GENT, BELGIUM—September 23, 2008—Enfocus continues to bring unprecedented simplicity and standards compliance to the desktops of designers and the print production workflow alike. PitStop Professional, PitStop Server, Switch and Instant PDF have all been updated and will be shown for the first time at a U.S. show during Graph Expo, at McCormick Place, Chicago, October 26th through 29th (Booth #5463).
PITTSBURGH—The PIA/GATF has released the names of the winning technologies for its 2008 InterTech Technology Awards. The winners, along with their technologies, include: Alwan Dynamic Device-Links from Alwan Color Expertise; EskoArtwork Neo from EskoArtwork; POLAR P.A.C.E. cutting systems from Heidelberg USA; Prinect Inpress Control from Heidelberg USA; HIFLEX MIS with eBusiness, Webshop and Print Support from HIFLEX Corp., North America; Inca Onset from Inca Digital Printers; FLEXCEL NX digital flexographic system from Kodak Graphic Communications Group; MetalFX from MetalFX Technology; Platinum White technology from Sun Chemical; and the Xaar 1001 printhead from Xaar plc. The InterTech stars, which are symbols of technological innovation
GHENT, BELGIUM—August 18, 2008—The world’s graphic arts experts have come together to release v4 of the Ghent Workgroup specifications (http://www.gwg.org/GWGversion4.phtml) for automated workflow efficiency in the range of application and output environments. v4 of the specifications supports Adobe Acrobat 9 - which itself includes Universal Proof of Preflight developed by the Ghent Workgroup. Heading the list of additional enhancements to v4 is a check for missing glyphs, one of the leading causes of preflight and page production frustration. GWG’s specifications have become the international benchmark for PDF quality assurance. The free specifications are utilized by designers, prepress and printers
PITTSBURGH—July 23, 2008—Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) is pleased to present detailed information on the 2008 PIA/GATF InterTech™ Technology Award recipients. Twenty-eight nominations were submitted from twenty-one domestic and international companies, and ten innovative technologies were selected to receive the award. The independent panel of InterTech judges deliberated over a unique cross-section of technologies-from consumables to MIS systems to large-format printing. Innovative advancements in technology were demonstrated in the form of digital press design, prepress content and color control, flexographic printing material, and value-added print processes. Process efficiency was a prevalent characteristic among many entries; submissions contained solutions to automate
GHENT BELGIUM—July 21, 2008—Access to the comprehensive, best practice workflow specifications and resources are now easier than ever for printers, prepress professionals and designers as The Ghent Workgroup (GWG) unveils its newly streamlined, fast website, www.gwg.org. In addition the GWG, the international cross-section of PDF and print experts known for creating, testing, and releasing specifications and best practices that have been proven to make it easier for users to ensure PDF document quality across workflows around the world; announces newly elected officers to its executive committee. The www.gwg.org Website The latest version of the website has been completely revamped to address the expanding population
PITTSBURGH—July 17, 2008—Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 InterTech Technology Awards. For over thirty years, recipients of this prestigious award have not only had a major impact on the graphic communications industry, but they also consistently prove to be successful in the commercial marketplace. The independent panel of judges deliberated over technology submissions ranging from consumables to MIS systems to large-format presses. A recurring theme with 2008 InterTech nominations was process efficiency; submissions contained solutions to automate production steps, provide in-line process control, and manage production. Great strides in technology were also
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
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—June 4th, 2008—The International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) Organization today announced the winners of the 2008 Jürgen Schönhut Memorial CIP4 International Print Production Innovation (CIPPI) Awards. The CIPPI awards are given annually to the applicant printer, publisher or prepress service with the most compelling case study in three topical categories and four regions. The winners are: • Metzgerdruck GmbH, Obrigheim, Germany — First Place, Best cost/benefit realization and improvement in efficiency as a result of process automation implementation • Cox Target Media, Inc., Largo, Florida, USA — Second Place, Best cost/benefit realization and
COLCHESTER, UK—May 23, 2008—Continuing a long tradition of participation at the printing industry’s largest exhibition, Prism will once again be demonstrating its newest products for the first time at Drupa in Hall 7a, Stand 12c. Prism released the first Windows-based print management information system (MIS), Prism WIN, in the early nineties and once again is at the forefront of technology in its release of its latest version with true three tier architecture and the Microsoft .NET framework. Prism QTMS, the award winning production management system, continues to build upon its success of dead-on production counts with company-wide tracking of pallets and overall management of
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
