Space Asia Magazine Issue 1 - Nov 2014

PERMIT MCI (P) 090/03/2014

A S I A

ONE

SPACE ASIA • DIGITAL PRINT • 01 NOVEMBER 2014

V

I

S

I

O D

E

N C

A E

S M

I B

A E

• R

I

S

S

U

2

0

1

Another product from Vision Asia Media promotional opportunities exist for advertisers with vision contact sales@visionmagazine.asia for details

E 4

1

0

ONE SPACE ASIA MAGAZINE • DIGITALLY PRINTED DECORATION • ISSUE 01 NOVEMBER 2014

C O N T E N T S Overview 4 textiles & garments new products

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

7 13

interiors 19 events 22 glass & ceramics

23

3d artistry

29

software 32 media 33

space asia magazine the new frontier

Published by Vision Asia Media Pte Ltd 57 Ubi Avenue 1 #03-06 Ubi Centre Singapore 408936

publisher ed boyes m +65 8120 2492 sales m +65 8120 2492 editorial m +65 8120 2492 circulation

@ @ @ @

editor@visionmagazine.asia sales@visionmagazine.asia editor@visionmagazine.asia info@visionmagazine.asia

Disclaimer: The publisher makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this magazine however technical specifications, information, performance data, corporate legal obligations, warranties and guarantees may vary from country to country and are subject to change without notice. The publisher accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, inconsistencies, technical or typographical errors. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. The publisher reserves the right to publish material at its discretion.

Space A S I A

What is Space Asia The new frontier Space Asia is Asia’s new digital decoration print-trade magazine featuring information and intelligence on digitally printable products used for commercial decorative, design, architectural or artistic purposes.

The editorial focus includes textiles, fabrics, DtG, wallpaper, decorations, ceramics, glass, wood, furniture, embroidery, 3D objects and promotional products plus anything else that can be digitally printed and used. In addition we look at associated applications and disciplines in clothing, fashion, architecture and interior design.

If you have a digital printer in your equipment inventory, Space Asia will be the magazine to read to find out where your next order may come from.

1 4

image credit: Joshua Harker, US born sculptor, designer and artist, Harker uses 3D printing as a creative medium Read the full artcile in Space Asia 2, February 2015

THE PRINTER THAT TAKES YOU TO THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

EFI™ VUTEk® HS100 Pro o

This revolutionary digital inkjet press delivers print quality approaching h ng hi n offset at the speed of screen—with lower operating costs than screen. It prints in white and has a full suite of automation and material handling options.

Take off with EFI. Visit http://vutek.efi.com/takeoff2

©2014 EFI. All rights reserved.

TEXTILES & GARMENTS

TEXTILES Roland DG “Texart” brand with RT-640 inkjet textile printer

1 8

The R T-6 4 0 i s a re s u l t o f ex te ns ive m ar ke t an d u s e r re s earc h in t he sp e c ial is t tex til e p rinti ng i n du s tr y a n d prov i de s the ma rke t w it h a s o l u tio n fo r t he m an u fac t u re o f s o f t s ig n age p rinted on fa br i c, s u ch a s po l ye s te r ba n n e rs an d fl ags , an d d e co ratio n s o n sp o r t swear gar m e n t s

Roland DG Corporation have launched its new “Texart” brand, designed exclusively for digital textile printing.

Following on from previous textile solutions, Roland DG has released the 64” RT-640 as the first product in its new Texart series and the first from its recently formed Textile Department. The RT640 is a dye sublimation transfer printer featuring

the latest generation print head, print control technology, RIP software and a choice of fourcolour (CMYK) or eight-colour (CMYKLcLmOrVi) original dye sublimation ink, backed by a comprehensive Roland warranty.

Roland management said that one of the RT-640’s major innovations is its new Texart ink and bulk ink delivery system. The newly developed Texart ink delivers vibrant colours with deep, rich blacks while the orange and violet inks increase the colour gamut for intense reds, oranges, deep blues and purples. Available in economical one litre bags, the RT-640 can be configured to deliver either one litre per colour in eight colour mode, or two litres per colour in CMYK, each with an automatic ink changeover system.

To leverage the new ink system and customer workflows, users have a choice between Roland VersaWorks Server Edition RIP and ErgoSoft Roland Edition RIP software, the later specifically developed for the RT-640 by textile printing RIP specialist ErgoSoft.

The RT-640 has many custom made digital textile features. Roland DG says that, among entrylevel dye sublimation transfer printers, the RT-

640 has achieved the industry’s highest level of practical print speed, 22 sqm/hr. A customised fan absorption system keeps transfer paper flat for printing combined with a newly designed media Feed Adjuster at the front and back provides even tensioning and prevents skewing, even over long distances.

Roland DG management believe that the demand for digital printers is growing as a means of increasing the efficiency of high-mix, low-volume production and tailored production in a wide range of fields, including fashion apparel, interior decor, gifts and promotional goods.

The RT-640 inkjet textile printer, a result of extensive market and user research in the specialist textile printing industry, provides the market with a solution for the manufacture of soft signage printed on fabric, such as polyester banners and flags, and decorations on sportswear garments.

Roland DG is increasing production of the RT-640 as part of the new manufacturing plant expansion.

Global shipping will begin in February 2015 with full global stocks available in March.

Gandy Digital Softjet textile printer Softjet is available in print widths of 1.88, 2.54 and 3.3 metres, can be equipped with Ricoh Gen 4 or 5 print heads and a synchronised roller system allowing higher speed where banding is minimised

Softjet 4 - 3312 • 4 colour printer with 12 x Ricoh Gen 4 heads with a speed up to 130sqm/hr using a 2 pass 600 dpi configuration Softjet 4 - 3308 • 4 colour printer with 8 x Ricoh Gen 4 heads with a speed up to 100sqm/hr using a 2 pass 600 dpi configuration Softjet 5 - 3304 Canadian company Gandy Digital will previewed its new Softjet printer series at the SGIA Expo in Las Vegas from October 22-24.

Gandy say the digital Softjets are heavy duty, high resolution, dye sublimation textile machines developed to suit textile printers, large format print houses as well as new and existing suppliers.

The Softjet suits applications such as indoor and outdoor soft signage, textile based graphics, wall coverings, flags and tradeshow displays.

There are 4 models available, the Softjet 4 - 3312 and 3308 plus the Softjet 5 - 3304 and 3306 units.

• 4 colour printer with 4 x Ricoh Gen 5 heads with a speed up to 156sqm/hr using a 2 pass 600 dpi configuration Softjet 5 - 3306 • 6 colour (CMYK + 2 transparent colours) with 6 x Ricoh Gen 5 heads with a speed up to 105sqm/hr using a 2 pass 600 dpi configuration.

Softjet is available in widths of 1.88, 2.54 and 3.3 metres, can be equipped with Ricoh Gen 4 or 5 print heads and a synchronised roller system allowing higher speed where banding is minimised.

Key features • No extra process needed to sublimate colours, eliminating the need for transfer paper • Optional built-in extraction unit is available allowing fumes to be removed during the fixation process • Optional inline cutting knives • Environmentally friendly - water based inks, improved noise reduction and low energy consumption • Cost effective full colour print for fast turnaround on short or long run jobs • Prints directly on coated or uncoated polyester and polyester blended fabrics • Direct contact heating bonds and gives vibrancy to colours instantly without a second process • Colours are fade and wash resistant for outdoor use with sharp text and resolution for indoor applications

TEXTILES

1 9

US based research company InfoTrends has announced its 2013-2018 Digital Textile Forecast saying the document analyses the textile market to establish application, ink usage, material splits, and trends as seen by technologist, manufacturing, and distribution, and digital printing system user stakeholders.

Digital printed textiles worldwide in 2013 accounted for about 600 Million square metres of printed fabrics that are estimated to grow at 39% Compound Annual Growth Rate (GAGR) by 2018 to about 30 billion square meters. While the global market will see growth, EMEA will remain strongest in overall print volume and production textile printing during this time frame. InfoTrends has also found that garment is the largest market, but décor is also growing rapidly. Industrial

applications are fragmented and require specific technical developments but are also growing.

A key area that is developing rapidly is the industry’s capacity for printing on fibres, such as cotton, using reactive inks. However, the growth in the use of manmade materials, including polyester based fabrics, is driving growth in the use of sublimation and direct disperses inks.

Pigment inks are emerging, but are primarily used in Décor application where these inks support simplification of production processes and the durability of pigments.

InfoTrends has also identified several key growth drivers in this market which include significant improvements to the environmental impact of

textile printing. This is due to the migration to digital print technology, democratisation of design from short run printing, new business opportunities for small and large producers such as digital printers, and improvements in operational efficiencies for fabric finishers by reducing tooling and enabling just in time manufacturing. These factors reduce waste, inventory and overhead and improve profitability.

