By DPS Staff
Once again print professionals headed to Chicago, IL this trade show season to see the latest announcements across key industry segments firsthand, including inkjet, digital, offset, flexographic, gravure, hybrid technologies, and products and services for the commercial, transactional, converting and package printing, publishing, mailing, in plant, photo imaging, marketing, and industrial printing industries.
The event was held in Chicago’s McCormick Place from September 13 to 16, 2015, featuring demonstrations across the show floor as well as educational sessions. According to the show hosts, the Graphics Arts Show Company (GASC), Graph Expo 15 featured more than 70 interactive learning sessions and over 50 co-located events. It reports a total 17,941 verified participants, which includes both exhibitors and attendees, and of this 11,534 were attendees/buyers.
Digital Equipment
Digital print, driven by both inkjet and electrophotographic technologies, continue to take over the once offset-heavy show floor. Several leading vendors demonstrated noteworthy equipment in their booths through physical and virtual demonstrations.
Coming right off of its Canon Expo event, Canon U.S.A. demonstrated the new imagePRESS C10000VP Digital press, which offers production print at up to 100 images per minute. The company also represented its recently launched Océ VarioPrint i300 cutsheet inkjet printer and the ColorStream 3000 Z Series high-volume, full-color continuous-feed inkjet system.
Komori America and Screen Holdings Co., Ltd. announced a strategic selling agreement that joins the two companies’ sales organizations. Through the partnership, Komori America becomes the sole U.S. distributor of Screen’s new Truepress Jet520HD.
Konica Minolta offered several pre-production previews in its booth on a variety of different technologies, including KM-1 high-speed inkjet technology. The company also showcased the bizhub PRESS C71cf digital label printer.
MGI Digital Technology demonstrated the Meteor DP1000 XL high-speed digital production press. The device is integrated inline with the DF pro finishing system as well as a new digital toner foiling solution, the iFOIL T.
For the first time in the U.S., Xerox showcased the iGen 5 and Rialto 900 Inkjet Press.
Additionally, Hewlett-Packard (HP) highlighted the HP PageWide Web Press portfolio, OKI Data debuted the C942 digital production printer, Pitney Bowes introduced the AcceleJet roll to cutsheet printing solution, and Ricoh showcased the updated Ricoh Pro 8100e monochrome printer series.
Among wide format offerings, Mimaki showcased prototyping capabilities made possible with a combination of its printing and cutting solutions.
A variety of finishing vendors were on hand to demonstrate products and services that enable quality and productivity across a range of applications.
C.P. Bourg showcased its print finishing machines including the Bourg BSF Sheet Feeder in a tandem configuration.
Duplo and Ricoh partnered to introduce the 350R In-Line Booklet System, a print and booklet making solution that integrates the Duplo DBM-350/T booklet maker and trimmer with Ricoh Pro C7100/8100/9100 production printers.
Graphic Whizard unveiled six new machines, including the PT 335SCC Multi—an all-in-one finishing solution.
Scodix launched Scodix Foil, an inline digital foiling station for the Scodix Ultra Pro. Using a patent foiling process, Scodix digitally produces professional results.
Standard Finishing Systems featured a range of capabilities including die cutting, perfect binding and trimming, creasing and folding, saddle stitching, inspection systems, and roll-fed print solutions. In addition to end-to-end demonstrations, the company unveiled a smart-sheet processing system from Horizon of Japan, and also debuted a new dynamic perforating and punching module from Hunkeler of Switzerland.
Many other finishing solutions were demonstrated on the show floor. See the following page for additional highlights.
Change of Scenery
Next year, Graph Expo moves to Orlando, FL from September 25 to 28, 2016 at the Orange County Convention Center.
According to GASC, the relocation offers exhibitors and attendees the benefits of an “affordable destination during a business-focused time of year in Orlando.”
Once again, we plan to be on hand next Fall to cover the latest technologies, products, and services. dps
