Mimaki partners with Color Concepts to launch EMEA Media Certification Program

 

Mimaki has partnered with media profile creator, Color Concepts, to offer independent, third-party certification of media for use with Mimaki’s JV400LX printer and latex inks. The Mimaki Media Certification Program (MMCP) is open to providers of media in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) that are appropriate for the JV400LX printer. Mimaki anticipates expanding this program to other Mimaki printers and ink technologies in the future.

“We are very excited to be launching this EMEA Media Certification Program,” said Mike Horsten, Marketing Manager of Mimaki Europe. “In working with Color Concepts to construct the program, we focused on ease of participation on the part of media suppliers as well as building in extra benefits for approved media. This includes marketing by Mimaki on behalf of media suppliers at key trade shows and events beginning with Fespa Digital 2013, as well as online and in print advertising. Suppliers of approved media can also participate in a special swatch book program that will give their products extra visibility in the marketplace.”

Media suppliers whose media are approved through the Mimaki Media Certification Program will be able to use MMCP logos that demonstrate a solid relationship with the Mimaki brand. They will also be able to take advantage of Mimaki’s marketing muscle and have their profiles available for download by JV400LX users at http://www.mymimaki.com, which will be launched shortly. Participants can already easily register, apply and submit profiling orders online at http://mimaki.color-base.com, where they will also be able to check on the status of their media certification.

Mimaki will offer end users information about new available profiles or updates of their current profiles that have been downloaded via the MMCP system. Distributed in the UK & Ireland by Hybrid Services Ltd, its national sales manager, John de la Roche anticipates strong user demand. “Utilising correct profiles gets the most out of your Mimaki,” he says. “Working with key media suppliers ensures our customers benefit from output of the highest quality.”

Also as part of the program, Color Concepts will produce special MMCP Media Swatch books printed to Mimaki’s quality standards. This process makes swatch books available with minimal effort on the part of the media supplier. The swatch books will be distributed free of charge to Mimaki dealers and distributors, latex customers, and at Mimaki tradeshow stands for a broad distribution throughout the EMEA region.

Horsten concludes, “We chose to partner with Color Concepts for this important initiative because they are the world’s number one creator of external profiles and are very well respected in the industry. Color Concepts has its own lab equipped with printers for profiling. This means that media suppliers who do not have profiling systems in place can easily contract with Color Concepts to make those profiles as part of the certification process."

For more information, please visit Mimaki's exclusive UK & Ireland distributor Hybrid Services' website at www.hybridservices.co.uk

 

ILFORD acquires inkjet paper provider CMA Graphix Group

ILFORD has acquired CMA Graphix Group, a provider of cost-effective, cutting edge inkjet papers across Europe and America.  As a result, ILFORD will now directly supply CMA customers with a portfolio of products offered under the brand.

To further strengthen the proofing knowledge base within the organisation, Gerardo Cerros, managing director of CMA Graphix, will join ILFORD as its new Chief Technology Officer, Colour Management. In this position, Cerros will drive the proofing business unit to offer the market an end-to-end print production solution.

The acquisition follows a recent announcement naming ILFORD as product licensee for the KODAK MATCHPRINT Inkjet Proofing Media range and reinforces the company’s strength and commitment in the proofing market. To further enhance the offering to KODAK MATCHPRINT customers, ILFORD has also acquired colour management solution provider Colorportal. Rebranded as ILFORD Professional Solutions, the new ILFORD business unit will offer customers a comprehensive consultancy service to ensure they optimise their end-to-end print production process for offset and digital printing. The process standardisation services will include media, software, and hardware sales.

“The acquisition of CMA is a direct result of the company’s medium-term strategic plan to offer a full service solution to the proofing and print production market. I am delighted to have acquired CMA Graphix, who has long been an invaluable customer for us,” said Paul Willems, CEO at ILFORD. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to provide CMA customers the reliable range of products that they’ve become accustomed to, and very much look forward to working closely with Gerardo Cerros in his new role at ILFORD, to build our portfolio and position us as a proofing knowledge base in the marketplace.”

“I am honoured to come on board with ILFORD during this exciting time of growth and acquisition,” adds Gerardo Cerros, new Chief Technology Officer, Colour Management at ILFORD. “I am confident that CMA Graphix customers will only find their service enhanced and I am thrilled to join forces with an industry-leader such as ILFORD to provide customers with the tools they need for optimal end-to-end print production.”

For more information on ILFORD, please visit www.ilford.com

Slight improvement on losses announced in PaperlinX's latest financial results

PaperlinX has announced a statutory loss after tax of A$(57.3) million for the six months to 31 December 2012; a six per cent improvement on the A$(60.9) million loss posted in the previous corresponding period.

This includes a non cash impairment charge of A$24.7m against computer software and proprietary paper brands, and restructuring charges of A$6.4 million, relating to programmes in the UK and some smaller European businesses such as Denmark and Spain. After adjusting for these significant items, the underlying loss after tax is A$(24.3) million dollars.

