St Austell Printing Company buys Epson Stylus Pro 9890 from SMGG

St Austell Printing Company (SAPC) relocated to its brand new purpose-built premises in St Austell Business Park in March 2013.  This £6.2million flagship facility has been part funded by the ERDF Convergence programme and has provided the company with an opportunity to improve efficiency and build capacity in terms of its machinery, workflow and staffing.

As part of St Austell Printing Company's investment plan, the company has purchased an Epson Stylus Pro 9890 44” wide format printer from Epson-reseller Stanford Marsh Group Graphics (SMGG).

Since its installation in September 2013, St Austell Printing Company has been using the printer for all types of wide format applications across multiple indoor substrates.  The company creates promotional materials for a wide range of clients including designers, conferencing companies, galleries and architects.

Ian Dibb, Digital Print Manager at St Austell Printing Company, comments, “We chose the Epson machine as it was able to deliver the high quality output we required at impressive speeds.  The installation went well and we’ve had no issues whatsoever.”

Designed to help the proofing and display graphics markets create accurate prints at high speed, the Epson Stylus Pro 9890 is able to achieve one of the highest colour gamuts on the market with consistently smooth colour gradations.

St Austell Printing Company is running the Stylus Pro machine with Epson’s 8-colour UltraChrome K3 inks for enhanced dot quality, crisp, clear images and top-quality results.  Ian explains, “We believe that the Epson inks are the best ones to use to achieve the highest quality output.  SMGG is able to supply us with these inks at a very competitive price which is a great benefit.”

Prior to the installation of the Epson printer, St Austell Printing Company had also ordered a Canon Plotwave 360 machine from SMGG and was happy with its performance. Following a review of the company’s wide format print requirements going forward, the natural progression was to add the Epson Stylus Pro printer to St Austell Printing Company’s stable of printers.

SMGG is providing ‘next day’ technical support for the new Epson.  Ian Dibb concludes, “SMGG has been incredibly helpful throughout the purchasing and installation process.  We’ve had no issues at all and would recommend working with the company.”

For more information on St Austell Printing Company, please visit www.sapc.co.uk

For more information on SMGG, please visit www.smgg.co.uk

i-Sub to exhibit on its largest ever stand at Sign & Digital UK 2014

i-Sub will be exhibiting on its largest ever stand space at Sign and Digital UK 2014.  Furthermore, three new systems will be on display to Sign UK visitors for the very first time this spring: Digi-Foil, Agfa Asanti and Dgen Teleios Black.

Building on a very successful appearance at The Trophex Show in January, i-Sub Digital's exclusive Digi-Foil digital hot-foiling system will take the lead with its Sign and Digital UK debut. Digi-Foil is a groundbreaking new solution for the packaging, personalisation, awards and display markets, able to produce colour accurate mock-ups and hot-foiling effects in minutes, cutting days or weeks off traditional processes.

In addition, i-Sub Digital will be showcasing the Mimaki UJF3042 desktop printer, ideal for printing directly onto materials up to 150mm thick in full colour, white and clear varnish. It will be accompanied by a Mimaki CJV130 print-and-cut solvent solution, with automatic print-to-cut switching and top speeds of 17.5sqm/hr.

Also part of i-Sub Digital's line-up will be the high-speed UV-curable Agfa :Anapurna M2050, offering top quality prints at up to 1440dpi on uncoated rigid media, and a Zünd M1200 cutting table to demonstrate end-to-end printroom production. Agfa Asanti RIP, colour management and workflow software will also be shown in action at Sign and Digital UK for the first time.

I-Sub digital's sister company in the textile printing sector, i-Sub Ltd, will be showing the Epson SureColor F6000, Mimaki JV33 and Dgen Teleios Black dye-sublimation printers â€" the latter making its first appearance at Sign UK. I-Sub Ltd will demonstrate the potential for soft signage, apparel and interior décor textiles. CadCam Technology's Contour Cut laser-cutting system and a Monti Antonio heat press will complete the collection.

"This year's Sign UK will be our biggest yet. As well as market-leading equipment for wide-format display printing, visitors will be able to see how i-Sub's range can help them in the traditional sign and display markets and enter the packaging, personalisation and textile markets," says Andy Spreag, Managing Director, i-Sub Digital.

"With three products making their first appearance at Sign and Digital, we're expecting our stand to be busy. Our exclusive Digi-Foil system is predicted to be especially popular after drawing crowds at Trophex earlier this year and at two successful open days last autumn â€" it definitely has the 'wow' factor."

