EFI

RESTON, VA—10/08/08—Which industry trends are here to stay? How can graphic communications companies leverage the industry's hot technologies for the greatest business advantage? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed at this year's EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK® Conference, to be held in Chicago's McCormick Place on Saturday, October 25, 2008, the day before the opening of GRAPH EXPO®. GRAPH EXPO is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of graphic communications equipment, products and related services in the Western Hemisphere. GRAPH EXPO will take place October 26 - 29, 2008.

WASHINGTON, DC—10/06/08—The International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organization and Graphic Arts Show Corporation (GASC) today announced details for the JDF Works Print Shop Live! program at GRAPH EXPO 2008. The JDF Works Print Shop Live! is designed to show attendees exactly what can be accomplished using today's print production automation technologies.

WESTMONT, IL—10/02/08—The Power Printers training program at manroland has attracted much attention in recent years.  Pressroom personnel and management throughout North America were impressed by what they learned and have shared that knowledge with others in their organizations.  With several classes remaining on the schedule in 2008, more than 2,500 people will have earned Power Printers certification in the last five years.

Printing Impressions' Across the Nation Commercial Printer News for October 2008

Printing Impressions' Commercial Printer News for October 2008

LAS VEGAS—EFI’s acquisition of MIS competitor Pace Systems Group for approximately $21 million in cash came as a surprise announcement during EFI’s Connect 2008 users group meeting held recently at the Wynn Las Vegas. Marc Olin, senior vice president and general manager of EFI Advanced Professional Print Software (APPS), made the revelation to the more than 500 clients attending the ninth annual Connect conference. The browser-based ePace print management solution will by renamed EFI Pace and will eventually replace EFI’s PSI and Logic platforms (which will continue to be supported by EFI in maintenance mode). EFI Pace is geared toward the mid-market segment,

Technology Drives Business Growth FALL CREEK, WI—Mail Source, a provider of integrated direct mail solutions, has added a Domino dual-head, drop-on-demand (DoD) imaging system to complement its existing capacity. This additional line can duplex personalize plastic cards at extremely high speeds using UV cured ink. The 20 year-old western Wisconsin company continues to invest millions of dollars in technology to attract high-volume business—without a sales staff (although it employs 100). For Mini Folds, the Smaller the Better NEW BRITAIN, CT—Connecticut Valley Bindery recently purchased a two-station Vijuk G&K V-14 SAF miniature folder with HHS hot glue system from Vijuk Equipment. “We are excited

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

Printing Impressions and InfoTrends have recently conducted a survey of Printing Impressions’ readers that focused on their use of wide-format digital printing equipment. The respondents to the survey fell into two main groups: in-plant operations and print-for-pay establishments. Participants were asked various questions regarding their current wide-format equipment and services, as well as future plans for their wide-format business. (See Chart 1.) The results show that while aqueous ink-jet is still the dominant technology, there is a growing presence in the production and commercial printing market of newer printing technologies. More than 67 percent of respondents indicated that they currently own an aqueous ink-jet

AT THE recent EFI Connect 2008 users conference in Las Vegas, I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion with my esteemed colleagues, Dennis Mason of Mason Consulting and Forrest Leighton of Canon USA. The primary topic was Drupa 2008 and what we thought were the most important aspects of this “Olympics” of the printing industry. I have written extensively on that topic and won’t repeat any of that here. But one of the questions the moderator asked us to consider was: If Drupa 2008 was the “ink-jet” Drupa, what will Drupa 2012 be? This soon after a mega-show like Drupa, it