Press Release Almanac: 1 May 2008
Keep up to date with the latest industry news and releases.
EIZO becomes first monitor manufacturer with monitor proofing systems certified by IDEAlliance
Kodak to show Stream Concept Printhead at drupa
MGI Announces World Premier of JetVarnish(r) Inkjet Spot UV Coater
"Roll over Gutenberg" says Océ at drupa
Two of Eizo Nanao Corporation's (TSE: 6737) monitor proofing systems have passed the newly launched IDEAlliance1 (SWOP2, GRACoL3) Monitor Proofing Systems Certification Program. In total, 27 systems from five companies were certified, with EIZO offering the only systems from a monitor manufacturer.
Monitor proofing systems are becoming more widely adopted as they significantly reduce the time and expenses of hard copy proofing by allowing all parties (prepress house, agency, client, etc.) to view proofs on a calibrated monitor. IDEAlliance, a U.S.-based organization that develops standards to enhance efficiency in all facets of publishing, just announced an update to its widely-recognized SWOP certification program for monitor proofing systems. Whereas the previous SWOP program largely relied on visual evaluation, this new program is based on a more objective numeric evaluation; it requires a monitor to be within a specific tolerance from the 1,617 color patches of the internationally recognized ANSI IT8.7/4 standard4.
In EIZO's certified soft proofing systems, the EIZO ColorEdge CG301W monitor (29.8" widescreen) or the ColorEdge CG241W monitor (24.1" widescreen) are used with Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional for viewing soft proofs. Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional is already in widespread use, so EIZO's systems offer premedia companies and prepress houses considerable cost savings over conventional monitor proofing systems which require the purchase of the system vendor's software proofing packages in addition to the monitor.
Both of EIZO's systems are certified GRACoL Grade #1, the most stringent of three certification categories in the IDEAlliance program. GRACoL Grade #1 applies to coated sheetfed offset printing and has a color gamut that encompasses the other two categories: SWOP Grade #3 and SWOP Grade #5, which apply to web offset printing.
Among the other 25 monitor proofing systems certified by IDEAlliance, 16 use EIZO ColorEdge monitors, including the two aforementioned monitors as well as the ColorEdge CG221 (22.2" widescreen) and the ColorEdge CG211 (21.3" standard format). The prevalence of EIZO ColorEdge monitors in these systems further testifies to their suitability for soft proofing.
Visitors to drupa 2008 in Dusseldorf, Germany, will have the opportunity to see KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology in a hybrid printing application. The Stream Concept Printhead from Kodak will be running inline on a MULLER MARTINI Press. Capable of delivering monochrome offset class VDP applications at up to 1,000 fpm to commercial offset printers, the Stream Concept Printhead from Kodak shows KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology's potential for hybrid printing and also serves as a technology platform for future inkjet systems based on KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology.
The first planned product with this new technology, the 4-inch Stream Concept Printhead from Kodak is designed to produce a deep, rich black at 600 dpi on glossy substrates, and to be easy to operate and service. This flexible hybrid printing solution provides a powerful option for print service providers looking to add offset class variable data print to direct mail, statements and other commercial applications. When launched, the product based on this technology demonstration will produce offset class quality at a more economical cost point than offline printing solutions.
A group of Kodak customers previewed the technology during an open house at Kodak's Dayton, Ohio, inkjet facility. "I was truly impressed by the technology demonstration. I never thought it was possible to attain such high quality using an inkjet system," said Jaime Silva, owner of Impresora Silvaform S. A. de C.V. in Mexico City. "It seems as though this new technology will position Kodak to take the lead in the overall inkjet market."
The Stream Concept Printhead from Kodak is able to print on commercially available substrates and offers excellent character definition and small font capability. KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology offers printers the ability to expand into new markets by leveraging current lithographic equipment for new and different commercial VDP applications.
JetVarnish from MGI is the perfect complement to digital or offset printed substrates. The revolutionary JetVarnish offline spot UV coater uses inkjet technology to ensure precise spot coverage. The JetVarnish is targeted towards high-speed and large format applications, with an integrated infrared dryer to enable turn-key production. Attendees at drupa 2008 will receive an exclusive preview of this groundbreaking finishing device, which joins MGI's popular UVarnish(r) offline flood UV coater. Advance previews can be registerd through MGI's distributor, The Digital Impressions Group at www.thedig/drupa
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If rock 'n' roll made Beethoven roll over then Océ's "Roll Over Gutenberg" presentation at this year's drupa might well have the same effect on printing's great pioneer
Océ is showing five different systems at drupa 2008 (hall 6, stand A44) with workflows for short-run production of books. The Océ ColorStream 10000 full-colour continuous-feed digital press is producing books with colour and b/w elements (among other applications) and the Océ VarioStream 9720, complemented by finishing equipment, is showing fully automated printing of high quality books in black & white.
The digitally printed colour covers (produced on the Océ CPS900) are channelled to the system automatically, creating a workflow which delivers professionally bound books in a single, intervention-free end-to-end run.
With its special "Roll Over Gutenberg" book, Océ is showing how high quality colour and b/w pages can be merged inline in an automated production workflow. The book combines prints from two digital presses, the Océ VarioPrint 6250 (black & white) and the Océ CS650 Pro (colour). The unrivalled register accuracy of the Océ VarioPrint 6250 delivers perfectly aligned text blocks on every page of the book.
The workflow is managed by Océ PRISMAprepare, which separates the B/W and colour portions of the book and ensures the page data is routed correctly to either the B/W or colour press. It then takes charge of the post-print merging to reassemble and finish the product.
Business unit director for document printing at Océ, Tim Saleeba, says the on-demand production trend is fundamentally changing the traditional value chain - as evidenced by the escalating growth of self-publishing portals that work without inventory of any kind.
"Visitors to the Océ stand will see how books are able to be ordered over the Internet, printed by the service provider, packaged and shipped complete with invoice and delivery papers," Saleeba said.
"The entire workflow is largely automated. As a result, a second value chain has emerged which serves to unite the book production and wholesaling stages, completely eliminating inventory and the associated risk and cost."