The Headline News items which appeared in our Home Page news during the first two weeks of December...
The news for period 3 – 14 December 2007
Greetings for the last time in 2007, as this is our last e-News update for this year. We'll be back on Friday 4 January 2008, to cover any industry news that arrives during the next couple of weeks or so. The Website will still be updated as and when news is available - but we don't expect too much over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. It seems a little difficult to believe that 2007 has almost disappeared.
The past fortnight has obviously seen a slowing down of news from many of the major manufacturers, but it has also seen some extremely interesting articles related to the environment - detailing the effort that some of the major manufacturers and printing companies are going to, in order to improve their environmental credentials. I think we shall continue to focus on this in 2008, as well as on Drupa of course, which will undoubtedly see a flurry of activity in the New Year with less than five-and-a-half months to go before the show opens its doors at the end of May. There are major pre-Drupa events for the trade press in the New Year, so we should have lots to bring you.
In our online features section, there are environment and sustainability-related articles from Heidelberg and MAN Roland and there are also a couple of new features in the Technology-related section as well. In the news starting a fortnight ago, Fujifilm kicked off by boosting Greenhouse Graphics' green credentials with processless plates (Monday 3 December). Also on this day, TU Darmstadt and Heidelberg have jointly set up an environment portal for ecological product development - an important announcement not to be missed.
On Tuesday 4 December, WPG in the UK set out to improve its environmental credentials with a new alcohol-free five-colour Komori Lithrone S29. Heidelberg also made the environmentally- related news with the latest online feature article on its new Star peripherals which can also help reduce your carbon footprint. A couple of days ago, PaperCo announced a new environmental drive in the boards market with 70 per cent FSC or recycled stock, and on Friday, we highlighted Heidelberg's increased environmental commitment to round off the week on a green note.
The really big local news of the past two weeks centred on Antalis Graphics and Kodak (Thursday 13th), with the announcement that six Trendsetter News thermal CTP platesetters having been installed at Independent Newspapers in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The company is using Kodak Thermalnews plates and has also adopted Kodak's Staccato Screening for its own titles and contract work. The next phase for Independent will involve further automation, with the planned installation in Q1 2008 of Kodak NewsManager software linked to the company's existing Atex Media Command Prestige editorial system. General manager Bernard Briggs described the CTP investment as a ‘hugely important decision’ that involved an exhaustive cost-benefit assessment.
Also on the local scene, a week last Thursday Laser Facilities announced that it had acquired Roodepoort-based envelope manufacturer PaperGeni, to broaden its range of services. Laser Facilities is a digital print, mail and document management outsourcing specialist, and an operating division of Bytes Technology Group (Xerox SA). Out of the 46 or so news items to have gone online over the past two weeks I've mentioned the tip of the iceberg - as there is so much for you to browse through, covering many important and diverse subjects, but space is running out.
I wish to take this opportunity of thanking you all for your support throughout the past year - both sponsors and Website visitors, and our e-News subscribers for your continued interest. I shall let you have some idea of the phenomenal visitor growth we have experienced on the Website throughout 2007 in our next update.
All that remains is for me to wish you the Compliments of the Season and best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year in 2008. Please drive carefully over the holiday season and remember... Arrive Alive!
Mike Hilton
Heidelberg steps up its environmental commitment Sustainable Printing - Heidelberg study confirms that 40 per cent of print shops place great value on environmental protection...
•Forerunner in environmental protection for over 15 years •Far less environmental pollution thanks to a reduction in waste paper, waste and VOC emissions •New Star peripherals minimise waste, energy consumption and emissions
'Our customers set great store by environmental protection,' confirms Dr. Jürgen Rautert (pictured), director for Engineering and Manufacturing at Heidelberg. 'We can show that protecting the environment and earning money are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the investments required to secure a better future for our planet pay for themselves very quickly.'
As we cannot display more than one illustration in our news section, please Click here to take you to the full article.
The world’s most prestigious competition in 2008 The very last call for entries to the 2008 Sappi European Printers of the Year competition and your chance of recognition…
The end of the year is near Time flies at a high gear and it is the same with the collection for our competition ‘Sappi European Printers of the Year’.
Hopefully, a lot of excellent print jobs have been put aside to participate and take the chance to win a prize - one of the famous awards should become yours, we will keep our fingers crossed, of course.
Please keep in mind the deadline - the 31st January 2008 - the date we need to receive the entries if they're not to be late. Looking forward to receiving various or individual pieces and the number of them, we trust, constantly increases.
Further details and entry forms for the 2008 Sappi European Printers of the Year awards and the 'Be There' contest are available at www.sappi.com/PrintersOfTheYear. You can also use the Sappi printers of the Year banner and sponsor logo on our Home Page.
Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and EMAS certification and Sappi is the first paper company in Europe to hold chain-of-custody certification for its entire European operations under both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes.
Latest release of QuarkCopyDesk Streamlines content editing in conjunction with QuarkXPress 7, Quark Publishing System 7 and third party workflow software…
Quark has launched QuarkCopyDesk 7, its text and picture editing software designed for writers, editors and others who contribute to publishing workflows. QuarkCopyDesk 7 improves communication throughout the editorial workflow by providing a simple and intuitive work environment and seamless interaction with QuarkXPress 7.
Built completely on the award-winning QuarkXPress 7 code base, QuarkCopyDesk 7 enables writers and editors see the same graphic-rich pages that designers see. All attributes, such as colours, article geometry, style sheets, and hyphenation and justification rules, are maintained so that formatted files move easily and accurately between the two applications. QuarkCopyDesk 7 can also exchange text with Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, XPress Tags, HTML and other word processing formats.
Among the new features incorporated in QuarkCopyDesk 7 are:
•Professional Image Manipulation and Picture Effects: Any image format supported by QuarkXPress, including native Photoshop files, can be imported to QuarkCopyDesk 7. Pictures can be scaled, cropped, rotated, and flipped. Adjustments to brightness and contrast, as well as blur, mask, and de-speckle filters can also be applied - all through easy-to-understand controls in the context-sensitive Measurements.
•Split Views: Allows users to split article views horizontally and vertically to display the content in Galley, Full-screen and WYSIWYG views simultaneously. Content edited in one view updates the other views automatically.
•Streamlined Output Process: Output Profiles and Output Profile Groups allow users to incorporate metadata into the output data stream using an internal placeholder framework. Output profiles for Print, PDF, and Article XML can be combined into output profile groups - allowing output to different mediums with one mouse click.
In addition to new functionality, QuarkCopyDesk 7 features XTensions for Notes, which enables users to place comments directly in the text that will travel with the article, and Redlining, which lets multiple users review an article while tracking and highlighting editorial changes. With its proven and easy-to-use authouring environment, writers, editors, and reviewers using QuarkCopyDesk 7 know the precise article geometry, so their revised copy always fits perfectly.
'QuarkCopyDesk 7 enables a more communicative and streamlined editorial workflow with features that allow those involved in the process to work simultaneously, track edits and collaborate with QuarkXPress 7,' said Rainer Heckmann, director of product marketing for Quark. 'We have designed it to be the tool of choice for all editors and writers who manage both text and picture content in their articles.'
In addition, QuarkCopyDesk 7 works in conjunction with Quark Publishing System 7 (QPS 7), Quark’s workflow management system launched in October 2007. Designed with a new open, standards-based architecture, QPS 7 integrates seamlessly with existing business systems and complimentary publishing solutions to simplify the editorial, creative and production processes for publishers and corporations with demanding workflows.
Kodak: Three down with five more to go Industry-leading JDF Certifications demonstrate Kodak’s commitment to open solutions that help create a unified workflow…
With the most JDF certifications in the industry, an anticipated two additional certifications coming in 2007, followed by five more in 2008, and a series of JDF enabled products, Kodak is serious about JDF and open connectivity.
'Kodak’s approach to workflow is based on making it easy for customers to integrate our solutions into their existing systems, creating their own unified workflow that drives all aspects of their operations,' said Judi Hess, general manager, Enterprise Solutions, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group; managing director, Kodak Canada; and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. 'Supporting industry standards such as JDF represents an important way of ensuring the openness of our products.'
The International Co-operation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organisation and PIA/GATF administer the JDF Product Certification Programme. The foundation of the JDF Product Certification Program is the Interoperability Conformance Specification (ICS) documents, created by CIP4 technical working groups. Each ISC document focuses on a specific interface between two types of graphic arts systems.
JDF certification confirms compatibility with other software products that conform to the same ICS. Kodak has earned three JDF product certifications to date.
Last month, Kodak Preps imposition software received the first certification under JDF 1.3-LayCrImp (Layout Creator to Imposition), Base ICS Level 0. Preps Software is compatible with more than 20 vendors of MIS, prepress, press and finishing systems such as Heidelberg, Agfa, Screen and Muller Martini. Preps software was first certified under JDF 1.2-LayCrImp, Base ICS Level 0.in September 2006 with Kodak Pandora software certified against the same ICS in September 2007.
In addition to Preps and Pandora software, other Kodak Unified Workflow solutions that utilise the JDF format include the Kodak Prinergy, Kodak Prinergy Connect and Kodak Prinergy Evo workflow systems, Kodak NexStation system software, Kodak Upfront Production Planning software, Kodak Prinergy Business Link software, and others.
'JDF certification validates our support of JDF standards and the importance we place on openness with our solutions,' said Hess. 'With 10 products slated to have achieved JDF certification over the next several months, we look forward to continuing our technology leadership around this important industry standard.'
Direct offset on corrugated for ‘2007 Innoward’ Austrian printer RoK collects honours for the use of innovative technologies on corrugated board with KBA Rapida 142…
Rondo Ganahl AG from Austria recently received a ‘2007 Innoward’ in silver for its implementation of direct offset printing on corrugated board. These awards are presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce of the Austrian state of Styria to commend outstanding uses of innovative technologies. At the same time, the company was also nominated for a ‘State Prize for Exemplary Packaging’, awarded annually by the Austrian Institute of Packaging. Rondo Ganahl submitted a corrugated wine presentation box, which according to the jury combined an ingenious design with full product visibility, while ensuring optimum protection for the contents and simple handling.
Rondo Ganahl has been running a six-colour Rapida 142 coater press at its subsidiary RoK in St. Ruprecht an der Raab for over a year now. This press was configured specifically for direct printing on corrugated boards up to a thickness of 1.6 mm. As pile changes at both feeder and delivery are extremely frequent when working with such substrates, an automated pile logistics system takes care of the necessary productivity.
Compared to the flexo alternative, direct offset printing permits RoK to achieve a higher print quality with finer gradations. This is proving a basis for success especially in the high-quality market segment, as it greatly enhances the attractiveness of products at the point of sale. Since commissioning the Rapida 142 a year ago, RoK has already produced a multitude of high-quality corrugated packaging for top-flight customers from the most varied branches. Revenue has also been increased significantly. Compared to the conventional lamination process, which necessarily involves a second process step, direct offset printing on corrugated board brings clear economic benefits for many applications.
Pictured above: Examples of high-quality packaging printed directly onto the corrugated board at RoK. Additional pictures of the presentations are shown in this article on KBA’s Website which can be accessed by using the animated button to your left.
Quebecor sets world record with Supra stitcher Using a Muller Martini Supra saddle stitcher, Quebecor World establishes new record for catalogues in a 24-hour period…
Quebecor World, the leading print media company in North America, has set a new benchmark for print finishing speed and productivity at its Augusta, Georgia facility. ‘We established a new world record of 665,401 catalogues produced and mailed in a 24-hour period,’ said Pat Quinn, vice president and general manager of Quebecor World Augusta. The new record, which involved gathering, binding, trimming, inkjetting, mailing and shipping, was achieved using a Muller Martini Supra saddle stitcher.
‘It's a matter of the right equipment, the finest people, and the right training,’ said Quinn in explaining how setting the world record was made possible by a combination of the technologically-advanced Supra stitcher, the dedicated professionals at Quebecor and industry-leading support from Muller Martini.
Quebecor World Augusta is a market pacesetter in the gravure catalogue market, producing high quality products for some of North America's largest cataloguers. There are a total of 16 saddle stitchers on the floor at Quebecor's Augusta plant, including the new 30,000 c/hr. Supra, which was configured with 16 pockets. ‘Our goal was originally 16,000 to 20,000 products per hour, but due to the performance of the Supra stitcher and the great training our operators received from Muller Martini, we were able to set the record at 27,725 net good products per hour,’ continued Quinn.
The Muller Martini Supra saddle stitcher represents the worldwide state-of-the-art in stitching equipment, engineered to bring speed and efficiency to print production operations while creating stitched products of exceptional quality. Due to its robust overall design, its versatile 416 feeder, Supra is capable of providing a level of performance no other stitcher on the market can match. Supra's innovative stitching system with patented two counter-oscillating stitcher carriages (Boxer principle) results in reliable stitching even at the maximum speed of 30,000 books per hour and results in a low-vibrating, low wear and smooth run of the stitcher mechanism.
