30.04.2008
 Screen sets up Truepress in Russia
 Screen will install its Truepress 344 digital offset press in moscow-based printer Idea Print. The company is the first in Russia to install Screen's Truepress 344 to “expand the company's capacity and handle up to 30% of the company's digital jobs”, as Idea Print announces.
"By installing the Truepress 344 we will be able to extend our capacity, while remaining in the same sector. This new press ensures efficiency for run lengths from 300 copies upwards and delivers print quality that no digital machine can match", says Sergey Popov, Idea's Print Marketing Director. The Truepress 344 produces up to 7,000 prints per hour, with conventional dampening offset print, and offers a make-ready time of less than ten minutes, with waste below 50 sheets.
Idea Print also pretends to integrate its workflow with the Truepress 344. "TrueFit Advance software ensures fully automatic colour management by controlling the ink output density for repeated prints and ink consumption, therefore minimising manual adjustment", refers Sergey Popov.
29.04.2008
First "Proof of Preflight" Specification
 PDF file integrity can now be easily verified as a result of The Ghent Workgroup's (GWG) release of the first free "Proof of Preflight" specification. When implemented in a software solution, this offers users the ability to review a PDF file's preflight audit trail, including a digital signature, at any time during the design to print workflow. This capability provides users the assurance that they can safely accept a PDF file with a Proof of Preflight. Another key benefit of the GWG Proof of Preflight specification is its "open" design, making it interoperable across different vendor workflows. GWG designed the digital signature using algorithms which are defined in the PDF 1.7 (or earlier) specification(s), and which are supported in Acrobat as of Acrobat 8. The digital signature complies with all requirements present in the PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-3, and PDF/X-4 standards.
28.04.2008
Ifra at Lake Gardia
 Ifra Italia announced its eleventh edition, that will take place on 18 and
19 June 2008 on shores of Lake Garda, in Sirmione. The international
conference for the newspaper business community, Ifra Italia will focus on
"Newspapers and Advertising: the New Frontiers of Development" and the
latest topics in the industry, such as the industrial production management
or the challenges for publishers and editors in terms of the rapidly
changing media environment. In the afternoon of June 19th, Ifra will promote
a session about "Newspaper Printing Plants: Technology and the New Frontiers
of Quality", with some international printing experiences.
24.04.2008
Gandinnovations unveils new machines
 Gandinnovations announced a new range of grand format digital printers for outdoor and billboard applications at drupa 2008. The company will focus on the introduction of the new NanoJet UV True Flatbed digital printer, the Jeti 3348 Jetstream UV RTR digital printer, the Jeti 3324 Aquajet Direct-to-Fabric digital printer and its full Jeti range of grand format digital printers. In Hall 5 booth#a23, Gandinnovations will promote live demonstrations of the Jeti3348 Jetstream UV RTR, its new 3-meter UV-RTR digital printer with speeds of 2500 sgft/hr in a four color configuration and features 48 Spectra print heads. The company will also present live demonstrations of the Jeti 3324 Aquajet Direct-to-Fabric digital printer, the Gandinnovations “European Digital Printer” 2008 award-winning unit.
“We are looking forward to meeting drupa’s global and international audience and present Gandinnovations’ outstanding product range. Our new innovative Aquajet direct-to-fabric digital printer will enable us to reach new markets and service new customers”, says James Gandy, CEO and Chairman of Gandinnovations.
23.04.2008
New prepress workflow from Compose
 Compose System will present at drupa 2008 its latest innovations in prepress and production workflow systems as well as a wide range of new features for narrow web and digital printing applications. Key product highlights include updated releases of the company’s seamless Express WorkFlow solutions, new features in its Express RIP product range, solutions for its streamlined production workflow systems, as well as new version for GapFinder, a narrow web printing application. Compose will demonstrate the version of its Compose Express WorkFlow, which has been extended to provide JDF support, it now accepts JDF import and job tickets from within the workflow for correct handling of each job at every stage of the production process. The new Express WorkFlow reduces errors and allows production instructions, such as ink key value, ripping preferences, imposition methods, folding, binding or guillotine instructions to be specified in compliance with the JDF protocol.