As owners and retailers become more sensitive to their product impact on the environment, as well as address consumer needs for creativity and customisation, they are increasingly looking to digital producers as thought leaders that are fundamentally changing the supply chain and helping them become sustainable and profitable.

Mtex Vision and Mtex Blue textile printers Vision and Blue follow from the Mtex 5032 and 5032Pro launched at Fespa this year Digital textile printers Mtex Solutions launched two new direct-to-textile printers, the Mtex Vision and the Mtex Blue at Viscom in Frankfurt in early November 2014 saying both the Vision

and Blue machines follow on from the 3.2m wide Mtex 5032 and Mtex 5032Pro (pictured) pre and post fabric treatment machines launched at Fespa earlier this year.

Mtex Vision Shipping Now Target Transfer print market for direct printing onto stretch fabrics Features • No paper involved • Print and fix as one process • 1.85m wide • Ricoh Gen 5 print heads • Up to 1200 dpi • 4 colour or 8 colour options • Adhesive belt carrier system for stretch fabrics • Available with pigment ink set for poly cotton/natural fibre fabrics and direct disperse inks for polyester • Built-in heated drums calendars for fixation of ink • 2 litre bulk ink tanks • Ink pump system with full de-gassing • Mtex RIP with integrated touchscreen controls as standard

Mtex Blue Shipping January 2015 Target Display, apparel and textile print markets as an

entry level, DtG digital printer with in-built fixation Features • 1.6m wide • Epson DX 7 heads • 1440 dpi • 4 colour Blue Magenta Yellow Black • Roll-to-roll • Built in heat fixation • Direct disperse ink • 2 litre bulk ink system • Mtex RIP

DtG TECHNOLOGY REVIEW Going mainstream with Kornit Digital textile printing Direct-to-Garment printers are becoming essential investments for many business types as apparel decorators of all sizes want to use their existing textile experience to gain market share

1 10

below 1 Breeze 2 Avalanche 1000 3 Avalanche Hexa 4 Thunder top 5 Allegro opposite 6 Paradigm

1

2

5

PRINT

companies wanting to enter the market for digital direct-to-garment production need the versatility of being able to work with the many idiosyncrasies found across different fabric types. Quality needs to match the standards accomplished by the screen-process, but set-up and operation must be fast and straightforward.

It is recognised that the key elements needed for this industry should encompass the primary considerations of the ink technology, universal material compatibility and a robust, efficient system design, and these are the areas in which Kornit Digital has specialised since the company was founded a decade ago.

Direct-to-garment printing as a viable process first hit the headlines in 2004 and, during the nine intervening years between then and now, there has been a marked increase in both quality and speed.

This has coincided with a growth in the awareness of demand for more personalisation in fashion items as well as in general print applications, and it is here that the flexibility found only in digital production continues to excel.

3

Direct-to-garment printers are becoming essential investments for many different business types, ranging from the high street quick printers through to specialist screen-printers. Apparel decorators of all sizes want to be able to use their existing textile experience to gain market share and to be able to output short-runs, on-demand customised items and one-offs which, hitherto, were not possible to produce without a high financial premium.

Specialist approach

4

Kornit Digital’s specialist approach to the direct-togarment market has been based on its extensive knowledge of the digital printing industry combined with its own innovative technology.

These core criteria have enabled the company to design and manufacture a very specific family of industrial and commercial digital printers that incorporates its NeoPigment chemistry solution, and this has the huge advantage of being suitable for a wide range of fabrics.

The NeoPigment architecture has revolutionised digital textile printing as it removes the limitations imposed with dye-based formulations, resulting in a far more environmentally-friendly and efficient process. With all the benefits and none of the drawbacks of conventional pigmented chemistries, its versatility is unmatched as it is suitable for printing on multiple fabric types.

Finished garments have an excellent hand feel, a wide gamut, bright and intense colours, plus longterm durability and washfastness. Its efficiencies mean that production costs are reduced and there is no need for offline pre-treatment.

Aware that the direct-to-garment sector covers a broad range of potential end users, Kornit Digital has addressed the market logically with a portfolio of solutions that starts with a system for small companies with a low yet necessary requirement for quality production. Its mid-range machines cater for more heavy-duty shops that need an industrial-strength printer while, for mass production, there is a duo of top-of-the-range options. These are complemented by an add-on which gives screen-printers the option of a digital element to their carousels, enabling combination applications to be generated that provide the best of both worlds in terms of versatility, special effects and ink finishes.

Kornit Digital’s direct-to-garment printers all share a commonality that is based on the NeoPigment process that is unique to the company and its technology and which has been developed specifically for this industry. This stringent level of high quality manufacturing guarantees solutions that are designed for 24/7 operation, and long-term maintenance-free, highly accurate performance.

NeoPigment process The NeoPigment process has been formulated specifically for the company’s own portfolio, with technology that is based on years of experience and understanding exactly the opacity required, combined with the right vivacity of the colours and

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW DtG 5

up battery system allows the main power to be turned off when the machine is not being used.

The Avalanche 1000 features a print area of up to 90 x 60cm and 12cm wide pass printing. An automatic height adjustment mechanism allows printing over buttons, zippers and other protruding objects, at a rate of up to 300 light and 170 dark garments per hour.

2 the white inks, and a balanced rheology to ensure efficient and smooth flow properties through the print-head nozzles and onto the fabric. In addition to vivid and vibrant results, plus an extended colour gamut, the NeoPigment process provides high elasticity and excellent durability, generating efficient, cost-effective and environmentallyfriendly production that is 100% biodegradable and toxin-free, with long-lasting washfastness and light resistance.

The chemistry is designed to react with the pretreatment system, which is integrated into the printer for a seamless production work-flow.

Because Kornit’s machines are designed around a wet-on-wet principle, the job can be printed immediately with the pre-treatment, with no need to wait for drying prior to the ink being laid down.

This enables the NeoPigment process to fixate the inks onto the fibres of the garment, and this leads to a finished print that is completely wash-resistant and with optimal opacity and colour intensity. The other benefits of these NeoPigment water-based inks include a low cost per garment and, with the addition of white, digital printing onto dark fabrics can be achieved. The optimal ink absorbance with the printing surface enhances the application of colours onto both white and dark garments, yet the entire process is environmentally friendly. The inks are Oeko-Tex 100 and GOTS 3 approved, meeting the international standard for the industry, and are completely free from heavy metal, formaldehyde and alkyl phenol ethoxyles ingredients.

Direct-to-garment solutions

sizes. Its integrated degassing system enables an uninterrupted ink flow, and up to 80 light and 30 dark garments can be throughput each hour.

The Kornit Storm II is intended for high level production and is a dual-pallet machine that produces up to 150 garments per hour, making it well suited to custom print runs in higher volumes.

It has a maximum 50 x 70cm print area and, despite its high productivity levels, is designed to be operated by a single user.

Also designed for mass production, Kornit offers its Avalanche and Avalanche DC Pro machines.

Both of these models are ideal for users wanting high production rates and the ability to print on garments up to XXL size as well as onto cut panels.

The Avalanche is a dual-pallet industrial unit that can output up to 120 dark and 160 light garments as typical hourly production, with a standard image print size of 40 x 50cm and a jumbo option of 60 x 90cm. Its twelve print-head system has eight CMYK and four white channels for superior speed.

The Avalanche DC Pro is the ultimate digital solution of choice for the fashion market. It enables users to print direct to dark garments without a white layer of ink, with its two additional print-heads employing a discharge chemical that removes the dye molecules from the garment, yielding a smooth base for the CMYK inks.

This machine enables full and partial discharge printing, with the ability to combine white ink, all without the need for pre-treatment, allowing for faster throughput.

With its direct-to-garment machines, representing a sensibly priced entry-level solution is the Kornit Breeze. This has been created and engineered to provide copy shops and smaller businesses with a high quality unit that fits perfectly into an existing production environment with its desktop design and compact footprint. Its print area of 35 x 45cm is complemented by an automatic pre-treatment system and single-pass operation which features CMYK plus two channels of white ink applied via six industrial-strength print-heads. Easy to set up and operate, this unit doesn’t need any additional compressed air and can be run from a standard desktop or laptop computer.

Apart from the abovementioned Avalanche members, Avalanche Hexa and Avalanche 1000 bring users to another level of digital printing in terms of color and speed. The new Avalanche Hexa six-colour system is the only system to add red and green to the traditional CMYK palette, it brings a 30% gamut increase with the inclusion of white ink. Kornit Avalanche Hexa is designed for fast throughput and superb quality, supporting a fast return on investment for users. It incorporates 20 Dimatix Spectra Polaris print-heads, with 256 nozzles each, optimising production across the overall print area of 60 x 90cm.

