Print show UK – part 1

With fewer than 100 days to go until the NEC in Birmingham, UK, opens its doors for eight days from 18 May 2010 to visitors from around the world, Ipex 2010 has entered the final countdown stage. Over 650 stand holders are signed up, representing over 1,000 companies across more than 60,000m² of floor space. All major features and exhibitors have now been allocated space and the final floor plans showing the hall configuration is available from the Ipex website. From exhibition lists, company details, floor plans and news about all the features at Ipex, the Ipex website contains everything that visitors need to know to plan a successful trip to theevent. In addition, visitors can pre-register free of charge at www.ipex.org/register and get information about travel and accommodation.

Specialist in colour control, press control and automatic inspection, AVT/GMI (stand E513, in Hall 6) will present its next generation PrintVision/Apollo II 100% automatic inspection system, offering higher resolutions, improved levels of automation and an enhanced user interface. It incorporates a powerful new hardware and software infrastructure ‘to support the highest performance levels for demanding applications’. New optional multiple and fast cameras are said to deliver improved resolution and explicit image quality.

The system is equipped with many new standard and optional features for both on-press and on-rewinder operations, such as fast and dual camera configuration and a master verification module that enables comparison of saved master images to current jobs.

Fujifilm Europe will be showcasing its Jet Press 720 B2 sheet-fed digital inkjet press, claiming it will ‘revolutionise short-run printing’.

The Jet Press 720 is claimed to take the print quality produced by a digital system ‘to new heights’ thanks to a combination of technologies. Firstly, it makes use of Samba printhead technology for single-pass inkjet printing. This achieves resolutions of 1,200dpi x 1,200dpi with four levels of greyscale, ‘a specification unobtainable from any other digital printing system’.

Fujifilm has also used its advanced chemical technology to develop water-based inks that enable bleed-free, high quality images to be produced. The quality is enhanced through ‘anti-curling’ and ‘rapid coagulation ink’ technologies, which prevent paper curl and dot gain.

Finally, the repeatability from sheet-to-sheet is said to be second to none. This is because the paper handling is ‘identical to offset’ and further enhanced through the use of a CCD sensor which scans every sheet and makes any necessary alterations in real-time.

The Jet Press 720 can print a B2 sheet in a single pass, resulting in production speeds of 2,700 sheets/hour. Fujifilm estimates it will be particularly competitive for print runs under 2,000 sheets.

In Hall 9, on stand 9-E322, GMG will highlight the extensive functions of the new SmartProfiler software application, which allows the creation of individual colour profiles and printer calibrations for digital and large format printing systems.

SmartProfiler is available as an additional option in combination with the company’s ColorServer colour management solution, for processing any kind of colour conversions. This is said to enable companies to greatly increase productivity, production reliability and the colour quality of their products, regardless of which printing process is applied.

Flexo and packaging printers will learn how to produce top quality, contract level packaging proofs and mockups. The combination of ColorServer/SmartProfiler colour management software and the UJF-605 series UV inkjet printers from Mimaki for high value packaging applications enables digital proofing on original substrates such as shrink or metallic films, tin and compound boards and the production of ‘absolutely colour-accurate’ packaging mockups with white ink and varnish support.

The combination of GMG proofing software and the new Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 white ink printer is suitable for high end contone and halftone proofing on transparent or metallic foils (see separate feature ‘Picture perfect’).

On stand 12-AB150 - the largest at the show - HP will feature a ‘production floor’ with four major zones, one of which will demonstrate production of labels and packaging on HP Indigo presses. ‘Voice of Customer’ kiosks will enable visitors to hear first-hand how companies have used HP digital printing to transform their businesses, and Business Enabler kiosks will provide financial, service, training and integration information and advice.

Exhibiting on stand D480, in Hall 7, IST (UK) will be showcasing its latest technology in UV drying systems for the graphic arts market. In addition, specialist UV systems for the industrial coatings and silicones sector will be on show. The ‘market leading’ BLK-5 and MBS5 UV systems, energy reduction high UV output units will be the key focus for IST Metz and new for Ipex there will be the latest range of UV LED curing systems, which will be demonstrated on the stand. A live demo of energy reduction UV systems will be carried out during the show.

Konica Minolta Inkjet Technologies has increased production of its KM1024 series printheads, first introduced at drupa 2008. They are available in three drop sizes: 6pl, 14pl and 42pl. All models can be used in binary or greyscale mode (3 bit). Versions are available with a built-in electrical heater for use with UV inks, or without heater for oil and solvent ink.

The KM1024 series heads pack a largenumber of nozzles into a very small space and are said to have excellent dropplacement accuracy and drop velocity consistency, making them ideal for high quality single-pass applications. They require only a very simple ink supply system and are suitable for use with white ink.

