Mimaki Europe has announced that it will inspire customers to explore creative, innovative, profit generating possibilities in a futuristic atmosphere at the FESPA Global Print Expo 2019.

Under the theme “Imagine the Future of Print”, the company will take visitors to its stand (B6-A30) on a journey through its world-first and market-first innovations in printers, software and cutting-edge solutions, to demonstrate how they can take their businesses to the next level.

A must-see stop along that journey will be a brand-new Mimaki large format printer, displayed at FESPA 2019 for the first time in the EMEA region. Featuring a best-in-class combination of productivity and print stability, new application opportunities, boosted usability and unprecedented substrate range flexibility, the new Mimaki print platform will provide a glimpse into future developments of UV LED inkjet technology.

Thanks to Mimaki’s development of its 3D printer and slicing software, preparation and printing of 2.5D up to multiple layers will be easy and fast. A further highlight on the stand this year will be the new FDM 3D printer for the small direct to object printing market, focusing on self-production of jigs.

The journey continues with workflow efficiency, which will be the keyword for digital printing for years to come. As Mimaki already introduced its IoT solution for the UJF-7151plus and the JFX-series, this year’s FESPA visitors can learn about the next phase of IoT showing a glimpse of the upcoming Job Controller IP software. Connectivity with Gravograph and Trotec laser systems will also be fully supported in the latest Rasterlink RIP.

Last but not least on this journey, Mimaki will demonstrate its new Simple POP software, specially developed for the retail market. Shop-owners require no graphic knowledge to create and design their own signage such as labels, stickers and roll-ups. The new software connects directly to Rasterlink for an automated workflow from design to print and cut on Mimaki’s successful and popular UCJV series.

“Mimaki boasts a history of pioneering inkjet technologies and breakthrough innovations. Building on those solid foundations, the company aims to maintain its position at the forefront of advancements in digital printing,” comments Danna Drion, Marketing Manager, Mimaki EMEA. “This vision of reflecting on past innovations and leveraging state-of-the-art solutions to deliver a whole spectrum of unexplored future customer opportunities, underpins that ambition, and embodies our FESPA show theme.”

Designed with a futuristic theme, Mimaki’s largest ever FESPA stand will lend a glittering silver guise to proceedings. As an example, LED-lit paths on the floor will lead to a central hanging kaleidoscopic installation, incorporating UV digital print on mirrors. Encompassing four key business areas strategically integrated across the stand – Sign Graphics, Industrial Products, Textiles and 3D – flagship Mimaki technology and a wealth of exciting, creative applications will be showcased.

Visitors will also be able to take part in product demonstrations and engage directly with the Mimaki team. To learn more about how they could implement and use Mimaki technology to offer and sell new inkjet applications, Mimaki visitors will also have access to some leading designers and creative professionals who regularly use digital print within their work. Connecting customers, partners, designers and innovators to generate new and rewarding collaborations will be key to Mimaki’s FESPA 2019 show and vision for the future.

“With the help of our industry-acclaimed inkjet print and cutting technology, we will use the show to demonstrate how businesses can become forward-thinkers and boost productivity in a more advanced workflow. At the same time, we will also encourage and welcome visitor ideas, feedback and requests too – as always, this is essential R&D learning for us,” adds Drion. “What’s more, why not talk to us live at the show using #FutureofPrint and tell us what you think? In addition, go to Mimaki’s registration page for a chance to win one of 50 fantastic Flic Wireless Smart Buttons that we will give away during the show.”

Mimaki is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Hybrid Services and the company’s Chief Operations Manager, Brett Newman extends an invitation to UK and Irish customers. “Mimaki’s FESPA stand is set to impress again this year and with the arrival of new technology, it’s going to be a busy show for us all, so we look forward to welcoming visitors to the exhibition in Germany.”

Visitors to the Ricoh stand at FESPA 2019, Munich Messe, May 14 to 17, will encounter colourful creativity on a wide range of substrates. They will also be able to appreciate how they can harness Ricoh solutions to boost their businesses.

“We are redefining what print can do. A wide range of samples will demonstrate the spectrum of options presented by our versatile portfolio of systems and solutions,” states Graham Kennedy, Head of Industrial Print Business Group, Ricoh Europe. “With the ability to print on anything from glass, wood and acrylic to carton board, we are able to fully support industrial printers and print service providers as they endeavour to deliver a greater range of high quality capabilities.”

Among the applications on show are the:

- Media kit box of samples including plywood, Corex, Forex, DiBond, aluminium, vinyl and glass, printed by the Ricoh Pro T7210 UV flatbed printer.

- Spot colour artwork and texture samples, using white and clear varnish, on acrylic, Forex and DiBond, printed by the Pro T7210 and the recently announced Ricoh Pro TF6250 UV flatbed printers.

- Rhino cutouts produced CMYK on Xanita Board by the Pro T7210 and cut to shape.

- Coasters printed CMYK on board suitable for beermats by the Pro T7210 and Pro TF6250 and then cut to shape.

- Acrylic blocks reverse printed CMYK + white onto 20mm acrylic blocks by the Pro T7210 and Pro TF6250.

- Brochure stand printed on Xanita Board by the Pro T7210 and Pro TF6250 and cut to shape.

- Metallic coasters printed CMYK + white by the Ricoh Pro™ L5160 roll to roll latex printer onto Kernow metallic self-adhesive vinyl, cut to shape, resin domed and applied to coaster bases.

- Window graphics printed CMYK + white by the Pro L5160 onto DryTac Viziprint optically clear.

