Part two of four
By DPS Staff
Taking place in Chicago, IL’s McCormick Place from September 10 to 14, 2017, Print 17 hosted a variety of vendors targeting print environments of all types, shapes, and sizes.
There was no shortage of finishing companies represented in the more than 450 exhibitors at the event. Serving a range of vertical markets and production environments, there was a clear focus on automation and integration across the board.
In part two of our four part series wrap up of Print 17, we highlight the latest from finishing vendors.
Finishing Focused
B&R Moll, Inc. introduced a new inline continuous feed taping system. In addition, B&R Moll showcased several working folder/gluers at the show.
BDT demonstrated three new solutions from its product line based on its media handling Tornado Technology. The company announced the TPF-800 deep pile feeder, which offers the convenience of pallet loading with the ergonomics of the Tornado Technology.
The company also joined forces with Canon to introduce the VX-370-Long Sheet Feeder, an integrated solution that enables users of the company’s flagship imagePRESS C10000VP digital color press series to produce banner format applications at high volumes. It is designed to extend the capabilities of the Canon imagePRESS C10000VP series by allowing print providers to create more graphic arts applications.
Additionally, BDT in partnership with Rhin-O-Tuff, launched a collating offline autopunch, the Tornado Autopunch EX.
BOWE SYSTEC displayed the enhanced Fusion Cross high-speed inserting system as well as the new Direct Mailer inserter.
Brandtjen & Kluge introduced the ApexFoil foil stamping, embossing, and die cutting press.
C.P. Bourg debuted the Bourg Sheet Preparation Module (BPM). The BPM is designed for one- or two-up job imposition and simplifies perfect binding production. This accessory eliminates multiple time and labor consuming processes by converting large parent size sheets with multiple pages printed on them into small individual pages of different formats all in one pass. Users can create multiple book formats from media of a single size, reduce click charges, and eliminate manual workload, all while delivering books faster and more profitably.
In addition to the previously noted BDT partnership, Canon announced the broadening of its inline bindery solution range with the addition of the Plockmatic Group’s BLM50 and BLM35 Professional Booklet-Makers to the finishing line up of Canon imagePRESS C850 Series digital color production presses. With this offering, imagePRESS users are able to produce saddlestitched, creased, full-bleed, and square-fold booklets.
The Challenge Machinery Company highlighted the CMT 330TC three-knife trimmer, which recently expanded its capability to finish cut landscape formatted books up to 12.1 inches.
The Colter & Peterson team managed two booths at Print 17, where they exhibited three new paper cutters as well as a new CHM 1700 precision sheeter.
D&K featured its AutoKote Pro, a fully automated laminating solution with a small footprint. It includes a sheet feeder, one-sided laminator, and diagonal cutter in a compact frame.
Duplo USA exhibited with its largest booth space ever at Print 17. The company showcased a range of print finishing solutions, including slitter/cutter/creaser/folders, die cutters, bookletmakers, perfect binders, and UV coaters.
It highlighted the DDC-810 Raised Spot UV Coater, a compact, design-driven solution that utilizes 600×600 dpi inkjet technology, UV lamp curing, and camera image registration to deliver production output with texture and depth. Equipped with Duplo’s widely renowned air suction feed system, the DDC-810 handles maximum paper sizes of 14.33×29.13 inches and up to 450 gsm. Easy to use, operators can set up a job in four simple steps and begin producing jobs within minutes. Its CCD camera system along with unique registration marks ensures the most accurate registration of the spot UV layer onto the printed document.
Gateway Bookbinding highlighted its Koilmatic coil inserter. The fully electric table-top automatic coil inserter is designed with the digital 8.5×11-inch print provider in mind.
GBC featured the all-new GBC Magnapunch Pro, an interchangeable die punch designed to provide offices and print providers with high-volume desktop punching.
