31.10.2007
 Hasselblad unveils Multi-Shot DSLR
 Hasselblad is unveiling the H3DII-39MS, a multi-shot version of the recently announced H3DII-39 DSLR that will deliver digital images for architectural and still life photography. Previously available only on Hasselblad multi-shot digital backs, much of the multi-shot technology in the new H3DII-39MS comes from the 39 megapixel Hasselblad CF-39MS digital back. Combining the benefits of the CF-39MS’s multi-shot technology with the full functionality and integration of the H3DII-39 DSLR, the H3DII-39MS completely eliminates the need to interpolate images and enables both single- and multi-shot DSLR capability, giving photographers the ultimate in flexibility and moiré-free image quality. The H3DII-39MS will not be film compatible, but, as with the H3D and H3DII product families, will offer photographers the ability to use the digital magazine, which contains the sensor unit and related technology, on a view camera via an adapter. Further acknowledging the specific demands of film photographers, Hasselblad is also announcing the H2F, a simplified, film-only version of the H2 camera, which it is replacing. By removing the high-end digital imaging technology found in the H2, which is unnecessary for shooting with the film-only H2F, and therefore simplifying the manufacturing process, Hasselblad is able to offer the H2F at a substantially lower price than the H2. The H2F offers full compatibility with H System HV viewfinders, film magazines, and HC lenses. The H3DII-39MS will be available from January 2008 and the H2F from November 2007 worldwide through Hasselblad’s national subsidiaries and channel partners with a retail price of €33,500 for the H3DII-39MS, and €2,100 for the H2F camera body and €6,460 for the H2F camera kit, excluding tax.
31.10.2007
Domino acquires Control for €4 million
 Domino has agreed terms for the acquisition of Control Information Technology GmbH ('Control'), a German business that develops and sells production line control software used by manufacturers in Pharmaceutical and other industries. Based in Koblenz, Control software provides manufacturers with the ability to manage and monitor production line performance and product traceability. The sellers, Ralf-Gunter Wein and Harald Herres will remain as employees in the business along with all other existing staff, and will join Domino's Integrated Solutions Group.
30.10.2007
Portucel buys paper machine from Metso
 Portuguese Portucel Soporcel has signed a deal to acquire the world's largest unbleached wood free (UWF) paper-making machine from Finland's Metso for an undisclosed sum, the company said in a filing with stock market regulator CMVM. Although Portucel did not disclose the final price of the deal, it did say it plans to invest a total of about 550 mln eur in the Setubal plant where the machine, which will be able to produce nearly 500,000 tonnes of UWF per year, will be located. In a research note, BCP analyst Joao Mateus said that the company is expected to pay over 500 mln eur for the machine, adding that he expects it to have a capacity of 450,000 tonnes. Portucel said that the machine is expected to come on stream in August 2009, after which date the company will be the largest producer of UWF in Europe, with a production capacity of nearly 1.5 mln tonnes per year of the high-quality paper. It will also still have the capacity to produce 1.3 mln tonnes of Eurcaliptus pulp. Over 90 mln eur of tax benefits and and other state aid has been approved for Portucel in order to develop of its paper and pulp production activities, according to analysts.
30.10.2007
Konica Minolta and eCopy join forces
 Konica Minolta has struck a distribution partnership with eCopy to offer its customers eCopy ScanStation, eCopy Desktop and eCopy Connectors. ScanStation enables organisations to scan paper originals directly into applications for email, financials, human resources, reporting and administration, such as Microsoft Outlook, SharePoint and EMC Documentum. Desktop allows office workers to capture, edit, share, and store scanned documents in PDF form. Its imaging tools include annotation, stamps, optical character recognition (OCR) and the ability to combine documents from both paper and electronic sources.
The Connectors tool lets users incorporate documents directly from Konica Minolta's bizhub range into business applications. Tim Durant, general manager of eCopy, said: "The need to seamlessly incorporate paper documents into electronic workflows is becoming increasingly important as office workers can no longer wait for documents to be sent through inter-office mail or by courier." Konica Minolta's portfolio of document imaging systems ranges from entry-level multifunction devices through to the bizhub Pro c6500e for commercial colour work.
29.10.2007
IMG launches B0 die-cutter
 Dutch manufacturer IMG Brausse Europe has launched a new B0 size die-cutter, the 1450 SE. The machine, which is made in China to European specifications, can handle a maximum sheet size of 1,450x1,100mm, has a top speed of 6,000 sheets per hour and a maximum die-cutting pressure of 600 tonnes.
It comes with four individually adjustable front lays fitted as standard to aid precision with pull-out stripping drawers for easy job set- up. The company offers 24-7 service support and each machine is fitted with a modem and telephone connection so that minor repairs can be handled remotely.
IMG managing director Vincent van der Heijden said this size of machine was becoming increasingly popular and he hoped the 1450 SE would help the company secure the number two spot in the market behind Bobst.
“Our target is applying European advanced technology, Asian high efficiency and low manufacture cost to build up high technology, high quality, internationally orientated and reasonably priced carton machinery to customers throughout the world,” he said.
The company, which promises a number of new launches over the coming months, including a new foil stamper for the folding carton market and a high-speed gluer, is currently building a new demo centre at a site in Holland in addition to a new manufacturing facility in Shanghai.
29.10.2007
Xerox combats counterfeiting
 Xerox has revealed new infra-red (IR) printing technologies to defend against counterfeiting. The feature uses the IR properties of existing toners for Xerox digital colour presses.
The InfraredMark Specialty Imaging Font does not require a special font. The IR feature is described by Xerox as a "colour call" where the text to appear as IR is mapped to a specific colour with these properties.
An additional benefit is that the text quality degrades markedly when copied, making it illegible.
The feature can be used within variable text fields to produce counterfeit resistant documents such as coupons, certificates, licences and identification papers.
Xerox Research Center principal Raja Bala, co-inventor of the process, told that: "The technology works only if the inks used in colour printing have certain properties in terms of IR absorption and reflection.