Various media samples printed by the Pro L5160 showcasing different print speeds.
The Ri 1000, the newest addition to Ricoh’s expanding Direct to Garment printer range, launches in Europe at FESPA. We will be demonstrating its ability to print directly onto white polyester fabrics. Visitors can also explore DTG applications such as aprons, sweatshirts, polo shirts and wine bottle bags. Ricoh will be working with a range of brands such as Fruit of the Loom, SG and RTP Apparel.

On show, too, will be food packaging produced by the Ricoh Pro C7200x sheetfed digital colour press. Ricoh Pro Print toners have recently received the Smithers Pira Certificate of Conformity assuring EU food packaging legislation compliance.

Ricoh company ColorGATE’s Production Server V10 will be driving multiple and diverse inkjet devices on the stand, highlighting how it can maximise operational efficiency, output integrity and colour consistency.

Ricoh’s partnership with Antalis will be firmly in evidence at FESPA thanks to the wide range of flexible and rigid substrates that the company is providing for printing purposes.

Roland DG Corporation, a leading supplier of digital print technologies with more than 35 years’ manufacturing expertise, is showcasing brand new and exciting solutions at FESPA Global Print Expo 2019.

The award-winning new TrueVIS VG2 Series printer/cutters and VersaUV LEF2-200 UV-LED printer will be demonstrated live on the Roland DG booth (Hall A5 Booth H10). In addition, the booth will feature Roland’s most extensive portfolio of innovative technologies, reflecting the digital print pioneer’s industry-leading role as a key player across a broad range of markets, including sign, textile & décor, industrial and retail.





Be the best. Choose new TrueVIS VG2 printer/cutters
Taking pride of place on the booth will be Roland's latest technological innovation: the new TrueVIS VG2 Series. This duo of printer/cutters – VG2-640 (1625 mm) and VG2-540 (1371 mm) – builds on the brand’s impressive heritage of digital desktop technology and represents the next generation of inkjet, featuring over 40 exciting enhancements to set the new industry standard in wide format print.

TrueVIS VG2 is already an award-winner and delivers a host of significant user benefits, including new TR2 ink, new Orange ink for an incredibly wide colour gamut and superb colour matching capabilities, six-hour outgassing for high-quality same-day finishing , and an enhanced workflow powered by VersaWorks 6 RIP software.

The on-booth TrueVIS VG2 Discovery Zone will inform and inspire visitors, demonstrating how the TrueVIS VG2 can help them to be the very best in their business.





Profitable personalisation opportunities with the new VersaUV LEF2-200
For FESPA visitors exploring the profitable world of personalisation, the Roland booth will also feature the brand new VersaUV LEF2-200. This latest addition to the VersaUV LEF flatbed printer family inherits the series' renowned ability to print amazing graphics and life-like textures, including premium finishes such as simulated embossing, onto a vast array of rigid and flexible materials up to 100 mm thick.

Visitors will be challenged to decide 'Is It Real Or Printed?', with interactive demonstrations showcasing the VersaUV LEF2-200's amazing versatility and ability to print authentic finishes on materials, including PVC and plastics, canvas, wood, leather and fabric.

Gillian Montanaro, Head of Marketing, Roland DG EMEA, comments: "We're really excited to bring to FESPA some of our very latest technology innovations, shaped and developed by the needs of the market and our customers. Our solutions give print professionals a winning edge in what is a competitive market, enabling them to capitalise on unlimited opportunities. Our theme at FESPA, 'What Matters To You Inspires What We Do', reflects our commitment and approach to truly customer-focused product development, delivering the very best technology which our users can put their trust in.”

Explore the exciting potential: Roland’s most diverse product portfolio 
The booth will also display an exciting and wide-ranging portfolio of Roland's most popular digital print solutions, including:

VersaUV S-Series UV-LED printer
The VersaUV S-Series represents true choice and production flexibility with an impressive range of configurations and sizes to suit production environments and requirements of all types. This versatile and innovative range of flatbeds and belts prints stunning quality graphics, photographic images, textures and embossed effects onto virtually any substrate or object, rigid or flexible, up to 200 mm in height and 100 kg/sqm in weight. It is ideal as a next step for existing users of benchtop UV printers, for businesses with ambition looking to enter the world of UV printing, or for those with more ‘industrial’ scale requirements.

The robust flatbeds are ideal for direct print onto rigid substrates and objects, while the belts offer the option to print flexible, roll-to-roll or rigid materials and items, meaning there is a VersaUV S-Series for everyone.

VersaEXPRESS RF-640 8 Colour eco-solvent printer 
Be stunned by colour on the Roland booth. Offering the widest colour gamut in its class for durable outdoor graphics, the RF-640 8 Colour is the ideal choice for print service providers looking to deliver head-turning, high-impact applications that exceed their clients’ colour expectations. The RF-640 8 Colour printer features CMYK plus Light Black, Red, Green, and Orange ink for stunning quality prints, super-accurate colour reproduction capabilities and impressive outdoor durability.
Ideal for matching corporate brand colours, with the RF-640 8 Colour up to 99% of Pantone®+ Solid Coated is within gamut . The RF-640 8 Colour also represents superb value for money, and is priced to be the industry's most affordable 8-colour printer.

Texart RT-640M multi-function textile sublimation printer 
Following its preview at FESPA in 2018, Roland’s latest ground-breaking addition to the popular Texart dye-sublimation range, the RT-640M, will be in action on the booth. With unique printing capabilities, the RT-640M makes it possible to print directly onto polyester-based fabrics and onto dye-sublimation transfer paper with the same device, using the same ink and RIP.
Delivering an unparallelled price-performance ratio, the RT-640M’s direct printing capabilities make it ideal for businesses that want to print double-sided items, such as flags and banners, and it offers textile print suppliers a truly versatile digital dye-sublimation print solution. Sign makers, promotional goods companies, and apparel and interior décor suppliers can all deliver agilely across a wide range of applications.

