The Headline News items which appeared in our Home Page news during the first full week of March 2007...
The week's news for 5 - 9 March
We learned on Thursday that our domain www.graphicrepro.net was not linking to our Website. This has now been rectified. We have two Website addresses - www.graphicrepro.co.za, as well as www.graphicrepro.net. We apologise to those of you who may have experienced problems. Our e-News readers, of course, mostly use the hyperlinks in the headings of all news items and feature articles, so they weren't affected too badly.
The most important event on the local scene next week, is of course, Print Expo 2007, which will open its doors on Tuesday morning. And also don't forget PIFSA's Conference which is complementary to the show, and which takes place on Thursday 15 March, also at Nasrec, with a complete lineup of international speakers co-sponsored by some of the industry's foremost local suppliers, including Antalis Graphics, Digital Distributors, Kemtek Imaging Systems, Heidelberg Graphic Systems, Thunderbolt Solutions, and Xerox SA / Bytes Document Solutions. The full programme can be found in our news of 1 March, for those of you who may have missed or overlooked it. There's also a link below in the downloads section - but for pre-booking, it's probably a bit tight for time. Give it go anyway!
In the news last Friday, we learned that GMG Color will be attending the show for the first time, and on 21 February, we announced the participation of Heidelberg's Print Media Academy - another significant first. On Friday 23 February we included news from Beswick Machinery, and its lineup for Print Expo. We have subsequently learned that Beswick will make an important announcement regarding a new distribution arrangement which is set to benefit the entire industry in all sectors from creation to printed product. This will include a South African 'first' debut.
The stands to look out for, which are set to include show-stoppers will most certainly be Heidelberg Graphic Systems, Kemtek Imaging Systems, Thunderbolt Solutions, and Beswick Machinery in particular - who we know will have South African 'firsts' on their respective stands. Printing Products is also planning a very special display for the show, to demonstrate in real-time, an entire production workflow from origination through CTP to print and delivery. Antalis Graphics will use Print Expo to show-off its capabilities as a full, one-stop supplier, which now includes the recently awarded Kodak NexPress and Kodak Digimaster digital production printing portfolio - but there'll be lots more to see as well, as the company's portfolio of products is vast.
Print Expo will provide the first opportunity for many printers to see the KBA Performa 74 in action on Thunderbolt's stand, and for those of you who could not get to Ipex last year, you will see the latest die-cutter from Bobst on the Beswick Group stand. The early bird regarding pre-show announcements was Kemtek at the very beginning of January to start the New Year, followed by Xerox, which provided its line-up in late January, so we will remind you that the latter does include the South African launch of the new Xerox DocuColor 5000. I am sure there will also be some surprises in store for visitors next week from many quarters, so please make the effort to go and see for yourself. You won't regret it, and you won't come away disappointed.
Six new feature articles have gone online for you over the past week, and we are flighting our newly created 'News in Review' section on the Home Page to test reader response, so please let us have your comments.
Our congratulations to Martin Bailey (Tuesday), on a well-deserved award from the CIP4 organisation. As for the rest of the news last week - there are some stunning sales and installation successes and new product announcements which should not be overlooked, and a host of new products being lined up for the various European shows due to take place over the next month or so - indicating that many of the manufacturers are working very hard to address the needs of the industry. Our Events Calendar has also been updated over the past few days as well, and don't forget to check out the FESPA Newsroom - there's an absolute mine of really good information available for you this week.
Mike Hilton
The above is an extract from our weekly e-News update for Monday 12 March 2007.
France's oldest newspaper invests in Ferag mailroom From this summer, Le Figaro for the south of France will be produced in a new printing centre in Gallargues le Montueux…
From the summer of 2007, the edition of Le Figaro destined for the south of France will be produced in a new printing centre in Gallargues le Montueux. The MidiPrint printing centre has commissioned Ferag to supply the mailroom, and the installation includes a UTR conveyor system, MultiDisc winding technology, two MultiStack compensating stackers and a PKT bundle evacuation system. Efficiency and reliability in production will be ensured by LineMaster. The line control system handles the assignment of copies to the two compensating stackers, plus programmed bundling and allocation of bundles to the loading docks in line with distribution data. Changes to the data are even possible during production.
To date, the entire 450,000 daily circulation of Le Figaro has been printed in Paris. The new location in the south overcomes the problems encountered with the uncertainties of air transport - up until now the southern edition has been flown to Nîmes for onward regional distribution, which meant that readers frequently received the newspaper late.
Le Figaro is France's oldest existing newspaper. According to the latest figures, with a readership of 1.18 million it is the second largest national circulation newspaper after sports-orientated L'Equipe.
Pictured above: The MidiPrint printing house (Le Figaro) has commissioned Ferag to install a mailroom system in the new printing centre in Gallargues le Montueux.
Unite Newspapers and Web to satisfy readers Mario Garcia will examine successful strategies for catering to today's readers at 60th WAN Congress in Cape Town…
Mario Garcia, one of the world's leading newspaper and web site designers, will examine successful strategies for catering to today's readers, in both print and digital newspapers, at the 60th World Newspaper Congress, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 to 6 June next.
Dr. Garcia will discuss his re-design of The Wall Street Journal, which launched a new format and content strategy in January that paid particular attention to uniting print and online editions. He will also talk about the creation of a new financial daily in India - Mint - and examine how newspapers can use design to exploit reader preferences in both print and online versions of their titles.
More than 1500 newspaper publishes, CEOs, managing directors, chief editors and other senior newspaper executives are expected to attend the Congress, the 14th World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2007, the global meetings of the world's press organised by the World Association of Newspapers. Full details, including the evolving conference programmes, social events and a list of participants, can be found at www.wan-press.org/capetown2007
Other confirmed Congress speakers include: Akishige Tada, chairman of Press Net Japan and President and CEO of the Nishinippon Shimbun, who will present a new digital consortium between 52 Japanese newspapers to create a joint Internet portal of news and information.
Luis Fernando Santos, president of Casa Editorial El Tiempo in Colombia, who joins a session on newspaper re-organisation to confront digital challenges. The session will also include presentations by the leaders of some of the most successful newspaper companies in the digital environment: Kenneth W. Lowe, president & CEO of The EW Scripps Company in the United States, Birger Magnus, deputy CEO of Schibsted in Norway, and Klaus Lutz, CEO of Süddeutsche Zeitung in Germany.
Antonio Fernandez-Galiano, CEO of Unidad Editorial (El Mundo) in Spain and Tomas Brunegard, CEO of the Swedish Stampen Group, who will speak in a session entitled, ‘We are Digital’, which will present the strategies of press groups which see print and digital activities as integral to the future of newspapers.
Michael E Raynor, Strategy guru, co-author of the bestselling The Innovator's Solution, who is just about to publish The Strategy Paradox, which presents a concrete framework for strategic action that makes it possible to seize today's opportunities while simultaneously preparing for tomorrow's promise. He will speak in a session entitled, ‘Transformation for the Future’, on the need to develop new management techniques and visions to respond to market changes. Other speakers include Mark Dodson, CEO of GMG Regional Media in the United Kingdom and Ed Greenspon, editor-in-chief of the Globe & Mail in Canada.
Stephen T Gray, managing director of ‘Newspaper Next’ at the American Press Institute, who will report on how US newspapers are working to reverse the course of declining revenues and shrinking readership and are inventing new and profitable business models. He will speak in a session devoted to what research institutes and thinkers world-wide see as the place and role of newspapers in the future media landscape.
Fergus Sampson, general manager of The Daily Sun in South Africa, in a ‘Shaping the Future of the Newspaper’ session that examines new print products, new digital revenue generation and other multi-platform newspaper issues.
- Plus many more speakers to be announced.
The Congress, which addresses the business concerns of media companies, and the Editors Forum, which addresses newsroom issues, focus on exchanging knowledge and best practices. The events rely heavily on case studies of newspapers and how they perform under challenging conditions. The events are hosted by the Newspaper Association of South Africa.
In addition to the cutting edge business sessions, the events have a full slate of social programmes, which this year includes the 2nd World Press Golf Tournament, sponsored by MAN Roland, and a wide range of pre- and post-Congress programmes of remarkable variety.
Information on all aspects of the events can be accessed at www.wan-press.org/capetown2007, including regular business programme updates and the evolving participation list.
Sponsors of the events include Remgro, Richemont & VenFin, Mondi Shanduka Newsprint & Mondi International, the Sunday Times and Mont Blanc.
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 76 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 10 regional and world-wide press groups.
GMG arrives in South Africa for Print Expo GMG to exhibit key colour management technology at Print Expo & ProPak Africa, Nasrec, 13 – 16 March…
GMG will be displaying its high-end colour management and proofing solutions at Print Expo & ProPak Africa 2007, in order to show the full suite of GMG products on show including the company's complete range of high-end colour management and proofing solutions, plus a range of proofing-specific papers and films.
The GMG proofing solutions will drive the Epson 7800 Stylus Pro 8-colour inkjet printer and the HP 8-colour Designjet Z2100 photo printer.
Visitors can see the GMG ColorProof Automated bundle including GMG ColorProof: the most accurate way of calibrating digital inkjet proofing engines to produce contract colour proofs; and GMG ProofControl for digital proof quality monitoring.
Other proofing technology on show includes GMG DotProof: enabling the output of digital halftone contract-proofs and GMG FlexoProof: designed specifically for proofing packaging and label files for flexo, offset and gravure packaging printing. The latest version of GMG ColorServer: a tool for automatic colour conversions and GMG InkOptimizer: providing impressive ink savings and improved printability, will also be on display.
The GMG solution will be driving the large-format HP Designjet Z2100 inkjet printer, the first inkjet printer to feature an integrated measuring instrument. Together with GMG ColorProof Automated - the first proofing software to support the new printer - the HP Designjet Z2100 offers the user significant advantages.
The HP Designjet Z2100, GMG ColorProof and GMG Media are optimally integrated. Automatic GMG ColorProof calibration, monitoring and recalibration of the HP Designjet Z2100 ensures that every proof leaving the printer is a high-quality GMG contract proof. This proof can be repeated at any time, even on a different HP Designjet Z2100 at any other location - prerequisites for increasingly important remote proofing scenarios. This is the very first turnkey solution for remote proofing and automatic calibration.
GMG media products will be on hand alongside the software. The range of proofing specific papers for inkjet printers will be available in a variety of sizes and are all of high tolerance to assure colour accuracy.
GMG ColorProof: The most accurate way of managing digital inkjet proofing engines to produce digital contract colour proofs, precisely colour-matched to the actual printing press. GMG ColorProof supports all standard spot colour systems with up to 64 individual colour channels, and is compatible with standard ICC profiles, which can be combined with GMG profiles. The GMG ColorProof system features a variety of workflow capabilities, and handles a wide range of file formats, including TIFF-IT, DCS, Postscript, and PDF (up to level 1.4).
GMG FlexoProof: Specifically tailored to the needs of the packaging industry GMG FlexoProof supports specific flexo file formats and includes a complete Pantone(r) spot colour library, along with other functions, including an out-of-register and a printing substrate (cardboard etc.) simulation. The product also includes DotProof, GMG's popular system that allows users to generate contract-quality halftone proofs.
GMG software supports a wide range of output engines including ink-jet printers from Epson, Hewlett-Packard and Canon and has added compatibility for large-format printers such as the Mutoh RJ8000 VLF printer.
GMG ColorServer: This software solution provides automatic colour space conversions (CMYK-to-CMYK, RGB-to-CMYK and RGB-to-RGB) scaling, sharpening, separation and optimization of pixel and PDF image data. The software allows, for example, the conversion of one CMYK colour space to another, while keeping the integrity of the black channel. Offset data, for instance, can be automatically converted to gravure data. In addition to unsurpassed quality, the major advantages of GMG ColorServer lie in dramatic acceleration and complete automation of work processes by very accurate, high-speed colour transformations resulting in significant cost savings.
GMG consistently achieves outstanding results in digital proofing shootouts around the world, where GMG ColorProof systems have outperformed competitive systems, for example at the 4th annual IPA Color Proofing RoundUP in Chicago and the 5th Digital Proof Forum in Stuttgart.
