Roland DG Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices worldwide, today announced the launch of the LV series laser engravers, including the 29” LV-290 and 18” LV-180, now available in Australia and New Zealand.

The LV series uses a non-contact CO2 laser to engrave complex shapes and text with crisp edges at high speed out of plastics, wood, leather, paper, cork and much more. Unlike conventional digital engravers, cut surfaces have a smooth, clean finish without burrs, thus eliminating the need for any final touch-up work. With no engraving cutters to break or wear out, the laser always maintains a beautiful finish with no degradation in quality. Operation of the LV series is very simple, so that even beginners can perform high-precision laser engraving immediately. With two models available that feature different laser power and work areas, users can select the model that best suits the thickness and size of the materials they wish to work with. 

“By combining the LV series’ capabilities with our LEF/LEF2 series UV benchtop flatbed printers featuring exceptional print capabilities, it is possible to create premium value items that cannot be accomplished by using each product on its own. The unique fusion of these products with different capabilities opens up profitable new business opportunities,” said Kohei Tanabe, President of Roland DG's Digital Printing Business Division. “By introducing this solution to our customers around the world, we hope they will be able to create new value and excitement by unleashing their creativity and transforming their imaginations into reality.” 

To find out more, go to: www.rolanddg.com.au/lv

Less than twelve months ago Queensland based Spot Productions invested in an Anapurna H2500i and Agfa Acorta cutting table. Due to their ever increasing work load, the need for another platform was evident and so the latest Agfa H1650 was purchased.

Simon Carmody Managing Director of Spot Productions said – “I have seen our new Wide Format Division grow at an amazing rate due to the continued support of our loyal Client base, so it was decided that more capacity was needed. Once this decision had been made we started our investigations to find a new platform that would compliment our existing range, but more importantly assist with our growth.

After a number of weeks researching possible solutions, Spots Management Team and I decided to move forward with Agfa again. The Quality from our first Anapurna LED platform was of such a high standard, we needed something that could match the output, so we decided to purchase the latest H1650 Six Colour LED Hybrid printer”. 

The latest edition to the Agfa family of printers, the Anapurna H1650i LED device is a 6 Colour Hybrid Printing Platform. Speeds up to 63m2 per hour and able to deliver photorealistic images. Being able to switch swiftly from board to roll and by utilising the latest LED curing technology enables the operator to print Coreflute, Composite Panel, Acrylics, Foam PVC, Banner, Paper, SAV and heat sensitive stock.

Simon continues – “Also in our thought process was the need to keep a high level of support which Agfa have in abundance. Having experienced Sales and Engineering staff on call to react to our needs makes a massive difference, especially as a number of potential Suppliers continue to shed heads.

Wide Format started out as a hobby shop for us to add value to our existing Client base. Now it is a very important productive part of our Business as it adds tremendous value, especially on cross media campaigns, utilising Offset, Cut Sheet Digital and Sign and Display items”.

Michael Culver, Inkjet Manager Oceania said – “It is a pleasure working with Simon and his Team. Being asked to supply another machine was a great success story for all involved. When you gain multiple orders you must be doing something right. Spot are a loyal and dynamic Customer and we are excited about their continued expansion”.

Xeikon will present its latest advancements in labelling technology, a new ‘smart label’ solution developed and created in partnership with UPM Raflatac and Magic Add. Demonstrations will be held on both Xeikon and UPM Raflatac’s stands at the show. The cloud-based application enables track and trace capability for labels; it is designed to help brand owners wanting to bring labels and packaging online, they are now better able to measure the success of their campaigns or to control the supply chain. All of Xeikon’s solutions are developed with value as a top priority. This solution is designed to achieve consumer trust and confidence in the brands, and bring added value to the end user.

Jeroen Van Bauwel, Director Product Management at Xeikon, explains, “More and more brands want to say ‘we are providing the authentic product’. In creating this smart label solution for brand owners, we have worked with UPM Raflatac and Magic Add to put the ‘smart’ part into label design. Many industries are integrating technology into their product lines and producing ‘smart’ products to meet current trends. Xeikon continues to utilise the constant advancements in technology for the benefit of the label community. This smart label solution incorporates technology that extends the functionality of labels and packaging beyond traditional print methods. What’s exciting is the technology behind the action.”

Every package is made unique with an image, text, a number or a code, and it is ready to be scanned with standard applications. There are a number of options such as QR codes that give consumers the ability to track their product throughout its complete life cycle. End users can trace the place of origin of their product and every step from there through to the consumer. They can check storage conditions during transport and track the journey of the product from supplier to retailer. Knowing that their product is authentic gives the consumer confidence to trust the brand. Smart labels have the unique ability to allow manufacturers to continue to interact with their customers, even after the initial purchase is done and the product has been brought home.

Improving brand equity?

Engaging with the consumer through smart labels has endless creative possibilities. Information can include recipes, wine recommendations, details and advice on food calories, health and dietary information. Importantly for the pharmaceutical sector, an extra layer of information can be added to communicate on vital guidelines and safety warnings. In the food sector, brands can use the smart label to show the origin and composition of their product. This is a good example of one of the key benefits of Xeikon’s smart label solution. Because the smart label makes the product uniquely traceable, each end user can be sure that every single unit they buy has been tracked through its whole production cycle and meets legislation requirements for purity and health & safety compliance. There is complete transparency throughout the complete supply chain. Companies across many sectors are implementing smart labels on a global scale making it impossible to counterfeit goods and ingredients, protecting their products, and building confidence in their brands.

