Ipex info blog

Ipex and its exhibitors will be issuing information regularly in the lead up to the big event, here is some of the latest info to hit the streets:


Ferag

Vendor Theatres

Screen

Baldwin

Mellow Colour

Agent Matchmaking

Vutek

Goss

JDF Pavilion

Flexible Packaging Zone


Ferag Ipex preview

At IPEX 2006, Ferag will be presenting new solutions and showing just how printing houses can make even more efficient use of their capacity.

As a world first, a complete processing line will be on show, based on the UniDrum, for two-up production at speeds of 60,000 stitched and trimmed copies per hour. System innovations include components for the intermediate trim, the ComStack stacker and also the SmartStrap strapping machine. Thanks to its simple operation, the line can quickly be changed over from two-up to one-up production.

Inline stitching with quarterfold production

With quarterfold production on commercial web offset machines, it has so far only been possible to glue inline. An additional, very time-consuming sequence on a gatherer-stitcher was always been required for saddle-stitched products. With StreamStitch, Ferag is now able to integrate the stitching sequence into the production flow.

As a result, stitched quarterfold products that also incorporate the three-side trim on the SNT-U can now be finished totally inline - with a clear boost to processing speed. In addition, by integrating RollStream technology, outside stitch-ons and supplements can now be added to products inline.


Showcase Vendor Theatres at Ipex 2006 provide added value for visitors

Come along to Ipex 2006 and take advantage of the free vendor seminars for all Ipex visitors. A series of 30-minute presentations will be taking place from a wide range of exhibitors - from large multinationals to smaller niche companies that often don't have such a platform to promote themselves.

Over the eight days a packed programme of presentations will provide visitors with an opportunity to hear about the latest product developments, new technologies and innovations available in the global marketplace. Companies such as Goss, Epson, Quark, Adobe, KBA, Innov-Media, StoneCube, Agfa, Isis and Celstream have already confirmed their participation. A full programme is available on the Ipex website www.ipex.org

The two purpose built theatres, located in Hall 20 (pre-press) and Hall 5 (press machinery) will seat up to 70 people and are free of charge to attend. Arrive early to guarantee a seat as places are on a first-come first-served basis.

Save the £30 entry fee and register now for Ipex. Visit www.ipex.org or call the hotline for registration forms: +44 (0)870 429 4592.


Screen enters high-speed colour inkjet market with launch of Truepress Jet520

At IPEX 06 Screen hosts the international launch of the Truepress Jet520, a full-colour variable printing system developed to support the growing demand for quality, high-speed variable data printing.

The groundbreaking Truepress Jet520 unites Screen's proven prepress technology with the latest developments in inkjet printing. The company's first major inkjet system, the press delivers a perfect balance of exceptional performance, high print quality and low operating costs.

The Truepress Jet520 is a continuous feed, single-pass, ink jet printer. Screen's renowned manufacturing and engineering skills combined with Epson's latest multi-tone Piezo DOD (Drop-On-Demand) inkjet print heads and water-based pigment inks results in a high level of quality and reliability on both standard and uncoated stock. The Epson print heads are positioned in such a way that the pitch between individual colours is very small. In addition, a colour depth of four tones per drop (2-bit imaging) for each colour ensures outstanding quality and precision.

The roll-fed paper feeding system gives users the flexibility to handle high-speed and high-volume print runs. At 420 colour pages or 64 metres a minute and a 507mm print width, the Truepress Jet520 has been designed to give a productivity level that is suitable for high volume transactional and direct mail printing but at a quality level that far exceeds what is currently available at this kind of performance. The press is ideal for a wide range of products where the use of colour is increasingly popular such as: highly personalised catalogues, direct mail, full-colour account statements, technical manuals, specialist newspapers and other high-quality, data driven, materials.

The Truepress Jet520 consists of a printing unit and a rewinder/unwinder unit and is available as a simplex or a duplex system and with a variety of inline finishing options. A built-in quality control scanner ensures consistent image reproduction and makes it easy to adjust or clean print heads. Furthermore, ink cartridges are easy to replace, helping to minimize the loss of printing time.

A high-performance controller, using Adobe's latest PS/PDF RIP core, enables high-speed processing. By linking the Truepress Jet520 to the JDF-enabled Trueflownet print business solution, Screen plans to create a more efficient, high-performance printing system.