Graphic Whizard highlighted its range of on demand printing equipment. The new PT331 SCC Air offers the same features found on the 331SCC with added benefit of a two-inch air pile feeder for automated feeding. Additionally, the PT330 Mini is an entry-level creaser providing an economic solution for printers experiencing the frustration of digital toner cracking. It can be used as a tabletop machine with removable trays to minimize the footprint in tight spaces of put or on an optional stand. The new PT330 PF is an automated pile feeder designed to run inline with offline finishing equipment to streamline the feeding process for handfed machines. With a four-inch pile feeder and conveyor outfeed, the 330 PF handles a variety of stock weight and sizes. It is a complete, full-bleed finishing system to fit the digital marketplace. Equipped with interchangeable creasing/perforating dies, the Multi switches from perforating to creasing while preventing digital toner cracking. Strike perforation capabilities means that partial perforation in both directions for “T” or “box” are easily accomplished. Not on the market yet, the company previewed the first model in the line of upcoming laminator/slitter/cutters. This machine takes the best of features of a cutsheet and pile fed laminator and adds in the best features of the newest slitter/cutter technology.
Harris & Bruno International debuted the ExcelCoat ZRS30 spot coater. An inline/offline spot coater for UV and AQ, the ZRS30 utilizes a sophisticated camera registration system to compensate for digital drift. The quick change sleeve system allows for swapping out coating plates/blankets in seconds. High throughput and increased efficiency make it ideal for packaging and commercial print applications.
Lami Corporation Inc. offered the Revo-T14, a fully automated laminator. The device’s four heating rollers make it possible to laminate products fast. The enhanced performance of the feeder supports laminating from thin to thick paper by improving feeder performance.
Kern featured the 1600 multi format inserting system, which is ideal for low to medium capacity environments.
Martin Yale revealed its refreshed brand at Print 17, designed to better reflect and build on it legacy and the core values that have guided the company since its founding. The new visual identity includes a fresh logo and its commitment to customer service, order handling, support, product quality, performance, and integrity.
At the show, Martin Yale announced its newest product, the KF-250 Stand-Alone Knife Folder. The solution is designed specifically to quickly and easily fold heavier-weight digitally produced media up to 350 gsm.
MBM Corporation featured its Triumph cutters, Aerocut digital finishing systems, folders, creasers, collators, and bookletmakers. At the show it showcased the Aerocut Prime Complete, a solution ideal for finishing short-run digital applications.
MCS, Inc. showcased solutions designed to help the print and mailing community enhance revenues and profits. Products included the MCS Condor four-color envelope printer, featuring PDF read-and-print functionality. On the floor, it operated inline with a Pitney Bowes Flowmaster equipped with an on-edge, high-capacity sorting stacker. The company also demonstrated the TK 17 Production monochrome printer, which utilizes nano-polymer ink technology.
Morgana featured the DigFold Pro 385 high-speed creaser folder with fully automatic setup and a deep pile feeder. The DigiFold Pro 385 is the latest, fourth generation of the DigiFold series, offering further levels of automation to meet today’s demanding applications. It is specifically designed for digital and lithographic print providers who have a need to crease and fold digitally printed, heavy weight, or cross grained stock.
Muller Martini featured Finishing 4.0, offering daily demonstrations to showcase the future of finishing. The Connex Workflow System is a singular software solution which oversees, directs, troubleshoots, and validates the quality and integrity of the entire printing process. The InfiniTrim three-knife trimmer offers complete automation essential to achieving optimum productivity demanded in digital manufacturing. 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.
Pitney Bowes showcased a range of digital and physical print, mail, and customer engagement solutions. The Epic Inserting system was displayed. It is a high-speed, multi-format inserting solution with increased functionality to further simplify changeovers and process complex transitional mail applications with integrity and high yield.
Rollem International offered several demonstrations and introduced its new inkjet finishing system, featuring the Jet Tower solution with shallow pile suction feed slitting, scoring, and perforating. Additionally displayed, the Insignia 6 flexo-magnetic die cutter as well as the Jetstream+Auto-Collator.
Spiel featured its DigiBinder PUR Plus, which binds books from as thin as two sheets up to two inches thick at speeds up to 300 books per hour.