Smart label solution brings benefits to everyone involved

Xeikon’s smart label solution works in a number of ways. The end user benefits from the engagement and the experience of access to added value information and advice, while the brand owner and the product supplier can gather data, which helps them research into consumer preferences and the most popular products. Converters can widen their application range and offer new functionality to their customers, and marketeers can plan more meaningful and targeted campaigns.

Through Xeikon’s smart label solution, brand owners searching for new ways to maximise their brands can see who is buying their product and build a buyer’s profile that adds to the market intelligence, which helps them meet consumer demand. The data helps them improve their campaigns and better serve the consumer and the overall markets. By understanding consumer preference, the brand owner can, more efficiently, meet consumer demand. By securing the supply chain, they can prevent counterfeiting and copying, and improve their brand image. They can manage and protect their brand through overall traceability.

Xeikon will demonstrate examples of its smart label solution at Labelexpo. Using three bags of coffee with three different label designs, the experiment will show the brand owners which out of the three is the ‘best seller’ in the market. The example will reveal live data showing the tracing of the coffee to a specific farmer, and the tracking of the product through its journey to the store and to the end user. This valuable information gives visibility to the end user and market intelligence to the brand owner, and contributes to the security of the supply chain. Xeikon’s solution is also offering the brand owner an option to change their designs while maintaining the smart content.

Van Bauwel concludes, “Every new development comes under our commitment to ‘Transform’ the world of labels. Xeikon has the experience, the expertise, the tools and the technology available to make smart label solutions a reality. We are recognised as a technology agnostic supplier and a trusted advisor to the label community. Every product we bring to market is designed and created for tomorrow’s challenges. Our mission is to provide added value solutions and automate label production. We are excited about these new ‘smart’ developments and can see many opportunities for brand owners and converters to benefit. We are delighted to present our smart label solution at Labelexpo 2019 in its 40th Anniversary Year.

3M introduces an industry first – new 3M™ Wrap Films Series 2080 gloss films come engineered with a Protective Film Layer, allowing for easier installation.

Further innovations in the new 3M™ Wrap Films Series 2080 include; better conformability for further ease of installation and an extended warranty of up to seven years* on vertical applications, to drive greater confidence and peace of mind for both installers and consumers.

New innovations in film technology are consistently being improved to achieve smooth and distinctive wrap designs. The patent-pending Protective Film Layer on gloss colours comes positioned over the top of the film’s surface to reduce the potential for surface imperfections, such as hazing or blotchiness. This remains in place during the installation and is removed easily once the film is applied to reveal a perfect finish. As a result, vehicle owners and installers will have the peace of mind that any scratches made to the Protective Film Layer will not transfer to the film itself, nor mar the look of the completed wrap. “The new 3M™ Wrap Films Series 2080 gloss films ensure both quality aesthetics and performance, and we’re excited to see the impact it has for installers and their customers.” said Janelle Pizzi, product marketer, 3M Commercial Solutions Division.

Simultaneously, the warranty backed by science means installers and consumers can have increased confidence that when wrapping a vehicle with 3M film, it will both perform during installation and uphold its striking appearance when maintained correctly.

The multi-layer cast, adhesive backed film will be first available in 41 colours, of which there are 6 new colours available to meet current consumer and trend demands, and all of which can be used with 3M™ Knifeless Tape.

For For more information on 3M™ Wrap Film Series 2080, please visit 3M.com.au/2080 or
3m.co.nz/2080.

For many years, interfaces between MIS/ERP and printing presses are successfully reducing setup-times on the printer’s shop floor, allowing a greater number as well as an increase in smaller jobs to be printed within the same timeframe. Obviously, the bottleneck of production has moved to the finishing department. 

ABG has picked up this gauntlet and has rebuilt its complete machine software layer in the past 3 years. As a result, all computer-driven slitters and rewinders that leave the ABG factory now can receive instructions from the printer’s MIS/ERP system and can feed back information for production and costing.

Matt Burton, ABG’s Sales Director, comments on this milestone: “We believe that automation and robotisation will continue to crawl into every printshop. We’ve invested heavily to be on the forefront of this trend by offering our customers a zero job-setup time and by reducing the setup waste considerably on all our equipment”.

The sparring partner for ABG in this development has been the CERM MIS/ERP from the start. They had many years of experience with pre-press and press information exchange and CERM was already interfacing to some of the existing ABG machines on a more basic level. 

Geert Van Damme, MD of CERM, explains how it all works: “The ABG slitter/rewinders receive all information about the print frames at the input and about the finished rolls as required output through scanning a barcode on the ABG. The slitting knives will be automatically positioned when jobs are switched. If you have a turret rewinder, the ABG printer will print a batch of identification labels and will close the rolls with these labels automatically after they are cut at the requested length. CERM will have all these finished rolls in its database for traceability.”

The feedback of the ABG machine will update the CERM schedule and will allow for detailed job costing and waste or speed analysis. 

Matt Burton adds: “ABG is the only finishing supplier with this level of integration with an MIS provider and we have invested heavily in software development over the past 3 years. This integration will save about 8 minutes per slitter-setup and about 2 minutes per batch of rolls coming out of the turret. Our customers will really benefit from our development of this integration!”

ABG (6A37) and CERM (6A42) are showing this integration live at Labelexpo.

