Global names to head up inaugural Fespa Eurasia show

Agfa, d.gen, Fujifilm, HP, MS, Roland, Xerox and Zund have all confirmed their attendance, while brands including Durst, EFI, Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh, Reggiani and Swiss Q Print will be represented by their Turkish distributors.

The inaugural Fespa show in the region, which takes place from 3-5 October at the CNR Expo in Istanbul, aims to reflect the importance of screen printing in the Eurasian market, according to exhibition manager Michael Ryan.

"It is great to see major international brands supporting the inaugural show as well as exhibitors from the Eurasia region," he said. "Their commitment reflects just what a valuable and growing market this is, reinforcing our decision to launch a show here.

"Our educational content is designed to offer printers ideas to boost their business, and the content is free for visitors to attend. Fespa is a unique exhibition organiser that reinvests back into our global print community to spur growth within the industry."

Show features include conference sessions on a variety of topics including "planet-friendly printing", colour management, applications, technical software and the latest technologies for digital print.

Speakers include Fatih Güner, founder of sosyalmedya.co who will discuss self-promotion and networking in a digital world. Akif Tatlisu, editor of Matbaa & Teknik, will chair a debate on the digital print market in Turkey and printers' expectations. CorelDraw will show software packages.

A Garment Central stand is targeted at printers working or interested in the garment sector. Daily workshops will offer garment decorators hands-on tips from market expert Charlie Taublieb and Samir Sadikoglu, named Turkey's top printer in Fespa 2013's Hall of Fame in London, this year.

Another highlight, the World Wrap Masters, will be a meeting point for vehicle wrapping experts to compete against peers to become vehicle wrapping champion. There will also be technical demonstrations on best-practice wrapping techniques for printers.

Local exhibitors include Anka, Anadolu Kimya, Aras Teks Kimya and Ozanadolu Kimya. Serimak, the leading screen printing distributor in Turkey, will display its portfolio, which includes M&R screen printing carousels for garment decoration.

Kevin Jenner, Fujifilm's business manager for wide format in Europe's eastern region, said: "We have supported Fespa since its inception and established a Fujifilm sales office in Turkey last year. This is a strategically important and fast developing region."

For more information click here

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UK's first Promotional Products Week hits the mark

The event aimed to raise the profile of promotional merchandising including printed products, which is worth more than £765m, said association deputy-general Gordon Glenister. The week was a first in the BPMA's 48-year history, he added.

Initiatives included a dedicated website, www.promotionalproductsweek.co.uk, an awareness-raising campaign including 300 Brunel University students, the handing out of promotional products including branded cupcakes and window stickers, and activity on Twitter and Facebook.

"The print and promotional industry are not great on social media and we are desperately trying to educate them. This week was a great vehicle for us to share content," he said. "It was not just focusing on the BPMA but individual members including suppliers and distributors.

"Our event was supported by almost 600 members who conducted their own marketing campaigns around the week and promoted it in their own regions and to their own clients to raise awareness of the importance of promotional work and what they do."

Highlight of the week was a House of Commons dinner, where 25 members discussed issues such as trading standards and future challenges with MP and industry supporter MP Brian Binley. The week was also flagged up with a survey of 1,000 people.

It concluded the UK was "a nation of freebie hunters", said Glenister: "Brands, companies and organisations should note that three in 10 consumers have changed their regular brand in order to receive a promotional product."

Nearly half of consumers would switch brand for cooking accessories, while nearly 42% would switch for a coffee mug. Other popular items included fizzy-drink branded glasses, cuddly toys, and cosmetic purses or tote bags. Many products are kept and used such as pens, T-shirts and keyrings.

"The power and attraction of promotional merchandise is clearly demonstrated, with almost a sixth of consumers saying they would use devious means such as giving out false personal details or gaining uninvited entry to a venue or event, to get an item. The most fibbed-for item was toiletries."

Nearly half said ‘significant' branding was acceptable, whereas a third said it should be ‘subtle'. In the current economic difficulties nearly three-fifths of consumers were more likely to keep freebies than before the recession. One in 10 would give a free branded product as a gift.

Glenister said: "Promotional merchandise is far more than just a freebie. Used correctly it delivers powerful and positive advertising messages, as well as a thank you. Our recent research showed branded gifts can deliver a higher or equal return on investment than most forms of advertising."

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Founding members of Ipex 360 Committee announced

Ipex 2014 has announced the founding members of the Ipex 360 Committee. The visitor-focused steering group will meet for the first time on 9th October to discuss the Ipex 2014 features and content programme, and advise the organisers accordingly to ensure the event effectively caters to industry needs.