The Screen Truepress Jet520 will be commercially available from October this year.

Ipex 2006 - The perfect launch for Baldwin's major new product platform

“Our philosophy is to demonstrate products that can add value to the printer today, so most of the technology behind the new systems that visitors will see on our IPEX stand has already been pressroom-proven in commercial and newspaper operations around the world,” says Baldwin president and CEO Karl Puehringer.

“In addition, IPEX will be the launch pad for our new platform technology solutions, where multiple Baldwin systems share common fluid, temperature and control platforms, resulting in faster and lower cost press start-ups plus a long-term reduction in maintenance costs.”

Automatic cleaning systems and their related consumables comprise the largest part of Baldwin's business. At IPEX the company will be making several new technology and business announcements, which will demonstrate Baldwin's continued leadership in this field. These new products will include the company's unique FLEX and CleanLiner technology, which will re-set performance standards for all automatic blanket cleaning systems, according to Birger Hansson, director of new business and product development.

“The FLEX and CleanLiner technology will allow printers to operate in either the wet PREPAC or dry cloth and solvent modes, and incorporates advanced cloth and fluid management features, which maximise cleaning quality while minimising consumable usage,” says Mr Hansson.

“These features will be of significant importance to heatset web offset printers. We expect long-run magazine and catalogue operations to be particularly interested in FLEX technology's high speed, quick-clean, program capabilities and the significant waste reduction advantages offered by extended interval cleaning cycles. Short-run commercial printers with in-line finishing, automatic plate and transfer technology presses will appreciate the complete edge-to-edge debris removal and the precise fluid control of FLEX and CleanLiner technologies, which are key attributes for essential off-impression and no-web cleaning.”

Baldwin continues to advance high-performance, application-specific consumable technology and will introduce at IPEX PREPAC, DRYPAC and JUMBODRY cleaning consumables for UV and textured cylinder applications. Consumable technology and products are a critical part of Baldwin's cleaning technology portfolio and at IPEX these will be supported by a Consumables Kiosk, where Baldwin's process technology experts will be available to discuss how advanced consumables technology can help printers achieve faster, better and more cost efficient cleaning on both Baldwin and non-Baldwin cloth technology cleaning systems.

Baldwin will be launching at IPEX its new spray dampening system Maxima - the first system that has been designed for both heatset commercial and high performance newspaper printing applications. Maxima incorporates Baldwin's maintenance-friendly Constant C air curtain technology and a range of control and valve speed options. The system offers proprietary control algorithms, which makes it an ideal partner technology for faster pre-setting of ink and water.

“The difference between newspaper and commercial quality standards are becoming smaller and with more newspaper production sites being multi-title, 24/7 operations, the technical and reliability expectations have increased dramatically,” says Peter Hultberg, managing director of Baldwin Jimek (Centre of Competency for Newspaper Products). “The technology behind Maxima enables this generation of systems to meet the dampening requirements for whatever the press is printing, regardless of stock. In addition, it can do this with the lowest waste and labour possible and without compromising on print quality, which makes Maxima a life-of-press dampening technology.”


Mellow Colour showcases new products and offers Free Colour Health Checks at IPEX 2006

Mellow Colour will launch a new range of products at IPEX 2006, following the international success of the Mellow Colour ISOLithO System - a colour quality system developed for print professionals who insist on predictable and consistent print appearance.

Demonstrating fast colour measurement from printed sheets and intuitive trend analysis, Mellow Colour is offering printers the opportunity to put their prints to the test with a free ISOLithO colour health check on its stand. Prior to the show, visitors can log onto www.mellowcolour.com and download the free ISOLithO Strip. This can be printed along with a production job, via the printers normal workflow and brought along to the stand for an on the spot ISOLithO Health Check.

“IPEX provides the ideal platform for us to showcase an extended and enhanced range of products that improve efficiency for printers and ensure that customers receive accurate and consistent colour,” comments Alan Dresch, Founder, Mellow Colour. “The free ISOLithO colour health check facilitates the first step towards this and together with product demonstrations on our stand, organisations can take the first step to meet with the ISO 12647-2 standard.”