"With the Xerox colour printers on which this technology has been demonstrated (and sold), the black toner contains carbon, and therefore absorbs IR light. The other colour toners (cyan, magenta and yellow) are non-carbon based, and therefore perfectly transmit IR light.Thus it is possible to create the IR text with the black toner, and then mask or confuse its visibility under normal light using the other colour toners. Under IR light, the colour toners "disappear" (meaning they become transparent), and only the black text is detected.”
27.10.2007
Goss unveils new 4x4 web press
 Goss International has bolstered its range of double-circumference commercial web options with the new 4x4 M-800 press. The 32pp model, which will join its gapless Sunday 4000 models, will receive its first installation at Imprenta Ajusco, Mexico City in 2008.
The press, which can print at up to 11m per second, integrates design elements from existing Goss Sunday presses. These include inking and dampening systems, multidrive, an inline cylinder stack, and bearerless cylinders.
The machine also comes equipped with a JF-70 Collect folder, which allows it to deliver up to 35,000 32pp signatures in collect production or 70,000 16pp signatures in straight production.
Goss chief executive Bob Brown said: "The new M-800 press provides another option, in addition to our advanced gapless presses, and introduces a unique combination of value and performance advantages to the double-circumference commercial press sector"."Commercial printing facilities that operate both 4x4 and 2x4 presses can gain efficiency and product versatility while still maintaining a single web width and paper supply."
26.10.2007
Six color Columbia unveilled
 Capable of printing CMYK plus white, or extending the color gamut with light cyan, light magenta, green, orange or violet, the Columbia Turbo Plus printer incorporates two additional print modules that increase the total number of print heads to 96. The new Inca will be unveiled at SGIA at Fujifilm Sericol’s stand. The new Columbia Turbo Plus offers the same benefits as its predecessor, printing on rigid or flexible substrates up to 1.57" thick at speeds of up to 1325 sqft/hr (123 sqm/hr). With a maximum sheet size of 126" x 63" (3.2 x 1.6m), it will consistently produce at a throughput of up to 24 full bed sheets per hour (allowing for handling time). The new Columbia Turbo Plus is available for immediate delivery.
26.10.2007
Stora Enso cuts capacity and reduces staff
 In response to cost increases Stora Enso is closing down permanently its Summa Paper Mill, one magazine paper machine at Anjala Mill, and the pulp mills at Kemijärvi and Norrsundet. The closures will reduce annual capacity by 505 000 tonnes of newsprint and magazine paper and 550 000 tonnes of pulp. The number of personnel affected by these planned permanent mill closures will total about 1 400 - about 1 100 in Finland and about 300 in Sweden.
Stora Enso also plans to divest its mills at Kotka in Finland. The laminating paper business and the special coated magazine paper operations at Kotka are to be divested as Stora Enso continues to focus its portfolio. These two businesses do not compete directly with products of other Group mills. The sawmilling operations at Kotka could also be sold if a satisfactory offer is received. The mills at Kotka employ about 650 people. In addition, Stora Enso intends to reduce its administrative staff by about 300 in Group administrative functions and shared services (out of total group staff of about 850) in the UK, Finland, Sweden and Germany.
25.10.2007
EskoArtwork updates Kongsberg i-XE
 EskoArtwork announces that its Esko Kongsberg i-XE series digital dieless cutting table is now available in two larger sizes: the Kongsberg i-XE32 with a working area of 51”x63¾” (1300x1620mm) and the Kongsberg i-XE54 (63”x120”; 1600x3050mm). These two new models join the compact Kongsberg i-XE10. The new tables are perfect for the cost-efficient and swift cutting and finishing of digitally printed, flexible and light-duty sheeted materials such as adhesive vinyl (decals), vinyl banners, foam board, and textiles. The system also easily cuts semi rigid materials such as carton and single flute corrugated board and polycarbonate. The Kongsberg i-XE series of automated digital finishing systems was specifically created for signs and displays. Screen printed decals, digitally printed POP displays, and pressure sensitive films, among others, are perfectly kiss-cut or through-cut using an advanced motion system and Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering’s (MGE’s) patented i-cut vision system. This is supported by proven, rugged construction, with robust rack and pinion motor drives, and an ultra-fast multi axis servo system that permits superior acceleration and full speed without loss of precision. Each graphic element on every sheet is checked by the MGE i-cut Vision Pro system for any type of distortion in the printed image or substrate and corrected on-the-fly, even for non-linear type stretch or skewed images, without any user intervention. Esko Kongsberg i-XE tables features also an entirely new tooling system, for lightning-fast motion to increase productivity, for a wide range of materials. The tooling system offers two configurable tool positions with quick connectors, prepared for a range of advanced tool stations.
25.10.2007
Kruger closes paper machine at Corner Brook
 Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is shutting down one of its paper machines indefinitely, beginning early next month. The announcement was made after Kruger officials told provincial Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale about the decision. The company is citing the rising Canadian dollar for the decision to close the machine on Nov. 5. Dunderdale says Kruger wanted to shut down two paper machines but that was unacceptable to the province. She says she reminded Kruger of government's investment in the pulp and paper industry. The shutdown will result in the elimination of 83 jobs, either through layoff or early retirement. Kruger earlier this month announced the closure for two weeks of two mills in Quebec, affecting 1,500 workers.
24.10.2007
Gidue launches S-Combat
 Gidue launched its first S-Combat, UV flexo press, width 370, entirely built in Brazil. The production in Brazil is meant to cover the demand in the area and offer a valid alternative to imports from Europe for the entire South American territory. Thanks to the support of Comprint, Guide established a strong cooperation with the company Raeder of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, responsible for the manufacturing and testing of the Gidue flexo press dedicated to the label industry. The decision to manufacture directly in Brazil was taken in order to solve the problem caused by the heavy trading taxes on imported goods. A situation that, up to that moment, had prevented Gidue from obtaining a large success in South America. Gidue is already offering a wide range of options for the S-Combat, including printing capabilities for the production of shrink sleeves.