Set-ups and changeovers on the Supra saddle stitcher are incredibly fast and cost-effective thanks to automation of the most important axes and the ability to save job data for repeat jobs. The size input automatically synchronises the feeders, the stitching machine and the trimmer.
The product size (head and foot trim, as well as spine length) are automatically preset in the crank trimmer. Supra's new high-precision single copy trimmer can trim products up to 13 mm thick and has no limitations on page swings and accommodates numerous blow or bind-in cards as well as gimmicks or product samples. Books are accurately aligned in the infeed and pulled through the crank trimmer with a double gripper. The upper and lower knives mounted on cranks trim the books at full speed and superior trim quality is assured even at top speed. To meet the demands of a wide variety of growing operations, the Supra saddle stitcher features a modular building-block design, and, the stitcher can be configured with up to 30 feeders depending on specific production needs.
Australian printer orders Goss Sunday 4000 press Commercial printer AIW Printing has ordered a Goss Sunday 4000 press for its printing facility in Melbourne…
Commercial printer AIW Printing Pty Ltd has ordered a Goss Sunday 4000 press for its printing facility in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The new 80-page press with gapless blanket technology will join several other Goss heatset web presses that AIW has installed over the last six years.
Peter Clark, CEO of AIW Printing, commented, 'AIW Printing employs the absolute latest in technology and automation available in prepress, press and finishing. Our latest investment in the Goss Sunday 4000 press reflects this philosophy and will ensure that we continue to deliver the highest levels of print quality, productivity and efficiency.'
Producing newspapers, magazines and catalogues, AIW Printing started business in 2000 in Springvale, Victoria. Since its inception, the company has secured work with many of Australia's largest print buyers. AIW Printing was also the first web offset printer to be awarded the Gold Award in the Printing Innovation category at Australia’s Annual National Print Awards organised by The Printing Industries Association of Australia.
Independent Newspapers selects Kodak thermal CTP South Africa's largest newspaper printer goes computer-to-plate with six Kodak systems and Staccato Screening…
Following a lengthy evaluation process Independent Newspapers has invested in a comprehensive Kodak computer-to-plate (CTP) solution for all its print sites in South Africa, incorporating six Kodak Trendsetter News Thermal Platesetters.
Independent Newspapers is wholly owned by Independent News & Media plc, a leading international media and communications group with worldwide revenues of more than €1.8 billion. The company is the largest newspaper printer in South Africa and its three print sites located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban employs some 550 staff. It produces Independent News & Media's own titles encompassing daily and weekend newspapers as well as contract work, and the Johannesburg plant alone prints approximately eight million copies per week. Each site is now equipped with twin Kodak Trendsetter News Thermal Platesetters.
General manager Bernard Briggs described the CTP investment as a ‘hugely important decision’ that involved an exhaustive cost-benefit assessment. ‘We evaluated the three major suppliers to South Africa and did comparators on all of them. We wanted a solution that would not only give excellent quality but would do so on a daily basis without constant attention. Consistency of supply and the availability of first-class technical back-up were also absolutely imperative, and we are confident about the support that Kodak and its South African partner Antalis can provide us with,’ he said.
Independent Newspapers is using Kodak Thermalnews Gold digital printing plates, which meet the rigorous demands of newspaper printing while delivering outstanding resolution for premium newspaper printing and commercial-quality printing. The plates offer run lengths of over 200,000 impressions without post-baking. Rapid imaging and processing, faster makeready and plate reliability gives newspapers extra editorial time, and the clean-working, low-pH, low-consumption developer reduces processing costs.
Briggs added that the quality achieved through the use of Kodak SquareSpot thermal imaging technology and Kodak Staccato Screening technology was another major reason behind the decision to choose a Kodak Solution. ‘We've improved our deadlines through a faster process, and we've made definite improvements in overall quality - the benefits include dot consistency and process stability, better registration and ink/water balance, and we've actually been able to reduce the amount of ink we're using overall. The quality and predictability of colour has improved, we get consistent results every day without the need for regular calibration which has really made a difference to our pressmen,’ he stated. ‘The return on investment is also compelling; we anticipate it will be under two years.’
The Kodak Trendsetter News thermal CTP device comes in five speeds, ranging from 60 to more than 240 plates per hour to suit newspaper printing facilities of all sizes. The Independent Newspapers installation incorporates four devices operating at 150 plates per hour, and two at 100 plates per hour. The machine-to-machine accuracy of Kodak SquareSpot thermal imaging heads, combined with the binary nature of thermal imaging, achieves consistent and repeatable halftone dot structures. Staccato Screening produces high-fidelity, artifact-free images that exhibit fine detail and more impactful colour in newspapers. SquareSpot thermal imaging technology enables the fine dot structure of Staccato Screening to be a reliable and practical solution for newspaper printing and an effective competitive edge for publishers.
Rinus Hoebeke, product manager, Newspaper Solutions EAMER at Kodak added, ‘This is a hugely prestigious and important installation for Kodak. Our focus is on helping newspaper publishers to increase efficiency, cut costs, and improve quality and we are delighted that Independent Newspapers is seeing the benefits of its investment in Kodak technology so rapidly.’
The next phase for Independent Newspapers will involve further automation, with the planned installation in Q1 2008 of Kodak NewsManager software linked to the company's existing Atex Media Command Prestige editorial system.
Kodak NewsManager software centralises the management of an entire print site, including both newspaper jobs, as well as any commercial work. The remote Web browser enables automatic monitoring and control of equipment, freeing up resources and maximising the return on investment of existing equipment and press time. NewsManager software helps users meet deadlines by managing a complex environment and several editions with the edition planner.
Pictured above: (left to right) Keith Solomon, director Graphics, Antalis; Bernard Briggs, general manager, Independent News & Media; Suren Ramdheo, operations manager, Independent News & Media.
New PMA training centre in Eppelheim up and running Over 8,000 participants attend 800 courses in first six months at Heidelberg's largest training centre…
Heidelberg is delighted with the successful start made by its 'Educ@te Center' in Eppelheim near Heidelberg, which officially opened in July 2007. Some 8,000 participants have already attended the training courses on offer this year. 'The encouraging response from customers and staff to our wide-ranging training programme at the Educ@te Center underlines the demand for professional basic and advanced training courses in the print media industry,' stated Bernd Schopp, head of the Print Media Academy (PMA), commenting on the initial success of the Educ@te Center.
The PMA training centre offers customers and staff throughout the world extensive practical and theoretical training activities in offset printing. The latest developments in printing technology are communicated in a clear and practical manner. Training courses on presses and seminars for Prinect prepress software are based on the very latest standards. 'The practical training courses on state-of-the-art technologies are proving particularly popular. Participants completing these courses should be able to use the entire range of functions offered by our solutions,' continued Schopp.
Each course is scheduled to last five to ten days, and around 20 courses are held simultaneously each week. Heidelberg employs 140 certified trainers, all of them experienced experts with comprehensive practical know-how. The eight-week basic training course 'Educ@te', which provides essential know-how for Heidelberg service staff, is also held at the Eppelheim training centre. This training programme is part of a high-quality, integrated training concept at Heidelberg. 'Educ@te is a genuine seal of quality in training for Heidelberg and our customer training courses also meet its high standards. That is why it was chosen as the name of the training centre,' explained Schopp.
The impressive training centre covers some 8,500 square metres. Including ancillary areas, the site extends to 10,000 square metres in total, with 34 extremely spacious rooms for press and software training. More than 20 presses are currently installed in three halls, each equipped with the latest technology. It is the largest collection of Heidelberg presses for training purposes anywhere in the world. The range of machines extends from a simple press for printing letterheads to a ten-colour long perfector press that can be used, for example, to print high-finish perfume packaging or commercial work. Heidelberg staff are also already being trained in the use of new VLF presses that will be unveiled at the Drupa trade show next year, as well as at least two other Drupa 2008 surprise press models which are to make their debut at the show. The former web print shop meets the high construction standards required to accommodate a large number of presses weighing many tons, in terms of structural analysis, service lifts, and supply lines.
I must admit, having had the opportunity of visiting and touring the Eppelheim facility last week, it is the most impressive training establishment I have ever visited in all my years associated with the industry. It is spacious, light, airy, and so well equipped it has to be seen first-hand to appreciate the lengths that Heidelberg and the PMA have gone to in creating ideal conditions for training staff and customers alike.
We almost caught a glimpse of the new Drupa releases too - for the new VLF and Anitec machines - among others, which are to make their debut at the show at the end of May next year. The new Speedmaster 145 and 162 giants are already running in Eppelheim - for staff training and final adjustments before they take centre stage in Hall 1 at Drupa. They are probably also being beta-tested as well, if the truth were known, but we shall have to wait for May to find out. Ed.
Print Media Academy The Print Media Academy of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG offers technical and management staff in the print media industry a comprehensive range of training courses tailored to meet industry requirements. The Print Media Academy portfolio comprises not only one-off seminars but also international management programs, advanced training, specialist congresses, and publications.
The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg is also the hub of a global network currently extending across 17 locations in 14 countries. The network is growing all the time. The 17th Print Media Academy opened its doors in Prague in the fall of 2007. Each year, around 17,000 technical and management staff from the print media industry take part in courses offered by the worldwide Print Media Academy network. The know-how centre in Heidelberg can boast a total of more than 50,000 visitors each year.
Further information about Heidelberg can be found online at: www.heidelberg.com. You can also just click on the animated Heidelberg button to your left – it will also take you straight to the Website.
Xerox opens $24 million solid ink factory Xerox opens new state-of-the-art automated ink manufacturing plant to serve growing demand for its solid inks…
Xerox Corporation has opened a new state-of-the-art automated ink manufacturing plant to serve growing demand for its proprietary solid ink colour printers as more businesses convert from black-and-white to colour printing.
The $24 million factory fills 10,000 square feet of previously unused space on the company's campus outside Portland, Ore, and expands Xerox's production of solid ink by 10 times. Over time, as the plant reaches full capacity, Xerox expects to add 20 employees; about 75 employees work at the factory now.
The new plant will produce Xerox's latest generation of solid ink, which first became available in September when Xerox launched its Phaser 8860 colour printer and the Phaser 8860MFP colour multifunction printer. These products feature a breakthrough in solid ink technology that for the first time makes colour printing as affordable as black-and-white. Nearly five years in development, the new crayon-like ink sticks have been developed to last longer than ever before. By increasing the total number of colour pages the ink sticks produce, Xerox has drastically reduced the price of colour printing. When comparing the cost of the device and the ink, printing on the Phaser 8860 is two times less expensive than using equivalent laser printers from other manufacturers.
The ink sticks also produce 90 per cent less waste than comparable colour laser products and were designed to melt at a lower temperature, reducing energy consumption by 14 per cent.
‘Xerox has redefined colour printing with the advancements we've made in solid ink,’ said Jim Rise, vice president and general manager of the Solid Ink Business Unit. ‘Known for its exceptional image quality and ability to print vibrant colours, solid ink was initially the preferred technology for graphic artists. Now, we've taken it to a level where solid ink is the affordable, easy to use colour printer for businesses of any sort and size. That's why we're investing in this new factory; our success in solid ink is really just getting started.’
The plant follows Xerox's opening in September of a $60 million emulsion aggregation (EA) toner plant near Rochester, NY. EA toner produces sharper images than traditional laser printer toner, and uses less toner per page.
Xerox has 1,600 employees on its Wilsonville campus, which is the centre of development for solid ink technology. A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony was held yesterday, 12 December to mark the opening of the new production facility.
First Swiss Muller Martini Concepta Paul Büetiger in Biberist installs first Concepta in Switzerland for top quality patient information leaflets…
The first Concepta web offset press in Switzerland is to be installed at Paul Büetiger AG in Biberist. Its range of specialist print products includes patient information leaflets for the pharmaceutical industry which will be produced into the millions on the new Concepta.
‘For any questions about risks and side effects please read the leaflet’… a phrase frequently encountered in print and TV advertising for pharmaceutical companies. However, the large pharmaceutical companies need fear no risks and nor side effects from the manufacture of the pharmaceutical brochures and patient information leaflets produced into the millions by Paul Büetiger AG in Biberist. This company has been offering a large and varied range of printing services for more than 80 years.
It is a family business with over 65 employees in its third generation and run by the third member of the family with the name Paul Büetiger - and is also one of the largest graphics companies in Central Switzerland. As a core supplier of the largest groups in the pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector, the quality of the printed product is of the utmost importance.