Sign and Digital UK runs from Tuesday April 29th to Thursday May 1st at the NEC, Birmingham. I-Sub Digital and i-Sub Ltd can be found at stand E10. To book a meeting at the show, please email info@i-subdigital.com or call +44 (0)1536 415511.

NXP invests in trio of HP wide-format printers to boost business growth

NXP Europe has invested in a trio of new HP wide-format printers from City and West End Solutions (CWE) in order to boost revenues and open up new markets.  NXP, based in Tunbridge Wells, UK, purchased an HP Scitex FB700, an HP Designjet Z6200 and an HP Latex 260, all of which were installed by CWE in October and November 2013.

The company is now in the process of taking on around five more team members to maximise the opportunities the printers offer. This recruitment of new sales, account management and production staff will increase the workforce to around 30.

NXP works with a broad spectrum of clients across retail, print management, design houses, and IT companies. As part of its growth strategy, the company wanted to both extend its offering for existing clients and expand into new sectors.  Sales Manager Nick Faux says that when NXP approached the market with its plans for investment, City and West End Solutions not only offered a tailored solution at a competitive price, they also worked with them, making a site visit to help plan how to fit the printers into the environment and space available.

“CWE advised us on the best suite of printers to deliver on our ambitions, and the installation went really well. They’re also supplying us with the consumables so we can be confident the substrates we use are the right ones for the machine and the job,” comments Nick.  “We’re now able to go wider and produce outdoor banners, exhibition stands, more POS material, wallpaper coverings, and work with more textiles and fabrics.  Since installation we have increased revenue from existing clients and improved productivity for them.”

The 61” HP Latex 260 is supporting NXP’s expansion into the growing soft signage market in particular, with its ability to print on a broader range of fabrics as well as paper, film, and low-cost uncoated options. It produces sharp, vivid indoor and outdoor signage with great durability.

At 98”, the Scitex FB700 is enabling NXP to print much wider, and on virtually any rigid and flexible media, with high-quality results. It’s ideal for jobs such as hoardings, POS, exhibition stands and packaging.

The Designjet Z6200 replaced an old Z6100, and has increased NXP’s productivity. This photo printer is the fastest printer in its class, is ideal for backlit signs, retail displays, posters and pop ups. It delivers print-to-print colour accuracy on different substrates, for great campaign consistency.

Nick concludes, “There’s a lot going on at NXP at the moment â€" our growth plan is on track, we’re taking on new staff and we’re looking to move into a new unit as we’ve outgrown the one we’re in. We’re also now running a 24-hour operation five days a week.  The current market is very buoyant, with positive vibes from colleagues and clients that give us a very optimistic view of the next few years.”

[Photo caption: From left, NXP’s Luke Garbutt (sales), Nick Faux and production manager Steve Prior.]

FESPA Brasil expands floorspace for 2015 event

FESPA and APS Feiras & Eventos  have announced the second expansion of the FESPA Brasil 2015 exhibition. Following the success of the launch event in 2013, many exhibitors committed to their participation for the 2015 event, which spurred the exhibition to grow. With over one year until FESPA Brasil, the exhibition has increased again by 16% due to growing demand.

The growth is a result of more Brazilian manufacturers and suppliers recognising FESPA Brasil as the ideal place and opportunity to expand their presence in the visual communications, signage, screen printing, wide format digital and textile printing markets. Exhibitors value the high quality of the event and the visitors, this combined with the positive responses that have followed the 2013 edition, has resulted in previous exhibitors taking larger stands and more new companies reserving space.

With the increased floor plan, FESPA Brasil 2015 will take place during the same dates, 18-21 March 2015, as well as the same location at the Expo Center Norte. However, to accommodate the expansion, the exhibition has moved from the Blue Hall into the White Hall.

This second phase of growth demonstrates the market's confidence in the FESPA Brasil brand and its dedication to the community. Alexandre Keese, Director of APS Feiras & Eventos comments: "In addition to the great feedback from exhibitors during the show in 2013, with many of them confirming their participation for the next event, we have also had a lot of new companies approaching us to be part of the great line-up of industry brands - all looking to gain the same success the exhibitors had last year."

Raphael Komori, Marketing Manager of DIGI+ / Nutec Digital Ink Brasil, one of FESPA Brasil 2015 exhibitors, this is a very positive change: "Every change, when planned with care following all the rules and agreements previously signed, bring us benefits. FESPA planned the enlargement very well, and it will provide more comfort and more business opportunities with more visitors". For Komori, "FESPA Brasil brought its concept of internationals trade shows, offering more exhibitors, information and co-related segments of visual communication".

