The 35 Headline News items which appeared in our Home Page news during the third week of March 2007...
The week's news for 19 - 23 March
Last week we began by highlighting the fact that MAPPP SETA was depriving young South Africans from being trained at the Cross Media Training Centre - previously known as the Southern African Printing College, due to the unwarranted withholding of funds. This week, we are able to provide you with the most important facts behind the debacle and name the person responsible. You will find all the latest facts heading last Tuesday's news.
Let's hope the problems for the Cross Media Training Centre will soon be over once and for all, so that everyone can get down to doing what they are supposed to do, and train youngsters for a bright future in the South African printing and graphic arts industry. I think a note from one of the peers of our industry last Tuesday summed it all up when he stated: 'It is really sad to see money allocated for training (paid by employers as a levy!) just lying around idly.
Also on Tuesday, MAN Roland reported its excellent results for 2006 - reflecting the highest operating result in the company's history with sales in excess of Euro 2-billion, and earnings more than 80 per cent up on last year - and both of these achievements at the end of its first year of independence. Read the whole story below.
Print Expo last week was, by all accounts, a resounding success, and according to Keith Solomon, director of Antalis' Graphics division, in the first comment we received in the mail on Monday, 'It was certainly the best Print Expo ever and was well supported by both suppliers and customers. A joy compared to previous shows. In fact it was as busy as an Ipex and generally the quality of stand was on a par as well,' said Keith. The first post-show news item led the news on Wednesday, from Digital Distributors, which not only exhibited for the first time, but also provided one of the international speakers for the PIFSA Conference on the 15th, namely Patrick Van Dam, from Alwan Color.
Last Thursday saw the Print Media Academy spreading its wings yet further, with the announcement of its 16th site having been commissioned in Belgium, in co-operation with its local sales partner, Plantin. PrintIT!'s award winners for 2007 were announced, with the first prize having gone to two girls in Cumbria in the North of England. Nice one.
Friday's news features KBA's first massive Compacta 818 in the UK, which is up and running at Quebecor World's Corby site in Northamptonshire; and another of Krause's early North American successes at the New York Daily. Krause's first success, following its joint sales agreement with Fuji in the US, appeared on Thursday.
Throughout the entire week there have been a host of really excellent sales successes, as well as a couple of interesting new developments - I've only mentioned a few of the 35-odd articles to go online over the past week. Please don't miss the new online feature articles this week - these are detailed in the news on Thursday, but the links are below anyway. An excellent article from Dr. Markus Rall of MAN Roland, out of his introduction of the new Roland 700 in Offenbach on Monday of last week should not be missed. There are also two new features in our Technology Guides section from Laurel Brunner - the first on colour management; whilst the second takes a look at advertising and the systems that are now working to deliver the ads, pre-checked, guaranteed and ready for instant use.
Mike Hilton
The above is an extract from our weekly e-News update for Monday 26 March 2007.
First 72pp Compacta 818 at Quebecor World UK Giant double circumference KBA web for Quebecor World is up and running full-speed at its Corby, UK site…
Now in full production is the first high-speed KBA Compacta 818 72-page commercial web press installed by Quebecor World plc at its Corby, Northamptonshire site.
The first new generation double circumference press offering in-line gluing and trimming and featuring a massive 17 metre Megtec high performance hot air dryer has already achieved speeds of over 43,500 copies per hour and is targeted to reach even higher speeds later this year.
The press is equipped with a KBA Patras A reel supply system, a KBA Pastomat RC reel splicer and four high-speed printing units with semi-automatic plate changers. The press is also fitted with the unique KBA Dual superstructure with variable former and cantilevered magazine superstructure and a high-speed P5 pin folder. The latest KBA press management master control desk technology and a GMI Colorquick inline colour measuring and control system complete the package.
The Dual superstructure allows crease-free printing via the cantilevered magazine bars whilst the former section of the new press offers additional capacity for Quebecor’s growth into high quality heatset magazines and commercial work. This variable Dual superstructure allows for flexible production and helps Quebecor World to compete more effectively in the long run gravure magazine sector.
Said Angus Jurkschat, Quebecor UK’s sales & marketing director, ‘This investment cements our future in the UK printing industry. We are actively selling this capacity to our publishing and commercial printing clients. This installation is part of Quebecor World’s extensive European re-tooling programme.’
For KBA UK, managing director, Christian Knapp commented, ‘I am delighted that Quebecor World operates our most productive commercial web press so successfully here in the UK. The performance characteristics and economics of this press will help Quebecor World compete in the challenging UK magazine environment.’
The KBA Compacta range of commercial web presses is designed for high volume runs and high pagination products and for low production costs per thousand copies in a competitive market.
Pictured above: The new KBA Compacta 818 has already achieved speeds of over 43,500 copies per hour and is targeted to reach even higher speeds later this year.
Krause CTP for New York Daily News New York Daily News selects Krause violet CTP equipment and Fuji consumables for move to digital platemaking…
Krause and Fujifilm North America jointly announce the sale and installation of three Krause LS Jet 300 V HighSpeed platesetters with BlueFin 650 HS processors driven by a Krause JetNet workflow at New York Daily News running at a speed of approximately 280 plates per hour, per CTP line, using Fuji LP-NNV violet polymer plates.
'Our team evaluated the CTP suppliers for more than 15 months in order to select the ideal solution for our new CTP platemaking,' said James Brill, senior vice president, operations of the New York Daily News, 'We made several site visits and evaluations to verify the performance of the equipment and the suppliers. The imaging and printing quality, as well as the output speed of the Krause LS Jets with the new BlueFin processor on Fuji plates were just state-of-the-art. We found that the LS Jet is simple to operate, easy to maintain and that the LS Jet and BlueFin are just outstanding in product quality.
'The CTP lines will be connected to our existing Nela punch benders, which will be upgraded to run at a higher speed level. The Krause JetNet offers the same simplicity and reliability for our workflow needs and ensures a CTP production from a central control centre. We will gain approx. 20 – 25 per cent production time in platemaking compared to Krause's competitors. This leaves time for later editorial deadlines or enhanced distribution and will improve our overall printing quality, Brill concluded.
Added Jürgen Horstmann, managing shareholder of the Horstmann Group, 'The New York Daily News team has known Krause for many years. Chris Baker, vice president of manufacturing is partly responsible for the worldwide success of Krause analogue platemaking lines for newspapers, as he was the first customer to buy a high speed Krause plateline for newspaper platemaking from Krause about 25 years ago,' recalled Horstmann, 'We are very proud to enter the top 10 of Americas newspapers with Krause CTP equipment, and we are very confident that there will be many more customers on our reference list in a short period of time, as the Krause and Fuji violet package is the best offer available.'
For additional information please visit: www.krause.de
In Southern Africa, both Krause and Fuji are represented by Printing Products: www.printprod.co.za
Herts & Essex switches to new buckle folder Buckle folding machines now account for 80 per cent of folder sales in the B2 and B3 sectors in the UK…
Herts & Essex Printers is trading in a 15 year old combination folder for a smaller but faster Stahlfolder Ti52. Buckle machines account for 80 per cent of current folder sales in the B2 and B3 sectors in the UK.
‘We bought the old folder because it was available and a good price but it was bigger than we needed and now we want to take a smaller buckle folder which better fits our B3 size,’ said Mick Ollard, joint managing director of Herts & Essex Printers, together with his brother Chris. ‘We expect the latest version to be faster. It will handle a range of simple folds, nothing too complicated.’
The Ti 52 is Heidelberg’s most popular folder, ideal for the B3 printer, as well as the trade finisher. It runs at 180m/minute, giving it an output of 40,000cph, with products of 100 x 150mm to 520 x 840mm. It is a flexible model to which up to two additional folding units, a cross fold attachment and various delivery systems, can be added to enhance productivity. It also offers options for gatefolds, glueing and scoring and is a robust product featuring top fold quality. Operator friendly, it also has a continuous feeder option to boost productivity.
Herts & Essex Printers has five Speedmaster SM 52 presses, including one of the UK’s first six-colours with expandable transfer cylinders which allows the company to handle stocks of 0.6mm rather than 0.4mm thickness. Mick Ollard describes this two year old press as ‘very useful and worth the extra money we paid’. It also has a GTO. Heidelberg Cylinder, Sanwa Cutting and Creasing machine and three Polar guillotines.
The company operates from its Hertford base, running flexible days to meet the quality and delivery needs of its trade and direct customers. It has a comprehensive finishing line up including thermography, foiling, embossing and cutting and creasing services.
VBF to be renamed Müller Martini Buchtechnologie New name from 1 April, for Muller Martini's hardcover business segment, located in Bad Mergentheim, Germany…
On 1 April, Muller Martini's hardcover business segment, located in Bad Mergentheim, Germany, will be renamed into Müller Martini Buchtechnologie GmbH (Book Technology Corp).
Muller Martini is the world's leading manufacturer of print finishing systems. In 1998, Muller Martini acquired the core product used for the manufacture of hardcover books from the former Stahl GmbH and incorporated it into the newly established VBF Buchtechnologie GmbH. Since then, this division has grown significantly. Today, the product range has been expanded to an extent that VBF Buchtechnologie GmbH is able to offer individual and efficient solutions, from stand-alone machines to complete integrated production systems.
Since 2001, the product line of VBF Buchtechnologie GmbH has been distributed through Muller Martini's global sales organization. For corporate identity reasons, Muller Martini has renamed the company based in Bad Mergentheim Müller Martini Buchtechnologie GmbH.
By taking this step, Muller Martini will reaffirm its brand image and growth-oriented strategy of its book technology business segment.
EFI invests $3.5 million in Kornit Digital EFI and Kornit join forces in a new alliance designed to bring digital inkjet technology to the textile industry…
EFI has announced a joint partnership to address the growing demands of the printed textile industry as it migrates from analogue to digital technologies. As part of the agreement, EFI has made a strategic investment of $3.5 million in Kornit, which develops and sells high-end industrial digital inkjet printers and inks for the textile industry, primarily for the finished garment and apparel printing markets.