To expand capacity and to stay at the cutting edge of technology, Paul Büetiger AG has ordered a new Concepta web offset machine from Müller Martini. The new 4-colour press will be equipped with UV curing and a special Unigraphica sheeter with delivery for the production of patient information leaflets and laser forms. The Concepta achieves production speeds of over 300 meters of paper per minute, whilst maintaining the high print quality that you would expect from Müller Martini equipment. Installation of the first Concepta in Switzerland is planned for March 2008.
Along with a large number of patient information leaflets and forms, Paul Büetiger also prints a wide range of top quality print products, including catalogues, brochures and art reproductions.
Pictured above: Toasting the success of the Concepta era (from left): Yves Rogivue, Müller Martini group management; Richard Hofer, head of sales, Müller Martini Switzerland; Peter Heiniger, manager, Paul Büetiger AG; owner Paul Büetiger; and Peter Wirth, Müller Martini Druckmaschinen GmbH.
EskoArtwork's Packaging Seminar success The packaging industry travels to Nottingham, England, to learn about EskoArtwork's vision for the future…
Over 150 attendees from both sides of the EskoArtwork customer base attended the company's annual Packaging Seminar in Nottingham demonstrating the current significant interest in the latest combined technologies. The full day agenda included presentations from Guido Van der Schueren, CCO of EskoArtwork and senior product managers from Ghent and the UK. Guest speaker was Marcus Lynch of Adobe.
Every leading packaging company attended to hear EskoArtwork's vision for the future and they were not disappointed. Two lucky customers won copies of Esko Visualizer software - Creation Repro and Crown Packaging. Parallel sessions demonstrating the latest updates of ArtiosCAD for structural designers were run by Paul Hitchings and Frank Adegeest. There was excellent feedback from many customers looking forward to a very exciting 2008 with EskoArtwork.
New, globally standardised Saphira range Heidelberg concentrates its worldwide consumables operations into a single product category ‘Saphira’ for Drupa 2008…
Heidelberg is extending its worldwide operations in consumables by grouping all its own consumables in the ‘Saphira’ product category. The company will be presenting a new, globally standardised Saphira range at Drupa 2008.
The ‘Saphira’ name represents a wide portfolio of high-quality consumables suitable for both standard print jobs and special applications, and for all production requirements in prepress, press and postpress. All consumables bearing the Saphira name have been specially optimised and tested for use in Heidelberg solutions, and help the user benefit from the full range of functions the equipment offers, thus ensuring first-class print results. Saphira products also meet all industry standards on environmental protection and make a real contribution to securing the investment in the equipment used.
‘All consumables marked with the Saphira name represent top quality combined with excellent and professional application advice. When they compare what is available on the market, our will be positively surprised to discover that the Saphira portfolio offers the best price/performance ratio in the industry,’ commented Bernhard Steinel, senior vice president Service at Heidelberg, summarising the benefits of Saphira.
All Saphira products are available from the usual outlets, and, in many countries, they can also be ordered 24 hours a day from the Heidelberg Online Shop. Heidelberg ensures quick, secure delivery around the globe. The company will further complement its Saphira products by including consumables from other manufacturers in its range. These products will appear under their own brands.
Markzware announces FlightCheck Professional v6.10 Latest version offers faster preflighting, more comprehensive recognition of QuarkXPress 7 and enhanced PDF controls…
Markzware has announced today the release of FlightCheck v6.10. FlightCheck is Markzware’s flagship prepress application that manages quality control of digital files destined for print or electronic distribution.
FlightCheck v6.10 has numerous improvements and updates, including enhanced preflighting performance—up to four times faster than previous versions. The solution also recognises QuarkXPress 7 files that were not recognised in earlier releases of FlightCheck 6, and adds improved reporting on font paths. In addition, improvements have been made to the software’s PDF Ground Controls. A new ‘Get More’ button, found in the Ground Controls pop-up menu, enables users to immediately download pre-defined Ground Controls based on output intentions and file specifications.
‘The release of Markzware’s FlightCheck v6.10 is a milestone in the product’s long history. It reinforces our commitment to the printing, publishing and graphic arts markets, by providing superior usability and productivity, and enabling our customers to ensure quality output for a very modest investment,’ said Mary Gay Marchese, public relations director, Markzware.
Pricing and Availability Updates to FlightCheck Professional and Designer v6.10 are available free of charge to registered FlightCheck 6.x users. The FlightCheck Professional upgrade for 5.x users is €199 or £139. The MSRP (end user price) for FlightCheck Professional is €499 or £329. For more information, or to purchase, visit: www.markzware-europe.com/store.
‘Impressions 2008’ demos lavish finishing options KBA’s 2008 calendar, designed by Andrea Focker, features the work of Dresden photographer Michael Lange…
KBA’s sumptuous calendar for 2008, ‘Impressions 2008’, is the work of Dresden photographer Michael Lange, who took natural objects – shells, wood bark, feathers, stones, plants and animals – and double-exposed them against colourful backdrops to create images of such artistry that it is hard to believe they are purely photographs processed for printing and finishing. Each page, with the essence of the image expressed in just one word, invites the observer to dwell and to meditate, to explore the fascinating details and to let the imagination run free.
Unlike previous KBA calendars, the technological emphasis in ‘Impressions 2008’ is not on matt/gloss contrasts but on selecting the type of finishing that will impart maximum impact to the image. This includes iridescent coatings that give the shells and feathers their inherent gleam and were applied under or over the colours to achieve the desired effect. Sometimes they are visible only in the highlights, sometimes as a powerful gloss with instant impact. Some pages feature contrasting matt/gloss effects obtained using hybrid consumables with the addition of a spot coating and UV iridescent coating from a coater. Others were given a full-solid UV gloss coating followed by a silk-soft, velvety spot coating plus UV matt coating.
This diversity was possible by printing on a six-colour Rapida 105 with two coaters and UV capability. In addition to process colours the press applied five different iridescent inks and three UV iridescent coatings, hybrid overprint varnish, UV gloss and matt coatings. The inks and coatings were supplied by five manufacturers.
The 14-page calendar measures 500 x 630m. The microflute mailing sleeve is equally elaborate. Following distribution to KBA’s customers and business contacts worldwide just 30 calendars will be available for which KBA is holding a prize draw. Anyone wishing to win one should e-mail: corinna.jacob@kba-print.de before 7 January. The lucky winners will receive their calendars later that month. The judges’ decision is final.
Pictured above: The calendar was designed by Andrea Focker, graphic artist at KBA Radebeul.
Additonal photographs: Showing the sumptuous images in KBA’s new calendar ‘Impressions 2008’ achieved with iridescent, hybrid and UV inks and coatings can be seen on the KBA Website.
The ‘Impressions 2008’ calendar was printed in one pass on a Rapida 105 six-colour dual coater hybrid press in the inplant experimental printing plant at KBA’s Radebeul facility. The back of the sheets were pre-coated separately. The press is also illustrated on the KBA Website.
The wide-format printer’s ‘To Do’ list for 2008 FESPA has compiled five suggestions for proactive wide-format printers to add to their ‘to do’ lists for the New Year…
'As the year draws to an end, it’s useful to look forward and think positively about some of the things you need to do when you return from the festivities to drive your business forward,' said FESPA's corporate communications director Marcus Timson.
'FESPA’s offering to print service providers is expanding rapidly, and it can be difficult to keep an overview of all the opportunities available to our community of screen and digital printers, so we thought it would be useful to give everyone a gentle reminder!'
Here’s the list: 1. Enter FESPA’s Digital Print Awards at: www.fespadpa.com. A winning entry will bring international recognition for your company, a unique platform to display your best work at FESPA Digital in Geneva (above), and a host of valuable promotional opportunities. It’s easy and free of charge to enter, but don’t forget, the deadline is 31 January 2008.
2. Log on to: www.fespadigital.com and pre-register for FESPA’s second dedicated digital event, which takes place at Geneva’s Palexpo from 1 to 3 April 2008. By pre-registering, you’ll ensure that you’re kept up-to-date with all the latest show news and features, enabling you to make the most of your time at the exhibition. And if you think digital textile printing could be a growth application for you, consider attending FESPA’s Digital Textile Conference, which runs alongside the show in Geneva. For more information, click on the Digital Textile Conference button at: www.fespadigital.com
3. Check out your travel and accommodation options for your trip to Geneva for FESPA Digital, if you want to take advantage of budget flight and hotel offers. You may even want to think about combining your trip with a weekend of winter sports, with scores of world-class ski resorts within striking distance of the city. For inspiration, visit: www.geneve-tourisme.ch.
4. Today’s printer is tomorrow’s marketing service provider, but many printers could benefit from guidance as to how to evolve their businesses. If you want to find out more about how to make the transition from print supplier to valued communications consultant, register to attend the FESPA Directors Forum in Budapest (28 - 29 February 2008) at: www.fespa.com/directorsforum
5. To tap into the full range of FESPA educational and business support initiatives, make it a priority to join your national FESPA trade association in 2008. Membership gives you access to free industry data such as FESPA’s recent Wide Survey conducted in partnership with InfoTrends, as well as reduced price access to business conferences, publications, and a range of exclusive member offers. For a list of FESPA’s member associations, visit www.fespa.com/general-content/fespa-associations.
For more information about the full range of FESPA events, initiatives and projects, visit: www.fespa.com simply by clicking on the FESPA sponsor logo or banner on our Home Page.
Fairway Press gives customers a CTP advantage Customers to benefit from shorter lead times and a higher quality with Fairway’s first CTP system from Heidelberg…
Customers of Fairway Press will benefit from shorter lead times and a higher quality dot when the company takes delivery of its first CTP system, a Suprasetter A 74 from Heidelberg this month (shown here during manufacture).
Furthermore, the use of Fuji Pro-T processless plates means the company will reduce its chemistry usage which fits in with its environmental stance.
The ‘business cards to boxes’ printer, which is based in Reading, will produce 250 GTO and 40 R200 plates a month. The company has five presses, three of them from Heidelberg and it is the known support that underpinned the company’s decision to buy the Suprasetter over rival systems.
The thermal unit is a Heidelberg-manufactured machine and is easy to use. The former film planner at Fairway will switch to CTP platemaking and is excited at the prospect.
Fairway’s production director Paul Ellaway said, ‘By investing in new technology and processes, we are ensuring that Fairway Press stays one step ahead of the competition in terms of quality, service and environmental responsibility. Today’s discerning customers expect this and Fairway Press is able to respond quickly to their demands thus maintaining a favoured position in the marketplace.’
Océ strives to ensure exam papers are secure Océ document management solutions take education in developing countries to the next level…
As a leading provider of digital printing and document management for professionals, Océ is helping Africa create a secure educational foundation. The company specialises in setting up reliable printing production processes that maintain strict document integrity for fraud sensitive documents like examination papers.
One of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals is to achieve universal primary education. In fact, without education it would be difficult to achieve any of the goals. Océ has made a strategic commitment to doing business in under-developed regions around the world. Océ has a track record of taking leading edge technology to the developing world and has a clear understanding of the unique challenges and requirements faced by educational institutions in developing areas.
The educational sector is a key focal area of Océ, from printing examination papers for universities to printing course materials, manuals and books for secondary schools. Exam printing presents a security risk even in the most highly developed countries. In developing regions like Africa, examination fraud is widespread because of the inadequate infrastructure, organised fraud activities and large student populations.
There are many steps in the examination process that are at risk. It starts when the professor transmits the digital exam to the printroom. The wide availability of e-mail and SMS text messaging makes digital versions of the exam particularly vulnerable during transmission. Here, Océ uses contemporary encryption software to reduce the window of risk. During the printing process, Océ uses bar code readers that register every page printed and ensure that exams are printed only once to protect document integrity. The company offers highly sophisticated printing solutions that provide additional security features. For instance, Océ uses digital printing to automatically rearrange the questions and create personalised examination papers that all have the same information but are different for each student.
Océ is working on many different education projects in Africa. For example, Océ is currently implementing a large-scale project for the West African Examinations Council, which comprises Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia. This council conducts technical examinations and awards educational certificates.
The company is also working on a sophisticated printing solution for the National Council for Technical Education In Tanzania and has various heavy duty printing systems installed with the Nigerian Education Council. In South Africa, Océ estimates that over 50 per cent of all national examinations are currently being printed on Océ printing systems. The bulk of these are printed by the Government Printing Works.
The Paper Company highlights the environment PaperCo swatch reflects new environmental drive in the boards market with 70 per cent FSC or recycled stock…
About 70 per cent of the new swatch from London-based PaperCo’s (The Paper Company Ltd) Graphic & Carton Board Division are FSC or recycled stock. The 15 product swatch is presented as part of a desktop penholder set and includes a CD Rom offering full stock range and technical details of the whole portfolio of products.
PaperCo recognises the importance its customers are putting on environmental credentials, spurred on particularly by the High Street chains and big corporates with Corporate Social Responsibility policies. Today Chain of Custody accreditation is a key factor in many buying decisions.
