05.27.2016
For all who seek advice on printing for industrial applications, entering new market areas or adopting a digital printing strategy, ESMA launches the Expert Team with free support at drupa 2016. Representing the association’s members and technology partners, the team will be available at ESMA Lounge (hall 3, B70) to share their expertise in printing requirements for specific market sectors. An extended introduction to this new initiative is provided in an exclusive ESMA publication.
Recognised as the meeting point also for the industrial printing sector, drupa will stage product launches ranging from new machines, ultramodern software, to a wide variety of fluids and coatings, both for screen printing and its digital alternatives. “As technological solutions move ahead and mature, we cannot forget that it is not technology that the printers buy. They buy features and benefits that technology enables: cost-savings, better business practices or optimised resource planning. The crucial question is therefore: How can the technology users turn a profit with machine, ink or software innovations? How will they use the innovative power of print?” asks Peter Buttiens, the CEO of ESMA. To answer these questions, ESMA has appointed the Expert Team, a platform of consulting, advice and the first contact point for business- and technology-related issues.
The initiative focuses on offering both ESMA members and the industry as a whole access to expert knowledge, in line with the association’s mission statement which includes “adoption and correct use of specialist printing processes” as well as “developing higher technical standards”. During the entire drupa show the team will consist of eight experts: Roland Biemans (covering topics such as print shop workflow and new business development), Jochen Christiaens (speciality chemistry and turning from analogue to digital printing for various applications), Frank Eirmbter (advanced materials and printed electronics), Steven Harnie (digital textile printing), Oliver Kammann (colour management and profiling for industrial decoration), Philipp Klinger (ink development and RIP software), Steve Knight (inkjet ink, chemistry and system design) and Lucien Moons (business innovation and digital transformation). They will be available at the ESMA Lounge in hall 3, booth B70. All printing professionals who want to benefit from an advice free of charge can schedule an appointment already before the show and submit their specific questions via the dedicated ESMA-at-drupa website: www.esma.com/drupa/question
As part of the broader approach to stimulate integration of printing in diverse manufacturing processes, as well as to improve training and knowledge, the expert sessions are accompanied by an exclusive ESMA publication. With five technical articles from the Expert Team members, the booklet provides an introduction to different challenges which can certainly be recognised by printing companies. The first copies of the publication will be distributed at drupa and the PDF version is now available under this link.
Next to the expert sessions, the ESMA Lounge will provide updates on The Inkjet Conference (TheIJC) – the biggest European inkjet event scheduled for 5-6 October 2016 with free workshop sessions the day before. TheIJC has been developed in partnership with drupa since the inaugural event in 2014. “drupa has long recognised how technology drives the print industryand how the print industry broadens to include many new markets and applications. drupa recognised the need for a technical conference forequipment manufacturers, ink manufactures, innovators and global business leadersto understand the evolution in core technologies that will impact the world of print far beyond the printer,” says Steve Knight, co-founder of the conference.
Visitors to ESMA pavilions at drupa will have the opportunity to benefit from expert support, observe one of the test units from the inkjet training programme in operation and above all witness the industrial and functional printing at its best. Altogether 22 ESMA members will exhibit in hall 3 and hall 6, featuring products for screen and digital printers and OEMs: inks, emulsions, frames, squeegees, meshes, precision fabrics, software and electronics, UV and LED lamps, as well as machines and machine control systems.
esma.com/drupa