‘EFI is impressed with Kornit's high-speed, high-quality printers and unique textile inks, their seasoned professionals, and their passion for bringing the benefits of digital inkjet technology to the garment industry,’ said Guy Gecht, (pictured) CEO of EFI. ‘This alliance aims to further Kornit's growth and accelerate the printed textile industry's transformation from analogue to digital technologies.’ Digital inkjet printing of finished garments fulfils the growing need for efficient printing of custom, low-volume, fast-turnaround orders, and is an economical alternative to traditional analogue screen printing.
‘We've been seeking a partner that is a proven technology leader with a global reputation,’ said Ofer Ben-Zur, CEO of Kornit Digital. ‘With EFI's support and strategic investment, we'll be able to extend our lead as the only digital industrial solution within the direct to garment market. EFI can offer us many sales and marketing opportunities by exposing us to their large customer base.’
With more than 100 customers, mostly in North America, Kornit offers digital inkjet printers that specialise in printing high-quality images on T-shirts and other finished garments, with print speeds up to 200 T-shirts per hour. Kornit systems can print on a wide variety of fabrics, including black garments, using proprietary solvent- and water-based CMYK and white inks that provide high image resolution, colour vibrancy and wash resistance. Kornit is positioned at the high-end of available offerings in this category due to its performance and reliability.
One of Kornit's largest customers is CafePress.com, the leading online marketplace of custom printed T-shirts and other items. Currently serving a network of over 3 million members and a product catalogue containing in excess of 70 million different print-on-demand products, CafePress demands quality and efficiency in its printers. Kornit meets those demands and is their printer of choice in their Louisville, Ky, production facility.
‘Less than two years ago the print-on-demand garment business relied on ageing heat transfer technology,’ explained CafePress CEO and co-founder Fred Durham. ‘In this short time Kornit has developed and refined the art of printing directly to the garment with quality levels often matching screen printed T-shirts, a feat thought impossible a short time ago. I trust Kornit and EFI to continue being at the forefront of innovation, enabling us to deliver even higher quality products to our customers.’
Awards for CGS Publishing Technologies CGS raises the bar in colour proofing technology with awarding of SWOP and GRACOL certifications…
CGS Publishing Technologies has been awarded SWOP (Specifications for Web Offset Publications) and GRACOL (General Requirements and Applications for Commercial Offset Lithography) certifications for its Oris PearlProof family of proofing media. The certifications are crucial for colour-critical projects in the graphic arts industry.
The SWOP certification confirms that CGS’ specially-formulated media will consistently render colour accurately to ensure hard copy proofs will match what appears on an onscreen monitor. The GRACOL certification, introduced by the Idealliance GRACOL committee in late 2006, guarantees that CGS’ colour management solutions meet all commercial printing specifications.
With these certifications, CGS has validated that systems with low delta E numbers will visually match a press run more consistently than those run without. The certification process for colour confirmation enables users to easily verify and certify that individual proofs meet SWOP, GRACOL or in-house colour standards.
'Certifications, such as SWOP and GRACOL, are no longer a luxury in today’s graphic arts market, they are now a requirement,' said Trevor Haworth, president and CEO of CGS Publishing Technologies. 'Our ability to “proof-to-the-numbers” demonstrates our commitment to providing colour proofing solutions that perform to the highest industry standards, and guarantees our customers are getting the very best in proofing technology.'
Established to ensure consistency and quality in the publishing industry, the SWOP and GRACOL certification process requires rigorous, quality testing. The Oris PearlProof proofing papers earned the SWOP and GRACOL certification through its ability to produce proofs that closely match the appearance of certified press sheets.
OneVision's new colour ink savings for web offset New plug-in for OneVision Asura uses advanced techniques to reduce CMY ink without affecting image quality…
OneVision, a global provider of prepress software solutions to the printing and publishing industries, has announced the release of PlugInksavein, a new optional plug-in software module for OneVision’s Asura and Asura Pro, the company’s flagship solutions that streamline and automate the preflighting, optimisation and normalisation processes in print production and output to several formats, including PDF, EPS and PostScript.
PlugInksavein was shown for the first time during America East in Hershey, Pa, on 13 - 14 March, and will next be shown at Nexpo in Orlando, on 21 - 24 April.
PlugInksavein uses advanced four-dimensional (4D) colour management techniques to reduce the amount of costly CMY ink required in the printing process and maximise the amount of less expensive black ink – without affecting image quality or appearance. PlugInksavein’s easy-to-use interface facilitates parameter setting and adjustment without demanding third-party expertise. In addition to significant ink cost reduction, users benefit from enhanced printing quality and increased productivity, as set-up times can be reduced and fan out and web breaks can be avoided.
Siobhan Towell, vice president of marketing, OneVision Inc, USA, said, 'OneVision is excited to be putting advanced cost-cutting ink savings features into the hands of printers and publishers with the introduction of PlugInksavein. In building PlugInksavein, we took into consideration the requirements of our customers, who cited the need for a customisable, yet flexible and straight-forward approach to ink management in their prepress production processes. We strongly believe that we have accomplished these goals in developing PlugInksavein.'
OneVision’s software products are currently used by many of the world’s leading printing and publishing companies including Dow Jones, Gannett, Pearson, Merrill, and RR Donnelley in the US; Financial Times, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Sydney Morning Herald, Times of India and many more.
PlugInksavein requires Asura 8.2 and Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2, or Windows 2000 Professional or Server, Service Pack 4. The software is designed to be compatible with most existing software from third-party vendors and pricing is based on configuration and individual requirements.
Print Media Academy expands to 16 sites Heidelberg expands Print Media Academy network by opening a venue in Belgium in co-operation with Plantin…
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has expanded its worldwide Print Media Academy (PMA) network to 16 training sites by opening a venue in Brussels, Belgium, in co-operation with its local sales partner Plantin.
‘In order to effectively compete on the market, our customers need the knowledge and expertise that will allow them to keep pace with technological changes and respond quickly to new developments,’ explained Bernd Schopp, head of the PMA network at the inauguration ceremony attended by 120 participants.
Together with its Belgium sales partner, Plantin, Heidelberg can now also provide existing and prospective customers in that region with on-the-spot product and management training. The Print Media Academy in Brussels will also provide a platform for exchanging information in the form of congresses and forums. It will provide guidance and highlight the opportunities that new technologies can offer.
The range of seminars is geared to sheetfed offset printing specialists, professional users, owners of printing and media businesses, and technical and commercial managers. Experts from advertising agencies, designers, print buyers, students, teaching staff and professional associations will also profit from the courses on offer. ‘Many companies know that having a workforce with better expertise would enable them to increase productivity and meet higher quality requirements. Giving print shops in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg more expertise will strengthen their competitiveness,’ said Johan Bruyndonx, head of the PMA in Brussels.
More information for interested parties: Plantin, Print Media Academy Tel: +32 (0)2 727 32 50 Fax: +32 (0)2 727 33 69 E-mail: pma-brussels@plantin.be
Further PMA training sites are located in Atlanta, USA; Cairo, Egypt; Heidelberg, Kiel, Leipzig, Ludwigsburg, all in Germany; Kabul, Afghanistan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Mexico City, Mexico; Moscow, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brasil; Shenzhen, China; Sydney, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; and Toronto, Canada.
Pictured above: Bernd Schopp, head of the worldwide PMA network hands over the opening certificate to Hubert Van Vreckem, managing director of Plantin at the inauguration ceremony in Brussels.
PrintIT! 2006/7 award goes to Keswick School Another successful year, with Keswick School, Cumbria announced as overall winners of PrintIT! 2006/7…
The Stationers' Hall provided the venue for the PrintIT! 2007 awards ceremony, which saw students Sarah Kitching and Emily Webzell of Keswick School, Cumbria awarded 'Overall Winners of PrintIT! 2006/7' and an expenses paid trip to the Windward Islands to visit a Fairtrade banana plantation. The ceremony, which was given a celebrity boost by guest speaker, BBC news presenter and patron of The Fairtrade Foundation, George Alagiah, marked the conclusion of the Stationers' Educational Charity Annual Careers Day.
The overall winning entry of PrintIT! 2006/7 was selected from the seven category winners. Commented Martyn Elmy, chairman of PrintIT!, ‘Sarah's and Emily's entry stood out because it was innovative and offered strong brand identity. They exhibited a unique style and made good use of the opportunity to employ vibrant colours. Their entry was also well-presented and clearly demonstrated that a level of research into the printing processes had been undertaken.’
As well as taking the top prize in the 2006/7 PrintIT! campaign, Sarah Kitching and Emily Webzell scooped the category award for 'Best Use of Brand Across the Range', recognising the consistent use of their design concept throughout their print-centric PrintIT! entry.
‘It is a great testament to our industry,’ continued Elmy, ‘that we can all pull together to support our joint ambition of attracting youth into print, through the efforts of PrintIT! and its partners, sponsors, and the companies and organisations that have given up their time today to lend their support to the Stationers' Annual Careers Day. We're delighted that PrintIT! has been part of this careers event, and I have no doubt that all the students and their teachers will have gained considerably from their visit to Stationers' Hall today.’
As in year one, the Fairtrade Foundation provided the theme of the 2006/7 PrintIT! competition which challenged participating schools to create a comprehensive 'print-centric' campaign to support the promotion of Fairtrade Fruit. This year, the curriculum-mapped competition was extended to Year 10 students (aged 15 - 16) in their first year of their Product Design GCSE as well as for GCSE Graphic Products students. The aim of the project was to introduce students to the unique and stimulating appeal of print as an absorbing and rewarding career.
Added Elmy, ‘I've said before that we can expect no immediate return from PrintIT!, and our ambition is that some of the many thousands of students that have followed the PrintIT! course during the past two and coming years will join our industry in the future. We need a talented, youthful and vibrant workforce to keep our industry competitive, and I'm confident that having judged the entries of PrintIT! 2006/7, we have a huge potential wealth of creative and talented individuals.’
Joining Picon as its lead partner for PrintIT! 2006/7 was The Stationers' Company Educational Charity, as well as key partners the BPIF, Fairtrade Foundation, The Robert Horne Group and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT).
All the winning students in each of the seven different award categories were presented with individual prizes of digital cameras with 1GB of memory to the value of £300. Category runners up were presented with a digital camera with 1GB of memory valued at £150 each. In addition, the winning schools in each category will win a significant print-related prize.