Jonathan Blundell, product manager for Board Co, said, ‘Ten years ago the reputation of recycled qualities was poor but developments in paper processing and manufacturing techniques mean that it is hard to tell the difference between recycled and virgin stocks. Their performance from cutting and creasing to folding and gluing is excellent.’
Among the FSC accredited boards in the swatch is Performa White and Cream, a Stora Enso product manufactured at the Fors mill in Sweden which has a sustainability policy, ISO 14001, EMAS Certificates of registration and FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody accreditation.
‘Over the last 12 months we have seen the volume of board sales rise dramatically at PaperCo because customers want the breadth of supply and choice but also the service, including conversion capability that we can offer our customers,’ said Blundell.
‘Among the strong performers are our Ensocoat and Performa grades, both FSC accredited and the Trucard range of products including Trucard 1 & 2 Gloss which are FSC accredited and recently Trucard 1 Gloss Recycled which benefits from being both 50 per cent recycled and FSC accredited, ideal for end use applications wherever FSC or recycled is important without compromising quality. All these grades are stocked in depth and available for immediate delivery.
FESPA announces jury for Digital Print Awards 2008 Entries to FESPA’s Digital Print Awards to be evaluated by an independent expert jury of industry leaders…
Entries to FESPA’s Digital Print Awards, supported by HP, will be evaluated by an independent expert jury of industry leaders, comprising print service providers, media experts and print specifiers.
The jury will be chaired, for the second year running, by industry guru and FESPA ‘founding father’ Michel Caza, who can call on his extensive experience during a fifty-year career as a pioneer and commentator on screen and digital printing. The other participants in the jury will be;
FESPA board member Christian Duyckaerts, whose own business, Print & Display in Belgium, has received numerous industry accolades for digital innovation.
Barney Cox, executive editor for the print group at Haymarket Business Publications, whose graphic arts portfolio includes PrintWeek, Printing World incorporating Print Buyer, Druck & Medien, PrintWeek Ukraine, PrintWeek Middle East, PrintWeek Russia and the online information source, printweek.com.
Alain Vermeire, editor-in-chief of Belgian business publications Grafisch Nieuws, Nouvelles Graphiques and M&C.
Michael Seidl, publisher of the central and eastern European Print & Publishing media group, whose titles serve print service providers in Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Lorenzo Villa, editor-in-chief of leading Italian industry publication Italia Publishers and its specialist sister title Large Format.
Uwe Heinisch, editor-in-chief of SIP, the leading German title for screen and wide-format digital print, and contributor to its partner magazine, TVP.
Agustin Torres, publisher of Pro-Digit@l, the industry publications covering the digital revolution in the dynamic Spanish and Portuguese graphic arts markets.
Tony Smith has over 20 years' creative experience covering everything from beer and cars to copiers and computers, picking up awards along the way. He has spent the last six years at Publicis working across all accounts and more recently was jointly in charge of the agency's HP business.
The jury will meet in London, UK, in mid February 2008, to review the entries received from printers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the eight award categories.
FESPA CEO Nigel Steffens commented, 'We are delighted to have brought together a jury of this calibre for the Awards. FESPA’s awards command a great deal of respect in our community, and one key reason for this is the high level of expertise of the people we work with to judge the entries. We thank the jurors for their commitment to this competition, and look forward to a stimulating debate in February.'
The competition is open for entries until 31 January 2008. To enter, printers simply visit: www.fespadpa.com, select a category for their entry, complete some brief details about the job, and attach up to three digital images. Entry is free of charge.
The eight category winners will be informed in writing, and will receive an expenses-paid trip to Geneva to a prize-giving dinner on 31 March 2008, with VIP entry to the FESPA Digital exhibition from 1 to 3 April. Their work will be displayed at the exhibition, and presented to the European trade press at a champagne reception on site, and they will benefit from valuable promotional support.
A world first for Halstan, Océ and Watkiss Halstan Printing group is first to run the black-and-white digital perfecting press inline to a Watkiss bookletmaker…
Lithographic printers Halstan Printing Group has started digital printing by installing an Océ VarioPrint 6250 and is the world’s first company to run the black-and-white perfecting press inline to a Watkiss PowerSquare 200 bookletmaker.
The investment will be a cornerstone in the development of a self-contained unit at the head office of the £7.8 million turnover company at Amersham in the UK, which is using the Océ/Watkiss combination to produce sheet music publications, journals and specialist books. The system is earmarked to take on £250,000 worth of Halstan’s work in its first year of installation. The company aims to increase the number of jobs printed on the machine as quickly as possible, with the intention of running it on a double-day shift within months. The Océ system will be supplemented with a digital colour press and short-run binding equipment before the end of the year.
Halstan closely assessed the digital arena for several years before committing to Océ. Chris Smith, chairman of Halstan, said, 'The Océ VarioPrint 6250’s introduction to the marketplace marked a turning point in digital technology and we knew that this was the product we had been waiting for. Before purchasing the Océ VP 6250 we reviewed systems from other manufacturers but found that, due to its high production capabilities, sheet size and high quality output, which on most stocks is indistinguishable from litho, the Océ VP6250 offers the best possible result.' He added, 'We have been very impressed with the quality of the halftones, which is particularly important on some of our key pharmaceutical work.
'Being a low temperature fusion machine, the Océ VarioPrint 6250 is also one of the few machines that can handle the wide range and sizes of specialist stocks that we use in both journals and music publications. To top it all, with the Watkiss PowerSquare 200 functioning inline to the Océ VarioPrint 6250, we are able to produce high quality square backed books in a single pass at a reasonable price. The style of wire stitching offered by the Watkiss has been of real interest too our music and journal publishing clients. Through buying the Océ/Watkiss combination we feel as if we have installed our very own little book factory.'
Smith summed up, 'At Halstan we believe the future of the book printer lies in an ability to help publishers better handle their stock levels and avoid the high management and inventory costs of housing backlist titles. Printing volumes as low as 10 copies is now a viable option for our customers and we also have the facility to produce personalised books if required, which could be a lucrative new commercial venture for our customers in the future.'
Craig Nethercott, Océ UK Ltd’s sector manager for Graphic Arts, said, 'By offering an unrivalled level of automation and print speeds of up to 250 A4 pages per minute, the Océ VarioPrint 6250 is an ideal system for the forward-thinking book printer such as Halstan. We are delighted that Halstan has benefited from the Océ VarioPrint 6250, which is the ideal system to produce quality, profitable short runs at the touch of a button and can supplement lithographic production.'
Halstan’s new digital division is proof of the company’s dedication to preserving the environment; it recently acquired full ISO 14001 accreditation. The Océ VP6250 offers reduced paper and toner usage, the system does not use selenium, developer or fuser oil, and the printing process produces virtually no ozone. In addition the system fuses at a lower temperature than other models on the market, which means the Océ VP6250 also uses less power.
Epson expands media portfolio with new canvas rolls Epson launches 1524mm PremierArt water resistant canvas and matte canvas for the Epson Stylus Pro 11880…
It has never been easier to produce high-quality, large-format canvas prints on demand. Photographers, reprographics specialists and artists can now extend their portfolio with Epson's 1524mm (60-inch) PremierArt Water Resistant Canvas roll and 1524mm Water Resistant Matte Canvas roll. Both are compatible with the recently launched 1626mm (64-inch) Epson Stylus Pro 11880 featuring UltraChrome K3 Ink with Vivid Magenta and are ideal for exhibition display, portraits or limited edition fine art.
Water Resistant Matte Canvas offers a smooth matte finish while the PremierArt Water Resistant Canvas provides a high-gloss finish. The durable blend of polyester and cotton, combined with a heavyweight, tight weave design provides a perfect base to create photographic and fine art prints. Their instant-dry, high-resolution coating will withstand stretching without sagging and display a subtle texture for a true artistic look and feel.
Said Martin Johns, business manager, Pro-Graphics, Epson, ‘Epson has established a strong reputation for providing superior products that professionals can rely on to continually perform. These are complemented by a wide choice of media, including matte and glossy papers up to 1118mm (44-inches). With the launch of these products our canvas range is now available up to 1626mm. As canvas prints become an increasingly popular choice for customers displaying photos and art at home, photographers and artists can meet this demand with even bigger prints that will really make an impression.’
Technology and expertise in Braille from Bobst The pharmaceutical industry, the Körber Medipak Group, Rondo SA and the Braille writing system…
Few packaging sectors require as much recourse to technology and expertise as the pharmaceutical industry. This is why the Körber Medipak Group, together with Rondo SA, offers specific concepts at each packaging stage - from development, through to delivery of the packs. Based in the Swiss region of Basel, Rondo also has subsidiaries in the Czech Republic and in the USA. It has 300 employees and a turnover of € 38 million, 90 per cent of which is in the pharmaceutical industry and the remainder in foodstuffs and cosmetics. 40 per cent of sales are exported to Europe, the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico. The quality of its standard or specialised packaging makes it an uncontested leader in the field. With ISO 9001:2000 certification, Rondo raises the bar of quality very high indeed.
The European directive requiring the name and dosage of medicines to be carried in Braille on their packaging presented a challenge. Where and how should the Braille dots be placed? On the labels? But this is a costly and slow process. Printed? An additional and expensive process which increases run time. Embossed in the printing line? A costly solution since one embossing tool is needed per exposure and this increases printer setting times. Moreover, the quality is poor since there are no counterparts and, with blanks that have been embossed, the folder-gluer's feeder performance can be affected.
Having acquired a great deal of know-how in Braille embossing (using Marburg Medium Braille) on pharmaceutical packaging, Rondo contacted its supplier of die-cutters and folder-gluers, Bobst, to help come up with a solution. After giving it some thought, Bobst's experts came to the same conclusion as Alfred Kälin, Rondo's technical manager: the solution is to Braille emboss on the folder-gluer. A team from Bobst put all its expertise into the development of an original solution which became the AccuBraille module.
Consistency, readability and precision The quality of the embossing carried out after the gluer feed process is so good that Rondo's customers now want their cartons produced with AccuBraille! Discussions for the purchase of new machines are therefore underway, according to Markus Staub, the company's CEO.
On the occasion of the presentation of this module during a symposium held last October at Rondo, which more than 40 customers attended, Alfred Kälin, made clear his conviction of its usefulness. He said, ‘It is difficult to obtain consistency of embossing height, readability, accuracy and profile clarity with a platen press. The AccuBraille module achieves this.’
He specifically pointed out the quality and regularity of the height of the embossed dots (up to 0.24mm). Kälin also mentioned that an AccuBraille tool can emboss one million boxes. Another advantage is that it is flexible enough to allow the dots to be placed at 3mm from a cut, folded or perforated edge, which is impossible with the other methods.
Driven by the same desire for innovation and by mutual respect, Rondo and Bobst have shown that they are reliable partners for their respective markets. For further technical information, please contact Hakan Pfeiffer Hakan.Pfeiffer@bobstgroup.com or visit the Website at: www.bobstgroup.com. Enquiries throughout Southern Africa can be directed to Beswick Machinery at: www.beswick.co.za.
PISEC ’07 thumbs up from exhibitors and delegates Feedback from PISEC ’07 has shown that 100 per cent of delegates found the event to be useful in relation to their work…
PISEC ’07, the leading global event for all brand protection, authentication, and anti-counterfeit professionals, this year held 19 – 21 November in London, UK, was attended by over 150 security professionals from a variety of different fields. These ranged from representatives from leading brands such as eBay, Beiersdorf, BP and Intel, to suppliers such as FractureCode, Ingenia Technology and Securikett, to governments and institutions including the EU, Home Office and Northern Ireland Office.
With over double the number of exhibitors and brand owners attending than at PISEC ’06, both the quantity and quality of PISEC attendees has risen. According to their feedback the majority of the exhibitors found the quality of delegates to be either good or very good. Already many companies have secured their participation at the 2008 event, including: Ingenia Technology, FractureCode, Payne Security, Securikett, Appleton and TUV Rheinland. Furthermore, the majority of delegates, in fact 98 per cent, said that they would return to PISEC again next year. There is no doubt that the speakers, who were secured for the event, were a contributory factor to this.
Top speakers from day one were Professor Martin Gill of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International and Professor Russell Cowburn from Imperial College London. On day two Jacob Gotzche from FractureCode and Janice Kephart of 9/11 Security Solutions proved to be the favourites.
The PISEC Gala Dinner and Awards, according to feedback from both delegates and exhibitors, were also a great success, and the PISEC Award winners were as follows:
Anti Forgery Technology Development Winner: FractureCode Highly Commended: Luminescence Commended: Payne Security
Development of Authenticity Products Winner: CounterFight Highly Commended: Securikett Commended: AlpVision
The Brand Owners Forum, which is an opportunity for brands to showcase some counterfeit products and their genuine counterparts, allowing the brands to discuss with the suppliers what they really need by way of a solution, was also rated highly. This year the forum consisted of: Autodata, Warner Bros, Arsenal FC, Rangers FC and Ben Sherman.
