DIGITAL digest

Ink-Jet Press Too Big for Graph ExpoTo Shoulder
KANSAS CITY, KS—When your high-volume, flatbed ink-jet technology can’t be shown at Graph Expo (because it takes five weeks to install), you bring the show—or, at least, some key potential buyers—to the technology. That’s what Fujifilm Sericol has been doing in the United States to officially roll out the new Onset high-speed, large-format UV digital flatbed printer developed in conjunction with Inca Digital Printers. The device jets three billion ink drops per second, producing quality prints at 100+ sheets (5x10-foot) per hour.

Starting in early August, the company kicked off its promotional campaign for the Onset by first inviting printing industry journalists, then scores of printers, to witness the printing system in action at the company’s new Inkjet Solutions Center. Since launching the demonstrations, it reports delivering a press each month.

Onset’s design draws on the core technologies Inca developed for its Columbia Turbo and Spyder printers. Fujifilm Sericol makes Uvijet UV inks used in the device, while Fujifilm Dimatix manufactures its Spectra piezoelectric, drop-on-demand printheads. The printhead array contains 73,728 ink-jet nozzles that spray bi-directionally and are housed in easy plug-in print bars.

Standard equipment includes an automatic load/unload system, but the unit can be switched to manual mode within seconds for immediate proofing or production of single prints. The Onset can be operated by one person with a 20-minute setup at the start of each day, and in production utilizes a camera alignment system and vacuum bed with pin registration to maintain accuracy.

Edge-to-edge printing allows images to be printed to bleed on substrates up to 0.39? thick at full speed, providing versatility in terms of what can be printed. Using patented Micro-V dispersion technology, the Uvijet UV digital inks are formulated with automotive-grade pigments that create vibrant, durable, light-fast colors, as well as superior adhesion to many different materials, including paper and board, wood, flexible and rigid plastics, and metal.

During the August press conference, media reps were given the opportunity to question two Onset owners: C2 Media from Englewood, CO, and Holland & Crosby from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada—both of whom gave rave reviews of the printer. The Inca Onset, which was introduced in April 2007, has been purchased by nine printing companies worldwide, all of whom, according to Fujifilm, are reporting exceptional speed and quality.

Printing companies aren’t the only ones giving the Onset two thumbs-up. The PIA/GATF InterTech Technology Award judges felt the Onset was worthy of being named a 2008 winner.

In his testimonial letter to the InterTech judges, Scott Crosby, from Holland & Crosby, reported: “The biggest thing we have noticed is the increase in productivity. With the Inca Onset, we get to print even faster, with more predictable and consistent output. As an example, we recently conducted a rerun of an exact job we printed last year. It was completed in five hours vs. 20 hours last year.

“The quality is another step forward,” Crosby continued. “Customers are commenting that the full-color digital printing is striking, and they are particularly impressed with the quality of the gloss settings. Now, we deliver a gloss finish without the need to apply a clear coat using another process.

“Perhaps the most significant indicator of the impact of the Inca Onset is that previously 25 percent of our work was digital. Now, it is already 70 percent,” he concluded.

Print Promo Driven by Cell Phone

BOLINGBROOK, IL—Goss International has been testing a new technology, called GossRSVP, that enables readers to interact with printed materials via a cell phone. In the pilot program, advertisers and publishers have been incorporating a small logo containing a two-dimensional barcode and alpha-numeric sequence into their printed materials. Depending on the type of cell phone, readers can scan the code or send a text message to receive a response, such as a coupon, on their cell phone.

Among the applications tested were “text-to-win” promotions by retailers, real estate agents adding inquiry codes to for-sale signs, newspaper polls and a product manufacturer offering downloadable video instructions. Initial testing of the response program was limited to a small group of advertisers and publishers near Goss’ facilities in New Hampshire.

It expects to expand Goss-RSVP geographically and explore extending the system to other media, including packaging, signage and electronic media.

The program’s cost model is described as being based primarily on utilization, similar to click-throughs for Internet advertising. Individual companies can purchase GossRSVP codes and manage their programs via www.gossrsvp.com.

PODi Offers New Tracks

ROCHESTER, NY—PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, has announced details of sessions to be offered at its seventh annual AppForum. The three-day conference, dedicated exclusively to digital printing applications, will be held January 19-21, 2009, in Las Vegas at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

• The new Direct Marketing Track is intended to address the needs of both service providers and their clients by providing best practices and strategies for creating and delivering direct marketing solutions, including transpromo.
• The new Web-to-Print Track explores strategies for service providers and enterprise marketers to make better use of the Internet.

• The Sales and Business Strategies Track is designed to help service providers be more successful with digital printing by implementing business models that fit their companies.

• The special Gold Sponsors Track consists of sessions led by top technology vendors supporting the 2009 AppForum.

For more info, visit www.podi.org/2009AppForum.

digital bytes

BOCA RATON, FL—Océ has opened a new Customer Experience Center at the headquarters of Océ Production Printing Systems here. The multimillion dollar, 18,000-square-foot facility provides visitors with hands-on access to the company’s full line of digital printing hardware (more than 60 systems) and software innovations, along with application and paper testing services.

ATLANTA, GA—Datadirect, a full-service digital printing, direct marketing and data management firm, selected Printable Technologies’ FusionPro Direct personalization solution to more efficiently handle its customers’ large-scale variable data publishing jobs. The company reports being able to cut the processing time for a 50,000-record job from three hours to eight minutes.