Pictured above: Overall Winners of PrintIT! 2006/7 Back row (left to right): Neville Cusworth, Master of the Worshipful Company of Stationers' and Newspaper Makers; Martyn Elmy, chairman of PrintIT! Front Row: Sarah Kitching and Emily Webzell of Keswick School, Cumbria and their teacher Alan Nanson.
Latest new feature articles are now online Two new articles have been added to Online Features 2007 and two in Technology Guides articles section as well…
The latest Online Feature article in Chapter 1 this week are detailed below. The headlines below are hyperlinked to each article:
Dr. Markus Rall, board member responsible for sheetfed presses at MAN Roland and pictured on the right, ‘It has been clear for some time now that the media market is not about players crowding each other out. Each media fulfils specific functions.’
In Chapter 2 - Our Technology-related section, you will find:
The right Collibri version for every need With the Muller Martini/VBF Collibri, the bookbinder can glue-off thread-sewn books in the widest variety of versions to meet customer needs...
Technology Guides + Specialist Fetures 2007 The most recent to be added to our Specialist Features section this week, which can be accessed either from the Index or from the Digital Dots logo, if showing on the Home Page:
Adverts on Tap - Delivering the Goods Everyone knows that one of the best ways to get customers to buy your products and know your name is to advertise it. By Laurel Brunner
Closing the Colour Management Loop Last June in a small hotel in Leeds, deep in the heart of what was once industrial England, an important but largely unnoticed meeting occurred. By Laurel Brunner
In our Archives New visitors to the Website shouldn’t overlook the other features already published in our Online Features 2007 section, as well as those in Online Features 2006, which contains more than 200 feature articles – the majority of them still topical and far from out-of-date - especially the technology-related series. In fact, what many of our readers overlook, is that we provide news and features in almost real-time, so many of the most recent articles have not yet appeared in printed issues of trade magazines around the world – or are only just beginning to.
They can all be accessed from the Home Page Index, and by popular request from many readers, our Ipex 2006 Newsroom has 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!
Esko at FEFCO in Nice 25 – 27 April Esko to deliver complete pre-production solution for corrugated converters at FEFCO Technical Seminar…
Esko, the world leader in packaging pre-production solutions, will introduce new ArtiosCad 7.1 features, specifically suited for the production of carton and corrugated boxes, at the FEFCO Technical Seminar in Nice France, 25 – 27 April. FEFCO, headquartered in Brussels, represents the interests of the European Corrugated Board Manufacturers.
A complete solution package for the corrugated industry Using corrugated boxes as shelf-ready packaging has created new demands on graphic production, requiring specialised techniques for prepress, printing and die-cutting. ArtiosCad is but one component of a complete solution for the corrugated industry.
Said Jan De Roeck, Esko director, Workflow product group, ‘The Esko solution for corrugated converters consists of dedicated and integrated structural and graphics software, along with flexo screening technology, and Esko Kaleidoscope for colour management. But, beyond our considerable software expertise, Esko provides hardware that is relied on by a significant number of corrugated converters. For example, our Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) flexo platemaking devices-particularly the recently introduced Esko CDI Spark 5080-and platemaking tools (step & repeat software, Esko PlatePatcher, interfaces with mounting devices) are pushing flexo quality, achieving superb print results.
‘Our Kongsberg die-less cutting tables are used for samplemaking and cost-effective short runs, as well as for automated and error-free cutting of flexo printing plates. These tools, along with our consulting services and industry initiatives such as those with FEFCO, provide converters a significant turnkey systems experience.’
Esko digitises fully CAD/CAM compatible FEFCO/ESBO design codes Esko has been working very closely with FEFCO over the past year culminating, on December 8, 2006, with FEFCO's introduction of a new, updated version of the FEFCO standard (officially the FEFCO - ESBO Standard). The FEFCO Library is used as the standard guide and reference work by all converters active in the corrugated and solid board packaging industries and is recognised in Europe – and throughout the world – by board manufacturers. For the 2007 edition, FEFCO worked with Esko to bring black-and-white designs to life and allow designers, salespeople and customers to see how boxes fold and unfold-creating the feeling of realism. The new computer version offers an interactive, full 3-D presentation of any design. To realise these 3-D effects Esko used their ArtiosCad software, allowing the results achieved to be used with any CAD/CAM system.
New Esko ArtiosCad features During the FEFCO Technical Seminar, Esko will introduce a number of features of interest to corrugated converters. For example, ArtiosCad 7.1 includes a module to import SolidWorks native 3D solid modelling files, allowing designers to combine product elements developed within SolidWorks along with Esko packaging elements. To support collaboration and approval processes within the workflow, ArtiosCad users can now directly send design, manufacturing and 3D files into WebCenter. As a result, there is better integration of packaging production workflow steps, based on a smooth and easy file and information exchange. Additional functionality for workflow error reduction and ongoing optimisation of 3D rendering capabilities create added value for the corrugated converter.
Especially for our readers who didn’t know what FEFCO stands for, because we didn’t either – because it is an acronym in French. It stands for: Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Carton Ondule (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers)and is based in Belgium.
First US successes for Fuji and Krause Krause violet CTP in co-operation with Fuji: Philadelphia Inquirer signs 4 LS Jet + BlueFin CTP lines…
Following Krause's strategic move to enter the US market, the first successes can now be announced. In August 2006, Krause and Fujifilm Graphic Systems Inc, signed an agreement for the exclusive distribution of Krause Newspaper products in the United States and Canada. Sales activities and service training followed, and in December the first deal was signed with the Philadelphia Inquirer for 4 Krause LS Jet lines with BlueFin (pictured) which will image Fuji's LP-NNV plates.
'It’s a perfect match for the two companies,' said Lane Palmer, Fujifilm’s vice president, newspaper sales. 'We are now able to provide customers with the equipment and solutions they need, no matter the size of their operation.
Krause offers several CTP devices ranging in output speeds from 60 - 300 plates per hour and are also the only platesetter manufacturer to produce a high speed processor together with workflow solutions. Fuji brings to the deal a nationwide network of sales and technical service advisors and specialists in workflow, plate, pressroom, colour and prepress making the Krause and Fuji bundle a 'Best in Class' offering."
Philadelphia Media Holdings decided to run violet CTP technology from Krause and Fujifilm Graphic Systems USA consumables as it upgrades its prepress. PMH, which prints the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News, was very impressed with the quality and speed of the LS Jet lines after a trip to Europe to study Krause CTP and Fuji plate users.
The end of March will see the start of the installation of four HighSpeed LS Jet platesetters with BlueFin processors, in a deployment that will include Fuji plates and Nela vision punch benders, according to Rick Danze, PMH's vice president of operations and transportation.
'It is our first newspaper customer to sign with Krause and Fuji and we are very happy that we will have the opportunity to build up our reference base in the US, shortly after we decided to enter the market and agreed a partnership with the largest distributor of Graphic Arts equipment,' said Stefan Beke-Bramkamp, product manager CTP sales & marketing at Krause.
For additional information please visit: www.krause.de In Southern Africa, both Krause and Fuji are represented by Printing Products: www.printprod.co.za
Prinpia, South Korea, chooses Goss M-600 Press automation for consistency and control deemed essential in meeting quality and productivity demands…
Part of the Chunjae Group, Seoul-based Prinpia, South Korea, is currently installing a new Goss M-600 web offset press to meet rising demands for shorter runs of high-quality print in the local market. Installation will be completed in April of 2007.
Running a fleet of web offset and sheetfed presses, Prinpia currently supplies a wide range of commercial print products, from text books to department store inserts. The new 16-page press has been specified to boost production capacity for the company’s high-end, full-colour portfolio. Following installation, Prinpia expects to expand its monthly magazine print business.
According to An Nam Geug, director of Prinpia, higher automation and colour control are the key features of the Goss M-600 press that will facilitate this business growth opportunity. ‘In South Korea today we find that customers are increasingly expecting a very high general standard of print but at the same time they need delivery in shorter timeframes than ever before. The only way to fulfil these expectations is by investing in better automation and proven technology, so that we can achieve the highest quality, maintain it throughout each job and repeat it time after time. This, principally, is why we decided on the M-600 system. Its robust build and easy operability are additional advantages that helped convince us in this decision,’ he said.
Printing at speeds up to 55,000 impressions per hour, the new five-unit Goss M-600 press for Prinpia has a 546mm cut-off and Omnicon controls. This press system features a JF-55 folder including a rotary chopper fold assembly to ensure maximum production flexibility.
Emtex Servers now for Kodak Versamark V-Series Pitney Bowes' Emtex simplifies creation of high quality, powerful transpromo and direct mail applications…
Printing effective, high volume, variable colour documents such as those used in transpromo and direct mail applications, has been made easier with expanded Emtex software support for Kodak's full line of Kodak Versamark V-Series print systems.
Announced at the Graphics of the Americas/Xplor International Conference and Exhibition in Miami, Emtex Software's growing support for Kodak digital print solutions now includes the Versamark VX5000e System, with resolutions up to 1200 by 300dpi.
Paired with the Versamark VX5000e printer (pictured above), the Emtex VIP Server allows users to manage high-resolution print files for transpromo and direct mail applications, while Emtex VDE software has excellent print stream re-engineering capabilities and world-class workflow automation options. The Kodak Versamark VX5000e printing system incorporates the latest evolution in continuous inkjet printing from Kodak. With an effective resolution twice that of the previous generations of continuous inkjet printheads, the Versamark VX5000e system delivers an effective combination of high print quality and high productivity supporting a variety of print formats.
The Emtex VIP Server is a high-performance output management solution that provides centralised print production management, real time data stream transformation, resource management, and job accounting. The Emtex VIP server supports all leading data stream formats including IBM AFP, Xerox LCDS, HP PCL and Adobe PostScript and PDF.
‘As interest in personalised, powerful, one-to-one marketing communications continues to rise and gain popularity with marketers, our customers seek tools to efficiently manage increasingly complex projects,’ said Ronen Cohen (pictured), vice president, Inkjet Printing Solutions, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group. Kodak and Emtex Software are delivering print production solutions that overcome traditional transactional print challenges such as working with a mixture of legacy and modern applications, varying printstream formats, and complex workflow requirements.’