After the success of PISEC ’06 and PISEC ’07 the IDEX team is already looking forward to an even bigger and better event in 2008. We hope that you can join us there. Additional information will be published at a later date. You can also visit www.pisec-world.com for more information about PISEC.
First US NexPress S3000 with inline roll feeder Craftline Printing gets full-colour variable data capability with Kodak NexPress S3000 digital production colour press…
When Larry Lengacher of Craftline Printing visited the Kodak stand at the On Demand Conference and Expo in Boston last April, he saw exactly what he needed to expand his variable data printing (VDP) capability from black-and-white to full-colour. Shortly after the show, he purchased a Kodak NexPress S3000 digital production colour press with the inline roll feeder option.
Craftline serves as the first US installation of the NexPress S3000 press with inline roll feeder and utilises the system to provide a fully advanced colour VDP solution. The NexPress S3000 helps Craftline increase the ROI and effectiveness of its customers' communication materials by reaching audiences with messages that are relevant to an individual's unique needs and interests.
A $35 million company with 300 employees, Craftline's biggest customer is one of the largest healthcare companies in the United States. Craftline produces millions of printed materials every year for the organisation. Craftline combines the latest in digital print, Web and data modelling using lifecycle information - the recipient's age, income, ethnicity and other relevant data-to vary text and photos on each individual printed piece.
‘Craftline has a unique capability to capture data and use it in VDP applications that target each recipient,’ said Lengacher. ‘We previously used this capability only for black-and-white text and photos. Now, in the next few months, we'll print millions of pieces, and we'll swap colour images on each piece. This can make a big difference in the response our client receives for each mailing.’
In addition, the NexPress Press prints a barcode on each reply card that contains the mailing name, lead name, agent, and the lead's unique lifecycle information. When the recipients send back the cards to request more information, the cards are scanned into Craftline's proprietary lead generation system. That information is then sent over the Internet to the mailing agent's leads dashboard in the proper ZIP codes or demographic segments.
For workflow management of its prepress and printing operations, Craftline chose the Kodak Prinergy workflow system with the Insite Asset Library, giving its customers online access to their images and other digital assets-illustrations, logos, graphics, and job specifications.
‘We can now house assets in one place and customers can access them any time they're needed,’ said Lengacher. ‘This system saves both production and client service time since we no longer need to search for these assets.’
For more information about Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, visit www.graphics.kodak.com. You can also use the hyperlinked Kodak button, banner or sponsor logo on our Home Page.
Convert Microsoft Publisher documents to InDesign Markzware announces release of Microsoft Publisher to Adobe InDesign (PUB2ID v1.5) for Mac and Windows users…
After a very successful beta testing programme, Markzware is pleased to announce the exciting worldwide release of Microsoft Publisher to Adobe InDesign (PUB2ID) v1.5.
If you have Microsoft Publisher versions 2002 - 2007 files, you can now easily convert them into Adobe InDesign CS2 and CS3 documents.
Jessica Herbig, of Allegra USA said of the PUB2ID release, 'I use a multi-page MSP document with a few pictures, and lots of text flowing from page-to-page. The original was a PC file, and I opened it on my Mac G5 in InDesign CS2. It was such a fast conversion process and all of the images were automatically linked. The Windows founts were missing, which was a quick fix. It worked great, and what would have taken hours to retype and set text, now would only take about 15 minutes to format. Great work.'
'This is an exciting time for Markzware. PUB2ID is a product that gives customers the power to convert Microsoft Publisher files to Adobe InDesign. With Adobe InDesign as a broadly accepted industry standard, this latest conversion tool enables the creation and re-purposing of content, thus saving a lot of time,' according to Mary Gay Marchese, public relations director of Markzware.
PUB2ID is available for immediate download or on CD-ROM, starting at €199 or £139 End User Recommended Price. For more information please visit www.markzware-europe.com
QuadTech Autotron for Apple Converting QuadTech has announced another successful installation of the Autotron Packaging 2600 Register Guidance System…
QuadTech has announced another successful installation of the Autotron Packaging 2600 Register Guidance System at Apple Converting, a flexible packaging leader that offers solutions to the food and beverage, cosmetic, confectionary, consumer products, pharmaceutical and medical device industries in the United States.
Apple Converting’s customers rely on the company to provide continued process improvement and quality customer service. To meet its commitment, the company recently installed a new Cerutti nine colour 1194mm gravure press at its 4,260 sq/m facility in Oneonta, New York. This installation allowed Apple Converting to deliver on its promise to provide superior printing and coating at higher speeds.
Apple Converting wanted the further ability to track and optimise every key stage in the printing process, minimising waste and ensuring the best possible quality. To achieve that goal, Apple Converting enhanced its new press with the QuadTech Autotron Packaging 2600 Register Guidance System.
The Autotron 2600 is designed for maximum quality, maximum flexibility, and maximum waste reduction. It incorporates a host of advanced features for shaftless and conventionally driven presses alike – features that help ensure unsurpassed control and quality from first printing unit to finished product or rewinder.
By installing the Autotron 2600 on its new Cerutti nine colour gravure press, Apple Converting was able to make short work of once-difficult jobs such as printing light colours and low-contrast varnishes on a challenging substrate. The company was able to further ensure accurate, single-mark register throughout the printing process.
'Apple Converting’s services are synonymous with quality and commitment,' said Karl Fritchen, president of QuadTech. 'We are pleased to equip the company with the highest-performing automated control systems in the packaging industry and look forward to working with them in the future.'
Additional information on QuadTech are available on its Website which can be accessed using the banner or sponsor logo links on our Home Page.
Compass Sessions at Drupa 2008 The Compass Sessions are two-hour intensive workshops staged daily as a navigational aid for the printing industry…
An important cornerstone of the overall Drupa concept is the extensive knowledge transfer programme that helps visitors to get their bearings and provides real assistance. The programme’s building blocks, which are closely dovetailed, include the Compass Sessions, Highlights Tours, Drupa innovation parc and industry forum. ‘This modular system gives our visitors the opportunity to put together a personalised package and thus get the most out of the expertise on offer,’ said Drupa project director Manuel Mataré (pictured) of the Drupa 2008 concept.
The Compass Sessions are two-hour intensive workshops staged daily on topical issues regarding technology and new lines of business in the printing industry. Each Compass Session is devoted to a different theme. Held from 9am to 11am and combined with a light breakfast, they form the ideal start to the Drupa day. As well as providing information, the Compass Sessions also offer an ideal frame of reference and meeting point to get together with colleagues and exchange news and views. The Compass Sessions are organised by Print & Media Forum AG and will take place in the Congress Centre Düsseldorf.East at the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Centre.
The programme is as diverse as it is topical with themes ranging from digital/inkjet printing through offset printing, premedia and Web-to-print solutions to digital workflows and packaging printing. One of the highlights among the Compass Sessions promises to be the printed electronics talks on Wednesday, 4 June. Under the auspices of the Organic Electronics Association (www.oe-a.org), visitors will be able to gain comprehensive insight into this theme of the moment, which also encompasses RFID. Discussions are currently being held with other potential partner organisations.
The plans foresee each session comprising four half-hour talks by industry experts. Participation in the Compass Sessions will cost EUR 75; members of the German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm) pay EUR 60. A detailed programme as well as registration facilities will be available from January 2008.
In their role as navigational aids, the first ever Compass Sessions at Drupa 2004 were an instant hit with visitors. ‘We are highly satisfied with the total of over 500 participants over the eleven day programme,’ commented Bernd Adam of Print & Media Forum AG looking back to the 2004 event. ‘It was also especially gratifying to see the highly international profile of participants – more than half of them had arrived from abroad.’ Altogether, 39 speakers from more than five countries addressed nine themes, covering a wide range of material. As was expected, demand was especially strong on the days dedicated to JDF and networked production, offset printing as well as prepress.
Further information, a detailed schedule of events and the opportunity to register for the Compass Sessions can be found online at: www.compass-sessions.de.
Compass Sessions 2008 dates and topics Friday, 30 May - Digital/inkjet printing Saturday, 31 May - Digital workflows Monday, 2 June - Offset printing Tuesday, 3 June - Web-to-print solutions Wednesday, 4 June - Printed electronics (partner OE-A) Thursday, 5 June - Premedia Friday, 6 June - Packaging printing Saturday, 7 June - Digital/inkjet printing Monday, 9 June - Digital workflows Tuesday, 10 June - Premedia Wednesday, 11 June - Offset printing
System Brunner and QuadTech users meeting First Color Control System with Instrument Flight users’ meeting held in Switzerland hailed as successful…
On 15 and 16 November 2007, System Brunner and QuadTech invited selected users of the Color Control with Instrument Flight System to an experience exchange at System Brunner’s headquarters in Locarno, Ticino. Nine of the invited ten web offset printers from Germany and Switzerland attended the event and openly discussed their great satisfaction, but also expressed their wishes to extend the automated inline colour control system.
Since QuadTech Inc of the United States combined its Inline Color Control System for automated inking zone control with System Brunner Instrument Flight (CCS-IF) in 2000, around 400 systems have been sold worldwide with a high degree of customer satisfaction and clearly measurable financial benefits. The objective of this first users’ meeting was to bring together customers who master their CCS-IF systems, learn from their experience, and discuss their wishes for further development of the system.
The meeting agenda consisted mainly of presentations from QuadTech and System Brunner and three users. QuadTech stressed the importance of web press and Color Control System maintenance to get the best results from closed loop Inline Color Control, while System Brunner showed that inline colour control is even more efficient when standardisation extends from prepress to printing and presented the Print Expert Suite for process control and standardisation. Only one measuring device is needed for all modules Proof Checker, Plate Checker, Print Curve Checker, and Print/Production Checker.
Much attention was paid to the presentation of a leading paper manufacturer about 'Influencing factors of paper in a standardised printing process and the problems with present paper categories'.
However, the most interesting contributions were the presentations of the three user companies. Vogt-Schild Druck AG of Switzerland reported on its experience with Instrument Flight on its sheetfed and web presses, as well as the high visual conformity between proofs and printing which it achieves today almost automatically. Walcker Offsetdruck from Isny, Germany, has equipped all four of its web presses with the CCS-IF system. Technical manager Jürgen Forstmeier impressed the participants with his very detailed analysis of all print parameters, which allows him to use the ideal profile for every print job. He sees the most important benefit not only in the fast print start and the resulting savings in time and paper, but also in the security to match the colours exactly on repeat print jobs. Maik Coesfeld from Mohn media, Germany, gave an especially valuable presentation. Mohn has already equipped eleven of its web offset presses with the CCS-IF system. He stressed satisfaction with the system, but explained the technical and organisational challenges which a large print company like Mohn media has to face to keep the processes under control, and expressed some wishes as to how the control systems could serve him even better in the future.
At the end of the event, the managers of the participating printing companies were as satisfied with the information gained, as were the hosts QuadTech and System Brunner.
For additional information you can visit the QuadTech Website by using the banner or sponsor logo links on our Home Page.
Ipex 2010 dates for your diary IIR Exhibitions has announced that Ipex 2010 will take place from Tuesday 18 May to Tuesday 25 May 2010…
IIR Exhibitions has announced that Ipex 2010 will take place from Tuesday 18 May to Tuesday 25 May 2010…
IIR Exhibitions announces that Ipex 2010 will take place from Tuesday 18 May to Tuesday 25 May 2010 at The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England.
Ipex 2010 event director, Trevor Crawford, commented, 'We are delighted to have secured these key dates for Ipex 2010, which avoid all the main holiday dates in this period and allow us to continue our traditional Tuesday to Tuesday opening period.'
George Clarke, president of Ipex 2010, managing director of Heidelberg UK and chairman of Picon added, 'For the first time Ipex will be located in all the new halls linked around the modern atrium concourse, and with one main entrance. This has provided us with the opportunity to review product layout in line with industry developments. As a result we are confident that we can create a new ‘footprint’ for the event which will enhance both the visitor and exhibitor experience.'
Database link to InDesign or QuarkXPress documents Meadows releases Autoprice software for Adobe Indesign CS3 users for linking text and graphics databases…
Meadows Publishing Solutions (MPS) today announced the release their AutoPrice plug-in module for Adobe InDesign CS3. AutoPrice is a powerful yet easy to use tool for linking text and graphics in any type of database to Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress documents, vastly streamlining production. Proven over 12 years by many of the largest catalogue and financial publishers throughout the world, AutoPrice has set the standard for plug-in-based data connectivity software.
As the name implies, AutoPrice is engineered to automate the process of inserting, updating and versioning prices for catalogues, retail flyers and similar publications. It is also ideal for updating timetables, phone lists or any other type of information that can be referenced from a database or spreadsheet file.