The event will be host to all the major industry players, as well as providing its unique proposition of high quality educational content. The International Congress will return to cover important market specific themes, and the World Wrap Masters competition will be an emotive feature again.

FESPA Group Exhibition Manager, Michael Ryan, comments "We are delighted with the support we have received to date in Brazil, and this further expansion ensures we can deliver a larger, more comprehensive event in 2015. Our aim is always to inspire the print community and ensure they have access to the latest innovations and industry trends. With more exhibitors and focused educational features, we are confident the show will achieve that, and attendees will be able to explore future print capabilities."

FESPA Brasil, 18-21 March 2015, will take place in the White Hall at the Expo Center Norte, in São Paulo. The event will be held in conjunction with ExpoPrint Digital 2015, the biggest exhibition for narrow format digital printing in Latin America.

To register online for the event, please visit www.fespabrasil.com.br/en/visitar/cadastro.

Contex launches IQ Quattro wide format scanner

Contex has announced the IQ Quattro wide format scanner which has been designed to improve workgroup productivity by reducing the time spent on scanning tasks. Smarter than any other wide format scanner, the IQ Quattro is Gigabit Ethernet networked with xDTR2 and is the market's only cloud-enabled wide format scanner. Workgroup users can specify local or cloud-based destinations for scans using smartphones, tablets, and other devices for instant collaboration. The IQ Quattro boasts a sleek design and a top scanning speed of 14 inches per second for colour or monochrome documents -- just 3.5 seconds for A0 / E-size colour documents.

The IQ Quattro also features Contex's unique CleanScan CIS module, which gives workgroup users the details they need the first time for optimal productivity and efficiency. The IQ Quattro achieves this with dual-side LED light and ground-breaking methods for light diffusion, shadows, and unwanted background. By suppressing shadows and unwanted background, the IQ Quattro produces crisp, sharp, and natural scans.

The IQ Quattro is available in 24- and 44-inch models from authorised distributors and resellers worldwide.

"We spend a lot of time with customers, and it is great to bring solutions to the market designed with their specific needs in mind," comments Morten Nielsen, Marketing Director, Contex A/S. "The IQ Quattro is uniquely designed for sharing in an office and bringing project groups together through cloud collaboration."

The IQ Quattro is Contex's 4th-generation CIS scanner. It contains proven technology from Contex's CCD range and CIS technology, refined to match customers' requirements for quality, speed, and ease of use. The scanner's new magnetic document guides make loading long documents easier and more precise, and detachable return guides simplify document handling.

Nielsen comments, "The new technology provides users with sharp and natural scans. It eliminates wrinkles and folds in originals and produces clear, crisp scans - every time. And the smart ways of sharing with project teams at other sites make collaborating on large plans and documents a seamless part of a workgroup's day-to-day operation."

Exclusive to Contex wide format scanners, the IQ Quattro is PageDrop-enabled for cloud computing. Users simply load a document, scan the QR code, and the web-app will send the scanned image to the desired location: email, DropBox, HP ePRint, Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, or Box.com.  Contex's Gigabit Network also comes standard with all IQ Quattro models. The fast network avoids bottlenecks by supporting speeds of up to 80 MB/sec. The scanner can be networked with an entire workgroup, and one-touch buttons can send scans to users' desired locations. With its quick, 1-second start from standby mode, the IQ Quattro makes it easy to be productive with scanning projects. More efficient than Energy Star requirements, the IQ Quattro uses only 0.5W in standby mode.

The IQ Quattro is available as a stand-alone scanner or bundled in the following options:

• IQ Quattro ScanStation is ideal for high productivity use. It includes the scanner, an intuitive touchscreen, Nextimage Repro's powerful software features, and a height-adjustable stand with the option to operate the screen from left or right.
• IQ Quattro MFP2GO is an easy plug-and-play solution that turns a printer into a copier. It includes the scanner, MFP2GO controller, and a low or high stand.
• IQ Quattro MFP Repro can turn all new or existing printers into powerful copiers. It includes the scanner, intuitive Nextimage Repro software, and a low or high stand.

For more information or to request a demonstration, please visit www.contex.com.

Cross Media Production seminar programme announced

The inaugural Cross Media Production event â€" taking place between 25th and 27th March 2014 alongside Ipex 2014 â€" will establish the key channels, technologies and trends that are underpinning the way B2B companies are effectively communicating their brand stories to their target audiences by focusing on how visitors can incorporate these drivers into their own business models.

