Industry events help showcase the latest in greatest in equipment and workflow, as discussed in parts one through three of this four-part wrap up of Graph Expo, which took place from September 28 to October 1, 2014 in Chicago, IL.
This week, we feature highlights in regards to media and substrates that were on hand to support the digital print space either on their own or in partnership with hardware manufacturers.
Canon Solutions America
Canon Solutions America, a subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc. showcased inkjet printing capabilities in the Canon U.S.A. booth. To display the breadth of applications, the company highlighted its paper partnerships that make up part of its Inkjet Media Catalog, released earlier this year.
The variety of high-speed inkjet paper choices from Canon Solutions America are a result of its partnerships with paper mills and close collaboration to meet the demand for inkjet-printed books, direct mail, commercial, transactional, and promotional materials. The Canon Solutions America media lab, located in Boca Raton, Florida, works with paper partners to test a variety of media and optimize production performance. The result: customers now have access to hundreds of stocks from over 30 paper mills.
Visitors witnessed seven production inkjet applications printed in the Canon U.S.A. booth throughout the four-day event. Applications range from insurance explanation of benefits (EOB) to self-mailers and trade books printed with pigment inks. Sunday featured a garden-themed self mailer printed on Mitsubishi DL 1984, a coated inkjet paper chosen for its high-quality performance on personalized communications with photos and color graphics. Monday displayed transactional printing with examples of an EOB and utility bill; both printed on Domtar VividJet, available from Enterprise Group, a Domtar business. Tuesday focused on books, with the young adult trade book, After the Curtain Falls, printed on Resolute Ecopaque Laser, and Wacky Waddles, a children’s book printed on International Paper’s Accent Opaque with ImageLok. Wednesday featured direct mail applications, including two self-mailers with dynamic perforation, both printed on Mitsubishi DL 1984.
Booth visitors were also able to see, touch, and take home preprinted samples of three more applications from paper companies that partner with Canon Solutions America. They include a rain forest book and calendar printed with dye inks on Cham Promo Print D, as well as a folded mailer Canon Solutions America used in its own marketing, printed on Glatfelter Pixelle Duo Matte.
Domtar Corporation
Domtar Corporation introduced a new packaging look, a realignment of the product line, as well as a series of enhancements to the Xerox Paper and Specialty Media line.
The Xerox Paper and Specialty Media Line has been reorganized into three product families, Vitality, which includes versatile office papers for a variety of users; Bold, a line of professional office papers and digital printing papers; and Revolution, a line of specialized paper, films, and materials.
GPA
GPA announced that it expanded its product offering to two new markets, wide format inkjet and HP Indigo 10000 series presses. The new offerings round out the company’s lineup for offset, toner digital, and HP Indigo series 1-4 presses.
Magnum Magnetics
Magnum Magnetics highlighted its DigiMaxx, a new printable flexible magnetic material designed to provide maximum yield from wide format presses.
Master Magnetics
Master Magnetics, the Magnet Source, presented how magnets can serve the graphics, sign, and display markets. The Magnet Source brand includes a range of flexible magnetic sheeting and strip, magnetic receptive sheeting and strip, and magnetic assemblies for simple and cost-effective graphics display solutions.
Mohawk
Manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes, and specialty substrates for commercial and digital printing, Mohawk announced the expansion of its embedded card and synthetic substrate product lines. The company’s expanded embedded card product line now includes Laminated Perf Cards, Poly Peel Cards, and Premium Polyester Cards for HP Indigo.
The company also introduced a new line of inkjet media, is designed for emerging Memjet-class wide format inkjet printers. The new Mohawk Inkjet media line consists of four substrates designed to support a variety of printing applications. New products include Mohawk Inkjet DuPont Tyvek, Mohawk Inkjet Polyester Pressure Sensitive Permanent Adhesive, New Inkjet Matte Backlit Film, and Mohawk Inkjet Textured Lightblock Film.
Mondi
Mondi promoted its high-speed inkjet paper portfolio. The company offers a range of paper portfolios optimized for different high-speed inkjet presses, including those from Canon, HP, Ricoh, Screen, Kodak, and Xerox. Its paper range was printed and finished live, offering customers a first-hand look at its quality.
The company recently announced new warehouses in Dayton, NJ; Chicago, IL; and Los Angeles, CA to complement its Midland distribution.
Digital Print Innovation
The above only represents a few of the innovations announced on the show floor. This concludes our Web wrap up from Graph Expo. Check out the previous articles that recap the latest in digital printing hardware, finishing, and software and workflow.
Oct2014, DPS Magazine