Another model well-suited to smaller companies is the Kornit Thunder which is a stand-alone unit that has a print area of 35 x 45cm and the option of a choice of pallets to handle a variety of garment

Kornit Avalanche 1000 is a dual pallet industrialgrade device designed for heavy-duty use. An integrated humidifying system makes the machine resistant to daily climate variations and a back-

The final member of the Kornit direct-to-garment family is the Paradigm digital add-on station for screen-printing carousels that enables the combination of printing techniques to be used in a single application. Compatible with most manual and automatic carousels, this unit has an image print size of 38 x 49.5cm. Complex jobs can be created that incorporate screen-printed flocks, foils, metallics, glitters and other speciality inks with multi-coloured digital images, bringing to the fore the benefits of variable data printing and customisation.

Expanding into roll-to-roll All of Kornit’s machines are based on the strict yet innovative criteria that combine to result in tough work-horses that offer the highest levels of reliability and consistency, from the smallest model through to the company’s innovative rollto-roll industrial printer, the Allegro, which has a maximum width of 1.8m. This top-end solution scores because of its ability to be used with most textiles thanks to the innovative NeoPigment process so there are no restrictions in which fabrics can be printed on the machine.

The performance and success of the NeoPigment process has led Kornit to develop the Allegro, a single step solution with an entire printing line in 7m. The Allegro doesn’t need fabric pretreatment or post-print processing, and is proving to be the most advanced system of its kind for textile production. Kornit’s own chemical solution removes the need for external process steps and, as it is capable of printing onto multiple textile types using the company’s NeoPigment printing architecture, the Allegro is a truly versatile production unit for commercial applications, samples and test runs, and specialist short- to medium-run jobs

1 11

Summary To summarise, all of Kornit’s solutions from entry-level, through mass production direct-to-garment systems, to the innovative roll-to-roll Allegro benefit from the right combination of design and engineering expertise. These criteria are merged with the company’s NeoPigment process that has been formulated to produce the most environmentally-friendly, vibrant and colour accurate results on all fabric types, with improved print costs.

There are many direct-to-garment printers available on today’s market but none of the alternatives offers the broad range of technological advances that is available in all of Kornit’s machines, from its entry-level models through to its industrial roll-to-roll system.

The company has successfully satisfied its intention to develop and manufacture solutions which used a single pigmented ink-set suitable for all materials, from cottons to polyester and blends, lycra, viscose, silk, wool, linen, denim and leather, plus many more.

TEXTILES

1 12

Kappa 320 Kappa 180

Durst Kappa 180 V2 & Kappa 320 Kappa 180 Specifications at a glance With the Kappa 180 V2 and the Kappa 320, Durst offers two industrial high performance printers for the digital production of textiles. Both printers feature the same inkjet technology, but differ in their respective print widths. The Kappa 320 will print at 800 x 600 dpi resolution at an astonishing 890 sqm/ hr making it a force to be reckoned with in the textile print market.

Kappa 180 V2 & 320 Kappa 180 V2 Production machine for industrial digital printing in the apparel industry, but also used for furniture and fabric manufacture. The Kappa 180, with a maximum printing width of 195 cm, produces print quality of 800 x 600 dpi in standard mode and a production speed of 580 sqm/ hr. The 180 can achieve a resolution of up to 1000 x 600 dpi.

Kappa 320 High-performance industrial printer developed specifically for home textile needs with a maximum printing width of 330 cm. This enables it to digitally print interior decor and decorative materials such as blankets, bed linen, table linen, curtains and drapes across their full width. In standard mode, the Kappa 320 produces with a print quality of 800 x 600 dpi and a production speed of 890 sqm/hr. The 320 can achieve a resolution of up to 1000 x 1200 dpi.

Kappa Technology The Kappa 180 V2 and 320 are equipped with the modified Durst QuadroZ V2 print head technology that arranges the colours on the 8-channel printheads symmetrically (mirrored).

In this way, precise colour application is ensured for bi-directional printing directions and reproduction of designs with gradients or fine patterns.

Workflow Features • Durst Advanced Remote Diagnostics (DARD) – Monitors all relevant parameters e.g. printheads, humidity, temperature, tension and others to avoid unscheduled downtime and maintenance work.

• Durst Advanced Stroke Control (DASC) • Durst Textile RIP and open interface for textile specific software Productivity • High-Speed Mode: Printing speed of up to 580 sqm/hour and a resolution of 1000x600 dpi • High-Quality Mode: Printing speed of up to 275sqm/hour and a resolution of 1000x1200dpi Colours 8 colours - CMYK, orange, red, blue and gray, with no modulations or density fluctuations.

The key role here is played by the ink delivery system with an osmosis filtering system, eliminating tiny gas bubbles from the ink and ensures that printing is constant and without failure.

Printing Technology

The QuadroZ V2 printhead technology enables printing on textile materials using water-based dispersion, acid and GOTS-certified reactive inks. The 32 QuadroZ printheads have 6144 nozzles per colour and droplet sizes of 7-21 picolitres.

Piezo Inkjet Multipass

Both machines are equipped with an adapted Corino fabric feed-in system, an unwinder for large rolls and a thermally insulated dryer unit with 1-3 passages.

Kappa Inks were especially developed for textile printing and can be used with environmentally friendly, water-based dispersion, reactive and acid inks on different textile fibres.

Other components are optionally available and can be configured individually.

Inks

NEW PRODUCTS

NEW PRODUCTS HP Sprout - reinventing computing

1 14

Say goodbye to the mouse and keyboard

HP

have unveiled its newest PC initiative:

Sprout.

HP have released its latest iteration of the PC, an advanced computing platform that combines the power of an all-in-one desktop computer with a naturalistic interface to create a user experience that the company believes will cerate a cross-flow between the digital and physical worlds.

The Sprout • Dual-screen Experience: An intuitive and flexible form factor with an integrated vertical touch screen and horizontal capacitive touch mat, designed with creative expression and human movement in mind.

Features and Specifications Sprout’s user interface combines Windows 8.1, a multi-touch experience, 4th generation Intel i7 Processor and 1TB of storage to ensure users have everything needed to do the job.

•

23” diagonal, 10-point touch-enabled, Full HD(3) (1920x1080) Wide Viewing Angle, White-LED backlit LCD Display.

•

20-point capacitive touch mat that allows users to capture, create, move and manipulate content using their hands in a manner that is more natural and intuitive.

•

The Sprout Illuminator is powered by a DLP projector and a four-camera sensory system including an HP High-Resolution Camera with up to 14.6 megapixel resolution and the Intel RealSense 3D Camera for instant capture of 2D and 3D objects.

•

Fixed 1 megapixel, 720p HD HP low-light, front-facing webcam.

•

With its fine point and precision disc, the Adonit Jot Pro stylus provides all the accuracy users need, while the magnetic attachment allows easy storage on the Sprout by HP monitor.

•

NVIDIA GeForce GT 745A graphics power graphic-intensive tasks like gaming.

• Immersive Applications: A growing suite of applications uniquely designed and optimised for Sprout by HP and available through the Sprout Marketplace.

•

8GB of RAM standard to effortlessly run several programs at once.

Sprout by HP is the first product available under HP’s Blended Reality ecosystem and sets the groundwork for future immersive technologies.

The Sprout Marketplace contains a growing suite of applications optimised to take advantage of its Immersive Computing platform.

• The Sprout Illuminator: A capture and projection system that combines multiple devices – a scanner, depth sensor, hi res camera, projector – into a single system to capture and project dimensional images like never before, allowing users to take items from the physical world and seamlessly merge them into the digital workspace.

• Real-Time Remote Collaboration: Advances how users work, learn, collaborate and share by allowing them to seamlessly interact with and manipulate content remotely in real-time whether across the room or miles away via HP MyRoom.

Sprout Application Ecosystem

The Sprout Software Development Kit is available beginning October 29.

Pricing and Availability Sprout is available now in the United States for pre-order and in select retail stores from November 9 onwards for a starting price of USD $1,899.

Additional country releases will follow.

NEW PRODUCTS Agfa Anapurna M2500i

1 16

The M2 500 i s u i ts ma ny n i che a p p l icatio n s s u c h as art re p ro d u c tio n s , m o u s e p ad s , DVD s , wood , a rchi te ctu ra l a n d i n te r i o r de co ratio n s Agfa Graphics announced the worldwide launch of the new enhanced 2.5m Anapurna M2500i with optional automated board feeder (ABF) which was demonstrated at SGIA 2014 in Las Vegas.

The company says the system features robust engineering for sustained higher workloads and increased print quality and throughput. It prints on rigid and flexible media including boards/sheets, roll-to-roll and roll-to-sheet. The automated board feeder permits multiple board or borderless printing with parallel printing of up to 5 small board sizes.