Said Jo Maessen, GMG’s sales & business development manager for EMEA, ‘GMG colour management and proofing solutions offer unrivalled quality and a rapid return on investment. Print Expo & ProPak will enable us to demonstrate this quality, together with flexibility and efficiency, to the South African market.’
ECRM releases Workmates automated workflow New automated workflow solution for the smaller printer to create PDF files, impose, RIP, proof, and manage jobs…
ECRM has released WorkMates, an automated PDF-based workflow solution for small-to-midsize commercial printers, first introduced at Graph Expo last October. Included in WorkMates are five production tools, PDFMate, ImposeMate, RIPMate, ProofMate, and PrintMate that seamlessly allow printers to impose, RIP, proof, and print PDF files with ease. ECRM WorkMates also enables a printer to automate specific tasks, accelerate productivity and become compatible with desired file formats. WorkMates is also easily expandable, inexpensive, and user-friendly, allowing for fast implementation.
Automated PDF Workflows offer several production advantages. Traditionally, files are received by the RIP, converted to 1-bit TIFFs, and processed to plates. With WorkMates, users will be able to capture the file in a PDF format, impose, RIP, and proof, as well as preview the file prior to imaging. This enables files on the RIP to be repurposed at a later date, if necessary.
Said Jim Luttrell, ECRM director of marketing, ‘All printers don't have the same needs and they want to be able to grow their business at a rate that's comfortable to them. By choosing WorkMates and any of the add-on modules, printers can better control production parameters, while enjoying the flexibility and affordability of adding the right tool at the right time. It simply allows them to configure their print shop workflow on an as-needed basis.’
Five Standard Components of WorkMates WorkMates is made up of five standard components, allowing a printer to quickly and easily create PDF files, impose, RIP, proof, and manage their print jobs. Users benefit from a high degree of automation, thereby reducing prepress, makeready, and production time.
PDFMate - Using ECRM's PDFMate module, a folder-based layout and an automated workflow is easily created for converting completed pages into PDFs. It's as easy as choosing specifications in a setup menu. The simple interface of PDFMate allows users to setup hot-folders for automatic PDF file creation, and create their own PDF profiles to use within the module. Using PDFMate, errors, rework, and downtime are dramatically reduced, while productivity is increased.
ImposeMate - ImposeMate is an automated imposition tool. It's explicitly designed for the small-print service provider, printing on small-format conventional presses or on digital production presses. Page setup controls automate in-RIP imposition rules applied to all jobs. If the print service provider prints similar jobs consistently, one imposition setup, used as a part of one or more page setups, can be used time and time again. Rather than needing to spend time on manually laying out every page, the operator need now only submit the job to a RIP with the correct imposition setup and it's processed automatically.
RIPMate - Based upon a robust and versatile Harlequin RIP core, RIPMate allows users to perform most tasks in-RIP, saving time and money by eliminating manual work. Regardless of size, commercial printers will benefit from extensive features and benefits engineered to improve the quality and performance of the print process. RIPMate accepts and processes all PDF file formats, and a wide range of plug-ins and applications. This makes the RIPMate a future-proof investment, enabling users to expand or change their business direction. The RIPMate is also JDF-enabled and can be integrated with most common MIS workflows.
ProofMate Generic - ProofMate Generic is the version supplied in the standard module package. It provides printers with a tool to proof the contents and impositions made with RIPMate, on any Windows printer installed on the network. This in-RIP plug-in ensures that proofs match RIPed contents -- even if printed on a low resolution B/W laser printer. ProofMate Generic relies on the Windows printer driver supplied by the printer vendor. It uses the screening technology and colour management available within the printer driver. ProofMate can also generate a color-calibrated TIFF file for preview.
PrintMate - PrintMate is an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that simplifies the management of a print job from the moment the file is submitted (via a print driver or a hot folder) to its progress through the RIP and to the output device. It provides users with all the features needed to maximise productivity by enabling the user to monitor the job's progress, easily reassign the output order, hold and release jobs, or even re-submit or re-output any job. It supports up to five concurrent local and/or remote web-based clients, and offers an enhanced roaming of the RIPed data. This web-based solution will complement all ECRM CTP devices and the latest version of the RIPMate/ECRM RIP.
ECRM's WorkMates is being sold as a comprehensive software upgrade package with all five components. ECRM has made WorkMates available through its extensive dealer network, which includes Antalis Graphics in Southern Africa.
Kodak gains 16 CTP and 10 inkjet systems orders Ten Newspapers turn to Kodak for thermal platesetters, digital plates, workflow, screening and digital inkjet solutions…
Printers in nine states and one Canadian province have become the latest to select Kodak solutions to meet the deadline challenges and productivity demands of the newspaper environment.
Chicago Tribune purchased seven Kodak Versamark DS5120 Printing Systems to handle addressing and labelling for its Total Market Coverage (TMC) and zoned newspaper products.
‘The Kodak Versamark equipment is simple to integrate with our inserting equipment, and it is ecologically and employee friendly. We were attracted to these continuous inkjet units for labelling our products because they are relatively low maintenance and feature self cleaning heads,’ said Larry Rutherford, senior project manager with Chicago Tribune. ‘With the Versamark units, we're now going to label our insert packages, which will expand traceability and accountability. We will be able to more easily audit our distribution centres, which will further enhance our quality controls.’
Steve Hoffman, director of printing at The Columbus Dispatch in Columbus, Ohio, said, ‘We evaluated the technology options on the market and made the decision on the Kodak Trendsetter News thermal CTP device (pictured above) because of the stability of the process, accuracy of the reproduction, and price of consumables. We evaluated five different vendors and they were all good firms and highly professional in their presentations. Our experience with Kodak has been excellent from the beginning. The Kodak reps have been very knowledgeable about their products and prompt in responding to our questions.’
The Columbus Dispatch ordered three Kodak Trendsetter News 200 platesetters and Kodak ThermalNews Gold digital plates. The company publishes 230,000 copies on weekdays; 300,000 on Saturdays; and 360,000 on Sundays of its flagship daily, along with 22 community weeklies, a Hispanic weekly, the Columbus Alive alternative weekly and a variety of commercial projects.
‘The main reason we went with the Kodak thermal CTP devices and digital plates is that they are the best fit for our operation,’ said Bart Wade, production director of the Ogden Publishing Corp. in Ogden, Utah. ‘A really important part of our decision making process was the fact that we had purchased Kodak Prinergy Evo and Kodak NewsManager workflow systems last year. Now we have total integration across our prepress operation.’
Ogden Publishing, a member of the Page Co-op, prints the Standard Examiner, a 60,000 copy daily and 68,000 copy Sunday paper, along with commercial jobs. The company purchased two Kodak Trendsetter News 70 platesetters, Kodak thermal digital plates and Kodak Staccato screening.
Other newspaper printers across North America adding Kodak solutions include: • Orange County Register in Anaheim, Calif, purchased three Versamark DS5120 printing systems, two of which are integrated with Goss inserters, to add flexibility in addressing micro zoned publications. • Pacific Newspaper Group, a CanWest company in Surrey, British Columbia, purchased three Kodak Trendsetter News 150 platesetters for its The Vancouver Sun and The Province titles. • The Austin American-Statesman in Austin, Texas, a Cox Texas Newspapers company, purchased three Trendsetter News 150 platesetters to handle production of its daily, a regional edition of The New York Times and commercial products. • The Missourian Publishing Co. of Washington, Mo, purchased a Kodak Trendsetter News 100 thermal CTP device, Kodak thermal digital plates, Staccato screening, Prinergy Evo workflow system and Kodak Preps imposition software. The company prints The Washington Missourian, Union Missourian and St. Clair Missourian, as well as commercial products. It is a member of the Page Co-op. • Pacific Press Corp. of San Jose, Calif, purchased a Kodak Trendsetter News 50 platesetter. The company prints the VietNam Daily News, the largest Vietnamese newspaper in Northern California. • The Lewiston Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine, a Page Co-op member, purchased a Trendsetter News 100 platesetter to print the daily paper, seven weekly papers that they own, as well as commercial projects. • Carolina Classifieds in Monroe, NC, purchased two Trendsetter News 70 platesetters, Kodak digital plates, Staccato screening, and Prinergy Evo workflow system, Preps and Insite software to print the Carolina Money Saver and other products.
The Trendsetter News thermal CTP device comes in five models, ranging in speed from 60 to more than 240 plates per hour to suit newspaper printing facilities of all sizes. The Trendsetter News platesetter delivers fast, reliable imaging with a standard file format interface for newspaper production systems. It is available with semi automatic or fully automated plate loading and unloading. The machine to machine accuracy of the Kodak SquareSpot thermal imaging heads, combined with the binary nature of thermal imaging, achieves consistent and repeatable halftone dot structures.
ThermalNews Gold digital plates meet the rigorous demands of newspaper printing while delivering outstanding resolution for premium newspaper printing and commercial quality printing. ThermalNews Gold provide run lengths of over 200,000 impressions without postbaking. Rapid imaging and processing, faster makeready and plate reliability gives newspapers extra editorial time, and the clean working, low pH, low consumption developer reduces processing costs.
The Kodak Versamark D-Series continuous inkjet solutions for high volume digital printing offer a broad range of printing systems with a comprehensive selection of printing features and functions to print variable information on or offline. The DS5000 family of products series provides print areas from 25.4mm to 70.35mm. Kodak Versamark D-Series Printing Systems can be placed inline with mailroom or press equipment for addressing newspapers, TMC and other direct mail pieces for individual copy delivery. The reliability, flexibility, and ease-of-use of these printers make them an ideal solution for addressing and personalisation within the newspaper production process.
Kodak NewsManager workflow system, a powerful PDF workflow management tool for high performance newspaper prepress, enables a flexible, automated workflow from edition plan to plate production. Based on open standards, it easily integrates into existing systems. The NewsManager workflow system is scaleable to meet all needs, from contract printers to metropolitan, national and international newspapers with multiple print sites.
The Kodak Prinergy Evo Workflow System helps newspapers deal with last minute changes easily, without causing delays. Based on the latest standards and proven Prinergy technology, Prinergy Evo Software delivers exceptional PDF processing capabilities. A flexible PDF workflow featuring proven color management, late stage editing and imposition, and advanced screening options to optimise output on Trendsetter News CTP devices, Prinergy Evo Systems help deliver the end to end automation, speed, control, and flexibility that newspapers need to accommodate tight editorial and ad deadlines and output large numbers of pages more quickly.
Kodak Insite Software is a Web portal into the Kodak Prinergy workflow system. It streamlines job submission, job status tracking, and remote content proofing or approval. Insite software extends the reach of business operations and improves responsiveness to customer needs, while reducing job cycle times and material costs.
Kodak Preps imposition software supports PostScript, PDF, EPS, DCS and TIFF source files. It works with all Kodak and many major third party workflow systems. Preps imposition software helps prepress professionals remove even more manual steps from their preferred workflow by providing digital imposition. Preps software enhances production efficiency by integrating more thoroughly with various workflows and accepting more than 200 types of file inputs. Preps also enhances prepress efficiency and enables greater postpress reliability by automatically generating bar codes that can be read by WST and and Muller Martini bar code readers.
Staccato screening produces high fidelity, artifact-free images that exhibit fine detail and more impactful color in newspapers. Staccato Screening creates images without halftone rosettes, screening moiré, grey level limitations, or abrupt jumps in tone - with no impact on RIPing or rendering time. SquareSpot thermal imaging technology enables the fine dot structure of Staccato screening to be a reliable and practical solution for newspaper printing and an effective competitive edge for publishers.
Information on all of the above products is available from: Kodak GCG, or from: Antalis Graphics in Southern Africa.
New PrintCity Seminar for Budapest, Hungary As part of 'Connection of Competence', PrintCity is to hold a 'Web Offset & Sheetfed Commercial Printing' seminar in April…
As part of the widening programme of 'Connection of Competence' seminars in 2007, PrintCity is planning a 'Web Offset & Sheetfed Commercial Printing' event in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday 25 April 2007.
