Olivia Cahoon

A Digital Edge

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By Cassandra Balentine

Packaging includes a variety of segments, including flexible, corrugated, tag/label, and folding carton. Digital print is making its way into each of these markets, with higher penetration in some areas and industries.

While the growth of digital technology in packaging is rapid, the overall numbers are still small. “There is a gap between the digital ideal and reality, as disrupting an established industry is never easy or fast. Overall digital printing is implemented in a smaller part of the market than anticipated at drupa 2016, but almost all companies in the packaging sector are evaluating some sort of digital solution as part of their long-term strategy,” says Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, VP of marketing, Highcon. “This is true across the world, and not limited to specific geographies.”

Roy Oomen, HP Indigo, labels and packaging category manager, North America, shares that market reports estimate digital packaging penetration between .5 and one percent of total print volume, which has migrated to digital printing after being on the market only a few years. “Across folding cartons, flexible packaging, and corrugated use, many billions of dollars in print spend is projected to migrate to full digital production, with an especially steep growth between 2016 and 2020, so that means that the coming three years will provide new opportunities,” he says.

Oomen adds that although these numbers are starting out small, growth rates in each of these markets are well over 100 percent for digital technology use and adoption, totaling in a significant growth opportunity for companies who embark on their journey in digital packaging production.

Driving Digital
Fast lead times, “right-sizing” trends, SKU counts, interactive packaging, changing expectations, and increased environmental awareness all drive interest in digital package creation.

“The uptick in digital packaging adoption is the result of three major trends, proliferation, desire for value add, and efficiency,” comments Michael Riebesehl, iGen business manager, Xerox Corporation. “We see a lot of demand from brand owners looking to digital as a way to help ensure that the content on their packaging is as timely and relevant as possible.”

Riebesehl sees growing interest for intelligent solutions that help brand owners build stronger connections with end customers. “Integrated software solutions help customers leverage some of the unique capabilities of digital and incorporate powerful versioned or personalized content on packaging linked to broader cross-media campaigns,” he offers.

“Packaging is moving from a purely protective function to a marketing one,” says Ben-Shitrit. “Consumers are demanding more customized products, resulting in shorter runs. They also want everything immediately. The rise of online purchasing has further pushed the expectation of rapid turnaround, measured in hours rather than weeks. For brands, innovation is key to keeping customers’ attention and design creativity is the answer to that. For packaging converters, these demands have to be achieved efficiently, profitably, and digital technology is making inroads for that very reason.”

Ryan Manieri, marketing manager, MBO Binder & Co. of America, sees a few trends driving the adoption of digital packaging, including shorter job runs with custom or variable content and shorter makeready times; increased market specialization based on design parameters, foreign language, or regulatory requirements, localization, and market demographics—all leading to shorter production runs; lower inventory costs based on localized/flexible print on demand model; and increased time, labor, and cost competition due to frequent job changes, making shorter makeready times a must.

Mike Barry, product marketing manager, digital solutions, Fujifilm North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division, says the recent advent of hybrid presses help drive more applications, especially in the label segment, to digital. “Hybrid presses allow all the necessary embellishments, coatings, laminates, foils, and die cutting that is required,” he says.

Environmental concerns in regards to media—recyclable and compostable—are also of interest from a generation of educated consumers. “GenX and Boomers will continue and have already adjusted their expectation so this is not just about younger consumers. Expectations across all consumer groups are changing,” shares Oomen.

Early Adopters
The propensity to invest in digital is often dependent on a print environment’s current needs and future goals. It is imperative to reevaluate current processes with a thorough understanding of customer needs to determine where demand is coming from.

Oomen believes the best candidates for digital success are those that face timeline challenges and that operate further upstream in ideation and concept development for packaging production. Additionally, he says any organization with appropriate analytical capabilities and understanding of a particular sector of the packaging market is usually a step ahead. “Completing a digital technology validation becomes easier if one understands the processes and end user requirements quite well, coming from conventional packaging production and experience,” says Oomen. He adds that on the other hand, green field operations sometimes bring an open mindset and operate faster and creatively and with higher urgency to make a new investment in digital production succeed quickly. “So at times newcomers can participate in the market quite quickly and with vigor.”

The adoption of digital packaging opens up many opportunities for businesses, however the first steps are often the most difficult. “Those that see the overwhelming potential don’t hesitate,” comments Riebesehl.

Riebesehl says it is important to understand where the demand for adoption is coming from, whether it be from those who converted recognizing they can take on new work, small brands realizing digital can help them compete with big brands, or big brands understanding digital can help win decision share at point of purchase while also improving customer connections.

Ben-Shitrit sees converters, trade finishers, and commercial printers with a strong marketing emphasis and an understanding of the ability to compete on value rather than price as early adopters of digital packaging technology. “These tend to be small to medium size companies who have a stronger need and aptitude to rapid changes finding a competitive edge that doesn’t come from purely being more productive. These early adopters are looking at profitable niches that can be created—in some cases finding one strong project or product can by itself justify investment in new equipment,” he says.

“In the end, two success factors matter—people and vision for a strategy,” stresses Oomen.

Adoption Challenges
Traditional printing technologies like flexography, gravure, and lithography remain steady in packaging. The move to digital is appealing to the right package providers, but still has a long way to go. In addition to continued demand for longer run lengths and low unit cost, package printers need to print on heavy weight stocks.

Riebesehl points to a few interesting challenges for digital penetration. “One key challenge we’ve heard from our customers is simply that digital printing solutions have not necessarily been available to serve the unique needs across the many packaging segments, especially outside of the label market.” He says this is one of the reasons Xerox is focused on folding cartons and introducing new solutions like its direct-to-object printer.

Additionally, Riebesehl shares that a standalone printing engine may not bring much value if it doesn’t support the typical work processes used in that packaging segment or the individual needs of any particular customer. “For this reason we’re focusing on enabling interoperability of our solutions with a wide array of flexible post-print finishing and converting capabilities.”

Oomen suggests digital packaging is still developing its fuller ecosystem and infrastructure.

“Whether on the level of die cutting, laminating, or end-to-end workflow solutions, partner solutions are still evolving and adjusting rapidly to the new opportunities in digital packaging.”

In addition, regulatory assessment and ideation are still in the exploratory phase for how to utilize the options digital packaging production offers, says Oomen. “Working knowledge is the stage of becoming aware.”

According to Ben-Shitrit, the packaging industry has a long history of progress from a purely protective function to the modern day where it has become a major marketing channel of brands. “Shelf appeal is still paramount, but the requirement for versioning, customization, and personalization, leading to shorter and shorter runs has previously been restricted by the built-in limitations of conventional print and traditional die cut finishing,” he shares.

From a post-press perspective, digital finishing packaging environments run into many issues regarding process limitations, suggests Manieri. These are imposed by great variations in formats and substrates, difficulties with substrates/sheet handling due to static electricity when using plastics or coated papers, difficulty producing consistent coloration when using inkjet technology or when changing substrates for variable applications, and use of labor-intensive offline processes, especially makeready-intensive flatbed die cutting with nicks.

Future of Digital Packaging
Digital penetration into various segments of packaging continues. Brand owners and marketers utilize digital for creative and supply chain advantages.

“Brands are under constant pressure to create innovative, rewarding experiences for consumers—and the smart ones are turning to product packaging,” says Riebesehl. He says the packaging opportunities they’re taking advantage of with the help of digital printing include interactive opportunities that encourage customer engagement on folding cartons, direct-to-object printing, smart packaging with printed electronics, and the ability of brand owners to leverage digital content to build stronger and tighter links with customers.

Recently, Pack Ready solutions have expanded capabilities for sterilized, retort, and hot fill packaging, says Oomen. “Previously challenging applications are now possible with clearly documented processes. Width and speed have gone to a new level for corrugated production as well. In addition, new digital capabilities for digital embellishment present a fascinating opportunity to speed up production processes end to end,” he offers.

“In general, we believe that single platform digital printing and finishing will increasingly be supported by integrated workflows that can meet customer demands one on one, instead of offering cookie-cutter solutions constrained by process limitations,” says Manieri.

Digital technology enables an unlimited range of packaging and commercial applications that demonstrate creativity previously impossible to produce, with no minimum order quantity. “This allows for personalized packaging, customized, seasonal versions, all with dramatically reduced turnaround times—and the ability to produce them profitably for the printer or converter. Even longer runs can benefit from intricate cutouts, etching, and variable data. Segments like cosmetics, confectionary, and other consumer goods are seeing packaging as the strongest tool to attract and engage customers. Everyone is trying to stay away from more of the same and try to reinvent the box. Every level of complexity in appearance or functionality of the package, which doesn’t require complexity in production, will be adopted by brands easily,” says Ben-Shitrit.

Equipment Line Up
Several printing and finishing vendors offer solutions that support digital packaging environments. Here we spotlight a few.

Fujifilm offers the Graphium UV digital hybrid inkjet press, which is specifically designed for the narrow web market. Graphium is a modular hybrid UV inkjet press that provides the flexibility and productivity to print any number of complex projects requiring a wide gamut of colors on virtually any substrate.

The modular system combines a range of leading technologies including an innovative workflow, prepress and color management software, as well as inkjet printhead calibration technology to ensure quality and repeatable production.
The Highcon Euclid III digital cutting and creasing machines are designed to replace complex, expensive, and slow die making and setup processes. The device handles up to B1/42-inch sheets at a speed of up to 1,500 sheets per hour (sph). The company also offers the Highcon Euclid IIIS, which handles up to B2/30-inch sheets at a speed of up to 2,000 sph.

The Highcon Beam is a digital cutting and creasing machine, which extends the digital finishing revolution to mainstream production. Featuring speeds of up to 5,000 sph, it is designed to address challenges that folding carton converters and print providers face.

HP Inc. offers display, point of purchase, packaging—including corrugated, flexibles, and folding carton solutions across several technology platforms and product lines. With a variety of technology it is able to match the print process, ink set, and applications easily.

“Packaging is a large and key strategic focus for HP with high investment across the board for all segments, as well as a focus on developing the wider end-to-end ecosystem. In the end, the solutions need to operate with packaging performance for a final end product,” says Oomen.

MBO offers its Stamina Folding Carton solution, which can produce blanks or complete cartons inline with a digital press or as a near line solution. The system commonly features two models, the 12,000 sph BSR 550 Servo Rotary Die Cutter and the customizable 091.1 Transport System.

Manieri notes that the Stamina Folding Carton Solution is unique because it integrates tipping with the folding carton production, giving printers the ability to insert PIs, gift cards, and various other items.

Xerox offers digital solutions in various segments of the packaging industry. For folding cartons, its iGen portfolio targets shorter runs, versioning, and customization that makes every carton unique. For direct-to-object printing, the Xerox Direct to Object Inkjet Printer enables inline direct package coding and marketing solutions. Smart packaging and printed memory packaging solutions, including Xerox Printed Memory solution, provides ways to protect against counterfeiting. Finally, for flexible packaging, Xerox Production Press for Plastic Films and Substrates allows for printing directly onto plastics, eliminating the time and costs associated with labels.

Digital Packaging Trends
The adoption of digital printing and finishing technologies is a reality across nearly every segment of packaging. While the penetration of digital within the overall industry is low, certain segments—including labels and folding cartons—show great potential in the shorter term. Digital vendors showcase their commitment to packaging with product advancements and announcements.

September2017, DPS Magazine

Holding its Own

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By Melissa Donovan

While inkjet holds a significant presence in the market, electrophotographic (EP) presses—both dry and liquid (LEP) formulations—remain prevalent. The devices’ capabilities are part of the attraction. Media compatibility, advanced inks and toners, finishing techniques, and fifth imaging stations present a broad range of application options. While direct mail, posters, photo books, and invitations—to note a few—are common applications, these presses are making their way into one of the segments rapidly affected by digital print—packaging.

A recent study, Digital Printing for Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2017 –2027 by Future Market Insights (FMI) segments the packaging market by technology—liquid toner EP, nano-graphic printing, inkjet technology, and other. According to the firm’s findings, liquid toner EP is the largest segment, accounting for over half of the revenue share by technology type. In terms of revenues, this segment was valued at just over $6B U.S. in 2016. FMI projects it to grow at a 16.6 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and surpass $32B U.S. in revenues by 2027.

In the report, FMI refers to packaging as including the following product types—labels, films and wraps, bags and sacks, boxes, folding cartons, bottles, cans, pouches, and sachets. Of these, labels is the largest segment, accounting for over $7B U.S. in revenues in 2016. FMI estimates demand for labels to increase at a 16.7 percent CAGR to reach $38.44B U.S. in revenues.

These statistics illustrate the wealth of opportunity available to those running EP and LEP presses. In addition to traditional commercial applications, these capabilities are poised to take advantage of some of the hottest trends on the market while simultaneously stand at the forefront of a new service offering.

Critical and Unaffected
EP and LEP presses continue to evolve despite the competition from inkjet. Critical feature sets found on these devices include media compatibility, finishing techniques, and special colors. They remain unaffected by inkjet.

Compared to inkjet, EP is compatible with a larger variety of substrates. “While paper mills have made great progress on producing papers more suitable for inkjet printing—as have ink, printhead, and press manufacturers—there is still a need in many cases to use treated or special substrates, which are more expensive than standard offset papers. With EP, substrates are not an issue,” explains Danny Mertens, corporate communications manager digital print solutions, Xeikon, a division of Flint Group.

In particular, Mertens points to Xeikon’s EP presses and the toner’s low-fusing temperatures, which allow for printing onto a variety of substrates that normally would have difficulty running on high-fusing temperature toners. “There is no need for special substrates or coatings. Presses can use substrates ranging from very low 40 to 350 gsm,” he continues.
For example, the Xeikon 9600 prints to coated and uncoated paper, paperboard, synthetic substrates, and label stock. Designed to complement the Xeikon 9000 series, it is a new generation entry-level press that prints 5/5 one-pass duplex at up to 21.5 meters per minute or 70 feet per minute at a high resolution of 1,200 dpi.

While aqueous and UV inkjet particularly still have issues with food safety and eco-friendly status, toners are already qualified for use by many manufacturers. Xeikon toners are food safe and can be used on labels and packaging for direct and indirect contact with food and other sensitive materials.

Inline finishing is a key differentiator, according to Bill Bay, manager, Xerox Developed Products Business Team, Xerox Corporation. “Many providers of short-run digital print prefer to have their jobs finished inline, rather than having to move to an offline bindery.” Every Xerox EP press offers a range of flexible, efficient inline finishing options to produce everything from stapled sets to lay flat books and full-bleed saddle-stitched booklets.

Xerox recently launched a new family of EP presses, the Xerox Versant 180 and Versant 3100 Press, which include integrated finishing solutions.

While production inkjet is constrained to CMYK in many presses, most EP devices offer a fifth channel or station that can run specialty colors like white, orange, green, clear, metallic, or fluorescent. In many cases these can be used to enhance the color gamut or as a spot color, adding pop to a printed piece.

“Control of color saturation at production speeds is also a key advantage, as is the ability to include the fifth station ink capabilities in a design,” explains Leonard Christopher, product manager for NexPress, Kodak. Dimensional Clear and Light Black ink are options for all of Kodak’s presses.

Another illustration of this is the Xerox iGen 5 Press, which a features fifth station to enable orange, green, blue, or Clear Dry ink. “The gamut extending colors enable a more precise match to a wider set of Pantone colors than CMYK, while the Clear Dry ink enables a range of innovative artistic effects,” according to Bay.

Primary Applications
The number of applications possible with EP and LEP printers is unlimited. Substrate compatibility is vast, which helps the cause, as does the multiple ink options for the fifth stations found on the presses.

“EP supports a range of substrate weights, sizes, colors, and materials. It is generally best suited to high coverage, higher quality jobs with pictorial or photographic content,” shares Bay. Xerox customers run everything from business identification cards, billing and statements, direct mail, postcards, posters, and greeting cards to invitations and stationary, photo books, and magnets.

Mertens says that Xeikon EP devices “create a variety of high-end printed communications, crossing the spectrum of commercial print, including direct marketing and transactional print.” Specific products include point of sales and point of purchase (POP) materials and banners, coffee table books, label printing, and folding cartons.

“Common applications include marketing collateral and retail pieces that require both high quality and typical ink coverage 30 percent or more,” agrees Christopher. He also cites direct mail as a significant volume, where larger sheet sizes allow more cards to be imposed.

On the LEP end of the spectrum, HP Indigo’s proprietary LEP technology has customers producing a range of high-value applications for commercial print, direct mail, photo specialty, labels, flexible packaging, and folding cartons, according to Avi Basu, head of Americas marketing, Graphics Solutions Business, HP, Inc.

At drupa 2016, HP provided attendees with its vision for the future of LEP with the HP Indigo Digital Combination Press. The system incorporates HP Indigo print and digital embellishments in a single-pass solution. Part of the dedicated line is the HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press, which is a narrow web printing solution utilizing HP Indigo ElectroInks. In partnership with JetFX, the HP Indigo Combination Press enables the production of digital spot and tactile varnishes, digital foils, and embellishments.

Future Applications
With its staying power, we can expect the EP and LEP segment to expand into new applications over the next few years. Vendors recognize the importance of keeping pace with popular trends and develop presses that reflect this.

New features on presses will push EP into segments like packaging and POP. Kodak introduced the ability to print on heavier weight substrates like 24 pt. paperboard and synthetics with its NexPress ZX series, which debuted at drupa 2016. It features the optional ability to print on sheets up to 48 inches in length and offers Opaque White ink in the fifth channel.

“We are already seeing an uptake in a number of specialty areas. These include wallcoverings and security printing. We expect to see these applications grow. Plus, our customers are very creative and are always pushing the envelope in terms of the applications they produce,” adds Mertens.

Basu agrees. HP expects LEP usage to grow based on broader market needs, especially because of higher value print enhancements found on the devices like specialty ink, media compatibility, and creative finishing.

Bay predicts advancement in a range of hybrid applications that leverage EP and inkjet’s individual strengths. An example would be a catalog, with the cover printed using EP—benefitting from the options of a metallic gold dry ink, and the body of the catalog printed with inkjet.

“The result is a piece with improved visual appeal, printed in a larger format size, at a lower cost—resulting in improved readership and response rate. These hybrid jobs are likely to increase as print providers take advantage of the attributes of each technology,” says Bay.

Metallic Shines
Orchard Print Services Limited, based in Daventry, UK, provides print, design, marketing services, and promotional items. Founded in 1992 by Janet Head, the company employs ten in the heart of the town, near industrial parks and villages. 75 percent of the business is split between graphic design and print for small, medium, and large businesses. The other 25 percent is from retail sales for stationary, t-shirts, and supplies.

At the end of 2016 it acquired a Xerox Color 800i Press, which complements the other Xerox presses in the shop including a Xerox Color 550 Printer and a monochrome Xerox D110 Copier/Printer.

Prior to the purchase of the Xerox Color 800i Press, the lease on a Xerox Color 1000 Press ended. Instead of renewing, Orchard Print decided to look for a printer that could better match its volume requirements. It found that and more with the Xerox Color 800i Press. The device’s capability for gold and silver metallic print in a fifth channel was an attractive feature that differentiated the company from the competition.

“The new machine allows us to be more creative and grow by offering something you can’t buy anywhere else in the area,” explains Janet Head, managing director, Orchard Print.

The new Xerox Color 800i Press was implemented in October 2016. Right away, Orchard Print set out to leverage the technology. Using the silver metallic option, it rebranded and created a new silver logo. The act refreshed the company’s image while advertising its newest capabilities.

The creative team at Orchard Print soon expanded the offering palette beyond gold and silver by mixing metallic with various colors to create shades of silver and gold, even creating a shade of bronze. It was then decided that the feature was ideal for designing wedding stationary.

Prior to the Xerox Color 800i Press, Orchard Print sourced its wedding stationary from an outside provider. However, it launched its own designs in early 2017, most featuring the metallic inks. Since the introduction, the company’s personalized wedding announcement business increased fourfold.

Besides opening up new revenue streams and rebranding its logo, Orchard Print converted a customer from analog to digital. A logistics company required personalized gold, silver, and bronze certificates for staff. Previously these were printed on lithographic presses using metallic ink and then overprinted to personalize them. With the Xerox Color 800i Press, Orchard Print produces the certificates in a single pass.

“You build a business to survive and thrive. I see the metallic inks and our business in general growing extensively in the next few years,” shares Head.

Maintaining a Presence
EP- and LEP-based presses maintain a presence despite competition from inkjet. Suited for high-quality applications with high coverage needs, the features found on both dry toner and liquid EP presses are ideal for a number of print providers. A range of applications rely on EP for its media compatibility, finishing capabilities, and fifth imaging stations. Combined, these characteristics make for a worthwhile investment, especially as new segments like packaging take advantage of the technology.

September2017, DPS Magazine

Perfect Binding for Digital Print Environments

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By Liz Quirk

Binding is an essential component of many print environments. Among the options, two popular methods include perfect binding and saddlestitching. Perfect binding offers a high-quality appearance, but comes at a cost. Here we focus on perfect binding, including a comparison to saddlestitching, common characteristics and applications, and challenges.

Perfect Binding Vs. Saddlestitched
Several factors determine whether a print provider should rely on saddlestitching or perfect binding for a booklet, especially if it nears the ideal page count maximum for saddlestitched books.

These considerations include the intended use of the publication, lifecycle, run length, appearance, cost, and equipment on hand, suggests Will Frank, marketing specialist, Standard Finishing Systems. He explains that page count is often a determining factor, since most saddlestitched publications are 120 pages or less, due to reduced quality at higher page counts, rounding of the spine, tearing at the corners with head and foot trim, and print gutter alignment.

Anthony Gandara, product manager, Duplo USA Corporation, agrees, but notes that new technologies can saddlestitch up to 220 page bookelets and apply a square spine finish to give it a perfect bound appearance. “For some, saddlestitching with a square spine is acceptable, but there are still those who prefer the appearance of a perfect bound booklet.”

There are advantages to both methods. Frank notes that perfect binding presents a higher quality appearance, particularly for higher page counts. Perfect bound books are generally more durable and will maintain appearance for a longer period of time and in higher use applications. “Additionally, the ability to print on the spine of a perfect bound book makes it more easily referenced or identifiable when stacked on a table or filed on a shelf.”

Although the process of perfect binding is fairly simple, many factors need to be taken into account, including paper type—coated or uncoated, paper weight, thickness, and size of the booklet, printer used, type of glue, and spine preparation. “With saddlestitching, many of these are not so critical,” offers Gandara.

Today, perfect binding offers largely the same capabilities as saddlestitching, that is, being able to merge digitally and conventionally produced content. Kaeli agrees with Dalzell here when he says, “the big advantage is the ability to bind thicker products.”

Common Characteristics
Perfect binders are available in many configurations depending upon volume requirements, glue type, and budget.

While ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)-based glues can work for non-coated offset printed book stock, polyurethane reactive (PUR) binding ensures a stronger, more flexible spine with coated and digitally printed pages. These are popular gluing systems for perfect binders and can be applied either with a roller pot or nozzle.

Most perfect binders also apply side glue, which allows the book to open and close correctly and without any damage.
Both types of glue have their own advantages. According to Jim Kaeli, manager, Muller Martini Solutions, Book Technology and Hardcover, EVA is less expensive and can be reheated at any time, whereas PUR is more expensive but is the best choice for digitally produced toner output.

The key is selecting the most efficient and effective adhesive, spine, and side glue configuration for your particular application.

“Cover pressing is one final characteristic,” adds Kaeli. “This feature ensures the spine is square and the cover is securely adhered to the book block. Press stations have become a new feature that offer longer dwell times.”

If you have a particularly challenging cover that needs to be nipped, is heavy, or is coated and doesn’t adhere well, cover pressing stations hold it for a longer period of time in order to get the desired result.

Common Applications
While digital printing was originally used somewhat sparingly and under very specific circumstances, it is now seen as appropriate and beneficial for a multitude of applications.

Gandara argues the top common applications created with perfect binders in digital print environments include, reading books and novels, school/textbooks, insurance related books, financial/investment booklets, and photobooks.

In this environment, however, there’s an opportunity to differentiate products on a book-to-book basis. You can bind books that are truly one-off, like photobooks, or you can have specialty one-off publications for ultra-short run manufacturing. No longer are most printers producing 100,000 books in one day. Today, not only are they running fewer quantities, but each book can be different.

“Although it varies from plant to plant, photobook applications usually fall into the ‘Expressions and Greetings’ market segment including 4×6-inch photo flipbooks. Short runs are usually categorized by pleasure read/vanity press, 5.5×8.5 and 6×9 inches, including personalized books and product-specific manuals. Yearbooks, financial reports, education books and textbooks are 8.5×11 inches and landscape books, 7×10 inches, primarily fall into ‘Marketing Materials,’” explains James L. Tressler, VP of Sales, C.P. Bourg.

Advantages of Perfect Binding
Perfect binding allows printers to offer their customers a significant upgrade from mechanical binding, like spiral or saddlestitching. It provides a high-quality finish at a reasonable price for a range of applications, including publishing, programs, directories, and banking.

Jordan states the most significant advancement in recent years is automating the entire digital publishing process from start to finish, which minimizes operator interaction with equipment.

Another benefit of perfect binding in a digital print environment is the ability to bind a high page count from two to 500 sheets or more, faster and easier. With the new addition of higher strength glues such as PUR and PUR-specific short-run perfect binders, a wider range of substrates can now be bound in any print shop. Those that were previously available only bound in the largest professional binderies, states Kent Dalzell, business development manager, Fastbind USA.

The ability to produce small runs, where even a single book run is clean and professional in appearance and durable is another advantage. Perfect binding in a digital print environment can also easily adjust for changing production needs, so actual available production time on the binder can be maximized.

According to Elizabeth Jordan, senior program manager, Nordson, perfect binding is flexible to support a range of paper finishes, sizes, and weights. Digital publishing deals with cut sheets being bound so a single double-sided page can be added rather than the four-up needed for traditional offset printing.

Today, digital publishing systems are available to completely automate the entire process from printing to finished book. Lastly, perfect binding, specific to digital print environments, eliminate the need to produce and store excess inventory along with a fast turnaround and relatively inexpensive finished book.

Current Limitations
One major limitation of using PUR glue for digitally printed materials is the drying time needed before the book can be trimmed and packaged. Smaller binders need to be handled gently, stacked in piles, cured, and then trimmed and packaged.

Steve Strauss, president/CEO, OMM-Marchetti America, argues that on the larger binding lines, bigger and longer conveyors are usually needed to give the books enough drying time prior to trimming and packing the finished products.

According to Dalzell, some estimate over 80 percent of perfect binding machines are all using variations of EVA-based glues, the limitation here is the binding strength. As more paper substrates are introduced to the market specifically to increase print quality with coatings and/or different compounds, the ability to successfully bind them using traditional EVA-based glue has dropped.

“This is one of the main reasons why short- and medium-run PUR perfect binders are now available and are a great alternative for those looking to add perfect binding to their operations,” adds Dalzell.

Jordan discusses a different approach to another limitation to perfect binding for digital printing environments, which is a basic lack of understanding regarding perfect binding for smaller scale production. Handling some of the adhesives—such as PUR—can be somewhat confusing without some basic knowledge or understanding.

Gandara argues that maintenance can sometimes be a limitation to perfect binding in digital print environments only because perfect binding can be labor intensive, especially when working with PUR glue. In most cases, PUR glue is required and spine preparation is critical, but beware of gloss papers, as they are more difficult to perfect bind.

Targeting Digital Print
A variety of binders target digital print environments today.

“The C.P. Bourg BB3002 EVA or PURc with its wide variety of optional accessories is the most universal customizable solution on the market today,” states Tressler. “This unique binder fits into workflow strategies that enable customers to maximize profitability and minimize labor.”

Muller Martini designs a number of perfect binding solutions for digital print environments, from entry-level binders to the higher end capabilities provided by the company’s Alegro, Bolero, and Corona perfect binding lines.

“Our Alegro perfect binder processes up to 7,000 books per hour. This binding line can be quickly changed over among softcover, hardcover, and digital production, with fine adjustments being made on the fly without operator intervention,” explains Kaeli. “It’s versatile machine that offers a lot of upward mobility in terms of automation, touchless workflow, and scalability features.”

Gandara highlights the latest perfect binders on the market today targeting digital print environments are inline perfect binding and entry production EVA/PUR.

The Sterling Digibinder binds books up to 2.25-inches thick at speeds of up to 360 books per hour. Additionally, the new Sterling Digibinder Pur Plus is a fully automated perfect binder with a cover feed and stacker. It binds books up to two-inches thick at speeds of up to 500 books per hour.

Suited for Digital Environments
Several perfect binding solutions on the market target digital print environments. Here we highlight select options.
The Bourg Binder is designed to create perfect bound books while being user friendly. This unique binder enables you to produce from the largest to the smallest range of book sizes and is ideal for on-demand customized applications, producing single books from two to 600 sheets in record time.

“The BB3002 EVA adapts all features automatically to the thickness of each job. Therefore, no manual setup is required. This reduces loss of productivity and allows maximum throughput,” adds Tressler.

Inline perfect binding, mentioned earlier by Gandara, eliminates touch points and doesn’t require an operator to manually load booklets. Instead, paper is collected and automatically loaded into the perfect binder. This type of perfect binder supports high-volume inkjet applications, which makes them particularly suited for digital print environments.

“Entry production EVA/PUR perfect binders are a low-cost investment, and are ideal for office-type environments or where the space is limited. Because of this, entry production EVA/PUR is ideal for short runs, low- to medium-volume with simple operations,” explains Gandara.

According to Frank, Horizon recently introduced the new BQ-480 Perfect Binder, which is a next generation version of the highly successful BQ-470 Four-Clamp Perfect Binder.

“The BQ-480 offers the highest productivity for book-of-one production available today. Depending upon the range of variability, the BQ-480 is capable of more than doubling the productivity of the BA-470 for book-of one applications,” adds Frank.

In regards to this segment, a manufacturer needs a varied portfolio because there are no magic solutions. Kaeli explains that they need to fully understand the particular requirements of the products and workflow in order to work with you to design, engineer, and configure a perfect binding system that not only meets the specific requirements—but is scalable for future needs.

Perfectly Digital
Perfect binding is a used soft cover book binding method, and allows printers to offer their customers a significant upgrade from mechanical binding. They provide a high-quality finish at a reasonable price for a range of applications. The advantages of perfect binders suited for digital print environments outweigh the limitations and are being adopted in order to succeed in market and company growth.

September2017, DPS Magazine

Completing the Job

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By Olivia Cahoon

Meeting deadlines and maintaining quick turnarounds requires the right equipment on hand. A strong finishing arsenal allows printers to meet a variety of short run, fast turn jobs without any delays. Here, we look at several print shops that rely on select tools to meet deadlines and maintain customer satisfaction.

Efficient Marketing
Founded in 1983, Hatteras is a full-service creative production and printing company in Tinton Falls, NJ. The shop focuses on collaborative approaches to identify challenges and solutions for creative, printing, and distribution needs.

Hatteras started with four employees in a small airplane hangar. The shop originally offered offset lithography and provided services throughout NJ. Today, it operates out of a 180,000-square foot facility with 300 employees and provides bindery and finishing, data processing and mailing, kitting and fulfillment, warehousing, web portal solutions, and offset, digital, and large format printing services.

The shop produces a range of products for an array of customers across the pharmaceutical, retail, higher education, and technology markets. It offers marketing collateral, direct mail, point of sale signage, and environmental graphics.
“Our dynamic production capabilities allow us to produce quantities that range from one to one million,” says Bill Duerr, president, Hatteras.

The shop works with a range of media suppliers including GPA Specialty Substrates.

Hatteras uses HP Indigo 7600 and two HP Indigo 10000 printers. Prior to the HP Indigos it employed two Kodak NexPress presses.

According to Duerr, the HP Indigo presses were chosen because the shop felt the technology, quality, and format sizes provide the shop with the type of dynamic required to service customer needs.

The HP Indigo 7600 press prints up to 160 color pages per minute (ppm) with seven color support. It handles media up to 13×19 inches in width and is compatible with more than 2,500 substrates for jobs that use dark, transparent, metallic, and recycled papers.

The HP Indigo 10000 is a 29-inch format press that prints 3,450 full size sheets per hour (sph) and 4,600 sph using Enhanced Productivity Mode.

In addition, the shop features a full-service, in-house bindery and fulfillment department to keep projects on course. Hatteras finishing services range from simple trimming and folding to complex die cutting, folding, gluing, and custom hand assembly. In the last three years, several new digital finishing solutions have been added. Among its finishing lineup is a Harris & Bruno Coating System, a Zünd flatbed cutter, and several pieces from Standard Finishing.

Prior to purchasing finishing equipment, Duerr says that Hatteras researched flexible machines powered by adequate technology. With its latest investments, Hatteras’ finishing operation brings together all the required pieces to construct its clients’ projects.

The Harris and Bruno ExcelCoat ZR30 offline UV and AQ coating system incorporates a chamber and anilox metering system and lays down matte, soft touch, AQ, specialty UV, and gloss. The system features a coating width up to 30.25 inches and a full-length vacuum system that prevents fires.

For cutting, the shop uses the Zünd S3 M-1600 digital cutting system. The S3 M-1600 is 1,330×1,630 millimeters. The S3 cutter features an acrylic vacuum plate that holds down material and is adjustable across the machine’s width. For tool setup, the cutting system uses an automated initialization system that helps the cutter determine the proper cutting depth.

Also included in the Hatteras finishing lineup is the Standard Horizon CRF-362 Creaser Folder, SmartSlitter, and the StitchLiner 5500 with Viva camera verification system.

The Standard Horizon CRF-362 Creaser Folder performs on light and heavy stocks—coated or uncoated. Creasing and folding is completed in one pass to process applications like book covers, greeting cards, marketing, and menus. The device is configured with seven-fold patterns and six cover creasing patterns like spine, hinge, and flap creasing. The CRF-362 handles sheet sizes up to 14.33×34 inches and reaches speeds up to 5,000 sph with one crease and one-fold.

It also operates the Standard Horizon SmartSlitter sheet cutter and creaser, an all-in-one device that includes slit, gutter cut, edge-trim, cross-cut, perforate, and crease in one pass. The SmartSlitter handles sheets up to 14.33×26.37 inches. The Skip Perforation cassette allows skip perforation for checks, coupons, and tickets.

The StitchLiner 5500 is designed to bridge the gap between existing flat sheet collating and conventional high-volume saddlestitching lines. Flat-sheet signatures are fed from the SpeedVAC collator to produce true saddlestitched booklets with full-bleed trimming. The StitchLiner 5500 creates up to 11,000 two-up booklets per hour or with the HOF high-speed sheet feeder for digitally collated output, up to 27,000 sph.

“We chose this equipment because we felt it gave us a versatile suite of digital finishing solutions that allows us to utilize technology to drive efficiencies in our manufacturing area,” comments Duerr.

Finishing technology expands to meet the growing print needs of print providers. In the finishing space, Duerr notices better technology, quicker make readies, and less reliance on operator expertise.

Emerging Providers
Launched this Summer, Minuteman Press has three employees in Fort Worth, TX. The shop offers design, marketing, printing, and promotion in a 1,380-square foot workspace for the Fort Worth Metroplex community. Its mission is to provide clients with the highest quality products and services in a timely fashion and at a competitive price.

“We design and print anything you can put your name, logo, or text on,” say James and Sheryl Francis, owners, Minuteman Press. The shop’s departments include customer service, finishing, prepress, printing, and sales.

Minutemen Press creates apparel, banners, booklets, booth materials, brochures, business cards, flags, flyers, promotional items, signs, and vehicle graphics. The shop uses multiple forms of media like glass, metal, paper, plastic, and vinyl from multiple sources.

“I like the flexibility and power of being able to print on a range of stock while keeping the initial setup costs very low,” comment the Francises.

The shop utilizes Xerox digital presses for all of its digital printing, including the Xerox Versant 180. According to the company, it is the first in North America to acquire the Xerox Versant 180 digital presses.

The shop chose the Versant due to its functionality. The Xerox Versant 180 handles a 13×26-inch maximum sheet size and prints 80 ppm. It is compatible with a range of media including bright papers, business cards, coated and uncoated papers, embossed, glossy brochures, greeting cards, labels, polyester, tabs, and window decals.

Minuteman Press’ finishing offerings include binding, cutting, folding, laminating, padding, and stapling. Its primary digital finishing products are included in its Xerox machines.

The Versant 180 itself is capable of binding, booklet making, decurling, finishing, folding, inserting with a 250 sheet Xerox Inserter, punching, stacking, and trimming. The SquareFold Trimmer Module allows the press to inline square fold and face trim to produce high-value brochures and booklets.

It is also equipped with the GBC AdvancedPunch Pro, which enables the device to double punch on large sheets with full-bleed processing and die-set detection. It is a compact hole punching unit that eliminates manual punching.

The Versant 180 binds using GBC eWire, a fully automated inline binding system using traditional twin-loop wire binding. The GBC eWire runs inline with Xerox printers and the GBC AdvancedPunch Pro.

Despite using the Versant 180 for most of its digital finishing, it also utilizes uses standalone equipment. Minutemen Press’ other finishing equipment includes the Baum 714 XLT Folder, Challenge Padding Clamp, Salco Rapid 106E electric stapler, Spiral Sprinter 335R6 laminator, and Triumph 5255 cutter.

In the future, the Francises say the shop may add a booklet trimmer for speed and ease of use. “The Xerox digital presses produce completed booklets, but if you have more than six to eight signatures, the paper creep requires an edge trim, which currently must be done manually.”

Minutemen Press obtained its finishing equipment as part of the Minutemen Press franchise. “Minuteman has researched the equipment and as part of their equipment package, the brands that have proven to be reliable and accompanied with top level support were chosen,” they comment.

Regarding finishing trends, automation and speed technology is improving.

Flat Cards and Photobooks
Launched in 1998, GlobalSoft Digital Solutions serves the marketing, CRM, and internal communications needs of large and small clients. Headquartered in Mahwah, NJ, GlobalSoft approaches all of its communications from targeted, multi-wave direct mail campaigns to conference and trade show teaser programs.

GlobalSoft is owned by Creel Offset as one of its three digital plants. GlobalSoft’s Digital Lizard digital printing plants are located in Hayden, ID and Las Vegas, NV. Combined, these companies use a fleet of digital presses and a complete line of finishing equipment to produce products and services to grow businesses.

GlobalSoft has clients in the automotive, financial, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. The company helps its customers feel confident they are taking the best approaches to ensure their marketing programs are delivered on time, within budget, and without sacrificing creative and communications impact.

GlobalSoft uses HP Indigo 7800s and HP Latex grand format printers. “We chose this brand back in 2001 because we fell in love with the technology and quality,” says Patrick Meredith, GM, GlobalSoft.

“We truly felt it was offset quality print that had the power of personalization like no other. We have been loyal to HP and vice versa since then,” he continues.

Multiple finishing devices create a range of applications for the shop. To die cut flat cards into different shapes and sizes, GlobalSoft uses the Standard Horizon RD-4055DMC Die Cutter. The RD-4055 has dual magnetic cylinders to simultaneous die cut and crease or score short-run products from both sides of the sheet. It also features hole punch, perforate, round corner, and slit functions. The RD-4055 handles a maximum sheet size of 15.74×21.65 inches.

For binding photobooks, the shop depends on the fully automated four-clamp Standard Horizon BQ-470 Perfect Binder, which produces up to 1,350 bound books per hour and features an LCD touch screen. Its interchangeable glue tanks support EVA and PUR adhesives.

GlobalSoft’s foil letter pressing and foil card designs are completed on the Kluge EHD Series and Therm-O-Type’s NSF Excel Hot Foil Stamping Press. The EHD Series is a 14×22-inch foil stamper that accommodates sheets up to 17×24.75 inches. It’s used for applications like announcements, business cards, greeting cards, labels, packaging, and security printing.
The NSF Excel binds and foil embosses, die- and kiss cuts, imprints, numbers, perforates, and scores.

Finishing Trends
On demand finishing tools enable print providers to offer fast turnarounds and short runs. It’s important that print providers invest in strong finishing equipment to meet client demands. Finishing trends expand to offer better technology, quicker turnarounds, and less operator intervention.

September2017, DPS Magazine

Exhibiting at Print 17

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By DPS Staff

Every four years the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) presents the Print 17 exhibition and conference. This year, the event takes place from September 10 to 14, 2017 at McCormick Place South in Chicago, IL. Print 17 offers a comprehensive trade show of inkjet, digital, offset, flexo, gravure, and hybrid printing technologies, products, and services for the printing and imaging industry.

This year’s event is expected to present the latest graphic communications technologies through live equipment demonstrations and educational sessions.

Exhibitor Previews
From printing engines to finishing equipment, consumables, software, and services, a variety of vendors showcase the latest technologies targeting print professionals. Here is a sample of what to expect on the show floor.

Avanti, booth 635, highlights its JDF-certified Print MIS. Avanti Slingshot helps users deliver more jobs, in less time, with the confidence in knowing that every aspect of a shop is integrated into one MIS platform. The company invites attendees to try out its ROI tool.

Arjobex America, booth 3145, highlights Polyart, a synthetic paper featuring the durability of plastic with the look, feel, and printability of premium paper. Polyart’s durability and printability make it ideal for a variety of applications. Produced from a high-density polyethylene film, Polyart is resistant to water, grease, many chemicals, and tearing. It also performs well in extreme climatic conditions and stands up to repeated handling and use. Polyart converts just like paper. It cuts cleanly using standard equipment, and can be die cut, embossed, hot stamped, and perforated with ease. Polyart’s unique clay coating results in rapid drying and exceptional print definition. Thanks to a new high-tech coating combined with a heat-stable polymer, Polyart Laser offers excellent print quality with smooth processing through laser and toner machines. When paper reaches its limits, Polyart remains the premium synthetic capable of handling offset, digital, thermal, and flexo printing needs.

Baumer hhs, booth 3640, highlights a range of products including the aerto hot melt applicator, a new DPP-8 Pump, and its Xtend3 Controller.

CGS Publishing Technologies International, LLC, booth 631, demonstrates its packaging trio ORIS CxF Toolbox; iC3D; and ORIS Flex Pack // Web Visualizer, with new cold foil capabilities. The trio ensures effective color communication between all members of the supply chain while bringing brands to life from 3D mockup to proof and final product. The company also showcases ORIS Lynx, now Idealliance G7 System Certified, along with its other ORIS solutions Press Matcher // Web, Certified // Web, and Evaluate.

The Challenge Machinery Company, booth 3617, announces the CMT 330TC Three Knife Book Trimmer is on sale and display. This fully automated book trimmer is the ideal finishing solution for on demand, perfect bound book production. The fourth generation of the company’s top-selling trimmer line has been upgraded with advanced features, including an expanded range of finished book sizes, easy-to-use color touchscreen interface, high-speed digital control for accurate set up in under six seconds, simultaneous inline and near-line book feeding options, automatic detection of untrimmed book block size, and precision knife depth control for consistent control of knife stroke depth.

CHILI publish, booth 257, recently introduced online editing to the market to speed up the go-to-market introduction of tailored marketing material. The online document editor features improved server rendering speed. The IME Editor allows processing input from grapheme languages, such as Arabic or Chinese. Cloud integration is activated, alongside a do-it-yourself customized user interface. The 3D rendering is updated to feature special finishing effects like reflection, embossing, and varnish.

Colter & Peterson, booth 4013, features three new products, the E-Cut series, a 45-inch SABER, and 31-inch PRISM paper cutters. Both the E-Cut series and SABER offer automated knife adjustment.

EFI, booth 3202, demonstrates many new products including new technologies in the EFI Productivity Suites, end-to-end certified workflows for the commercial print and signage, quick print, packaging, corrugated packaging, and publishing markets. New and upgraded workflow technologies include the EFI Productivity Workbench, which provides an actionable web-based intelligence dashboard with one-click, real-time access to task-based, customized, business critical data for the EFI Productivity Suites. Additional enhanced workflow software technologies on display include the Corrugated Business System for the EFI Corrugated Packaging Suite, enhanced real-time data collection technology, and SmartCanvas design and variable tools for EFI Digital StoreFront web to print software. For EFI Fiery Driven digital print production, the new, version 5 of the EFI Fiery Color Profiler Suite at Print 2017 has a Printer Match module that now offers gray-balanced G7 calibration. Also, the new version of EFI Fiery Impose software features Dynamic Gangup Imposition feature for faster, hot folder-based automated impositioning.

Epson, booth 724, showcases its full line of large format digital imaging solutions. The dynamic offering includes the suite of 64-inch SureColor S-Series solvent printers, featuring Red and optional White or Metallic Silver ink to provide output to the signage, vehicle graphics, and fine art markets. The SureColor F-Series dye-sublimation printers leverage High Density black ink to create output that delivers improved ink efficiency and black density with better tonal transitions and grayscale for high-quality results in the roll-to-roll fabric production, customized promotional production, soft signage, and cut-and-sew sports apparel, fashion, and home décor markets. For photographers and designers, the extensive SureColor P-Series printers produce photographic output for professional photographers, commercial and production print shops, and fine art reproduction markets.

Fujifilm, booth 2013, features the North American debut of two presses—the Acuity LED 3200R, a superwide format roll press for high-quality displays; and the Inca Onset B1 format press, specifically developed to offer a high-quality, short-run B1 solution for the offset, screen, and industrial printing markets; along with the J Press 720S sheetfed inkjet press and Samba printhead.

GBC/SEAL, booth 3613, features the latest updates in its most popular binding and laminating machines. The redesigned GBC Magnapunch Pro is displayed. Boasting a half-second punch cycle driven by flywheel technology and with 13-interchangeable die sets available, the Magnapunch Pro is a high-volume desktop punch. The all-metal housing and a cast aluminum base make it more durable than ever. Plus, the new Magnapunch Pro is backed by a three-year warranty. Also displayed is the updated 27-inch GBC Catena 65 featuring an improved quarter-of-an-inch mounting gap, pivoting table, AutoGrip shafts, and a rear stop button to improve versatility and ease of use. The new Catena 65 promises to tackle the most demanding jobs as an entry-level laminator for any print shop looking to offer mounted posters and laminated signage.

HP Graphics Solutions Business, booth 613, showcases a range of products and applications from its portfolio of HP Indigo, HP PageWide Web Press, HP Latex, HP Scitex, HP PageWide XL, PrintOS, HP DesignJet, and HP Specialty Printing Systems. The company provides product and solution demonstrations to event attendees and hopes that visitors will have the opportunity to experience what HP Graphics Solutions has to offer to help its customers thrive. HP also presents a dynamic and engaging live show that focuses on the value propositions of the entire HP Graphics Solutions portfolio and address the question of the trends affecting customers and the solutions HP offers to address these needs.

MBM Corporation, booth 2644, provides innovative finishing products to meet the demands of today’s digital and offset print finishing industries. Its product line includes Triumph cutters, Aerocut digital finishing systems, folders, creasers, collators, and bookletmakers. New to the company’s line of products are the ideal air purifiers, GoCrease creasers, and new technology debuting at the show. Also be sure to check out MBM’s new line of folders. All MBM products are backed by a team of factory-trained technicians, customer support specialists, and one of the best warranty packages in the industry.

Memjet, booth 3822, highlights its inkjet printhead technology, which the company says has transformed where and how printing is done. The company builds on its success with the presentation of a new pigment-based platform, DuraLink. Visitors see how the quality of these fast, affordable, and easy-to-use printing technologies unleashes infinite potential for printers of all types. Demonstrations of Memjet-powered solutions from IPT Digital, New Solution, and Printware are on site. Memjet also showcases how the quality, flexibility, and affordability of DuraLink enables the creation of affordable solutions for high-volume printing markets.

Messagepoint Inc., booth 455, exhibits its cloud-based content management platform, Messagepoint. The software makes it possible for service providers to easily and cost-effectively respond to the customer communications management needs of their enterprise customers and meet the evolving requirements for omnichannel print and digital customer communications. By providing an intuitive and secure environment for business users to directly own and control touchpoint messaging content and business rules, Messagepoint makes a high level of collaboration possible. Using Messagepoint, enterprise customers can create, modify, and approve customer messaging content and targeting rules in customer touchpoints across all channels through an intuitive cloud-based application prior to production. Visitors can also learn about Messagepoint, Inc.’s Production Partner program, which allows service providers to resell Messagepoint directly to customers or use it as a managed service offering on behalf of their customers.

Mimaki, booth 4019, showcases the Mimaki JFX200-2513 UV-LED flatbed printer. The wide format printer is a 4×8 foot, landscape-oriented model small enough to fit into most print shops. With the capability to print onto thick substrates, it offers the ability to produce a diverse range of prints for both indoor and outdoor use. It is ideally suited for applications in the printing industry such as package prototyping; and in the signage industry for backlit displays, signs and posters, interior décor, and glass and metal decorative panels. White and clear inks plus jettable primer are available.

Muller Martini, booth 625, features daily demonstrations that showcase the future of finishing, including its Connex, InfiniTrim, Presto II Digital, and Vareo products. The Connex Workflow System is a singular software solution that oversees, directs, troubleshoots, and validates the quality and integrity of the entire printing process—prepress, press, and postpress—resulting in optimum, end-to-end efficiencies. It is compatible with all major print engines. InfiniTrim represents the future of three-knife trimming because it offers the complete automation capability so essential to achieving optimum productivity demanded in digital manufacturing. Print17 is its North American debut. Through a touchless workflow and barcode driven selective binding, the Presto II Digital saddlestitcher enables fully automatic control of the finishing process. The Vareo perfect binder bridges the gap between entry-level digital binding equipment and more sophisticated machinery and delivers highly efficient one-off, print on demand, and short-run batch production. A newly engineered PUR-nozzle system provides the most effective application available.

Mutoh, booth 4241, displays its line of ValueJet wide format printers including the eco-solvent ValueJet 1624X printer. It prints up to 600 square feet per hour and features technological advancements that set a new standard for large format printers. This new ValueJet provides unsurpassed print speeds for a printer in this price range.

Nobelus, booth 3948, a global provider of thermal films, foils, laminates, and equipment showcases its new Sleeking Digital Print Finishing, which offers variable data foiling without any dies. The company’s products are designed for brand enhancement and special effects across many platforms. It serves the general commercial print market, the photo production segment, folding cartons and packaging, and label/flexible packaging segments. Applications include variable-data foil sleeking without dies, tactile label and print films, SHR photo production, LuxeFilms Laminating films, and Komfi and GMP Equipment. Nobelus leads confidently as a film innovation company.

Pitney Bowes Inc., booth 848, demonstrates a host of physical and digital technologies including the Pitney Bowes AcceleJet Printing and Finishing System and the Pitney Bowes Epic Inserting System. The AcceleJet Printing and Finishing System provides a path to high-quality color inkjet, which is ideally sized for mid-volume transactional print and mail operations. The system features Dual Print Modes and built-in flexible finishing options needed to process more types of jobs on a single platform and offers a lower entry point for production inkjet printing. It is designed to keep cost of ownership expenses low. The Pitney Bowes Epic Inserting System is a high-speed, multi-format solution that cost effectively combines high-performance physical mailing capabilities with precise advanced digital intelligence to process complex transactional mail applications with demonstrated integrity and high yield to simplify capacity planning, increase operational productivity, lower total cost of ownership, and improve return on investment.

Ricoh, booth 2022, demonstrates its portfolio of continuous feed, cutsheet, and wide format devices; software; consulting and color management services including RICOH Pro VC6000, RICOH Pro VC40000, RICOH Pro C7110X, and RICOH Pro C9110. The RICOH Pro VC60000 is a continuous feed inkjet platform offering more than 100,000 letter images per hour. Coupled with Ricoh’s software, it enables a smooth offset to digital transition without sacrificing print quality. RICOH Pro VC40000 is a continuous feed inkjet platform with speeds up to 120 meter/minute. With the RICOH TotalFlow Print Server R600A, it is optimized to produce complex, data-driven direct mail and transactional output. The RICOH Pro C7110X is a digital printer with speeds up to 90 pages per minute (ppm) at 1,200×4,800 dpi; a fifth color station for clear, white, or neon yellow applications; textured media capabilities; and oversized printing up to 49 inches. The RICOH Pro C9110 heavy segment color digital printer features speeds up to 130 ppm and media support up to 400 gsm.

Standard, booth 1231, occupies one of the largest spaces on the show floor to present an all-inclusive showcase of feeding and finishing solutions. The booth includes live demonstrations in die cutting, perfect binding, and trimming, slitting and creasing, folding, saddlestitching, inspection systems, and roll-fed print solutions. Standard produces a comprehensive range of finished products throughout the show, highlighting the short-run capabilities of individual systems as well as complete end-to-end workflows, which demonstrate the flexible functionalities of the equipment. The company debuts a range of exciting new equipment, including North American premieres in folding and saddlestitching, as well as the Horizon BQ-480 Perfect Binder that sets new standards in variable book production, reaching speeds of 800 books per hour for book of one production. Also shown will be Hunkeler’s POPP8 machine generation—a Roll-to-Cut/Stack solution, and a Roll-to-Fold configuration with Dynamic Perforation, Web Merging, and Web Inspection.

Taopix, booth 357, invites attendees to target new markets with personalized and promotional products. For those that own a digital press and a wide format inkjet printer, users sell a range of photo products such as calendars, canvases, and photo gifts. They can also sell products from a website, via email, and social media channels, reaching potential customers however they prefer to shop.

Tecnau, booth 861, highlights the Tecnau Zero Speed Splicer u40, newly available Stacker s25, and WebVision ONspect. Zero Speed Splicer u40 allows roll changes with virtually no printer downtime, maximizing printer productivity. As inkjet presses get faster, the justification for the Splicer u40 gets stronger. The Stacker s25 features a new patent-pending gripper technology to provide reliable, damage-free handling of heavy-ink-coverage graphic arts applications. The solution responds to the growing demand for high-quality digitally printed applications on a broad variety of media types and paper weights. WebVision ONspect—installed on Tecnau’s Rewinder r9—guarantees print quality, job integrity, and job completeness on a space-efficient and cost-effective hardware platform.

Therm-O-Type, booth 3631, showcases its RDC-FLEX rotary die cutter. Designed for kiss- and die-cut product finishing, the solution features a 14.33×20.5-inch maximum sheet size, mark or edge registration, high-capacity feeder, delivery conveyor, inline waste stripping, die registration system, flexible die cutting dies, and quick change stripper assemblies. The combination of a large die cut areas, throughput speed, fast set up, automated stripping, and ease of operation make the RDC-Flex an idea production machine for any digital printing plant.

Unibind, booth 4045, showcase its range of photo gift accessories and office products. Unibind’s ready-to-make decorative photo accessories and office solutions target small businesses and retailers worldwide. At Print 17, attendees have the opportunity to view the company’s luxury Lay-flat photobook; Peel and Stick solutions; an assortment of Photobooks; and a variety of wall art solutions.

WEKO, booth 1850, provides paper conditioning solutions through remoistening in digital inkjet web printing. The WEKO remoistening system optimizes the paper conditioning thanks to a minimal, very precise, and reproducible non-contact fluid application. Problems such as paper curl, paper break during folding, waviness, and poor stacking from electrostatic charges are alleviated. WEKO keeps up with high web-speeds and helps maintain smooth post processing with less waste and better quality. The WEKO remoistening system works with a special technology whereby spraying rotors arranged in a row rotating at high speed what ensures a non-contact application of liquids in form of micro droplets. WEKO also provides powder spray systems for offset sheet printing with the WEKO-AP Advanced Powder Spray System.

See You On the Floor
Stop by booth 4616 to say hello to our editors and check out the latest issues. For more information on what to expect at Print 17, visit us online at dpsmagazine.com and follow us on twitter @dps_magazine.

September2017, DPS Magazine