LD-80 laser foil decorator 
Discover a world of high-value product customisation with the compact and user-friendly LD-80 laser decorator. Add text, logos and graphics in a variety of metallic and holographic foils for premium, on-demand personalisation of off-the-shelf gifts, and products including fountain pens, smart phone covers, stationery and cosmetic accessories.
Be inspired by amazing Roland users 

Graphics professionals visiting the Roland booth will also have the chance to explore exciting new opportunities and learn how other customers have succeeded with Roland's technology. The Roland Hero Awards in 2018 celebrated the Roland community’s amazing creativity, entrepreneurship and ingenuity. On the booth, videos featuring Roland's spotlight Heroes will be screened alongside a gallery of insightful customer stories, so come and be inspired, pick up some tips for your own business and discover ways to get the very best from your technology.

Montanaro concludes: "We're excited to showcase a range of fantastic solutions at FESPA and to continue to build on our close connections with the graphics community – we're very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to our booth and demonstrating the exciting and profitable ways in which Roland technology can benefit their businesses."

FESPA Global Print Expo 2019 takes place in Munich, Germany, from May 14th to 17th 2019.

Vastex International has introduced the world's smallest conveyor dryer matched to the output of Anajet®, Brother®, Epson®, Polyprint® and other DuPont®-based DTG printing systems, depending on model size and image saturation, it was announced by Mark Vasilantone, president.
 
Dubbed "LittleRed X1D," the compact dryer measures 46 x 122 cm (dimensions of its conveyor belt) and is the first dryer with a heater that spans the entire belt width.
 
Mr. Howard Debney from Leapfrog Machinery (Australian Distributors for Vastex) says “this is an exciting development for the Australian DTG Market. The LittleRed X1D offers an extremely dense machine; engineered to meet the space, budget and performance needs of DTG shops.”
 
Compatible with the most popular inkets on the market, the LittleRed X1D can cure up to 27 garments per hour DTG-printed with digital white ink, as well as screen-printed garments at rates to 81 per hour for water-based ink or discharge, and 162 per hour for plastisols.
 
As standard, it is equipped with features found on the company's larger DTG-capable dryers including adjustable belt-to-heater clearance to accommodate bulky items, a dual digital PID temperature controller accurate to ±1°, and an X-Series conveyor belt roller tracking system with Teflon-coated fibreglass belt. A powered exhaust removes moisture and air contaminants, while cooling the housing and controls. 
 
The heaters of all Vastex dryers carry an industry-leading 15-year warranty, and feature closely spaced coils that provide high-density, medium-wavelength infrared heat for maximum cure speed without cold spots or under curing associated with conventional units.
 
With many Australian printers moving towards the DTG market, Mr. Debney says “The LittleRed X1D will play an important role for small businesses, enabling them to compete in the DTG Market.”
 
Vastex, through Leapfrog Machinery, offer the Australian market a range of quality screen printing equipment for entry level to large commercial shops. 
 
For further information or to see this compact DTG dryer in action, contact Leapfrog Machinery on (02) 9482 4999 www.leapfrogmachinery.com.au

Alfex Laser Open House is an opportunity for everyone interested in laser cutting, laser marking and laser engraving to visit our facility in Brisbane to showcase some of our leading laser system solutions.

You will have a chance to tour our Brisbane facility, view demonstrations and network with industry-leading companies and like-minded professionals.

Meet our Alfex Laser sales & support staff and peek inside one of our Service Vans to see how well stocked and organised they are with repair parts needed to service your machines.

Alfex CNC Australia is celebrating 40 years in business and Our Open House is the best opportunity for you to network with other manufacturers and to discuss ways to increase your productivity with our experienced Application Engineers.

If you plan to attend – and you should – please be sure to register.

https://alfexlaser.com.au/event/alfex-laser-open-house/

We know that deciding to invest in a laser machine is a big decision.

That is why we are bringing our machines to you. We will be showcasing our latest laser products in Perth

This is your opportunity for a personalised demonstration close to home.

Our laser experts will be on-site and available to answer all your laser cutting and laser engraving questions.

If you’d like to check the application for a particular material, bring a sample along and we’ll be happy to run it through.

https://alfexlaser.com.au/event/perth-laser-cutter-and-laser-engraver/

This new paper, made from grass, provides an eco-friendly label material for organic product brand owners. This label is usable on a wide range of product types (foodstuff, cosmetics, wine, pet foods) and is particularly suitable for labeling clothing.

The manufacturing process for conventional wood pulp uses 6,000 litres of water per ton – compared to 1 litre used in the production of this grass-based product; known under the reference 261. It has a permanent adhesive for small surfaces on a variety of substrates. This general-purpose adhesive is approved for direct foodstuff contact and has been awarded ISEGA Institute certification. As an option, AstroNova can also provide an acrylic dispersion adhesive, which is removable without leaving residue, from a variety of substrates.

The light brown colour of Grass paper means that a vintage-style label can be achieved without the need for additional processing.

As the need for on-demand manufacturing increases across an ever-widening array of substrates, producers in the sign & graphic and packaging industries need a system that offers speed and versatility to meet every request that comes in. In order to remain competitive, companies must offer more material options and quicker turnaround times without diminishing the quality of their product.