Spiral showcased the iJetColor Press Performance Bundle, powered by Memjet. The bundle includes the iJetColor Press Print Engine, iJetColor RIP and Workflow, iJetColor Spot Color Matching/Correction Software, iJetColor Variable Print Utility, Volume Output Conveyor, Supply Starter Kit, Workflow/Computer, and printer workstation table.
The company also highlighted the Relay 3000/4000 Inserter, a solution specifically designed to deliver accurate, reliable processing of up to 20,000 and 40,000 pieces a month, respectively.
Standard Finishing Systems offered live demonstrations of many finishing technologies, including die cutting, perfect binding, trimming, slitting and creasing, folding, saddlestitching, inspection systems, and roll-fed print solutions.
New solutions displayed include the new Horizon BQ-480 Perfect Binder, the latest introduction in the brand’s line of perfect binders.
Also featured were two new saddlestitching solutions that made North American debuts at Print 17. The Standard Horizon StitchLiner Mark III features expanded booklet size and increased productivity up to 6,000 booklets per hour. The Standard Horizon FoldLiner takes an innovative, hybrid approach, combining saddlestitching and folding to go from large format digital or offset press sheets to saddlestitched booklets in one efficient system.
Elsewhere in the booth, visitors saw the Standard Horizon AFV-566/TV-564 Folder, an automated and dynamic machine that achieves new levels of production efficiency in folding. Advanced automation reduces setup time and allows easy operation via color touchscreen, and the uniquely designed buckle plate ensures consistent, accurate folds while also accommodating a wider range of substrates. The system also features automatic scoring navigation and double-sheet detection, improved registration, and easier sheet loading.
Premiering in North America at the show was Hunkeler’s POPP8 finishing line for roll-to-stack production, which builds off of the successes of the POPP6 line, featuring even greater automation, a wider range of formats and paper weights, and increased speeds and web width. POPP8 has been designed with full-color inkjet applications in mind, and supports substrates from 27 lb text to 12 point card.
Tecnau exhibited innovative feeding and finishing solutions in Canon, Konica Minolta, Ricoh, Screen, and Xerox booths. In its own booth the company showcased its Stack 2325 cut/stack system and a Roll 9 roll-to-roll system with WebVision EXspect and TC 1550 HS 2P dynamic perforating and punching processor.
Therm-O-Type showcased the NSF Ultra Foil Press, which offers large format foil stamping and die cutting. Applications include pocket/presentation folders, packaging, greeting cards, business cards, stationary, invitations and announcements, commercial letterpress work, as well as die cut, scored, and perforated products.
Videk showcased its DocuVision Lite inline automated quality control for the Canon Océ ColorStream presses. It is an inine, full-page automated quality inspection system and offers jet detection, web viewing, and digital proofs.
Running every day in the VITS stand were two web Sprint Book Lines intelligently registering two preprinted, inkjet webs to produce a multi-page commercial flyer. The line consisted of two unwinds, two infeeds, two ribbon decks, inline former folder, and the Sprint Variable Repeat Rotary Cutter. The company also showcased the VITS DS splicer, designed for continuous production.
W+D premiered several of its new Performance Class technologies and showed for the first time several new direct mail applications. The company ran its new W+D Halm i-Jet, a four-color envelope overprint envelope press. It also ran its BB700 S2 performance class inserter, featuring a unique read and print direct mail application on a USPS full automate rate approved shape cut envelope.
Zünd exhibited the fully configured G3 M-2500, a highly versatile, multi-functional cutting/routing/finishing system with a cutting area of 52×98 inches. Also displayed was the latest version of Zünd Design Center, an Adobe Illustrator plug-in for creating packaging and three-dimensional displays.
Finished Output
Finishing remains a prime consideration for print providers looking to improve capacity by adding revenue or productivity. This selection of products and vendors represents a snapshot of what the industry offers in the way of finishing.
In part three we look at software and workflow tools featured on the show floor.
Click here to read part three of this exclusive online series, Streamline Operations with Software.
Sep2017, DPS Magazine