“A powerful cross media campaign, with the right blend of online and offline communications channels â€" including print â€" can truly transcend a brand’s story to build customer awareness and loyalty. However it has to be done with shared understanding across the marketing supply chain. The Brand Management Theatre will explain how this is achieved.” says Andrew Thornhill, Marketing Manager, Cross Media Production 2014.

The theatre’s programme features leading figures that oversee the design, procurement, development and execution of successful multi-channel and cross media marketing campaigns. Aimed at all stages of the marketing supply chain, visitors will not only discover the latest strategies, skills and practices that will enable them to clearly help communicate a brand’s message within the congested omni-channel communications world, but also receive the tools and knowledge by which to implement them.

Supporting technologies and solutions will be on hand from leading suppliers, including Censhare, a leading international provider of integration information systems, Locr maps, a leading full service provider for personalised maps in print and for cross media, and from Multi Channel Machine (MCM), a new venture from Marian Stefani (former RedTie CEO) in collaboration with XMPie, a Xerox company, who will also have a presence at the event as a sponsor of the networking zone. As will Adobe, who â€" like XMPie â€" will have personnel available to talk about the products and topics discussed in the theatre sessions.

Presentations, case studies and panel discussions will cover such issues and topics as ‘Workflow management to build a multi-channel campaign’, ‘Expanding marketing services to deliver cross channel campaigns’, ‘Trends in marketing technology to deliver multi-channel marketing’, ‘Developing transformation strategies from print to cross media’ and ‘Marketing procurement â€" supplier relationship management’, among others. Speakers include Duncan Stokes from Ogilvy Redworks, Mark Cruise from BSkyB, Jens Lundgaard from Brandworkz, Malcolm Lane-Ley from Anton Group, Richard O’Brian from EDF and other key players responsible for the production, management and delivery of their brand’s global marketing campaigns.

“The Brand Management Theatre demonstrates how to execute these campaigns, bringing together leading experts that have been there and done it â€" time and time again,” continues Thornhill. “These insightful sessions are invaluable in helping any brand looking to enhance the way they build and promote their company’s story, products and services across multiple channels from start to finish.”

Charlotte Graham-Cumming, B2B Marketing Professional, Ice Blue Sky, says, “I firmly believe that business opportunities can be greatly enhanced by agencies and commercial printers coming together to increase their joint value to customers. I will be exploring practical ways this can be achieved during the session 'How Engaging with Creative Agencies Can Increase Brand & Revenue’, and can't wait to hear about other people's experiences.”

Tim Bilsborough, Managing Director, Vedo Rich Media Insights, comments, “Cross Media Production provides a high quality showcase for the latest innovations, technology and skills that are essential for any business that needs to keep up with this fast-moving sector.”

“Cross Media Production will cover the technologies, applications and solutions that can help Ogilvy Redworks run global campaigns for our global clients across different channels and platforms,” adds Duncan Stokes, Global CEO, Ogilvy Redworks and Ogilvy UK. “It is pretty much the only event, as far as I'm aware, that will include such a large and diverse range of content, and with its home at the ExCeL London, it takes place in the hub of the print and media community in one of the business capitals in the world.”

For further information on Cross Media Production, including free pre-registration and the latest details of the event’s seminar programme, please visit www.cmpshow.com.

Zünd to showcase digital cutting solutions at InPrint

Zünd will present its high-end automated digital cutting solutions for a diverse audience of industrial manufacturers at the upcoming InPrint show (Hannover, Germany; 8th to 10th April). The company will demonstrate how its superior cutters can increase flexibility and take the performance of different production environments to the next level.

Zünd will highlight the unique features of its cutting technologies, which are ideal to satisfy the specific needs of industrial sectors, and will show its profound knowledge of material finishing. The company will provide evidence of the digital cutters’ versatility, showing precisely cut samples produced by customers from a wide spectrum of industries, including automotive, aeronautics, electronics, interior décor, photovoltaic, medical and functional textiles.

The advanced functionalities of Zünd digital cutting solutions enable customers to cut anything from flex prints and membrane keyboards, to lamp shades and suspended ceilings for interior decoration applications, as well as synthetic fibres like Aramid for protective clothing. The automotive and aeronautics sectors can also benefit from Zünd systems’ capabilities to cut tachometers, leather for seats and steering wheels, carbon fibre, honeycomb materials and airbags. The range of jobs that can be fulfilled using Zünd equipment is vast.

On its stand (F26) at InPrint, Zünd will display an advanced modular G3 cutting system configured with an automated sheet-feeder for continuous and virtually unattended cutting of various sheet, board and roll materials. Zünd’s cutting systems are designed for 24/7 operation and the automated loading system further enhances their performance, providing manufacturers with a fully automated workflow and increased flexibility, whether creating prototypes or small and medium production runs.

