

A quantum leap in the capability and versatility of the Shiraz large format RIP has been achieved by Applied Image Technology AIT with the release of Version 6 of the PostScript level 3 software. The latest version offers Mac OSX, Linux and Windows server platforms. Moving on from being primarily a solution for one-user, one-printer environments, Shiraz V6 now has the capacity to support multiple clients and multiple servers on a network that can be configured to meet different work flows and production loads. In the new version of Shiraz, internet standard XML format is used for all data and file handling, ensuring easy cross-platform movement of jobs, databases and other initialization files. By using a published data format, third party design software can be also integrated with the RIP server. As well as now catering for multi-client/multi-server environments, Shiraz V6 is able to RIP separate jobs simultaneously and drive several printers of different makes and models independently. By employing the latest computer software techniques, Shiraz V6 is further able to increase work throughput and time management efficiency by exploiting the benefits of simultaneous multi-threaded job processing.

More information: www.applied-image.com

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10) AccuShield was launched at VisCom Italia

GBC Films Group Europe has introduced at VisCom Italia the ultra-thin film AccuShield, a revolutionary new product to GBC’s portfolio of laminates. The Italian trade show has ended on November 16^th. This film for in- and outdoor uses with UV protection is used to coat inkjet, electrostatic transfer and other commercially printed material. AccuShield utilizes the process of dry transfer, which provides the advantages of both conventional thermal lamination and liquid coating. A key feature of AccuShield is its ability to coat one-sided output. Unlike other methods of thermal lamination, no trimming is required. No drying time, harmful fumes or mess is involved in the application process. AccuShield produces high quality finishing without wrinkles, heat shrinkage, or daily equipment cleaning. The film comes in a gloss finish to enhance image color and matt finish to prevent light reflection regardless of viewing angle. Wide format applications for AccuShield include vinyl banners, murals, signs and POP displays.

More information: www.gbcfilm.com

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11) SubliJet IQ comes in December

Sawgrass Technologies has introduced the next generation of sublimation ink – SubliJet IQ digital transfer inks. Focusing on innovation and quality, these new inks were designed for the true production-printing environment. SubliJet IQ offers the sublimation industry enhanced color performance on a wide range of substrates. New color profiles and palettes developed specifically for use with SubliJet IQ give end-users optimum output results including the most dense black ever produced from a sublimation ink. Minimal cleanings are required to get started as well as during printing when using this new ink. SubliJet IQ will be available in December for the Epson 1280/1290 desktop inkjet printer and the Epson 7600 and Mimaki JV-4 wide format inkjet printers. All new systems released from Sawgrass in the future will carry the SubliJet IQ line of digital transfer inks, and will be backed by Sawgrass’ PartnerPlus Program. The ink will be sold through a carefully selected network of authorized resellers, who are uniquely qualified to provide complete packages and support to new users.

More information: www.sublimation.com

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12) Viscom Europe 2004 with Graflex

Two international events come together when Graflex Exhibition and Convention event for the first time will be held at the same time as Visual Communication Europe (Viscom Europe) – from 15^th to 17^th September 2004 in Paris. Viscom Europe 2004 will assemble 9,000 visitors (professionals, distributors, decision-makers and direct accounts) to meet 220 participating exhibitors (manufacturers, retailers and service providers) all showcasing technologies ranging from digital printing, and finishing to banners, signage, serigraphy, video screens and more. Alongside the exhibition, the professional Graflex-visitors will enjoy a program of high quality conferences and a number of informal gatherings. The exhibition and convention are to be held at the Paris Expo exhibition center, at Porte de Versailles, located at the heart of the city and accessible by both metro and bus. There is a large number of hotels near to the exhibition center as well as in the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain des Prés, and even overlooking the banks of the Seine. Paris offers visitors, conventioneers and exhibitors a privileged, central position in Europe, with two airports within 15 km of the city, four train stations, and a number of motorway access routes.

More information: www.reedexpo.fr

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13) MACtac acquires Multi-fix

MACtac Europe has entered into an agreement with Multi-fix n. v. to purchase its business and manufacturing facility located in Genk/Belgium. The combined companies will take advantage of complementary production capacities and will develop synergies in terms of product development in their core graphic product ranges, that is marking films, laminating films and digital products. The transaction will enable both companies to develop further their capacity to launch new products. They will continue to build up their strong base in a market where they are well known as major innovative and creative players. Multi-fix n. v. was founded in 1949 and is a manufacturer of pressure-sensitive materials mainly specialized in marking and decorative products. With global sales, the company is regarded in the visual communication market for delivering best quality. This quality policy and the understanding of the fast changing needs of the digital printing market has made Multi-fix a successful and rapid growing business in its home market and abroad. MACtac and Multi-fix will continue to operate as separate sequences.

More information: www.mactac.com

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14) Will Flatbed Inkjets reach 1,500 units?

According to Web Consulting’s recent report “Flatbed Inkjet Printing”, the worldwide opportunity for annual sales of medium and high-end flatbed inkjet printers could reach 1,500 units by 2005. The early development thrust and has been mainly from new entrants to inkjet printing such as Zund and Durst, and is based upon new UV-curable inkjet ink technology, a core competence of ink companies such as SunJet, Avecia and Toyo. In contrast, some of the established industry leaders in Grand Format (NUR, Scitex Vision and VUTEk) and many wide format manufacturers find themselves as later market entrants, although they are now providing products of their own. There is also a fast-adopting and highly innovative population of print providers pulling through the demand of these machines. Much of that innovation today is found in Europe. It’s not entirely surprising that European-based companies are the ones pushing flatbed inkjet printers. Many leading suppliers to the global screen and photo industries reside in Europe. Because of this, initial sales have been close to home. Only now are manufacturers from the rest of the world producing robust technology and innovative designs to enable them to redress the balance. Market growth will continue, as more manufacturers recognize the opportunities that flatbeds present to graphics screen printers and entirely novel applications.

More information: www.webconsulting.co.uk

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