The Ipex 360 Committee currently consists of the following members: Patrick Martell, Chief Executive of St Ives and Ipex President; Malcolm Lane-Ley, Executive Chairman of Anton Group; Tim Ainsworth, Client Services Director at Communisis; Roger Pitt, Managing Director of Headley Brothers; Jon Bailey, Managing Director of ProCo; Scott Logie, Strategic Marketing Director of St Ives; and Norman Revill, Director of York Mailing and Pindar.

Malcolm Lane-Ley, Executive Chairman of Anton Group, comments: “Ipex will be the essential international print event for Anton Group to attend in 2014. It is the ideal opportunity for us to engage with industry peers, hear from international thought leaders, and view and compare the latest technologies available. The Ipex 360 Committee will provide Informa Exhibitions with the necessary input from a visitor perspective to ensure Ipex 2014 serves the need of printers & marketers.”

Norman Revill, Director of York Mailing and Pindar, adds: “Having been involved with Ipex since the 1980s - first as an exhibitor and now as a visitor â€" I hope to add an interesting perspective to discussions as to how best to deliver a great visitor experience at Ipex 2014.”

“I look forward to chairing the first Ipex 360 Committee meeting with my industry peers, and to working with them to help Informa meet their objectives for Ipex 2014,” says Patrick Martell, St Ives Chief Executive and Ipex 2014 President. “Ipex 2014 promises to be a world class ‘must attend’ event that will reflect and address the latest trends and issues in the industry.”

Trevor Crawford, Event Director, Ipex 2014, concludes, “With Ipex 2014 pre-registration now open and our visitor marketing campaign in full swing, the Ipex 360 Committee will play a vital role to deliver an event that printers and marketers want. We look forward to receiving the committee’s input to ensure that Ipex 2014 delivers an unmissable experience with a unique and comprehensive content and feature programme, and provide visitors with an excellent opportunity to compare the latest technologies and brilliant conventional print applications.”

Roland DG announces its 'biggest, fastest and strongest' desktop UV machine to date

 

Roland DG has launched the latest addition to its popular line of desktop flatbed UV printers - the VersaUV LEF-20 . The VersaUV LEF-20 offers greater productivity and outstanding print quality to providers of custom promotional products, souvenirs, giftware, awards, signage, and consumer items, as well as industrial parts and packaging prototypes. 

“Two years’ ago we launched the revolutionary LEF series, opening up an extraordinary new range of creative possibilities enabling businesses to print onto a wide variety of materials and products including USB sticks, phone covers, photo frames, golf balls, coasters and many other personalised items,” says Jerry Davies, Managing Director, Roland DG UK. “With the VersaUV LEF-20, we have now taken this technology to new levels of productivity and versatility, with a larger 20” print area enabling both larger items and speedier printing of multiple smaller items.”

The new VersaUV LEF-20 prints directly onto items measuring up to 508mm in width, 330mm length and 100mm deep. This equates to 20 iphone covers, or larger items such as laptop covers, signs or even a guitar body.

The innovative UV-LED lamp cures ink instantly and allows users to print directly onto a wide variety of substrates, including PET, ABS, polycarbonate, TPU,*1 leather and fabric materials, as well as 3D, industrial and consumer objects, ranging from golf balls, key chains and pens to metal tablet covers, smart phone cases and awards.

The LEF-20 features Roland ECO-UV ink in CMYK, white and clear formulations for bright, high-opacity images and text. For jobs involving transparent or dark coloured materials, the LEF-20 features advanced ECO-UV high-density white ink. Clear ECO-UV ink can also be layered into interesting patterns and textures in both gloss and matte finishes.

The new machine includes Roland VersaWorks® RIP print management software, which features variable data printing, making it easy to personalise printed objects with individualised serial numbers, logos, graphics and names.

To coincide with the launch of the VersaUV LEF-20, Roland is offering a free half-day Better Business Boot Camp. This will show users how the VersaUV LEF-20 will help them diversify their business through a whole range of innovative applications and create strong and profitable new revenue streams.

For more information, please visit www.rolanddg.co.uk/seethemagic or call 0845 230 90 60.

'Dynamic' high quality, cost-effective new range of laminating films from Drytac

Drytac Europe has launched a new high quality, cost-effective range of laminating films under the ‘Dynamic’ brand.

Developed for cost-conscious print service providers, the Dynamic range is suitable for numerous applications including point of sale, sign and display, exhibition and photographic purposes to name but a few.  It includes gloss, matte and sandgrain options, is 100 microns thick and is available in multiple widths from 880mm to 1520mm.