Oliver Zünd, CEO, explains, “Zünd cutters are the ideal engine to satisfy the demands of industrial production. The camera-aided digital finishing systems enable customers to accurately cut printed and unprinted material up to 50 mm thick. The modularity and its 16 different sizes also allow manufacturers to handle a broad array of materials up to 3.2 m wide.”

Oliver continues, “Zünd cutters are well-known and respected in many demanding manufacturing industries. Our long-standing expertise has allowed us to build a solid reputation in different sectors, and with over 20.000 systems sold worldwide we can confidently claim to be a leader in digital cutting. Existing and new customers can see the huge potential of Zünd technologies and their ability to cut both conventional and innovative materials to meet the demands of different production environments. InPrint is the right platform to showcase these capabilities.”

4 week countdown to Ipex 2014

The organisers of Ipex 2014 say that the event will provide the print industry with the tools, knowledge and inspiration to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. Responding to independent research and extensive industry wide consultations, Informa has maintained the event’s print-centricity, but developed the event to reflect the evolution of the global communications landscape. With just over a month to go, Ipex is poised to help print emphatically stake its place in the communications mix.

“Events are evolving, especially in B2B industries that are undergoing widespread changes like the print industry. It is critical for organisers to adapt their events to reflect these changes so that they deliver a wide range of benefits â€" including the all-important ROI â€" for exhibitors and visitors alike,” says Peter Hall, Managing Director, Informa Exhibitions.

“We have worked collaboratively with the international print industry and the markets that serve it to understand what Ipex needs to deliver. The result is an informative and engaging event that addresses every level and component of a print company through hundreds of international exhibitors showcasing their latest products and technologies, a comprehensive content programme, compelling features and the allure of London at the state-of-the-art ExCeL centre.”

“Ipex will be the first international print-centric event that doesn’t just look at the technologies to create quality print and the strategies and practices to harness its power, but one that reflects, analyses and provides proven solutions to help printers be a success in the modern marketing communications world. We have laid the groundwork to deliver a muti-faceted event that will support the industry now and in the coming years.”

New technologies and product launches

Ipex visitors will discover the latest global technologies and solutions to produce quality print applications. These technologies cover the entire print production workflow, from concept right through to the finished product, with suppliers from the UK and countries from across the globe, notably from Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the USA. In addition to a raft of upcoming and innovative suppliers exhibiting for the first time, there will be a host of new technologies launched, with more scheduled to be announced in the lead up to Ipex and at the event itself.

For pre-press, there will be new market software solutions for colour management, variable data printing, web-to-print, integrated communication solutions and design. On the print production side, there are digital printing product launches for inkjet, inkjet label, inkless photo and 5-colour LED A3 printing, as well as new document mailing solutions and converting and feeding technologies. New systems will also be showcased for the full range of finishing techniques, including laminating, foiling, folding, booklet-making, binding, cutting and more, in addition to new solutions for machine maintenance and consumables, with a wide range of new inks and substrates being showcased.

Global Community Spirit

Ipex will appeal to all communities within the print and media landscape. Dismantling the silos between printers, marketers, brand agencies, specifiers and publishers, visitors will be able to engage with the technologies, solutions, issues, opportunities and personnel that make the communication industries tick. Ipex will also host a plethora of events within the ExCeL, including B51/ISO Standard Global Gathering, an EFI User Group, and the PODi (Digital Printing Initiative) European Forum, further establishing Ipex as the heart of the print community.

Content programme and features

Ipex has been refined to be the definitive information source for the print industry in 2014 via the event’s comprehensive and relevant content programme, demonstrating to visitors how best to utilise and market print in the modern multi-media mix. Whether it’s understanding the trends that are shaping the industry, discovering new technologies and applications, developing robust business practices or honing operational skills and techniques, visitors from all corners of the print industry will find a practical takeaway, new idea, skill, solution or mind-set that will boost the performance of their company â€" for free.

The World Print Summit, a senior-level strategic thought leadership programme, will deliver a world-class line-up of speakers from the print, business, marketing and creative industries. An invaluable opportunity for business owners and managers, this forum will give them exclusive access to previously unheard content that will deliver the leading insights into the evolving role and power of print. Sessions will cover ‘How To Future-Proof Print in a Digital Age’, ‘Print: Doomed or on the Verge of a Digital Renaissance’, ‘Sustainability â€" So What? An Audience with Publishers and Printers’, ‘A Culture Shift Within The Print Industry’ and ‘The Evolving Role of Print for Consumer Marketing â€" Changing Attitudes to Print’. Speakers include Barry Hibbert (Polestar Group), Benny Landa (Landa Corp), Professor Emeritus Frank Romano (RIT), Rory Sutherland (OgilvyOne London and Ogilvy & Mather UK), Clive Humby (Starcount and developer of Tesco Clubcard), Patrick Martell (St. Ives Group and Ipex 2014 President), Richard Watson (acclaimed futurologist and author of Future Files), Kathy Woodward (BPIF) and Chris Jones (Novalia).