Any enquiries can be made to info@curriegroup.com.au

It wasn’t until Hexis Australia MD Ian Parsonson was chatting about an epic adventure planned for a group of his ultra-marathon mates that he realised just how far back into our history the sign industry in Australia really stretches. Next week, the group will go on an epic adventure to open up an ancient Aboriginal track…and raise much-needed funds for charity 4ASDKids.

The WD Tarlinton Track winds its way more than 200km from Braidwood to Cobargo, through the Deua and Wadbiliga National Parks and across much of the NSW South Coast’s most rugged terrain. Forged in the early 1800s, when three Aboriginal trackers showed Steve Page’s great-great-great-great-grandfather the pathway, it was once a major stock route and popular horse trail from the tablelands on the upper Shoalhaven River to the coast.

"Traditionally, the track was the major thoroughfare linking the fertile Valley to the Monaro and, in more recent times, was popular with local horse-riding groups who maintained it simply by way of use,” Page explains.





“Following a decision by the NSW State Government to declare many parts of these national parks ‘wilderness’ – and therefore off-limits to anyone but bush hikers – the old bridle tracks, as they were known, fell into disrepair and have all but disappeared over the past 20 years.

“As a descendant of the great pioneers in the area, I have decided to take an amazing group of ultra-athletes and run/trek this great track from Braidwood to Cobargo in September to bring awareness to the track and the possibilities of multi-use for the future.”

The group will pass through some truly wild areas and make more than 50 river crossings, camping each night at significant spots linked to pioneering days, and documenting historic markers and signs for future trekking parties. 

For Page, whose family goes back seven generations in the area, the track has always held a special lure. Parsonson, who will join the group, was also captivated with the idea of the trek, particularly after hearing how empty sardine tins were nailed to trees along the track to mark the path. 

“I became intrigued with the story because I recognised that there was a history of signs through the region dating back to the early 1800’s – and I thought it would be great to draw some of this history out to share amongst our industry and see what other great stories are out there,” Parsonson says, “and then I thought – why not involve the industry in something even more significant, and make it a fundraiser for 4ASDKids?”

4ASDKids was founded by dual international rugby player Mat Rogers and model Chloe Maxwell to provide support services for families with children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Recently, the group was the charity of choice for the ASGA / Visual Connections Queensland Golf Day, where over $900 was raised. The trek, Parsonson hopes, will raise far more.





“I would love to encourage 100 sign, display and print companies across Australia to donate just $100 each – and then we’d be able to contribute $10,000 to this very worthy cause,” he says.

The group leaves on Saturday 21 September and expects to take five days to complete the trek. Anyone who wishes to donate can do so at https://4asdkids.gofundraise.com.au/page/IanParsonson0

As a producer of cardboard packaging, the company's waste serves as the raw material for Goerner Formpack. At Fachpack, the company will present its newly developed GBfiber solution.

Further development of the molded fiber technology and toolmaking was carried out in cooperation with a confectionery group in order to completely replace the plastic blister packs previously used with cellulose fiber products. The experiment was successful and GBfiber – the new brand of Goerner Bionics – meets various requirements, from an ISEGA certification for direct food contact and suitability for existing packaging systems. 

GBfiber can be manufactured industrially and at costs that are absolutely comparable to the production of plastic blister packs. Wilhelm Siller-Goerner, the innovative mastermind at Goerner, says, “With GBfiber for the confectionery industry and greasy foods, we have developed an alternative to single-use plastics that is 100% environmentally friendly. There are also other sustainable approaches using other technologies and natural raw materials but they are often based on foods, such as potato starch. However, when it comes to economic efficiency, recyclability and sustainability, cellulose fiber and our molded fiber technology are currently ahead of the field.”  

Leonhard Kurz will be presenting a hybrid machine for hot stamping decoration and digital printing from Kurz subsidiary Baier at this year's plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf. The machine was developed to efficiently implement designs and labels for different model series, small runs, and individualised products.

Economic customisation of mass-produced products

Whether it be a washing machine, car or cell phone, consumers nowadays expect to have a variety of models to choose from and be able to individually select the options. Manufacturers are faced with the challenge of producing these tailored products as cost-effectively as possible. The hybrid machine enables numerous variants of a mass-produced standard product to be implemented economically. The scope of variation extends from different product lines right through to customised surface designs.

Many variants with zero setup times

The hybrid machine comes with two decoration stations that can be used in any order: a hot stamping unit, and a module for digital four-colour printing.

The hot stamping unit is equipped with a stamping drum to which four hot stamping dies can be attached. This allows four different stamping designs to be arbitrarily employed. With the new quick-change system, design changeovers can be performed without tools. All configured designs can be selected via the controller and tried-and-tested process parameters stored for reuse. The hot stamping station is also equipped with two foil feed units that enable different hot stamping designs to be processed concurrently. This further-developed feed system saves considerable time when changing the foil rolls, which can be prepared completely outside the machine. The four stamping dies and designs can be arbitrarily assigned to each of the two foil tracks.

An especially wide variety of designs can be generated using hot stamping technology. These include metallisation with a perfect chrome or steel look, holographic designs, or surfaces with a strikingly realistic wood, carbon, marble or opal appearance. The process is ideally suited for implementing the latest designs for household appliances, automobiles, consumer electronics or cosmetics.