The M2500i features 6 x Konica-Minolta KM 1024i Grayscale print heads for colour and 2 x KM 1024i heads for white - prints at a maximum resolution of 1,440 x 720 dpi with a maximum speed of 115 sqm/hr.

The automated board feeder (ABF) will suit sign shops, digital printers, photo labs and graphic screen printers. The M2500i suits indoor, outdoor and niche applications such as art reproductions, mouse pads, DVDs, wood, architectural and interior decorations, lenticular displays and more.

HP Multi Jet Fusion Technology 3D printing technology

Features

HP has unveiled its Multi Jet Fusion 3D technology designed to advance the 3D printing market by introducing higher productivity and quality at a lower cost.

Built on HP Thermal Inkjet technology assets, HP Multi Jet Fusion technology features HP intellectual property incorporating proprietary features such as unique synchronous architecture using multiple chemical agents that together resolve the fundamental limitations of current 3D printing systems.

HP says the intention of the technology is to support third-party innovation with an open collaboration approach to materials and workflow solutions to produce output that has the ability to manipulate part and material properties, including form, texture, friction, strength, elasticity, electrical and thermal properties.

To ensure the full HP Multi Jet Fusion technology solutions deliver on the potential of the technology, HP is engaging early customers in the development process with its Open Customer Engagement Program for expedited solution product testing and feedback. Availability of the end-to-end HP 3D

printing system is planned for 2016 provided both the product and partner solutions meet HP’s quality standards.

• Unique combination—Quality that combines strength, accuracy, resiliency and finish for an overall product that is not currently possible at the speed and price HP is planning to deliver to market.

• Up to ten times faster speeds - HP’s proprietary synchronous architecture can image an entire area versus one point at a time for breakthrough build speeds.

• New levels of part quality - HP’s proprietary multi-agent printing process, where multiple liquid agents are applied by HP Thermal Inkjet arrays, can drive new levels of accuracy with uniform part strength in all three axis directions.

• The technology uses a unique multi-chemistry process, including a fusing agent that is selectively applied where the particles will fuse together, as well as a detailing agent that is selectively applied where the fusing action needs to be reduced or amplified. As one example, the detailing agent reduces fusing at the boundary to produce parts with sharp and smooth edges.

• Full-colour 3D print solutions - Over time, HP plans to incorporate a full range of colours into a part, using HP colour science expertise to bring the colour capabilities of traditional printing into the 3D world.

• Breakthrough economics - Area-wide imaging and fewer steps drive improved performance for best-in-class total cost of ownership, and helping reduce energy and waste.

• Open platform for materials innovation—HP is developing a 3D platform designed to become an industry standard and inviting creative collaboration in materials.

• Complete end-to-end solutions—HP is driving the full potential of 3D printing through collaborative development in workflow solutions.

• HP reliability—Decades of HP product development expertise and printing leadership bring a complete 3D system built to HP quality standards and backed by HP’s global service and support.

NEW PRODUCTS Roland DGA VersaUV LEJ-640FT flatbed launched in USA

The 640 prints on heavy, rigid materials up to six inches thick and weighing up to 220 pounds Features: • Unsurpassed media compatibility for substrates up to 6” thick and up to 220 pounds • Robust precision movement 64” x 98” flatbed with powerful vacuum for 4’ x 8’ sheets • Powerful, zoned vacuum system for holding difficult materials flat • ECO-UV inks, adheres to a wide range of treated/untreated substrates including foam boards, sintra, acrylic, plywood and MDF Available in two formulations - ECO-UV ink in CMYK plus White + Clear and ECO-UV S for added flexibility (CMYK and white only) • Low-heat UV LED curing system with auto reposition of it’s twin lamps • Patent-pending Automated Ink Circulation System • Maximum print speed of 133 sqft/hr in high speed CMYK mode allowing simulation of matte and gloss varnishing effects • Produces excellent gradation, fine detail 1440 x 1440 dpi prints • Dual gear stepper motors and rack and pinion drive system for precision printing • Easy to use handheld control unit for full printer operation and status monitoring • Pin registration for material placement accuracy • Replaceable felt print surface for substrate protection • Dual media sensors for print head protection • Cross-hair laser guide for extreme base-point selection • Roland Intelligent Pass Control for enhanced image quality • VersaWorks RIP software included incorporating Adobe DPSI engine 3019 for faster processing and Roland Color System and Pantone libraries for spot colour matching, Roland 72 ready to use texture library • Colour proofing support available from CGS, EFI, GMG • Enhanced media presets included • Roland OnSupport sends production updates in real time via email • Two year warranty

Roland DGA (USA) had the North American debut of its new flatbed printer, the VersaUV LEJ-640FT, at SGIA saying this new model is a natural extension of their VersaUV series.

The LEJ-640F is fitted with a 64 x 98” UV LED flatbed designed to suit product decoration and industrial applications as well as POP displays, interior design, art, promotional products and precise registration two sided signage applications with dimensional effects.

In addition to CMYK, the machine adds white and clear coat ECO-UV inks to deliver quality print with compatibility on the widest range of substrates, including heavy, rigid materials up to 6” thick and weighing up to 220 lbs.

1 17

NEW PRODUCTS

INTERIORS

INTERIOR DESIGN

1 20

HP’s digital printing is driving modern interior design Dig ital printing is o pening the door to a new real m of desig n possibil ities, tailo re d to fit o n e’s personal taste.

TRENDS

in interior décor are constantly evolving. Fuelled by increasingly sophisticated consumers who are looking for new and unique options, designing for today’s homes require personalising spaces how and when they want it.

right HP Latex 360

The same goes for retail spaces where brands are fighting to retain and attract the shoppers’ attention as well as enhancing the overall shopping experience. Being able to quickly transform the shopping environment, linking it to current promotions and refresh the interior décor every now and then are often the keys in winning the retail battle.

New design possibilities

Breaking the boundaries of what used to be designing for just another permanent space is digital printing. Its ability to deliver personalisation with a short turnaround time - and across different media - means that every room in a house can have its own look and a retail store can serve up new and engaging experiences whenever there is a new promotion.

Case in point, wallcoverings. Traditionally, printed wallcovering has relied on analog printing equipment to produce high volumes of a single print or style at the same time. These analog devices require an elaborate process before printing can begin, and thousands of copies must be produced in order to be cost effective. With digital printing, a designer or

Digital printing is opening the door to a new realm of design possibilities, tailored to fit one’s personal taste.

manufacturer can create wallcoverings for a single customer or a retail chain, printing only what is needed, when it is needed.

So why select one when you can create your own? Imagine what this means for homeowners and designers. Homeowners can do more than just choosing a single style of wallcovering, they can create a collage of their favourite prints and turn them into works of art that can cover the entire wall. Designers can create one-of-a-kind projects, transforming a café or a boutique hotel with customised wallcoverings that give a unique look and feel.

INTERIOR DESIGN

In addition to the personalised designs, digital printing makes it possible for an interior designer’s personal imagery, family’s photo or even children’s artwork to be printed directly on media such as canvas, vinyl, textiles and other coated and uncoated materials. Armed with the technology that works across a range of materials, customisation can now happen on almost every designed piece from lampshades, pillow covers and floor coverings.

Designing with the environment in mind Digital printing technologies such as HP’s Latex ink solutions can also help designers demonstrate that their output meets high environmental standards, suitable for use even in schools, medical facilities and restaurants. The water-based HP Latex Ink prints are odourless and have qualified for certifications such as GREENGUARD GoldSM and UL ECOLOGO certifications to help reduce environmental impact.

Bringing this to life, the Sant Joan de DéuBarcelona Children’s Hospital in Barcelona, Spain transformed the rooms and machines in its Diagnostic Imaging department into a space voyage experience using digital printing technologies. The hospital worked together with HP and two local HP Latex printing partners to install printed decorations that make the changing rooms and diagnostics machines look like an area where crew members prepare to enter a spaceship.

With the flexibility and reliability of HP Latex Printing Technologies, combined with the use of the odourless and clean HP Latex Inks, the hospital was able to create a child-friendly experience that both the kids and their families can feel comfortable with.

The whole installation process from start to finish was quick, easy, and odourless. Right from the ideation process, they were able to review the personalised designs using HP WallArt solution, which is an easy-to-use, cloud-based web service that helps simplify the design, visualisation and production of customised wallcoverings. Using the solution, accurate visualisation of the decorations could

be made using the actual location images.

Once the design was finalised and printed, it took just three hours for the MRI machine decorations to be installed and within the next 30 minutes the hospital was able to treat their first patient.

Closer to home, The City by Littlez, an interactive learning playground in Singapore, created an attractive and safe discovery centre for kids using wall decorating materials that were printed with the HP Latex Inks, Everyday settings, such as supermarket and street scenes have been recreated in the centre so that it is both attractive and safe for children.