On the new range, Steve Broad, Drytac Sales Director Europe, comments, “The Dynamic laminating films were introduced to offer quality films at a keen price point.  The laminates are an ideal ‘everyday’ range of pressure-sensitive films and are perfect for enhancing and protecting indoor prints and exhibition graphics.  Dynamic laminates have a solvent-based adhesive and can also be used for short-term outdoor graphics applications.”

Drytac Dynamic Gloss laminating film has a high gloss reflective finish that is water-resistant and provides UV protection.  The gloss finish enhances colour vibrancy and is very durable. 

Drytac Dynamic Matte laminating film has a true matte finish and is non-glare.  The water-resistant PVC laminate will eliminate reflection while maintaining colour contrast and details. 

Drytac Dynamic Sandgrain is a pressure-sensitive, non-glare PVC over-laminating film with a crystal finish.  It is hard-wearing and ideal for applications where extensive handling is required.

All three films offer excellent performance with outdoor exposure for up to one year if applied to water-based print and two years if applied to a solvent-based print.

Mick Crook, Product Manager - Sign and Display at Antalis, Drytac’s exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland, adds, “We will be introducing some promotional launch offers on the new films in the near future.  Print service providers should call us to benchmark their current purchases and see how we can help save them money without compromising quality.”

Pricing and availability

Drytac’s entire range of films and adhesives is exclusively distributed throughout the UK and Ireland by Antalis.  For the most up-to-date pricing and availability, please visit www.antalis.co.uk

For further information on Drytac and its leading range of films and adhesives, please visit www.drytac.co.uk

[Image shows Drytac Dynamic Sandgrain on left and Drytac Dynamic Gloss on right]

EFI boosts leadership team with two new appointments

EFI has added to its leadership team with the appointment of Steve Green as vice president of sales in the Asia Pacific region and Sam Gulve as vice president of engineering for the EFI India Development Center.

“As we continue to grow the company while deepening our relationship with customers around the globe, we also want to ensure that we have the strongest possible leadership team in place at EFI,” said Guy Gecht, CEO. “Steve and Sam are bringing great experience to our company that will help accelerate our innovation and better serve our customers.”

Steve Green brings 25 years of sales and marketing expertise to his role at EFI.  Prior to joining EFI, he was APAC regional managing director and vice president at Kodak with P&L responsibility for an over-$1 billion technology business in the Asia Pacific region. Green has also held senior positions in sales, marketing, service and general management with Kodak, Creo, Océ and Ricoh. He is deeply ingrained in the printing and publishing industries and in the intricacies of selling and marketing in the Asia Pacific region. Green has a graduate management diploma from the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales Australia, and holds an MBA from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney, Australia.

EFI also welcomes Samir (Sam) Gulve as vice president of engineering for the EFI India Development Center. In that role, he will be responsible for driving all aspects of local engineering discipline as well as operational management of the EFI India Development Center. During his more than 27 years of diverse global technology experience, Gulve has held various senior management positions at world-renowned companies such as AT&T Bell Labs, Avaya, Netscape, Amdocs and Spice Mobility. He has also managed highly successful startups including Kiva Software, Calico Commerce and Visual Insights, and was co-founder and CEO of the start-up Shakti. During his career, Sam has held key leadership roles in diverse functional areas including Executive Management, R&D, Engineering, Sales, Strategy and Operations. He spent more than two decades in North America in roles with global responsibilities, and for the last 8-plus years, has operated out of India. Gulve holds a B. Tech. in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and an M.S in computer science from Virginia Tech.

For more information about EFI products and services, please visit www.efi.com

Roland DG's Academy offers an 'Introduction to Digital Print' course

Roland DG has added an ‘Introduction to Digital Print’ to its Roland Academy courses. The new one day course, which starts in October, will be run at the Roland Academy at Walsall College and in Roland’s Creative Centre at its Clevedon HQ.

Joe Wigzell, Academy and Creative Centre Manager for Roland DG, comments, “The wide format market is changing rapidly as more and more companies and entrepreneurs see the value in investing in wide format and the flexibility and diversity it gives to their product portfolio. Our new Introduction to Digital Print course is a great complement to our existing range of courses. This is an entry level course, which aims to provide newcomers to wide format digital print and Roland’s technology with a comprehensive overview of the market they are entering as well as technical assistance and tuition on Roland’s equipment and software, so they can quickly maximise opportunities, profitability and the return on their investment.”

Attendees will also have the chance to have some practical ‘hands-on’ time with Roland’s machines through the course of the day; creating, producing and finishing three different products/outputs, with the chance to ask questions and gain valuable tips along the way from Roland’s experienced tutors.