22.04.2008
Goss financial results consistent in 2007
 Goss achieved sales, order and earnings results in 2007 that were consistent with 2006 figures, while introducing innovations in its portfolio. Sales of Goss web offset presses, print finishing systems and aftermarket services exceeded $1.1 billion.The company entered 2008 with an order backlog in excess of $650 million, which was better than projected and stronger than the 2007 beginning backlog. Sales volumes for Goss print finishing systems increased in 2007, boosted primarily by demand for Magnapak newspaper packaging systems and Pacesetter 2200 and 2500 saddlestitchers. Customers ordered 14 new Pacesetter systems in 2007, and an ability to accommodate full A4-size products is expected to expand market opportunities for the product worldwide.
21.04.2008
Breakthrough controller IC for electronic paper displays
 Epson and E Ink Corporation have jointly developed a display controller IC enabling new capabilities for E Ink's Vizplex enabled electronic paper displays. EPD low-power consumption screen technology is driving an emerging class of new mobile applications, such as eBooks, eNewspapers, tablet PCs, laptop secondary displays, eNotebooks, and eDictionaries. The new EPD controller IC (part number S1D13521B) was developed by combining technologies from both Epson and E Ink. It will be offered in production quantities by Epson and as part of E Ink's upcoming AM300 Broadsheet prototype kit. The Epson display controller will bring greater functionality to EPDs using E Ink technology by speeding up the user interface via seamless navigation, drop down/popup menus, responsive cursors and real-time keyboard entry. The controller enables the display to perform up to 16 tasks in parallel, and supports smooth and responsive pen input devices for annotations and sketches.
18.04.2008
New self-adhesive for Walls
 MACtac is opening new business opportunities for wide format printers with two new self-adhesive constructions : WallWrap 100 and WallWrap 200. The WallWrap 100 is specifically designed for graphics to be applied directly onto brick walls. The high tack opaque adhesive and the conformable 55 mm PVC film guarantees adhesion on clean brickwork, a visibility of the graphics and no edge lifting. The WallWrap 200 is especially designed for short (six months) indoor wall graphics to be applied on smooth, flat surfaces. The 150 mm white matt semi-rigid PVC film is coated with an ultra-removable clear acrylic adhesive. It allows sign-makers to apply, reposition and remove the graphics without leaving adhesive residues on the substrate. Both constructions have been optimized for solvent based, eco-solvent, mild solvent and UV inkjet printing on wide format printers. Relevant ICC profiles can be obtained from MACtac Subsidiaries and Authorized Distributors and from www.mactacdigital.com.
17.04.2008
ProBind: a cost-effective binding machine?
 The German-based machinery manufacturer Kugler-Womako, a Körber PaperLink company, will present ProBind, a binding machine particularly developed for cost-effective binding, at drupa 2008. Kugler-Womako’s ProBind addresses the needs of bookbinderies, trade finishers and small stationery manufacturers who are looking for a binding machine with manual feeding for small-to-medium-size production runs. “The new ProBind achieves 30 binding cycles per minute and is therefore especially suited for manual feeding”, says Stephan Bühler, Product Manager, Kugler-Womako. The ProBind concentrates on the main production steps – separating, punching, collecting, spine forming and binding. The standard spine forming prevents limits of performance, also for thicker products. The ProBind is available for the production of spiral and plastic spiral binding or wire comb binding. Optionally the machine equipment can be complemented by cover feeders and a spine trimmer. A corner-rounding unit is available as well.
16.04.2008
Dupont and Sun Chemical join for flexography
 Dupont and Sun Chemical have created a new standard for smart flexographic printing. The agreement brings together Sun Chemical’s patented WetFlex wet-on-wet flexographic printing process with its patented UniQure electron-beam cured inks, the DuPont Cyrel Fast technology and the DuPont Cyrel photopolymer plate technology. Dupont and Sun Chemical created the Cyrel photopolymer printing plates for the WetFlex process, to achieve new levels of print graphics and provide a solvent-free process “that can contribute to sustainability improvements in printing and packaging”, as announced. “Working with DuPont to optimize the results of the WetFlex printing process helps flexography grow its position as the process of choice around the world for high-quality, high-impact packaging”, says Richard Pettifor, president, North America Packaging, Sun Chemical.