As the most versatile digital cutting solution on the market, the Gerber MCT Cutter has all the tools, including laser, to complete the most challenging jobs for a wide range of substrates, while increasing productivity and delivering high-quality results. The innovative system allows users to control target registration, cut file editing and machine production from one, integrated user interface.

Six months after having acquired MCT Digital, Gerber is expanding its MCT digital cutting system worldwide into the sign & graphics and packaging markets. The highly-integrated system of hardware and software has won a number of accolades in the North America market.

“We are excited to bring such strong innovation in digital finishing to the European sign & graphics and packaging markets, and look to build on Gerber’s deep heritage of automated finishing and integrated production software,” said Gerber Technology’s Scott Schinlever, president and chief operating officer, Automation Solutions.

The most versatile cutting solution on the market, the Gerber MCT Cutter, is equipped with an industry-leading 100w laser for textiles and acrylics, as well as 11 interchangeable tools and the industry’s most integrated production and vision-guided software, TigerVision™.

“We went from doing everything by hand to having a giant digital worker who is very accurate and fast,” said Jonathan Merendlender, founder of Printed Ink (Huntingdon Valley, PA) who has been using a Gerber MCT Cutter since October 2018. “Aside from the obvious benefits of custom shapes, 3D lettering, and fabrication, the CNC router drastically cut down on labor and increased capacity almost instantly.”

The Gerber MCT Cutter will be making its European debut at FESPA, the largest international wide format professional printing exhibition that showcases the latest innovations for digital printing and laser cutting.

World class manufacturer, NUtec Digital Ink is further expanding its GBL-free ink range with the announcement of the release of its newest eco-solvent product, known as the Diamond D20-GF ink.

The Diamond D20-GF is a premium eco-solvent ink designed for use on Spectra Starfire print heads such as those found in Gongzheng wide format printers. The D20-GF ink offers excellent outdoor durability and, when used in regular applications using suitable substrates, will deliver printed images that last for up to two years.





The Diamond D20-GF formulation is low smell, GBL-free and offers superior abrasion and chemical resistance, while providing excellent media compatibility across a broad range of self-adhesive and flexible substrates.

Available in either 1L, 2L or 5L bottles with an 18 month shelf life,  the D20-GF eco-solvent ink supports NUtec’s new product strategy which includes the development of more environmentally and operator- friendly digital ink alternatives for its customers worldwide. The company’s ink products are supported by NUtec Digital’s Ink Delivery System Warranty.

NUtec Sales and Marketing Director, Neil Green notes, “While we are continually developing newer ink technologies such as our water-based and UV-curable digital inks, it is our eco-solvent chemistry that remains the first choice for our  customers in the traditional outdoor signage arena. The Diamond D20-GF ink is our latest eco-solvent offering in the GBL-free range and already has our customers thrilled with its performance.“

www.nutecdigital.com

Summa is proud to announce that its brand new L3214 laser cutting machine will be introduced at FESPA 2019. This is the second Summa style laser unit and equipped with a 1.4 m long conveyor bed on a total width of more than 3.2 m, to be exact 3.35 m.

Besides the size, one of its most unique features is the on-the-fly cutting process, which allows for continuous feeding of material to the machine. This will make the user much more productive. While the machine continues cutting, the newly cut material is readily available for pick-up from the conveyor belt. Fast, accurate, and on-the-fly cutting – the L3214 is bound to change the go-to-market strategy for applications in soft signage, home decoration, sportswear and fashion. The L3214 will be on display at FESPA 2019 in Hall A5, Booth F20.

Meet your customers’ deadlines and improve your margin

Summa has developed a unique on-the-fly cutting concept to ensure a perfectly cut product that’s ready to roll off the table. The concept has many benefits to offer, which contribute to higher productivity, enabling L3214-users to serve their customers faster with high accuracy. To illustrate this, when processing typical jobs, the machine even cuts 400 m2 an hour.

At the core of the enhanced productivity lies a top-notch camera recognition system. Instead of getting your files ready, or waiting for the material to be scanned, this Summa L3214 Vision system continuously scans the material and automatically creates the cut vector needed for the job. The system secures continuous cutting, even when the conveyor is moving, saving you a considerable amount of valuable time.

At this high speed, Summa is still able to maintain the high standards for accuracy. A motorized de-reeler makes sure there is no fabric distortion while cutting. The system secures a constant and stable fabric feed onto the vacuumed cutting bed. By creating a loop in the material, the de-reeler relaxes the material, reduces distortion and secures an accurate cut. No more idle periods, yet boosted productivity instead with a perfectly cut product that’s immediately ready for shipment or further processing.

Like all L Series, also the L3214 enjoys the following benefits:

- Cutting quality that exceeds your expectations, thanks to the perfectly sealed edges. 

- Processing textiles with high precision and without fraying by default, through contactless cutting with a laser. 

- Any deformations are automatically recognised by the intelligent camera system and immediately compensated in the cutting vector. 

- Material optimisation reduces waste with the Vision technology because the laser system does not need markers, the cutting designs can be placed much closer to each other, ensuring maximum use of the material. 

- Environment & Safety is a priority. Fumes are removed by the internal extraction system and cutting by laser produces no dust fibres ensuring a clean work environment. The L Series is enclosed to meet the Class 1 standard, ensuring the laser cutting source is covered during operation and machine pauses if the cover is open.

Laser cutting excellence at FESPA 2019

Textile is one of the fastest growing markets nowadays, where on-demand digital printing proved to be the game changer many soft signage, sportswear and fashion brands need. Printed textiles still require finishing and nothing cuts as accurately as laser cutting. The contactless cutting means no fabric distortion, low to none dust generation, no tool wear and no fraying of synthetic textiles thanks to the edge sealing feature. It can be applied to any type of material and secures a quick and precise cutting of even the most intricate designs.

