We give you the heads up on what you can expect in terms of large-format digital developments at Sign and Digital UK at the NEC, 12 – 14 April.
The regular flow of investment and installation stories coming through since the start of 2011 supports what all the market indicators have suggested – that large-format digital inkjet is still growing apace and that the sector will see continued equipment purchasing through the year. The last Image Reports Widthwise Report (summer 2010), which analysed data from over 200 UK and Ireland printers involved in large-format, showed that 72% were planning to buy new equipment specifically to take them into new niches/markets and indications from the current data being polled is that this continues to be the case. So, it’s a safe assumption that many of you will be looking to see what’s new on the market and therefore be a likely visitor to Sign and Digital UK at the NEC this April.
Image Reports is again Media Partner for the show (stand J42) which has developed to be the key UK-based annual event for the wide-format/sign making sector. With the more European crowd-drawing - Fespa Digital show taking place in Hamburg in May, you’ll find that some manufactures are keeping their powder dry until then, but the Birmingham event is worth a visit regardless given its scope and exhibitor line-up, not to mention its seminar, awards and networking programmes. And it’s on your doorstep.
Show Features
Various free seminar programmes will run across the three days. The main ones are:
Adobe Workshops
This is the ninth successive year that Adobe has run what are always well-attended workshops and the focus this time around is the Creative Suite CS5 software.
Sign Makers Workshop
First introduced last year and expanded for 2011. Presenting this feature is expert Paul Hughes of Western Signs and Printing and the popular ‘Price It Guide’. This area will be playing host to a live demo area on the basics of sign making. The Workshop combines a question and answer forum called ‘The sign clinic’ with live/hands on demos.
Who’s showing what?
As usual, at time of going to press, not all exhibitors had said what they would be showing at the event. Given that, and without wishing to provide a catalogue of who and what you will be able to see at Sign and Digital UK, here’s an indication of what might attract your attention as you do your rounds at the show.
3A
Stand E32
3A Composites says it “will be launching an exciting new product at the show,” details of which will be available from its stand. The company’s product range currently comprises well-known brands like Dibond aluminium composite panels, Forex rigid foam plastic sheets, Kapa, Gatorfoam and Foam-X lightweight foamboards which will also be on show.
Agfa Graphics
Stand B20
Agfa Graphics will launch two new printers at Sign and Digital. This will be the first showing of the Anapurna M1600 UV printer and the Jeti 1224 HDC FTR (high definition colour / flat-to-roll) high-productivity UV inkjet printer will make its European debut.
The Anapurna M1600 has a maximum speed of 23m2/hr (on rigid boards and roll-to-roll substrates) and has one of the largest print areas in its class at 1.6 x 3m.
The new Jeti 1224 HDC FTR uses the same platform as the Jeti 1224 HDC but includes an additional industrial roll-to-roll unit for printing flexible substrates. It has a 1.2 x 2.4m print area, speeds of up to 96m2/hr (rigid sheets and roll substrates) and can print four colours and white in a single pass. (see Digest)
Atech
Stand E24
A ‘workflow’ demonstration for digital textiles will be presented on the Atech stand every hour. It will also have a ‘Signmakers Corner’ area where you can buy the latest finishing gadgets for vinyl signs and banners.
AXYZ International
Stand J18
See the AXYZ 4008 router working in conjunction with the Automatic Tool Change (ATC), tangential knife and the recently launched AXYZ Vision System (AVS) machine attachments. With the relatively new AVS facility, owners of AXYZ routers can enhance the speed and accuracy with which a wider range of rigid and semi-rigid materials (like those used in print-and-cut applications) can be processed. The system incorporates a low-cost camera that can be easily mounted on the head of the router, either as an optional new production feature or as an upgrade to existing installations.
Clarity
Stand D30
Clarity Professional is an MIS and CRM software package for sign makers and large-format digital printers and has over 2,500 users. Show visitors can collect a free trial of the latest v4.0 Clarity. The company is also offering training worth £250 to any stand visitor who buys the software, either at the show or before Friday 27 May.
Color Confidence
Stand J60
Color Confidence has just been appointed as master distributor for Italian company Neolt’s UV printers. At the centre of the Neolt offering will be the AsterJet and X-Jet machines, both of which will be demonstrated at Sign and Digital UK. (see Digest)
CWE
Stand C46
Among the wide range of large-format kit on show by reseller CWE will be a new six-colour printer from Seiko. This will be the first showing of the Seiko Colourpainter W64S, which can be seen alongside the HP Designjet Z6200, HP Latex LX25500 and the latest Epson Stylus Pro GS6000. Onyx Rips will power all the printers and a Kala Mistral 1650 laminator will demonstrate finishing capabilities.