Net debt has been reduced by the proceeds received from divestments in this period, (PaperlinX completed the sale of its business in South Africa in September 2012 and its five businesses in South Eastern Europe in November 2012) and the Group has funding in place to support growth, having extended its ING facility until September 2014.

Phil Carr, Managing Director UK & Ireland said that the results reflect the impact of legacy operating structures in Europe that were not aligned with changing market conditions.  “We are making accelerated efforts to turnaround the business in Europe and have implemented a number of initiatives to improve the operational structure, deliver cost benefits and provide the platform for a return to growth,” he said.

The UK and Ireland business restructuring as announced at the AGM in November, is progressing as planned and the UK is expected to turn a profit in the second half of this financial year.  “We are currently consolidating our commercial print sales force in the UK, a key part of our journey to consolidate operations and eliminate significant cost and inventory duplication. Commercial Print is our core business and whilst realigning our cost base, we will continue to develop our product offering to increase our market share in this sector,” adds Carr.

PaperlinX is channelling its focus and capital into growth areas, evolving its operating model  by developing strategy through product-based business units rather than being limited by country-based structures.

This new product and market-based strategy which will be implemented across Commercial Print, Packaging and Sign & Display; combined with working capital initiatives, will drive investment in growth areas and support the longer-term future of PaperlinX; providing a strong base from which the Group can further transform its business into a competitive market leading materials merchant.

Promotional Product Business Academy a 'must-see' at FESPA 2013

The organisers of FESPA 2013 say that printers considering the opportunities presented by promotional products should add FESPA’s Promotional Product Business Academy to their 'must see' list.

Visitors to the Promotional Products Business Academy (PPBA) at the London-based event will be guided personally through different zones, with the support of a promotional products trail. They will also benefit from access to valuable CTCO market research data, and free access to EuropeanSourcing.com’s extensive database of promotional products for one month.

PPBA is delivered by FESPA in partnership with French event organiser 656 Editions, whose CTCO event in Lyon is well established as a showcase for promotional products. The feature is designed to complement FESPA Fabric - with its exclusive spotlight on promotional and fashion garments - to illustrate how a broader portfolio of promotional products could support business growth.

Printers who may already be producing a limited range of promotional print can use PPBA to explore the full array of promotional merchandise, including writing and office products, electronics, promotional clothing, fashion, sport and outdoor wear, eco-friendly garments, accessories and headwear.

PPBA at FESPA 2013 will be divided into two distinct areas, Garment and Gift, enabling PSPs to focus on the products where they see a fit with their existing service offering. Each zone will offer access to products, educational information and live demonstrations of personalisation. Leading brands already confirmed to exhibit within the PPBA include sporting goods company Spalding, garment designer and manufacturer Continental Clothing, and James&Nicholson for fashion promotional garments.

FESPA’s Head of New Media and Events, Duncan MacOwan comments, “FESPA is all about pointing printers towards real growth opportunities. Often those come to light when you get a slightly wider perspective on services you already offer, or see ways of targeting existing customers with something fresh and interesting.

“The appetite among marketing decision makers for high quality personalised merchandise is strong, with 83 per cent of UK senior marketers planning to maintain or increase spend on promotional merchandise from this year to next”, explains MacOwan. “There is a clear opportunity for printers producing promotional print of all types to add another profitable string to their bow, and PPBA is the place to explore this within FESPA.”

Enfocus to showcase automated publishing and workflows at Publishing & Media Expo 2013

Enfocus will present its latest developments in workflow automation and PDF preflighting for the publishing industry at Publishing & Media Expo.  The event is scheduled to take place on 26th and 27th February 2013 in London.

Highlights at the show will include the newly released updates of the industry-leading preflighting software PitStop Pro 11 and PitStop Server 11, as well as the latest enhancements to Switch 11. Enfocus will be attending the event with its Certified Partner, Adaptive â€" a provider of pre-media solutions to design agencies, printers and publishers throughout the UK.  Enfocus and Adaptive will exhibit on stand A40.

“The industry is under pressure to achieve and maintain profitability,” comments Maxim Heyndrickx, Enfocus Int. Sales Account Manager. “With market conditions getting harder through demand for shorter runs, quicker turnaround and just in time delivery, ensuring a smooth production process is essential. At the heart of the most successful businesses are highly automated workflow processes that eliminate as many human touch-points as possible. Our solutions help companies achieve this, and we look forward sharing our expert knowledge with them during Publishing Expo.”