In addition to the VX5000e system, the Emtex VIP Server now supports all Versamark print systems with MICR configurations. Emtex VIP server capabilities for Versamark solutions include fast conversions to IJPDS, even from PostScript or PDF; support for 3- and 4-up and 300dpi and 240dpi printers; and support of ICC profiles for colour conversion using the Kodak ICM colour management system to ensure accurate colour rendition.
Emtex Software also supports the Kodak NexPress digital production colour presses, providing PDL (AFP, LCDS/Metacode, PCL and PS) conversion to PDF capability, full use of shared objects in PDF to improve performance, and, like the Versamark print system, support of ICC profiles. Kodak and Emtex Software expect to announce additional support for NexPress presses later this year.
The Versamark V-Series system can produce a wide variety of high volume applications including transactional documents, transpromo documents, direct mail, books, newspapers and a variety of print on demand outputs. Versamark V-Series systems are designed to meet the needs of customers to produce high volume output quickly, accurately and cost effectively. The Versamark V-Series System offers multiple configurations, monochrome to spot colour to process colour, and lower cost of operation. Full colour rated print speed for the 152mpm model prints up to 2,180 US letter portrait pages-per-minute or 2,052 A4ppm.
Further information on Kodak Versamark systems can be found at: www.graphics.kodak.com or in Southern Africa from Antalis Graphics division: www.antalis.co.za
Digital Distributors: Prominent at Print Expo 2007 Digital Distributors, specialist colour management consultants and suppliers of software at Print Expo last week…
Digital Distributors, specialist colour management consultants and suppliers of software and related products to the prepress, press, graphic and fine arts industries, was one of a handful of print industry influencers invited by PIFSA (Printing Industries Federation of South Africa) to provide an international speaker for the Print Expo Conference, which formed part of Print Expo 2007 held at Nasrec from 13 to 16 March 2007.
Digital Distributors hosted Patrick Van Dam of Alwan Color Expertise, France, who did a presentation on Standardisation and Optimisation of CMYK Data Exchange at the Conference.
Patrick, who joined Alwan Color Expertise as director of sales at the beginning of 2007, previously served as executive vice president of Enfocus Software – which he helped grow into a market leader in PDF Preflighting and Editing. He also held various positions with Agfa, Aesthedes and Philips and co-founded Visual Communication Systems, a multimedia company. Patrick has a degree in Electronics from the Higher Institute Mechelen.
According to John Panton, managing director of Digital Distributors, it was an honour to host an international guest like Patrick. 'The presentation of CMYK Data Exchange was highly informative and we are proud of our association with Patrick and Alwan Color,' Panton said.
Other Print Expo Conference presentations included: Trends in Digital Print by Richard de Boissezon of HP-Indigo. Print Finishing - From Press Delivery to Loading Bay by Jules Deitz of Müller Martini. Latest CTP plate technology including Processless Plates by Stephan Taubmann of Kodak Graphic Communications Group. Trends in Long Perfecting Technology by Michael Fallenbacher of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. Harnessing the Power of Digital Print by Tony Kenton of Xerox Corporation.
Digital Distributors and one of its main reseller clients, Kemtek Imaging Systems, presented another interesting feature at Print Expo 2007. An EFI Colorproof XF installation showcased Remote Proofing by linking their two expo stands with HP Z-series printers. Proofs could be received from each other and verified to be the same at both ends using spectral measurements from HP’s built in spectrophotometers. Digital Distributors also hosted Ozgur Yazaar, EFI EMEA representative from Germany, at the Expo as principal back-up to Digital Distributors’ sales support experts. EFI is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for the commercial printing and enterprise markets and is offered to the South African market by Digital Distributors.
You can also access Digital Distributors' Website directly from the Sponsor logo on our Home Page, or from the company's banner on the Website. Digital Distributors became one of the latest companies to provide sponsorship for Graphic Repro On-line in March 2007.
Fairprint adds B3 Heidelberg long perfector Workflow is key issue for Fairprint, where its new site will become a fully networked Heidelberg operation…
Dundee printer Fairprint is moving to new 1500 sq/metre site on the edge of town to make space for a fully networked Heidelberg operation.
Two Sakurai presses, a four- and two-colour, are being replaced by a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM52-8P which is being delivered along with a Suprasetter A52 CTP system and PrintReady automated prepress workflow, a Stahlfolder TA52 and a Polar 78XT.
Managing director Paul Anderson (pictured on the left above) said, ‘We have been looking for workflow expertise throughout the production process so we have a single point of contact and seamless connectivity. We have two directors who are expert computer programmers. They have developed our own MIS system which we have found we can link into Prinect via JDF. We like what we see with Prinect.’
Having new premise more than twice the size of its existing site means the company can have the optimum physical layout as well as electronic connectivity. The new equipment move is already in progress, as can be seen in the above picture.
‘Having the long perfector means we can print two-sided four-colour full time. It’s about efficiency and turnaround. Single pass production means we have no work and turn with all the materials handling that goes with that so we will probably the be two and a half times as quick in production as we have been. It means we will be able to give customers guaranteed turnaround times,’ said Anderson.
Prinect Prepress Interface will link up the Suprasetter and press for fast set up and minimal waste. The Stahlfolder TA52 and Polar 78X beef up the finishing to prevent bottlenecks. Fairprint has also negotiated special pre-cut paper deals with various suppliers to ensure it keeps its hungry press will be well fed with mainline stocks.
On the sales side, the company is trialling an e-Commerce initiative and already it found sales were up 90 per cent last December, year-on-year, 80 per cent up in January with an anticipated rise of 40 per cent in February. We currently generate sales of £1.3m but with the new front-to-back investment we believe we can reach £2m within 18 months.
Its work is 50 per cent local, 50 per cent UK-wide and is from ‘blue chip businesses to boys in the back of a van’.
Although the company has reduced the number of presses it has retained all 20 staff working across double day shifts because it is confident of its growth programme which will increase the effectiveness of the business and the turnover per head that will be achievable.
Darmstädter Echo optimises its production Publisher of the Darmstädter Echo replaces output management system with printnet OM from MAN Roland's ppi Media…
The Medienhaus Südhessen in Darmstadt, Germany, publisher of the Darmstädter Echo, and a number of newspaper-related products, is to extend its printnet installation, which has been successfully implemented in the publishing workflow, to the printing workflow. The workflow specialist ppi Media, a subsidiary of MAN Roland, was commissioned a short while ago to install the output management system printnet OM with the aim of creating a uniform, end-to-end workflow for the entire prepress production. OPI, RIP, double-truck pairing, merging, imaging, bending and proof and production tracking can be automated to a large extent and effectively optimised.
Christoph Roth, technical director at Medienhaus Südhessen said, 'With ppi Media we have chosen a reliable and innovative workflow supplier who offers an end-to-end workflow for publishing and printing. By introducing the printnet output management system, plate production can be seamlessly integrated in the publishing workflow. For the first time, we are able to digitalise all publishing and commercial productions flexibly, in one system.'
Automated output workflow in double-truck imaging When printnet has been fully installed, all six regional editions of the Darmstädter Echo (with a daily circulation of approx. 110,000), eight advertisers with a total weekly circulation of 400,000 and a heterogeneous portfolio of commercial jobs ranging from small jobs with 5,000 copies to large productions with a circulation of 1.2m copies will be produced with printnet OM in a fully automated, end-to-end workflow. ppi Media will integrate the entire prepress systems via existing interfaces, creating a smooth, optimised production workflow. This will include 2 Helios OPI and 2 Harlequin RIP systems, 2 Kodak CTP NewSetters TH180 and 1 Nela plate bender with a punching tool for separating plates. The latter is essential as the company images double-truck plates only. Semi-tabloid, tabloid and broadsheet pages produced by the publisher or by third-parties are automatically assembled by printnet OM to double-truck printing formes.
Production plans for priority-driven newspaper production The intelligent output management system in Darmstadt is based on optimised production plans that are generated on the basis of data supplied by the printnet planning system PlanPag. External jobs are entered directly in the new printnet OM JobEntry module. Production orders for printing forms are not assigned in the random order in which digital data enters the systems (first in – first out), but in the order in which they are to be printed (first needed – first out). The production plan is transferred directly to the control console, allowing the press to be set up very early.
Optimum production control The production plan generated by printnet OM is used to monitor the entire production of printing forms. Status and error information on individual processes is evaluated by printnet OM and any transgressions or hazards graphically displayed. All production data from the publishing and prepress departments is then saved and can be used by the printnet module JobReport for statistical purposes. This not only largely automates the production workflow, but also increases production security significantly. The printnet soft proof solution, which is fully integrated in the workflow and with which the page bitmaps of all the newspaper editions and advertisers can be automatically proofed and viewed on screen for errors, also produces less start-up waste.
Broadsheet, tabloid or semi-tabloid – no problem with printnet Roth is convinced that the printnet installation will set the course for the future. 'The new production management system allows us to control all the processes involved in the production of printing forms from a central position for transparent monitoring of the entire workflow. We can also achieve a greater degree of flexibility in terms of page formats, which is essential in commercial printing. This will allow us to adapt much more easily to smaller formats.'
With printnet, MAN Roland and its software subsidiary ppi Media offer a highly efficient workflow management system for printers and publishers. As a flexible, modular system, it networks all print sites and production areas in the sales, prepress, press and postpress departments. Production systems from third-party suppliers can be integrated in the fully automated printnet workflow via open interfaces.
Reprint solution for transactional documents Kodak System integration with Riso gives customers an offline alternative for handling reprints…
A document reprint solution announced by Kodak at the Graphics of the Americas / Xplor International Exhibition and Conferences earlier this month, enables customers to replicate the look, feel, and quality of the process colour output from the Kodak Versmark V-series Printing Systems. The solution eliminates the need to interrupt high volume production runs for very short reprint jobs while delivering 100 per cent of a customer's printed product with consistent quality throughout a print run.
In order to match the look and feel of the Versmark V-series printing systems, Kodak will offer customers the HC5500, a high-speed sheetfed, full colour inkjet printer from Riso that ties directly into the same workflow driving the Versmark V-series system. With image processing and colour setting software from Kodak and the high speed sheetfed capability of the HC5500, this solution is ideal for reprinting the small jobs that are inefficient on the high production speed Versmark V-series system.