High-resolution variable colour printing

The second decoration or labelling station of the hybrid machine is a CMYK digital printing unit. An additional print head for the colour white can be integrated if there is a need to increase the contrast between the print colour and the substrate. The digital printing unit prints crystal clear images on plastic substrates at a resolution of 600 dots per inch. An identical component can be mass produced for different product variants and then be given a model-specific design by digital printing.

The unique combination of hot stamping and digital printing allows for an endless array of design possibilities and enables product variants to be produced efficiently. Both decoration processes can be performed in a single work operation. The component to be decorated is only placed in the part fixture once. The fixture is positioned on a sliding table that transports the component from one station to the next, where it is positioned extremely precisely to ensure a high registration accuracy between the first and second design.

EFI announced the availability of important advancements in its latest version of Fiery® Color Profiler Suite – integrated colour management software that gives digital print producers more power than ever before to get colour right every time. Next generation EFI™ Fiery Edge™ colour profiling technology launching in the suite delivers out-of-the-box print quality and colour improvements in new Fiery digital front ends (DFEs). Plus, a host of new controls within Fiery Color Profiler Suite tune colour to meet customer preferences, such as features to intelligently boost colour and adjust shadow detail levels.
 
Fiery Edge profiles are available for selected new cut-sheet digital printers, as well as for many wide- and superwide-format printers that use EFI Fiery DFEs.


Expanded output controls
 
Users benefit from an increased array of advanced user controls. For example, a key element of the new Fiery Edge technology is the ability to control or manually select a black point that best matches the intent of the item being printed. This maximises the dynamic range of a print when the darkest printable colour is not a neutral black. Users can also control shadow detail levels to best represent a product’s or a subject’s characteristics.
 
Fiery Edge also gives print professionals the ability to define colour-to-black transitions for reduced image peppering, graininess, and smoother transitions, all of which is especially useful in colour-critical market segments such as photobook printing.
 
Prior to using Fiery Edge, Himanshu Pandey, owner of New Delhi-based Avantika Printers Pvt. Ltd., was unable to compete in that segment with his current printers. “The colours were not vibrant enough and the tonal values were not stable enough,” according to Pandey. “The colour control provided by Fiery Edge technology allowed us to use our printers to print photobooks containing various images of people and places. Fiery Edge literally opened the photo segment for us!”
 
Out-of-the-box enhancements
 
Users of Fiery Edge colour profiles will notice much smoother color transitions and blends right out of the box. They will also see more image detail, clarity, and depth. Plus, superior rendering of RGB reds and blues in Fiery Edge technology gives users a more-faithful rendering of RGB images.
 
“Fiery Edge colour profiling technology brings all the excellent results and controls to my Fiery cut-sheet printer customers that I’ve been relying on for several years to keep my Fiery wide-format inkjet customers happy,” said Rob Cawston, owner of Colour Consultancy Ltd. in Nottingham, England. “The smoothness of blends and extra image detail are the things that stood out as benefits of Fiery Edge just by using the default profiles and settings.
 
“I particularly like the new rendering intent option,” he added. “No more lengthy profile tweaking for customers that want more pop. Having all this control for toner now too is very welcome.”
 
“Getting the best colour and quality from any printer should be the goal for all print producers,” said John Henze, vice president of sales and marketing, EFI Fiery. “Whether it is taking advantage of the maximum gamut of a printer to give prints more colour, getting the most detail available to show a product at its best, or producing the smoothest colour transitions for photo-realistic images, these new capabilities will help print producers achieve the best results their print devices are capable of, therefore getting the most from their colour investments.”
 
Boosted colour to attract attention
 
Users can produce more colourful, vivid and dynamic-looking output in signage, point of sale, display and other applications because Fiery Edge technology brings the ability to boost colour with Fiery Intensify™ – a new rendering intent innovation that can increase colour and saturation while maintaining neutral grays and realistic skin tones. The new feature, which is part of Fiery Color Profiler Suite version 5.2, improves colour while at the same time maintaining balanced visual results – a difficult goal to achieve with other rendering solutions available on the market. Not only does this enable precise control of chroma, lightness and contrast levels, it also allows users to select the correct source profile for the best possible use of an output device’s gamut and dynamic range.


Fiery Edge technology also supports up to eight colour channels (CMYK+ 4 extra colours) further enhancing Color Profiler Suite’s ability to get the best possible colour out of any supported Fiery Driven™ printer, including those with gamut-expanding colorants such as orange, violet, blue, and green inks or toners.
 
The newest version of EFI Fiery Color Profiler Suite featuring Fiery Edge is available now from EFI and authorised EFI resellers. For more information about digital colour production printing using EFI Fiery technologies, visit www.efi.com.

Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and printer cutters worldwide, announced today that owners of its TrueVIS VG-640/540 printer cutters can now upgrade their devices for free to the award-winning performance of the recently launched VG2-640/540 with new TrueVIS TR2 ink.

“As a pioneer of UV print and cut, Roland DG has played an integral role in introducing and advancing this important technology, enabling users to take their design and print production capabilities to the highest possible levels,” said Roland DGA, Roland DG’s US-based sales and marketing subsidiary, President Andrew Oransky. “We’re thrilled that the SGIA judging panel saw fit to give our UV printer cutters and inks the recognition they deserve.”


Ryo Baba, TrueVIS VG2 Project Manager for the Roland DG Digital Printing Business Division said, “As a major benefit to our existing VG-640/540 customers, we are offering a free upgrade program. Thanks to the newly developed TR2 ink*, that boasts a wide colour gamut, and a new “True Rich Colour” preset that maximises the potential of the VG-640/540 and the new ink capabilities, the upgraded VG-640/540 can now produce stunning graphics that excite both heart and mind.”