'After adding the AutoPrice plug-in to our InDesign CS3 workflow, our catalogue production time fell considerably,' said Joseph Allen, senior graphic designer, American 3B Scientific. 'Using AutoPrice, we can now customise our product item numbers, and update all prices with the click of a mouse. It has been very helpful.'
Jodi Phillips, creative supervisor at Swanson Health Products added, 'Our company has been using AutoPrice for nearly six years now, utilising both the QuarkXPress and InDesign versions of the product. It is a critical part of our everyday production, enabling us to produce and update multiple mail-order catalogues each month. We rely upon AutoPrice to update important information such as pill counts, sizes, as well as retail and sales prices. Not only does this save us hours of production time and data entry, but it has substantially increased our efficiency levels and lowered our error rates.'
For more information about MPS software, please visit: www.meadowsps.com.
Laser Facilities acquires PaperGeni Leading South African print and mail bureau acquires Roodepoort-based envelope manufacturer to broaden services…
Laser Facilities, South Africa's leading print and mail bureau, has acquired PaperGeni, the Roodepoort-based specialist envelope manufacturer, for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition will provide Laser Facilities, a division of Bytes Technology Group, with immediate and long-term growth opportunities as it will be able to offer a wider selection of services and additional benefits.
As part of Laser Facilities' overall service, it sources and stores envelopes for mailing its clients' documents. Acquiring PaperGeni was a logical addition in a strategic plan of providing Laser Facilities' customers with a vertically integrated total solution.
As part of the agreement, all of PaperGeni's management and employees will remain in place, including Thorsten Schäfer, MD of PaperGeni who founded the company in 1990 together with his father Manfred. Schäfer will continue to run and manage the operation with the assistance of the Laser Facilities management team. This gives all current customers the assurance that they will enjoy the same service and competitive pricing as before, but with the added benefit of expanded service and product offerings, and with the financial backing of one of South Africa's largest listed IT companies, Bytes Technology Group.
'We can now offer an innovative one-stop solution for creative postal communication,' said Schäfer.
Konni Hoferichter (pictured), divisional manager of Laser Facilities, said, 'The acquisition is a major development for Laser Facilities and PaperGeni. We are excited to add a great team of people to our existing complement and can now give our clients an even more competitive and comprehensive offering.'
'We have long identified the need for ongoing vertical integration in our industry and have spent some time seeking the right partner for PaperGeni,' added Alan Keschner, the previous chairman of PaperGeni. 'In Laser Facilities we found a company that offers all the synergistic advantages that we and our customers were looking for.'
Laser Facilities, the digital print, mail and document management outsourcing specialist, is an operating division of the Bytes Technology Group SA. It specialises in bulk laser printing and mailing; on-demand and variable content printing; electronic document delivery and archiving solutions; stationery sourcing and management; document finishing; document composition and design; digitisation of signatures; and bulk scanning. With its headquarters in Johannesburg, the company also has branches in Durban and Cape Town. It services such clients as MTN, Cell C, Altech Autopage,Vodacom, IBM, Diners Club, Mr Price Group and SA Home Loans.
It has obtained an ISO 9001:2000 Certification from SABS, the only Bureau of it's kind to gain this qualification in SA. It also has an EmpowerDEX Triple B black economic empowerment rating. Kagiso Trust Investments has a 27 per cent shareholding in BTG SA (Pty) Ltd.
Pelican takes off with Screen CTP ‘Fast, cost effective and easy to use’ the three phrases used by Pelican to describe its new Screen CTP system…
‘Fast, cost effective and easy to use’ are just three phrases used by Pelican Press to describe its new Screen CTP system, which the company has recently installed at its Manchester-based site.
The 20 plate per hour PlateRite 4300S; along with a single plate autoloader and Screen’s Trueflow software; produces all the plates required for the company’s two Heidelberg perfecting presses, a job which was originally completed by two thermal CTP devices. According to managing director Ian Crow, the efficiency of the new Screen system has helped increase productivity, reduce expenditure and save on floor space.
Said Crow, 'We initially chose to go with the Screen offering because the hardware appeared more robust and durable and the software seemed a more flexible option than other packages on the market as it is able to accommodate a wider range of files.
'Now we have been working with the system for a number of weeks, we are beginning to realise the true potential of our investment. The PlateRite 4300S has proven so reliable, the amount of plates we are wasting per week have been reduced from 50 to zero. This translates into savings of £150 in consumable costs and three hours of operator time per month. On the software side, the Trueflow software has allowed us to speed up our file processing time by 40 per cent, meaning we have been able to reduce our overtime bill by around £600 per month.
'Further to this, a number of automated features on the PlateRite 4300S has made the process of fitting jobs on the press faster and more accurate. The inline punching facility alone has cut makeready by around five minutes per job. Taking into account the fact that we put around 25 jobs daily through our two SpeedMaster machines; it means we are two hours more productive per day than we were before.'
As well as the Screen CTP system, Pelican Press is also planning to install Screen’s Rite Approve software, which allows customers to proof work online. The company has offered online proofing facilities via Real Time Proof software for five years, but has decided to change to the Screen offering due to the fact that the Rite Approval suite is a browser based application.
Crow explained, 'Our online proofing service has become an invaluable facility that customers have grown used to over time and we are keen to continue offering this service. However, the problem with our existing tool is that it requires the customer to download software in order for them enjoy the benefits of the service. Many large companies do not warm to this and often firewalls put in place for protection purposes can in fact block the process. When we learnt the Rite Approve option allows clients to access the software by simply inserting a Web address, we knew this would help more of our customers benefit from the fast and straightforward method of proofing online. We are looking forward to officially launching our new improved online proofing service in the coming weeks.'
Pelican Press was established in 2002 and has a turnover of £3.2 million. 32 employees look after the company’s reprographic, lithographic, digital and finishing departments and create commercial print for government establishments, design and print management agencies and a variety of small to medium and corporate clients across the board.
Polar has presented its new Drupa products From 12 to 16 November Polar’s international sales partners attended its ‘Big Size’ Drupa preview in Hofheim…
More than 400 partners from 27 countries came and followed the presentation of the Drupa products made by Polar. The guests’ feedback shows that the event was a real success. No less than 26 participants from nine countries also accepted the invitation to the press conference in Hofheim on 13 November.
Due to the Drupa preview the customer centre in Hofheim is equipped as never before. Apart from the highly automated cutting system for the format 7S, nearly the entire Polar product range is shown, from the new fully automated jogging system Autojog XT to the newly designed Polar 66. In total there are 41 machines with 6 gripper systems and 9 high speed cutters, as well as 2 automated cutters ready for presentation.
The idea behind the Drupa preview was to present the new products, as well as modifications and improvements on the current products to the worldwide sales partners. Prior to Drupa this should serve to underline that Polar products are a secure investment.
Pictured above: Managing directors Michael Neugart and Alfred Henschel (left to right) in front of a Polar cutting system L-R-176-T Pace.
Additional information is supposedly available at: www.polar-mohr.com. However, if you can't find the answers you're looking for related to Drupa 2008 - phone your local Polar sales manager at Heidelberg - if he was at the presentations in Hofheim, he should have the answers - as this 'Drupa' announcement gives nothing away!
Move into web offset spurs growth for D’Auria KBA Compacta 215 at D’Auria in Italy, has accelerated the dynamic growth of this innovative yet traditional family firm…
Like many other Italian commercial printers, D’Auria in S Egidio alla Vibrata, in the province of Teramo, runs a 16pp KBA Compacta 215 and has done for just over a year. The press has accelerated the dynamic growth this innovative yet traditional family firm has enjoyed since installing KBA Rapida sheetfed presses some years ago.
The company was founded as D’Auria Industrie Grafiche, a sheetfed specialist with a reputation for top-quality products. The association with KBA began in 1998 with a second-hand Varimat four-colour press. In 2002 there followed a large-format Rapida 162, also for four colours, and in 2004 a Rapida 105 universal.
But after years of strong growth the 90-employee enterprise decided to expand its activities, and at the beginning of 2005 it set up a dedicated commercial web offset subsidiary, D’Auria Printing, adding a new production hall along with new pre-press and finishing kit. The start-up of the Compacta 215 in August 2006 brought company head Dr. Cristiano D’Auria much closer to his goal of printing long runs of supplements and promotional literature as well as catalogues, magazines, books, posters and calendars.
Successful start with expert assistance Dr. D’Auria hired two experienced commercial web offset specialists, Norberto Bucciarelli and Attilo Dalfiume, as consultants, and these have streamlined the workflow and brought the young press crew up to speed. Said Dr. D’Auria, 'This was totally new technology for us, so we didn’t want to take any chances. There is no doubt in our minds that the Compacta 215 was the right choice: it is a reliable, globally proven machine that unites performance and flexibility. The figures show that our expansion into web offset could not have gone more smoothly. In 2003 we posted sales of between five and six million euros: by the end of this year we’ll have hit the 18 million euro mark. While sheetfed generates around 10 to 11 million euros of the total, web offset is already making a substantial contribution.'
Kitting up for greater production flexibility The 16-page press at D’Auria Printing is a right-to-left version configured with a Patras M reel-handling system, a Pastostar RC reelstand, five printing units, a Vits thermal air dryer, a superstructure with main and auxiliary former, an automatically convertible F3 gripper folder and a sheeter. The press is controlled from two ErgoTronic consoles and a desk at the sheeter. A LogoTronic Basic press presetting system allows data to be transferred digitally from pre-press. The Compacta 215 is chiefly used for print runs of between 30,000 and 1.2 million copies.
Delighted at the performance of the new KBA Compacta 215 (from left): Martin Schoeps, KBA sales manager; Dario Braschi, KBA-Italia marketing manager; Dr. Cristiano D’Auria and consultant Norberto Bucciarelli.
Autobond takes remote diagnostics to new levels UK manufacturer Autobond is launching what it believes may be a world first in the graphic arts industry…
UK manufacturer Autobond is launching what it believes may be a world first in the graphic arts industry. From December onwards all new Autobond laminators will incorporate wireless webcam and Skype phone facilities, which will give the company the ability to provide customers with instant advice if they are experiencing a problem during production, regardless of where they are situated.
'Autobond laminators have incorporated Siemens electronics for years and this has enabled us to offer remote diagnostics facilities using a standard telephone line,' said managing director John Gilmore. 'However, we are taking the concept of remote diagnostics to a completely new level.
'New laminators will be supplied with a wireless Panasonic Network Camera, which will simply be clipped on to the side of the machine when not in use. When required, the operator can pick up and move the camera around as instructed by the engineer. We will also provide customers with a Skype telephone, which gives free unlimited telephone calls over the Internet to an Autobond engineer.
'This means that if a customer is experiencing difficulties, he can call Autobond on the Skype telephone and be put straight through to a highly experienced engineer. Even if the engineer was away from the Derbyshire factory, he would be able to view on his monitor every part of the laminator and instruct the operator to carry out certain procedures, including removing covers etc to see inside the machine.
'In addition, the system will have a built in microphone and this means that the engineer can listen to the sounds that the various parts of the laminator make, which is extremely valuable in diagnosing problems. The system is wireless, so the equipment is not intrusive in any way and the cost is so little that we will absorb it into the normal selling price, with no increase to customers.
'With Autobond laminators in use in more than 140 countries this is obviously a huge advantage to both us and our customers,' said Gilmore. 'Autobond laminators have a worldwide reputation for reliability and the majority of problems encountered during production are due to incorrect settings, which can be identified and rectified very easily and quickly with this new system.
'Furthermore, the engineer will also be able to determine within moments if a machine part has become worn or damaged, in which case the correct component can be couriered directly to the customer’s premises or brought when the engineer makes his visit.'
Drupacube – a programme tailored to print buyers With the Drupacube, Drupa 2008 will for the first time provide a special event aimed at the print buyer target group…
With the Drupacube, Drupa 2008 will for the first time provide a special event aimed at the print buyer target group. As will be the case in the 19 halls, here too the spotlight will be on printed products – with one key difference. At the event inside the pavilion set up on the Rhine, the focus will be squarely on marketing-driven applications for printed products. The technology that makes this possible will play a subsidiary role. This shift in perspective offers one unbeatable advantage: Heads of marketing and publishing directors, production managers, account executives and creative directors will be able to take in print’s potential in the marketing mix in a compact format.
‘With this tool, we intend to attract print buyers to Drupa in greater numbers. Undoubtedly, many of the exhibitors also have offerings catering to this target group. But at a technology fair of Drupa’s kind, this type of information is often in danger of being drowned out,’ said Manuel Mataré, Drupa project director, describing the aim of the event. ‘The Drupacube acts as a portal for print buyers by serving up concise infotainment on all things print communications and guiding them to exhibitors’ stands.’
