ASIA
inside • • • • • •
local scene: INDONESIA new products graduation Day digital ceramics inks software
last tree standing
The UN estimated that between 2000 and 2005, Indonesia was losing 1.87 million ha of forest each year and wood pulp was a main cause of the country’s rate of forest loss - but things have changed since 2005 and our country report tells the story
ISSUE digital print intelligence
VISION
W E N
D
E T A
Visionaries
C O N V E N T I O N • K u a l a L u m p u r • MA Y 2 0 1 5 A T W O D A Y D I G ITAL P R INT T E C H N O L O G Y B R I E F IN G F E ATU R IN G
SPEAKERS
F RO M AC RO S S T H E
PLAN E T
D AYONE I T ’ S T H E PU S H
Understand the factors that are pushing technology and the drivers in the market. DAY 1 is all about what the front end of the market wants and how the leading edge of technology is creating demand. Best for marketeers, graphic and fashion designers, art directors, corporate design units, communicators, educators and those who understand that a complete overview of the industry is the only view worth having.
D AY T W O I T ’ S T H E PULL
See how print service providers and technology users can best service the demand from DAY 1 clients. DAY 2 is about the user end of the market - what technology means to printers and how best they can use it. These are the pull factors, end users asking technology vendors to deploy the right equipment to service the pushy people. Best for printers and print technology consumers and those who seek the big picture.
platinum SPONSOR promotional opportunities exist for sponsors with vision contact visionaries@visionmagazine.asia for details or call Ed Boyes +65 8120 2492
VISIONasia
CONTENTS
ISSUE
VISION COVER
4
New Products
Indonesia, Emerald of the Equator, is one the most dynamic markets in asia
10
Feature Location: Indonesia
14
Graduation Day
16
Media
18
Inks
20
Digital Ceramics
22
Software
23
Finishing
Once drawing plenty of international attention for it’s wood pulp practices, indonesia changed the goalposts and moved to protect its remaining rainforest
PAGE
VISION asia magazine the changing face of print in asia Published by Vision Asia Media Pte Ltd 57 Ubi Avenue 1 #03-06 Ubi Centre Singapore 408936
publisher sales editorial circulation
ed boyes ed boyes sha jumari meynard
m m m m
+65 8120 2492 +65 8120 2492 +65 6733 5342 +65 6733 5342
@ @ @ @
ed@visionmagazine.asia ed@visionmagazine.asia sha@cpublish.com.sg accounts@cpublish.com.sg
tel +65 6733 5342 fax +65 6733 3586
4
VISION
new Products
Canon Arizona 600 Series New printer series introduced
Channels five and six can be configured to add extra cyan and magenta nozzle capacity resulting in Production prints with uniformity and smoothness comparable to Quality mode Canon has launched its new Océ Arizona 600 Series UV flatbed printers that designed to deliver high total and peak production capacity while maintaining the print quality favoured by Océ Arizona Series customers. Four models are available (see box) all featuring independent ink channels: • Océ • Océ • Océ • Océ
Arizona Arizona Arizona Arizona
640 GT 640 XT 660 GT 660 XT
Océ Arizona 660 models feature six independent ink channels that can be configured to suit the needs of the professional print provider. These models can be configured for maximum productivity, optimised white ink utility or with both varnish and white ink for maximum flexibility. For those shops that focus on retail signage or other standard graphics applications and require the highest throughput, channels five and six can be configured to enhance print speed by adding extra cyan and magenta nozzle capacity. Called CM2 [C-M-squared], this new arrangement results in Production prints with uniformity and smoothness comparable to those produced in Quality mode. Users can take advantage of this improved print quality to realise higher net productivity, since more demanding print jobs can now be printed in faster print modes. CM2 configured printers also feature Production-Squared print mode with print speeds of more than 46 sqm/hr - nearly 25 percent faster than Production mode. CM2 printing offers higher quality in all the Production print modes and faster printing speeds. For those print providers that focus more on specialty applications, two other configurations for channels five and six are available to expand the application range: • Varnish + White: Using white ink, print service providers can produce exceptional quality prints on a variety of non-white substrates – including backlit prints – that can command premium prices. Varnish can be used as a ‘spot’ (targeted) or ‘flood’ (overall) decorative element for attention-getting results at premium prices. These two features can be combined to create truly unique applications for sign and display or fine art applications. • Double-Opacity White: Alternatively, when not required for use in printing varnish, the sixth channel can be used as an additional white ink channel to deliver double the opacity in a single printing pass for higher productivity when printing white ink jobs on non-white media or objects. This is particularly beneficial for printing on unusual media and for industrial applications. www.visionmagazine.asia