This programme is complemented by the Future Innovations zone, which looks at the printed products and technologies that are set for rapid expansion over the next few years across three sections â€" covering 3D printing, printed electronics and photo products. This will include a daily live demonstration of how to produce photo products from concept to end product.

The Masterclasses â€" organised by Print Future’s Neil Falconer â€" will focus on business growth and production efficiency for SME printers. Aimed at the owner of a print business and his sales and production teams, these practical sessions will tackle real life, day-to-day issues and look at how best to solve them to streamline production and support business growth. There is an eclectic assortment of engaging topics within the Masterclasses, including the ‘Evolution of a commercial printer’, ‘Five cost saving tips for better margins’, ‘New age of Print â€" strategic marketing, creative and great design’, ‘Changing sales and marketing habits to sell more print’, ‘Attracting and retaining the right staff to grow a print business’, ‘Where printers go wrong with colour management’ and a host more.

Meanwhile visitors will be drawn to Inspiration Avenue, three galleries along the ExCeL’s Boulevard, celebrating powerful print opportunities, impact statements and case studies that demonstrate the crucial role of print and its versatility across a number of major themes, including retail, interactive, automotive, sports, education, design and creative, and electronics. The Eco Zone â€" sponsored by Komori â€"will incorporate a gallery that will illustrate the eco-credentials of a number of Ipex exhibitors.

For print service providers looking for the tools and know-how to evolve into a full marketing service provider, Cross Media Production’s three theatres (running from 25th to 27th March) â€" covering brand management, 121 digital, data and direct marketing, and publishing â€" will focus on how to effectively implement communication strategies across multiple platforms. The Cross Media Production seminar programme features presentations, case studies and panel discussions on such topics as ‘Expanding Marketing Services to Deliver Cross-Channel Campaigns’, ‘Developing Transformation Strategies from Print to Cross Media’, ‘Increasing ROI Using Customer Insight Programs & Web2Media Platforms’ and ‘Managing Operational & Structural Change in Organisations’.

Ipex has also put an emphasis on the importance of injecting young blood into the industry. Designed specifically for students from secondary schools, colleges and universities, an exciting ‘Youth in Print’ programme will run on the last day (Saturday 29th March) â€" in and around the World Print Summit â€" that features presentations on the power of print from past students of the industry, a tour of Ipex, practical workshops and career advice for students.

At the Wide Format Zone, visitors will see a range of devices and ancillary services being showcased by Epson, Screen, D&K, Grafityp and M Partners, among others.

Trevor Crawford, Ipex 2014 Event Director, comments: “With only a month to go, everything we have worked towards is falling into place. By consulting the print industry, we have created an event that is inspiring, thought-provoking and relevant to the needs and requirements of print and media enterprises over the long term. Ipex is much, much more than an exhibition, and we can’t wait to demonstrate that in March when we open the doors at its new home at the ExCeL London.”

New home, new vision

All this takes place under one roof at Ipex’s new home at the ExCeL London, where visitors and exhibitors will be able to immerse themselves within a state of the art venue in one of the greatest business capitals in the world, as well as embracing London’s iconic culture and world famous nightlife â€" making Ipex much more than just a vital business trip.

Begin your Ipex journey

Visitors can pre-register for free via www.ipex.org, and are encouraged to keep up-to-date with the Ipex content programme via the website to enable them to plan their schedule, arrange travel and accommodation and make the most of their time at the event.

Avery Dennison signs up as Gold Sponsor for Label Summit Latin America

Avery Dennison has signed up as gold sponsor of this year’s Label Summit Latin America which is being held in Colombia for the first time on 14th and 15th May. The two-day conference and table top exhibition, which is the label and package printing industry’s premier dedicated event in the region, will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Medellín.

The conference program will examine various topics surrounding industry trends, prepress, printing and finishing technologies and brand development, product design and positioning. In addition to being gold sponsor, Don Nolan, president of the materials group for Avery Dennison will also be giving the opening keynote presentation. Exploring new developments in label and package printing, Nolan will also look at the wider global perspective and consider regional dynamics and how technological developments offer future growth opportunities.