PrintCity members will present 'latest thinking' in web offset and sheetfed commercial printing, including:
• Value Added Printing of Newspapers - the PrintCity VAPoN project, plus other web offset topics including energy efficiency, use of wide paper rolls and roll handling • Best practice UV sheetfed printing and coating for publication and commercial printing - including which type of UV, production systems, materials and techniques
Date: Wednesday April 25th, 2007 Time: 10:30 to 17:00 Location: Csiki-Bege Autoplaza Conference Centre, Budapest
PrintCity seminars of this type bring latest industry knowledge direct to specific customer groups, and allow a close interaction between suppliers and customers, to create new business opportunities.
Most importantly these seminars show the influence of all materials and equipment used in the supply & production chain, for sheetfed and web offset printing.
PrintCity alliance members MAN Roland, Megtec, Merck, Reeves SpA, Sappi, Sun Chemical and UPM will report their experiences from the world market and offer 'best practice' knowledge, advice and solutions to Hungarian commercial printing and publishing executives.
Visitors can expect a focused programme of technical and business subjects, covering major areas of the graphic industry:
Wednesday 25 April - 'Web Offset & Sheetfed Commercial Printing' PrintCity Connection of Competence Seminar
• Best practice in UV drying - including materials, printing and finishing techniques for sheetfed commercial printing applications • Value Added Printing of Newspapers (VAPoN) - PrintCity's unique analysis of technical, operational and economic aspects concerning higher quality newspaper production. First in-depth study presentation of this project in Hungary, by the contributing experts • Using Large Diameter Paper Rolls - for both higher output commercial & newspaper web offset presses • Paper Roll Handling - to reduce damage & waste and increase efficiency • Energy efficiency on web offset presses - a preview of one of PrintCity's new 2007 projects
Gerry Schmidt of Sun Chemical and PrintCity Advisory Council member commented, ‘PrintCity seminars of this type bring the combined knowledge of all our members direct to individual markets and the people who need the information - in this case the expanding and active Hungarian market. They are a powerful medium for networking and sharing of information.
‘We are planning more seminars than ever this year, as part of our build-up towards Drupa 2008.’
To pre-register for this seminar Please contact the local organiser by 24 April: Brigitta Barhács, Sun Chemical, Telek U.7-9, H-1152 Budapest, Hungary. Tel: +36 1 306 14 09, Fax: + 36 1 306 1403, or by e-mail: brigitta.bodi@sunchemical.hu
More New Classified adverts now online Two Classified advertisements for second-hand equipment 'For Sale', and one new one for 'Staff Recruitment' now online…
The latest Classified advertisements have been added to the Website over the past couple of days. You can click on the Classified section from our Index, or the running ticker-tape header which is at the top of the News page to access these. We expect even more in the coming days…
Cromoman for Dar Al Khaleej Newspapers The largest Arab-language newspaper in the United Arab Emirates has chosen to meet its printing needs with MAN Roland…
The largest Arab-language newspaper in the United Arab Emirates has chosen to meet its printing needs with MAN Roland. Dar Al Khaleej is further strengthening its premiere position in the Arab market by investing in a new Cromoman system.
Dar Al Khaleej Publishing has produced Dar Al Khaleej since 1970. The newspaper includes an extensive network of foreign offices and correspondents. Originally eight pages long, the Dar Al Khaleej newspaper has now grown to over 40. Inserts covering business, sports, religion, and entertainment issues are published, along with monthly cultural magazines.
The press is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and is synonymous with optimum printing quality. Most functions are operated from the control console; prepress is integrated via open interfaces. The Cromoman offers maximum flexibility as its two parallel lines can be operated as independent machines or can feed into a joint folder after mixing and/or transferring of the reels from one line to the other. This configuration principle, first made possible by the introduction of shaftless drive technology, has proven successful in numerous installations – in particular in the Middle Eastern market, which favours a high share of colour and heatset printing.
The result is virtually limitless flexibility, which cannot be achieved by any conventional configuration of presses in a single-line layout. The new web offset press consists of two lines with a total of 16 reel splicers, eight eight-couple tower printing units, four heatset packages, and two folders. The system can simultaneously produce 64 broadsheet pages with 16 four colour pages in heatset, four four-colour pages, four pages with spot colours and 40 pages in b/w; or 32 pages all in four-color, 16 of them in heatset – or virtually any conceivable combination thereof. The new printing system will begin full production in mid-2008.
Pictured above: Smiles all round at the signing of the agreement (standing in foreground from left to right): Ihsan Kara, CEO Dynagraph for Printing Industry LLC; Mike Ziegler, deputy vice president sales MAN Roland; and Khalid Abdullah O Taryam, managing director and general manager Dar Al Khaleej.
New faster Kodak Versamark controller Enhanced controller boosts speed, efficiency and colour for transactional printing with Kodak Versamark V-Series…
Launched at Graphics of the Americas/Xplor 2007, the Kodak Versamark CS300c System Controller for Kodak Versamark V-Series Printing Systems now offers data centres, service bureaux, and other producers of transactional documents higher levels of performance, colour, flexibility and productivity.
The new controller drives Versamark V-Series printing systems (the VX 5000 is pictured here) in the industry standard Advanced Function Printing / Intelligent Printer Datastream (AFP/IPDS) workflow environment. The system provides the ability to print high volume transactional documents, billing statements and direct mail-in full process colour with variable data-with a single pass printing process that saves time and delivers a low cost per image.
‘Companies increasingly recognise the power of turning transactional documents into marketing tools by adding personalized messages and promotional offers. Adding colour significantly increases response rates and ROI, making these materials even more effective,’ said Ronen Cohen, vice president, marketing, Inkjet Printing Solutions, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group. ‘Kodak was the first to introduce colour IPDS solutions and continues to be a leader, enabling marketers to take advantage of one to one communications while providing transactional printers with savings in labour, time, expenses and space by producing an entire piece with the Versamark V-Series printing systems and the CS300c system controller.’
The third generation platform of the CS300c system controller enables processing speeds up to seven times greater than the previous system controller. The Versamark V-Series printing systems with the CS300c controller will run 300 x 600dpi images at maximum rated web speeds up to 150 metres per minute while interpreting full colour FS42 or FS45 data through the IPDS data stream.
The system supports up to 16 DH90 printheads, enabling full colour, 2-up, duplex printing that equates to printing colour documents at up to 2,180 letter size or 2,052 A4 size images per minute. The same printing system, using the CS300c controller, can continue to print legacy jobs in monochrome or spot colour.
Further information on Kodak Versamark is available from: Kodak GCG Website, or from: Antalis Graphics in Southern Africa.
Packaging company adds second Rapida 105 Parlor City Paper Box in Binghamton, expands its customer base with new KBA Rapida 105 seven-colour press…
Parlor City Paper Box, a Binghamton, NY-based paperboard packaging company, has expanded its customer base and dramatically reducing its makeready times after the smooth installation of its second KBA press: a Rapida 105 1050mm seven-colour press configured for hybrid UV production. The new press was delivered in December 2006 and was running at full production by the second week of January 2007.
‘This is our second KBA sheetfed press,’ says David Culver, president of Parlor City. ‘Our first Rapida 105 was a four-colour model. We've installed a second press to help us increase our volume and give us additional colour capabilities, since a majority of our work is six to seven colours. We've also had the press prepared for hybrid UV capabilities since we may need that capability in the future. The new press is also equipped with a lot of automation that we didn't have before, such as Logotronic management system and the Densitronic S combined density and colour measuring system for quality control both during and after printing."
Since the installation of the press in mid-December 2006, the firm is already reporting dramatically reduced makeready times, faster running speeds, and the ability to turn its five- to seven-colour jobs in shorter turnaround times. With a vast amount of its jobs being specified at 5,000 to 10,000 sheets, the automation on the new press helps to turn the short-run jobs faster.
‘We're loyal KBA customers because they produce the best board press on the market,’ added Bruce Culver, one of David Culver's sons who also help to run the business. ‘The level of quality built into the press allows us to produce the highest-quality job in the fastest amount of time. Even with all of the automation on the new press, our pressmen have quickly transitioned to the new press.’
Established in 1902, Parlor City Paper Box Co. is a privately-held, family-owned firm with 44 employees. Catering to a wide variety of customers, mostly in the Northeast, the firm produces high-end premium-style packaging. David Culver is joined in the business by his sons: Bruce, Brian, and Jeffrey. The firm recently completed a 2000 sq/m addition to its 13,000 sq/metre facility.
NatMags endorsement for Quickcut and Quickprint National Magazine Company chooses Quickprint 5 to streamline editorial page production for its 19 consumer titles…
As part of its strategy to trial prepress functions in-house the National Magazine Company, Hearst Corporation's principal business in the UK, has chosen Adstream’s Quickcut 5 workflow technology as a key element of its production environment. The initiative to improve efficiency and streamline production will bring most production workflow tasks in house and includes, colour management, high res image management, PDF page production, validation and hard/soft copy proofing. The project will begin in the next few months in association with its prepress services partner Wyndeham Argent.
One of the UK’s top publishers, NatMags publishes 19 consumer titles including: Best, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, and Harpers and Queen. Over 16 million adults in Britain read a NatMags title every year. The publisher is dedicated to 'quality and excellence' in publishing and this tenant underlines its production environment and drives investment in the latest techniques.
Quickcut 5 will be piloted initially within the editorial department of Runners World. ‘The aim is to gain better control over the production process allowing editorial greater flexibility and management over editorial content,’ said Simon Horne, general manager, NatMag. ‘The ability to action last minute changes with confidence that the final result will reproduce accurately is critical. We needed a robust system that we could rely on to create and validate the highest quality PDFs, and Quickprint 5 ticked all the boxes. A significant difference compared to other solutions is that, unlike most other solutions, Quickprint operates at the desktop level ensuring operators are notified in real-time throughout the page building process if there are any issues so that corrections can be made swiftly.’
PC and Mac compatible QuickPrint 5 is an advanced method of preparing pages for print. It creates files that perfectly match destination specifications and enables users to create, validate, colour manage and deliver files within one solution. Straightforward one-click validation tools swiftly identify possible file problems and frequently fix them automatically.
‘This implementation by NatMags for editorial page production is a major endorsement for Quickprint 5,’ said Mike Palmer, director of Print Publishing, at Adstream, ‘The application not only reduces workloads but guide users through the many pitfalls that plague prepress production with little or no margin for error. It remains the world’s best workflow tool for preparing files for print.’
The National Magazine Company was established in Britain in 1910 and is the wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hearst Corporation in America.
El Comercio, Lima, Peru adds Goss Community Goss Community press ordered for new facility with two four-high towers, one SSC folder and two zero speed splicers…
Peruvian daily newspaper El Comercio has invested in a Goss Community press to improve distribution and boost circulation figures in the northern region of the country.
The new press has been ordered with two four-high towers, two zero speed splicers and an SSC folder. Installation begins this month in a new, purpose-built facility located 430 miles north of El Comercio’s existing Pando and Amauta printing plants which are based in Lima, central Peru.
Ignacio Prado, director at El Comercio, commented, ‘We currently distribute all our newspapers from Lima. We cover 800 miles of territory and distribution is difficult, sometimes our products arrive late due to the distance. With our new press facility we will not only improve distribution, but, once established, we will increase our circulation and market share in the region.’
El Comercio decided to invest in the Community press for this key project because of prior experience working with Goss presses. Prado explained, ‘We have been running a Goss Newsliner press since 1997. We were one of the first owners of this line of press with the keyless inking system and nine years on, the system is still running well. The press is used to run a high volume of color pages and consumes less ink than other presses at the plant. We have been very happy with the performance of the Newsliner and are confident that our new Community press will be just as successful.’
El Comercio, the oldest privately owned newspaper in Peru, has continually improved its product and processes to retain its status as one of Peru’s premier dailies. Prado continued, ‘Reliability of parts and technical support were other crucial factors in the decision for us. We have worked with Goss International on major projects before, including a web width reduction which decreased our paper consumption by 7.4 per cent and an increase in the colour capacity of our 64 page broadsheet from 16 colour pages to 28. We are secure in the knowledge that Goss International can support us in reducing waste and meeting the changing needs of our customers.’