Océ Arizona 640 GT 4 ink channels, CMYK printing, standard table size Océ Arizona 640 XT 4 ink channels, CMYK printing, extra-large table size Océ Arizona 660 GT 6 ink channels, multiple print configurations, standard table size Océ Arizona 660 XT 6 ink channels, multiple print configurations, extra-large table size
Featuring Océ VariaDot imaging technology that delivers true grayscale tonal reproduction, these models include the following new features: active pixel placement compensation, precise vacuum system and batch mode operation. The Océ Arizona 600 Series printer family is designed to grow with a print service provider’s business. Owners can upgrade at any time to add more application versatility or improve productivity. Océ Arizona 600 Series GT models feature the standard table size of 1.25 x 2.50 metres and Océ Arizona 600 Series XT printer offers the extra large table size of 2.50 x 3.05 metres. Both can print on rigid media up to 50.8 mm thick. A Roll Media Option is available for all models to print on flexible media up to 2.2 metres wide. The company says that, if a job can be printed digitally, it most likely can be produced on an Océ Arizona printer. With the ability to print on a wide variety of media and objects, print service providers can capture revenue from applications ranging from standard sign and display (POP/POS, retail signage, backlit signs) to specialty and industrial applications where the decorated substrate is not meant primarily for display purposes (e.g. package prototyping, short-run packaging, wallpaper and interior decoration, and consumer product decoration). With one Océ Arizona printer, full mixed-media campaigns can be produced including rigid displays, banners, window cling and backlits to service a range of customer needs for maximum revenue.
new products
VISION
5
Scodix Scodix Ultra Digital Enhancement Press The new Ultra system supports an array of production capabilities including stationery, business cards, book covers, premium packaging, marketing and promotional tools, greeting cards, and photo albums Graphic arts, digital enhancement solutions provider Scodix, used the recent Ipex2014 exhibition to introduce its latest product, the Scodix Ultra Digital Enhancement Press. The Ultra is a digital enhancement press that Scodix claims is the industry’s fastest, highest quality and most accurate machine available. Capable of producing 1,250 B2+ (21.5 x 31.0 inches) size sheets per hour, it is based on the company’s Scodix SENSE technology, which includes: Scodix RSP Technology Ensures pinpoint enhancement positioning and registration Scodix High Impact Touch and feel to make prints stand out Scodix 99 GU Delivers the highest level of gloss units attainable for printed materials Scodix Variable Density Allows for variable polymer thickness – all in one single pass Scodix say these combined technologies enable the Ultra to deliver results that meet and exceed the critical production requirements of even the most demanding commercial PSP’s or folding-carton packaging converters. The Scodix Ultra supports a wide array of applications including stationery, business cards, book covers, premium packaging, marketing and promotional tools, greeting cards, and photo albums.
Matan Vacuum Plate System for Barak Series
Matan released a vacuum plate system designed for its Barak series. According to the company, the system will make the Barak the first ‘true’ hybrid roll feed and flatbed machine. By ‘true’, the company is referring to the same quality of printing that can be achieved with either roll feed printing or flatbed printing. This is ensured by pneumatic and electric connections, and not a belt system like in most other hybrids. With this new system, the Barak is capable of printing on rigid media and on thin media sheets. Supported media includes sheeted paper, sheets of clear media such as PVC or static cling, foam-board, coroplast, milky backlit, Foam PVC, and many more types of thin media and rigid boards. The new system can be fitted to printer models BarakiQ (UViStar2), Barak 8Q (UViStar Pro-8) and (above) the Barak 8QW (UViStar Pro-8W). www.visionmagazine.asia
6
VISION
new Products
Ricoh New Latex Wide-Format Printers for Outdoor and Indoor Signage
Ricoh’s new wide-format colour graphics printers for the sign and display market employ aqueous latex ink – a more environmentallyfriendly ink when compared to traditional petroleum-based inks
The L4100 series’ use of latex ink eliminates the need for special ventilation that traditional wide-format graphics printers require. More importantly, the prints are quickly ready for finishing after exiting the system, because of a low curing temperature. Ricoh US has released its latex series of wide format printers, the Pro L4160 and Pro L4130 saying the machines will deliver high print productivity and quality as a result of technological innovations, including the use of Ricoh piezoelectric print heads. These roll-to-roll large format printers handle media sizes up to 63.8 inches (L4160) or 54 inches (L4130) wide, and support up to seven colours in various configurations, including orange, green and white inks in addition to CMYK.