Aimed at the label and package printing and converting business community, Label Summit Latin America is also a big draw for brand owners, designers and industry suppliers. Providing attendees with the perfect opportunity to network, exchange ideas and receive the latest insight into new processes and solutions, delegates will also have access to over 30 leading industry suppliers including Arclad, EFI, Flint Group, Gallus, HP, Mark Andy, MPS, Nilpeter, Omet, RotoMetrics, Sun Chemical, UPM Raflatac and Xeikon.

Joana Silva of Avery Dennison says, “We are excited to be part of the first Label Summit Latin America in Colombia. It is a great opportunity to meet our clients from Colombia and the Andean region in this important event and share the innovations we have promoted around the globe with them, as well as marketing trends.”

Tasha Ventimiglia, event director for Label Summit Latin America comments, “We are delighted to announce Avery Dennison as gold sponsor of this year’s event. Change and evolution is fast paced in the label and package printing sector and Label Summit Latin America 2014 will provide an even more valuable opportunity to find out what is happening in one of the continent’s fastest growing economies.”

For more information, please visit http://www.labelsummit.com/colombia/.

Esko opens new online shop for Kongsberg and CDI consumables

Esko has opened a new online store with intelligent storefront to simplify the purchasing of bits, blades and underlays for Kongsberg cutting tables and CDI flexo platesetters.  Esko Store, currently available in English, can be found at www.esko.com/store and is open to new and existing Esko customers around the world.

“Come shop with us!” says Christian Korte, Esko senior vice president of sales, “Our intelligent storefront features a state-of-the-art shopping experience that makes it easy to find the right bits, blades and underlays quickly and easily. This is a unique capability among digital cutting table suppliers, again demonstrating Esko’s leadership in this field. Visitors to the store will find not only the best materials, but also the best know-how, service and shopping experience.”

“Built-in intelligence is especially useful when searching for Kongsberg accessories using the Kongsberg bits and blades finder,” adds Kenny Van Bogaert, Esko Business Development Manager e-commerce. “Find the best bits and blades for a specific job by entering material, quality and finishing method specifications. And for each bit and blade, the Esko Store advises the set-up you require on site, including which Kongsberg table, tool insert and adapter you need. In My Store Account, customers will see the Kongsberg table(s) they own. Simply selecting a specific Kongsberg table provides immediate access to ordering underlay fittings for that table. Our customers pointed out the value of this new capability and for further improvements of the store we will continue to take suggestions from visitors into account.”

The Esko Store features advanced filtering options that allow visitors to narrow their search when browsing a specific category as well as a compare functionality that enables side-by-side comparisons of products within the same category. Visitors can use the one-step search by product code or name to quickly reach a detailed product page. With the recently viewed items feature they can quickly access previously visited product pages. While browsing the site, visitors also get an immediate indication whether or not an item is in stock. Finalizing the order, multiple shipping methods and accurate tax calculations are available at check-out.

 

GMG and Epson to host Design Agency Seminar

Every day design agencies face the challenge of handling colour to ensure that they produce consistent quality and repeatable colour for a range of products that could be printed on a variety of different print technologies. Without the right tools and procedures colour management and proofing can be a very time consuming, expensive and frustrating process.

As a result, GMG and Epson are collaborating to host a Design Agency Seminar to show designers how they can cure their colour control headaches and save valuable time, while keeping costs down. For agencies, minimising the delay between concept and production is critical â€" short deadlines can be met, more projects can be processed in less time and ultimately designers and clients have total confidence in the end result.

The GMG Epson Design Agency Seminar will be held at Epson’s UK headquarters near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on March 12th.  They will be joined by global branding and packaging design company Elmwood to demonstrate ‘Colour control for happy clients and looking after the bottom line’.

Peter Aldous, Creative Services Director of Elmwood will talk about how the fast-growing FMCG, Retail, Food/Beverage and Corporate production company has revolutionised its digital proofing capabilities by implementing GMG-powered Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 proofing systems globally. He says: “We needed a system that could give us the quality we wanted faster and with less manual intervention. With this solution we are able to keep a tighter control of the whole process, streamlining production time and reducing costs, errors and wastage. Since we started using GMG applications we have found that we are able to work more effectively with our clients who are very happy with the results.”

GMG will be demonstrating its software range including industry leading proofing solution GMG ColorProof, supported by GMG ProofControl, on the cost-effective, high-productivity Epson Stylus Pro WT7900. The 24-inch printer uses Epson’s UltraChrome HDR with white ink to add clarity and colour to packaging proofs and is ideally suited to the GMG ColorProof software, giving precise and predictable spot colour simulation.