Baba said the upgraded VG series with TR2 ink will help take the customer’s business to the next level. The VG series with TR2 ink is certified for long-lasting results by the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty, providing clients with assurance of the quality and reliability of their graphics. The VG with new TR2 ink is also certified by the Avery Dennison ICS Performance Guarantee, that provides protection for up to 4 years for outdoor durability and up to 7 years for indoor durability. Avery has set the recommended outgassing time at just six hours, dramatically reducing the print and laminate timeframe.

With the free upgrade, VG owners obtain a host of new features to improve print & cut accuracy and usability. Crop mark options are added for cutting laminated printed materials to increase cutting stability. A newly added PerfCut mode lets you print, cut and die-cut in one seamless operation. In addition to the conventional Print & Cut function, the Cut & Print function allows you to cut first and then print later. This helps to reduce edge curls when dealing with thin media, such as heat transfer films for apparel decoration.

VG-640/540 users can enjoy the free upgrade of their devices by downloading the specified firmware and the latest version of VersaWorks 6 software RIP. To learn more, visit www.rolanddg.com.au/vgupgrade. 

SCREEN GP Australia is pleased to announce the  finalisation of development of its new Truepress Jet L350UV SAI inkjet system for the digital printing of labels, and that it will be shown at Labelexpo Europe, to be held in Brussels, Belgium from September 24th to 27th, 2019. The new press features improved colour reproduction, more speed and superior scalability that enables it to meet a wide variety of market needs. 

The worldwide commercial release will commence in February 2020.

Screen GP Australia Managing Director, Peter Scott says: “The Truepress Jet L350UV SAI model represents the latest advances in the L350 series since its introduction in 2014. The suffix ‘SAI’ means ‘Stability, Accuracy and Integration’ – with the word ‘Sai’ also meaning ‘colourful’ in Japanese. This is a major step for digital label production as additional slots for printheads are onboard, meaning Orange, Blue and White inks can be added to the wide-gamut CMYK inkset.”

He continues: “Overall colour management has been developed in collaboration with CGS Publishing Technologies International GmbH of Germany. These technologies provide a far wider range of colour expression than was previously possible, increasing Pantone coverage and reducing colour differences with specific spot colours. CGS has been a leader in colour management for over twenty years, with its ORIS proofing systems enjoying considerable success in the ANZ region.”

Four scalable variants of the L350 SAI will be available, E for entry-level, S for Standard and the flagship Z model for highest speed of 80 linear metres per hour. There will also be an LM version using low-migration inks specifically for food packaging applications.

“We, and our dealer partner Jet Technologies, are very excited about this latest evolution of the successful L350UV label press line,” says Scott. “The features really respond to market requirements and we can point to more than 150 presses shipped to customers worldwide, many of who have ordered a second or even a third machine. As with all Screen technologies, quality and integrity of the build is high, uptime is of the highest in the industry and image quality is superb.”
Screen and Jet Technologies welcome all visitors to Labelexpo Europe to see for themselves on stand B30 in Hall 9  of Brussels Expo, Belgium, from 23-27 September. 

Following in the footprints of the swissQprint Nyala flatbed printer, the new Karibu roll to roll printer is the latest model to undergo tests as specified by the ISO 20690 standard. The result once again: outstanding energy efficiency.

Confirmation comes from experts at Fogra: the new Karibu roll to roll printer from swissQprint is highly energy efficient. When they tested it as specified by the ISO 20690:2018 standard, Karibu scored even higher than the Nyala flatbed printer. swissQprint had this model put through its paces last year, when it was also given the rating "outstanding energy efficiency". 

The ISO 20690 standard specifies methods for determining the energy consumption of digital printers and thus allows comparison of their operating costs and ecological footprints.

Standardised measurement
In order to model realistic system usage, the standardised measurement includes four different printer statuses. To ensure that results are consistent, the experts used three different printing modes several times with a standardised print file. For example, Karibu in its most productive "speed" printing mode applies 71 square metres to the substrate per kilowatt hour.

A team of 15 talented young Australian ‘Skillaroos’ has placed 8th in the world after competing in their chosen skills with teams from 65 other countries at the recent 45th WorldSkills International Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Four of this year’s Skillaroos - Patrick Brennan, Maxine Colligan, Clinton Larkings and Patrick Keating - medalled in their categories with others including Indy Griffiths – supported by her employer, Mona Vale print and sign business Style Communications and sponsored by Visual Connections – achieving a Medallion of Excellence.

Indy, who competed in the Graphic Design Technology Category, is the first graphic designer to be sponsored by Visual Connections, with CEO Peter Harper explaining that the organisation usually sponsors print, sign and display apprentices. 





“We are strong supporters of vocational education and training, and are committed to helping young people gain the skills, knowledge and experience they need to build successful careers in our sector,” says Peter Harper, CEO of Visual Connections.

“We often sponsor young print or sign apprentices to participate in WorldSkills Championships but there’s nothing more fundamental to our industry than design. Indy is already proving an asset to our industry and we’ve been delighted to sponsor her. We’re so proud of her achievements, and those of her fellow Skillaroos.”

After a farewell from friends, family and supporters, the team participated in a resilience-building workshop before their departure, which saw them travel to Kazan via Moscow, where a short stopover saw the team meet Australian Ambassador to Russia, Graeme Meehan.

