IPEX 2006 — BIG SHOWING IN BRITAIN
Because our country is so large and self-sufficient, Americans are generally loathe to travel internationally. So Americans are not expected at IPEX, the once-every-four-years trade show held in Birmingham, UK. But, in many respects, it is our loss. Those who made the trip for the eight-day show saw the latest in printing technology across a wide spectrum of processes and business applications.
Although the number of Americans was small (many U.S. exhibitors, of course, were there), the exhibition attracted 52,432 visitors—shy of the 62,000 claimed by the PRINT show last year in Chicago, but well ahead of the 40,000 expected at Graph Expo & Converting Expo this fall. Many had expected that IPEX 2006 would not be well attended, following general declines in many trade exhibitions. But, aside from a very slow first day, crowds were excellent and steady throughout the show. What these visitors saw was a complete spectrum of equipment, software and consumables for those interested in digital, lithographic, ink-jet, flexographic, gravure and screen printing.
Eastern Attendance
Attendance at IPEX 2006 was especially strong from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, with more than 2,000 visitors from each area. As these developing regions gain economic strength, printing is one of the first manufacturing capabilities that their entrepreneurs seek. Manufacturers reported especially strong sales in these markets.
Among the announcements were a 15-unit KBA Rapida 105 triple coater press for Graf Poz in Poland, and a four-color Rapida 130 VLF press for Gopsons Paper in New Delhi, India. Komori announced the sale of the first new heatset web press to be installed in Latvia, by Printing Group Mukusala. American printers should take note that unlike the situation just a few years ago—when developing countries were the dumping grounds for obsolete equipment from the United States—today these foreign printers are purchasing modern, labor-saving equipment.
In 2004, the flagship German trade show became known as ‘the JDF Drupa’ with nearly every exhibitor demonstrating how their machines could move data according to the JDF and JMF protocols. At IPEX 2006, JDF was much more a fact of life, having gained broad acceptance. Although exhibitors keenly promote JDF, printers appear to be still trying to understand its full capability, and implementation remains piecemeal.
But IPEX attendees had the opportunity to hear several printers discuss their implementation success at a standing-room-only R&E Council session chaired by Ray Hartman, RR Donnelley senior vice president of manufacturing and technology. As might be expected, the session was dominated by industry suppliers, not by printers, but observers could not help but be impressed at the aura of cooperation among those vendors in the room.
IPEX 2006 saw the industry embarking on an era in which vendors work together for their common good, as well as that of their customers. Perhaps this is a reflection of the pressure now felt in the industry, but regardless, it bodes well for those buying equipment or software in the future.
An especially interesting aspect of IPEX 2006 was a daily program called INNOV8. Free to all attendees, the program featured speakers from around the world discussing topics ranging from trends in packaging to industry globalization.
Keynote speakers for these sessions included luminaries such as Bernhard Schreier, CEO of Heidelberg; Armando Zagalo de Lima, president of Xerox Europe; and Antonio Perez, chairman and CEO of Kodak. Tutorial sessions focusing on new technologies and operational techniques were also offered by exhibiting manufacturers.
Digital UK
The strength of digital printing at IPEX 2006 was perhaps best shown by the size of the Xerox stand—said to be even larger than that of Heidelberg. But Océ, Hewlett-Packard, Canon, Kodak and even Screen also made significant statements in the digital arena. Océ showed its VarioPrint 6250 printer, which produces 250 duplex pages per minute (ppm) and is said to be suitable for volumes in the range of 600,000 to 8 million pages per month. The Screen Truepress Jet520, launched at IPEX and available in October, is a full-color, roll-to-roll, ink-jet press capable of 420 color ppm.
Canon, too, is rapidly moving into production printing, with its imagePRESS C1 and C7000VP machines, and a collaboration with EFI that makes JDF operational in the toner world. At IPEX, more than at any recent show, the potential and viability of ink-jet and toner-based printing—and the threat these processes offer to conventional offset—was apparent.
But the offset crowd had plenty to talk about, as well. Heidelberg announced a cold foil module for use with its Speedmaster CD 74 and CD 102 sheetfed presses, similar to the one shown by MAN Roland at the last
IPEX comes around again in 2010. It might be wise then to dust off your passport and check out the extravaganza billed as ‘the world’s second largest printing show.’
About the Author
Dennis Mason is president of Mason Consulting, a firm specializing in marketing and technology issues in the graphic arts and electronic industries. He may be reached via his Website, www.masonconsulting.com.