24.10.2007
Grafiche Mazzucchelli acquires Sunday 5000
 Commercial printer Grafiche Mazzucchelli will install the new Sunday 5000 press with a 2860-millimeter (112-inch) web width in Seriate, Italy in late 2008. The Sunday 5000 press agreement with Grafiche Mazzucchelli was completed with assistance from Macchingraf, the agent for Goss commercial presses in Italy. “We have had excellent success with 48- and 64-page Sunday presses with pinless folders,” explains Pierluigi Guerini, managing director at Grafiche Mazzucchelli. “The wider 96-page format represents the next breakthrough, combining added high-pagination productivity with short-run efficiency.” Jacques Navarre, senior vice president of sales for Goss International in Europe, says gapless blanket technology is vital to achieving the 4x12 pagination format of the Sunday 5000 press. Tubular Sunday press blankets eliminate the vibrations associated with blanket gaps, providing the dynamic stability necessary for the wider cylinder configuration. “Our original gapless and pinless Sunday presses revolutionized web printing, allowing higher quality at higher speeds on wider webs,” Navarre explains. “The wider Sunday 5000 press is the latest in a long line of developments that have continuously extended the competitive advantages of this proven Sunday press platform.” Navarre notes that close to 2,000 Sunday press printing units have been installed worldwide since 1993.
23.10.2007
A podcast that “will make you a star”
 PIA/GATF has released a free podcast featuring an interview with Steve Cone, keynote speaker of PIA/GATF's 2007 Variable Data and Personalization Conference, November 4--6, in Phoenix, Arizona. In the podcast, Cone, noted author of Steal These Ideas: Marketing Secrets That Will Make You a Star, offers his opinions on how to craft winning marketing strategies. The ten-minute podcast features Cone's views on the keys to effective marketing and how companies can develop marketing "personality" and "attitude". Cone is executive vice president of Epsilon, one of the world's top direct marketing agencies, and he works directly with clients in all industries to design, implement, measure, and improve multichannel marketing programs. Over his 30-year career, including stops at American Express, Fidelity Investments, and Citicorp, where he coordinated worldwide brand management, Cone has built a reputation for imaginative solutions to tough marketing issues. The critical issue of how to break out of the "just printing" mold through rebranding will be explored on the conference's closing day by Micha Riss. Riss is creative director of Flying Machine, a New York agency dedicated to solving branding problems. The Variable Data and Personalization Conference, now in its sixth year, helps printers plan strategy and learn about new approaches, applications, and technologies surrounding the increasing use of variable data in client campaigns. This year's conference is organized into a print-centric track for firms relatively new to variable data, a cross-media track for more advanced practitioners, and a business management track focusing on sales, marketing, and performance-related issues. Special workshops on selling variable campaigns and building web-to-print storefronts precede the conference.
23.10.2007
New plug-in for illustrator
 XChange are pleased to announce the release of MultiPage 4 for Adobe Illustrator CS3 and Blacklining Plug-in for Adobe InDesign CS3. The plug-in lets users produce and publish in one environment by providing the ability to create multiple page layouts in Adobe Illustrator and export or print multiple pages with ease. Version 4 supports PDF, JPEG and EPS export of multiple pages for enhanced web and print design. MultiPage 4 features include: export a range of pages to a single multiple page PDF file, create, navigate and preview pages with thumbnails, use master pages to share artwork on multiple pages and Set custom margins for single or double-sided pages. MultiPage 4 for Illustrator CS3 includes versions 1, 2 and 3 for Illustrator 9/10/CS/CS2 as well. Blacklining is a plug-in intended for corporate, financial and legal document production where every change to text must be recorded. Blacklining tracks changes made to the text of a document as it is being revised. It is designed to allow a user or viewer of an InDesign document to be able to see a complete history of changes that have occurred.
22.10.2007
New wine labels from Avery
 Avery Dennison has strengthened its portfolio of self-adhesive wine labelling materials with a dedicated general-purpose wine labelling adhesive, Fasson S2030, and new paper-based facestocks. Fasson S2030 is an emulsion-based permanent adhesive allowing high conversion and dispensing speeds, coupled with the good mandrel performance required for bottles.
In trials, four hours immersion in an ice chest created no visual defects in the adhesive layer, such as bubbling, and the label could not be removed. Conversely, labels can be easily removed after just three minutes at 23°C. The adhesive complements the Fasson S2047 hot melt wine labelling adhesive and, where 'wash off' is not required, can provide an economical alternative to the high-performance Fasson WLA.
22.10.2007
Inapa faces another lawsuit
 Joe Berardo, the renowned portuguese tycoon, announced in an interview to “Diário Económico” that he intends to sue Inapa for mismanagement in Papelaria Fernandes (PF), a well-known centenary stationery company, where he holds, for the last 10 years, a 20% stake.
Berardo, who is, at the same time seeking an indemnity from the management of the largest Portuguese retail bank, Millennium bcp, for wrong practises, argues that Inapa, whilst dominating the management of PF, in the nineties, stripped the company from a vital part of its business and forced it to buy, at high prices, own assets with no value. These combined operations plunged PF in a very difficult economical and financial situation since then. In the interview, Berardo, qualifies these actions as a “daylight robbery” and states therefore a global burden of over 100M euros.
The intended lawsuit from Berardo follows the one that PF entered recently against Inapa, the leading portuguese paper merchant, on the same basis. This lawsuit puts at high risk the purposed Inapa capital raise, as stated on a research by the weekly paper “Sol”, quoting the portuguese stock market watchdog, CMVM, and the bank syndicate that is taking this operation.
Questioned about these issues by both newspapers the major shareholder in Inapa, the state holding Parpublica and the Ministry of Finance, refused to answer about their intentions on following the capital raise and on the announced purpose of fully privatising the company in 2008. The possible failure of the operation will jeopardise the portuguese government intentions.