Employing Ricoh’s latest generation of high quality, stainless steel multiple jetting piezo inkjet heads, up to three different drop sizes are produced at once, with drops as small as four picoliters (pL). Varying drop sizes result in smoother gradations and sharper details, especially with fine lines and small fonts.
The L4100 series is Ricoh’s first entry into wide-format graphics and although the products are is intended to help customers expand their service offerings, an additional benefit is that the L4100 series may reduce the environmental impact of printing through its use of aqueous latex ink and ability to operate with low power consumption.
Ricoh latex inks offer outdoor durability of one to two years, or two to three years with lamination. With white ink, printers’ clients benefit from enhanced colour on all substrates, including transparent and dark materials, for signage, branded materials and window displays. The addition of orange and green extends the colour gamut to encompass a wider range of vibrant colours, ideal for both indoor and outdoor materials, and to reproduce corporate colours or spot colours accurately.
Since both printers use standard 100-120v power, it eliminates the need for rewiring to 220-240v. Additionally, the L4160 and L4130 are designed to help lower energy consumption and costs, and have the ability to use a much broader range of heat sensitive media.
The L4100 series creates durable outdoor and indoor signage, including banners, POS/POP posters, vehicle wraps and wall coverings. Both systems print on a wide range of substrates, including PVC, tarpaulin, synthetic paper, coated paper, non-coated paper and textiles.
Copytrax Cezanne Industrial Printer UK company Copytrax, recently launched the Cezanne for the industrial printing market. The Cezanne is a UV LED digital flatbed that can print to A2 size on a wide range of media up to 100mm deep making the printer ideal for fascia panels, dials and general signage, but it can also be used for plastics, film, overlays and keyboards. The printer uses a cold-cure LED lamp to ensure fast production so no additional heating is required. This technology also ensures a high adhesion to the material surface and a tough and durable print finish. “The Cezanne provides a realistic digital alternative to industrial screen printing. For low to medium volume production runs, prototypes and samples, the Cezanne will be hard to beat,” said Steve Woods, sales manager, Copytrax.
www.visionmagazine.asia
8
VISION
events
Kuala Lumpur
HP Print Excellence Awards Relocates to Bali
The Visionaries convention, originally set for Kuala Lumpur in October this year, has been rescheduled for May 2015. The two day event is a digital print technology briefing event that will be featuring speakers from across the planet.
Originally slated for Bangkok, the 7th installation of the HP Digital Print Excellence Awards for HP Indigo, and the 5th for HP Sign and Display have been relocated and will be held during Dscoop Asia 2014 June 12 -13 in Bali, Indonesia.
Day 1 attendees will hear speakers discussing factors that are pushing digital technology and the drivers in the market.
Highly qualified leaders from the graphics arts, packaging, media and largeformat printing industry will judge the entries based on registration between print and finishing; smoothness of vignettes; fine line/text reproduction; solid image reproduction; overall aesthetics and varnish quality for the HP Indigo section.
VISIONARIES
•
R e s c h e d u l e d F o r M ay 2 015
Day 2 will see how print service providers and technology users can best service the demand from Day 1 clients. Organisers say that the change is timing has been implemented early to provide international speakers with extra lead-time to arrange attendance and to allow sponsors additional flexibility to prepare for the show. Dates and venue will be provided in the near future. See details on the inside cover in this edition.