15.04.2008
Mactac looking for sales boost
 In the Ink Jet market, differentiation and specialization are more important than ever. To help its Sales Teams to understand digital printers’ problems and solve them, MACtac has created the Performance Graphics Academy. Training programme includes colour and colour management, the basics of ICC profiling and its installation in the printer’s software, most common defects in printing laminating and application of digital graphics and how to avoid them. All training sessions are run by experts in digital printing and/or in self-adhesive technology.
14.04.2008
New Lithrone unveiled at drupa
 At Drupa 08, Komori will introduce the Lithrone SX40, the latest evolution of LS platform. The LSX40 features a host of upgraded features, designed to further improve print quality and job cycle times. The Lithrone SX40 has a new maximum running speed of 18,000sph. In addition, new higher speed fully automatic plate change (F-APC) with non stop plate removal, helps increase the speed for job to job changeover, essential for busy print houses handling various run lengths. The Lithrone SX40 can change six plates in approximately two minutes, enabling, along with KHS-AI, a 35% reduction in job-to-job-changeover time. From the end of production on one job to an OK sheet on the next it takes just over six minutes. The automated coater plate change increases speed, precision and ease of use. All controls are integrated and automatic through the new PQC console’s touch screen. The new KHS-AI fast print start-up system has a self-learning function which progressively updates all press settings.
11.04.2008
PrintCity launches Value Added UV Sheetfed Printing Guide
 The PrintCity Alliance Project Group ‘UV Printing’ is launching a new edition of its Optimised Sheetfed UV Printing - Best Practice Guide for 2008. As value added UV sheetfed printing is of ever increasing interest worldwide, the new Guide answers these questions: do you want to grow your business by using Value Added Printing?;do you want to sell print into new higher value markets?; do you want a Guide that gives you all the economic data, production tips and best practice knowledge, all in one place?
This publication, with the shared knowledge of market leading ink, paper, press, consumables and UV curing companies is also available at a price of €30 per copy from the new PrintCity Alliance Web Shop at www.printcity.de/shop.
10.04.2008
HP goes for the reduced price notebook market
 HP is introducing a full-function, mini-notebook PC priced starting under 500€. The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC is smaller and lighter than many math or science books, includes a suite of wireless, multimedia and security capabilities, and three different processors from 1.2 to 1.6 Ghz. It is packed with a combination of features to boost productivity and improve the overall mobile experience, including:aAn HP 3D DriveGuard, which sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock by using a three-axis digital; the ability to view video, still-image capture, web conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging( with no additional hardware to buy or carry; and wireless technologies such as integrated Wi-Fi Certified WLAN and optional Bluetooth.
09.04.2008
Odours converted into energy source
 Torraspapel has invested close to 3 million euros in installing a treatment plant for odour-producing gases at its Zaragoza mill. The new treatment plant has made it possible to eliminate odour-causing gas emissions and enable them to be used as an energy source, increasing the efficiency and sustainability of the manufacturing process. The project is based on three functional aspects of equal importance: capturing the gases at their originating sources, destroying the components that can produce unpleasant odours by low-NOx thermal treatment, and finally, cleaning the combustion gases for emissions control.
08.04.2008
St Ives sets up first Roland 700
 St Ives will install the UK’s first Roland 700 DirectDrive, at Crayford. As Hayden Savage, Operations Director St Ives Crayford, says, with the Man Roland’s DirectDrive system, St Ives will increase productivity and maintain its standards of print quality. “With the MAN Roland 700 DirectDrive press, it was our belief that once installed, its DirectDrive technology would speed up the production process and provide a quicker time to market. Importantly, this would enable us to add further value to our customer service, and allow us to maintain our competitive edge”, refers.
Roland 700 DirectDrive combines a coupling system that enables simultaneous changing of all printing plates and make-ready operations, as blanket and impression cylinders, and inking roller wash-ups. The installation of the press will be completed at St Ives’ music and multimedia location in Crayford within the first quarter of 2008.