Joe Wigzell continues, “It can be a daunting task learning how to use new hardware and software when you are unfamiliar with both the machine and the opportunities the industry presents. So, the chance to learn this alongside others who are in the same situation and have similar questions will help the learning process and adoption of best practice, ensuring the user gets the most out of their wide format investment from the start. Using precision machines like Roland’s wide format range to the best of their ability can only improve business performance and this course will provide beginners and start-ups with the tools to do exactly that.”

The ‘Introduction to Digital Print’ course is provided free as part of the introductory training package for those who purchase a VersaCAMM, VersaART or SOLJET wide format machine and at a discounted price for VersaSTUDIO BN-20 users.

For more information, course times and dates, please contact Joe Wigzell on 0845 230 90 60, visit the Introduction to Digital Print pages on the Roland DG website www.rolanddg.co.uk/introduction or email joe.wigzell@rolanddg.co.uk. 

Ilford rescued via MBO, but job cuts needed

The MBO marks the third change of ownership in less than a decade for the wide-format media manufacturer, following its sale to Oji Paper Group in 2005 and then Paradigm Global Partners in 2010.

According to reports, Paradigm pulled the plug on its investment at the start of July, leaving Ilford unable to pay its 220 staff and facing bankruptcy.

However, Willems, who was chief executive of GMG prior to joining Ilford in 2011, was able to secure backing for an MBO from Ilford's Asian distributor JetGraph, which has taken a shareholding along with Willems and Metrailler.

Following the MBO, Willems plans to sell "a significant part of the land owned by Ilford Property" to fund strategic investment in Ilford Imaging. Nevertheless, the need to realign the cost base of the business has led to a 40% reduction in Ilford's 220-strong workforce.

The MBO deal was announced on 17 September, at which time Willems said: "The last few weeks have been extremely challenging and I would like to thank the dedicated members of staff that even through the restructuring process have continued to push the business forward.

"In addition, I am very grateful for the continued support of our customers around the world that have stood by us through these difficult conditions. Finally, we have had a number of key suppliers that have continued to work with us through this period at their own risk and again I appreciate their support. It is a true testimony to the quality of products and the importance of our brand."

In spite of its financial difficulties, Ilford has maintained a steady stream of acquisitions and product launches over the past 12 months, including the purchase of CMA Graphix Group, Colorportal and Tecco, and the launch of NanoSolvent and AquaBlock coatings for its Omnijet range of wide format inkjet media.

JetGraph president Keiichi Shindo said: "Ilford is a world-renowned brand and we are very optimistic about the potential of the new coating technologies, including NanoSolvent and AquaBlock, as well as the new additions to its traditional inkjet photo paper range.

"The innovative products that Ilford have developed recently are a key reason for our investment decision and they will deliver a fundamental contribution to our future growth plan for the commercial sign and display market."

Following the MBO, Ilford announced a technology partnership with Lintec Sign Systems on 18 September. Under the terms of the partnership, Lintec has licensed Ilford's NanoSolvent and AquaBlock coatings for use on a range of Lintec substrates.

NanoSolvent is a coating optimised for use with wide-format eco-solvent inkjet printers, while AquaBlock is a water-fast coating layer optimised for use with aqueous wide-format inkjet printers.

The new products will be sold worldwide under the Lintec brand.

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Landa announces major developments to S10FC and S10C Nanographic Printing Presses

Landa has announced some major developments to its Landa S10FC and S10C Nanographic Printingâ„¢ Presses which enhance print quality and upgrade the press design. Landa says that the new changes firmly place Nanographic Printing presses as a production-oriented digital printing solution for mainstream applications.

Landa's founder, chairman and CEO Benny Landa says, “We have been working closely with our customers to ensure that our Nanographic Printing presses will provide the performance, print quality and feature set for high-speed production. In addition, the new Landa Operator Cockpit will set a new standard for operating any production press, whether digital or offset.”

Detailed research and close customer collaboration have led to a new concept in press operability and the addition of several important features. The Landa Operator Cockpit, an integrated production management center located at the delivery end of the press, enables operators to monitor and control the press while effortlessly glancing at the delivery area.  Operator-centric with an advanced ergonomic design, the Landa Operator Cockpit surrounds the operator with touch-screen press controls, job management tools, video feeds from all key press functions, production-related vital signs and a lighted inspection table. In addition, a personal area enables operators to store and display personal items.

New ink ejectors improve print quality and increase press productivity. With a resolution of 1200 dpi, they boast higher print quality levels that match offset resolution and gray levels. In addition, the new ink ejector architecture significantly improves the reliability of the ink ejection and enables redundancy in case of nozzle failure.