Producing odourless wall decoration that requires only water to install, the use of the water-based HP Latex Inks combined with HP PVC Free Wall Paper offers peace of mind in terms of the safety needed in the play area.

Additionally, the wallpaper is also able to withstand the intense usage that any play area would experience – the colours remain bright and attractive even after cleaning. And the result? The wallpaper is so attractive that The City by Littlez has made the furniture and other furnishing white, making it central to the atmosphere.

2

Capitalising on the growth opportunity Interior décor is a dynamic industry that is constantly changing to reflect the creativity inspired by today’s consumers. With new ideas emerging and evolving every day, there is a need for a technology that can bring those designs to life.

Digital printing technology delivers just that providing designers, store and homeowners with a fast and affordable way to capture current trends, local themes or use their own collection of images to transform any space into an attractive yet personal environment.

Add to this the potential of printing millions of colours across a wide array of mediums, the technology provides a beautiful way to put personal touches everywhere.

A powerful and lucrative market, digital decor offers a big opportunity for printing companies who are looking to expand their businesses.

The demand for unique, one-off customised designs means that there could not be a better time to enter this market especially when the technology is already here. Technologies such as HP Latex printers and the HP WallArt software solution are all suited for the décor industry, helping designers and manufacturers to turn their out-of-the-box design ideas into reality

below HP Latex 3000

1 21

EVENTS

1

Drytac - WallTac now with ReTac Ultra Removable Adhesive Technology

Drytac UK says that the removable and repositionable adhesive found on WallTac, a matte PVC film included in the Drytac printable media collection, has received the new designation of ReTac ultra removable adhesive technology, making it suitable for a broad range of applications that require easy removal such as wall graphics, appliques, murals, labels and even tape.

Two versions of WallTac - the 3.5 and 6.0 mil matte white polymeric films – have ReTac’s ultra removable adhesive and are re-classified as ReTac Wall, which incorporate many features including:

22

• Easy to apply, reposition and remove • Will adhere to any smooth surface such as painted drywall or doors • Compatibility: most solvent, UV, latex printers • Non permanent set up virtually eliminates adhesive residue and wall damage

Retac Wall, available in 54 “and 60” wide rolls, can also be used with WipeOut, a premium, dry erase hard coat laminate with a chemical and scratch-resistant clear gloss surface, to create printed, personalised wall graphics that can also be used as dry erase boards.

Agfa Jeti Titan HS - SGIA 2014 ‘Product of the Year’ Sixty eight companies worldwide entered 139 products in 25 categories. Each product was judged during the 2014 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, October 22–24 and displayed in the Golden Image Gallery on the Expo floor.

Agfa Graphics earned the SGIA Product of the Year award for the Jeti Titan HS at this year’s SGIA Expo in Las Vegas.

The competition recognised the latest equipment and supplies currently on the market that are advancing the specialty imaging industry.

Sixty eight companies worldwide entered 139 products in 25 categories. Each product was judged during the 2014 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, October 22–24 and displayed in the Golden Image Gallery on the Expo floor.

“The Product of the Year Award Competition showcases the best printers, technologies and consumables from the specialty imaging community,” said Ray Weiss, SGIA’s Digital Imaging Specialist. “Whether they were a seasoned company or an industry newcomer, each and every entry came to win, and they gave the judges a real run for their money.”

Fespa to hold Fifth Digital Textile Conference with Fespa Eurasia Fespa says that, due to overwhelming demand for digital textile printing industry information and the enormous success of the Digital Textile Conference held recently in Milan, it will host its fifth Digital Textile Conference on 5 December 2014 alongside FESPA Eurasia 2014 in Istanbul.

clothing supply, and a top three supplier globally of home textiles.”

She continued “Coinciding with Fespa Eurasia ensures that printers and suppliers will have the ability to educate themselves across all aspects of digital textile printing.”

The one day conference, being held at the WOW Hotel located opposite Fespa’s Eurasia print exhibition venue, will feature an international lineup of digital textile experts who will share their knowledge, experience and insights on the latest products, techniques, trends and case studies.

Some of the subjects being explored are promotional products, textile and garment decoration, interior textiles and soft signage. All sessions have simultaneous English and Turkish translation available on topics that include:

Lorraine Harrow, Marketing Manager at Fespa comments: “Turkey’s importance as a textile manufacturing centre is clear; it is the world leader for cotton production, second in Europe for

• • • •

Market updates Industry strategies Transfer vs direct printing Digital fashion

• • • • •

Sportswear and apparel Interiors Environmental impacts Digital textile inks Case studies from leading printers and end users

Confirmed speakers include Ron Gilboa of Infotrends, who will examine insights into the growth and creative development of digital textile markets. Mark Abramson, ceo of ThinFolio, will discuss automating profits with one-off and shortrun printed products. Hilal Özdemir, international Fashion Designer and owner of La Moon Textile Design will review how she sees digital textile printing as a valuable tool for the fashion industry and how it benefits her as a fashion designer.

CERAMICS

1 23

GLASS & CERAMICS

GLASS CASE STUDY Perseverance Pays

1

China designer from Godenria achieves success against all odds from interior design to mosaics to stained glass to personalised glass printing

24

“The VUTEk GS3250LX can save labour and ensure quality. It can produce one sheet per 4 minutes, reaching industrial production levels.”

WITH

outstanding design ability, Hong Ling was very successful in the interior design business - from home furnishings to retail and ballroom designs. In fact, she opened several decorating businesses in the downtown area of Jiaxing, which is in the Zhejiang province of China, just south of Shanghai.

As a designer, Hong Ling was drawn to the elegance and beauty of mosaic glass, which was very popular in interior design at that time.

So she invested all her money into this new art form. However, making high-precision mosaic glass requires at least 13 complicated processes; labour and raw material costs are very high.

Because mosaic glass had become so popular, the established producers engaged in a price war.

At the same time, the market reached a plateau and demand began to decline. Hong Ling’s new business collapsed.

She had an idea - why not make stained glass using screen printing? Glass sheets were easy to handle and the printing process was short and cost effective. Plus, she could use her design skills to create unique products.

Hong Ling took her new creations to a Shanghai Exhibition and got an overwhelming response.

In fact, as a result she became the pioneer in domestic stained glass; no one had done this before her. Soon she entered the wholesale market with her unique stained glass products.

Regretfully, Hong Ling did not apply for a patent.

Hundreds of competitive factories sprung up reducing her profit significantly. She needed to find a method that would increase her production speed while maintaining quality. Her search brought her to EFI’s LED UV printer, the VUTEk GS3250LX. “The VUTEk GS3250LX can save labour and ensure quality. It can produce one sheet per 4 minutes, reaching industrial production levels,” says Hong Ling.

Yet, although the VUTEk produced high-quality with its three-layer white print capability, at high speeds, the cost of the products was still too high for her wholesale clients.

The industrious Hong Ling was not about to give up. She reached out to her former design customers showing them proofs of all the products that could be printed on the new VUTEk. She took advantage of the printer’s greyscale technology which would allow her to achieve high quality at industrial production speeds. She analysed which products would ensure the highest income. For example, ordinary wallpaper had too little profit, but seamless wallpaper - the result of the ability to print 3.2 metres wide - would be profitable. She also added personalised products for high-profile brands.

While these new markets need developing, she says, among her most recent projects is producing glass signs with the Starbuck’s logo. According to Hong Ling, the VUTEk is helping her to reach new, more lucrative markets

GLASS Durst – Rho Vetrocer for Glass Decoration Available in three configurations, Basic, Presto and HS models that combine the advantages of the Durst Rho series

Applications Interior applications • Shop furniture • Bar decorations • Fairs • Glass for furniture • Divider walls • Videogames • Shiny coatings, such as for coffee machines, elevators Outdoor applications • Building facades • Temporary stores • Seasonal outdoor signs • Solar panels Specifications

Durst unveiled the new Rho Vetrocer 250 at the recent Glasstec 2014 in Dusseldorf, saying the machine has been developed from its Rho series of printers specifically for wide format glass decoration.

Available in three configurations, Basic, Presto and HS models, the Vetrocer 250 combines the advantages of the Durst Rho series - continuous 24/7 print, high productivity and optimum print quality - for printing on glass plates of any length with a width up to 2.5 meters. Equipped with the latest Durst Variodrop CF printhead technology, the 250 prints at a resolution of 800 dpi at maximum print speed with a production system that includes a special transport mechanism which guides the glass plates through the print process.

Durst says glass decoration using the Vetrocer 250 and ceramic inks creates commercial opportunities that previously were not cost effective or even impossible. Printers can quickly and easily print single or small to medium runs with various colours, making the decoration on glass really innovative and can include personalisation, variable data and edge-to-edge print.

These finishing options allow architects and interior designers to develop new opportunities to integrate glass decoration into their interior design projects.