Wim Maes, Executive Director & CCO at Summa nv comments: “Our first model is a crowd-pleaser, especially in sportswear, but large format textiles and on-demand business models, raised the bar and a fast time-to-market is needed. The market asked for a bigger L Series model and we gladly comply. Textile will again be a major focus market at FESPA 2019 with many visitors looking for the perfect match of quality and price. Seekers of excellence in this field will find it on our stand F20 in Hall A5. We invite everyone to experience the benefits of laser cutting first-hand by joining one of the demonstrations and viewing the accurate and fast output the L3214 delivers with on-the-fly cutting technology.”

MUTOH, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers, announced that their original LED-UV ink or UL’s US11 ink is now the UL GREENGUARD Gold certified. 

UL’s GREENGUARD Certification Program is a widely used standard for design professionals, consumers and others to find low emitting interior products that promote better indoor air quality. Products that achieve GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold Certification have demonstrated low chemical emissions during normal use. Some products, such as printing inks, are used in a wide variety of applications.

The GREENGUARD test method includes standardised room exposure models for both an office and classroom environment developed by the California Department of Public Health. The stringency of these models is directly related to the surface area of product that will be used in the room. For products that may be used in many applications, UL considers all potential applications and awards certification for the highest surface area loading for which the products meet the GREENGUARD and/or GREENGUARD Gold Certification criteria.

To learn more about the GREENGUARD Certification, go to https://services.ul.com/service/greenguard-certification/  

MUTOH is taking steps to ensure our company and our products are environmentally responsible. MUTOH has been committed to provide customers safe, environmentally-friendly and high-quality products by following industry standards in our product development process.

About MUTOH’s original LED-UV ink; US 11 ink  

The MUTOH US11 ink has been specifically developed for MUTOH’s specialty/industrial UV printers. The US11 ink is capable of printing on a wide range of materials and is designed to bend and stretch with the materials after cured. The ink enables beautiful and versatile layer printing with CMYK + white and varnish colours. Available in cartridges & bulk ink bags, the MUTOH's LED-UV ink features high-productivity, ultra-sharp and high quality outputs.  

Area of Application – printer compatibility

MUTOH US11 ink is applicable to the following ValueJet UV inkjet printers.
- VJ-1638UH
- VJ-1638UR 
- VJ-626UF
- VJ-426UF

Esko, a global supplier of integrated hardware and software solutions for leading packaging, labels and wide format customers, has extended its Kongsberg digital cutting table range with the new Kongsberg C Edge; a completely upgradable table design that avoids costly reinvestment for customers as business grows.
 
The breakthrough innovation in the Kongsberg C multifunction, digital finishing series is designed specifically for signage and corrugated packaging converters.
 
Russell Weller, Esko Product Manager, stated: “The new C Edge is designed to grow with our customers. Invest now and you invest for the future. Unlike other tables on the market, the C Edge is completely upgradable avoiding the impact of having to reinvest when a business expands. The C Edge evolves with a business to unlock production flexibility and profitability, and delivers exceptional cutting quality and milling accuracy at a remarkably cost-effective price.”
 
With high speed production capability up to 75m/min, at an acceleration of 1G, the Kongsberg C Edge enables converters to produce high quality results with fast turnaround to meet today’s dynamic market needs.
 
Suitable for the wide range of substrates used in the signage sector, the C Edge can be fitted with  the new second Fast Tool adapter to reduce manual tool changes and minimise downtime. When two Fast Tools are utilised together, converters can achieve higher throughput with clever tool combinations and improve output quality, especially on signage materials like vinyls. The C Edge is also available with or without a conveyor.
 
For corrugated packaging manufacturers, the C Edge can also be fitted with a heavy duty unit with a 50kg downforce to produce high quality crease lines with a 150mm crease wheel. Efficient and high-quality creasing, even at 100% speed, is supported by CorruSpeed; a unique tool developed for cutting corrugated board at high production speeds without oscillation. The CorruSpeed tool delivers higher quality and generates significant time savings on a range of corrugated applications, even with recycled content.
 
Having a track record of delivering speed, precision and production power through superior engineering and build quality, Esko brings next generation innovation with the C Edge table for converters, supporting them today and in to the future.
 
Kongsberg C Edge is now available to the global market. For more information about the table and its complementary tools and software, please click here

HP has announced the new HP Stitch S series, a portfolio of digital textile printers that deliver fast, precise colour-matching, alongside efficient, simplified processes. It is HP’s latest innovation designed to accelerate commercial digital print adoption.

“Décor and fashion application trends, on demand production and personalisation are boosting digital print growth,” says Jeremy Brew, Large Format Application Specialist at HP. “The digitally printed textiles market is experiencing double-digit annual growth, forecast to reach US$5.5 billion by 2023, according to Smithers Pira. We look forward to more digital print transformations being realised with the arrival of the new HP Stitch S series.” 

The portfolio of printers couple HP Thermal Inkjet technology with industry-standard dyes for superior colour durability. The first-ever built-in spectrophotometer enables Stitch’s fast and exact colour-matching. The introduction includes three new printers from 64-inch to 126-inch wide: the HP Stitch S300 64-in Printer, the HP Stitch S500 64-in Printer, and the HP Stitch S1000 126-in Printer.  

The HP Stitch S300 Printer holds the first user-replaceable printhead, resulting in reduced down-times and service costs. The HP Stitch S300 Printer was designed specifically for new-to-dye sublimation professionals, prototyping departments, and growing print providers. 