Additional developments and features include:

• Advanced paper handling system:  An automatic paper handling system supports both paper and plastic substrates. Reducing many of the labor-intensive tasks related to paper setup, it also accelerates the changeover to new substrates and maximizes uptime. Continuous paper feeding and delivery capabilities let converters and printers operate without stopping to replace the paper pile. An auxiliary delivery tray will enable operators to automatically collect proofs without interrupting the normal production process.
• Optional inline coating unit: An optional conventional inline coating unit will efficiently enhance Nanography-printed products with both flood and selective coating. The coating unit will support flexo rollers and plates as well as a variety of UV and aqueous coatings.

Landa plans to start shipping beta units of the Landa S10FC Nanographic Printingâ„¢ Press for folding carton applications at Q4/2014. Shipments of the Landa S10C Nanographic Printingâ„¢ Press for commercial and publishing printing will follow shortly thereafter.

Benny Landa concludes, “We have made substantial improvements that will accelerate the transformation of digital printing into a mainstream technology.”

All Print Supplies appoints Nathan Burnett as National Ink Sales Manager

All Print Supplies (APS) has appointed Nathan Burnett to the newly-created role of National Ink Sales Manager.  With immediate effect, he will be responsible for managing APS’s new specialist inks division as well as nationwide sales of Nazdar’s compatible inks.

Says Kevin Wallace, Managing Director, All Print Supplies: “We’ve had great success over recent years selling Nazdar compatible inks for Mimaki and Roland machines as more and more customers look to save money on production costs and ensure they maintain quality.  Until now, responsibility for the sales of these inks has been with our regional sales managers. However, we’ve now got to a point where we need a dedicated inks division and national ink sales manager to accelerate further growth in this part of the business. Customers can potentially achieve savings of up to 25 per cent by purchasing Nazdar compatible inks rather than OEM inks, so I believe there is huge opportunity in the market and we’re very pleased to have Nathan on board. He joins us at a time of strong growth for both our ink products and APS generally.”

Nathan will work closely with existing and new customers who are considering converting to Nazdar compatible inks. As part of this, APS has partnered with Quality Print Services Ltd to provide a service and support package and added confidence for printers converting to Nazdar Inks.

Kevin Wallace continues, “We have also recently launched compatible inks for the HP9000S machine and we are working hard with Nazdar to bring other compatible ink products to market over the next 12 months including a bulk ink distribution system which could potentially save our customers even more production costs.”

Nathan Burnett adds, “I’m joining APS at what is obviously a period of strong growth for the company.  I have a number of years’ experience in the compatible inks market and will use this to help reassure customers that the transition between OEM and compatible inks is not as daunting as it appears or as some would have you believe. APS runs a very thorough in-house testing procedure on all supplied materials because they really understand just how important it is for all customers to have total confidence in the quality, reliability and durability of the inks.  I believe we have a great range of top quality inks supported by a real commitment to customers and I’m excited about taking this out to the market.”

Kevin Wallace concludes, “Giving the customer total confidence is the key to this role and its great Nathan has come on board to help us build awareness amongst our client base around the quality and reliability of the Nazdar inks.  All the inks we sell have been through a robust testing procedure at APS to ensure they meet our exacting standards. In fact, what most All Print Supplies customers are probably not aware of is that we have been using Nazdar inks to print all our Product Swatches and printed samples for the last 3 years and we have been consistently impressed ourselves with the quality and longevity of these inks.  We wouldn’t sell anything we don’t believe in and I know Nathan shares our view on this.  We are looking forward to working with Nathan to ensure this division reaches its full potential.”

 

Fujifilm and Inca Digital Printers add Onset S40i with white to product line-up

Fujifilm and Inca Digital Printers have added a new model to the Inca Onset range â€" the 4-colour plus white Inca Onset S40i large format flatbed UV inkjet printer. Following the launch of the Onset S40i (CMYK LtcLtm) last year, the new Onset S40i now includes a double white ink capability, resulting in excellent print speed when printing white onto a wide variety of premium quality graphic substrates. The new Onset S40i with white is the ideal solution for businesses that produce high-value backlit/frontlit and double-sided day/night POS display graphics where the ability to print high-opacity white as a base, spot colour or top layer quickly and cost effectively is important.

Supplied by Fujifilm, Inca’s exclusive global distribution partner, the new Inca Onset S40i with white will be shown publicly for the first time worldwide on the Fujifilm stand C30 at FESPA Eurasia (3-5 October 2013, Istanbul, Turkey).

The Inca Onset S40i with white incorporates 168 Fujifilm Dimatix printheads (56 for white) on a full width print array. As a result the printer produces superb POS-quality display graphics economically at throughput speeds of up to 560 sqm/hr (CMYK only) equivalent to 112 full bed sheets/hr (3.14 x 1.6m), and onto substrates up to 50mm (2 in) thick. A choice of uni-directional, bi-directional and super high quality print modes can be selected depending on the specific job requirements.