Founded in 1839, El Comercio is part of Grupo El Comercio which also publishes Peruvian daily newspapers Trome and Peru 21.
Amicus announces funding for 2007 Amicus joins the BPIF and PCC to double Print Educational Scholarships available for young people this year…
Amicus, the UK union for graphical, paper, packaging, publishing and media workers has announced it is to back the annual BPIF Educational Scholarships scheme founded by the BPIF and the Printers’ Charitable Corporation four years ago, in a move that will see the number of scholarships on offer doubled this year.
The Union’s Graphical Paper & Media Branches are providing funds that will increase the £2500 bursaries from six to twelve this year. Amicus is also lending its support to wider information and publicity amongst its membership which will see the number of applicants increase from young people already working in the industry but who need funding for on-going education and training. Amicus will also contribute to the administrative costs of the scheme and an Amicus official will sit on the judging panel.
Amicus, Assistant General Secretary Tony Burke said, ‘We are pleased that Amicus GPM Branches have agreed to fund this programme. Anything that helps young people in the graphical industry to attain better skills, or helps them in their work or studies is def innately something our union wishes to be associated with.’
Amicus National Officer Steve Sibbald said, ‘Amicus has been heavily involved in education and training for people working in our industry and are very keen to support this initiative by the BPIF and PCC. The industry needs to do everything it can to attract and encourage young talented people who can add real value to our industry.’
Said BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson, who welcomes the move, ‘These scholarships will encourage talented young people to come to and remain on the industry whilst further developing their skills. By making this additional contribution Amicus, the PCC and BPIF together can boost the talent base and enthusiasm available to the sector. This is a further demonstration of Amicus GPM Sector’s contribution to training which we full recognise.’
For the PCC, director Stephen Gilbert added, ‘The opportunity to increase the number of scholarships on offer is an exciting one and we are most grateful for this additional support.’
The extended Scholarship Scheme comprising 12 awards of £2500 each are open to all young people aged 16-30 who are resident in the UK and who plan a career in the UK printing and graphic arts industries. Applications are made in writing on official application forms and a shortlist is then invited for interview. Winners in the past three years have included students on established print and print management courses, graphic design students, family employees of family owned print businesses, prepress specialists, PhD students and a young mother needed help with childcare to enable her to continue her studies. Winners have chosen to spend their award in a variety of ways including course fees, travel costs for study tours, books and computers and software.
Entries for this year close on 30 April 2007, with judging taking place in late May and the presentation of the awards in early July.
For more information about the Scholarships and the work of the PCC please contact Terry Ulrick, from whom application forms and further details can be obtained. Tel. 01444 831918 Mobile. 07850 105027 or on: terryulrick@tucommunications.co.uk
For more information from Amicus please contact Steve Sibbald on 0207 505 3000 or Ashraf Choudhury at the Amicus Press Office on 0207 420 8918. More details about the work of the BPIF is available from Charlotte Locks-Moro on 020 7915 8334 or by visiting: www.britishprint.com
Océ returns to Northprint 2007 Océ targets Northprint after a five-year break, to showcase its latest cutting-edge digital print solutions…
This year will see Océ exhibiting at the Northprint show for the first time in five years, where the company will showcase its flagship VarioPrint 6250 high-speed, cut sheet printer, known to be the world's fastest perfecting digital system on the market.
The strategic decision to be at Northprint was taken following substantial positive feedback to shows such as Ipex and various other events Océ has attended and hosted over recent months. Northprint is an important route to market for the many significant commercial printers based in the north of the UK, and provides Océ with the opportunity to demonstrate its strength in duplex black and white printing technology, and highlight its high-quality colour offering to this key audience.
The VarioPrint 6250 cut sheet digital press is unique in that it incorporates Océ's Gemini CopyPress perfecting technology, which enables it to image both sides of a wide range of media simultaneously at a speed of 250 A4 images per minute. By imaging at a constant speed on all materials, the VarioPrint 6250 is able to produce high volume, high quality, black and white print. It is ideal for a number of applications in the commercial printing industry, for example the production of technical publications, medical printing, music printing and it is particularly well suited to the fast growing digital book production sector.
Ed Hudson, Océ's DDS / Imagistics marketing manager said, ‘Northprint 2007 will provide the stage for the VarioPrint 6250's debut in the North of England, where two systems will be on show; one as a stand-alone system with a high-capacity stacker; and one running online to the Watkiss PowerSquare 200 complete book making system (see also separate Watkiss announcement).
‘Feedback from the worldwide graphic arts industry since the VarioPrint 6250's launch last year has been extremely positive and Northprint 2007 presents us with a further opportunity to demonstrate its many features and benefits to printers and industry members in this thriving region. Alongside the VarioPrint 6250, we are looking forward to showcasing a number of our highly acclaimed digital machines to visitors, such as our new Colour System 650 Pro.’
Oce's Colour System 650 Pro (CS650 Pro) has been recently introduced by the company to produce colour print and copy at 65 pages per minute. It comes with a number of finishing, media and controller options and is particularly suitable for commercial printers, printshops and corporate printrooms.
Also exhibited on stand M430 will be two award winning products from Océ, namely the Colour Production System 900 (CPS900) Platinum digital colour press and the VarioPrint 2110 Titanium black and white production system.
Designed to deliver consistent and reliable colour, the CPS900 automates the colour management process through the printer's workflow; which has the effect of significantly reducing the time spent calibrating and testing colour output required with other digital processes. The CPS900 Platinum has received the BERTL four-star highly recommended award, demonstrating that it has the productivity to keep up with much larger, costlier digital printers, as well as delivering consistent colour output across multiple systems, times and locations.
The VarioPrint 2110 Titanium is a monochrome digital printer for both the commercial print and corporate production environment. It is the ideal solution for handling complex or varying applications and enables the efficient handling of documents requiring mixed-stock, inserts and/or variable data printing within one workflow. The system has already been awarded the coveted five-star exceptional rating from BERTL. The award recognises that the VarioPrint 2110 Titanium surpasses other digital production printers in terms of quality, productivity simplicity and operating costs, enabling corporate and commercial printrooms to produce higher volumes more efficiently.
Northprint 2007 will run from 24 - 26 April at the Harrogate Exhibition Centre. Expected to attract over 4300 visitors from the printing, packaging and graphic communications industry, it is the only national mainstream graphic arts exhibition for the UK and celebrates its 40th birthday this year.
Graphic Repro On-line's e-mail servers were down Quantum Communications' mail servers were not working for the entire day on Wednesday, so we couldn't communicate...
Sorry, but if you were trying to contact us - we could not receive your mail. All e-mail received subsequently has already been replied to, if a response was necessary.
Quantum Communications took all of its servers offline for maintenance and upgrades at 06:00 on Wednesday morning. We had browser access to the Web back before midday, but were unable to receive e-mails. Quantum's technicians expected to have this resolved by about 16:00 today - but they obviously had problems, and we finally got back online at around 23:30.
Our browsers could access the Web, so we were still able to work with our Website, which has its servers in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Graphic Repro On-line, 7 March 2007.
Italy’s RCS orders more KBA presses Rizzoli Corriere della Sera (RCS) adds another four KBA Commanders: This time 4/1 presses for Gazzetta dello Sport…
Less than two years after completing the installation of nine KBA Commander 4/2 and two KBA Comet newspaper presses at six production locations, Italy’s leading media group, Rizzoli Corriere della Sera (RCS), has placed an order for a further four KBA Commanders 4/1. Following intensive market research and production analyses the group opted for four-by-one nine-cylinder satellites featuring KBA’s patented ribbon-splitting system, which reduces press height and shortens makeready times by eliminating the need for turner bars. The new presses will print RCS’s most common format, tabloids. RCS chose nine-cylinder satellites for their precise registration, and one-around plate cylinders for their product flexibility and reduced plate costs.
The four KBA Commander presses have a cylinder circumference of 620mm, a maximum web width of 1800mm and a maximum rated output of 75,000 64-page full-colour copies per hour. Two of the four presses will ship to Pessano near Milan as part of a move to upgrade Gazzetta dello Sport to full colour, another is earmarked for Rome and the fourth for Padua. Production start-up is slated for spring next year.
RCS: leading player in Italian newspaper market The RCS media group employs 5,200 people and in 2005 posted sales of around €2.2bn. It is the leading player in the Italian newspaper market, accounting for 20 per cent of total copies sold. Gazzetta dello Sport, with a daily circulation of around 400,000 copies and 3.7 million readers, is Italy’s most popular sports title, while Corriere della Sera, which was founded back in 1876 and has a circulation of some 675,000 copies and 2.9 million readers, is Italy’s biggest national daily. In 2001 RCS expanded into the frees market with City, more than 600,000 copies of which are distributed throughout the country. RCS’s activities also embrace magazines, books and new media. A good 30 per cent of sales are generated abroad. Grupo Unedisa, a Spanish subsidiary, publishes the country’s second-biggest daily title, El Mundo, which has a circulation of over 300,000 copies.
Unique features and high level of automation Each press line will be configured with four KBA Pastomat RC automatic reelstands plus KBA Patras A automatic reel handling, four nine-cylinder satellite towers for 4/4, a folder superstructure with two formers and patented ribbon-splitting system, and one KF 5 jaw folder with a 2:5:5 cylinder ratio.
Alongside cut-off register and sidelay controls, automatic washing systems for the inking units and cylinders, automatic pumping for black and process inks and optional semi-automated plate changing, the Commander presses will sport KBA’s unique RollerTronic automatic roller locks and WebTronic web-tension controls. The presses will be controlled from new-generation consoles incorporating a job-scheduling and press presetting system, a RIP interface and diagnostics PC.
Illustrated above: One of four KBA Commander 4/1 presses that leading Italian newspaper publishing group RCS is planning to install at production plants in Pessano (near Milan), Rome and Padua. The presses will include KBA’s patented ribbon-splitting system for double-width presses (the ribbon-splitting illustration can be seen in this article on the KBA Website).
Third Fairfax publication goes 'live' with Atex Atex system allows Fairfax to better connect with readers and to develop a multi-functional information source…
The Taranaki Daily News went 'live' on Monday, 5 March, as the first editorial pages were produced using the latest Atex electronic production system. The Taranaki Daily News is the third Fairfax Media publication to convert to Atex, and the beginning of production using Atex is the result of months of planning, analysis, rebuilding and testing.
The Manawatu Standard, Palmerston North, and the Dominion Post, Wellington, converted to Atex in September and October respectively. Eventually, nearly all Fairfax publications will be produced through Atex in a multi-million project expected to last until late 2008 and early 2009.
Progressively over the next two weeks, more and more pages at New Plymouth will be produced through Atex as Taranaki Daily News editorial staff are trained in the new system which replaces a legacy system which has been in existence since the mid-1980s.
Fairfax chief operating officer and editor-in-chief Peter O’Hara paid tribute to Taranaki Daily News staff for their hard work over the past few months. That work included analysing every operation the newspaper undertakes to produce its publications, rebuilding them for the more efficient Atex system and testing them. 'I congratulate all Taranaki Daily News staff for the willing way they have gone through this arduous process, aided by a very talented Atex team,' O’Hara said. 'It’s been great to see the progress made each week and the enthusiasm for the project.' Said O'Hara.
Editor Jonathan MacKenzie described 'go-live' day as a significant milestone in the newspaper’s history, and a particularly welcome one for 2007, which also marked the newspaper’s 150th anniversary. 'At the Taranaki Daily News it’s our mission to provide readers with the best and brightest local, national and international news available,' said MacKenzie.
The new system will allow journalists more flexibility to produce brighter pages and informative graphics in better time frames. Improvements planned for the paper are designed to make it look fresher and easier to read.
'For several weeks we have had a team of experts installing the system, writing computer scripts and training our staff to get the best out of this investment. We’ve done this because we believe our readers and this region are worthy of the best we can offer them,' added MacKenzie
Said general manager Mike Brewer, 'Atex will give us an updated, robust and proven production platform surpassing the capabilities of the legacy system that has served this newspaper well but on which we can no longer confidently rely.' But its implementation is much more than the installation of upgraded technology. Brewer continued, 'Its introduction has forced us to reconsider the way we go about producing our newspaper and to explore better and more efficient ways of working.' It is expected the advertising side of the business will be converted to Atex in September.