‘With jobs that run into the millions of impressions, occasionally some may be damaged in processing and we want to help our customers manage the reprints in an efficient manner,’ said Ronen Cohen, vice president, marketing, Inkjet Printing Solutions, Kodak's GCG. ‘Our solution ensures our Versmark V-series system customer that we can help them meet their customer's quality expectations without any loss in time or quality.’
The Versmark V-series system can produce a wide variety of high volume applications including transactional documents, trans-promo documents, direct mail, books, newspapers and a variety of print on demand outputs. Versmark V-series systems are designed to meet the needs of customers to produce high volume output quickly, accurately and cost-effectively. The Versmark V-series offers multiple configurations, monochrome to spot colour to process colour, and lower cost of operation. Full colour rated print speed for the 152mpm model prints up to 2,180 US letter portrait pages per minute (ppm) and 2,052 A4 ppm.
In this reprint application, the HC5500 colour inkjet printer provides a very close colour match and can use the same substrates as the production printer. Employing the latest in Riso's ForceJet printing technology, the HC5500 printer runs at 120ppm, A4 landscape in full colour in normal mode. Duplex printing in normal mode is up to 92ppm.
For more information about Kodak's Graphic Communications Group and its products, visit: www.graphics.kodak.com. Information on Riso digital printer/duplicator systems is available at: www.riso.com. Kodak GCG is represented throughout Southern Africa by Antalis Graphics, www.antalis.co.za
UK printers give 'thumbs up' to Baldwin Oxy-Dry Integration of Oxy-Dry UK into Baldwin has gone smoothly, with move to enlarged headquarters due in April…
The UK arm of Baldwin Oxy-Dry, the new global press controls and accessories group formed by the acquisition of Oxy-Dry by Baldwin Technology at the end of last year, reports a very favourable reaction to the purchase amongst UK customers and OEM partners. Integration of the two UK sites, at Poole and Stevenage, has also gone smoothly.
'We're delighted that many of the key people at Oxy-Dry UK are staying on in senior roles within the new Baldwin Oxy-Dry organisation so we, and our customers, can benefit from their considerable experience,' said John Leek (pictured), who heads the UK operation. 'Former Oxy-Dry managing director James Tolson is now commercial director while David Nixon remains as financial director. Darren Andrews has accepted the position as service manager, a position we did not previously have at Baldwin UK. John Pullan, who had been sales manager at Oxy-Dry UK, takes on a European role as a consultant to help grow the company's presence in the flexo market and will report directly to Baldwin Oxy-Dry Germany.'
The company has also taken on five of Oxy-Dry's service engineers, which strengthens significantly the support it can provide to customers throughout the UK. As part of its commitment to its OEM press manufacturing partners, Michael Joyce will take on the important role of OEM national account manager. He will be supported in this role by consultant Richard Smith, who is currently working closely with many of Baldwin Oxy-Dry's sheet-fed OEMs.
'An increasing amount of our business is direct with OEMs, so Michael's comprehensive knowledge of this sector will enable us to offer a more effective day to day contact with these manufacturers,' said Leek. 'The addition of the Oxy-Dry range of press controls and accessories gives Baldwin Oxy-Dry a truly unrivalled product portfolio for the newspaper and web offset sector as well as the commercial sheetfed market. We believe 2007 will be an incredibly exciting year for the company and we look forward to working with all our customers to help them achieve the greatest productivity from their presses.'
As part of the recent changes, the company has taken over additional premises adjoining the present Poole headquarters, which will double the space at the site. The new building is currently being refurbished and staff will move into this during April 2007.
Goss International at Print China 2007 Goss to showcase latest technologies and new semi-commercial shaftless web press with heatset capabilities…
From 10 - 14 April, on an exhibition stand nearly 1000 square metres in size at Print China 2007, Goss International will present its comprehensive product portfolio to the print media industry, including all the latest in Goss innovation and value-added technology.
Goss International has a strong market position in both the commercial and newspaper printing industries in China and other Asian markets. The Goss Newsliner, Universal, Magnum and Community presses are just a few examples of advanced newspaper printing systems that have set the industry leading standards in China. Leading commercial printing to new horizons are the popular 16-page Goss M-600 web press and the Goss Sunday press system with cutting edge features including Goss Automatic Transfer, Autoplate automatic plate loading and gapless blanket technologies. Recently, customers in the region have purchased the Goss M-500 commercial web press because of its exceptionally value, productivity and print quality. Goss International also supplies print finishing, auxiliary equipment and consumables and offers partnership and added value to customers through the Goss Lifetime Support 24/7 aftermarket service.
Print China 2007 will see Goss International exhibiting with its Chinese joint-venture company Shanghai Goss Graphic Systems (SGGS). A new shaftless web offset press based on Magnum press technology with semi-commercial printing capability will be printing high quality products at the Goss International stand. A live demonstration of a web offset book press for the Chinese market will also be shown.
'Despite the challenges print media is facing globally, the Chinese printing market continues to enjoy a high growth rate and ample opportunities. Goss International has made a long-term commitment to this market,' commented Richard Sutis, president, Goss International. 'The company will showcase bright ideas and value-added solutions to Print China 2007 that will enable printers to lower costs, strengthen productivity and develop new business opportunities.'
See Goss International at Print China 2007 in Hall 3 from 10 – 14 April, at the Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Centre in Dong Guang city, Guangdong Province.
More details about Goss International events during Print China 2007 will be announced soon.
Bobst solution for embossing Braille Bobst launches AccuBraille module for rotary embossing Braille characters during folding and gluing…
The technical requirements for the embossing of Braille characters are especially demanding. Bobst has developed a revolutionary module which takes into account the constraints set on the companies specialised in this field.
With the Bobst AccuBraille module, it is now possible to emboss Braille characters in the folder-gluer, and no longer as a separate operation on a platen press. The quality of raised dots obtained with this rotary process is excellent. The introduction of the blanks into the machine is made smoothly, since the operation is applied after the feeder. The embossing can also be applied very close to cut or folded edges.
The AccuBraille module is available for either new or installed Alpina or Mistral folder-gluers. It requires no additional staffing. The set-up time of the folder-gluer is reduced to the absolute minimum due to the automatic synchronisation of embossing and the cartons, as well as preparation of the system outside of the machine. The rotary process enables extended life of the tooling compared with other methods. The users of the AccuBraille module will increase their margins due to the quality of this new development.
Visitors to Graphispag in Barcelona, Spain, were introduced to the AccuBraille module during the show. It will next be demonstrated at Bobst in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 20 and 21 March; and it will then be shown at Medprint in Rome, Italy, from 19 to 22 April.
MAPPP SETA CEO suspended pending investigation Melanie Bernard-Fryer may be charged with serious misconduct following her unwarranted actions against the Training Centre…
MAPPP-SETA CEO, Melanie Bernard-Fryer, is now under investigation and may be charged with serious misconduct, following allegations currently being independently investigated by the MAPPP SETA. These include alleged financial irregularity, impropriety and submitting falsified documents in Court papers in her attempts to vilify the Training College, in her unwarranted actions carried out over an extended period of time against the Cross Media Training Centre (The South African Printing College) and PIFSA.
On Friday 16 March 2007, PIFSA and the Cross Media Training Centre in Honeydew, Johannesburg, issued a comprehensive joint press statement covering no less than 19 points, regarding Melanie Bernard-Fryer's campaign against the Training College, which more recently gave rise to yet a further rejection by MAPPP-SETA of grant applications made by the College.
The 19 paragraph Press Statement has been left intact below, with its paragraph / point numbers, as issued by CMTC (N J Delport) and PIFSA (C W J Sykes), rather than to merge this into one article is our usual style. We think it will retain the clarity it deserves for our readers:
1. The Cross Media Training Centre (‘the Training College’) has historically played, and continues to play an important role in South African society in that it provides skills and training to both apprentices and unemployed young people and assists them in obtaining employment in the printing and packaging industry.
2. Almost 100% of unemployed trainees in the printing and packaging industry and more than 50% of apprentices in the industry receive their skills and training from the Training College.
3. Since 1993 the Training College has trained well in excess of 9000 students, the majority from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
4. PIFSA's members in the Printing and Packaging industry contribute more to MAPPP-SETA funding than any other sector.
5. In 2005 MAPPP-SETA, under the leadership of CEO and Accounting Officer Melanie Bernard-Fryer, reneged on its payment obligation in respect of grants to the Training College of approximately R8.5 million.
6. In response the Training College brought a Court action against MAPPP-SETA. The Court expressly found that the payments were lawful and did not contravene any provisions of the Public Finance Management Act ("PFMA") and ordered MAPPP-SETA to pay the grants, with interest, as well as the Training College's legal costs.
7. Subsequent conduct by Melanie Bernard-Fryer suggests that she regarded the Training College's successful Court action as a personal affront. Her conduct consisted of a concerted campaign (inappropriately utilising the resources of the MAPPP-SETA) of disseminating false and misleading information to stakeholders, MAPPP-SETA staff and other persons, including the press, in an attempt to vilify the Training College, PIFSA and some of their representatives.
8. Melanie Bernard-Fryer’s claims are demonstrably without substance. From MAPPP- SETA’s inception, the Training College complied with the requirements for discretionary funding. There is absolutely no evidence to support Melanie Bernard-Fryer’s vindictive allegation and innuendo that such funding should be characterised as "corrupt" or "fraudulent".
9. In addition to the legal expenses that MAPPP-SETA incurred in its unsuccessful opposition to the Training College’s Court action, Melanie Bernard-Fryer’s actions have cost the MAPPP-SETA a further R900,000 in the form of fees incurred in a forensic audit which disclosed no impropriety with respect to payments made to the Training College. The audit report was submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority ("NPA") in order to avoid MAPPP-SETA (then under the direction of Melanie Bernard-Fryer) having to explain why millions of Rand of MAPPP-SETA's money had been wasted on audits, not because the report in any way supported allegations of corruption or fraud.
10. The NPA has advised the Training College's attorneys that neither the Training College nor PIFSA and its representatives are under investigation.