An inspiring opening ceremony in Kazan the night before competition commenced at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre set the stage for the intense, three-day competition, where our Skillaroos rose to the occasion and displayed great acts of comradery and sportsmanship. 

A monumental effort was presented by the entire team, which included a large volunteer workforce from across Australia, culminating in the outstanding achievement of an overall 8th placing.





Brigitte Collins WorldSkills Australia General Manager shared from Kazan, “We are all very impressed with the performance of the team, they showcased the power of excellence and demonstrated the strength of vocational education and training in Australia.
 
“Our internationally recognised experts and volunteers demonstrated once again, their capability and dedication. The Skillaroos, Team Australia and the volunteer workforce should all feel very proud of what they accomplished here in Kazan, Russia.”





Visual Connections adds their congratulations, not only to Indy but to the entire team, for their dedication to their chosen craft, their commitment to the achievement of excellence, and for their outstanding representation of Australia on the international stage. 

Follow WorldSkills Australia @WorldSkillsAU. Images Supplied by: TAFE NSW & WorldSkills International

Frustrated with CorelDRAW?
 
Save time on jobs and become more productive by mastering CorelDRAW techniques specific for laser cutting and laser engraving.
 
Alfex Laser’s popular CorelDRAW Training Workshops will teach you the shortcuts and new skills to save time when creating designs for laser cutting and laser engraving.
 
Last workshops for 2019 in Melbourne:
 
Melbourne CorelDRAW Beginner                 Thursday October 10th          Click here to book
 
Melbourne CorelDRAW Intermediate         Friday October 11th               Click here to book
 
These small workshops have limited seats to allow for more personalised and 1:1 time with the trainer.
 
Book now and don’t miss out on saving time in your business.
 
Use code VISUAL10 for 10% discount on tickets!

DTM Print has launched the DTM CX86e colour tag printer, claimed to be the world’s smallest LED dry toner colour label printer. This new digital printer helps companies produce versatile colour labels and tags.

Whether they are vouchers, coupons, value-added receipts, ID tags with photos, visitor badges, price and promotion stickers, pasted labels, sleeves, loop ribbons or labels for cardboards and boxes – with the DTM CX86e high-quality full-colour prints can be produced within seconds – directly in production, at the point-of-sale or at various places of use.

The CX86e uses the latest digital LED technology. During the electrophotographic LED printing process the image is developed on a light-sensitive drum, then it is transferred by electrostatic charge via an image transfer belt and fused by heat to the media. The labels produced that way are pin sharp, waterproof and UV-resistant. 

‘As LED print heads have no moving parts, unlike the classic laser technology, significantly less raw materials are consumed in the manufacturing process, and a space-saving design and a significantly longer service life are achieved. With a size of 198x195x380mm (WxHxD) and a weight of 9.5kg, the CX86e is more compact, robust and reliable than other printers in its class,’ explained Andreas Hoffmann, managing director of DTM Print. ‘This means it can be used almost anywhere and is easy to transport.’

Easy to operate, the system requires the user to only change a three-colour toner cartridge that guarantees thousands of prints. This eliminates the need to stock individual toner cartridges and the device is ready to use again in just a few seconds. 

Further components of the printer such as drum unit, transfer belt and fuser have been designed for a long service life with more than 100,000 prints and can also be replaced by the user in a few seconds. 

With a wide range of interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, WLAN (optional) and control interfaces, the CX86e can be used as a stand-alone unit, in a network or in an automated environment.

The external material feed of dry toner approved labels and tags are possible via roll, continuous feed paper in zigzag folding or single sheet. Single sheets must have a size of 25-86mm in width and 53-551mm in length. DTM Print provides a wide selection of DTM-certified labelstock for dry toner: starting with matte and glossy papers extending to transparent, matte and glossy polyester films as well as textured, silver, gold or other coloured materials.

The built-in rotary cutter enables the production of labels with a length of 53-551mm. Optionally, the printer can be retrofitted with a presenter module. Here a label is printed, the printer waits until it has been peeled off before printing the next label. 

‘With the DTM CX86e, we are offering companies a powerful and cost-effective printer to achieve maximum advertising impact with their produced labels and tags, to attract the customers’ attention and to ensure higher sales,’ said Andreas Hoffmann.

The delivery includes the printer driver for Windows 7/10 and the design software NiceLabel Free 2019 DTM Edition (for Windows) for simple creations of label designs. For data import and variable data printing the full version is needed. The printer can also be used with other popular label design software such as BarTender and graphic software such as Adobe Illustrator and other Windows applications.

DTM CX86e is available through authorised DTM Print resellers and distributors in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Share & Approve is a new and unique approval tool from Esko. The software runs as a service on Esko cloud architecture and enables users of Automation Engine to upload, share, annotate and approve packaging and labels jobs in 2D and hyper realistic 3D.

Esko knows that securing packaging job approvals can be a confusing process causing production delays and it’s often hard for the approver to envision their 2D design once finished. In today’s high speed and often pressured business environment, there is also no easy way to gather and interpret feedback from multiple stakeholders on a job, without significant time delays impacting the project.

The Esko Share & Approve software solution enables users to realistically visualise their pack in 2D and 3D and annotate the file with feedback in a single, centralised online tool. This new clarity reduces the amount of approval iterations and shortens the time required to get the job approved enabling brands and their supply chains to operate more efficiently and drive down time-to-market.

