By DPS Staff
The 12th Hunkeler Innovationdays took place from February 20 to 23, 2017 at the Messe Lucerne exhibition facility. The international event focused on total integrated solutions and practical applications for the production and finishing of digitally manufactured printed products. This year, it attracted approximately 80 exhibitors.
Throughout the event, thousands of visitors experienced product demonstrations and launches, as well as the opportunity to network and gather information from key manufacturers of digital printing systems, software solutions, and consumables and finishing material providers for transactional, graphic arts, direct mail, production, and security printing.
On the Floor
Attracting a targeted selection of vendors, many products were demonstrated—and some unveiled for the first time—on the show floor. Here, we provide several highlights from exhibitors.
Crown Van Gelder introduced the market possibilities of bringing gloss and protection to uncoated paper for water-based inkjet through a joint effort with its Swiss partners Schmid Rhyner and Hunkeler.
Canon highlighted the Océ ProStream 1000 continuous inkjet printer. The device supports uncoated, inkjet-optimized, gloss, and matte-coated papers at premium quality.
DNSC introduced INKcrypt ink-identity technology, the Qtouch ink authentication tester, UV Spector ProX invisible UV fluorescent ink-signature analyzer, and X-Series, a new family of pigment powders and dispersions to serve as base components for custom development and production of ink, paint, paste, dispersion, gel, cream, and powder. These special effect base materials photo-luminesce, fluoresce, absorb IR, and change color with light or heat. X-Series materials have customizable properties that allow for various unique market applications associated with digital and non-digital printing applications.
Drewsen Spezialpapiere supplies its speciality and security papers to customers throughout the world. Since its foundation in 1538 the family-owned company has developed into a highly productive manufacturer of premium speciality papers. 400 employees can produce 185 tons of high-quality papers per annum. Its product portfolio consists of three product groups, PROSECURA Security Papers, PROFINO Print and Packaging Papers, and PROTECH Technical Papers. The company exhibited its range of high-speed inkjet papers—PROINKJET Classic Plus, PRINKJET Smart, and PROINKJET Professional at the show.
Francis Buehler offers its BIG-JET printers and process engineering with customized interfaces and front-end applications. Printheads featuring HP technology integrate into existing production lines for labels, forms, and newspapers. Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of production and use innovative and flexible tools for direct coding on paper and film.
HP introduced the HP PageWide Web Press T235, part of the T200 HD Color Series. The continuous-feed inkjet press offers a native resolution of 2,400 nozzles per inch with HP’s High Definition Nozzle Architecture. The company also demonstrated the HP PageWide Web Press T240 HD, HP Indigo 12000 Digital Press, and the ability to create book blocks from rolls printed on the new oversized B1 duplex HP Indigo 50000 Digital Press. The T240 HD is designed for commercial, production mail, and book print providers requiring reliable color performance in a two-up production environment. At the show, the press printed a variety of applications from customers around Europe. The HP Indigo 50000 30-inch rolls were cut into glued book blocks using the Hunkeler PF 7.
Hunkeler previewed its next machine generation, featuring automation advancements as well as new modules for processing paper widths of up to 22.5 inches. Rounding out the exhibition program was a suite of finishing solutions from Horizon of Japan, including automated book manufacturing, saddlestitching, and folding.
KBA highlighted the RotaJET L series, which is offered in 1/1 and 4/4 configurations for web widths from 77 to 138 centimeters. The press can be tailored flexibly to individual applications, and also allows for retrospective expansion in terms of width and number of colors. The modular RotaJET L models are complemented by the RotaJET VL series for web widths up to 225 centimeters. Maximum flexibility, excellent print quality, and ultimate productivity are the hallmarks of the company’s RotaJET digital web presses.
Kodak showcased how the latest advancements to its Stream and ULTRASTREAM Technology create new opportunities in digital print. Prototypes and various configurations of Kodak ULTRASTREAM Technology were displayed as well as printed samples. The company also introduced the Kodak 800 Print Manager—its newest front end—designed to drive high-speed inkjet presses.
Kolbus showcased the new high-performance digital print three-knife-trimmer KOLBUS HD-HD 143. This machine features a unique combination between print on demand capabilities and industrial level output in the range of several thousand books per hour.