ISOLithO was developed to enable colour printers to comply with the ISO standard and achieve the tight targets and tolerances specified in the ISO 12647-2:2004 Specification for Offset Lithography. ISOLithO offers more than proof-to-press colour consistency; the software provides a more efficient workflow, reducing time, cost, waste and delivering improved customer satisfaction and has been updated with the targets and tolerances of the latest ISO specification.

“Williams Lea uses ISOLithO as part of a vendor audit program. The reports are easy to read and give a wealth of data to help our vendors align to the ISO 12647-2 standard. The technical support and training provided by Mellow Colour is first class,” said Andrew Horn, Senior Vendor Manager, Williams Lea UK.

When applied correctly ISOLithO assures consistent print appearance, job-to-job and device-to-device. In practice, the user simply chooses the appropriate ISO specified L*a*b* targets for paper type and ink colour, along with tonal value increase (dot gain) targets from pull down menus in the ISOLithO set-up dialogue. A spectrophotometer is used to quickly capture colour data from the print sample and a comprehensive colour report is generated, detailing colour appearance and comparing the measurements with the ISO 12647 Specification.

Around the globe colour professionals are recognising the benefits of ISOLithO. David Crowther, Director, Chromaticity Australia, has successfully installed the software with local printers. “It is a culture change for printers to adopt a more systematic approach to colour quality management,” said David. “However, with appropriate training and use of systems such as ISOLithO, I am confident printers will see the benefits and adopt this modern approach to manufacturing, already commonplace in other industries, without major outlay.

“Implementing ISO 12647 is more than process control, it is about changing the way that printers operate,” concludes Alan. “It is inevitable that print will follow customer pressure to implement printing standards internationally and now is the time to take the first step on that journey.”


Ipex helps build relationships through Agent Matchmaking

With Ipex 2006 set to be the ideal place to do business when it opens on 4th April, organisers IIR are supporting the event with a new online networking initiative - The Agent and Distributor Matchmaking Service.

The initiative will help put exhibitors in touch with distributors and agents from specific areas and countries, forging relationships between dealers and key industry players that may not otherwise have known about each other. This process will help ease the challenge of finding a potential partner in overseas territories and offer suppliers the opportunity to meet a number of distributors in one go.

An online registration form for interested agents and distributors is available at www.ipex.org/agent. The resulting database will be accessible to registered exhibitors ahead of the exhibition, allowing vendors to identify suitable dealers in key territories. Exhibitors and distributors can then communicate online prior to the show, as well as set up face-to-face meetings at a dedicated drinks reception on the evening of Monday 10th April, in the INNOV8 Theatre.

Sarah Harvey, Marketing Director, IIR says, "Research amongst Ipex 2006 exhibitors reveals that around 30 per cent do business solely through distributors in overseas markets. This highlights the importance of selecting the right distributor to work with. The new matchmaking initiative provides exhibitors with a comprehensive list of active dealers in specific locations and allows them to get in contact with agents that they wouldn't otherwise have known about.

The Ipex team has already received an unprecedented number of enquiries from distributors keen to sign up to the service, indicating the level of scope for business growth both domestically and overseas."

Tim Webb, Managing Director, Russell-Webb, says, "This is a great initiative offered by the organisers of IPEX 2006. It presents a real opportunity for exporters to grow their business through agents and distributors in countries where they are currently un-represented. The service helps guarantee that you will meet suitable distributors, not just hope that they walk onto your stand".

This new initiative adds another pull for dealers hoping to visit Ipex 2006, particularly for those looking to build new relationships and expand their business. You never know - you may just find your perfect match!

VUTEk Superwide Digital Inkjet Printers from EFI To Be Exhibited at IPEX 2006

VUTEk, a division of EFI, is exhibiting its industry-leading family of UV-curing flatbed printers at IPEX 2006, Birmingham, UK, April 4 - 11, 2006. EFI is the world leader in digital controllers, superwide format printers and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing.

On display at the show, the PressVu UV 200/600 UV-curing flatbed printer, starting at only $199,000, offers the highest image quality and greatest versatility available today in a UV-curing printer. It enables users to benefit from high-end image quality, greater productivity and improved profitability at an affordable price.