Karsten Daemen, Esko Product Manager, commented: “We are very happy to see approval loops finishing in a maximum of 8-9 days instead of a few weeks, which is typical of what happens in the industry today. We have also observed the number of job revisions decreasing from 8-9 to 3-4 with use of the software. With the speed and complexity of packaging management today, Share & Approve is going to make a tangible difference to our customers seeking to increase their speed to market.”

Users of Share & Approve can now instantly create 3D pack renders based on their actual 2D artwork, including special print effects and embellishments. The software has a super easy user interface enabling upload and set up in only four clicks and incorporates a range of unique packaging inspection tools for measurements, deep zooms and separations viewing, as well as barcode and braille reading.

Creating visibility on job management, Share & Approve provides a complete audit trail of operator actions and versioning, as well as increases approval rates up to 3x faster than traditional approval processes.

Jan De Roeck, Esko Marketing Director, added: “With Share & Approve designed as a cloud-based service, there is no IT overhead costs or efforts involved for our customers, compared to traditional on-premise solutions. There is no web deployment, no servers to maintain and keep up to date, no need to provide for data security and back-up scenarios and the uptime of the service is guaranteed."

HP introduces an innovative new banner material that offers a unique combination of durability and flexibility. Unlike other banner materials, HP Foldable Durable Synthetic Banner can be folded and easily transported due to its thin, lightweight construction. Engineered with DuPont Tyvek material it is designed to produce tear-resistant, water-resistant, foldable maps, banners, and posters that can be grommeted and stitched. This versatile banner material is compatible with Original HP PageWide XL pigment inks, and HP Vivid Photo Inks and HP Bright Office Inks for HP DesignJet printers.

No longer just for technical documents, HP PageWide XL printers can produce brilliant banners radically faster than anything on the market—with low cost of operation.

www.HPLFMedia.com

MPS and Domino are set to launch a wider version of their hybrid MPS EF Symjet press at Labelexpo Europe 2019.

Coming in a width of 17in (430mm), the new Domino N617i unit is fully integrated into the MPS EFA flexo platform. 

At the show, the new press combination will be shown for the first time. Louise Adcock, global commercial product manager at Domino Digital Printing Solutions, said: ‘The Domino N617i is based on our proven N6-series inkjet product range, but has been designed exclusively for MPS. We are delighted that MPS is showcasing this solution at Labelexpo. The first N617i-based MPS EF Symjet deliveries are being scheduled from January 2020.’

Visitors to Labelexpo can see live demonstrations of the press at the MPS booth 11C20. Hans Poortinga, manager of the MPS Technology & Expertise Centre, commented: ‘The press will be equipped with five flexo stations, digital cold foil, a Kurz cold foil unit for single images and optical effects, lamination and die-cutting. We will show the most unique and impressive label applications. MPS’ goal is to push the limits of flexo and ink jet printing and converting.’

Domino and MPS first introduced their partnership at Labelexpo Europe 2015, launching the first hybrid EF Symjet press. Philip Easton, director at Domino Digital Printing Solutions, said: ‘From almost the first meeting we have developed an excellent working relationship with MPS. They have high standards but at the same time have been so responsive and easy to work with. There are now many MPS EF Symjet global installations benefiting from the most proven and best supported inkjet solution from a globally recognized digital inkjet company combined with a world class conventional press.’

The MPS EF Symjet press is now available in 340mm/13in and 430mm/17in widths, and can be equipped with multiple flexo units, lamination and embellishing units, die-cutting and many more converting options. 

Atze Bosma, CEO of MPS, said: ‘Productivity is one of our focus processes that extends “Beyond the machine”. With the new 17in width, we are offering our customers higher productivity, more flexibility and the possibility to open new markets and even more options for applications.’

- Push-to-Stop – greater automation, lower costs
- Gang form creation with automatic optimisation
- Plate Pilot supplies plates right on time as printing commences
- Prinect supports hardcover book production
- SmartBi provides key lever for improving overall efficiency
- Case-based online support
- New functions for the packaging sector

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is making it even easier for Prinect users to run their print shop with the new and partially cloud-based functions in the Prinect production workflow. “A growing number of Prinect functions are gradually migrating to the cloud. By taking out a subscription contract, customers can gain access to them as and when required and based on the benefits they offer,” says Jürgen Grimm, head of software solutions at Heidelberg. “The Prinect workflow thus forms the backbone of digitisation in print shops.”

Push-to-Stop – greater automation, lower costs

Automatic planning in Prinect 2020 makes it even easier to optimise job sequences. Substrates, special colours, folding layouts, and much more are taken into account in digital planning and transferred directly to the Prinect Press Center, thereby reducing the changeover procedures that have to be carried out on the press. Operators no longer have to select and adopt jobs from the machine queue, which also reduces the scope for errors.

As of now, the Push-to-Stop concept is also supported in postpress

This means that appropriately configured folding machines can work through several jobs one after the other, with the status of work repeatedly reported back to the Prinect system. As a result, the productivity gains that Push-to-Stop has brought to the pressroom can now also be achieved in postpress.

Gang form creation with automatic optimisation

One major contribution that Prinect makes to lowering costs and driving up productivity relates to the creation of gang forms, with the gang server picking out jobs from a pool according to pre-set filter criteria and then using these criteria to optimize the compilation of appropriate gang forms on a fully automated basis. Any gang forms produced this way that do not satisfy these criteria are not forwarded to production, and are instead canceled and then combined with other jobs later on, provided an optimum gang form can be created.