07.04.2008
KBA: Higher profits on lower sales
 In 2007 Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) posted group sales worth €1,703.7m, not far off the previous year’s record figure of €1,741.9m. But at €1,546.9m the volume of new orders was 6.2% lower following the economic downturn in the US, weaker demand for big press lines and a slump in demand for gravure presses. The order backlog shrank accordingly to €791.9m, from €948.7m a year earlier. But the impact of higher material and labour costs, and provisions for capacity adjustments at web press production plants, was more than offset by systematic cost reductions and improved margins on goods shipped. As a result operating profit jumped from €46.2m in 2006 to €65.7m. Pre-tax earnings (EBT) soared to €63.2m (2006: €47.4m) and group profit climbed to €49m (2006: €34.3m), though there was a modest financial loss.
04.04.2008
New plug-ins for InDesign CS3
 XChange has released InData, InCatalog and InCatalog Pro for Adobe InDesign CS3. InData brings the full layout, design, typographic and picture publishing of Adobe InDesign to bear on all data-driven repetitive publishing tasks. InCatalog is a bi-directional linking tool for creating transparent links between Adobe InDesign documents and external data. With these links in place, users never have to enter or update their data in two places (documents and database), but can update one or the other from the most current version. Once links are established with the the easy-to-use linking tool, changes can be made either in the document or the database, and the changes pushed in the other direction with no extra work.
03.04.2008
New one-way vision film
 Madico Graphic Films is exhibiting key products at FESPA Digital 2008, headed up by the new Contra Vision Digital XR; an environmentally friendly, digitally printable one-way vision film which is making its premier at FESPA Digital 2008. Contra Vision Digital XR has been designed to simplify and improve the production of one-way vision window graphics for promotional, display, privacy and corporate identity applications. In recognition of its exceptional innovative and environmentally-friendly qualities, Contra Vision Digital XR is included in both the FESPA Digital Blue and Green Trails, and has also been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ classification by FESPA’s independently appointed FESPA Trails committee.
02.04.2008
Guaranteed by a billion prints
 Océ announced it is offering an industry-first 10-year or One Billion Print Guarantee for its Océ VarioPrint 6250 heavy duty production printing system. The Océ VarioPrint 6250, launched in late 2006, is based on Océ Gemini Instant Duplex technology. This is the technology capable of printing simultaneously on the front and back of a page. The system prints 250 A4/letter images per minute. “We are convinced of the sturdiness of the Océ VarioPrint 6250,” said Mal Baboyian, President, Océ Production Printing Systems. “Some of our customers have had the system in place since the launch date. It has proven just as robust in the field as in the development lab. Customers say - and field data shows - that reality has exceeded expectations.” BERTL, an independent business equipment and testing laboratory, recently honoured the Océ VarioPrint 6250 with a “Beyond 5 Star Rating”, a rare accolade that denotes a system “reserved for the best of the best”, according to BERTL. Océ is also providing guarantees also to the other members of the Océ VarioPrint family based on Océ Gemini Instant Duplex technology. The Océ VarioPrint 6200, which prints at 200 A4/letter images per minute, has a 10-year or 800-million-print guarantee. The Océ VarioPrint 6160, which prints at 160 A4/letter images per minute, has a 10-year or 600-million-print guarantee.
01.04.2008
Photoshop Express beta now available
 Adobe Photoshop Express public beta, a free Rich Internet Application (RIA) available to anyone who wants to store, sort and show off digital is now available. Photoshop Express allows users to store up to 2 gigabytes of images online for free, make edits to their photos, and share them online in creative ways, including downloading and uploading photos from popular social networking sites like Facebook. With Photoshop Express, digital photos can be uploaded and sorted anytime, edited non-destructively to always preserve the original image, and shared from anywhere, on any Web browser. In a few easy clicks, Photoshop Express empowers anyone to make standard edits, such as removing blemishes and red-eye, converting to black and white, cropping and resizing, and much more. No experience is required to add special effects that will impress friends and family. In keeping with its one-click approach, Photoshop Express offers tricks like Pop Color which selects an object in an image, mutes the background color of the photo and allows the user to swap the object’s color so it jumps off the page. Sketch effects help photos look like drawings and the Distort feature allows you to distort facial features or objects within the images for a comical or artistic effect. Even users with limited photo editing knowledge can simply select what looks best from a line-up of sample photos with visual hints showing different variations of the added effect.
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