'The Atex upgrade is an investment in our people,' said Brewer. 'As part of the implementation, we will be re-skilling and training our editorial staff and many within prepress and in due course, advertising. I want to take the opportunity to thank our staff for taking up the challenge to prepare our workplace for this significant change and the opportunities it presents.'
O’Hara said moving Fairfax newspapers to the Atex system will result in company-wide co-operation and opportunities that are not possible when publications use different production systems. 'Atex will allow Fairfax publications to better connect with readers and give us the means to be more innovative with existing or new products and services,' he affirmed.
'We live in a fast-changing world and the introduction of Atex will benefit the Taranaki Daily News and its readers and advertisers. It will also help Fairfax Media develop into a multi-functional information source to meet the needs of not just our customers today but of the new ones now emerging.
'Our staff at the Taranaki Daily News can be proud of what they have achieved to date and their success helps us achieve Fairfax’s goal of establishing itself as a highly efficient, multi-media company,' concluded O'Hara.
Fairfax Media, New Zealand's largest media company, has a strong focus on innovation and leadership. Fairfax Media established its operation on 1 July 2003 with purchase of the publishing assets of Independent Newspapers Ltd (INL). These assets include nine daily newspapers including The Dominion Post and The Press, two national Sunday papers, a stable of magazines with particular strength in the lifestyle category, a magazine publishing business and an internet operation. Fairfax Media also publishes over 60 community newspapers throughout the country.
These latest assets join those of the parent company John Fairfax Holdings Ltd. Their mastheads include the prestigious Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review.
Atex is headquartered in Reading, UK, and can be found at: www.atex.com
T R Shone takes high-specification SM 52-5H Top version SM 52 and a new Stahlfolder to give Shones a 30 per cent productivity boost over its 1996 model…
The Stockport company is taking a top specification Speedmaster 52, the 0.6mm version, along with high pile delivery, a configuration which it believes will give it a 30 per cent increase in productivity over its 1996 model Speedmaster SM 52.
T R Shone is taking delivery of the SM 52-5H this month along with an automated Stahlfolder TA52.
‘We are currently running a four-colour SM 52 and sealing offline but we need to get that in-line because today every job demands it. We are running very heavy solids and the latest SM 52 will minimise the risk of marking,’ said director Paul Garnett.
The 0.6mm SM 52 not only carries heavier stocks but eats through work more easily. A new segmented transfer cylinder averts the need for packings on the cylinder jackets. The new sheet guide plates keep the work mark free and the air knives and Venturi system in the high pile delivery means sheet are delivered dry.
At Shones 400gsm work is a standard which is at the edge of its existing press capabilities. With the new model on board it will be better able to handle this and also take on more lightweight packaging jobs. The company handles a broad range of promotional and folder work in runs of 200 through to 40,000 with spot- and full- and colour work, often with strong solids.
The company looked at the Fuji-Shinohara but staff were happy with the existing SM 52 and Garnett was happy that with CP2000 and Prepress Interface he could link the press to the prepress area, where Signastation imposition software has also been added.
The folder was not a done deal. However, on seeing the TA 52 at a Heidelberg open house he was convinced by its simplicity. ‘If someone’s on holiday others can more easily work with this folder because of its automation,’ he said. ‘Both items will help to alleviate a bottleneck at this point of production.’
The press will be needed if Shones finalises new contracts currently under negotiation. This will be an added bonus and will more than justify its decision to invest about £500,000 in Heidelberg products.
Goss Community SSC popular in South America Publishers select Goss International for extensive technical support, tailored configuration and excellent service…
Goss International has taken orders in the last 12 months for Community SSC presses with a total of more than 70 printing units in the South American market, confirming the widespread popularity of the press among both regional and national printers throughout the continent. Since its introduction in 1962, the single-width, one-plate-around Goss Community SSC press system has become the world’s most popular web press for newspapers, with over 35,000 units sold.
According to Goss International vice president of Latin America Operations, Ernesto Oliveira, ‘With the South American printing industry undergoing rapid change, the emphasis is on increased technological development and better productivity. There is also a significant new generation of web offset capacity being installed throughout the industry.’
Oliveira says Goss International is a major supplier of newspaper press systems to the South American market, and the Community SSC press has the print quality, versatility and ease-of-use features to make it a long-term, reliable and economic choice for many newspaper printers in the region.
VenezuelaDiario La Verdad of Maracaibo, Venezuela, one of the fastest growing titles in South America, has added a new Goss Community SSC press with five four-high towers for production of its daily newspaper La Verdad.
According to Juan Carlos Abudei Nuller, president and editor in chief of Diario La Verdad, ‘Satisfaction with our existing Community press influenced our decision to purchase another, which will give us the improved print capabilities and shorter turnaround times we require to accommodate a rapidly growing circulation. It will in fact reduce our production time by more than half from seven to two hours for the full print run and will enable us to provide more flexibility for meeting the changing demands of our advertisers and readers.’
The new press at Diario La Verdad will also include five zero-speed splicers and a folder with upper former. With a 546mm cut-off, the press will produce 55,000 or more copies a day of La Verdad, a standard broadsheet, with 40 pages, 20 in full colour.
Peru Peruvian daily newspaper, El Comercio, has invested in a Goss Community SSC press to improve distribution and boost circulation figures in the northern region of the country. To be installed at a new facility 430 miles north of its existing facility, the new press has been ordered with two four-high towers, two zero-speed splicers and an SSC folder.
Ignacio Prado, director at El Comercio, commented, ‘We have been running a Goss Newsliner press since 1997 and are confident that the Community press will be just as successful. The new press facility will not only improve our distribution in the north of the country, but, once established, it is planned that we will increase our circulation and market share in the region. Reliability of parts and technical support were other crucial factors in the decision for us and we are secure in the knowledge that Goss International will continue to support us in reducing our waste and meeting the changing needs of our customers.’
Mexico Litografia Magno Graf of Puebla, Mexico, has invested in a Goss Community SSC press to expand the production of its main newspaper title, Sintesis, into the Mexican states of Veracruz and Morelos. The new fourteen-unit press will be configured with one two-high and three four-high towers, one folder and four zero-speed splicers.
Commenting on the decision to buy the press, Armando Prida Noriega, general director of Magno Graf, said, ‘We have invested in the Community press to expand our capacity and offer very high print quality. We have chosen to work with Goss International because we trust them to supply durable, robust equipment, exactly configured for our needs.’
VenezuelaEl Informador has a long history of web offset printing. As one of the first newspapers in the country to print in color, it has always invested in the latest technological innovations to meet the growing demands of its readers.
A new 20-unit Community SSC press at El Informador will include five four-high towers, five zero-speed splicers and a folder with upper former. With a 546mm cut-off, the press will produce 55,000 or more copies a day.
According to Mauricio Gomez, owner, ‘As one of the newspapers with the highest circulations in the mid-western area of Venezuela, we have chosen to invest in the Goss Community SSC press as it offers us the versatility for printing colour newspapers and semi-commercial products. Apart from being easy to use, it will enable us to improve quality and increase our productivity.’
ColombiaDiario Del Sur has invested in a new Community SSC press that will include one two-high and two four-high towers and will be installed with a new folder with a 578mm cut-off.
The new press will be installed in a new building at its plant in Bogota, Colombia, next to its existing livery of Community SSC presses, dating back to the 1960s. The new press will be used to print a sports daily newspaper, Diario Deportivo, as well as a number of small products for local supermarkets and grocery stores. President of the group, Hernando Suarez, Diario Del Sur, commented, ‘We are excited with the level of technology presented on our new Community SSC press. We have had positive experiences in the past with our existing Goss branded presses which is why we chose Goss for this latest investment.’
Ernesto Oliveira concluded, ‘The Community SSC press continues to be an extremely popular press across Latin America and it also exemplifies Goss International's commitment to continual product development. The press is highly flexible and easily upgradeable, making it ideal not only for new press investments, but also as an addition to existing presses, including presses made by other suppliers. By enhancing product versatility and functionality in this way, we are keeping pace with the changing requirements of the market, to ensure that our customers always have a range of options to maintain their competitive edge.’
Esko to present i-XL table with i-cut 6.2 at Sign UK 2007 Innovative Kongsberg cutting solutions and Scope for sign and display market at the NEC, Birmingham, from 1 to 3 May 2007…
Esko has confirmed its commitment to the sign, display and POP market at Sign UK, to be held in Birmingham at the NEC from 1 to 3 May, 2007. The company will showcase its i-cut vision control system and i-script workflow, developed by MGE (Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering), integrated with the Esko Kongsberg i-XL24.
The adoption of flatbed digital printing in the sign, display and POP sectors has dynamically expanded creative design possibilities and placed a greater emphasis on digital finishing solutions. Esko's i-XL Kongsberg series complements digital printing of signs and displays by delivering a unique finishing solution for the widest range of materials, providing automation, high productivity and outstanding precision. Sales queries for Esko's finishing tables have steadily increased, also in the UK market. The company recently appointed Robert Horne as distributor to join Mill Pond Graphics who has been successfully selling the i-XL Kongsberg series and Esko's full range of pre-production solutions in the UK since January 2006.
The Esko Kongsberg i-XL finishing tables are regarded as the industry’s most cost-effective machines, loaded with unique features that save time and boost quality. Targeted materials include plywood, acrylics, polycarbonates, Dibond, rigid PVC, wood, corrugated cardboard and high pressure laminates.
During Sign UK, Esko will demonstrate the recently upgraded i-cut 6.2, the Vision control system and i-script workflow that generates exact registration and direct control for die-less cutting contours to perfectly match printed images. The i-cut camera measures each printed object using register marks to define the position and to compensate for any dimensional changes, distortions or material variations like shrinkage or stretching.
Paul Bates, Esko regional manager for the UK, commented, 'The robust growth in the sign and display market is driven by companies with leading edge creative design and the capabilities to bring their ideas to fruition. Esko's market leading technologies make sure that these companies are able to tap into new opportunities and benefit from added value finishing solutions.'
Bates noted that the design trends in display graphics have fuelled demand for the Kongsberg. 'The Kongsberg i-XL range is an ideal investment for the wide format digital printer who is looking for a profitable finishing solution,' said Bates. 'The finishing tables' versatility and productivity enables printers to win new business in the sign and display marketplace. Mill Pond Graphics was the most successful new i-XL dealer last year and combined with the presence of Robert Horne, Esko has high hopes for the UK Sign and Display markets.'
Full support from creation and design to production Esko will also highlight Scope, the innovative packaging software suite. Scope is the core of Esko’s solution to turn the entire packaging supply chain – from brand owner to retailer – into a straightforward collaborative process. Esko will demonstrate how Scope effectively manages a wide range of functions, from job and product specification, through graphic and structural design and expert pre-production operations. For example, Scope's DeskPack tools harness the power of the desktop for display design, turning Adobe Illustrator seats into full-featured BackStage clients, enabling CAD layouts to be imported into designs and to view designs interactively in realistic 3D. Fully completed files can be sent directly to FlexRip for output.
ArtiosCAD version 7, Esko’s latest component for structural design, offers full import / export support for SolidWorks 3D CAD files. Complete 3D CAD integration allows for quick prototyping of designs and presentations, eliminating communication errors and reducing design review cycles. ArtiosCAD 7 also offers a wider series of specifications for a wider selection of materials such as corrugated board, plastics, foam, etc. The new 3D export formats for the creation of presentations and assembly drawings contain animations and background illustrations.
You can visit the Esko Website by clicking on the Sponsor logo on our Home Page - or this link, if you wish to go there now.
Compose System at Northprint 2007 Compose to showcase new solutions: Express WorkFlow 3 and Star Proof Version 5 to make their UK debut at the show…
Compose System, an established developer of prepress workflow and colour proofing solutions, will demonstrate Express WorkFlow 3.0 for the first time in the UK during Northprint 2007, held in Birmingham from 24 – 25 April, 2007. Compose will have live demonstrations of Express Workflow 3.0 and Star Proof V5 on its stand. Express WorkFlow 3.0 offers an exceptional solution for handling all prepress operations for CTP and digital printing applications, whilst Star Proof V5, the innovative dot proof solution for inkjet printers, delivers quality contract screened proofs up to 200lpi.
