Agfa Graphics

Technology Drives Business Growth FALL CREEK, WI—Mail Source, a provider of integrated direct mail solutions, has added a Domino dual-head, drop-on-demand (DoD) imaging system to complement its existing capacity. This additional line can duplex personalize plastic cards at extremely high speeds using UV cured ink. The 20 year-old western Wisconsin company continues to invest millions of dollars in technology to attract high-volume business—without a sales staff (although it employs 100). For Mini Folds, the Smaller the Better NEW BRITAIN, CT—Connecticut Valley Bindery recently purchased a two-station Vijuk G&K V-14 SAF miniature folder with HHS hot glue system from Vijuk Equipment. “We are excited

Green Printer Promotes ‘Blue Air’ PHOENIX—As Arizona’s only employee-owned commercial printing company, O’Neil Printing is used to thinking outside the box. Which is why it comes as no surprise to those familiar with the company (especially its clients and friends in the community) that it is a leading environmental steward. O’Neil has its own sustainability program, which focuses on recycling excess production materials including paper, aluminum printing plates and corrugated cartons, as well as properly treating and reusing the chemicals in its printing processes. O’Neil has also teamed with Toyo Ink and is utilizing Toyo’s HyPlus 100 process series inks, which are entirely VOC-free.

FLATBED MODELS are currently a hot trend in the wide-format ink-jet printer segment and were spotlighted by exhibitors at Drupa 2008 earlier this year. This technology puts the emphasis on volume production for more everyday applications, not the spectacular building and vehicle wraps done roll-to-roll. Particularly with dimensional point-of-purchase (POP) materials, productivity is enhanced by the capability to print directly on rigid substrates, rather than mounting/laminating printed sheets to a backing material in a separate production step. Teaming a flatbed printer up with a digital cutter further speeds turnaround of completed pieces. UV ink-jet technology dominates this product category because of the substrate

Printing Impressions and InfoTrends have recently conducted a survey of Printing Impressions’ readers that focused on their use of wide-format digital printing equipment. The respondents to the survey fell into two main groups: in-plant operations and print-for-pay establishments. Participants were asked various questions regarding their current wide-format equipment and services, as well as future plans for their wide-format business. (See Chart 1.) The results show that while aqueous ink-jet is still the dominant technology, there is a growing presence in the production and commercial printing market of newer printing technologies. More than 67 percent of respondents indicated that they currently own an aqueous ink-jet

CHICAGO—The Chicago Sun-Times has obtained nine Agfa Advantage CLS digital platemaking systems, as well as Arkitex workflow components that include Autoplan and Afirma for increased monitoring and automation. The Advantage CLS is a cassette-loading system with a throughput of up to 220 plates per hour.

GHENT, BELGIUM—August 18, 2008—The world’s graphic arts experts have come together to release v4 of the Ghent Workgroup specifications (http://www.gwg.org/GWGversion4.phtml) for automated workflow efficiency in the range of application and output environments. v4 of the specifications supports Adobe Acrobat 9 - which itself includes Universal Proof of Preflight developed by the Ghent Workgroup. Heading the list of additional enhancements to v4 is a check for missing glyphs, one of the leading causes of preflight and page production frustration. GWG’s specifications have become the international benchmark for PDF quality assurance. The free specifications are utilized by designers, prepress and printers

RESTON, VA—Graphic communications professionals seeking the latest wide format imaging technologies and equipment will find them at GRAPH EXPO® 2008, all highly visible across the show floor and more densely clustered in the Wide Format Pavilion. This year’s show, the largest graphic communications exhibition and conference in the Western Hemisphere will be held October 26 - 29, in Chicago’s McCormick Place. More than 600 exhibitors, including the industry’s top wide format manufacturers and suppliers, will showcase a full range of graphic communications equipment across 450,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. The Wide Format Pavilion debuted six years ago with a mere five

GHENT BELGIUM—July 21, 2008—Access to the comprehensive, best practice workflow specifications and resources are now easier than ever for printers, prepress professionals and designers as The Ghent Workgroup (GWG) unveils its newly streamlined, fast website, www.gwg.org. In addition the GWG, the international cross-section of PDF and print experts known for creating, testing, and releasing specifications and best practices that have been proven to make it easier for users to ensure PDF document quality across workflows around the world; announces newly elected officers to its executive committee. The www.gwg.org Website The latest version of the website has been completely revamped to address the expanding population

BIRMINGHAM, UK—July 2, 2008—Following the official launch of Ipex 2010 at the highly successful Stars in Print reception at Drupa 2008, which was attended by over 90 of the industry’s senior management, the Ipex 2010 organizers are thrilled to announce that they have sold out its pre-media and digital solutions halls 9, 10, 11 and 12. Major exhibitors in these halls include HP, Kodak, Ricoh, Agfa Graphics, Epson, Canon, Screen, Xeikon, Konica Minolta, Canon, Fuji and many others, some of which have significantly increased the size of their stands. In particular, Konica Minolta has increased its footprint by 400%; Canon by 91%, Fuji by

DRUPA’S STANDING as an international printing exhibition makes it the place to see the course of technological development in the industry laid out for the next four years. As even the following press and postpress wrap-up stories note, digital printing technology had its strongest showing yet. Even the developments in digital workflow were muted by comparison. Many of the product introductions were already covered in one of the Drupa Countdown stories published in editions of Printing Impressions leading up to the show. Therefore, this wrap-up will primarily focus on what was new in Düsseldorf. The event lived up to its billing as The Ink-Jet