11. Melanie Bernard-Fryer's campaign against the Training College more recently gave rise to yet a further rejection by MAPPP-SETA of grant applications made by the College.
12. This rejection again necessitated legal action by the Training College to enforce its rights. A Court application was prepared by the Training College to review and set aside the biased, unfair and unlawful decision taken by MAPPP-SETA, (then under the direction of Melanie Bernard-Fryer), to not approve two of the Training College's grant applications. As a courtesy a copy of this Court application was submitted to MAPPP-SETA for their consideration, prior to the institution of the application.
13. After considering the Court application the full Authority of MAPPP-SETA resolved to refer the Training College's complaints set out in that Court application to mediation. The mediation was attended by the Training College, PIFSA, MAPPP-SETA and their respective legal representatives.
14. That mediation process gave rise to an amicable, expeditious and cost effective resolution to the foreshadowed litigation. Specifically it prevented further substantial expenditure by MAPPP-SETA in the form of legal fees that would have been incurred in the event of its unsuccessful opposition to the Training College's application.
15. Mappp-Seta has recently suspended Melanie Bernard-Fryer. We understand that she is being investigated and may be charged with serious misconduct, including financial irregularity, impropriety and submitting falsified documents in Court papers in her attempts to vilify the Training College.
16. The Training College believes that Melanie Bernard-Fryer is responsible for abusing MAPPP-SETA resources and her position as CEO in executing her personal campaign against the Training College, PIFSA and its representatives.
17. We are hopeful that the investigation into Melanie Bernard-Fryer's misconduct will expose the truth and prevent MAPPP-SETA from being further manipulated by Ms Bernard-Fryer in her campaign against the Training College and PIFSA.
18. It seems that certain MAPPP-SETA's staff and stakeholders who participated in today's (Friday 16 March 2007) demonstration were misinformed directly or indirectly by Ms Melanie Bernard-Fryer as to the true facts in an attempt to prevent or interfere with the investigation into her alleged misconduct.
19. PIFSA and the Training College welcome any legitimate request for information or investigation which will dispel the injurious falsehoods and defamatory statements being published by Melanie Bernard-Fryer.
For additional information on PIFSA, please go to: www.pifsa.org or Telephone: +27 011 699 3000.
For additional information on the Cross Media Training Centre, go to: www.crossmedia.co.za or Telephone: +27 011 699 3014.
Graphic Repro On-line visitors are welcome to add their comments, suggestions or to provide constructive input. Please use the Contact Us facility on the Website and all legitimate mails will be forwarded to Nick Delport and Chris Sykes. You can also e-mail Graphic Repro direct, if you already have the e-mail address.
WMSG registers 30 million impressions Dallas print provider hits milestone with 67 per cent jump in volume using six Kodak NexPress systems…
WMSG Inc, a fully digital print provider in Dallas, produced a Texas sized volume of output in 2006, delivering 30 million impressions to advertising agencies, direct marketers and consumers. Overall, year-over-year volume at WMSG was up 67 per cent. The backbone of the operation is a group of six Kodak NexPress digital production colour presses.
WMSG has five Kodak NexPress 2100 Plus presses (pictured)and added a Kodak NexPress 2500 press in September. Kodak recently recognised WMSG for its leadership in adopting digital printing technology and the substantial growth of its business.
‘We recognised very early on the power of variable data printing and the appeal of higher response rates you can achieve with VDP. We've grown to become the largest commercial colour variable provider in North America,’ said Jim Liszewski, president of WMSG. ‘NexPress presses have really helped us deliver a stronger return on investment for our clients. About 50 per cent of our growth last year was organic and we can link that right back to the higher response rates our customers continue to experience with VDP.’
Liszewski said that WMSG's current applications span many different industries including automotive, consumer product and hospitality sectors. ‘Many of our clients have been using WMSG and VDP for several years and continue to experience success,’ said Liszewski. ‘The approaches continue to be refined and more targeted based on the history and additional information we gain with each day. More opportunities for large enterprise, large-volume applications keeping coming our way based on these successes.’
‘Our focus at WMSG is on data-oriented, enterprise-based acquisition and loyalty programmes with many of the top consumer brands. We are fortunate to work with many of the top agencies in developing programmes that have been very successful. The flexibility, ease-of-use and security of the NexPress press helps us focus on using data to boost response rates,’ Liszewski said. ‘We deal with agencies and clients that are very focused on quality. We not only have to have relevant data content, but most of our pieces must be “brand” quality. The NexPress Press has been a great tool in maintaining quality and consistency across our production environment. We have to be assured that multiple presses can output to the same quality standards, and repeat this week after week, month after month. Anyone familiar with digital printing knows this is one of the biggest challenges. The NexPress digital colour platform has been extremely stable and gives WMSG the ability to produce the highest quality again and again.’
WMSG also received significant business in 2006 from photo gift item orders for consumers through the Kodak Easyshare Gallery. WMSG did millions of impressions for Easyshare Gallery customers during the holiday season. ‘Kodak Easyshare Gallery has been a great partner for WMSG. They demand incredible quality-as you can imagine based on the Kodak name – a requirement we are very familiar with from our high quality commercial applications,’ said Liszewski on his long relationship with the Gallery.
Agfa Graphics’ new CTP system for B1 format New Acento LF now brings affordable, quality thermal digital platemaking, especially to emerging markets…
Agfa Graphics has launched Acento LF (pictured), an affordable thermal CTP system for the many offset printers looking to convert to digital platemaking, especially in emerging markets.
Acento LF brings the full benefits of digital platemaking at an entry-level investment cost, with reliable platemaking quality with a new imaging head with an 84-channel laser diode, and dependable throughput due to its simplified mechanical design. It offers imaging speeds up to 11 plates per hour for plates sizes ranging from 450 x 370mm to 1060 x 820mm (B1 or 8 up format). Acento LF has semi-automatic plate loading and manual unloading to save further cost and reduced floor space requirements.
‘CTP adoption in many markets is about to happen at an accelerated pace,’ said Agfa Graphics VP of worldwide sales, Marc Op de Beeck. ‘We're adding the Acento LF to our wide range of systems to meet the need for a robust solution that offers high quality platemaking faster and at an affordable cost.’
Acento LF will be available in May 2007.
Agfa's thermal computer-to-plate offering includes a wide range state-of-the-art systems, from the 4 up Acento II and Avalon SF through the popular Avalon LF and the very-large-format Avalon VLF. They come in various platemaking speeds and resolutions up to 340lpi screening. The range includes manual; semi-automatic and fully automatic models.
Agfa's thermal plates include Thermostar P970, Ampio and the Energy Elite premium plate as well as ThermoFuse-based, low-chemistry Amigo and chemistry-free Azura.
Product and company information can be found on Agfa's Website at: www.agfa.com.
PCC balances its budget for fourth year running Industry-wide research on schedule for Charity’s future direction at Printers’ Charitable Corporation…
Another year of steady progress and responsible stewardship but with a firm eye on the Charity’s future was the message delivered to the 180th Annual General Meeting of the Printers’ Charitable Corporation (PCC) held in London on 15 March.
‘For the fourth year we have effectively achieved a balanced budget,’ said PCC Chairman Sir Jeremy Elwes. ‘This is an objective we aim to continue in years to follow so that we can continue to offer vital services for generations to come.’
For the year 2006 the PCC received a total income of £2.09 million against total expenditure of £2.05 million. The Charity’s investments stand at £27.90 million yielding £860,000 income vitally needed to support the PCC’s 40 bed nursing home and 72 sheltered apartments for the elderly. In addition the Charity operates an extensive welfare programme and, in partnership with the British Printing Industries Federation, sponsors an Educational Scholarship programme for young people.
The PCC’s focus on the future has seen the completion of the first stage of an exhaustive research programme funded by a Government-backed Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). This KTP study will determine the path the PCC should take in the future so as to best meet nationwide the needs of the UK printing and graphic arts industries and those that are employed within these sectors.
The Printers’ Charitable Corporation, established since 1827, is committed to serve the needs of printers, ex-printers and their dependants who require nursing home care, sheltered accommodation, regular or one-off welfare support and more recently, educational bursaries for young people needing financial assistance to complete their training and education in pursuit of a career in print or its associated industries. From the Charity’s headquarters at Three Bridges it manages the Butlin House Nursing Home at Bletchley, 72 modern sheltered apartments at Bletchley and Basildon and an extensive welfare programme that alleviates hardship either by regular weekly payments or by one-off grants to fund specific needs.
ProofMaster v3.1 took the lead at Graphispag Only fully multi-channel RIP to drive the new HP Z-3100 printer…
The latest release of PerfectProof's RIP software, ProofMaster v3.1 was well-received in Barcelona last month, where its endorsement by four major industry players confirmed its unsurpassed performance. Impressed visitors took away at least two reasons which place ProofMaster ahead of other software RIPs. Firstly, it is truly universal, the only RIP native to the Intel Mac yet still running on older Macs and Windows PCs. Secondly, it is the only RIP ensuring unparalleled accuracy in the widest possible colour range, specifically on the new HP Z-3100 series.
Each of 12 colours individually managed ‘Where other RIPs rely on a restrictive CMYK model, ProofMaster v3.1 is the only RIP on the market letting users take full advantage of the additional colours offered by multi-channel printers such as the HP Z-3100,’ emphasized Diego López Eiroa, commercial director of Corona Gráfica, Madrid, Spain's largest HP reseller which provided live ProofMaster demos on the latest HP printer model at the Graphispag show. ‘Combined with the processing power of the Intel-Mac, this package is set to lead the market.’
Graphic Arts professionals from across Europe also witnessed ProofMaster demos running simultaneously on three additional stands.
MicroGestió, Barcelona, picked up on the opportunities in the rapidly expanding large format and also the silk screen printing market. ‘The new ProofMaster RIP is extremely versatile yet precise and complete when it comes to proofing and driving large-format or silkscreen production,’ said Joan Tarafa, MicroGestió's managing director. ‘We love the fact that one package can do all that while still guaranteeing absolutely perfect colour predictably and consistency.’
Certified colour accuracy throughout the PDF workflow ProofMaster v3.1 also attracted substantial attention on the Adobe stand where Centregrafic's Ignasi Olive demonstrated to visitors that, unlike many other RIPs, ProofMaster employs an internal PDF engine and unrivalled PDF editor.