Express WorkFlow delivers maximum productivity Compose System's Express WorkFlow provides reliability and efficiency to meet the ever changing demands of today's prepress industry. At its heart is the Compose Express RIP – a fast, flexible version of the Harlequin RIP offering high levels of performance and productivity. A professional prepress workflow system, Express WorkFlow combines practical functionality with ease-of-use, ensuring tight integration and smooth data delivery between all processes in the customer’s prepress workflow. Express WorkFlow optimizes and automates the production process and ensures data integrity, whether handling PDF or pure PostScript® workflow.
'Our customers have expressed a great deal of interest in the latest version of Express WorkFlow 3.0. The UK is our home market with a significant installed user base, so we are really looking forward to meeting with customers and demonstrating this solution's powerful new features,' said Steve Donegan, European sales & marketing manager at Compose. 'The latest release of Express WorkFlow has addressed users' productivity requirements with increased RIP speeds, enhanced imposition features, Java-based job submission, job monitoring and job tracking.'
Available for both Mac and PC clients, additional new features include template creation and dynamic job logging system together with a detailed history reporting database.
Star Proof - hard, sharp, dot proofs from inkjet printers Star Proof is the true dot proofing solution for producing up to 200lpi contract proofs on inkjet printers – quickly and economically. With its Actual Dot system to replicate original screening and dot patterns at proofing resolutions, Star Proof delivers top quality proofs with a hard dot, sharp images, accurate colour and fine detail – just as they will appear on the press. And with ROOM proofing architecture to resemble the same set of high resolution separations that are sent to the plate setter/image setter, Star Proof ensures data integrity between proof and print.
New features in Star Proof Version 5 include: • A new generation of ICS colour management that supports ICC profile • Powerful tools for the Flexo and packaging market that allow the adjustment of individual separations, Dot Loss and Extreme Dot Gain value. • Flexible colour adjustment features • Colour Shade supporting LAB value for spot colour • CS Reader version 2.0 support for Density and LAB measurement • Automated spectrophotometer device input support
Fogra Certification for Star Proof V5 Star Proof V5 has also received official Fogra certification for halftone printing with the Epson Stylus Pro 9800. Fogra Graphic Technology Research Association, the highly respected European printing organisation based its certification of Star Proof on demanding testing criteria, ensuring that the product conforms to stringent industry standards for accurate colour proofing as defined in ISO 12647-7.
Founded in 1987, Compose System is a leading Harlequin OEM, is an established developer of prepress workflow and digital colour proofing solutions. Compose has offices in Hong Kong, China, North America and the United Kingdom. Its solutions are centred on the professional Express WorkFlow systems. Compose's comprehensive range of high performance and versatile products include NewsFlow, PDF-Imposition and Star Proof. These products are sold and supported through a strong network of dealers spanning five continents.
New Classified adverts are now online Two new Classified Advertisements in the ‘For Sale’ category have been posted to the Website for ECRM and Kodak NexPress…
The latest Classified advertisements have been added to the Website this week. You can click on the Classified section from our Index, or the running ticker-tape style header at the top of the News page to access these. We expect more in the coming days…
Simply more gloss with UV - now with faster makereadies UV printing has enjoyed tremendous growth and UV gloss just cannot be ignored. Now, with faster press changeover…
UV gloss - a subject that many people cannot ignore and neither do they want to. Technical progress has made it easier to achieve maximum gloss.
UV printing has enjoyed tremendous growth in recent years. It's hard to imagine how one could do without it for printing on plastics and metallised substrates and it's becoming more and more popular for folding box production as well. This is because packaging is no longer merely a protective container for products but has become an important sales and marketing instrument. Matt and gloss effects used together on packaging catch the consumer's eye, convey value and stimulate the urge to buy.
UV coating provides the highest gloss, and this gloss effect can be increased considerably by applying a matt coating to the surrounding areas for contrast. There are several methods for achieving UV gloss: the primer-UV process with a double-coater press whereby primer coating is applied in the first coating module and UV coating in the second; the hybrid UV process which only needs one coating module; and the pure UV process where UV coating is applied over UV inks.
Technically demanding Combi operation is the most exacting process, using two varying printing ink systems that have different chemistry and behave much differently as well. It is precisely these differences that have led in the past to long makeready times when changing from one system to the other. The different printing behaviour and less damping latitude of many UV inks is hard for many users to get used to and requires considerable skill and experience. This is why MAN Roland is constantly researching to find engineering solutions to simplify the changeover process, speed it up, and enlarge the process window at the same time.
Washing and cleaning as a productivity factor One example is the development of new washing and cleaning systems. Washing of rollers and blankets affects process stability and economy in UV printing, especially with alternating operation. Incompatible washing agents and residual ink can lead to an increased number of waste sheets. MAN Roland conducted a series of tests and the most important finding was: no washing agent cleans better than the one specifically matched to the ink system concerned.
MAN Roland has developed QuickChange Wash which greatly reduces operator contact with washing agent during set-up and changeover. This new development offers automated alternating operation with separate supply lines for the different washing agents with alternating activation.
Complete separation of the individual supply lines reduces makeready time and increases operating comfort. No lines need to be emptied and re-filled. No washing agent is lost which is often the case with alternating operation. The biggest advantage is the outstanding washing quality with the specific washing agent for the inks used. Washing times are shorter and the process is more efficient because there is no longer any mixing of washing agents that are not fully compatible. Meanwhile MAN Roland also offers separate washing agent circuits for cloth-type washing units.
Expert advice Developments in UV technology are ongoing and MAN Roland is intensively involved - whether this be new processes for stabilising emulsification in printing or new UV curing equipment for heat-reduced hardening with sensitive substrates. The high level of innovation leads to continual reappraisal of knowledge and also more intensive communication with customers and users. Here MAN Roland is pleased to offer expert advice - interested parties can send their process-technical questions to the central e-mail address by using this link: UV@man-roland.de
Illustrated above: QuickChange Wash is only available from MAN Roland. The washing system with separate supply lines for water and two different washing agents simplifies the changeover between UV and conventional applications.
Kodak Insite software sales accelerate in Europe Growing adoption of digital production workflows by print service providers has seen continued growth of Kodak Insite...
Growing adoption of digital production workflows by print service providers has seen continued growth in the sale of Kodak Insite Software as part of the Kodak Unified Workflow Solution. Both print service providers and creative service professionals are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the benefits of sophisticated Web-based workflow tools for remote job submission and proofing, and this is reflected in the accelerated sales of Insite Software across Europe.
In 2006, 50 per cent of Kodak Prinergy Workflow Systems in Europe were sold with Insite Software, rising from 38 per cent in 2005 and 22 per cent in 2004.
'Print service providers recognise that Kodak Insite Software is a vital part of every successful Unified Workflow solution,' said Thierry Callot, product marketing manager for Europe, Africa and Middle East region, 'Insite software has changed the way customers do business with print service providers, streamlining processes and cutting costs. It also helps print service providers collaborate better with their print buyer customers so that they're able to turn jobs around faster and provide a better service. Not surprisingly, annual sales of Insite Software have been consistently increasing since its introduction.'
Kodak Insite software is a Web portal into the Kodak Prinergy workflow system allowing remote job submission and approval. From any Web-enabled computer with a standard Web browser, customers, prepress operators, and customer service representatives can manage and track job activity, collaborate with prepress staff on changes, and approve jobs. A powerful, user-friendly collaboration tool, Insite Software is an effective means to move jobs through production faster, eliminating opportunities for error, confusion, or delay. Insite Software extends the geographical reach of business operations and improves print service providers' responsiveness to customer needs, while reducing job cycle times and material costs. Print service providers can offer this new service to create differentiation from their competitors.
The addition of the Kodak Matchprint Virtual software option to Insite software enables colour accurate monitor proofing of pages within the workflow. Print service providers using Insite Software can also now add the new Kodak Teamworks Software. Kodak Teamworks software provides proofing and approval tools for creative workflows. It offers ad agencies, publishers, and creative individuals a more efficient job creation process.
Kodak products are backed by Kodak Service and Support, Kodak's worldwide service organisation. Named Best Support Organisation at the 2006 International Business Awards, Kodak Service and Support includes more than 3,000 professionals in 120 countries, including Antalis Graphics in Southern Africa. These professionals are fully qualified to help customers control costs, maximise productivity, and minimise business risk.
Kodak Insight is available in Southern Africa from Antalis Graphics. For additional information, please go to: www.graphics.kodak.com or to: www.antalis.co.za
Martin Bailey awarded CIP4 Fellowship As a CIP4 Fellow, Martin Bailey has been granted life-long individual CIP4 membership in recognition of his work…
The International Co-operation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organisation has presented Martin Bailey of Global Graphics with the CIP4 Fellowship Award. As a CIP4 Fellow, Bailey has been granted a life-long individual CIP4 membership.
The CIP4 Fellowship Award recognises individuals whose contributions to the development of the Job Definition Format (JDF) Specification are both substantial and of significance to the integrity and function of JDF, as well as individuals who may have contributed to the industry's adoption of JDF by educating manufacturers of JDF systems and JDF users and/or by actively disseminating information about JDF. The CIP4 Fellowship award is made at the discretion of the CIP4 board of directors with usually one Fellowship awarded each year.
‘Martin has fulfilled every possible requirement of CIP4 Fellowship,’ said CIP4 CEO Margaret Motamed of EFI. ‘He's been an active contributor to the specification and helped shape the specification, he's spoken at numerous JDF seminars and programmes, and he has authored many articles on the subject of JDF. Most notably, he's played perhaps the most significant part in forming, shaping and directing the organisation.’
‘It's difficult enough to create consensus agreement in any group, but CIP4 is an international organisation with active members on every continent except Antarctica and the amount of effort required of Martin to create the kind of consensus he did to make CIP4 and JDF a reality cannot be overstated,’ said CIP4 executive director James Harvey. ‘Martin has been a very public figure in the industry and he's played a part in the development of several standards; however, nothing else has the scope and potential longevity of JDF, and he will be forever associated with JDF and the modernisation of the printing industry.’
Bailey is chief technology officer at Global Graphics where he specifies and designs many aspects of Global Graphic's industry-leading printing and document technology which extends across several page description languages including PostScript(r), PDF and XPS (XML Paper Specification). He is active in representing Global Graphics on a number of industry bodies and standards committees including chairing CGATS, and chairing the ANSI/CGATS SC6 Task Force 1 and also the ISO TC130 WG2 TF2, both of which are developing aspects of PDF/X. He is also involved in standards work relating to variable data printing and reliable print workflows.
‘I have known Martin Bailey since the early days of system integration in the 1990's when CIP3 developed the Print Production Format,’ says Christian Anschütz of Heidelberg and CIP4's Membership Officer. ‘Later Martin was one of the pioneers that created the CIP4 organisation. Not only did he make significant technical contributions to JDF, but also was the very first CEO of CIP4. In this role he managed to achieve a worldwide reputation of excellence for both CIP4 and JDF. We all are lucky to have him with us and I wish all the best for the future of Martin's career - thank you for everything.’
Martin has more than 20 years of experience building, using, supporting and improving products for the electronic publishing and graphic arts industries in programming and technical support as well as in consulting, service bureaus, and production management.
‘Global Graphics develops software that is widely used by, and critical to, the printing and electronic document industries,’ said James Freidah, president and COO of Global Graphics. ‘Martin's ability to represent Global Graphics in so many industry activities, provide superb leadership to the industry, and still manage a fulltime workload and be a major technology driver within Global Graphics is truly a credit to him. Martin is an invaluable part of the Global Graphics team and I know that everyone here at Global Graphics is proud of Martin and glad to see him recognised for his hard work.’
The CIP4 Fellowship Award was created by the CIP4 in 2004. Previous CIP4 Fellows include Alfred Bürkli of Müller Martini (2004), Graham Mann of Adobe Systems (2005), and Thomas Hastings of Xerox (2006). Additional information on CIP4 fellows can be found at: www.cip4.org/fellows/.