The Onset S40i with white uses Fujifilm’s Uvijet OZ ink system which provides excellent colour gamut, adhesion and finishing properties. As more white ink is used, compared to CMYK, when printing volume backlit/frontlit graphics, the Onset S40i with white incorporates two white printhead channels to optimise throughput on this high volume machine.

In addition, the Onset S40i with white incorporates many other features to streamline productivity and reduce downtime. These include support for Inca’s variable data Print Run Controller (PRC) software module offering advanced job management software; a 15-zone vacuum table to reduce bed masking requirements, and consequently set-up time, for ultra-thin substrates; and an auto sensor system which accurately monitors the machine condition and informs the operator when automatic cleaning is required. The Onset S40i with white is compatible with Inca’s flexible automation system which offers customers the choice to operate manually or using semi or three-quarter modes from the same configuration.

Today there are 18 different configurations available in the Inca Onset range, offering a choice of productivity levels and ink options. This enables companies to pick the right performance model, at the best price and, therefore, return on investment (ROI) for their business.

The Inca Onset S40i with white is commercially available immediately.

Momentum for FESPA Eurasia builds with major international brands confirming presence

Momentum is building for the inaugural FESPA Eurasia show which is set to take place between 3rd and 5th October 2013 at the CNR Expo in Istanbul, Turkey.  The event organisers have confirmed the presence of major international print brands including Agfa, d.gen, Fujifilm, HP, MS, Roland, Xerox and Zund. The show also welcomes numerous brands represented through leading Turkish distributors with the likes of Durst, EFI, Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh, Reggiani and Swiss Q Print.

Reflecting the importance of screen printing in the Eurasian market, the show has a huge gathering of screen printing exhibitors including: Anka, Anadolu Kimya, Aras Teks Kimya and Ozanadolu Kimya. Serimak, the leading screen printing distributor in Turkey, has also been added to the floorplan and will display its complete portfolio including M&R screen printing carousels for garment decoration.

Kevin Jenner, Business Manager Wide Format, Europe - Eastern Region, Fujifilm, comments: “We are very excited to be present at the first FESPA Eurasia. Fujifilm has supported FESPA since its inception, and having established a Fujifilm sales office in Turkey only last year, taking such a large stand at this show reflects our commitment to this market. We acknowledge that this is a strategically important and fast developing region, and the product line-up, the media and print modes we have chosen have been specifically tailored to suit the needs of this marketplace. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the stand and discussing their specific requirements.”

Additionally, FESPA has confirmed the features for its opening Eurasia show, which include the Conference, Garment Central and the Eurasia heat of the World Wrap Masters.

The free, thought-provoking conference sessions will take place across the three-day show hosted by industry experts to inspire printers to enhance their business opportunities. The sessions which will be in Turkish covering a variety of topics including ‘planet-friendly printing’, colour management, applications, technical software and the latest technologies for digital printing.

A key session not to miss is Hakan Celik, ÇÖZÜM Uluslararası Baskı Standartları, talking about colour management. Others to add to the ‘must see’ list are: Fatih Güner, Founder, sosyalmedya.co who will discuss self-promotion and networking in a digital world, and Akif Tatlisu, Editor, Matbaa & Teknik will chair a debate on the digital print market in Turkey and printers’ expectations. There will also be a daily session from CorelDraw looking at their software and advertising solutions.

For printers working or interested in the garment sector, Garment Central is their destination at FESPA Eurasia. Daily workshops will provide garment decorators the perfect opportunity to gain hands-on tips and techniques from market expert and FESPA show favourite Charlie Taublieb, as well as Samir Sadıkoğlu, who was named Turkey’s top printer in FESPA 2013’s Hall of Fame in London, earlier this year.

The sessions, all free to attend, will look at specific aspects of garment decoration including: special effect printing, screen making procedures, ‘planet-friendly’ screen printing, colour separation for black garments and working with discharge ink.

The World Wrap Masters provides the perfect opportunity for vehicle wrapping experts to compete against their peers to become vehicle wrapping champion. Running alongside the competition, there will also be technical demonstrations on best-practice wrapping techniques for printers inspired by the high octane competition.

Michael Ryan, ExhibitionManager, FESPA, comments: “It’s great to see major international brands supporting the inaugural show as well as exhibitors from the Eurasia region. Their commitment reflects just what a valuable and growing market this is, reinforcing our decision to launch a show here. Our educational content is designed to offer printers information and ideas to boost their business. The content is free for visitors to attend as part of our profit for purpose model; FESPA is a unique exhibition organiser who reinvests back into our global print community to spur growth within the industry.”