On the Epson stand, PerfectProof made a presentation outlining the exceptional advantages of adding certified colour to a Certified PDF workflow. ‘ProofMaster automatically checks the status of every PDF and attributes a unique ID code which is then printed directly onto the proof and added into the Certified PDF edit log,’ explained Mark Verbist, general manager PerfectProof Europe, ‘This concept eliminates the costly mistakes plaguing prepress and printing professionals everywhere.’
PerfectProof offers a complete range of products for digital proofing, high quality photo/LFP printing and e-Commerce solutions. The ProofMaster software for Intel Mac & PC and a wide range of media are supported by over 300 digital printers & cutters from all the leading vendors including Epson, Canon, HP, Mutoh, Roland, Summa and Zünd.
Printers Website, the web2print e-Commerce platform, and SimplePrep, the PDF generating software for Microsoft documents, allow printers to put their business online in just a matter of days. PerfectProof is an Epson, HP, X-Rite and Enfocus Software partner and its products are sold through a worldwide network of independent resellers.
Newnorth switches to Heidelberg stitching Continuing a five year trend towards concentrating its finishing production on Heidelberg equipment…
Newnorth in Kempston, Bedfordshire, has taken delivery of a Stitchmaster ST350, continuing a five year trend towards concentrating its finishing production on Heidelberg equipment.
Polars replaced Schneider Senators, Stahlfolders have replaced MBOs and now the Stitchmaster ST350 replaces a Muller Martini.
‘When we looked at replacing the saddle-stitcher I sent out the operators to look at the options,’ says Roy Alderslade, bindery manager. ‘As well as looking at the suppliers they looked at users. All came back and said they preferred the Heidelberg, with no prompting from me.
‘It is the best product in terms of automation, ease of use and value for money. It’s convincing technology.’
The ST350 is specified with six stations and a cover feeder and will be used to handle 80 per cent of work printed at Newnorth. Most work comes from London and includes charity contracts, special interest magazines, Report & Accounts and general commercial work.
The stitcher operates on double day shifts with 24 hour operation on three days a week when a third shift is added.
The ST350 is handling untrimmed sections of 85 x 128mm up to 320 x 480mm and up to 12mm thickness. It can house up to six normal stitching heads or four wire loop stations. It is controlled from a graphic touch screen and can be JDF connected to other production areas. Any misfeeds cause the machine to stop ensuring customers never receive incomplete or incorrectly gathered work.
This fits with Alderslade’s view that often it is the finishing department which handles the safety checks and quality control for the whole printing process. Productive reliable equipment in this area is vital because mistakes are expensive at this stage of the process.
Agfa Graphics divests Xitron Xitron joins Vanguard International Group, to be independently operated alongside Printware and Highwater Designs…
Agfa Graphics has sold Xitron, Inc, which was acquired by Agfa as part of the company's Autologic acquisition at the end of 2001, to Vanguard Graphics International Group of Companies.
Xitron is a small, but market-leading developer and integrator of Raster Image Processors and software. Xitron joins VGI as a wholly-owned, independently operated subsidiary.
Vanguard Graphics International (VGI) is a privately held holding company specialising in acquiring and managing graphic arts companies. It was established to acquire and consolidate a best of class group of companies to serve the small to medium sized printer. Today, VGI consists of three operating companies, Printware, LLC of St Paul, Minnesota, a provider of innovative prepress solutions focused on computer-to-plate systems; Highwater Designs, Ltd of Cheltenham, England, well-known for its line of high-performance and reliable RIPs and metal platesetters; and Xitron, Inc, a leading provider of RIPs and workflow solutions.
KBA supports Moscow college MGUP Compacta unit used to train Russia’s polygraphic elite in Moscow’s State University of Printing Arts…
Moscow’s State University of Printing Arts is the only institute of technology that trains specialists for Russia’s publishers, printing houses, book traders and other related industries. The history of the university began in 1930 with the founding of the Moscow Polygraphic Institute, which at that time consisted of only three faculties. The Faculty of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering opened a few years later, and the university began to train specialists in the main fields of printing and publishing. Over the course of its nearly 77 years of history, the university has become one of Russia’s most renowned academic and scientific institutions with a highly-qualified teaching staff.
Today, the MGUP has some 6,000 registered students, spread across five faculties with a total of 30 academic chairs. An interesting feature is the high proportion of female students (approx. 75%) who have chosen to study the printing arts. Each year, more than 1,000 new students apply to the Moscow institution, which enjoys a nationwide reputation. It has many international relationships, chief among them a student exchange programme with a university in South Korea.
Koenig & Bauer AG has enjoyed a close relationship with MGUP for many years, providing considerable support to the training of Russia's polygraphic elite. KBA has just donated the university a printing unit of its Compacta 215 rotary commercial offset press range for training purposes. The printing unit will be installed in a laboratory specially built for KBA and will offer the next generation of Russia's managers the opportunity to discover the modern printing press industry in a practical way. In use throughout the world for a good ten years already, the Compacta 215 was the first rotary commercial offset press to be fitted with the KBA DriveTronic shaftless AC drive. This is now standard on modern web offset presses. The Compacta 215 also boats the renowned Minigap system with the blanket plates. This reduces the non-printing area to just 6mm and has since been adopted by other manufacturers for their own applications, eg on six-blanket-wide newspaper presses.
The official certificate marking the donation of the Compacta 215 printing unit was handed over to Dr. Alexei Fedorovitch Benda, professor and prorector of MGUP, during a visit by Christoph Müller, KBA’s Rotary Press Sales, marketing and service director. Also at the meeting, KBA sales director Dr. Peter Jargstorf was thanked for his many years of service on the board of trustees of MGUP, while Christoph Müller was appointed as a new member of the board of trustees of the institution.
Pictured above: Christoph Müller (centre), KBA sales director for rotary presses, and Dr. Peter Jargstorf (on left), the recently retired KBA sales director for sheetfed presses in Eastern Europe, handed the official certificate marking the donation of the Compacta 215 printing unit to Dr. Alexei Fedorovitch Benda, professor and prorector of MGUP.
Kodak TransPromo expert’s Webinar series ‘WebEx Guide to TransPromo’ occurs third Thursday of every month at 11am Eastern Standard Time (USA)…
Kodak's leading TransPromo expert educates print providers on the value of this emerging communications solution in a series of Webinars this year. The Webinars, entitled ‘WebEx Guide to TransPromo’, are hosted by Pat McGrew (pictured), EDP, director, Transaction Industry Marketing, Inkjet Printing Solutions, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, and take place on the third Thursday of every month at 11am Eastern time.
For visitors to this Website, to be able to find out your local time equivalent, please go to the University of Maryland’s really nice: Eastern time conversion where you can find out exactly what 11am Eastern time is in your country.
A print communications solution that gained popularity in 2006, TransPromo communications utilise transactional documents to deliver promotional messages.
‘Bills, statements and other transactional documents, by their nature, have a captive audience and provide an ideal opportunity to tailor messages based on a consumer's interests, preferences and patterns,’ said McGrew. ‘Incorporating personalised colour variable data into bills and statements creates a customer communication piece that gets attention and causes action. Each Webinar will cover a new aspect of TransPromo to help print providers take advantage of this new solution.’
Marketers are better able to reach customers by adding colour to documents and building personalised and customised communications, allowing for business growth opportunities. Advances in digital technology take the advantages of quality colour printing even further by enabling the efficient, streamlined production of targeted rather than mass communications.
Visit: www.kodak.webex.com and search for Pat McGrew's Third Thursday Webinar at 11am Eastern time to sign up. To join the mailing list for these Webinars, send an e-mail to McGrew at pat.mcgrew@kodak.com.
Graphispag generates strong sales for Esko Record number of Kongsberg tables sold and strong sales leads on all Esko packaging-related solutions…
Esko has reported that its participation at Graphispag 2007 resulted in exceptionally strong sales activity that exceeded the company’s expectations. During Graphispag, held in Barcelona from 19 to 25 February, Esko signed a record number of sales contracts for its Kongsberg tables (picture). Sales interest was also high for the company's CDI Spark, Esko DCM and the Esko packaging software suite. On average, over 50 qualified sales leads were generated on a daily basis throughout the show. Esko benefited from maximum visibility during Graphispag, thanks to the collaborative efforts of its industrial and commercial partners who presented Esko solutions on their stands: namely DuPont, HP Indigo, Agfa Graphics and Lacor.
'Esko’s leadership in the packaging pre-production market segment, combined with our partners’ efforts, contributed to our very successful sales results at Graphispag 07,' stated Jordi Quera, Esko sales manager Iberia. 'We believe that the high level of interest, and resulting sales commitments that were finalised at the show, confirms that we are on track with providing the right solutions to meet the needs of our customer base in Spain.'
Armand Gougay, Esko's vice-president sales and marketing, concurred, 'The tremendous response exceeded all of our expectations in both sales and lead generation. We are enthusiastic about the excellent customer response to Esko's solutions at Graphispag 2007 and will leverage this interest to further expand our growth in the Spanish market.'
Digital Graphic was one of many customers who invested in a Kongsberg table. Luis Mulero, company founder, has searched for a versatile solution that offered precision and high quality results for his demanding finishing requirements. He compared other offerings on the market but only the Kongsberg offered an exceptional match of technical capabilities and cost-effectiveness.
'We could plainly see that the Esko Kongsberg is a superior offering and its integration with Esko ArtiosCAD was a very important factor in our decision,' said Mulero. 'ArtiosCAD saves an incredible amount of time. The combination of these two solutions is certain to dramatically increase our level of quality and service.' Mulero noted that the new Kongsberg can handle his diverse finishing requirements: 'from cutting and milling 20mm rigid materials like PVC, up to 'soft' materials like vinyl or polyester. Now, the only limits are our imagination or that of our customers – thanks to Esko, we can handle the most complex or creative packaging job.'
