News

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).

GiraffePress held a ribbon cutting ceremony officiated by Lambeth mayor Mark Bennett on Friday to celebrate the installation of its Roland VersaUV LEC-540 printer/cutter.

J-Teck3 will use Fespa 2013 to introduce launch the J-Cube RF40/KF40 series of digital inks for sublimation and direct-to-fabric printing on polyester.

GMG’s ProductionSuite 2.0 for wide-format printing will get a first outing at Fespa 2013. The JDF-compliant production solution for banners, POS, displays and vehicle wraps is a single system designed to handle the entire production workflow across multiple devices from file preflighting, PDF editing and job preparation through to printer-specific colour management and into finishing.

Screen Europe has moved its UK facility from Milton Keynes to Luton as part of a wider programme to strengthen its sales and service support across the EMEA region. As part of that process Screen has invested in a pan-European centre near Amsterdam, which includes a Solutions Centre and European spares centre.