For more information, please visit www.fespaeurasia.com

Epson supports RNLI sea rescue photography exhibition

Epson has produced more than fifty 64-inch wide large format prints for a major RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) sea rescue photography exhibition titled The Lifeboat: Courage on our Coasts, which will be visiting major cities in the UK and Ireland for five months, starting in September.

Illustrating the lifesaving work of the RNLI, the touring exhibition showcases the photographs captured by RNLI lifeboat crew member and award-winning professional photographer Nigel Millard. The images on display will include dramatic shots of lifeboats in action and portraits of the charity’s dedicated volunteer crew members, lifeguards and fundraisers. “I hope the exhibition will give people a better understanding and appreciation of the RNLI’s lifesaving work, as well as helping to raise funds for the charity,” says Nigel. “The photos are a collection of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”

The exhibition will be free and accessible 24 hours a day, whatever the weather, just like the services of the RNLI, and will visit London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Dublin, and Birmingham.

Epson has had a long-standing relationship with the RNLI and Nigel Millard. The large 1750mm x 1170mm outdoor exhibition prints were produced by Epson at its UK headquarters using the Epson SureColor SC-S70600, 64-inch (162.6cm), large format printer. The images were printed on Ilford’s Nanosolvent Satin 255gsm media which is ideal for outdoor applications in all weathers.

The SureColor SC-S70600 uses Epson’s UltraChrome GSX ink set which is perfect for outdoor exhibitions as it is lightfast for up to three years without lamination. Available as an 8- or 10-colour model the printer ensures exceptional high quality prints â€" essential for picking out the fine details in Nigel’s close-up portraits, whilst the vivid colours and the smooth tonal gradations help to bring the dramatic sea rescue images to life.

Nick White, business manager, Professional Graphics, Epson UK, has also been an operational volunteer with the RNLI for a number of years. “I am proud that Epson continues to support the RNLI and the charity’s lifesaving work, which is essential, often difficult and sometimes dangerous,” he says. “Epson is a leader in the photographic and fine art print markets and its technology produces high resolution and the widest colour gamut which will ensure Nigel’s photography is reproduced to the highest standard.”

The photographs in the exhibition have been selected from a book of Nigel’s photographs titled The Lifeboat: Courage on our Coasts, published by Conway, written by Dr Huw Lewis-Jones, with the foreword by HRH The Duke of Cambridge. Copies of the book will be available to buy at the regional exhibitions.

For more information, please visit www.rnli.org/courageonourcoasts

[Image credit: RNLI/Nigel Millard] Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Mutoh sales drive growth at Colourgen

Marketing manager Melanie Enser said Mutoh devices, which range in price from £4,495 for an entry-level 42" 1.06m-wide device to a 2.6m-wide printer costing £36,500, were proving popular with sign makers looking to diversify. The wide format distributor did not reveal precise turnover and profit figures.

"A lot of sign makers have been going for entry-level 42" or 54" models. Many will already have water-based kit for posters and POS material and want to dip their feet into the outdoor market to offer their customers something different. The price point of the Mutoh isn't staggeringly high," she added.

Sales of other products including Seiko I Infotech ColorPainters, Caldera RIPs and Kala laminators also increased, with prospects for further growth looking very positive, said managing director Jeff Biggs, who added that he was positive about the coming year.

"Both the Mutoh and Seiko II printers have shown solid growth and there are promising prospects for Seiko II around the new ColorPainter M-64S series which was launched at Fespa. These increased printer sales boosted associated products such as Caldera RIPs and Kala laminators.

"We expect solid growth for the Mutoh ValueJet range over the coming year, not only for traditional display graphics printing but also for eco-solvent and dye sublimation applications in the soft signage and textile markets," he added.

Another "major positive" for Colourgen last year was the re-establishing of Seiko I Infotech and the ColorPainter brand in the market place, said Biggs. Printer sales more than doubled over the previous year and the forecast is to continue this growth in the coming year.

Meanwhile the new Seiko II ColorPainter M Series, which is scheduled for release in October, is also expected to enhance Colourgen's performance. The new device runs at 32sqm per hour with odourless eco-solvent inks and 360dpi resolution. List price is not currently available.

"Overall we are very happy with our performance in what was another difficult year for the industry. We have a settled stable of excellent products that offer great quality, reliability and value and this is being translated into solid sales," he added.

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Shaun Thompson appointed General Manager of GPT

Shaun Thompson has been appointed as General Manager of Graphic Printing Technologies (GPT). Shaun was one of the founders of GPT and has been the company’s Sales Director since its acquisition by Amari Plastics plc in 2010.