During the show, Enfocus will demonstrate the latest versions of PitStop Pro 11 and PitStop Server 11, of which the Update 2 releases are now available. In addition to full compatibility with the latest releases of Microsoft Windows and Adobe® Acrobat® , publishers will benefit from the enhanced Action List technology, a set of new value-added features and improvements to existing functionality. The extended Smart Preflight concept will drive per-file productivity and preflight accuracy to the next level. For more details on the newest features in PitStop Pro 11 update and PitStop Server 11 update, check www.enfocus.com/en/company/press-releases/enfocus-releases-new-updates-to-pitstop-pro-11-and-pitstop-server-11

Enfocus will also demonstrate the latest enhancements to Enfocus Switch 11 that deliver workflow automation solution for the most common, time-consuming tasks faced daily by all publishing production departments. Enfocus recently released the Switch Web Services module that allows users to build secure, browser-based interfaces into a Switch workflow environment for job submission, file upload, review and approval. "Visitors to our booth will learn how Switch increases productivity by streamlining publishing workflows, from automating simple, repetitive tasks to working with metadata and integrating MIS systems, to setting up a complete web-to-print solution using PitStop Connect, " adds Heyndrickx. To read more about Switch, go to www.enfocus.com/en/products/switch.

Sihl Direct to focus on wall covering applications at Sign & Digital UK 2013

Sihl Direct will return to Sign and Digital UK 2013 later this year on stand K32.  At the show, Sihl Direct will be showcasing some of its most popular products by decorating the stand to look like a modern apartment, complete with riverside view. This layout will demonstrate the company’s Persomural wallpaper media, as well as its range of canvas and backlit media for all printer types.

Ian Turnbull, operations director for Sihl Direct UK, says, “Wall coverings are probably the fastest growing area of the large format market this year. We want to show that our Persomural range provides the highest quality, ease of application and durability of any media currently available. We will have experts on the stand that have experience of printing and installing mural applications and visitors will be able to see the finished products for themselves.”

Due to the high dimensional stability and water fastness of the 180 g/m2, Wallpaper Persomural 170 can be hung using everyday wallpaper paste. With Persomural, lining up patterns after hanging is easy. In addition, due to its dry structure, it is also easy to remove after use. Its high opacity and tight structure enables a perfect covering, even when faced with small cracks and uneven walls.

Sihl Direct will also be highlighting some of its newest products, including ClearSOL and the DuraCURE range of media. DuraCURE is an ideal combination of paper and film. Sihl uses a high proportion of paper in order to keep the product as environmentally friendly as possible, using only as much film as necessary to achieve high levels of stiffness and tear resistance.  The multifunctional surface makes DuraCURE ideal for not only for UV printers, but also Solid Ink and Offset printers and the rough paper structure gives the products a decorative character and distinguishes them from other ordinary Backlit media.

The ClearSOL WetCling Film 125 glossy has a solvent and latex compatible coating and offers an excellent colour reproduction and quality printed image. The clear film has a special coating, which when soaked with soapy water activates a cling effect glue. This glue means the film can cling to many smooth surfaces, allowing the printed side of the film to be displayed on, for example, glass, aluminium or Dibond.

Turnbull concludes, “We will also be showing some of our other popular products that are proving to be very successful in the UK, such as DuraCURE backlit media and ClearSOL film. But our key focus for this show is on the wallpaper applications and I believe people will be very impressed when they see just how good Persomural is."

Addaction centres undergo revamp thanks to Allen Signs

Three Addaction centres in Lincolnshire have been given a revamp thanks to award-winning signmakers, Allen Signs. The company was brought in to give the Addaction buildings in Lincoln, Boston and Grantham, which were undergoing a complete refit, a new look. The idea was to create bright and welcoming environments for the service users - people overcoming addictions - which would reflect the positive aims of the organisation.

Work at the Lincoln site on Newland included using translucent cut out vinyl lettering to display quotes and inspirational messages on the internal walls. This was then colour-matched to reflect the artwork and the organisation’s branding. As well as internal work, signs were also put up outside. Work was completed in just two days to ensure as little disruption to the centre as possible.

Work at the High Street site in Grantham and the Wide Bargate premises in Boston involved removing a mirror film on the windows and replacing it with a frosted etch stripe detail which let natural light into the building whilst obscuring the view of passers by into the meeting rooms. The overall designs and concepts were carried through to each site, but the messages and quotes as well as the colours used were changed, to give each centre its own identity.

Glen Merryweather, Sales and Marketing Executive at Allen Signs based in North Hykeham near Lincoln, said, “We worked with each team at the Addaction sites to discuss the options available which would help to turn their ideas into reality.  The Grantham and Boston Addaction sites presented further challenges for us as we needed to come up with an inventive way to allow light in while obstructing the view in to the meeting rooms. We’re very pleased with the eye-catching and engaging graphics now in place at all of the sites."

He continues, “It was great to work with Addaction, helping them to engage with their clients and improve the facilities and services they offer.  We hope to build on this success so far by helping to provide a solution for their London Head Office later this year.”

Steve Hewish, Locality Manager for Lincoln and surrounding areas at Addaction, said, “Our aim was to create an environment where people could seek the help and treatment they need in a positive setting, which is where the idea for the quotes and bright colours came in.  When we started asking around we were told it would be a difficult, if not an impossible job. Then we had our first meeting with Allen Signs and they just got on with it. All the quotes are from service users from each centre, so they really do mean something. We wanted to brighten the place up, which has been very successful. The whole project has had a positive impact on service users.”

For more information on Allen Signs, please visit www.allen-signs.co.uk