“Our experience with HP Stitch S300 has been much easier and faster than other dye sub printers we’ve previously used,” says Teunis Roos, Color Concepts. “Most printers require manual action in terms of head maintenance and alignment, but the HP Stitch S300 is more proactive and automated when it comes to performance.”





Highlights: 
• Delivers the world’s fastest colour-matching - in the printer, in the RIP (Raster Image Processor) and in the cloud 
• Features Thermal Inkjet printhead technology to help reduce time and waste, and achieve repeatable, colour consistency across customer fleets
• Offers continuous high-quality prints with transfer paper and direct-to fabric features 
• Prevents downtime with HP Proactive Services offering pre-emptive support  

HP Stitch S500 Printer enables predictable dye sublimation colour and less media waste for production environments. With symmetrical 2xCMYK printhead configuration and Optical Media Advance Sensor, this 64-inch printer allows for saturated and reliable one pass mode for true top speed. The HP Stitch S500 Printer was designed specifically for high production sites.

Key HP Stitch S500 Printer features include:
• Streamlined production
o Big ink supplies, larger rolls, and HP’s Tension-Sensing Winder allow unattended operations—even overnight, complete with HP Services and cloud fleet management tools.
• Colour you can rely on with HP SmartColour tools
o Confidently distribute jobs across your fleet with colour consistency from printer to printer.
• Cost savings 
o Help avoid reprints and media waste with 1200 native dpi printheads and HP Smart Nozzle Compensation system, saving up to 50 percent floor space with frontal media loading and a spindle-less system. 





New HP Dye Sublimation Paper
HP has also launched a set of new dye sublimation papers for the new HP Stitch S Printer series. These papers are designed and tested as a system with HP dye sublimation inks and the HP Stitch S Printer series to achieve excellent image quality and colour consistency.

The HP Stitch S300 and S500 Printer series, as well as dye sublimation paper, are available now and will be showcased at ISA 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 24-26. Visit us at Booth 1935 and 1919 for a hands-on first look at the portfolio. 

The 126-inch HP Stitch S1000 Printer can be seen at ISA 2019 under exclusive invitation and will make its debut at FESPA 2019 in May. 

Pricing and availability
Information on Australian availability, pricing, and retail destinations will be available in the lead-up to PrintEx 2019. 

Mimaki has released the “JFX200-2513 EX”, a large flatbed UV inkjet printer.

The entry level flatbed will print direct onto a range of materials including white board, transparent/coloured board, wood, cardboard, and metal. Bed size is 2,500mm x 1,300mm.

“The JFX200-2513 EX is an ultimate 2.5m x 1.3m flatbed LED UV inkjet printer that combines high value-added print and high productivity," said Brad Creighton, National Marketing Manager, Mimaki Australia. "The newly developed head unit is adopted to enable production without reducing speed even in white and colour simultaneous printing. This has increased the productivity 200 per cent compared to the JFX200-2513."

“We have also added high value added printing features, including a special Emboss Print function. Most printers make the surface look bumpy with many layers of UV ink straight on top of other layers. Smoother expression is only achieved by stacking stepped layers, so there was a need to manually prepare the data for each layer. The JFX200-2513 EX allows you to create semi-stereoscopic 2.5D print data for stepped layers that are sized differently, simply by common Illustrator/Photoshop operations and RasterLink6Plus. We call this 2.5D Texture Maker, the prints look fantastic.”

The Emboss Print in the Surface Imaging is a technique that enables 2.5D expression using multiple layers of UV ink to add a three-dimensional effect to the surface.

The new 2.5D Texture Maker is a new function of Mimaki genuine rip software, RaterLink6Plus, which allows printers to easily create multi-layered gradation data.

The company says semi-stereoscopic smooth 2.5D print can be easily made, for applications such as interior materials with printed bricks and woodgrain texture, an elevation of thick ink of an oil painting, and embossed letters of signage.

The newly featured Draft mode achieves a higher-grade productivity, realising a maximum printing speed of 35sqm per hour.

Main features

1. High value-added print “2.5D Texture Maker” that enables easy creation of smooth semi-stereoscopic 2.5D data

2. High productivity
a) Print speed in white-simultaneous printing has improved 200% of the conventional model
b) Higher-grade productivity realised by adding the new print mode

3. Stability and safety
a) NCU & NRS automatically detects missing nozzles and performs recovery
b) Links with external interface allow users to meet safety standards that are different by factory

4. Upgraded usability
a) Work efficiency improved by adding the vacuum-controlling foot switch
b) Ethernet connection supported

Electronics For Imaging, Inc., has announced the launch of the EFI Fiery Colour Controller E-25C, a new digital front end (DFE) that drives many of the next generation of Ricoh’s family of colour multi-function printers (MFPs), the RICOH IM Series.

“Our new intelligent Colour MFPs, the IM Series, are affordable, versatile and highly productive systems that have been designed to help seamlessly support the colour intensive workflow requirements for busy office workgroups and enterprise environments,” said Steven Burger, Head of Engineering and Vice President, Portfolio Management, Ricoh USA, Inc.. “The Colour Controller E-25C provides our customers with the power to quickly and efficiently produce high-quality colour documents & prints with accurate and consistent colour.