• Printing system: Durst patented flatbed system with Variodrop-CF printheads for maximum print quality and ready to use on demand • Resolution: 800 dpi • Colours: Standard: RBGYK • Optional: white and glazed (satinato) • Inks: Durst Vetrocer inorganic ceramic inks • Media: Flat glass, can be baked to produce a safety glass (ESG) and a coupled safety glass (VSG with PVB or EVA).

• Maximum printing width: 250 cm • Maximum length: Up to 8 m, restricted by media weight and supply table • Productivity: (depending on weight) Vetrocer 250 Basic • 2 pass mode up to 25 sqm/hr • 4 pass mode up to 12 sqm/hr Vetrocer 250 Presto • 2 pass mode up to 55 sqm/hr • 4 pass mode up to 27 sqm/hr Vetrocer 250 HS • 2 pass mode up to 100 sqm/hr • 4 pass mode up to 55 sqm/hr

1 25

GLASS Marabu ink at Glasstec – digital glass printing on the rise

1

Glass print te c hno log y is a hig hl y l ucrative area and by combining anal ogue and dig ital pro du c tio n techniques, new creative finishes are now possibl e

Glass finishing using solvent-based screen and pad printing inks

26

At the event, Marabu presented the solvent-based MGL Maraglass screen printing ink and TPGL Tampaglass for pad printing. MGL is suited to high-gloss decorative printing on flat glass while on curved surfaces, such as cosmetics packaging, the TPGL inks are more appropriate. TPGL inks are highly versatile and durable.

Both products can be used on a wide range of substrates, and feature brilliant, precise shades.

They were developed according to the latest standards and comply with both the EU guidelines and current hazardous materials regulations.

Digitally decorated glass – liquid coating, UV inkjet inks, and custom designs

THIS

years Dusseldorf located Glasstec 2014 in October, saw Stuttgart headquartered ink developer Marabu, showcase a variety of ink solutions with the company saying that metallic effects created by hot stamping in combination with UV-curable primers, as well as digital glass printing solutions, are growing in popularity.

Marabu recorded many inquiries about UV-curable primers, including combining them with hot stamping, and digital glass printing solutions, especially full coverage of glass surfaces using roller-coating with the new Marashield UV-CGL shades.

Hot stamping with UV inks to create glossy gold and silver effects Marabu presented an alternative to high-cost ceramic inks to achieve glossy gold and silver effects – hot stamping with UV inks.

The visual is screen printed on the glass surface using Ultraglass UVGL primer, and also functions as a hot stamping cliché. The foil adheres to the UVGL primer-treated areas and the result is a high-gloss gold and silver effect at a significantly reduced cost.

Ultraglass UV – universal ink for glass print The Ultraglass UV ink series has a wide range of products, including basic and high-opaque shades, metallic effects and etch imitations, achieve outstanding results in practice. The formulations do not contain heavy metals, meaning that unlike ceramic inks, they can freely be used to decorate drinking glasses, bottles and cosmetics packaging.

In addition to conventional UV curing using iron or mercury-doped lamps, there is also an Ultraglass UV-version for UV-LED curing available, extending the scope of application.

Marabu said that the current trend towards personalised packaging is not the only reason for the growing popularity of digital glass printing.

Digital printing is a broad field, and the company supplies both UV-curable inkjet inks, suitable for fast and clean print results on glass and PET bottles, and Marashield liquid coating which can be used as primer, finish, and to protect highquality digital prints.

Thanks to the new UV-CGL shades, they can also be used for full coverage of glass surfaces using roller-coating. This makes them especially attractive for interior decorating.

Marashield liquid coatings also perform well when combined with digital printing inks. When applied as a primer, Marashield UV-PGL can be used as a bonding layer for the UV curable UltraJet Inkjet series. Applications include custom-printed glass kitchen wall panels, photorealistic window surfaces, high-quality images and signs, and glass worktops. The option of combining digital printing and screen printing inks is also becoming more and more attractive to users.

Marashield UV-curable liquid coating received a Product of the Year award at the recent 2014 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas

VISION ASIA ISSUE 09 O C TO B E R 2 0 1 4

www.visionmagazine.asia

CERAMICS Ceramic printing in Asia A si a i s a l rea dy h om e to s o m e o f the largest ceramics markets g l obal l y, i s cera m i cs pri n tin g the n ex t big thin g?

Another printer that uses the Xaar printheads is EFI Cretaprint. In 2012, EFI acquired Cretaprint, effectively extending their inkjet solutions to ceramic tile printing. Subsequently, EFI released the latest version of the inkjet printer, the Cretaprint C3, which is updated to have the first dedicated colour management system for the ceramic market that is highly flexible. The C3 has a single chassis design to be able to accommodate up to eight print bars. Acquisitions such as these further fuel the potential of the ceramics tile industry as an emerging market.

WHEN

digital inkjet printing for ceramic tiles burst into the scene in the beginning of year 2000, it was deemed simply as an interesting novelty. Fast-forward to now and a few technological advancements later, incorporating inkjet for ceramic tiles has evolved from being an opportunity for a niche market, to a necessity for tile manufacturers.

Although the digital adoption has been on a quiet albeit rapid rise, it is clear that sentiments are positive and strong. In 2011, the SGIA Industrial Printing Survey Report indicated that over 75% of its members consider ceramic tile printing to be a strong market opportunity.

Ceramics in Asia According to the Ceramic World Review, in 2010, Asia makes up 66.9% of the world production of tiles.

Digital inkjet technology has made rapid inroads in ceramic tile printing with huge potential for growth in Asia, which holds some of the major tile markets in the world. “Globally, the biggest tile markets are ranked as follows: Italy, China, Spain, Indonesia, Brazil, India. Three countries in that list are located in Asia,” said Green.

Green observed that the ceramics market in Asia has taken on a hybrid printing centre approach, utilising both analogue production line printers and the newer digital printers. “It’s all about having the right balance. Just like in the print industry, the people who buy our digital ceramic printers have both the big traditional machines to be able to produce millions of tiles, but they also have the smaller inkjet machines for the versatility to take on shorter runs and more innovative jobs.”

“Traditionally digital printing has been very important in the Asian countries due to the high demand and strong advertising companies. In addition, this region is also important for ceramic tile manufacturing and this industry has also invested in digital printing to benefit from its advantages in terms of printing quality and production efficiency,” reiterated Rafael Royo, key account manager for ceramic printing, Durst Image Technology Asia.

Key Players in Ceramics A report by I.T. Strategies in 2013 surmised that digital print systems would have as high as 86% penetration into the ceramic tiles market by 2017, based on the 40% penetration rate in the market today. The report also projected that vendor revenues for systems and inks will rise from $713 million to $1.3 billion by 2017.

Durst introduced a digital ceramic printer designed for pigmented ceramic inks in 2004. Durst is a manufacturer of digital high-end printing systems for various applications, such as ceramics, textile and wood industry, with over 4000 industrial scale digital printers in operation worldwide. It was not until 2008 however, that digital systems for ceramics printing began to take off. The introduction of the Xaar 1001 printhead with its patented TF Technology ink recirculation and Hybrid Side Shooter architecture aided to push this digital revolution in ceramic tiles printing.

The company most recently launched the next generation Xaar 1002 ceramic printhead, boasting improved drop volume uniformity and drop placement accuracy for higher quality prints. In 2005, Xaar went into partnership with Xennia, a provider of inkjet solutions for the industrial market. Xennia most recently broke into the India market in 2011 with the Ultramarine.

In addition to the EFI Cretaprint, the market has responded to demands of the tile market with a number of ceramic printers, including Durst Phototechnik’s Gamma series of printers, KERAjet

by Ferro, Newtech’s KeraMagic and System Ceramics’ Rotodigit. Hope Ceramics’ Hope Jet printers made their first foray in the industry by entering the China market in 2009 with the Hope Jet 600.

Market Drivers With digital, tile manufacturers can streamline production processes and present new products and business models. Digital systems make way for a wider range of creative projects due its ability to provide photo-realistic image quality, for the production of very natural-looking textures and intricate designs. Digital print also has the flexibility to adapt quickly to trends.

The biggest appeal of digital is economical.

Manufacturers apparently can recover their investments in an inkjet digital press in very little time. Durst Phototechnik reported that the South African Ceramics Industries Ltd has digitally produced close to 4 million square metres of tiles on their Gamma 75 HD within 12 months.

Analogue processes are time-consuming to set up a new design, which meant that manufacturers tend to produce huge batches of tiles at a go and having a large amount of stock in storage, as related by Green: “A single production line for just one tile design can be 400 metres long. It’s a very expensive process to set up the line for that one tile design, so millions of these tiles need to be produced in order to be able to earn a margin.

Not all of these tiles will get sold too and there will be warehouses filled with millions of tiles that manufacturers can only hope to be able to sell.”