The diversity of the print buyer target group will be matched by the multifaceted offerings in the Drupacube. Symposia and workshops will tackle the most varied topics, with each day dedicated to a specific motto. To this end, one day will be given over to newspapers and/or magazines, others to direct marketing, catalogues and corporate communications. Also in the pipeline are cross-sectoral symposia addressing, for instance, brand protection, green printing and the relationship between the arts and print.
‘We plan to engage people in the topics they have to deal with every day,’ explained Mataré. To ensure this, the relevant associations have been called on to assist with the planning and design. The following associations have already committed to the project: Deutscher Direktmarketing Verband (German Direct Marketing Association – DDV), Forum Corporate Publishing (FCP) and the Fachverband der Medienproduktioner (media production association – f:mp). Newspaper, magazine and free sheet publishers have also given their support to the concept. In addition, talks are underway with numerous Drupa exhibitors on how their print-buyer-relevant information can be combined with the offerings in the Drupacube.
The chief attraction of the Drupacube is its location off the actual fairgrounds but in their immediate vicinity – that is, in front of the Congress Centre South, on the banks of the Rhine. The site of the Drupacube sets it apart, making it clear that it serves as a separate access point to the trade fair for a specific target group. Integrated into the regular trade fair activity, it would have become another way station instead of a portal.
What’s more, the Drupacube will be laid out so that each of print segments can be individually celebrated. While, during the day, new production technology for catalogues is explored, a party for those in charge of catalogues can be staged in the evening and even go on into the early hours. This feature of the event concept can only be realised off the fairgrounds. In providing not only information but also stylish entertainment, the Drupacube ties in perfectly with the city of Düsseldorf and its innovative Media Harbour on the Rhine.
The latest updates on the Drupacube and its programme can be found at: www.Drupacube.com.
Over 10,000 Certified PDF files a year at TGS Enfocus Software's PitStop Professional proves vital to De Schutter'Neroc subsidiary Total Graphic Solutions...
An Enfocus PitStop Professional workflow has proved to be the heart of Belgian prepress house Total Graphic Solutions, enabling over 10,000 PDF files a year to be checked, corrected and converted into a Certified PDF format. TGS, which is a subsidiary of De Schutter'Neroc, employs three people who are based permanently at the premises of Brussels customer Medialogue.
'Medialogue is an advertising sales house that is part of the pan-European Sanoma publishing group,' said TGS project manager Carine van Gele. 'In 2000 Medialogue was seeking a way to implement a digital environment for advert copy and eliminate the need to handle the thousands of pieces of film that it received each year on behalf of clients. These were leading manufacturers and brand names, placing significant volumes of advertisements within the huge range of glossy magazines published by Sanoma.
'However, Medialogue did not have the technical expertise to create what it needed and so the company outsourced the work to TGS, which had been providing digital prepress facilities for some time. The leap from traditional films to PDF and the logistics of the work were such that it was decided to base three TGS operators at Medialogue.'
Patrick Hermie, deputy director of Medialogue, added, 'For us this leap was a huge challenge. We had no technical knowledge within the company and we also knew that for most of our customers the change would be a difficult process. Considering the number of advertisements we handle each year, we could not afford any "learning period". From day one the operation had to work one hundred per cent, which was why we decided to work with TGS. Our co-operation has been very successful and I am convinced that PitStop has certainly helped in this.'
Carine van Gele continued, 'Without PitStop software the plan would not have worked. PDF files are sent to us from throughout Europe and the USA and many of these have either not been created to any standard or they have been produced to one only relevant for that country. This means that we have to check, and often correct, files that are classed as Certified PDFs if they are not to the standard of Enfocus Certified PDFs.
'One of the main aims of Medialogue in setting up a completely digital workflow was to reduce the number of complaints from its advertisers, arising from mistakes in work that were generally not identified until the job was at the printer,' said Carine van Gele. 'The introduction of PitStop Professional and PitStop Server have virtually eliminated this problem and the many printers around Europe that we send work to can be confident that when we supply a Certified PDF file it is OK to print.
'The combination of PitStop Professional and PitStop Server is so good that it virtually eliminates most of the errors we find in PDFs, resulting in 90 per cent less complaints since we've changed from film to PDF.
'The identification and correction of errors are now done much earlier in the production chain and with much greater speed. This gives advertisers a later deadline in the cycle to transmit copy, which is a major bonus to them. In addition, the degree of automation offered by the Enfocus software ensures a high level of accuracy, with little manual intervention required by the TGS operators.'
PitStop Professional, an Adobe Acrobat plug-in, provides interactive and automated editing functions, enabling advanced PDF editing and correction up until the last moment. The comprehensive pre-flight facilities will identify and correct errors or highlight them to the operator, while the ability to set up global criteria enables automatic universal modifications to be made throughout a document. The powerful Certified PDF technology gives immediate visual feedback and provides full tracking of every edit made to the PDF file. TGS has received the recently introduced PitStop Professional 7 and is currently exploring the additional features offered in the new software.
'We have found PitStop to be very straightforward to use,' said Van Gele. 'In the early days of using the software we sent to Enfocus any files with problems we could not overcome. Their experts were very quick to come back with a solution. With the experience we now have we rarely use this service, but it is reassuring to know that this level of support is available. I would say that the software is so efficient when dealing with PDF files that any size of agency, even a single freelance designer, should find PitStop cost-effective to install.'
Pictured above: Carine Van Gele, technical manager advertising, Medialogue; and Els Tresignie, commercial and logistics manager, Medialogue.
In-line stitching for the Newbury Weekly News The Newbury Weekly News is to add Tolerans Speedliner in-line stitching from WRH to its Goss Universal 70 press…
When the Newbury Weekly News was looking to add in-line stitching facilities to its Goss Universal 70 press, the reputation of the Swedish made Tolerans Speedliner system was such that the company hardly looked elsewhere, according to managing director Adrian Martin. That reputation has resulted in an order for Tolerans distributor WRH Marketing UK, which will install a Speedliner system at the Newbury site this month.
'Tolerans has become the standard in the UK for in-line stitching of newspaper sections and we are confident that the Speedliner will be installed without any disruption to production and that it will perform reliability,' sid Martin. 'The Speedliner is extremely well engineered and will operate at the full press speed of our Goss Universal.
'Like most regional newspapers today we have been examining opportunities to add value to our print services. Providing in-line stitching is an obvious route because it creates a higher quality product that remains intact during its lifespan, while having additional sections within the paper offers benefits to readers and advertisers.'
The Newbury Weekly News, which has a circulation of 25,000, is only one of several publications produced by Newbury Weekly News Printers Ltd, an independently owned family business now into its sixth generation. The company has been providing contract printing services for the last 30 years and today handles a wide range of publications.
'A lot of our contract print customers are independent publishing businesses similar to ourselves and we expect that the new Tolerans in-line stitching facility will be an attractive option for the sort of titles they produce. Our Goss Universal lets us print up to 96 pages in full-colour and our contract printing side of the business currently handles runs from 5,000 to 100,000 on this press.'
The Goss Universal 70 press at Newbury is fitted with a 2:3:3 folder unit. This will be linked to the new Speedliner, which is a shaftless in-line stitcher that can operate at speeds of up to 105,000cph (with an option of 130,000cph) and has a capacity to stitch eight-144 pages of 40gsm stock (option of 192 pages). The cut-off range is between 410 – 700mm, while anything between two to six stitches can be applied per product.
'I’ve dealt with WRH Marketing UK in the past while working at other newspaper plants and have always found them to be extremely helpful and professional,' said Martin. 'I’m looking forward to working with them again on this new project here at Newbury.'
The Newbury Weekly News was formed in 1867. During the last few years the paper has won several awards for its quality. In 2005 it won the Newspaper Society’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year award and this year its Newburytoday Website won the overall category in the society’s category for best Website in the regional press. For the past two years the group has been voted best coldset printer for single width printers in the Goss user group annual awards.
Pictured above: Newbury Weekly News chairman Jeremy Willis; managing director Adrian Martin; and operations director Paul Jordan.
CIP4 announces four additional award categories The CIP4 organisation announces a reorganisation of its annual CIPPI Awards programme and early deadline in 2008…
The International Co-operation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organisation announced a reorganisation of its annual Jürgen Schönhut Memorial CIP4 International Print Production Innovation (CIPPI) Awards programme and the deadline for 2008 applications. The awards programme is being expanded from its original three award categories to seven. The new categories for the CIPPI awards are:
•First and Second Place - Best cost/benefit realisation and improvement in efficiency as a result of process automation implementation •First and Second Place - Biggest improvement in quality production and customer responsiveness as a result of process automation •Most innovative use of process automation technology in an implementation •Best Process Automation Implementation - Europe •Best Process Automation Implementation - North America •Best Process Automation Implementation - Asia Pacific •Best Process Automation Implementation - Emerging Markets
'As CIPPI Award judges, we recommended that the additional regional Best Process Automation Implementation awards be added to the programme based upon our experience with the 2007 awards programme,' said CIPPI Review Panel Judge, Bill Lamparter of Printcom Consulting. 'We had two outstanding candidates last year that were competing in the same category; one from Europe and one from Japan. We selected the one from Europe for first place because it involved the integration of two printing companies and their customer, illustrating cross-company integration with JDF. The Japanese applicant had achieved end-to-end plant integration, and while that was a remarkable leap over other printers from Japan and Asia, as German and English language interfaces for JDF-enabled equipment have been around longer and European printers have been more aggressive in implementing JDF. The new regional categories allow the Judges to recognise that printers from Japan, Germany, China, India, South Africa, Brazil and so on are different and have different challenges they are working with.'
Another key change to the CIPPI awards programme is that each application may be considered for all award categories and may be selected to win more than one award. 'We issued two special honourable mentions this year to companies that applied to one category, but were clearly suited to another category,' said CIPPI Review Panel Judge Stephan Jaeggi of PrePress-Consulting. 'A 2007 application from R/T Associates demonstrated end-to-end digital printing automation and would have been the clear choice for the most innovative category, but their application was for another category. By allowing single applications to be considered for all categories, we expect that there will also be more applications for the CIPPI awards programme in general.'
The deadline for the 2008 CIPPI awards programme applications is 20 March, 2008. 'This is a short cycle for the CIPPI awards programme,' said CIP4 executive director James Harvey, 'There is usually a 12-month cycle for the programme; however, this will enable us to present the 2008 CIPPI award winners at Drupa 2008. We believe that highly-efficient, automated print processes is going to be at the top of the shopping list for most Drupa attendees and the examples the CIPPI awards programme provides to printers looking for innovative ideas and direction can be of great value. We will hold a special reception for the winners at Drupa, the perfect gathering spot for printers from around the world.'
Any printer, prepress service or publisher may apply for the CIPPI awards and awards are determined by the Review Panel of Judges without affiliation to any vendor, printer, prepress service or publisher. The five Review Panel judges are:
•Patrick Cahuet of 1Prime|Concept (France) •Stephan Jaeggi of PrePress-Consulting (Switzerland) •Tetsuo Kimura of PrinTechno, Inc (Japan) •William C Lamparter of PrintCom Consulting Group (USA) •John Leininger of Clemson University (USA)
Details on the CIPPI awards, case studies from previous winners of the CIPPI Awards and 2008 CIPPI award applications can be downloaded at www.cip4.org/cippi/. The CIPPI award is named after the late Jürgen Schönhut of the Fraunhofer Institute in Darmstadt Germany. Schönhut was a founding member of CIP4 whose contribution was instrumental in creating both CIP4 and its predecessor, the CIP3 Consortium. (For more information on Jürgen Schönhut please see his biography at: www.cip4.org/cippi/juergen_schoenhut.html.
WPG boosts its green credentials with Komori WPG sets out to improve its environmental credentials with a new alcohol-free five-colour Komori Lithrone S29…
WPG Ltd has set out to improve its environmental credentials with the purchase of a new alcohol-free five-colour Komori Lithrone S29. The company replaced a Mitsubishi with the new press which will standardise the factory as an all-Komori house. As well as minimising waste, the unbeatable make-ready speeds of the LS29 will streamline production and increase efficiency to raise productivity.
WPG was founded in 1960, bought out in 1992 and has stayed within the family ever since. Paul Jones (pictured) took over from his father Brian as managing director a year ago, and Brian now serves as chairman. The printing house in the picturesque town of Welshpool backs onto a nature reserve and WPG has shown its commitment to the local area by building a safe storage area to prevent any possibility of chemical spills or pollution.
WPG bought the new press based on personal experience as the company has been operating a four-colour Komori since 1986. Managing director Paul Jones said, ‘Over the years we have received great service support from Komori. We have a 21 year old Komori which we have owned from new; its reliability is excellent and it still produces brilliant quality print. Our minders highly endorse Komori presses for their ease-of-use in comparison to other manufacturers so it was a natural progression to buy a new model to replace the Mitsubishi. The 737mm (29-inch) plate size suits our A2 and B2 work and the fifth unit lets us seal and print special colours in one pass, adding value and ensuring top quality for our customers.’