Mitsubishi HiTec Paper presented its comprehensive portfolio of coated JETSCRIPT inkjet papers for demanding high-speed digital printing applications, such as direct mailings, flyers, and books on demand. By using the coated JETSCRIPT papers—matte, satin, semi-glossy—a printer is able to significantly increase productivity and expand its range of products in a future-oriented manner.
Muller Martini presented the future of finishing with innovative, automated, and seamless solutions in the production of digital and variable print products. Live demonstrations included the Vareo perfect binder and Hunkeler system, InfiniTrim Three-Knife Trimmer, and Presto II Digital Saddle Stitcher. Additionally, Connex, Muller Martini’s exclusive data and process management system, connected to Hunkeler’s roll-to-stack line, resulting in true PDF to finished book softcover production. This marked the first time Muller Martini allowed its proprietary software to run with the systems of another machine manufacturer.
Neenah announced the largest refresh to date of its comprehensive line of Neenah Digital Papers. The expansion includes the addition of 70 new items including new colors, new textures, added sheet sizes and basis weights. The Neenah Digital Papers portfolio now includes 22 brands, 19 unique textures, 60+ colors, as well as multiple packaging and label options.
Pitney Bowes showcased its intelligent mailing software, including the Clarity Solutions Suite, which brings the transformational benefits of the industrial internet to production mail. The company also displayed the latest model of its Epic Inserting System, a multi-format inserter that features new client-led innovations, including automated set-up capabilities that make it even more versatile and user friendly. Pitney Bowes also demonstrated its IntelliJet 20 HD Printing System with enhanced High Definition Nozzle Architecture technology.
Ricoh demonstrated its RICOH Pro VC60000 continuous feed inkjet printer and its RICOH Pro C9100 color cutsheet digital production press in action. With these demonstrations, advanced workflow software solutions, and pre-printed production samples, attendees viewed the array of creative print possibilities that Ricoh’s solutions and services provide.
Screen GP demonstrated its flagship Truepress Jet520HD press printing onto standard offset coated paper using new inkjet inks for the first time—expanding the flexibility and cost effectiveness of this powerful system. The event also marked the commercial launch of the Truepress Jet520NX, featuring a new printhead module supporting 600×1,200 dpi output and a design that can be fitted with an extra printhead for a fifth color enables the use of MICR black ink and other special inks.
SpencerMetrics highlighted its CONNECT solution, which captures and analyzes pressroom data—real-time machine data enhanced with shop floor knowledge—producing actionable information to maximize productivity and reduce cost. Cloud-based analytics offer operational insight into multi-vendor production equipment, providing pressroom productivity optimization—manage people, process, and press.
Tecnau highlighted its Stacker s25, shown for first time at Dscoop. The company’s soon-to-be-available Stacker s25 features a new gripper technology—patent pending—for gentle and reliable, damage-free handling of heavy-ink-coverage graphic arts and direct mail applications printed by the HP PageWide Web Press. At the show, the company demonstrated the Stacker s25 stacking sheets produced by the Cutter c20 single-cutting cutter; Stacker s25 is also available to stack output from the Tecnau Cutter c23 double-cutting cutter, for full bleed output and spit line removal. The new stacking solution requires no manual adjustment when changing media or application.
W+D presented its multi-format inserting system with the new W+D BB550 XL. The servo-driven machine reaches speeds of up to 12,000 products per hour. It not only reliably processes all smaller formats from #9 and #10 envelopes to 10×13 inches, but also large envelopes with a larger insertion depth. Another essential feature of the BB550 XL is its expanded packaging strength of up to .082 inches. The new W+D CF2 Catalog Feeder on the basis of the W+D rotary feeders also made its debut.
Xerox showcased how its solutions enable customers to move into today’s biggest growth areas with its entry inkjet portfolio, including the cutsheet Xerox Brenva HD Production Inkjet Press; the continuous-feed Xerox Trivor 2400 Inkjet Press with Xerox High Fusion Ink; and the narrow web roll-to-cutsheet Xerox Rialto 900 Inkjet Press.
Innovation and Trends
Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017 offers an international stage for manufacturers of digital production equipment. A variety of solutions were showcased across two exhibition halls, targeting a range of digital applications.
Mar2017, DPS Magazine