Andy Carroll, Chief Operating Officer for Amari Plastics, comments, “GPT has become one of the UK’s most established and successful wide format printing solutions providers. The company has built a strong reputation based on a heavy focus towards consultancy, training and support as well having solid relationships with key manufacturers. Shaun has always been an instrumental part of GPT’s success and we are delighted that he is now taking the position of General Manager to drive the business forward.”

Shaun has more than 15 years experience in the wide format industry at GPT, AIT, Andersons and Colourgen. He was the co-founder of GPT in 2008 and has been instrumental in its rapid growth to become one of the UK’s premier resellers of solutions from leading manufacturers, such as Mimaki, Agfa, Canon and Epson. Carroll adds, “GPT has significant potential for further growth and is focusing on developing existing and building new relationships with suppliers and customers. The company provides a safe pair of hands for manufacturers looking to increase market share through a highly professional sales and service operation.”

Shaun Thompson adds, “I am delighted to take up this position and look forward to helping the company continue its progress and meet its objectives. We will be looking to grow the business in terms of key personnel that will help us increase sales and maintain our reputation for high class service and support.”

Stratasys confirmed as headline sponsor of InPrint 2014's 3D Print Factory

3D print technology company Stratasys has confirmed its participation at InPrint as headline sponsor of the 3D Print Factory.  The InPrint show takes place between 8th and 10th April 2014 in Hannover, Germany.

The addition of Stratasys as a key sponsor at InPrint represents a ‘real coup’ according to Marcus Timson, Co-Director of InPrint: “Stratasys are undoubtedly the leaders in the field of 3D print innovation, with a complete portfolio of products from the entry-level printers targeted at the individual designer market for prototyping right up to production systems for parts manufacturing. There is no question that this technology has grabbed the attention of the world and it is clear, within industrial manufacturing, that this print technology continues to add value and performance advantage.”

“We are excited to be working with Stratasys to deliver a high quality learning experience that will significantly enrich the event, grabbing the attention of the market, whilst enhancing the visitor value and experience,” he adds.

Co-located with Hannover Messe, the leading event for industrial production, InPrint 2014 will have a unique focus upon industrial print technology for industrial manufacturing.

“The uptake and impact of 3D printing for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing continues to gather pace across a plethora of industry sectors, as product designers and R&D managers discover the multitude of benefits afforded by the technology,” says Eric Bredin, Marketing Director EMEA, Stratasys GmbH.

“A focal point for innovation, the 3D Print Factory will provide visitors with technical and business advice on investing in 3D printing, as well as the varied application opportunities for print production and how the technology can be utilised to maximise ROI within their businesses,” he concludes.

Strong take-up of Seiko Instruments' ColorPainter M-64s wide format printer

Having made its debut at FESPA London in June 2013, Seiko Instruments says its new ColorPainter M-64s is impressing the world of wide format printing with its productivity and spectacular print results.

This high-speed inkjet printer with low-odour eco-solvent ink meets all modern production and quality requirements - easily outlined in the slogan “Color on Time”. It has a maximum print speed of 66.5 m²/h, combined with innovative and user friendly printing technology. This complements the new low-odour eco-solvent SX-ink that creates excellent print results for high-quality indoor and long-life outdoor applications.

The guiding principle when developing this outstanding printer was to make it “fast”, “precise” and “reliable”. Seiko Instruments’ engineers carefully and thoroughly reviewed all workflow steps such as loading print media, making adjustments, printing, drying time, winding and unloading media. This resulted in the implementation of more than 100 innovations and features.

Some of these numerous innovations include automatic print adjustment, on-carriage ionizer to neutralise static electricity in the print media, Smart Pass Technology 4, as well as Dynamic Dot Printing and Smart Nozzle Mapping 2 that allow outstanding print results on PVC even at 33.1 m²/h. The remote communication function that allows the printer to be operated directly from a PC, tablet or cell phone via Twitter2 is also a stateoftheart feature.

The first printers have already been shipped and Seiko Instruments continues to receive an 'overwhelming' number of orders for this new M-Series Printer.

Recommended EMEA pricing for the ColorPainter M-64s is €29.900 for the 6 colour configuration (C,M,Y,K, Lc, Lm) and €32.300 for the 7 colour configuration (C,M,Y,K, Lc, Lm, Gy). Warranty is two years for the printer and the pre-installed print heads without any nozzle shot restriction.

The printer will be shown at all major upcoming digital printing exhibitions including Viscom in Paris and in Düsseldorf, Sign Scandinavia, Reklama Russia and at numerous open house events hosted by Seiko Instruments' official distributors throughout EMEA.