News

Durst has added a number of printers to its large-format stable including the Rhotex 322 soft signage printer, P10 160 UV flatbed and Rho 512R superwide roll-to-roll printer.

The EDP (European Digital Press association – of which Image Reports is the UK member) has presented its 2013 awards at Fespa. Full details are available on the EDP website and will be in the July issue of Image Reports, but the winners include:

The new print industry alliance GAMA (Graphics and Media Alliance) has already been renamed ahead of its official launch at Fespa 2013 today. The new name is GPMA, which stands for The Graphics, Print and Media Alliance.

POD Ibéria has used Fespa 2013 to introduce the MTEX Turbo Sub direct-to-textile sublimation printer. With a printing width of up to 183cm, speeds up to 110m2/hr and resolution of up to 1200dpi, it has been specifically designed for those with high-demanding print production.

Amid the myriad new printers being official launched by Agfa at Fespa 2013 is the 3.2m wide Ardeco direct-to-textile dye-sub printer with integrated fixation unit. Designed for volume production of soft signage printed onto polyester-based fabrics, the machine uses Du Pont disperse inks and comes in a 12 (Ardeco 2212) or eight (Ardeco 2208) printhead configuration.

Screen has taken the wraps off the Truepress Jet W3200UV that it hinted at last month. The UV flatbed accepts media up to 3.2 x 1.6m and up to 50m thick, printing at up to 84m2/hr. It uses Truepress inks, including white, light cyan and light magenta. Users can specify CMYKLcLm, CMYKLcLmWW, or CMYKWW. Shipments start in October.

Italian-based online company Pixartprinting has ordered three HP Latex 3000 printers. The order follows swiftly on the heals of investment in a Durst Rhotex 322 soft signage printer installed just three weeks ago, ahead of the machine’s official launch at Fespa 2013. Together the machines mark a 1.2m  Euro investment in large-format technology by the company so far this year.

At the launch of the HP Scitex FB10000 Industrial Press at Fespa 2013, HP VP large format sign and display Xavier Garcia, described the printer as “a game changer” in the high volume market where its HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology is expected to help printers shift their retail graphics and corrugated display applications from analogue to digital for increased profitability. The six-colour unit can print at up to 625m2/hr on 160 x 320cm sheets, including a full loading and unloading cycle. It is aimed at those handling 40,000m2+ per month and will cost in the region of 1.5- 2m Euro. Swanline is the first UK company to order the printer which starts shipping in November.

Cross Media 2013 (23 - 24 October 2013, Business Design Centre, Islington) is gathering momentum. The latest exhibitors include Adestra, Circdata, Data IQ, Headley Brothers, Imprint, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Layar, LimeTree, Outbrain, Paperhat Consorcio, Papermule, Pensord, Premier Paper, Semaphore Partnership, Shuttleworth, Sitecore, St Ives Group, Translate Media, Waggener Edstrom, Woodwing, Workflowz and Xeikon.

Further to last year’s contract win with European signage giant Westiform, Headrow-based signage consultant Signlex, has been given the whole contract as part of a multi-million pound roll-out here in the UK.

Mimaki’s stand at Fespa 2013 will feature a special aquarium-themed area dedicated to displaying student-designed images created during the show and produced on Mimaki printers.

Colorific Solutions will officially launch its Lightbar UV print conversion solution at Fespa 2013. It enables printers with wide-format solvent machines that use Epson Piezo DX4 and DX5 printheads to turn them into UV systems.

Eastsign’s new 5m wide seamless PE banner will make its European debut at Fespa 2013. The substrate is Corona treated for UV and latex printing and 100% recyclable.

Axaio software has announced the immediate compatibility of its InDesign plug-in MadeToTag with the new InDesign CC (Creative Cloud).