Plate Pilot supplies plates right on time as printing commences

The new Prinect Plate Pilot works with the further improved Prinect Scheduler to automatically output plates so they can be placed on trolleys in the correct sequence and made available at the press in time for the planned printing slot. Operators can monitor this process via the Plate Pilot Widget of the Prinect Portal, which also allows them to intervene in the process as necessary. This solution puts an end to the tedious process of sorting printing plates and also avoids the damage and scratches that can otherwise occur.

Prinect supports hardcover book production

The production of bound (hardcover) books and other complex products involves a number of steps that go above and beyond the usual processes in commercial printing. The new version of Prinect supports the special workflow-specific features of book production in both production and MIS operations. With immediate effect, Prinect offers the option of factoring these steps into the fully automated costing of the book in Business Manager and then handing over to the Prinect production system for automatic processing.

SmartBi – cloud-based software provides key lever for improving overall efficiency

The cloud-based software Prinect SmartBi supports the analysis and use of data generated in print shops. After all, every activity, every production process, and every job generates data, but many companies either completely overlook the value and usefulness of this information or do not fully harness its potential. Prinect SmartBI helps print shops unlock and utilise this corporate and production data quickly and with ease, assisting Prinect users with the generation, filtering, preparation, and visualisation of their data.

New Prinect Portal becomes an efficient collaboration platform?Version 2020 of Prinect reinforces inter-company cooperation. For example, the Prinect Portal has been launched to meet the demand for a wide-ranging collaboration platform and can be used by print shop staff to establish efficient online communications both within their own company and with customers and suppliers.

New functions for the packaging sector

To support Push-to-Stop in the packaging sector, Prinect is offering a new function that allows customers to use the cutting tool as a criterion for optimising production planning. This ensures the same tool is not refitted several times over, thus significantly improving productivity and machine availability.

The cost savings and productivity gains achieved by using gang forms are also available to packaging print shops Working from an existing die cutting tool and filter criteria, gang forms are first created and then either kept or rejected depending on whether they satisfy pre-set criteria.

Prinect also offers a whole series of new functions for CAD. Having the option to set out all the parts of a packaging design in one drawing ensures the interdependencies between the individual parts can be taken into account accurately. This makes the design process easier and faster to complete.

When it comes to more complex packaging and displays, there is also the option of creating assembly instructions to make the items easier to build or set up.

What’s more, Prinect supports pillow box packaging, which can now be simulated as a 3D model and exported as an animated 3D PDF.

Context-sensitive online support

The launch of HTML-based online support gives users direct access from within the application to the current library of Prinect software documentation at all times, plus a growing number of explanatory videos. All this makes Prinect even easier to use.

DIC Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BASF’s global pigments business, known as BASF Colours & Effects (BCE).

The acquisition will broaden DIC’s portfolio as a global manufacturer of pigments, including those for electronic displays, cosmetics, coatings, plastics, inks and specialty applications. 

‘Our acquisition of BCE brings together complementary resources and expertise of two recognised leaders in innovation, product stewardship, regulatory leadership, application support and manufacturing,’ said Kaoru Ino, president and chief executive officer of DIC. ‘We have outlined a clear growth path for DIC with the target to increase our sales to 1 trillion yen (approximately 8 billion euros) by 2025. In this context, BASF’s pigments portfolio is an important strategic addition in meeting our goals more expeditiously. It will allow us to expand our offering as one of the leading pigment suppliers globally and provide our customers even more versatile solutions.’

‘We have achieved our goal to find an owner who considers pigments a core strategic business,’ said Dr Markus Kamieth, member of the board of executive directors of BASF SE responsible for the Industrial Solutions segment. ‘DIC pursues ambitious growth plans and has announced to further develop the business in the coming years. We are convinced that the pigments business will be able to unfold its full potential within DIC.’

With over 30 pigment production facilities worldwide between DIC and BCE, the company’s pigment portfolio will be able to offer broader product categories related to effect pigments, inorganic pigments, organic pigments, specialty dyes, and pigment preparations.

Yoshinari Akiyama, DIC executive officer and general manager of the Colour Material Products Division, said:‘The acquisition of BCE is extremely ideal within the DIC pigments business, due to the complementary regional footprint and product portfolio. It is a strategic partner for DIC who aims for high growth and high added value by expanding functional pigments into niche applications.  By combining the technological capabilities of both companies, we will continue to create new value and provide it to the market as a leading company in the pigment business.’

For Dr Alexander Haunschild, senior vice president and managing director at BASF’s pigment-focused subsidiary BASF Colours & Effects, the agreement is a chance to continue the growth path started in 2016: ‘We see DIC as an owner who is willing to invest, committed to innovations and interested in the longer term success of the business.’

‘As a long-standing business partner of BASF, we value the expertise and engagement of BASF’s employees in the pigments business,’ said Myron Petruch, DIC executive officer and president and CEO of Sun Chemical, a subsidiary of DIC Corporation. ‘The move improves our pigment footprint in Europe and underscores our commitment to delivering solutions tailored to meet the needs of our customers. It also allows us to compete in the global marketplace more effectively going forward.’

In the immediate future, business for customers will remain the same as usual. A transition team will be put in place to ensure a smooth transition for customers and employees by the expected closing date in the fourth quarter of 2020. 

The acquisition is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals.