Part one of three
PRINTING United took place October 18 to 20, 2023, in Atlanta, GA. The trade show brings all segments of print together under one roof.
Here is part one of our three part recap of the event. For more, check out the November issue.
Digital Printing Equipment
Several introductions and demonstrations in the digital print space were shown, from labels and packaging to production inkjet and wide format.
Anytron Highlighted the ANY-PRESS, a 13-inch toner-based printer capable of printing of Kraft and clear media while supporting white color.
Aviation featured the AM7650i MFP, which integrates print, scan, email, and copy functionality.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., introduced the LabelStream LS2000 inkjet press, which is being designed to serve the surging demand for digital, high-quality label converting. It also announced the new varioPRINT iX1700 B3+ size inkjet digital sheetfed press.
The company also showcases its range of solutions and printing innovations. Making its U.S. trade show debut is the new imagePRESS V1350 digital press, a versatile, high-volume production press.
On the wide format side, attendees witnessed the newly introduced Colorado M-series with UVgel White Ink, which helps eliminate many of the hassles associated with white ink, as well as the versatility and efficiency of the imagePROGRAF printers.
Delphax Solutions featured the Elan 170 Envelop Press.
Durst Group showcased its Tau 330 RSC. This label printer sets the benchmark for productivity and flexibility with a real print speed of 262 ft/min and native resolution of 1,200×1,200 dpi.
In addition to its wide format and label printer line up, Durst demonstrated its “360° Production Excellence” by showcasing their Durst Software & Solutions. Consisting of an ERP/MIS software to streamline and automate every aspect of the print business, a web to print solution designed to support their customers in attracting leads, engaging customers and successfully selling products online, a Prepress & Production software for the simplified and automated management of prepress and production tasks, and finally, an Analytics software to ensure complete handling of production data and to increase equipment efficiency. These solutions are especially tailored for digital printing.
Printware launched the iJetColor1175, its most affordable HP powered iJetColor Envelope Press to date. The device is aimed at making traditionally expensive and problematic envelope printing both easy and profitable.
Epson demonstrated its range of solutions ideal for a variety of applications—indoor and outdoor signage, photography, graphics, and textile. With the theme of the “Seventy5 Video Arcade,” the booth offered visitors the opportunity to play classic arcade games, enjoy a coffee drink, see live demonstrations, get the first look at a new professional photography solution, and preview of forward-looking professional desktop printing technology.
Fujifilm North America Corporation, Graphic Communication Division featured four key n ew technologies in its REVORIA PRESS tooter-based product line, including a new B2 option. Introduced as the Reverie Press PC1120, it is a six-color, single-pass device that prints up to 120 pages per minute in CYMK with a choice of two specialty toners alongside the option for an under or top coat.
HP shuttled attendees over to its Graphic Arts Experience Center for a special event. Once there, visitors heard from influential speakers about the trends shaping the future of the industrial print industry and had a chance to see the latest from its Indigo and PageWide portfolios, including the all-new HP Indigo V12 Digital Press, HP PageWide Advantage 2200, and HP Indigo 100K Digital Press.
In the Heidelberg booth, visitors were treated to the Versafire LP, a four-color digital print system designed for high volumes in the commercial print sector. It produces up to 135 pages per minute and can process media up to 24 pt. board. The company also highlighted the Gallus One roll-to-roll label press, which utilizes Dimatix Samba printheads.
IntoPrint Technologies showcased the SP1360, which offers print speeds of up to 60 pages per minute for both monochrome and color prints as well as resolutions of up to 1,200×1,200.
Koenig & Bauer promoted its RotaJET and VariJET digital presses. The new VariJET 106, a modular, single-pass sheetfed digital printing press for the folding carton market as well as the firm’s expanded role and format capabilities of the RotaJET digital web press.
Komori America celebrated its 100th anniversary. To highlight how far the industry has come, it displayed an original Komori press from the 1930s. The company also shared the many ways it has evolved its focus from a printing press manufacturer to a print engineering service provider to make it possible for print providers to expand their revenue stream with new solutions in packaging and commercial print. Examples of this included Komori’s GX/G advance series of offset presses that support both the thrust for digital transformation and sustainability with the ability to fully automate and link to other production processes, and the company’s System G38web offset press with LED-UV curing, designed to provide high-volume production with a lower carbon footprint and energy savings.
Kornit Digital Ltd. introduced its digital supply chain solutions for efficient, single-step direct-to-garment and direct-to-fabric technologies, robust pigment ink sets, energy-efficient smart curing systems with diverse applications for colorful and neon or 3D fabric and garment decoration.
Kyocera introduced the TASKalfa Pro 55000cm a cutsheet inkjet platform that prints up to 150 pages per minute and 9,000 images per hour at 1,200×1,200 dpi using sustainable, water-based pigment inks to show a range of colors and ensure consistent and accurate output.
Meteor Inkjet showcased its portfolio of industrial inkjet solutions including a range of electronics driving major industrial inkjet printheads; printhead nozzle status direction and image quality enhancement technologies; software development kits; and and DropWatcher Systems to support printer OEMs in the design, optimization ,and production of inkjet print systems.
Quadient showcased two new color digital printers, The MACH 7 full-color tabletop inkjet printing system and the inline MACH 9DS.
Ricoh announced the global debut of the RICOH Pro Z75 Digital Press, the first B2 perfecting (auto-duplexing) sheetfed inkjet platform using aqueous ink.
Roland DGA showcased the VersaSTUDIO BN2 Series desktop printer/cutter.
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, SCREEN Americas showcased the Truepress Jet520NX Series, the Truepress Jet520HD Series, and Trurepress Jet L350UV SAI Series.
Sharp previewed major advancements in production print capabilities, including the first in a new line of digital presses. The color model of Sharp Digital Presses produce up to 120 pages per minute on a variety of media sizes and thicknesses up to 400 gsm. It is equipped with a Fiery digital front end and prints up to six colors in one pass.
Shenzhen HanGlobal Digital Solutions featured the Kirin660 Digital Inkjet Printing Solution, a B&W digital inkjet printing system with a maximum print speed of up to 100 meters per minute.
SnapPress introduced the LP-1 compact label press. Equipped with an HP F1-1000 print engine it accommodates diverse label materials and sizes.
Veika showcased the Dimension SG water-based, wide format enhancement system that can digitally print various decorative large particles like glitter, mica, gold, and silver in register with previous prints made by any technology and substrates.
W+D introduced the W+D I-Jet 3 high quality print envelope and direct mail inkjet overprint press featuring Memjet Durabold.
Xeikon booth highlighted its digital production capabilities in the label, packaging, and graphic arts printing sectors.
Xerox showcased a variety of capabilities including workflow automation with FreeFlow Vision, FreeFlow Core and Workflow Central; “better together” technology, like inkjet as a complement to toner and offset with the Baltoro and iGen; omni-channel marketing through XMPie; and predictive artificial intelligence (AI) for the print industry.
Consumables
Along with hardware, media and inks are an essential part of digital print success.
AFFORD displayed its range of digital printing inks. With a focus on its play-and-plug solutions for direct to film, eco-solvent, and UV-curable printers, the company showed its portfolio of solutions including chipped cartridges, bags, or bottles. A range of screen printing inks, pad printing inks, UV flexographic Inks, and UV varnishes and coatings were also displayed.
ASLAN featured its high-quality niche products for the sign-making industry. Highlights included the glittering film SparkleColour ASLAN SC 123, the flocked decorative film CaressColour ASLAN CC 124, and the protective laminate MagicProtect Matt ASLAN SL 99 with its unique spray paint-repellent and anti-sticker surface.
DuPont highlighted how Artistri digital inks combine DuPont proprietary dispersions, polymers, and ink formulations for the most innovative digital inks in advanced printing. From the brightest and richest colors to custom formulations, Artistri provides color consistency across production runs and over time.
INX International offered an array of innovative advanced digital solutions including premium inkjet inks and digital printing systems as well as sustainable packaging inks and color management expertise.
Kernow North America launched a variety of products, including its remarkable printable wallpaper range and the ground-breaking ECO PRO Lite—a synthetic media made with 40 percent less plastic.
Lessebo Paper showcases Lessebo Colours, which it touts as an environmentally friendly colored paper available from 80 to 600 gsm.
Mactac teamed up with several industry partners to help showcase Mactac and Spinnaker solutions including wide format products like Printvinyl Scored, Doodle, and Rebel multi-print media, Mactac sheet-fed products, and a variety of Spinnaker offset and digital print products.
MGX showcased new products included a Revamped Pressure Sensitive Adhesive line optimized for HP Indigo and dry toner presses; as well as PaperTyger Synthetic optimized for Indigo and Dry toner.
Nobelus highlights its flexible packaging film. The portfolio includes Platinum OPP 100 ga Gloss/Matte Films, Platinum OPP Heat-Sealable Films, PlatinumPET Gloss Film, and Karess PET Film.
Power of Digital Print
This is a sampling of the digitally print powered technology as well as consumables shown at Printing United 2023. Part two looks at post press and finishing.
Oct2023, DPS Magazine