In contrast, shorter set-up times and lower setup costs make shorter runs more cost-efficient.

Reportedly, many manufacturers who adopt digital applications can achieve the return on investment in record time. “With a digital ceramic printer, however, you don’t have to print a million tiles just to make it cost effective. Digital ceramic printing is a different business model, if I want to have just 10,000 tiles, I can print it digitally and I can get it to you in a week,” Steve Green, vice president for Asia Pacific, EFI conlcuded

1 27

CERAMICS Tecnargilla event

1 28

Tecnargilla 2014: the world’s largest ceramic show

Caldera Ceramic Special Edition software at Italian show Key to flexibility is to print 16 channel colourants simultaneously to any print channel formats as required well as worldwide ceramics specialists.

Billed as the world´s most important ceramics industry supplies trade show, Tecnargilla 2014, took place in Rimini, Italy from 22nd to 26th September and was the venue for the 6th annual meeting organised by Acimac (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics) dealing with digital decorating and glazing technology for ceramic tiles.

Caldera’s Ceramic Special Edition helps businesses grow from simple, push-button production environments to customisable workflows.

It is designed as an easy to use, out of the box, entry level product that requires limited training but permits professional results using image scale and manipulation, resizing, pattern replication, spooler management and colour enhancement.

Taking place on the Tuesday, 23rd September, the symposium provided a complete overview of the very latest offerings in this sector, especially with regard to digital glazing, and preview forthcoming developments arising from current research. It offered a unique opportunity for all international businesses and experts from the ceramics sector to catch up on the latest technology.

The 2014 event covered over 75,000sqm with more than 450 exhibitors.

The pervious event held in 2012 had over 30,000 visitors of which over 48%, or more than 14,800 entrants were foreign visitors with the largest foreign vsitor segnetn of 34% comign from Asia.

Caldera says a key factor in the software’s flexibility is the ability to customise ceramics production ink to print 16 channel colourants simultaneously to any print channel formats as required - especially in brown, beige and blue tones, as well as white, gloss, matt and relief effects.

Caldera used the Tecnargilla ceramics show at Rimini, Italy from 22 to 26 September 2014, to launch its Caldera Ceramic Special Edition software saying it has been developed from 20 years experience in digital print applications, technological partners, existing customers, extensive R&D as

The company used a combination of providers to develop the product including Durst, Scami-Intesa, System and Teckwin, as key platform developers.

Xaar, Konica Minolta and Dimatix, via ink manufacturers Torrecid, Esmalglass-Itaca, Colorabia and Fero are technology specialists.

EFI new ceramic inks and Fiery proServer at Tecnargilla EFI introduced a lineup of printing systems at the Tecnargilla Ceramics Show in Rimini, Italy including advanced electronics, new engineered ink system and ceramic ink sets, automatic printhead cleaning technology, more compact design and a new vacuum system are among the many displayed at Tecnargilla. EFI also demonstrated a new Fiery proServer, giving the industry the first complete colour management system for ceramic tile printing. EFI’s new Cretaprint systems were on display plus samples of tiles printed using its EFI Wide Format H1625 LED curing printer.

New EFI ceramic inks The introduction of EFI UV curing ceramic inks provide intense colour within a wider colour gamut including dark blue, reddish brown, yellow, golden yellow, beige, pink and black. Special effect inks include sinking ink, extra white, matte glaze, glossy glaze and lustre.

Cretaprint printers Being shown for the first time at Tecnargilla was the new Cretaprint C4 printer. With a width up to 745mm, the competitively priced new C4 engine offers a more compact footprint and is 30% lighter.

A new user interface and advanced nozzle plate cleaning system are among its additional features.

Cretaprint C4 printer features and enhancements: • New vacuum system works at higher pressure for greater efficiency without affecting quality.

• A compact frame holding eight individual bars that can be pulled out if required, making all the components accessible for maintenance tasks.

• Bar separation optimised for a highly-efficient steam and mist extraction without compromising printing quality.

• Automatically adjustable height of both the vacuum bars and the jetting distance.

• New cleaning system ensuring a longer printhead life.

• The ability to detect and correct missing nozzles.

• A newly designed transport system ensuring greater accuracy with precision alignment.

• Also on display are the new Cretaprint C3+ and Cretaprint P3+ printers with widths up to 700mm and 1400 mm wide respectively.

New ink System The new ink system was designed to produce the highest accuracy under any printing conditions.

Enhanced user interface The new user interface offers the convenience of a touch screen.

Tone Adjustment System (TAS) TAS is based on an intuitive interface that guides the user through the process of study and application of changes in tone or intensity to apply to a model.

Synchronisation This allows two separate Cretaprint engines to be synchronised for printing.

Double tile printing

EFI Fiery proServer v 1.4 Digital Front-End

Allows simultaneous printing of two tiles of different formats with different designs

The Fiery proServer gives all Cretaprint systems the industry’s first complete colour management system for ceramic tile printing. The Fiery also allows automatic creation of a special effect channel for digital decoration.

Cretavision relief recognition Cretavision takes the tile’s relief pattern into consideration and fits any design to the tile’s relief, regardless of the order in which the tiles enter the system.

CERAMICS

1 29

3D ARTISTRY

3D ARTISTRY Stratasys: leading the new industrial revolution

1

Leading artists showcase intricate pieces achieveable with multi-material 3D printing at Acadia

left Zaha Hadid Architects created an on-demand 3D printed chair with Stratasys, using a variety of colours and opacities made possible with the Objet500 Connex3 color, multi-material 3D Printer

30

relationships between form and performance, and the design nuances made possible with multimaterial and colour 3D printing.

Award-winning architect Zaha Hadid collaborated with Stratasys to create an on-demand 3D printed chair exploring the possibilities of large scale multi-material 3D printing.

3D printing enables exceptional high-resolution physical and digital representations that are changing the process of design and physical production. Zaha Hadid Architects’ starting point was to design a relatively lightweight chair that made use of its geometry, detailing and manufacture to highlight and improve its performance.

THIS

year’s Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (Acadia) conference held in Los Angeles from the 23-25th October was turned into a showcase of what is achievable with multi-material 3D printing as leading artists showcased pieces developed using 3D printing processes.

3D solutions provider Stratasys collaborated with artists Zaha Hadid, Alvin Huang, Francis Bitonti, Jose Sanchez and Jenny Wu to highlight the shift

above Jose Sanchez’s Stratasys 3D printed assembly combines hundreds of independent units to create a stunning, highly intricate piece

towards rapid manufacturing and a new industrial revolution. The prestigious line-up of artists at this year’s Acadia created a unique exhibition space at the event to showcase intricate 3D printed designs from furniture, fashion and interactive games.

By pushing the boundaries of Stratasys 3D printing technology, the designers have encapsulated their vision for the future of design through the digitally manufactured pieces and created new experiences for the end user. This is explored through the

Zaha Hadid Architects chose 3D printing due to its ability to express minute details and complex surfaces allowing structural optimisation. The result is a pattern that deploys density and depth relating to the structural performance of each area of the chair, which is highlighted through the Objet500 Connex3 color, multi-material 3D Printer’s ability to print in a variety of colours and opacities. below Francis Bitonti’s ‘Molecule’ shoes, 3D printed in collaboration with Adobe and using Stratasys’ Objet500 Connex3 Color, Multi-material 3D Printer

3D ARTISTRY

2 above Jenny Wu’s Tangens necklace from her LACE collection, 3D printed using Stratasys technology

1 31

above Alvin Huang’s Durotaxis Chair is defined by its densely packed 3D printed wire mesh that utilises Stratasys’ multi-material capabilities

Also creating furniture for this project is internationally recognised Alvin Huang. The “Durotaxis Chair”, refers to the movement of cells guided by the rigidity of a gradient. It is an ovoid rocking chair which has two positions, an upright rocker and a horizontal lounge.

“It is defined by a densely packed 3D printed wire mesh that utilises Stratasys’ multi-material capabilities, due to its ability to 3D print in gradients of size, scale, density, colour and rigidity.

“3D printing has great potential to revolutionise the design industry. In the past, the focus has predominantly been on rapid prototyping, but the shift towards rapid manufacturing is imminent,” says Alvin Huang. “In some parts my chair is thicker and more rigid, but thinner and softer where it needs to be; this makes for an optimal relationship between form and performance. Without multimaterial 3D printing, the gradient distribution of material properties and performance would be impossible.”

3D printing is a direct manufacturing tool for the art and fashion world Inspired by molecules and geometry, Jose Sanchez explores connectivity, patterns and games with “The Polyomino”. This was developed as single units that can then be organised in multiple ways, dependent on the creator, connecting gameplay and making personal creations.