The PressVu UV 200/600 digital inkjet printer is loaded with features you would expect to find on more expensive models - like stunning four- or six-colour, 600 dpi capabilities that deliver photographic color reproduction and crisp text reproduction. Its virtually limitless versatility and industrial-strength construction allow operators to print on a variety of sheet-fed or roll-to-roll materials around the clock, enabling owners to expand their services and satisfy a nearly infinite variety of long-term outdoor and indoor applications - increasing value to customers and driving up profitability.

Starting at $299,000, the PressVu UV 320/400 UV-curing flatbed printer is the most productive in its class and is designed to help digital print providers increase profitability. It accommodates rigid substrates up to 126 inches (3.2 meters) wide, and offers productivity up to 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) per hour, equal to 20 - 4' x 8' (14 - 2 meter x 3 meter) sheets per hour. It also features roll-to-roll capability, giving customers the flexibility to offer a full range of services.

The PressVu UV 320/400 is available as a four-color model, and prints high-quality, 400 dpi resolution images on rigid substrates up to 1.75 inches (4.45 cm) thick. Ruggedly built for reliable, around-the-clock productivity, the PressVu UV 320/400 prints on a wide range of sheet-fed and roll-to-roll substrates. Set up is quick and easy, and can be done by one person in less than one minute, allowing customers to focus their time on producing, not preparing.

The two-printer-in-one capability of the PressVu UV 320/400 allows customers to print on both rigid and flexible materials, so customers can offer a more comprehensive range of applications, increasing their value to their customers while driving up profitability. The switch between flatbed and roll-to-roll can be completed in less than a minute, barely affecting the printer's overall productivity.

Goss International emphasizes web offset innovation at IPEX 06

IPEX will see Goss International move ever closer to its vision of a fully automated future for web offset.

Goss International will showcase a range of its latest press, finishing and workflow solutions, providing customers with technologies that push the boundaries of web offset production and add real value to print.

These technologies include the Goss Automatic Transfer system for non-stop production, Goss Autoplate automatic plate changing, the Goss Web Center workflow solution, as well as the innovative Goss Flexible Printing System taking newspaper production to new levels of productivity and flexibility.

Additionally, Goss International finishing solutions will further demonstrate the company's commitment to integrated, high-quality web offset production, from data input through printing to postpress.

“Goss is focused on continually improving the value proposition for customers,” says Eric Bell, European marketing manager at Goss International.

“At IPEX this is shown through products designed for increasing quality and flexibility, wider webs and faster speeds, achieving higher productivity and improving makereadies and paper waste. Our web offset focus and innovative technologies are keeping our customers and print at the center of the media market place.”

IPEX is to be held in Birmingham NEC on April 4-11th, 2006. Goss International welcomes its customers to join them in Hall 5, stand C70.

IPEX 2006 JDF Pavilion 75% sold

The Process Automation and JDF Pavilion at Ipex 2006 – one of the new product zones introduced to the show – is already 75 per cent reserved.

To date, 15 companies have confirmed their space, including Dalim Software, EFI, Screen, Heidelberg, ePrint Direct, Dr Lauterbach & Partner and Lithotechnics.

The 250sqm Process Automation and JDF Pavilion will be prominently positioned in Hall 20, and will highlight user solutions for improving production interoperability, productivity and profitability. Visitors will also be able to hear user case study presentations to be held in the theatre area within the Pavilion, including CIPPI (CIP4 International Print Production Innovation) Award winning case studies.

Flexible Packaging Zone at Ipex 2006 is 80 per cent sold

56 companies have already confirmed they will be exhibiting in the flexible packaging zone at Ipex 2006.

Launched only six months ago in response to flexible packaging's growing importance within the packaging market and the print industry as a whole, take up for space has been phenomenal. Almost 80 per cent of the floor space in Hall 1 has been sold so far – that's 1,400sqm. The zone has the potential to grow to over 2,000sqm by the time the show opens in April 2006 – bigger than some packaging shows in their own right!

Key companies exhibiting include Cerutti Group, Comexi Group, DCM Group, BHS, SOMA Engineering, CMR, Polywest Sleeve Systems, Kampf, AVT, JM Heaford and AV Flexologic.

Additionally, the Flexographic and Substrate Converting pocket guide will highlight relevant stands throughout the other halls.

The Flexible Packaging Centre of Excellence theatre in Hall 1 plays host to presentations from companies including IST, Luscher Flexo, Drent Goebel, Creo, Alphasonics, Agfa and GEW throughout Ipex.