22.10.2007
Papelera de Amaroz launches Amaplus+ white
 The Basque tradition of paper-making is well represented by Papelera de Amaroz. The company presented Amaplus+ white that is manufactured with 100% ECF chemical pulp and has a bulk ratio from 1.1 to 1.4.
Founded 125 years ago by a small group of family investors, the mill has known all the ups and downs of industry, from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of 21st century: the difficulties of manufacturing and obtaining pulp in the early years, the growing ecological awareness and the decontamination of the rivers in the Basque country and the paper industries crisis of the 1990`s.
Papelera de Amaroz is still based in the same paper-making town, Tolosa, in the quarter where was established and from which it takes its name.
With two paper machines and an output of more than 40,000 t per year, the company has an organization structure which is sufficiently flexible to be able to ensure a good level of production. The products of Papelera de Amaroz have a significant share in markets such as envelopes, business forms, publishing, not only in Spain but also in France, Belgium, Portugal and elsewhere.
20.10.2007
Uganda through the lens
 Leaf announces that its technology enabled Klaus Mellenthin to use his creative vision for a series of dramatic photographs, depicting life for AIDS-orphans in Uganda.
Once he became involved in the project, Klaus Mellenthin contacted Sympra, a well-known public relations agency in Germany, and asked for their support. Sympra immediately agreed. In July 2007 Mellenthin traveled to Uganda to capture the unfortunate situation of AIDS-orphans with his camera, a Mamiya 645AFD II using a Leaf Aptus 22 digital camera back.
The Leaf Aptus 22 camera back redefines user friendliness as the world’s first camera back that includes a large built-in (6 x 7 cm) LCD screen and an innovative graphic user interface (GUI). An integrated battery and CompactFlash (CF) storage card ensure easy shooting. Its powerful hardware offers a continuous non-stop burst and a capture rate of an image every 1.2 seconds. With the Leaf digital camera back’s ability to generate large RAW files, Mellenthin can easily show his images in exhibitions. He looks forward to presenting his photography series in large or even in life-size picture formats.
Since Klaus Mellenthin returned from Uganda, the St. Moses Children’s Care Centre and his images have been profiled in a number of major German newspapers.
19.10.2007
Hello invigorates brand
 Hello, the pan-European range of coated papers, is refreshing its brand ahead of its ten-year anniversary in spring 2008. The Hello logo has been modernized and simplified by removing the ‘hand’ device, allowing the logo and tag-line – The Answer – to stand out more clearly. Dave Allen, Managing Director comments: “Looking ahead, we felt that it was time to enhance the brand, ready for the next exciting phase of Hello’s development. The new look and feel retains all the original energy and dynamism of the brand, while giving it even more impact for the customer. We’re confident that this visual evolution will be closely reflected in our customers’ enhanced experience of the Hello brand going forward.” Hello will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in April 2008 and will be running a number of activities in recognition of its achievements and longevity in the market.
19.10.2007
Epson reproduces "the Ultimate Black"
 Epson has developed an organic light-emitting diode ("OLED") display system capable of reproducing "the ultimate black." Having resolved the problem of achieving long life for the device, a longstanding challenge with OLED, Epson has put into operation a manufacturing line for small-scale production of OLED for practical applications. Epson will exhibit this new OLED display system at FPD International 2007, an international exhibition of display technologies to be held at Pacifico Yokohama from October 24. The light emitting capabilities of OLED displays make possible features as high contrast, wide viewing angles, and fast response times. In addition, the display can be made very thin and lightweight, making this new device a candidate for next-generation flat panel displays.
18.10.2007
Presstek’s new workflow and plate loader
 This year at DPW, Presstek will be showing the Presstek 34DI digital offset press and introducing and demonstrating the Presstek Momentum Pro workflow system and the Dimension450 Excel-Autoloader CTP system. Building on its Momentum RIP, the new Presstek Momentum Pro Integrated PDF Workflow system is a RIP and workflow solution designed to automate the production process using certified PDF tools. The workflow can be used as a centralized PDF creation and preflight system, ensuring consistent output to multiple devices for small to mid-size printers. Presstek will also introduce the Dimension450 Excel-Autoloader, which is a new plate-loading automation feature for Presstek's four-page thermal computer-to-plate (CTP) platesetter system. The Dimension450 Excel-Autoloader is an automated plate loader that is fully integrated with the Dimension450 and mounts up to 20 pre-punched plates for continuous operation. The Autoloader enhances imaging productivity, allowing continuous chemistry-free plate making at a throughput speed of 17 plates per hour.
18.10.2007
Leopard is coming
 OS X Leopard will go on sale Friday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m. and Apple’s online store is now accepting pre-orders. Leopard is packed with more than 300 new features and introduces a brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to access files from the Dock; a redesigned Finder that lets users browse and share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to see files without opening an application; Spaces, a new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; and Time Machine, a way to automatically back up everything on a Mac. “Leopard, the sixth major release of Mac OS X, is the best upgrade we’ve ever released,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And everyone gets the ‘Ultimate’ version, packed with all the new innovative features, for just $129.”
17.10.2007
Audi Q7 wins Sappi’s Award
 Sappi has awarded its 2007 Sappi Print Media Efficiency Award to German car manufacturer Audi and advertising agency kempertrautmann for their campaign introducing the new Audi Q7. The campaign integrated print, TV, Internet and CRM activities to support the launch of the premium SUV in the German, Italian and Spanish markets in March 2006. According to Marco Eikelenboom, Sappi's European Director Marketing and Sales: "We created the Sappi Print Media Efficiency Award especially for the Euro Effies to stimulate thinking about the efficiency of integrated marketing communications. As campaigns become more integrated, we are now seeing an increasing percentage of budgets allocated to print media. The Audi Q7 campaign clearly demonstrated its efficiency by generating 15,000 confirmed pre-orders for the SUV prior to its launch. Also it enabled Audi to exceed its first year's sales targets by 10.2%." One of the key reasons that Audi and kempertrautmann chose to devote around 40% of the budget to print was because the target audience of success-oriented leadership figures value and trust print advertising. Pan-European and national daily newspapers, automotive and business magazines were selected as the main print media. Large format, twin-page advertisements used exciting angles to show legendary quattro rallye cars driving on sand, ice and rain-drenched streets. The Audi Q7 was then dynamically depicted driving on the same surfaces, highlighting its sporty nature and high performance quattro technology.