Jose Sanchez explains: “Inspired by games such as Minecraft, where players can build incredible creations within a game environment, 3D printed assembly means that it is possible to combine hundreds of independent units into one. This removes the constraints of traditional manufacturing and what kind of connections the unit could have, allowing a richer space of possibilities and the ability to work with strong, flexible and precise materials.”

Francis Bitonti’s ‘Molecule’ shoe collection also takes the concept of molecules as small building blocks, which can create complex shapes and products through their interactions when combined on a larger scale.

“For me, using 3D printing in my work is not a choice, it is part of a design philosophy that is emerging as a new industrial revolution,” expands Bitonti. “As an architect and fashion designer, I was inspired to create something that encapsulates the point where we become connected to our environment, for example the part of a building where it hits the ground, as our foot does in a shoe - this is where the story of an object is told.

The unique capabilities of the Objet500 Connex3 combined with features in Adobe’s new software, enabled me to create shoes that are strong enough to walk in by implementing three materials in a single build, as well as colour capabilities for a visual impact that can also show the intricacies of the molecules’ interactions.”

Taking inspiration from 15 years’ experience as an architect, Jenny Wu has created the ‘LACE’ collection, which explores the robust complexities and direct manufacturing enabled by Stratasys FDM technology. ‘LACE’ comprises a commercial available line of 3D printed wearable designs including necklaces and rings, inspired by linebased geometry and intricate, organic movement, standing-out as a bold statement on the body.

“I enjoy the possibilities that FDM 3D printing technology offers, as the strength of the materials enable me to directly manufacture jewellery pieces as opposed to just prototype,” says Wu. Naomi Kaempfer, Creative Director Art Fashion Design for Stratasys, concludes: “We are honoured to work with the world renowned office Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and this extraordinary group of architectural and computational designers. We are excited about the exploration of economical and playful use of smart geometries in these five unique designs. The translation of finite element analysis to create a spectacular finished form in the ZHA 3D printed chair, truly depicts the intrinsic aesthetics of digital manufacturing.”

For over 30 years the Acadia annual international conference has celebrated the role of computation in architecture, planning, and building science as well as design creativity, sustainability, and education. This year the theme of ‘Design Agency’ calls for entrants to look at re-defining the term “Agency” through computational design strategies.

The event is also enriched by student installations, architectural prototypes, publications and curated projects such as the Stratasys exhibition.

Co-organiser of the event, Dr. David Jason Gerber, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Engineering elaborates on this year’s event: “We are delighted to host an exclusive curated project from Stratasys this year, as the pieces display a variety of intricacies that set the premise for the future of custom manufacturing and design culture.”

SOFTWARE Kornit QuickP Plus 2

1

Increased productivity through reduced creation and printing times by importing spreadsheet data. With over 200 designs and 40+ fonts included, as well as the ability to import any True-Type Font or design, the possibilities for personalised products are endless.

QuickP Plus 2.0 seamlessly communicates with Kornit machines, supports .ksf and file naming convention quick and easy mass personalisation using simple data entry fields The workflow platform significantly improves company-wide organisation and scales to meet business needs, growing alongside the company.

32

QuickP Plus 2.0 Kornit says that QuickP Plus 2.0 has been created from the ground up to increase the user’s productivity by reducing the time it takes between the creation of personalised garments, and the printing of the orders. It offers a complete workflow solution to help both large and small businesses create, organise, and manage their design assets from order creation and tracking, to the automatic transfer of production-ready image files.

QuickP Plus 2.0’s Creator program provides an enhanced user interface that combines an easyto-use front end with advanced functionality for mass personalisation. The all new Variable Data function enables users to generate new personalised designs instantly by replacing both text and designs using simple data fields, or

Specifications • Operating System Microsoft Windows7 with Service Pack 1, or Windows8 • Supported Input Formats .png, .jpeg, .gif • Supported Industry Standards ICC profiles • Hardware Requirements Processor: Genuine Intel Pentium V, dual-core computer (or higher) QuickP Designer QuickP Designer 2.0 for Kornit printers with the latest features for quick processing of image files, without the need for external ripping applications. QuickP Designer 2.0 can handle and control multiple jobs and features an user-friendly interface and automation tools.

Designer 2.0 eliminates the need for Photoshop and other external applications by producing outstanding image quality for businesses on tight production schedules and achieves a wide variety

of colours and shades for premium artwork prints on both light and dark-coloured garments.

Designer 2.0 main features are: its quick online file preparation in real-time; controls image configuration and location; allows users to resize, rotate and relocate the image with one click; full automatic control for white and super white opacity; custom-made screening methods for garments; three levels of saturation for defining colour density; colour management and ICC Profile support for converting RGB files to CMYK and viceversa; previewing of white channel and editing of white layer.

QuickP Designer has low cost of ownership and can increase processing speed up to 5 times, improved workflow -with easier setup and control, and backward compatibility with Kornit printers The software also has new colour management plus new colour enhancements and options allow advanced colour control without the need for Photoshop.

Designer supports Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7– English version and input formats in Tiff, SCT, JPG, TGA, PNG, PSD and BMP configuartions.

Supported printers include Avalanche, Avalanche DC Pro, Storm II (QuickP Production 3.0.x.x), Avalanche 1000 (QuickP Production 5.0.x.x), Storm 931 (QuickP Production 14.0.0.3 or 14.0.x.x), Thunder 932 (QuickP Production 14.0.0.3), Breeze (2.0.x.x)

Agfa Graphics Fortuna 8 High-End Design Software for Security Printing Released

Agfa Graphics has released version 8 of their Fortuna security printing design software used for the highest security printing applications, such as passports, ID cards, official documents, certificates, tax labelling and ticketing.

Fortuna 8 was developed in close cooperation with

the high security industry and includes numerous advanced improvements that facilitate the creation of fraud-deterrent security designs and by streamlining the PDF file generation in Fortuna 8, its compliancy with prepress workflows is increased which in turn results in further automation of the production process.

Agfa said that with the latest version of Fortuna, the company has strengthened its position as partners to government institutions and private industries worldwide as a provider of innovative security design tools helping them stay ahead of counterfeiters.

MEDIA DreamScape launches 75” wide Suede wallcovering DreamScape the online media store wall graphics provider has introduced a 75” width Suede to their range of wallcoverings which, the company says, is a direct result of industry demand for a wider commercial printing media that will suit short run and high volume digital applications.

1

All sizes are delivered on 3” heavy-duty cores with no production splices and DreamScape now offers sample rolls of 27” x 15’ for trial.

33

Suede digital wall covering specifications: Category Fire Rating Weight Sizes

Type 1 Commercial Class A 20 ounces 54” widex 75’, 150’ & 300’ lengths 60” widex 75’, 150’ & 300’ lengths 75” widex 75’ & 150’ lengths

Agfa US adds Dreamscape to wide format portfolio

Lines distributed by Agfa Graphics include: Terralon PVC free printable wall covering made from over 30% post consumer content Bling Metallic enriched bead emboss media Suede emboss and Caviar, Classic and Monet Repositionable wall wraps that feature different textures that hide wall imperfections

Agfa Graphics North America used the SGIA Expo to a announce that it is adding Dreamscape to its specialty media assortment, saying it will allow customers access to an unmatched distribution network and wide format application experts across North America, providing PSPs with more

creative opportunities. Dreamscape is the premier supplier of textural digital media for the décor market. With product names like Bling, Suede and Caviar, the line offers PSPs the ability to expand into custom wall graphics. Dreamscape’s textured embossings add depth and style to printing

projects, making them a stand apart product. Agfa Graphics US management said that the addition of Dreamscape to its portfolio of specialty media allows PSPs access to the growing custom wall covering market.

Drytac ChalkMate film Both versions can be used to create custom chalkboard decals from diecut shapes.

Features include: • Made from 5 ml UV printable PVC • Can be used with standard chalk or liquid chalk markers • Can be installed on most smooth surfaces Drytac has added ChalkMate to it’s specialty range of films saying the durable finish and traditional black chalkboard finish lends itself to many applications from around the home in kitchens, children’s bedrooms and playrooms to schools, daycare centres and commercial use such as shopping centre signage promotions or grocery stores and can be ordered with either a permanent or removable adhesive. The film with the permanent, pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive suits fixtures, however, ChalkMate featuring ReTac ultra removable adhesive technology can be used for creating impromptu chalkboard walls or other temporary applications.

• Can be removed by using water • Durable finish • Can be ordered with either a permanent or removable adhesive • Available in up 61” roll widths Drytac management said that ChalkMate was an excellent option for transforming walls into usable surfaces and suited everyone from a professional trying to capture ideas in a meeting room to a restauranteur posting a daily menu.

VISION ASIA MEDIA PRODUCTS

a s i a • d i g i ta l p r i n t i n t e l l i g e n c e

THE NEW FRONTIER

www.visionmagazine.asia

promotional opportunities exist for advertisers in all Vision products contact sales@visionmagazine.asia for details