A main factor for choosing a Komori press is the ability to run alcohol free. The new LS29 and the two older four-colour presses now all run without alcohol, a vision which has been realised with help from staff at Komori. The company is putting the wheels in motion to obtain both FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Council) accreditation which guarantees responsible use of paper from well managed forests. Other initiatives enforced by management include recycling everything, from aluminium plates to plastic cups, and disposing of all other waste responsibly in designated bins. The company strives to reduce landfill waste and a local waste paper processing company collects waste paper and cardboard daily for recycling. WPG is starting a Vision in Print Material Waste Reduction Programme in the New Year, involving a team of employees to standardise processes and ultimately minimise the company's impact on the environment. The business will also be working towards ISO14001 in 2008 and aims to be accredited by the end of the year.
Jones continued, ‘Margins are extremely tight and meeting turnaround times is crucial but it is also increasingly important to make continual improvements to protect the environment. Komori has helped us go down this route with the alcohol free presses and waste reduction and we are now fully committed to streamlining the business and meeting customers' expectation for a totally green operation.’
Steve Turner, Komori general sales manager (North) commented, ‘The Komori Corporation strives to be as environmentally responsible as practically possible. The new manufacturing plant in Tsukuba utilises solar and wind power, and all Komori presses are designed to reduce the emissions of pollutants, as well as printing alcohol free. It's great news that WPG share our commitment to environmental care.’
If you would like to visit the Komori Website for additional information, please use the animated banner or sponsor logo links on our Home Page. Komori is represented by Kemtek Imaging Systems in Southern Africa, also with banner and a logo link to its Website.
KBA secures numerous Rapida orders at PolygrafInter PolygrafInter 2007 in Moscow: KBA RUS is delighted with the results; plus Compacta 215 unit goes to MGUP for training…
At this year's PolygrafInter exhibition in Moscow in October, KBA treated each day's visitors to three print demonstrations on its Rapida 105 universal press, which was set up on the stand of Russian subsidiary KBA RUS in a six-colour coater configuration with extended delivery. Specially equipped for labels production, and with an enlarged special format of 740 x 1050mm, the press could be seen in action at speeds of 16,000 sheets per hour. It has in the meantime been taken into service at a local Moscow print company.
Alongside the many print industry professionals interested in sheetfed technologies, the exhibition stand also attracted many visitors from the commercial web and newspaper sectors, and a number of new projects have since materialised. A printing unit of the Compacta 215 16-page commercial web press, which was to be seen at the exhibition (pictured above) alongside the medium-format sheetfed Rapida, was subsequently transferred to the KBA lab at the Moscow State University of Printing Arts (MGUP), where it will be used for training purposes.
PolygrafInter was also commercially a complete success, with numerous contracts having been concluded for press deliveries to Russia and other CIS states. Business Media from Almaty in Kazakhstan, ordered a five-colour Rapida 105 universal, which will be arriving before the end of the year. In February 2008, a further five-colour Rapida 105 universal with additional coating facilities, will be headed for 21. Ofsetnaya Tipografia in Moscow. And another press of the same series has been earmarked for a printer in Baku, Azerbaijan. Discussions conducted during the exhibition showed clearly that increasing investment activities are to be expected in Russia in the next few years.
Co-operation with Moscow University At a fringe event held at the MGUP during the exhibition, Dr. Roland Reichenberger and Ulf Funke from KBA gave presentations on new technologies for sheetfed offset printing and the trends in modern newspaper production. The meeting was also taken as a fitting occasion to introduce a new reference book for the students of the Moscow university entitled ‘Sheetfed Offset Printing Presses from KBA’. The book was written by a team of authors from the MGUP, with appropriate support from KBA and KBA RUS. Representatives from both KBA and the MGUP described the installation of the Compacta printing unit and the publication of the new reference book as important steps towards further intensification of the longstanding co-operation. A second joint reference book addressing web offset issues and a series of special seminars on KBA products is already planned.
Pictured above: The Compacta 215 printing unit from the KBA exhibition stand will in future serve to promote research and training at the MGUP in Moscow.
Star Peripherals Part IV now in Online Features Exact, efficient, and energy-saving: Heidelberg’s new CombiStar 3000 and CombiStar 3000 Pro inking unit temperature control…
Part IV of our specialised feature articles highlighting the Heidelberg Star System covers the whole system solution incorporating peripherals for Speedmaster presses is now online in our Technology-related section of Online Features 2007.
In the first three articles in the series devoted to peripherals, we presented the AirStar 3000 air supply, CoatingStar coating supply, InkLine 3000 ink supply system, and the DryStar 3000 and DryStar 3000 UV drying systems. Part four deals with the CombiStar 3000 and CombiStar 3000 Pro, the new system for inking unit temperature control and dampening solution preparation. Part III appeared in July of this year and the fifth and final part will appear early in the new year.
You can click on the headline below to take you straight to the article: Star Peripherals from HeidelbergExact, efficient, and energy-saving – Heidelberg’s new CombiStar 3000 and CombiStar 3000 Pro inking unit temperature control. New Article Series, Part IV. By Hilde Weisser
Improved environmental protection for Heidelberg machines TU Darmstadt and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen set up an environment portal for ecological product development…
In co-operation with the Technische Universität Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt), Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has set up an intranet-based environment portal that provides in-house developers with more support for ecological product development processes.
Customers receive useful information on Heidelberg products and their environmental compatibility. The project was unveiled at the closing symposium organised by Transfer Unit 55 of the TU Darmstadt on 21 and 22 November, 2007. Representatives from various associations, industry and political circles spoke on the topic of 'EcoDesign: From theory to practice'. The five participating companies reported on the results of the three-year project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation).
Over 1,500 Heidelberg employees, or around eight per cent of the workforce, are employed in the research and development of future products and solutions. Around 950 of these specialise in sheetfed offset printing. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is split up into quality gates - from the product idea, business plan, technical design implementation and performance testing, to field tests, market launch, series production and discontinuation. Environmental protection plays a key role in all these processes.
'The aim of the project with Heidelberg was to develop equipment to integrate environmental protection into Heidelberg’s development process,' explained Dirk Hanusch, Research Associate at the TU Darmstadt. Today, developers have access to an intranet-based environment portal that determines and checks environmental requirements automatically using the 'House of Environment' and 'EcoSpec' databases.
The project focused on the individual modular components in a press, such as the feeder, inking unit, dampening unit, dryer and delivery. When a developer is working on a new feeder for example, the environment portal provides him with the environmental requirements stored for the components. The portal also gives an overview of the components’ environmental relevance, providing useful tips, additional explanations and background information. In this way, the developer is supported by the know-how in the environment portal and can use his limited resources to best suit the specific development. In the future, his experience and expertise will also be stored in the environment portal and other developers will be able to access the information in the medium term in the form of best practices.
Several users can access the environment portal simultaneously. The integrated equipment can also be used to evaluate possible environmental risks, thus augmenting risk and quality assessments. 'We want to drive forward the concept of ecological product development and continue to maintain and expand the environment portal in the future,' explained Ingrid Amon-Tran, project manager at Heidelberg. She continued, 'We want to show our customers that print products manufactured in environmentally friendly processes using innovative solutions can go hand-in-hand with lower printing costs.'
Heidelberg views sustainability as a corporate responsibility, which is why the company made environmental protection one of its corporate objectives back in 1992. The principle of sustainability aims at creating a balance between economics, ecology and social commitment. The current Sustainability Report for the 2006/2007 financial year documents how the company puts these principles into practice. Heidelberg has been publishing an Environmental Report since 1993, renaming it the Sustainability Report in 2000/2001. Seminars offered by the Print Media Academy and several brochures on the interplay between printing and the environment provide a broad range of information on the topic.
Pictured above: Screenshot 'Environmental requirements in product development'.
For a copy of the new Sustainability Report, send an e-mail to environment@heidelberg.com or fax +49 (0)6221 92 50 69.
The document can also be accessed on the Internet. Environmental data, contacts and general information on the company's production and development sites are also available online from there. For information on the seminars of the Print Media Academy, go to: www.print-media-academy.com.
KBA joins the ‘Print Sells’ initiative Print – an effective advertising medium in countless variants demonstrated by CEPIFINE and the United Print Chain…
The campaign ‘Print Sells’, initiated by the European Association of Fine Paper Manufacturers CEPIFINE and the United Print Chain, was launched just a few weeks ago under the slogan ‘Print. Your Brand in Their Hands’. The purpose of the campaign is to demonstrate the true potential of print advertising. As many decision-makers both in industry and in the creative media sector are often insufficiently aware of the strength, credibility and versatility which print advertising is able to lend to a brand, it was for KBA and many other suppliers only natural to support the campaign.
The aim of the ‘Print Sells’ initiative is to provide targeted information to decision-makers in the fields of brand promotion, marketing, communication and advertising on the impact of various print media segments such as direct mailing, magazines, in-store advertising and corporate communication. An informative brochure has been produced on each of these four topics, and distributed to 440,000 addressees all over Europe (73,000 in Germany).
The direct KBA contribution to the ‘Print Sells’ effort was the printing of 550,000 copies of the brochure ‘Magazines’ in a total of 6 language versions at the customer centre of its Radebeul facility. The content (24 pages) was printed with an additional spot colour on a five-back-five Rapida 105 perfector press. The covers (6 pages) were handled by a large-format Rapida 142, similarly in five colours, with Alchemy silver finishing (Huber Group) on the outsides. The front sides of the sheets also received a partial protective varnish coating. One special aspect of the cover printing job was the fact that an ink change was required for almost all of the 13 countries involved in the campaign, to enable the logo of the local postal service to be integrated into the corresponding language version.
Fujifilm boosts Greenhouse's environmental credentials Fujifilm PRO-T processless plate provides link for award-winning Greenhouse Graphics’ green supply chain…
Award-winning graphics company, Greenhouse Graphics, based in Basingstoke, has become the latest company to boost its environmental credentials by installing Fujifilm’s Brillia HD PRO-T processless plate. The plates are being run on a Screen PlateRite 4300E platesetter.
Ian Crossley (pictured), managing and technical director of Greenhouse Graphics, said, 'The environment is right at the top of our agenda. Finding a reliable, robust processless plate was pivotal in our drive to get rid of hazardous waste from our printing process. We thoroughly researched the market and following recommendations from both our print supplier, Apex Digital Graphics, and from Heidelberg UK, we opted for Fujifilm’s PRO-T plate.
'With our customers becoming increasingly focused on environmental performance, it’s important that we can become part of their green supply chain. By using PRO-T we have eliminated chemicals from our plate making process and increased our efficiency, resulting in better pricing for our customers. We win, our customers win and, most importantly, the environment wins.'
Greenhouse Graphics has developed a brand called the EcoPrint-System4, which encompasses a series of environmental initiatives that ensures that the company’s process of producing lithographic print demonstrates environmental sustainability without compromising quality, price or speed of production.
Founded in 1993, Greenhouse Graphics runs two presses. Customers currently include the Green Party, St John Ambulance, the Guardian and The Grasslands Trust.
The PRO-T installation at Greenhouse Graphics was handled by Apex Digital Graphics.
Compatible with most thermal 830nm platesetters and approved for 1 per cent – 99 per cent at 200lpi conventional, 300lpi hybrid and FM screening, Brillia HD PRO-T is a non-ablative plate that carries a latent image with distinct contrast allowing visual inspection after imaging. Brillia PRO-T only needs an imaging power very close to Fuji’s existing, market leading, thermal processed plate at 120mJ/cm2, resulting in the same production speeds as conventional thermal CTP plates. Supporting run lengths up to 100,000 impressions, it will comfortably meet the demands of most commercial printers, and can be handled under daylight conditions.
Latest features from Digital Dots The two latest feature articles from Laurel Brunner and Digital Dots can now be found in our Technology Guides section…
The two specialist feature articles for November actually became a little lost in the ether, somewhere between the UK and ourselves in early November, and somehow, we have a feeling that our ISP had something to do with it - but all is not lost, as they are now online for you in our Technology Guides section and well worth the wait.
You can just click on the headlines below to go straight to the articles, both of which have illustrated PDFs available for download.
The Owl & Minerva Laurel Brunner recently visited Fujifilm’s Advanced Research Laboratories in Kanagawa, Japan to learn more about the company’s plans for its future…
The MultiCopy Story The MultiCopy story is a story that reflects with near perfection the nature of the 21st century printing industry. By Laurel Brunner
Greetings for the last time in 2007, as this is our last e-News update for this year. We'll be back on Friday 4 January 2008, to cover any industry news that arrives during the next couple of weeks or so. The Website will still be updated as and when news is available - but we don't expect too much over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. It seems a little difficult to believe that 2007 has almost disappeared.