17.10.2007
New laminating systems from GBC
 GBC is broadening its offerings to the Digital Print-On-Demand market with the introduction of the new GBC 620os and GBC 5031 laminating systems. The GBC 620os is a single-sided laminating system that effectively combines technology with ease-of-operation. Featuring a semi-automatic feeding system and integrated separator, GBC’s 620os offers a complete one-sided tabletop finishing solution. The GBC 620os requires only a five-minute warm-up time and is equipped with adjustable core adapters for various film widths. The GBC 620os is designed for the production of book covers, dust jackets, and packaging, as well as sheeted gift cards, postcards, and business cards. With a maximum speed of 15-m/minute and a maximum sheet size of 53cm width x 76cm length, it is an ideal choice for short runs from color printers and offset press. The new GBC 5031 TS laminating system can be easily integrated in a commercial printing or in-house production environment to deliver top quality two-sided lamination. The GBC 5031 TS consists of three individual components: the 5031 TS Laminator, the 5031 Feeder and the 5031 Cutter. The laminator component of the GBC 5031 TS features a dual heating system that incorporates both heat shoes and heated nip rollers, enabling the strongest possible adhesion at the fastest speeds. Edge-slitters are an added technical advantage to reduce post-process finishing.
16.10.2007
BigPicture for InDesign
 Xchange has released the BigPicture plug-in for Adobe InDesign CS3. BigPicture manages graphics and picture links in Adobe InDesign CS3, providing instant access to detailed image information, a search engine, plus tools for updating, revealing, opening, unlinking, renaming, replacing and moving multiple links. For each image in a document, BigPicture reports the name, page, full path, colour model, format, file size, image resolution (original and scaled), creator application, EPS fonts and colours, dimensions, date modified, print status, scaling, angle, colour profile, link status, camera info, and more. Renaming pictures is as easy as clicking on the picture name and typing the new name. BigPicture will rename the picture file in the Finder, update the InDesign link, and change all the document occurrences of the same picture.
16.10.2007
PhotoBox goes for Indigo
 PhotoBox of London, a supplier of photobooks in the UK and part of the France-based Photoways Group, has installed an HP Indigo press 5500 to increase productivity by reducing the turnaround time of short-run applications. The photo-specialty market has grown rapidly and PhotoBox currently has five million registered customers across Europe. It is operating its new press alongside its two existing HP Indigo press 5000s to produce photo-specialty applications.
"The demand for photo products has risen sharply and PhotoBox is expecting to see this trend continue. We are currently experiencing increased interest in our greeting card and calendar service. The versatility and speed of the HP Indigo press 5500 is vital in ensuring that PhotoBox can continue to meet the changing requirements of our customers in a competitive market," said Colin Glass, commercial director, Photobox.
15.10.2007
Record sales for Xeikon
 Xeikon realized breaking sales results during the 4 days of Labelexpo. This includes the sale to customers buying an additional to their existing Xeikon label presses; S. Lerner from Israel, JoDi Etiketter Ab from Sweden and X-label GmbH from Germany to name a few. Xeikon came to the Labelexpo with a unique approach, illustrating the flexibility of Xeikon label solutions through the idea of a virtual soup factory (www.mysoupfactory.com). The concept of real life label creation and production excited visitors and highlighted Xeikon’s solutions driven approach. Visitors could register on the Xeikon booth, have their picture taken and make a selection from different soup labels. The complete workflow and production of the soup factory could be witnessed by the visitors who were invited to pick up their unique printed labels right at the Xeikon booth showing Just-In-Time production and a true example of the quick turnaround that digital printing can offer. Overall, 2007 shows a highly increased sales activity of the Xeikon 330. Siegfried Trinker comments: “Due to our increased focus on the label industry, installations of the Xeikon 330 in 2007 so far already doubled the installations in 2006. The Xeikon 330 is a top product and we are committed to play a leading role in the label industry by continuous innovation and first class customer care.”
15.10.2007
Stora ranks as the best in Climate Leadership
 Stora Enso has been ranked the best paper and forest products company in the Nordic region regarding carbon emission disclosure. Overall, Stora Enso comes in fourth place on the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) among carbon-intensive companies in the Nordic countries. "Developing a good carbon footprint is the first step in defining business case opportunities to reduce emissions and meet our stakeholders' expectations", says Jim Weinbauer, Senior Vice President of Stora Enso Environment. The Nordic report includes 125 of the largest listed companies in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Stora Enso has participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project since 2003.
13.10.2007
Xerox tricks counterfeiters
Xerox introduced a new security technology that prints variable text that can't be read under normal light, but can be read when exposed to infrared light. The technology can be used to authenticate tickets, coupons, certificates, licenses, identification papers and other high-value documents. InfraredMark Specialty Imaging Font does not require special ink, but is printed with ordinary toner, the "dry ink" that forms xerographic images. It can be produced on standard Xerox digital systems using standard papers. In addition, if the document is copied or altered, the infrared text will become substantially distorted under infrared light and therefore illegible.
12.10.2007
Xerox presents new printers
 Xerox has unveiled two new printers that make colour printing “as inexpensive as black and white”, by using the latest generation of its solid ink technology.The Xerox Phaser 8860 colour printer and Xerox Phaser 8860MFP colour multifunction printers feature crayon-like ink sticks, which have been five years in development. The total number of pages the ink sticks can produce has been increased, which helps reduce the price of colour printing.
12.10.2007
EskoArtwork unveils Esko Digital Flexo Suite
EskoArtwork has launched the Esko Digital Flexo Suite. The package comprises a collection of EskoArtwork’s platemaking software and is designed specifically for the requirements of the label and tag industries.