The KM1024 heads have a new low capacitance architecture which is said to reduce power consumption by up to 50% compared with the KM512 series. A full set of peripheral components is available from Industrial Inkjet, the official distributor and technical support centre for Konica Minolta industrial inkjet products outside Asia, who can also supply complete single-pass inkjet print engines, using the KM1024 heads, to OEM partners.

PrintCity Alliance (stand 17-D921, Hall 17) members Leonhard Kurz, manroland, Megtec, Merck, Océ, Sappi, Tolerans, UPM and Weilburger Graphics are focusing on three industry ‘hot topics’ to drive discussions on business growth opportunities with visitors.

The overall PrintCity show theme is Print: Lean, Green & Seen, which interlinks three subjects that are all connected to industry profitability, business efficiency and future growth opportunities: Productivity, Efficiency & Standardisation; Environmental Impact; and Value Added Printing and Packaging.

Importantly, for the period 2010 to 2012, the alliance is focusing its knowledge base on areas which can drive additional business growth and profitability worldwide – from increasing efficiency, reducing energy usage and exploiting new value added printing and packaging opportunities, as well as generally reducing impact on the environment.

Bespoke finishing systems specialist Rollem (stand E860, Hall 18) will show a new version of its Champion system offering fast and efficient semi-slitting (kiss-cutting) of stock such as pressure sensitive labels. The depth of slit can be controlled accurately and one set of tooling can be used to handle a variety of jobs. The system can quickly be reset for labels of different sizes and can even be used to semi slit, for example, greetings cards prior to folding.

Top of the list of digital innovations from Screen, in Hall 10, stand C290, is the commercial launch of the ‘world’s first’ full-colour B2 sheet-fed inkjet press - the ‘revolutionary’ Truepress JetSX,. First seen as a prototype at drupa, it is said to combine high quality and productivity with the ability to print single-pass duplex. This opens up a huge array of opportunities to produce many value-added products.

The Truepress JetSX has the ability to output to B2 width on a variety of media types, making it ideal for high-level hybrid printing systems, overprinting variable data on offset-produced material. With the paper handling technology of Screen’s Truepress series, the JetSX is said to have precise registration to equal that of offset. It features a high precision inkjet head that can output at 1,440 x 720dpi to produce text and images ‘of a quality to rival offset’.

Ipex will also see the launch of two new versions of ‘the world’s most successful high speed single-pass colour inkjet printer’, the Truepress Jet520.

Among the products on the technotrans stand (C561, Hall 6) is the beta.c.eco, the ‘energy efficient’ version of the beta.c, a combination unit which handles dampening solution circulation and temperature control ina single cabinet housed alongside a press. In addition to significantly reducing power consumption when cooling inking rollers, this unit also cuts back on the amount of water, IPA, additives and filter material required. It cuts consumables and disposal costs.

Alpha.d, a dampening solution circulation system with digital temperature control, includes options for alcohol stabilisation, automatic dampening solution dosing and the measurement of conductivity and pH levels. Its plug and play functionality means it is easy to install and upgrade.

Knowledge centre

Designed to heighten the visitor experience and maximise time at the event, the new Ipex 2010 Knowledge Centre provides an easily accessible information hub where visitors can seek advice from trade associations about memberships, pensions, industry accreditation, best industry practice as well as educational matters.

Trade bodies participating include: the Asian Flexographic Technical Association; the Forest Stewardship Counsel (FSC); the Ghent Workgroup; the Independent Print Industries Associations (IPIA); the International Print Purchasing Standards Association (iPPSA); the London College of Communication; the National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM); the Printers Charitable Corporation; PrintIT!; Printing Industries Association of Australia; the Printing Industry Pension Scheme (PIPS); Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC); National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM); the Welsh Centre of Printing & Coating.

About Ipex 2010

Ipex is the largest English-speaking global technology event for print, publishing and media. Acquired by IIR Exhibitions in 2006 from its previous owner, industry association Picon, IIR Exhibitions also owns Total Print! Expo incorporating Digital Print World, Northprint and Ipex South Asia.

Ipex 2010 will take place from Tuesday 18th May to Tuesday 25th May 2010 at the NEC, Birmingham, UK. The new footprint for the show provides a logical layout for visitors by mirroring the whole print production workflow.

The new Ipex 2010 website includes sales brochures, the exhibition layout, an exhibitor list as well as marketing and logistical information. It also has information and voting forms for the international Ipex 2010 ‘Champions Print’ Awards which were launched to acknowledge the huge contributions of those who have influenced and shaped the development of the printing industry.

Save money on registration

Pre-registration for Ipex 2010 is now available online, and will result in a £30 saving off the entrance fee. There will be free fast-track entry for all pre-registered visitors. Visit www.ipex.org/register