Compose System releases Express Workflow 3 Optimised for Java-based job submission, new imposition interface, updated RIP, plus full job monitoring and tracking…
Compose System, an established developer of prepress workflow and colour proofing solutions, has announced the release of Express WorkFlow 3 (EWF3), an exceptional solution for handling all prepress operations for CTP and digital printing applications. The scaleable professional prepress workflow system effortlessly optimises and automates the production process for a PDF or pure PostScript workflow, ensuring complete data integrity.
The latest release of Express WorkFlow offers enhanced Java-based job submission, job monitor and job tracking in one single application. Available for both Mac and PC clients, additional features include RIP updates, Job ticket and template creation, a dynamic job logging system together with a detailed history reporting facility.
Features for today's prepress challenges Express WorkFlow 3 offers significant advantages to prepress departments who require a modular, reliable and productive solution. 'By using an open system approach, Express Workflow 3 offers an efficient way to configure and automate a variety of prepress functions, from PDF creation, preflighting, trapping, proofing and imposition, through to plate imaging. Imaging devices can be added as needed resulting in a scalable and cost-effective solution,' said Steve Donegan, European sales & marketing manger at Compose. 'Compose supports over 200 output devices and individually designed drivers are available for most CTP, imagesetters, inkjet printers and colour laser printers.'
Fast and effective JDF job tracking EWF 3 is powered by the first and only RIP solution in the industry to receive JDF Certification by the CIP4 JDF development organisation. Based on Harlequin ScriptWorks technology, the Compose Express RIP allows fast, easy and flexible configuration of page set ups. The enhanced imposition modules PRI Station, PDF Imposition and Plate Controller all use Express WorkFlow 3's client-based job ticketing function to dynamically create individual flows for each job. Job tracking allows users to search for jobs by job name, user name, or time period and job information, job status, and history can be monitored from the desktop
'The new release of Express WorkFlow offers features that further address our customers' requests for a powerful yet easy to use workflow solution. We have noted their feedback and acted upon it, providing enhancements to align Compose Imposition solutions with industry standard solutions. Another interesting and unique feature is the adoption of desktop widgets, making it even easier to configure and submit individual jobs from the desktop. For example, users can predefine Rip, Imposition and Proof settings for each specific job directly from the desktop without having to make changes on the workflow server.' noted Donegan.
Express WorkFlow 3 offers compact Widgets on the Mac or Windows desktop that offer a handy alternative to hot folders or print servers for job submission. A list of pre defined Rip settings, imposition schemes and hard/softproof options can be selected from the Java-based menu, enabling every job to be individually configured with just a few mouse clicks.
Time savings deliver ROI SPM Print Ltd is an established, award winning, print specialist based in London. The company has distinguished itself by offering a comprehensive range of in-house litho and digital print solutions to the corporate and retail sectors. SPM has been using Compose Express WorkFlow for over a year now and recently upgraded to the latest version.
Dean Keable, repro manager at SPM commented, 'The flat imposition is advanced and user friendly, particularly for when we have different size jobs up on the same plate – now it's very easy to snap them into position. Job tracking keeps things very neat and easy to follow, and with template creation we can instantly see how a previous job was done.'
Java-based job submission has improved the streamlined efficiency at SPM. 'It is a really fast way to drop jobs straight into the workflow, and if you are using the auto-imposition, you don't need to touch it until its time to pick up the plates,' explained Keable.
Express WorkFlow is already delivering a return on investment. 'Until we began using Express WorkFlow, we never realised how tedious or time-consuming some of our processes used to be,' concluded Keable. 'The real return on investment is the amount of time we save and the value added service we can deliver to our customers.'
For additional information about Compose Systems and Express WorkFlow, please visit: www.compose.co.uk.
Unusual Colora at Independent Newspapers in US The five-high KBA Colora combines the high productivity of a double-width press with the flexibility of a single-width press…
A KBA Colora that came on edition a few months ago at Independent Newspapers in Dover, Delaware, incorporates a groundbreaking advance that dramatically expands the capabilities of newspaper presses. Thanks to some unusual technical features, the five-high Colora combines the high productivity of a double-width press with the flexibility of a single-width press. As a result, the Colora in Delaware runs with fewer webs and fewer operators than a comparable single-width 2/2 press while offering a much wider choice of production options than a standard double-width 4/2 press. Alongside broadsheet and tabloid newspapers it can print semi-commercials in a wide range of formats.
Extensive production catalogue in the central control console All physically possible web and ribbon leads have been pre-stored in the central control console, so even print jobs that have never been run on the press before can be preset automatically. This dramatically reduces makeready times and waste.
Unique web width variability in half-inch increments Configured as a single tower with two KBA Pastostar RC reelstands and a KF 3 jaw folder attached at a right angle, the floor-mounted press has a 533.4mm (21-inch) cut-off and a web width adjustable in 12.7mm (half-inch) increments from 533 – 1270mm (21 to 50 inches). In addition to the usual single and double-spread plates the plate cylinders accept full-width plates that can be imaged with variable printing fields of five, four, three or two pages. The software in the EAE control console has been expanded to enable the press crew to handle with ease the enhanced flexibility afforded by a web width variability that is rare in newspaper presses. If the operator needs to adjust the ink/water balance on a particular page he can simply key in the page number instead of having to select the relevant plate.
The superstructure also incorporates some innovative features to maximize flexibility and ease of operation. Two of the three slitters, all installed in front of the two draw rollers, can be shifted horizontally by remote control from the console so that they can cut the webs into ribbons of the specified width.
The 90 degree folder arrangement allows all mono webs to be run through the middle of the printing units, regardless of web width. The ribbons are guided over angle bars to two formers located one above the other. The ribbons can be turned from either the left or the right. Auxiliaries for producing semi-commercials and magazines include a skip slitter, section stitcher, quarterfold etc.
Flexible colour imposition in the five-high tower The Colora printing tower can print one web 4/4 with the fifth printing unit functioning as an imprinter, or two webs 4/4 plus 1/1, 3/3 plus 2/2, 4/2 plus 2/2 or 4/1 plus 1/4. So color imposition options are almost unlimited.
Apart from standard controls for inking and dampening, EAE’s Print system incorporates customized software for scheduling and presetting the press line for the broad range of production options now available, and also allows registration, web tension, the turner bars and other production parameters to be preset. EAE has also embedded a reporting system, Info, that can be used for statistical analysis.
Independent Newspapers operates community newspapers, community websites and printing plants in Arizona, Delaware, Florida and Maryland. In addition to a local daily title, the Delaware State News, INI publishes a raft of products ranging from weekly newspapers and a regional business, legal and political weekly magazine to monthly publications and flyers for shopping centres.
Additional pictures of this unusual press are displayed with the article on the KBA Website. Click here or on the KBA banner or logo on our Home Page to go there.
New Bolero perfect binder from Muller Martini Brings fastest set-up, finest quality and superior flexibility to Swiss bookbindery M+S Reliure SA, in Lausanne…
M+S Reliure SA, an industrial bookbindery in western Switzerland, is about to enter an eventful time. During the first half of 2007, the company will change locations as well as realign itself to better meet both current and future demands. An important cornerstone in M+S Reliure's strategies is the new Bolero B8 perfect binding line from Muller Martini.
Bolero provides the shortest set-up times, top binding quality and the greatest flexibility.
With approximately 45 employees, M+S Reliure SA, located in Renens near Lausanne, is among the leading industrial bookbinderies in Western Switzerland. The company's core business includes folding, saddle stitching, thread sewing and perfect binding - and for each of these applications, M+S Reliure has relied on proven technology from Muller Martini for many years. M+S Reliure utilises a Prima AMRYS for saddle stitching, and a ten-year old Trendbinder line has served the company reliably in perfect binding for about 20,000 operating hours.
Along with M+S Reliure's move from its current location in Lausanne to Yvonand, at Yverdon-les-Bains, come significant improvements and modernisation of the company's production equipment. The Trendbinder line, for example, will be replaced by a new and highly advanced Bolero B8 perfect binding line with 18-station gathering machine. The Bolero perfect binder has a maximum speed of 8,000 cycles per hour and is ideally suited for producing a wide array of products in a large range of sizes. Due to the shortest set-up times and the option to program the next job lined up during running production using the Commander control, plus the ability to recall saved jobs when needed, the Bolero delivers the highest net outputs and the utmost in efficiency.
New options in PUR processing In addition to flexibility and efficiency, M+S Reliure has placed the best binding quality and the most modern production methods at the very top of the company's list of priorities. Special consideration is given to the processing of polyurethane (PUR). Among the important benefits of PUR are its good lay flat characteristics with thin glue application and the high binding quality it provides when used with heavily coated papers. However, the processing of PUR is very demanding because the glue application must be performed at a constant and optimal thickness - a challenge for which Muller Martini offers a very valuable solution: the new VPN (Volumetric PUR Nozzle) book spine nozzle. With the innovative VPN nozzle, the glue film is applied sparingly and with constant pressure using a slotted nozzle design, resulting in products that have exceptional lay flat characteristics, with a sharp, square book spine and the highest binding quality overall.
QuadTech is choice of three top US print companies Johnson Printing, Colorado; Greenfield Daily Reporter, Indiana; and Dome Printing, California; all invest in QuadTech…
Johnson Printing, based in Colorado, the Greenfield Daily Reporter, based in Indiana and Dome Printing, based in Sacramento, California, have all made major investments in QuadTech press ancillaries. The common factor among all three purchases is the QuadTech Icon platform, which has proved a huge success in the US market.
Thanks to the Icon platform, press operators can access the automated control systems from a single, centralized and exceptionally easy-to-use operator control station. This will present a big step for all three companies towards a ‘lights out’ pressroom, where completely automated presses can be left to run 24/7.
Johnson Printing has installed a QuadTech Register Guidance System with MultiCam on its Process King press. The company, which prints magazines, catalogues, guides, directories and books, invested in the equipment to improve registration consistency and cut down on waste.
Mike Olson, plant manager, Johnson Printing, commented, ‘The nature of our business is such that we're always on the lookout for opportunities to improve product quality and achieve cost reductions. The Register Guidance System helps us deliver the consistent quality our customers require, while also bringing improved makeready efficiency and waste reduction to our operation.’
The Greenfield Daily Reporter has recently installed a Register Guidance System with MultiCam and a QuadTech Ribbon Control System with MultiCam on its DGM press. The company prints four daily newspapers, as well as books and newsletters.
Waste is again high on the agenda. Joe Simpkins, production manager, Greenfield Daily Reporter, commented, ‘As we grow, we are looking to increase revenue by cutting down on waste. The Register Guidance System will free up our operators to work on the ink/water balance. The Ribbon Control System helps ensure that copy running across adjacent pages is perfectly aligned throughout the run. With the use of split doubles on the increase this is essential.’
Dome Printing installed a Register Guidance System with MultiCam, a Ribbon Control System with MultiCam and a QuadTech Color Control System on the company's M110 press (pictured). Dome is a one-stop shop, whose services include prepress, web and sheetfed printing, binding (including perfect binding and saddle stitching), mailing and logistics fulfilment operations.
Andy Poole, vice president of manufacturing, Dome Printing, commented, ‘We have seen a 50 per cent decrease in makeready times, significantly raising levels of productivity.’
Sappi increases prices for Speciality grades Unrelenting cost increases of raw materials continue to squeeze profit margins of Sappi Europe's Speciality grades…
Unrelenting cost increases of raw materials continue to squeeze profit margins of Sappi Fine Paper Europe's Speciality grades.
Despite increased efficiency and cost reduction measures, Sappi have not been able to offset the steep increase in costs. This has obliged the company to increase its price of Flexible Packaging, Label Papers and Release Liner grades from 4 to 6 per cent depending on region and product range.
New prices will be effective for deliveries as of 2 April 2007.
A member of the Sappi sales force will be contacting customers to discuss the detailed implementation of the price increase.
