By DPS Staff
Part 1 of 4
Print 18 took place from September 30 to October 2, 2018 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. As the print industry continues to evolve, the annual trade show is designed to bring together professionals involved in printing and graphic communications.
In its 50th year, the Print 18 exhibit hall features new technologies, product introductions, and technical solutions for printing technologies. In addition to the exhibit hall, the event featured more than 80 educational sessions, with nearly 50 paid seminars and free education throughout the Learning Experience Theatre, the Printerverse, and the Exhibitor and Special Industry Presentations.
Kicking off the event, entrepreneur and best-selling author, Seth Godin, addressed the crowd for an opening keynote.
On the Floor
Many vendors exhibited on the show floor, offering digital print technologies.
Afinia Label featured its portfolio of label printers, including the L801 Industrial Color Label Printer, which is powered by Memjet Waterfall Printhead Technology. It features a stationary printhead and a 1.25 liter ink capacity for large print runs. Also displayed, the L701—the company’s lowest initial cost offering with Memjet technology; the L501 Industrial Color Label Printer featuring duo ink technology; and for smaller businesses, the L301 designed for short-run label printing.
Canon U.S.A. invited visitors to explore an imagined hospitality company in the #PRINTCANON Applications Gallery, which recreated a lobby, office, restaurant, and hotel room setting. The four vignettes showcase the diversity and relevance of digital print as well as the range of applications Canon technologies can produce from interior décor to corporate identity and promotional print, direct mail and transactional print, as well as signage and point of sale materials. Devices on display included the Canon imagePRESS C10000VP and imagePRESS C850 digital color sheetfed presses along with the Duplo DDC-810 Spot UV Coater. Also shown was the 64-inch, roll-to-roll Océ Colorado 1640 printer, which utilizes Canon’s UVgel technology. The company also featured live presentations from industry and product experts on inkjet and workflow innovation and showcased application samples from its full range of production inkjet presses.
Document Data Solutions showcased its Fuji-Samba based FS-1200 inkjet print system. The FS-1200 expands DDS’ existing color and monochrome inkjet technology from HP, Kyocera, Ricoh, and others. Additionally, the FS-1200 supports dye, pigment, UV curable, and latex inks for even greater flexibility.
HP highlighted a series of technologies. The HP Indigo 12000 HD Digital Press was demonstrated for the first time in the U.S. Visitors could also experience the latest innovations on the HP Indigo 7900 including ElectroInk Silver, invisible ElectroInks, and Premium white for commercial applications. Automation and optimization were demonstrated with new HP PrintOS features and applications. Further, the company highlighted HP SmartStream Collage, which takes automated variable imaging design to the next level. Attendees could also experience the new HP Latex R2000 Plus Printer, a latex hybrid wide format printer. It was shown for the first time in the Americas.
Konica Minolta featured the newest addition to its graphic arts and industrial portfolio, the AccurioWide 160 wide format printer. At its first public showing, the AccurioWide 160 is a UV wide format printer capable of printing four color process and white ink on a variety of roll, board, or sheet substrates up to 1.6 meters wide. Overall, the company displayed more than a dozen printers, presses, and finishers. The company featured demonstrations of the IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimizer, MGI JV3D 9000L, AccurioLabel 190 GM Edition, Webjet 100D, and the AccurioJet KM-1.
Printware showcased its iJetcolor NXT solution. The equipment uses the same high-quality, low-cost Memjet technology in a reconfigured print engine that allows a flatter, wider, and higher print path to print fast, clean envelopes, direct mail, and letterhead at a lower cost than any other device or method.
Ricoh USA, Inc. showcased the company’s commitment to making impactful, strategic investments in the people, processes, and technologies that help printers grow their businesses. Ricoh displayed an immersive and interactive experience that featured applications in a real-world setting. The company showcased the RICOH Pro C7210X Graphic Arts Edition five-color digital press, featuring inline sensors and calibration along with expanded fifth color capabilities. The RICOH Pro C9200 Graphic Arts Edition, a 135 page per minute (ppm) sheet-fed press was also featured. Also shown, the Ricoh Ri 3000/Ri 6000 and Ricoh Ri 100 direct to garment printers by Anajet, a Ricoh company.
RISO, Inc. demonstrated its ComColor GD line, including the GD7330 and GD9630 inkjet printers, offering speeds of up to 130 and 160 ppm, respectively. The company also demonstrated the T2 twin engine cutsheet production inkjet platform. Marketed at a solution for the transactional, direct mail, and short-run book publishing markets, the RISO T2 produces more than 320 color impressions per minute. The company also featured an optional roll-feed system connected inline to the T2.
Screen Americas highlighted its extensive portfolio of high-speed inkjet equipment, label and packaging solutions, and prepress and workflow products.
Xanté featured the En/Press as well as the X-32 Industrial Production Color UV Printer. The X-32 is an industrial production UV printer featuring six Ricoh printheads, a resolution of 720×1,200 dpi, a print area of 36×24 inches, and 11 inches height.
Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, discussed the benefits for its dry toner. The company’s electrophotographic digital color presses utilize LED array-based dry toner. The company says dry toners score well in terms of light fastness, which is particularly appealing for label and packaging applications.
Xerox showcased the recently introduced Iridesse Production Press, featuring Exclusive Color FLX Technology. Visitors to the booth learned about the company’s new HD EA White Dry Ink and Extra-Long Sheet Printing on the Iridesse Production Press. Xerox also highlighted productivity enhancements to its Brenva HD Production Inkjet Press, new envelope capabilities with the Xerox Versant, and the ability to go beyond CMYK with the iGen 5 press.
Consider Print
For those looking to invest or expand their digital print capabilities, the Print 18 trade show offered a great resource. From entry-level label printers to high-speed continuous inkjet presses, there was something for everyone to see.
Next week, we highlight pre- and post-processing solutions showcased at Print 18.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Finsihing Trends.
Oct2018, DPS Magazine