Co-operative partnerships deliver success Esko shared its booth with DuPont to provide briefings and demos about Esko’s innovative packaging software suite including Esko ArtiosCAD, the Esko CDI Spark 4260, DuPont Cyrel Fast and Kongsberg i-XL24. Esko had an active presence with HP, Esko’s partner for the digital label printing market. The two companies presented a combined solution featuring Esko’s Scope and HP Indigo digital label presses. Agfa and Esko have a global reseller agreement in place that allows Agfa to sell Esko’s DeskPack and Plato prepress software to the packaging market. This dynamic synergy attracted numerous visitors and sales queries at Agfa Graphics' stand. Lacor, Esko’s Spanish distributor for CAD/CAM, demonstrated the Esko Kongsberg XL44 on its stand and handled a steady stream of sales enquiries. Lasa Trokel, an Esko customer who is currently using the Esko Kongsberg XE10, explained how the table has delivered return on investment.
Presented at the show were: Esko packaging software suite Esko’s innovative packaging software suite, features a wide range of powerful tools for structural design, graphic design, one-up editing, sheet layout, workflow management and collaboration, colour management and output control. The latest version features seamless interaction between CAD and graphic production utilities and standardizes PDF as the native file format throughout the entire Esko workflow. It includes Web collaboration facilities and on-line review and approval capabilities. Tools for easy installation and on-line monitoring facilitate customer support and ensure reliable operation.
Esko ArtiosCAD 7 ArtiosCAD version 7, Esko’s component for structural design, is a tool for conceptual design, product development, and ‘live’ prototyping. It offers full import / export support for SolidWorks 3D CAD files. ArtiosCAD users can work directly with SolidWorks models, creating a seamless workflow between SolidWorks and ArtiosCAD. Complete 3D CAD integration allows for quick prototyping of designs and presentations, eliminating communication errors and reducing design review cycles. ArtiosCAD 7 supports carton specifications for a complete range of packaging materials (folding carton, corrugated board, plastics, foam, etc.)
Esko Kongsberg tables The Esko Kongsberg XL and XE series of die-less cutting and creasing tables for packaging applications are the benchmark in their kind for reliability and productivity. They deliver record-breaking productivity and versatility, and are the industry’s most cost-effective machines, loaded with unique features that save time and boost sample quality.
The Kongsberg i-XL integrates the Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering (MGE) i-cut vision system and complements digital printing of sign and displays with a unique finishing solution for the widest range of materials, providing automation, high productivity and outstanding precision.
Esko Cyrel Digital Imager Esko’s range of CDI Imaging Devices span the entire range for flexo printing applications: from narrow-web label printing to wide-format corrugated printing, from one colour printed corrugated boxes to highly sophisticated security printing.
The Esko CDI Spark 4260 addresses the highest quality flexo applications, primarily in the flexible packaging and folding carton markets, with inroads also in corrugated. With its larger size plates and impressive productivity, with an entry-level price tag, this device fits the demands of tradeshops and converters.
The DuPont Cyrel Fast features dry thermal technology for plate development, completely eliminating the need for solvents,, while reducing plate processing times by up to 300 per cent. It is an ideal investment for trade shops that require a high volume of plates in varying sizes. This new system retains all of the benefits of the smaller Cyrel Fast 1000TD, producing a high quality finished plate in less than one hour.
Boxes GH doubles its plate production Screen's VLF PlateRite Ultima 16000 boosts productivity for packaging company Boxes GH, Great Harwood…
Modernising its existing film prepress operation with Screen's VLF PlateRite Ultima 16000 thermal CTP system has more than doubled plate making output at packaging company Boxes GH, Great Harwood.
The company has experienced a massive upturn in efficiency since installing the system. It has increased its hourly plate production from 6 to 14 plates per hour and the procedure of receiving the file, planning, stepping and imaging the plates has been reduced by 50 per cent.
Servicing two MAN Roland presses and typically imaging 1140 x 1410mm and 1030 x 785mm Fuji plates, the PlateRite Ultima 16000 has reduced Boxes GH's outsourcing bill by around £10,000 per month. 'We have certainly done the right thing by upgrading our prepress department to include a CTP operation,' said prepress manager, Phil Ashcroft.
'After watching the market for some time, we believed now to be the right time to make the change as systems have come down in price and the benefits of the technology are well proven. Investing in the PlateRite Ultima 16000 has shown to be such a worthy investment that we expect a ROI of just over 2 years.'
Boxes GH produces six-colour packaging for a number of well-known FMCG companies in the UK. Before committing to the Screen system, the company considered many competing models, but chose the PlateRite series because of its good reputation within the industry. So thorough was the company in its market research that it visited a packaging manufacturer in York that already works with a PlateRite Ultima 16000 plate making line in order to witness the system's capabilities first hand.
'We did a thorough investigation into all the VLF CTP systems in the industry, giving them all a “good/bad” criteria marking. The PlateRite Ultima 16000 was out in front in all the variables and became the obvious choice.'
Ashcroft continued, 'Since going live with the system in the summer, the PlateRite Ultima 16000 has transformed our business in so many ways and we are delighted with the results we are achieving. Its installation has helped us eradicate bottlenecks at the prepress stage. In addition, the system's ability to output instant and automatic register and a first generation dot means the quality and accuracy we are producing is unsurpassable.
'We are amazed at how easy it has been to upgrade to CTP and the PlateRite Ultima 16000 has been extremely well received by our employees. The investment has increased our production potential considerably and has made us highly competitive.'
Part of the internationally renowned Clondalkin Group, Boxes GH is a specialist producer of printed folding cartons and deals primarily with leading brands in food and household products. The Great Harwood site houses a finishing department, consisting primarily of Bobst systems, employs 120 staff and has an annual turnover of £9.5million.
Foilmaster 104 and 104 FR from Bobst Bobst continues to lead the way in the development of machines that add value to folding cartons and labels…
With almost seventy years' experience in the design and manufacture of machines for converting folding cartons, Bobst offers the market a large and varied range of equipment.
A multi-disciplinary team, devoted to the design of machines for foil stamping, has concentrated its efforts into the evolution of the processes. One of the issues that this team gives considerable attention to is hunting out unproductive machine time. Commonly, up to 50 per cent of the available production hours of a foiling machine is unproductive, being devoted to the preparation of jobs. With this reality in mind, a key aim of the engineers at Bobst is to reduce this lost time considerably, with the ambition of cutting them by half.
Improving speed and accuracy are also issues that Bobst addresses and which, thanks to investments in technologies that are at the same time advanced yet reliable, it has been successful in achieving. As well as being the first manufacturer to offer platen presses running at 12,000 sheets-per-hour, it is also the first to have developed extremely powerful location systems, with the new Foilmaster 104's benefiting from this know-how.
Due to the doubling of its heating capacity, allied with a Bernoulli sheet braking system, the SPeria Foilmaster 104 FR is the fastest 'flat-to-flat' foiling press available, running at up to 8,000 sheets per hour. As well as speed, the Foilmaster 104's benefit from very precise foil-to-print register and, in its FR (or Foil Register) version, provides register that is exceptionally precise. All this is added to by the compatibility of tools and auxiliary equipment between all of Bobst's format IIIb foiling presses.
The Foilmaster 104 fully fulfils the market's requirements for productivity, be that in terms of speed, makeready times or quality of production.
Comparative tests carried out with work provided by customers shows that the stated compressive force of competing products is not always as precise as it should be - which raises the question: What is the actual value of a tonne when it comes to the stated abilities of these machines?
The reaction of the market to this new range has been extremely positive with a number Foilmaster 104 FR's due to be installed in North America and Europe during the first quarter of 2007.
Gradual Software at Northprint Gradual Software to showcase full range of automation and workflow solutions at Northprint in Harrogate…
Gradual Software, specialist in publishing automation solutions, will have a strong presence at Northprint, held 24 – 26 April, 2007 in Harrogate. The company will demonstrate its complete product line on the stand of its UK distributor, Positive Focus, and also on the stands of Switch Authorised Resellers Pro2Col and Silicon Systems.
Gradual’s Switch family of products includes Light Switch and Full Switch, enabling users to implement workflow automation solutions tailored to meet the production needs of individual work environments. Power Switch provides advanced automation features, such as support for scripting and metadata, and makes it easy to deploy automation for a complete workgroup with Switch client, five licences of which are included in the PowerSwitch package.
Gradual's Switch software has been installed at a number of UK firms and is delivering strong returns in productivity, efficiency and cost savings in a variety of production environments.
Positive Focus added the Switch automation software to its portfolio just before IPEX last year. Ivor Dixon, managing director of Positive Focus stated, ‘With Switch, users can glue together the desktop solutions they already know and use into a productive, automated workflow. Light Switch is a logical move for those people who just need to move files around, avoiding the chore of doing it manually. I think most people will be able to justify Light Switch and Full Switch on the time saving alone, paying back the cost in a couple of months. Power Switch makes it easy to deploy automation for a complete workgroup, using the scripting capability to enable applications that have no out of the box integration, and the metadata handling makes intelligent workflows possible. Ease of use, with a common interface and simple upgrades from one family member to another, means you can start simple and build to something really powerful, with no financial penalties and a gentle learning curve.’
Pro2col specialises in file transfer solutions for the publishing industry, enabling advertisers to deliver artwork in a variety of formats, directly to the publisher. James Lewis turned to Gradual Software for a solution to deliver improved integration capabilities within Pro2col's production environment. ‘The installation of Gradual Switch workflow products with our file transfer systems enables customers to benefit from increased automation, with full integration between file delivery and production,’ stated Lewis. ‘Automation has resulted in improved efficiency and significant cost savings. With the industry shifting towards XML based workflows, Power Switch provides publishers with fantastic automation at realistic prices.’
Silicon Systems also added the Switch automation software to its portfolio and its Switch customers are benefiting from time savings and a solid return on investment. Neil Dobson, managing director from Silicon Systems, explained, ‘The Switch suite has enabled our customers to achieve substantial savings of time and money – they have seen the return on the investment in just a few months. When coupled with Flowmation, our project workflow software, the Switch suite provides a seamless solution from the web to final output.’
Last week we began by highlighting the fact that MAPPP SETA was depriving young South Africans from being trained at the Cross Media Training Centre - previously known as the Southern African Printing College, due to the unwarranted withholding of funds. This week, we are able to provide you with the most important facts behind the debacle and name the person responsible. You will find all the latest facts heading last Tuesday's news.