Key benefits of the new digital front end include:

1.  Increased productivity: print large or complex PowerPoint and PDF files accurately and quickly, as well as high volumes of small jobs from many users simultaneously, allowing workers to get their materials printed faster to work more efficiently.
2. Accurate, consistent colour: print logo and corporate colours correctly, adjust or correct colour, edit or enhance images on-the-fly, and ensure consistent, highest quality output over time.
3. Easily prepare booklets: Fiery VUE, the free “visual print driver,” enables easy merging of multiple documents together, as well as seeing a 3D preview of exactly how a booklet will print.
4. Centralised printer management: with Fiery Navigator, customers can easily manage their fleet of printers over multiple sites
5. Advanced workflow options: Optional Fiery software such as Fiery Impose, Fiery Compose, Fiery Color Profiler Suite, and the Fiery Productivity Package provide advanced make-ready, colour management, and automation capabilities, including integration with EFI MIS/ERP workflow solutions.

Adding the DFE to a RICOH IM Series device helps customers reduce their overall costs by printing more high-quality materials in-house.

“The new Fiery DFE for the RICOH IM series devices sets a new quality and productivity standard for workgroup printing,” said John Henze, vice president of Fiery sales and marketing, EFI. “Customers get the best of both worlds: standard MFP functionality combined with the higher productivity and colour accuracy that helps them be more productive and reduce print outsourcing.”

The new Fiery DFE is available from Ricoh and authorised Ricoh Family Group dealer partners.

Successful legal suit filed against Nazdar and its German distributor Zaro, shows that FUJIFILM Speciality Ink Systems Ltd takes the protection of its intellectual property extremely seriously.

Commenting on the ruling handed down by the Regional Court in Düsseldorf, Germany, Rob Fassam, R&D Director at FSIS said: "This sends a clear message to anyone thinking of infringing our intellectual property. We will continue to protect our investment by filing patents that cover our technology and we will take appropriate action against those who infringe.

"I am delighted that the Regional Court in Düsseldorf has ruled in our favour. We invest significant time and resource developing new and exciting technology that benefits the inkjet industry."

In 2017 FUJIFILM Speciality Ink Systems Ltd (FSIS) filed suit against Nazdar Co., US and Nazdar Limited, UK as well as its German distributor Zaro GmbH before the competent Regional Court Düsseldorf (docket nos. 4b O 22/17 and 107/17). FSIS claimed Nazdar had infringed its UV ink patents EP 1 803 784 B3 and EP 2 383 314 B3 in Germany by offering its 702 & 703 Series UV inkjet inks and declaring them to be chemically compatible with the original inks designed for Fujifilm's Acuity range of flatbed UV printers.

The patents on these inks protect specific inkjet ink compositions providing a range of properties including improved flexibility, jetting performance and adhesion.

In reaction to the infringement actions, Nazdar filed nullity actions against the patents in Germany before the German Federal Patents Court and asked the Regional Court Düsseldorf to stay the infringement proceedings. Furthermore, Nazdar contested infringement, but did also, in reaction to FSIS' patent claims, change the chemical composition of its UV inkjet inks. However, despite redesigning the inks, Nazdar continued to market its UV inkjet inks as 702 & 703 Series and failed to indicate to customers the change in chemical composition in a way that FSIS considered necessary to avoid patent infringement.

With its judgements, the Regional Court in Düsseldorf has now confirmed infringement, injuncted Nazdar and Zaro from offering, bringing to market and any further use of patent infringing UV inkjet inks. It has also sentenced them to pay damages and render account. The Court also approved FSIS's position that the change in chemical composition of the 702 & 703 Series is not sufficient to avoid infringement because Nazdar continues to market their UV inkjets inks as 702 & 703 Series without sufficient indication of the product change.

Finally, while without prejudice of the nullity proceedings at the Federal Patents Court in Munich, the Regional Court in Düsseldorf did not follow Nazdar's invalidity arguments and therefore also rejected the stay motion.

Nazdar/Zaro have filed appeals against the judgements. Irrespectively, the judgements remain provisionally enforceable under the condition that FSIS will provide sufficient enforcement security. A date for the appeal hearing has been set for 7th November 2019. A date for a hearing in the nullity proceedings has not yet been set.

FUJIFILM Speciality Ink Systems Limited is the Technology Centre of Excellence for UV curable ink within the FUJIFILM Inkjet Business Division. Its core skills are the development and manufacture of high performance UV curing inks that are used in many of the world's leading printers.

Independent candidate for Hume, Huw Kingston, believes politicians should put their money where their mouths are. And to show he, for one, is serious about the environment he is doing away with the usual plastic advertising signs and using recyclable waterproof cardboard instead.

‘I tracked down this board made in Sweden, called Oppboga,’ Mr Kingston said. The waterproof outdoor board is named after the Swedish town where it is manufactured. It is made from paper and a biodegradable waterproofing agent. Mr Kingston has spent two decades campaigning against single-use plastics and his conscience would not allow him to put his face up on a plastic board.

‘The Oppbogas will last as long as the Federal election campaign, then they can go straight into the recycling bin.’





Every election hundreds of thousands of plastic ‘corflutes’ go up in suburbs, towns and along country roads throughout the nation. The product manager for Starleaton, who import the Oppboga boards in Australia, John Buitenkamp, said he had tried to interest the major political parties in the product but so far none had taken it up. The boards are more expensive than the plastic corflute equivalents. The material is used extensively for signage in the UK and has been available in Australia for two years.

Mr Kingston has ordered over 400 of the boards and hopes his example will be followed by other aspiring MPs in elections to come. He is campaigning on the slogan ‘There’s a climate for change’ and this is one change he would like to see, regardless of who wins the election. Additionally the Huw4Hume campaign team wear organic, sweatshop free T shirts and the vast majority of printing is done on FSC certified recycled paper.

