Digital bytes 8-01
TOKYO—Following 17 years of research and development, Elcorsy announced it has sold the first production model of its ELCO 400 press, based on Elcography technology. This "electrocoagulation" process is said to turn liquid ink into gel with electric fields generated by small wires located across from the imaging cylinder. The press was installed by Toyo Ink, a technology partner of Elcorsy, and reportedly will be used to print instant newspapers at popular music shows and international sporting events, as well as personalized color schoolbooks. (www.elcorsy.com)
RESTON, VA—The Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS) has defined an open, variable-data exchange standard, called CGATS.20 Graphic technology—Variable printing data exchange using PPML and PDF (PPML/VDX). The standard is intended to make it easier for designers to create and proof variable-data jobs, and for commercial printers to produce them. PPML/VDX defines a standardized implementation of the Personalized Print Mark-up Language (PPML) specification using PDF-based workflows.
Interested parties are invited to participate in the task force development activity, review drafts and submit comments to the CGATS Secretariat at mabbott@npes.org.
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—The four-page CTP market continues to heat up for Screen (USA), which has logged two new users of its PlateRite 4000 thermal platesetter. The printing services department at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) recently moved to CTP-based production to cut its costs and turnaround times, reports Dean Gray, director of materials management.
After eight months of research, H&H Corporate Printing in Winter Haven, FL, made the transition to computer-to-plate production overnight. "The day the PTR4000 went in we turned off our Screen DT-R1065 imagesetter," says Steve Powers, co-owner. The shop also installed Screen's Trueflow Internet-based workflow solution and Spekta hybrid screening process. (www.screenusa.com)
BIRMINGHAM, UK—Xerox says it is demonstrating its commitment to the graphic arts market by securing an entire hall at next year's IPEX 2002 exposition. "Future Print Now" will be the theme of its stand, which will emphasize the company's new capabilities in print-on-demand and showcase its recent advances in the area of e-printing. This addition brings the total number of halls to 16, three more than were utilized for IPEX 98.
IPEX 2002 is scheduled to run from April 9-17, 2002. The exhibitor list currently includes more than 1,500 companies and the event will offer a number of special features including PrintCity, a workflow project driven by MAN Roland and Agfa, Converflex@IPEX 2002, which will focus on converting and flexo technologies, and Upex, a showcase for used printing machinery. (www.ipex.org)
FAIRFAX, VA—Insty-Prints recently upgraded its A.B.Dick direct-to-plate system to the Digital PlateMaster DPM2340 model. "The quality of the DPM2340 is tremendous, especially with graduated screens," says Jim Hawkins, owner. "We don't send any work out to service bureaus now."
The platesetter supports the shop's trio of A.B.Dick Century 3000 two-tower presses and a 9870 one-color machine. The presses, in turn, are backed up by a Watkiss Vario collating and finishing system. The shop's recent move to a new location almost doubled its size, and was spurred by an increase in sales to $1.25 million. (www.abdick.com)
ATLANTA—Performance Printing has established a new digital printing division called Performance Digital Printing. "With this new division, we have expanded our offerings to include the newest color and black-and-white digital printing devices for short-run projects," says Tom MacPherson, president. (www.performanceprinting.com)
HANOVER PARK, IL—Fujifilm's PictroProof digital color proofer has been SWOP certified by the review committee. The company's FujiProof analog system and FinalProof digital halftone proofer had previously received SWOP certification.
Fujifilm recently logged several new sales of its digital proofing solutions. ColorPlus Graphics, a full-service prepress and printing firm based in Cerritos, CA, installed a FinalProof system as part of its effort to eliminate analog proofing. Worcester, MA-based Mercantile/Image Press has teamed up FinalProof and PictroProof proofers to offer clients a hierarchy of proofing capabilities to meet their quality and cost expectations. Finger Lakes Press in Auburn, NY, opted to install a PictroProof because of its accurate match on-press, speed and affordability.
In other news, Oak Creek, WI-based McAdams Graphics is running two Dart Luxel T6000 thermal CTP platesetters. The four-up devices were selected for their speed, consistency and automated operation, says Paul McAdams, prepress manager. Art & Print in Washington, IL, also has installed a Dart Luxel T6000, helping it cut its makeready times by 50 percent, reports Brent Pflederer, plant manager. (www.fujifilm.com)
DES PLAINES, IL—Schawk Inc. has set up a new Design and Global Production Resource Center in downtown Chicago. The center is being managed by Doug Kohler, vice president, studio services, and Jim Pickert, general manager. (www.schawk.com)
LEXINGTON, KY—BlueGrass Mailing Services has become the first installation site for the new Scitex Dijit 5122 printing system from Scitex Digital Printing. The system provides a wider print width for producing all types of postal barcodes, more lines of print, larger font sizes, and improved text and graphics. "The 5122 not only provides the features we must have to satisfy our clients, but also ensures the reliability and runnability to meet production demands," says Bill Nichols, vice president of marketing at BlueGrass. (www.scitexdpi.com)
NEW YORK CITY—Print Digital boasts having the first Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 DI installed in the city. The six-color, direct imaging press prints a 20x29˝ format. According to founder Tom Fischer, the company was started five years ago to capitalize on the capabilities of the Quickmaster DI press. "As our customer base continues to grow, we can now deliver larger format, six-color printing with in-line coating," Fischer adds. The company also is growing physically, with the larger press dictating its move to a bigger facility. (www.heidelbergusa.com)
LAUREL, MD—Millennium Printing & Graphics has acquired a Xerox DocuColor 2045 digital printer driven by the CreoScitex CSX color server. "Our customers are increasingly asking for full-color at lower quantities and with variable data," says Janice Tippett, president. (www.designprintpromote.com)
STOUGHTON, MA—Courier Co.'s plant here has installed a CreoScitex thermal CTP system to handle its text and cover work. It is the third Courier facility to implement an all-digital workflow, following the lead of the Westford, MA, and Kendallville, IN, plants. (www.courier.com)