EskoArtwork said the system would boost productivity and enable significant cost savings by eliminating unnecessary plate waste and reducing human error.
EskoArtwork digital flexo product manager Jan Buchweitz said: “Our experience has enabled us to develop very specific solutions for flexo imaging.”
11.10.2007
Segodnya Multimedia orders Comet
 Shortly after IfraExpo opened its doors in Vienna, Ukrainian print provider Segodnya Multimedia Joint-Stock Company in Kiev placed an order with KBA for a single-width Comet newspaper press line. Scheduled for delivery to a new printing plant in Dnipropetrovsk in early 2009, the press will have three four-high towers, two folders and four reelstands, and will mainly be used to print in-house daily and weekly titles along with a raft of contract titles. Strategy and business development director Nina Bagaeva says: “Apart from the cutting-edge technology, what really impressed us was the overall package KBA offered, which included a customized training programme, technical support during project planning and implementation, and full-scale service back-up for the lifetime of the press.”
11.10.2007
Print campaigns that make a difference
 When their daughter died aged 17 from a brain tumour, Neil and Angela Dickson wanted to donate to a charity who specifically researched into cures for brain cancers. 'Sam's Campaign' was created with financial support from Sappi's Ideas That Matter fund and ran in March this year to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the Samantha Dickson Trust. Print media, taxi advertising and the internet were used to make people aware of the symptoms of brain cancer and to raise the charity's profile. The campaign resulted in an GBP 70,000 of donations. A further GBP 33,000 are expected over the next 12 months from the new acquired regular donors. 400% sustained increase in hits to the website have been recorded. The campaign generated £2.1m free coverage on TV, radio, national and regional magazine, newspaper and online articles.
The international Ideas that Matter initiative provides the graphic design community with a global platform to showcase their ideas to help promote the social causes they care about through grant funding to design students, professional designers and design agencies to produce print campaigns for social, environmental and humanitarian causes.
“Print remains one of the most powerful forms of communication,” says André Oberholzer Group Head Corporate Affairs, Sappi. “It provides an immediate experience of the communications message and, as a result, prompts a response at a very personal level. This makes print an exceptionally effective channel for non-profit organisations - for fundraising purposes, education and raising awareness.
10.10.2007
Katun and Dexwet Technology join forces
 Katun and Dexwet Technology GmbH in Austria announce that they have entered into an exclusive arrangement that provides a solution package to minimize printing costs and fine dust emissions from laser printers. This arrangement allows Katun to sell both Dexwet special filters and Katun Print Software Solution (PSS), developed by Docuform GmbH for Katun, to monitor and optimize printing costs throughout an enterprise. Validated by analytical testing from leading aerosol scientists and environmental experts, this innovative solution minimizes exposure to fine dust laser printer emissions while reducing printing costs at the same time. Katun Print Software Solutions provides customers with an in-house control system that allows them to route print jobs to the most cost-effective printers, while effectively monitoring cost savings for every print and copy job. One of the PSS software’s unique benefits is its ability to track and measure print requests in a company’s network. Depending on the parameters of the printing jobs, they will be automatically routed from desktop printers to network printers or efficient multi-functional printing devices with the predefined page quantity. When combined with Katun's PSS software, Dexwet’s fine dust filters offer an ideal complement to efficient enterprise printing. The filters are specially designed to reduce the amount of fine dust particles in the environment, including all kinds of toner dust. Dexwet special filters will soon be available via Katun´s online catalogue at www.katun.com. Clients can also order the filter systems from their Katun account manager.
10.10.2007
Sun Chemical launches SmartColour
 Sun Chemical launches today at the Packaging Development Forum in Amsterdam the SmartColour software system and announce limited sales release of the new solution. SmartColour allows packaging developers to see real colour end results anywhere in their workflow, by displaying real ink colour on the chosen substrate and matching the desired colour with the ink that will deliver the brand colour on retailer shelves. “When packaging developers and printers miss the mark in attempting to match a brand’s spot colour, the error may appear at the proofing stage — leading to multiple proofs and adjustments before the customer approves the job,” said Patrice Aurenty, Business Leader, Colour Management, Sun Chemical Europe. The SmartColour system lets brand owners, designers, prepress companies and converters organize, standardize, digitize and integrate brand colour management into their packaging and production workflow. The system brings together a combination of consulting support, customized brand colour standards, software and database systems, and online collaboration tools to create a user friendly and truly revolutionary approach to managing spot colours. A key component of the system, SmartColour iVue, takes the guesswork out of matching the spot colour with the substrate on the computer monitor to get the exact colour brand owners require in the earliest design phase. Operating as an Adobe Photoshop plug-in, iVue relies upon the massive Sun Chemical colour database of real ink colours, on common packaging substrates printed by relevant printing processes allowing users to consider multiple alternatives to deliver a specified brand colour on one or more packaging materials.
09.10.2007
EFI unveils Jetrion 4000 series
 EFI has launched the Jetrion 4000 Series UV inkjet printer for full-colour label production with flexo-like quality results. The company claims the new narrow web model turns out labels in production volumes – 50,000 and greater - and more economically than rival digital presses. It runs at speeds of between 15m per minute to 30.5m per minute and has already been installed at US printer True Label. The full production model of the Jetrion 4000 features a range of improvements over the version exhibited at LabelExpo in Chicago in 2006. These include options for expanding the colour gamut with orange and green inks, and improvements to colour registration. EFI technologies have also been integrated in the form of better printhead and machine control, as well as job management, label design and layout, variable data layout and control, live diagnostics and Fiery XF RIP software. The Jetrion 4000 includes EFI's OneFlow workflow software and is also compatible with EskoArtwork prepress and preproduction software. The Jetrion 4000 Series UV Inkjet System will be available in the UK from Q4 2007.