Sappi is the world's leading producer of coated fine paper. Its brands include Magno, HannoArt, Presto and Royal graphic papers, as well as Algro, Leine and Parade label and packaging papers and boards. Customers in more than 100 countries worldwide specify these for the highest quality publishing, promotional, labelling and packaging applications.
Visit www.sappi.com by using this link, or the sponsor logos or Sappi banner on our Website.
More new features articles are now online Six new articles were added to our Digital Dots Specialist Features and Online Features 2007 sections last week…
A new Technology Profile has been added in Digital Dots’ Technology Guides Chapter 2 - (and by the way, each of the article headlines below is hyperlinked and will take you straight to the article if you click on it):
DuPont Building Bridges Money, lots of it, is being poured into digital printing research and technologies that will assuredly keep print on the desktop and elsewhere for many years to come. By Laurel Brunner
In addition the latest prepress Quiz, two more specialist feature articles can be found in Chapter 1:
Is it Who You Khow or What You Know? This is the second in our series of Prepress Quizzes, designed to help you get an idea of where the gaps in your knowledge are...
A to X of PDF Now that Adobe has set up the retirement plan for Postscript, it's clear that PDF will be the absolute number one file format for electronic file delivery in print publishing. By Paul Lindstrom
JDF: Where does it really stand? JDF: Does it have a Justifiably Dazzling Future or is it Just Destined to Fail? By Laurel Brunner
In our Online Features 2007 section, under Technology-related articles (Chapter 3), you will find the following:
New visitors to the Website certainly shouldn’t overlook our Online Features 2006 section, which contains more than 200 articles – the majority of them still topical and certainly not out-of-date, particularly the technology-related articles. In fact, what many of our readers tend to overlook, is that we provide news and features in almost real-time, and many of these have not yet appeared in printed issues of trade magazines around the world – or are only just beginning to - sometimes up to three months after they have appeared in our features sections.
They can all be accessed from the Home Page Index, and by popular request from many readers, our Ipex 2006 Newsroom has also been reinstated to save you having to go to ‘Search Archives’ – under the appropriate year of publication.
If you really want to go further back, then go to Search Archives and use Option 2 – and select year of issue… where you now have ten years of publishing to choose from… Before that, they weren’t digital!
KBA highlights its ecological responsibility Through the jungle of printers, the sheetfed offset Rapida caused quite a stir at Graphispag in Barcelona last week…
KBA-Ilasa España caused a stir – and not only among the trade visitors – at the Graphispag show which has just come to a close in Barcelona, with its stand covering an area of nearly 1000 sq/metres designed in the style of a jungle. The motto of their appearance at the show ‘Ecology: KBA takes responsibility for future generations’ was made impressively real by the stand design that got close to nature and the fitting acoustic backing with jungle noises. In addition, there were spectacular performances by dancers twice a day and print samples were in heavy demand.
In live video shows, the show team from KBA and Ilasa gave demonstrations of the presses, an eight-colour Rapida 105 with UV features for 4-over-4 production and a six-colour Rapida 105 with a coating tower and an extended delivery for printing posters, postcards, wall planners and a Formula One Guide with intricate finishing. 4-over-4 coloured brochures are produced in perfecting on the eight-colour press and highly-finished art posters are produced in straight printing mode. The latter were also finished with gold ink, reflex blue as another special colour and glossy and matt UV varnish from the inking units. However, the feature for which the printing demonstrations on the six-colour Rapida 105 will be remembered was the inline finishing with the hybrid technology. Sensational metallic effects were created on postcards and posters using UV silver, MetalFX hybrid inks, print varnish from the sixth unit in some cases, with subsequent UV solids coating.
With so many exotic features and combined expertise there was of course no shortage of business from the show. The two medium-format Rapidas will be used in Spanish printing firms immediately after the show: the six-colour press together with the five-colour version of the Rapida 74 at Pictografía in Murcia, the eight-colour perfecting press at Solprint near Malaga. In addition, a five-colour Rapida 205 (print format 1510 x 2050mm) with coating tower and dryer was sold to the Sanca printshop. This press is due to be delivered to this company, based near Madrid, by as early as the summer. Further orders of large-format Rapidas and five- and six-colour presses with varnishing features in 3b format confirmed KBA’s strong position on the Spanish sheetfed offset market.
At the stand of the Spanish reel agent KBA-Lauvic España, the illustrious trade visitors were informed about current developments in newspaper and commercial printing. Some of the latest web presses to be ordered by Spanish companies could be seen in model form on a scale of 1:50. Strong follow-up business is expected from the numerous project discussions.
At their stands, Spanish KBA-Metronic agents Teca Print Ibérica SA and Impryma SA offered small-format UV printing with the Genius 52UV and industrial ID technology with the alphaJET C inkjet system. The Genius 52 UV in the 340 x 520mm sheet format has already been installed in several printshops on the Iberian Peninsula. At the show, the press printed intricate poster images on lenticular and PVC films.
If you would like to see all the pictures which accompanied this article, you can go to the KBA Website via this link: Click here
Rory Kelly retires from Antalis Graphics Rory Kelly is well-known in the South Africa Graphic Arts market, and so he should be after nearly 36 years with 'one company'…
The soft-spoken and mild-mannered Kelly joined Photra (Pty) Ltd back in 1969 as a graphic arts technical sales representative and has stayed with the company through many years, name changes and technological developments.
Said Kelly, 'My career with the company which, today is known as Antalis, has been a long and interesting one and I learned a lot and met and worked with a number of fantastic people and I am going to miss the graphic arts industry.'
Rory has worked in a number of centres around South Africa having held both sales and management positions in a number of different sectors. He has sold almost every product the company has carried through its long and varied history.
Proving that it is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, Rory instigated the introduction of Epson proofing to supersede DuPont Cromalin proofing when it became clear that digital proofing would overtake analogue as the accepted method of checking printed material prior to going on press. He also introduced wide-format, inkjet printing for both billboard and fine art printing and has been instrumental in growing the adoption of inkjet printing for photographic printing using Epson inkjet printers Hahnemuhle fine art paper as a means of opening up new markets for local photographers.
Said Keith Solomon, director of Antalis, 'Rory has made an invaluable contribution to the company for many years and his experience and input will be missed. We wish Rory everything of the best for his retirement.'
Antalis South Africa is a major graphic communications supply company. The Paper division supplies paper to the professional print market, while the Office division supplies paper and other office related supplies to the broad office market. The Graphics division is a leading supplier of technology and consumables to the printing industry and was, until recently, an independent company operating under the banner First Graphics. The company has branches throughout the sub-Saharan region and an export arm which addresses the whole of Africa. This broad-based coverage ensures optimum, top-class service with the shortest possible response times.
Rory, on behalf of all our readers who have known you well over almost four decades in the industry, and who have had the pleasure of dealing with you during this time under no less than four changes of company name, we wish you a long, happy and healthy retirement. You deserve it! Ed.
First gapless Goss Sunday press in Mexico Infagon Web SA invests in 16-page Goss Sunday 2000 through Heidelberg Mexico, for efficient short-run production…
Increased demand for efficient, short-run production in the Mexican market has led Infagon Web SA to invest in a 16-page Goss Sunday 2000 web press. The new press is the first gapless Sunday press to be installed in Mexico and will be used to print commercial catalogues, magazines, books and brochures for Infagon's many blue-chip clients. Installation will be completed in March of 2007 in a new building at the company's Mexico City location.
Serafin Gonzalez, owner of Infagon, commented, 'Goss Sunday presses are proven around the world for superior printing, high speed and overall efficiency. The Sunday 2000 press outperforms all the other competitive options we analysed and is an ideal fit for our business and future vision. We currently run at full capacity around the clock and we’re excited about being the first in Mexico to offer our customers, particularly in the short-run printing market, the benefits of this advanced technology. The closed-loop controls and the Goss prepress interface will ensure faster and more efficient start ups, and unique features like the Autoplate, Ecocool and Omnicon control technologies will ensure that efficiency runs through the whole printing process.'
The new Sunday press at Infagon will be configured with four printing units and a JF-50 folder. Goss International will also supply its Contiweb CS splicer, Autoplate fully automatic plate changing system, an Ecocool dryer with integrated chill rolls and Goss Web Center workflow modules to optimise makeready speed and waste reduction.
Gonzalez continued, 'It's a very exciting time for us at Infagon. We are evaluating our whole workflow from prepress through finishing, in order to increase our productivity and efficiency for shorter runs. The Goss Sunday 2000 press investment is part of this process and will take our productivity and quality to another level.'
Phil Burke, sales director for Goss International commercial web systems in Latin America explained, 'We currently have more than 300 Sunday presses running in 22 countries, including Brazil and Argentina. We are pleased to add Mexico to the list and to work with Infagon, a company with the vision and the capability to maximise advanced technology for the benefit of its customers.' Goss International completed the order with Infagon through Heidelberg Mexico, its sales agent in the country. Mauricio Guerra is web press product manager for Heidelberg Mexico.
Among its many clients, Infagon Web, SA prints for McGraw Hill, PEMEX, Oxford University Press, 3M de Mexico, Avon Cosmetics, McCann Erickson and Ford. Founded in 2002 and part of Grupo Infagon, Infagon Web, SA is located in Mexico City and employs around 230 people.
Muller Martini achieves great success SigmaLine gains tremendous interest from visitors to Hunkeler Innovationdays show in Lucerne, Switzerland…
During the Hunkeler Innovationdays held at the beginning of February in Lucerne, Muller Martini demonstrated a partial SigmaLine solution - and the exhibit was among the most popular at the show. In fact throughout the event, there was immense interest in this industrial solution for the efficient, ‘on-demand’ production of digitally printed books.
Nearly all digital printing suppliers demonstrated book applications at Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne, Switzerland, strongly underscoring the overall trend toward the manufacturing of digitally printed books. With SigmaLine, Muller Martini offers the world's first total solution for industrial ‘Book on Demand’ manufacturing, enabling printed products to be efficiently produced, even in ultra-short runs. Paper is printed from the roll, trimmed and folded inline and finished on an integrated perfect binder, copy-precise.
At the show, Muller Martini demonstrated a partial solution for offline perfect binding consisting of SigmaBinder, SigmaTower and SigmaTrimmer. The machines were demonstrated under production conditions, showcasing ways in which such an industrial solution can be highly valuable to smaller or mid-sized operations while also highlighting how SigmaLine technology can provide a comprehensive range of growth options for the future.
Autobond success at Intacta Print Intacta’s laminator has a perfecting option, allowing both sides of the sheet to be laminated in one pass…
Intacta Print in Waterford, Ireland, says it has received many good reports from customers about the fast delivery and excellent quality of its laminated work since installing a Mini 74 TPH (pictured). The commercial B2 sheetfed printer bought the Autobond model after speaking to other users of Autobond equipment in Ireland and following meetings with Autobond's managing director John Gilmore.
‘A lot of the book jackets, covers and brochures that we produce require laminating but prior to the arrival of the MINI 74 TPH we had to send work to Dublin, which is more than two hours away,’ says Barry Griffin whose father, managing director Eamon Griffin, started the company in 1975. ‘Having a high-quality laminating facility in-house is a huge advantage that enables us to provide a much quicker turnaround of certain types of work.
‘There were several features that we liked about the MINI 74 TPH, in particular the Heidelberg feedhead and as we're an all Heidelberg house that part of the machine felt familiar. The installation of the laminator went smoothly and Autobond has provided first class training.’
Intacta Print has purchased its Autobond laminator with a perfecting option, allowing both sides of the sheet to be laminated in one pass. The use of thermal film and the operator friendly design of the MINI 74 TPH make in-house lamination a straightforward process. Unlike other makes of laminator the MINI 74 TPH can successfully laminate the output from a variety of digital printers. Barry Griffin says the company intends to use the Autobond laminator with output from a new Xerox Docucolor 250.
We learned on Thursday that our domain www.graphicrepro.net was not linking to our Website. This has now been rectified. We have two Website addresses - www.graphicrepro.co.za, as well as www.graphicrepro.net. We apologise to those of you who may have experienced problems. Our e-News readers, of course, mostly use the hyperlinks in the headings of all news items and feature articles, so they weren't affected too badly.