‘People now take environmental concerns very seriously, and so should our politicians,’ said Mr Kingston, who is running against the incumbent Liberal, Angus Taylor.

Kornit Digital, a global market leader in digital textile printing innovation, has announced the introduction of the new Kornit Presto, the only industrial single-step solution for direct-to-fabric printing. The Kornit Presto solution eliminates the need for pre and post treatment of fabric and allows for high-quality printing on an extraordinarily broad variety of fabric types and applications. The Kornit Presto does not consume water in the printing process, making it the most environmentally friendly solution available for direct-to-fabric textile printing today.

The new Kornit Presto comes with the ground-breaking NeoPigment Robusto, the best Pigment-based ink available in the Industry. Implemented into the renowned Kornit NeoPigmentTM process, the Robusto provides above industry standard wash and rub results and exceptional color fastness across a wide fabric and application range. The Robusto enjoys faster physical and chemical bonding characteristics, enabling a significantly shorter curing time, while providing industry-leading quality and a wide color gamut. The NeoPigment Robusto ink was developed with sustainability priorities and is ECO PASSPORT and GOTS V5 approved.

The Kornit Presto solution suits a wide range of business and application needs in a variety of industry segments, including fast growing segments within the on-demand fashion and home décor markets. It is a highly productive solution, available in multiple configurations and able to print 450 square meters per hour.

Gart Davis, CEO at Spoonflower, the world’s first web-based service for custom, on-demand fabric and design creation and a long-time Kornit customer, commented, “We were thrilled to be able to test the new system and found the Presto to be in a class by itself; it prints beautifully on all kinds of fabrics, in a single-step, with an environmentally friendly dry process, and now at a multiple of productivity.  Our partnership with Kornit continues to be fundamental to our mission to make custom fabric accessible to designers, creative individuals and small businesses all over the world. We can’t wait to get going.”

Kerry King, Senior Vice President of R&D at Spoonflower, added, “The unique integration of the pre-treatment step into the printing process enables a level of efficiency that’s key to our web-to-print business.”

Omer Kulka, Kornit’s VP of Marketing and Product Strategy, also commented, “Kornit is on a mission to reinvent the textile printing industry with game-changing sustainable technologies for growing market segments.  We continue to see demand growth for on-demand production in fashion and home décor. This revolutionary technology is further proof of Kornit’s commitment to address the textile industry’s most urgent needs.”

Lintec Europe has introduced a range of easy-to-apply labelstocks featuring a ‘micro-canyon structure’ that prevents the formation of air bubbles beneath the label upon application.

The labelstock is claimed to be particularly effective for information labels on home appliances or electronic devices, as well as large labels in the graphics market that require a high level of air-release performance. A UL-recognized product, the labelstock is also resistant to blistering caused by outgassing emitted by certain plastic surfaces.

‘The two key advantages of this product is that it is easy to apply and outgassing resistant,’ explained Soichiro Fujinaga, technical manager of Lintec Europe. ‘The labelstock features an innovative air release adhesive mechanism, facilitated by a specially designed textured adhesive surface that incorporates miniscule air channels, hence the name “micro-canyon”. As the label is applied to the surface, the air escapes via the channels, avoiding the formation of bubbles and resulting in smooth adhesion.’

Soichiro said the labelstock is also particularly effective for overcoming the problem of blistering caused by outgassing: ‘Blisters have long been a source of dissatisfaction as they are difficult to remove and they affect the visual presentation of a label. The cause of this phenomenon lies in certain plastics, such as polycarbonates, which emit gasses over time and under the influence of rising temperatures, leading to the formation of blisters under the label. Our product is the ideal countermeasure against this issue and removes the possibility of label delamination.’

With a UL969 certification, the bubble-free labelstock range is compliant with the safety standards issued by Underwriters Laboratories. ‘It is quite common to have products comply with UL Standards, and many home appliances are UL-approved,’ concluded Soichiro. ‘Certification is a responsibility we take very seriously at Lintec and a UL969 label means that our customers can be confident they are investing in a reliable product.’

A new selection of colour-shifting foils, which enable designers to develop eye-catching brand enhancing packaging, has been launched available by Fresnels Innovations.

New ‘Scarab’, which reflects the iridescent colours of the eponymous beetle, and ‘Opal’, which takes its inspiration from the colour effects seen in mineral gem stones, follow the launch of the optically variable foil (OVF) Peacock stamping foil in 2018.

The latest foils will feature as part of a select range of eye-catching colour-shifting effects from Fresnels Innovations, designed to improve recyclable packaging through the use of stamping foil technology instead of inks.

Both are opaque foils but feature within their formulation either basic pigmentation (Scarab) or a reflective surface (Opal).Precision engineered to produce sophisticated optical elements, they deliver highly individual added-value packaging effects, which provide a striking visual appeal designed to catch the eye of consumers in the retail environment.

Unlike colour-shifting inks, which only change when tilted relative to viewing light, the foils also alter colour when rotated. When applied to curved surfaces, the full gamut of colour changes can be seen at a single glance.

Developed for high speed machine application and available for either hot stamping or cold transfer applications, each foil can be applied quickly and easily without the requirement for registration equipment.

COO Dr Glenn Wood said the new products will add novelty to packaging applications: ‘We are achieving similar colour changes to optically variable inks with our foils, thus providing branded packaging with customer engagement and visual effects previously found only on banknotes and other government security documents.’

Fresnels Innovations is working with a Taiwanese manufacturer of folding cartons to produce new eye-catching plastic free packaging, which is both 100 percent recyclable and FSC carton board certified.