09.10.2007
Polar invests in KBA pressroom
 Leicester-based B1 printer Polar Print Group has invested 4 million euros in new KBA pressroom technology, including what it claims is the first carbon-balanced printing press. A Rapida 105 six-colour sheet-fed press will be installed in November, while a KBA Rapida 105 10-colour machine will be delivered in the second half of 2008, to replace existing Heidelberg presses. An independent scientific auditor will calculate the C02 emissions from the manufacture and installation of the new Rapida 105 six-colour machine, and Polar will offset the pollution with carbon credits. The Rapida 105 also allows Polar to move to alcohol-free printing for the first time, strengthening its environmental credentials and adding extra capacity. Polar Print is also in talks with paper, ink and consumables companies to try to improve the environmental credentials of all its suppliers. David Gask, Polar Print Group managing director, said that the KBA press would also improve productivity and quality with the six colours plus the latest coating and hybrid-ink technology, which would help Polar meet its commitment to the ISO12647/2 standard.
08.10.2007
FESPA announces awards for 2008
 FESPA Digital Print Awards 2008, with the support of HP, are coming back to recognise and reward best practice in the digital printing sector.
The FESPA Digital Print Awards programme is being simplified and energised with the launch of a new, interactive web site at www.fespadpa.com. The site will function as the fulcrum of the Awards programme, providing printers with access to essential information and terms and conditions for entry, as well as a simple, online entry mechanism.
For the first time, entry to the Awards will be completely free of charge, making participation feasible for even the smallest digital printing business. Entries received via the web site will be automatically showcased in a stimulating live, online Gallery of entries, and printers everywhere are encouraged to engage with the Awards scheme from start to finish, by taking the opportunity to score their peers’ entries using a secure online rating system.
This year, printers will have the additional option of entering a new Fine Art category, reflecting the growing significance of this exacting and creative application for wide-format digital imaging.
The Awards continues to embrace printers from across Europe, regardless of their choice of printing engine or consumables. The Awards will also be extended to printers from the Middle East and Africa, in recognition of the high standard of digital print being produced in these developing regions. There will be no regional sub-categories this year, giving printers from any country in Europe, the Middle East and Africa the opportunity to be benchmarked against the industry’s best.
08.10.2007
Duplo launches the IDEAL 4005 shredder
 Duplo has introduced the IDEAL 4005, which has a combination of high productivity and safety for the office market.
The IDEAL 4005 incorporates a host of features, including an energy saving mode, automatic oil injection on the cutting shafts for a constantly high shred performance and photocell controlled start/stop. The hardened steel cutting shafts, which have a five-year guarantee, are paper clip proof and capable of shredding CDs.
Safety has been a top priority, which has an electronically controlled transparent safety flap in the feed opening to prevent fingers, ties or other objects entering the cutting shafts. There is an automatic reverse and power cut-off in the case of a paper jam. Coloured indicator lights inform the user if too many sheets are being fed at once and of the on-going capacity of the shred bag.
06.10.2007
IP begins production of high performance linerboard
 International Paper has begun production of high-performance lightweight linerboard at its Pensacola mill, in Florida. Start-up of the project allows the company to economically produce linerboard grades with greater strength characteristics while using less wood fiber. The company expects to ramp up machine production during the fourth quarter and estimates average production of 50 to 60 percent of the machine's capacity for that period.
"Our Pensacola machine is the first of its kind in North America, designed to deliver lighter-weight grades with unmatched performance to provide our customers with the competitive advantage they need to win in today's packaging marketplace," said Glenn Landau, vice president and general manager of International Paper's containerboard business. "Across the globe, our customers demand packaging that meets their changing needs. This machine will provide the high-quality linerboard they have come to expect from IP."
05.10.2007
M-Real unveils 2008 calendar
 There is a new M-real Zanders calendar for 2008. Just like the first calendar from 1961, the 2008 calendar also pays homage to the brand Cromolux. In order to celebrate “50 years of Chromolux” with a calendar, an international design competition was launched. The jury selected the creative design submitted by the design agency, zinnobergruen, from Düsseldorf. Chromolux pure is a three-dimensional calendar which is in harmony with the material used.
As usual, the 2008 M-real ZANDERS calendar divides the year into 53 weeks rather than the usual 12 months. These weeks are accompanied by just as many curved Chromolux paper strips in different colours and lengths. The result is a dynamic combination of shape, colour and glamour. Depending on the angle from which he looks at the calendar, the viewer’s eyes will wander over the paper strips and interact with the image.
The paper strips in the calendar are attached to the calendar at the bottom; at the top, they are inserted but not attached firmly. By pulling out a particular week, the calendar for that week becomes visible on the reverse side. At the end of the week, the paper strip is folded back into its original position and the next week is opened. This turns the calendar into a living, ever-changing object which offers considerable space and freedom for interpretation and inspiration alike. Chromolux pure is available in four different colour combinations, representing the elements fire, earth, water and air.
04.10.2007
Agfa debuts new solutions
 Agfa Graphics will demonstrate more than a dozen of its latest solutions, including the first-ever public demonstrations of the :Arkitex Core 6.0 workflow system and :N92v plates. The demonstrations will take place at IFRA. In addition to software demonstrations, Agfa will be running several imaging units live on the stand. Demos will include the new :N92v and violet chemistry-free plates.