Places are limited.  Please contact barry@gmgcolor.co.uk to reserve a place.

Fujifilm to showcase industrial inkjet capability at InPrint 2014

Fujifilm will showcase the advanced technologies that it has developed to power many of today's leading industrial inkjet printers, alongside a range of new technologies for industrial and package printing applications, at InPrint 2014 (8th - 10th April 2014, Hannover). Visitors will have the opportunity to discover how they can take advantage of the company’s leading expertise in advanced inkjet technologies to fulfil a wide array of industrial applications.

The Fujifilm Dimatix Sambaâ„¢ industrial inkjet printhead will be shown on the stand in combination with a Fujifilm UV cured ink to print onto flexible plastic materials. Already used within the established B2 inkjet sheet-fed press, the Jet Press 720, Sambaâ„¢ printheads achieve 1200x1200 dpi resolution with a 2 picolitre drop size, raising the quality that can be achieved by a digital printing system, and opening up opportunities for industrial production.

Fujifilm will also show the quality and versatility of the Merlin D2 modular inkjet print engine. The Merlin D2 has been developed for product decoration and material deposition applications, and can be supplied in different configurations enabling integration into existing production environments.

Also on show will be Fujifilm’s extensive range of high performance UV, hybrid and water based inks that have been developed to meet the specific needs of the industrial and packaging industries. A variety of applications achievable with these inks will be on display.

Finally, the large format LED UV hybrid inkjet printer Acuity LED 1600, which guarantees excellent image quality and can print on flexible and rigid substrates up to 13mm thick, will be displayed in a special configuration to create environmental graphics like wallpapers and window films. Environmental graphics are an increasingly popular application that enable wide format printers to differentiate their services and take a step into industrial printing. Thanks to its capability to print six ink colours plus opaque white and a gloss varnish, the Acuity LED 1600 helps printers to deliver appealing interior decor projects.

Jon Harper Smith, marketing manager for industrial and packaging businesses at Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, comments, “The Fujifilm stand at InPrint 2014 is a showcase of advanced printheads, inks and print engines that demonstrate how inkjet technologies can successfully contribute to the growth of the industrial market.  “We are committed to raise the awareness of Fujifilm’s powerful inkjet technologies outside of our traditional printing sectors, and we are confident that InPrint 2014 will prove to be the ideal platform to achieve this objective.”

Sign & Digital UK team announces seminar schedule

The seminar schedule for this year's Sign & Digital UK event has been announced.   Three of this year’s five theatre timetables are now live online, featuring more than 15 daily sessions set to explore the 2014 theme ‘State of the Art’. Schedules for the remaining theatres - the Business Theatre and the Signmakers' Workshop - will be announced in the coming weeks.

Featuring a range of expert speakers, practical demonstrations and workshops, the Sign & Digital UK seminar series is a' vital opportunity for those seeking the latest industry advice, trends and opportunities'.

Adobe Theatre

The Adobe Theatre will feature six workshops daily, focusing on practical tips and advice for mastering their software packages. This includes the 'Capturing moments, sharing memories' session, designed to help people refine their Photoshop editing skills, and the ‘Adobe InDesign CC â€" Mastering typography session’, offering hands-on advice for achieving consistently beautiful typography.

Managing colour quality, intelligent upsampling, camera shake reduction and real-time image asset generation are some of the other practical skills and techniques the workshops will explore.

Corel Theatre

Combining a range of practical workshops and product demonstration, the 2014 Corel Theatre is a must-attend for anyone in the sign making and garment personalisation sectors. The seminar sessions include an overview of new features in the CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite, a practical step-by-step guide to poster design and an insight into how you can use DecoNetwork and Corel technology to allow shoppers to customise products and buy online.

For those working with apparel and promotional items, garment printing, embroidery and appliqué, they will have dedicated sessions in the Wilcom DecoStudio® e2 workshop.

SignLab Theatre

Wide-format design and production software specialists, CADlink Technology will present a series of seminars focusing on best practice print and cut, sign and display design and production workflows.

Session highlights include an introduction to using dedicated sign-making software packages, including tips on mastering contour cut, serialisation and vectorisation.

The ‘SignLab for Versaworks’ session will also explore the opportunities for leveraging innovation in Roland’s print and ink technology. Practical skills to be explored include contour cut-lines and working with Roland colour profiles and metallic and white ink sets.

The full seminar timetables are now available online at http://www.signuk.com/Content/2014-Seminar-Programme/4_173/.