CWE Solutions is HP’s leading Premier Gold UK partner for wide-format print solutions and will also have a presence on the HP stand, providing demonstrations and advice on products such as the Scitex FB500 flatbed printer and LX800 Latex machine.
Dorotape
Stand A2
Doro Tape will showcase products designed to catch the imagination of the visitors and encourage them to widen their business base. For example, its Aslan digital films are designed to adhere to surfaces that standard vinyl will not touch. It means that any exterior surface whether brick wall, concrete steps or tarmac car parks are potential advertising space.
Drytac
Stand B30
A number of new or improved products will be demonstrated by Drytac, including the AFC1600/2200. This has six major feature improvements that comprise an end of roll warning/shut-off feature, variable fan speed heater, quick release Mayer bar, auto run out feature and directional cooling on the backside of SAV materials.
New to Drytac’s liquid coating range are the EnduraCoat Transit Gloss and Transit Matte coatings with UV inhibitors (that come with a five year warranty). These liquid coatings are compatible with UV, solvent, eco solvent and latex inks and ideal for a wide range of applications including SAV, truck curtain sides and vehicle wrapping coatings.
Drytac also now offers a UV curable white flood coating which can give the appearance of white inks reducing costs when printing onto rigid, non-porous substrates and now flexible clear polyesters for window graphics.
A range of magnetic products from Visual Magnetics will also be on show as will products for floor graphics: Floor Print and Asphalt Art. The latter is made of polyurethane and aluminium with a textured resilient surface, coated reverse side with a special permanent adhesive and a removable liner. The material is UV printable and doesn’t need to be laminated. Once printed it can be applied to an exterior surface like tarmac, brick, concrete, paving slabs, cobble stone, etc.
Fastsigns
Stand K16
The Fastsigns franchise chain has put together an incentive package for Sign and Digital UK to get more independent sign businesses to join up. This includes a 30% reduction in the franchise fee - down from £17,500 to £12,500 - plus preferential royalty fees for the first year, and financial support for furniture, fixtures, fittings and equipment as part of the re-branding process. (see Digest)
Fujifilm
Stand H10
Fujifilm is presenting 'euromedia in action' at this year’s show. A 'euromedia retail outlet' will be used to showcase media applications. Fujifilm will also be showcasing the latest Acuity Advance flatbed printer. (see Digest)
GPT
Stand C20
This is GPT’s first show as an Amari group company and its stand will be 50% bigger than last year with representatives from suppliers on hand to answer questions about the wide range of kit on show. The stand will feature a ZapKut ZM panel saw (new to GPT), an Agfa Anapurna Mw UV printer, Zund G3 flatbed cutter, 64in Epson GS6000 eco solvent type printer and 64in Epson 11880 roll fed aqueous printer, 60in Canon iPF9000s and 44in iPF8300, a 65in GBC1064WFt heat assist laminator plus the Shiraz software Rips for Mac and PC.
Its Mimaki product offering will include a 63in wide UJV160, A3 UJF3042 and 63in CG160FX II contour cutter, JV33 solvent printer, CJV30 solvent printer/cutter, JV5 160 solvent printer and two litre bulk ink system
Granthams
Stand A10
Granthams supplies various large-format systems from HP, Canon and Mimaki. New to its stable for Sign and Digital UK will be the Elements eco-friendly alternative to solvent printers.
HP
Stand H22
HP is not making any big announcements at Sign and Digital but given the size and scope of its offering it always has something of interest. At this event HP will showcase its latex technologies in the shape of the HP Designjet L25500 and HP Scitex LX800 printers. They will sit amid a printer line-up that includes the HP Scitex FB500 and the HP Designjet Z6200.
HP will also be running an on-stand seminar programme during the show that will include a Vespa-wrapping workshop from vinyl-wrapping expert, James Deacon, demonstrating the high-impact and creative results achievable from this low-cost-per-impression marketing tool.
Hybrid
Stand C10
As Mimaki’s exclusive distributor expect to see a huge range of its kit, including the Mimaki JFX-1615plus which gets its first UK outing at the show. It shares the same LED UV curable ink technology as its big brother, the JFX-1631plus, but with a bed size of 1.6m x 1.5m.
The new JFXplus series features a post-curing unit as standard that enables printing of up to 23.6m2/h. Additionally, a roll unit has been developed and printing capacity is maximised through the UV LED system requiring
no warm up time.
Also on show will be the CJV30 printer/cutters, a substantial range of flatbed and roll-to-roll UV products and a selection of textile and soft signage printers.