04.10.2007
PuzzleFlow Solutions Parc at IfraExpo 2007
 For the first time ACCHSH will exhibit at its own booth during this year’s IfraExpo newspaper trade fair, held in Vienna from 8 to 11 of October. During this year’s fair ACCHSH will promote three new solutions for newspaper market. Andrzej Czyz says: The first “newcomer” is PuzzleFlow Newspaper Automator, production automating server, covering the whole technology cycle: from PDF files created on the workstations using PuzzleFlow Express, through pre-flight and automatic correction, to trapping and page pairing. This product, which was shown previously at the Nexpo newspaper fair in Florida in April and at GraphExpo in Chicago, is currently used by several American newspaper publishers. In Vienna it will be presented for the first time in Europe. The second new product from ACCHSH is PuzzleFlow Ad Agency Solution, a complete solution for advertising agencies which co-operate with newspaper publishers. It will allow for a complete job control – from creation to sending files for printing including professional soft and contract proofing. PuzzleFlow Ad Agency Solution is the first product from our new information & training center – PuzzleFlow Solutions Europe, headquartered in Amsterdam. The third new product promoted by Germany distributor of ACCHSH – Lewald & Partner company – is the PuzzleFlow L&P Ink saving solution offering various ICC profiles for different level of ink saving (15-25 %), enabling faster press start and reduction of paper waste. The fourth new tool promoted by ACCHSH in Vienna is the Album Creator, a software package enabling the interactive involvement of a customer in the production process of mainly small jobs devoted to digital printing, e.g. photo albums and calendars.
03.10.2007
Price increases up to 12%
 Sun Chemical is increasing prices in Europe by 6 to 12%, depending on the specific products, due to continued and rapid increases in raw material prices as well as shortages of many key ingredients, mainly for pigments’ manufacturing. The increases, effective from November 1, 2007, will cover Sun Chemical’s complete portfolio, in all the markets in which it operates.Felipe Mellado, corporate vice president marketing, Sun Chemical Europe, said: “Given the rapidity and scale of cost increases, despite fluctuations in the oil price, we are forced to implement price increases to cover basic costs that are not expected to drop any time soon”.
David Meldram, senior vice-president, Sun Chemical, added: "In Europe we are operating in a challenging environment and these increases will ensure our customers can count on us to continue to offer the best total value in the industry through innovation, technology, superior service and ease of doing business."
03.10.2007
Adobe spreads “the buzz”
 Adobe has acquired Virtual Ubiquity and its online word processor, Buzzword. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed but Adobe plans to invest in Buzzword, leveraging the Adobe AIR runtime and integrating the application with Adobe's existing online document collaboration services, including: Create Adobe PDF Online to easily create PDF files online or from the desktop; Adobe Document Center to help people retain control of documents and track their usage; and Adobe Acrobat® Connect™ software for affordable web conferencing.
02.10.2007
Epson presents new photo paper
 Epson has developed a new photo paper which offers a “traditional” finish and instant drying. Traditional Photo Paper is designed to work with Epson's Micro Piezo inkjet printers and its UltraChrome K3 Ink with Vivid Magenta.
Epson claim the paper has a smooth and glossy finish, while the inkjet coating technology replicates the emulsion coating processes used in the manufacture of darkroom papers.
In addition to instant drying, the paper is acid and lignin-free and will remain flat before, during and after printing.
It incorporates a microporous layer, combined with a barrier layer that prevents inks penetrating the fibres of the substrate and help to optimise colour saturation and generate the sharpest possible images.
The paper is available in A4, A3+, A2 and 24"x36" sheets and weighs 330gsm.
Epson UK business manager pro-graphics Martin Johns said: “The new addition of Traditional Photo Paper is further evidence of how far digital printing has evolved. It has overtaken traditional processes with its easy to use features and increased flexibility.”
Pricing starts from 34 euros for 25-pack of A4 and will be available from mid-October.
02.10.2007
Quark demonstrates publishing tool at Ifra
 Quark is using IfraExpo as the launchpad for the latest version of its Quark Publishing System (QPS7), which aims to help customers simplify their editorial and creative processes.
The new edition supports QuarkXPress 7 and QuarkCopyDesk and has been re-engineered based on open standard technologies, such as Java and Service Oriented Architecture.
The revamp means the software can be integrated with existing infrastructures and other third-party systems.
Visitors to IfraExpo will be able to see Quark experts present the technical advancements of QPS 7 while providing live demonstrations at the Quark booth.
IfraExpo takes place on 8-11 October in Vienna.
01.10.2007
KBA’s rotogravure now for Cerutti
 KBA andCerutti have signed an agreement transferring to Cerutti, for an undisclosed sum, all KBA’s intellectual property rights (know-how, industrial designs and patents) relating to rotogravure printing presses for magazines, catalogues and decorative paper. KBA will design and manufacture the folders for all new Cerutti publication rotogravure presses. In addition KBA will continue to provide after-sales service for the rotogravure presses it sold up to the date of the transaction.
Giancarlo Cerutti, President and CEO of the Cerutti Group, says: “We have always had great confidence in the role of rotogravure presses in the market, and we have always defended it. Our investment is evidence of this confidence. This agreement will enable our customers to take advantage of the benefits deriving from the synergies between two primary market players.”
Claus Bolza-Schünemann, Deputy President of KBA, says: “In view of current market developments, this agreement is in the interests of both parties and, ultimately, of all gravure printers throughout the world. And with consolidation intensifying among users, it was an inevitable move. We shall support Cerutti with top-quality folders and continue to provide a highly competent after-sales service for existing KBA gravure presses.”
01.10.2007
Concept 305 DW for digital flexo plates
 Few months after the arrival of the revolutionary Concept 505 DW, Degraf SpA presents a new unit, Concept 305 DW, the solution for users who are looking to produce middle-sized (92x120 cm) digital, and analogical, flexographic plates.
Concept 305 DW (Digital Washer) is a processor equipped with a pre-washing section where the carbon layer, which is typical of digital plates, is removed. The solvent used for the removal of this layer is collected in a separated tank from the circuit. This device continuously keeps the washing solvent uncontaminated, which guarantees that the unit always operates with a efficient system.
Like all Degraf washing solutions, also Concept 305DW is equipped with cylindrical brushes that have an oscillating and rotary movement in opposing direction. This system enables to reduce the washing-time and eliminates any shifting of the plate, ensuring a cleaning action over the whole surface.
A solvent density detector, integrated into the hydraulic system, gauges the percentage of dissolved polymer and ensures the replenishment of new solvent when the readings exceed the values established during the machine setup. In this way the unit is always kept in an efficient status and guarantees a better washing.
|
