The Print Council is stepping up its drive to unite print providers and media decision-makers behind the effectiveness of printing as a marketing, entertainment and educational medium. The accelerated effort is spearheaded by two new membership recruitment brochures produced by Council member Jet Inc., and a recently launched series of advertisements that were created by Council member NAK Marketing and Communications.
FLATBED MODELS are currently a hot trend in the wide-format ink-jet printer segment and were spotlighted by exhibitors at Drupa 2008 earlier this year. This technology puts the emphasis on volume production for more everyday applications, not the spectacular building and vehicle wraps done roll-to-roll. Particularly with dimensional point-of-purchase (POP) materials, productivity is enhanced by the capability to print directly on rigid substrates, rather than mounting/laminating printed sheets to a backing material in a separate production step. Teaming a flatbed printer up with a digital cutter further speeds turnaround of completed pieces. UV ink-jet technology dominates this product category because of the substrate
Ford Printing Opts For New DI Press CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA—Ford Printing & Mailing has installed a Presstek 52DI digital offset press to bolster its ability to efficiently produce quality color printing in runs from 250 to 20,000 impressions. The shop’s goal is to better service its existing customer base as a trade printer, while also distinguishing its capabilities to support a drive into new markets. Océ Sees ‘Solid’ Future for Ink-Jet TRUMBULL, CT—Océ has launched a new digital printing platform, called Océ CrystalPoint, which it says combines the benefits of ink-jet and toner-based printing. It uses dry toner contained within solid,
WESTMONT, IL—July 11, 2008—One of the most widely recognized names in the Chicagoland print marketplace, Jet Litho has joined forces with Brantley Partners. The arrangement positions Jet as the cornerstone for a leading-edge print solutions provider fueled by Jet’s unique plastics and R&D expertise. The deal follows up on Brantley Partners’ successful investment in WS Packaging. Terms were undisclosed. “We are a very unique entity. The Open Approach’s print expertise was crucial in articulating our value proposition and identifying the best opportunities for everyone at Jet,” commented George Bogdanovic, CEO of Jet. Jet’s management is looking at a number of acquisition-driven growth initiatives, with
DRUPA’S STANDING as an international printing exhibition makes it the place to see the course of technological development in the industry laid out for the next four years. As even the following press and postpress wrap-up stories note, digital printing technology had its strongest showing yet. Even the developments in digital workflow were muted by comparison. Many of the product introductions were already covered in one of the Drupa Countdown stories published in editions of Printing Impressions leading up to the show. Therefore, this wrap-up will primarily focus on what was new in Düsseldorf. The event lived up to its billing as The Ink-Jet
Most have dubbed drupa 2008 the “ink-jet drupa,” and while many would agree that most new product releases and announcements have focused on ink jet applications, there are others. The pace of product introductions has slowed at drupa, and at other shows—but not because there is less innovation in our industry—because modern marketing won’t permit releases of new technology every four years, or even annually for that matter. Conversely, markets today require access to new products and innovations much quicker than in the past, so the days of “waiting” for drupa, PRINT, IPEX or IGAS are over. When a product is ready for market
FIFTY YEARS would constitute a long career, but it’s just a flash of time for an industry that traces its roots at least back to the introduction of the Gutenberg press, circa the early 1400s. While each generation probably thinks it has seen more changes than any other, this has been a dizzying half century for the printing process. Letterpress has given way to offset and now digital printing. Composition has gone from hot metal and manual paste-up through phototypesetting, color scanning, color electronic prepress systems and desktop publishing, then on to computer-to-plate and Web-to-print. Bindery equipment now boosts more computer power than Apollo
VALHALLA, NY—May 22, 2008—Fujifilm Corp. has developed ground-breaking, next generation inkjet digital printing technology that enables the world’s first high quality, high-speed printing on large sheet sizes (maximum print size: 720mm x 520mm) at high resolutions of 1200 dpi at 4-level gray scale*2 by using a single-pass*1 inkjet printing method. In addition, it achieves quality levels comparable to offset printing for a variety of different types of coated papers. This digital printing technology achieving high-speed, high-quality, and large sheet size is set to revolutionize the printing industry by significantly enhancing the efficiency of the print production process. Furthermore, with its excellent system design and
No Waffling on Drupa Plans GHENT, BELGIUM—This country’s comparatively small size belies its standing as a home to major graphic arts industry vendors, with Agfa Graphics, Punch Graphix (Xeikon) and EskoArtwork among the companies based here. That’s why the global series of pre-show media briefings being held in the lead-up to Drupa recently included a stop in Ghent, with side trips to Mortsel and Antwerp. As a backdrop for Agfa Graphics’ Drupa plans, Stefaan Vanhooren, president, noted that the company’s recent “de-merger” had given it a better focus and a stronger identity, but the industry is facing challenges. While overall print volume is still
COLOGNE, GERMANY—April 10, 2008—Under this main theme, Folex, a foil-coating manufacturer, will be presenting its range of products which has been expanded by quite a few novelties to the fair’s visitors. Folex will be focussing on developments made in the fields of coating plates and underpacking foils. In addition, visitors will have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the current status of printable films and papers for the LFP range and for digital printing. A booth area which is approximately 30% bigger as compared to the one used on the last DRUPA will be reflecting the wide variety of new features presented. Folacoat -