Inktec
Stand J10
The Jetrix UV-curable flatbed printers will be officially launched in the UK at Sign and Digital 2011 on the Inktec stand. (see Digest)
i-Sub
Stand J12
The show will see the official launch of i-Sub Digital Solutions, a third arm of the i-Sub group and formed to deliver software solutions to the digital wide-format and display sectors. (see Digest)
Josero
Stand D2
Josero/Triangle inks will be taking one of the most prominent stands at the show this year and will feature a Mimaki JV33, a Roland SP540V and an HP8000 showing Triangle inks running in both cartridge and bulk feed systems.
KPMF
Stand G62
Following the recent introduction of three new distributors within the UK KPMF (Kay Premium Marking Films) has made the decision to exhibit as a manufacturer at Sign and Digital UK 2011. As well as drawing attention to their current product range (which includes calendered and cast vinyls, aliphatic polyurethanes, functional and digital films) KPMF will be presenting a selection of new cast products, including overlaminates and two new collections vehicle wrapping materials.
Leopold
Stand H48
Leopold will be launching two products - the Fotoba XLD 170 and the VacuVers Print and Glass. The XLD 170 is designed to work with rolls and sheet materials and, at 1.7m wide, is a flexible cutter. The XLD 170 cutters can handle most flexible media up to a maximum thickness of 0.8mm including polycarbonate, Duratrans, TDF, canvas, laminated or encapsulated prints. (see Digest)
Neschen
Stand J14
Neschen will be showcasing recent textile additions Dyetex flag 110 B1, Dyetex display 220 B1 and VarItex decoframe 250 B1 CA on its stand, where will have a range of print media and laminates together with display systems from Swedish partner Expolinc. Neschen also includes a 'green' solution in its range of print media and protective films, based on polypropylene (PP) in place of more traditional PVC.
Oce (UK)
Stand D10
The Océ Arizona 550XT and Océ 350 GT UV flatbed printers will star on Océ’s stand, which will also be home to and Océ ColorWave 600 poster printer, which incorporates Océ CrystalPoint technology that uses toner pearls. In partnership with Zund it will also demonstrate the Zünd G3 L2500 digital cutting system.
Optimus
Stand F28
This is the first time Optimus has exhibited at Sign and Digital UK where it will show Optimus dash, its new MIS designed specifically for digital print sectors.
Roland DG
Stand D20
To celebrate its 30th anniversary Roland will be running a competition for a chance to win various prizes. A grand prize of a new Roland machine is also up for grabs for the overall worldwide winner, chosen from all regional victors worldwide. Details will be available on the stand as will information on its Creative Awards.
From a machine perspective you can expect to see the entire family of VersaCamm VS print-and-cut solutions, demonstrating metallic and white inks, plus its dual CMYK option.
This year the company is also hosting the CorelDraw theatre on its stand, with special daily seminars concentrating on showing visitors how easy it is to incorporate metallic ink into their output. In addition, there will be a showcase of samples on display so that users can be inspired by using metallic in their work.
Russell and Chapple
Stand C32
Going live at the show is www.tradestretcherbars.co.uk, a new trade website from Russell and Chapple and aimed exclusively at printers. The company will be promoting the new site with introductory offers and giving canvas stretching demonstrations on its stand.
Shuttleworth
Stand G33
See the new ‘Supply Chain Management’ MIS software from Shuttleworth. This is a Web-based tool has been designed to enable manufacturers to quickly get prices from their suppliers so they can respond immediately to their customer needs. Hosted by Shuttleworth it requires no infrastructure investment to take advantage of the functionality.
Solent
Stand H20
Solent Sewing and Welding will be launching two finishing devices for sign and banner producers at Sign and Digital this year: the Miller Weldmaster 112 Extreme and Impulse Extreme with automatic folding device. The company is also offering showgoers a free on-site consultancy service: How to maximise speed, profit and quality in finishing in the sign and banner market.
Spandex
Stand D40
Show visitors are being encouraged to pre-register to visit the Spandex stand via www.spandex.co.uk in order to receive a free Vehicle Outline DVD worth £100 and a chance to win a Mutoh Valuejet printer worth £11,000.
Taking centre stage on Spandex’s stand will be three distinctive zones, each designed to help you learn more about new application possibilities: the Material Suppliers Zone; Textile and Soft Signage Application Zone; and Low Investment – High Profit Application Zone.
On display in the textile zone will be will be Epson's new 64in GS6000 with an eight-colour solvent ink set, printing on ImagePerfect 2314 textile material. Spandex will show different ways of mounting prints with a variety of sign and display systems. For example, textile prints will be displayed with user-friendly mounting frame systems from Kunstdünger and Labate.
The Low Investment – High Profit Application Zone is designed to equip print companies with tools to help identify new business applications. The Gerber Edge Fx thermal printer area will be demonstrating applications that can’t be easily reproduced with an inkjet printer. Applications will include printing silver and white on coloured material, barcodes, and printing onto photo-luminescent material.