SIGN CHINA 2014 Record BreakER China’s definitive sign event, Sign China 2014, ended successfully to break records and set new ones as 88,502 professional trade buyers from all over the world visited the trade show, a double digit growth from its earlier edition, a testament to the growing industry and the role and influence of the show in it. Organised by UBM Trust, the four-day event was held at China Import and Export Fair Complex, Area B, Pazhou, Guangzhou. Sign China has been regarded as a well-known and international show by buyers and specialists in the sign industry from all around the world. This year, the international show welcomed 12,773 new and regular visitors from over 166 countries and regions and achieved a 38% growth in international visitor numbers. These countries and regions include USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, UK, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Korea and Australia. “It’s my first time in Sign China and I am very excited to be here though. It’s really a good show and I am happy I came. I found a lot of interesting, new and innovative products here. Some products I think are really doing well for my customers, so I am happy to join this event,” said Stephen Dougherty, general manager, TableTop Studio, Inc. Celebrating its 12th edition this year, Sign China 2014 was held across over 130,000sqm of exhibition space in 13 halls making it the largest event of its kind. In the halls, the entire sign industry chain is well represented by over 1,800 leading exhibitors and brands from USA, Russia, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. Some of these exhibitors include: Baisheng, Best, Beyond, Chungkong, DNE, Efi, Fulei, Ganglong, GD Han, Hailide, Hainiu, Handtop, Kepu, Mootooh, Redsail, Respect, Sunic, Taipusheng, Yidu and Yuanyuan.
In Sign and Display, the judges will be considering innovation and creativity; marketing appeal; the best use of ink and colour; creative print application installation; overall aesthetics; converting complexity; impact/marketing effectiveness; shelf appeal; fit for purpose - design suitability; uniqueness/ innovation and best use of media and substrate. The HP Indigo section comprises two categories encompassing commercial press and labels & packaging. Sign and Display Categories comprise Decoration, Corrugated Packaging, Outdoor Advertising, Retail POP/POS, Green Digital Printing and Vehicle Graphics. The submission period for entries into the awards has already concluded with entry finalists being notified by April 2014. Winners from different categories will be notified prior to the Award Dinner, where the winning works will be showcased. The Asia Pacific and Japan HP Digital Print Excellence Awards was founded by HP Graphics Solutions Business to recognise outstanding achievements and innovations in the printing industries across Asia.
FESPA Digital 2014 Social Media Competition
To promote digital print, FESPA Digital is organising a new social media competition featuring the ‘Digital Man’ and set on the premise that the ‘Digital Man’ is going on vacation in search of inspiration. Participants are encouraged to help him do so by posting a photo or video with a ‘Digital Man’ mask while diving in amazing locations or in an underwater scene or printed on to or by applications which go beyond the traditional digital print techniques. The concept is to promote digital print and encourage the digital community and businesses to dive deeper into digital print. The pictures will be shared and voted on by the FESPA community via Facebook. 20358 Digi Man Dive Mask.indd 1
25/02/2014 17:03
The exhibition also showcased various products ranging from signage, miscellaneous sign materials, acrylic panels, POP items, printing materials & consumables, cutting machines with fiber laser, engraver, bending machines to LED displays, LED illuminants and LED lighting and received a number of high-level of satisfaction from the first-time or regular exhibitors and visitors alike.
To take part:
“We have participated in SIGN CHINA for 12 years now. I think the visitor flow is growing continuously. We have reached many professional buyers and the orders have also increased much more than last year,” said Song Wu, general manager, Aorise Aluminium Products Co., Ltd.
Participants can also tweet the photo @fespa with the hashtag #fespadigitalman. The community will be able to vote on the Facebook pictures or videos using the “Like” button. The image with the most votes will win a 5 star, all-inclusive holiday. The runner-up will take home an underwater camera. All entries submitted via twitter will also be posted onto the Facebook page. Facebook Fan Page: facebook.com/fespa Facebook Screen Name: Digi DigitalMan Twitter: #fespadigitalman @fespa
The next edition of SIGN CHINA in 2015 will take place from 2 to 5 March 2015 at the same venue – China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex, Area B, Guangzhou, P.R. China. www.visionmagazine.asia
1 Print and download the Digital Man mask from fespa.com/digitalman. 2 Pose in an underwater scene, exciting location or print using a cool application 3 Upload the Digital Man experience for voting at Facebook.com/fespa
INDUSTRY
VISION
9
www.visionmagazine.asia
1010
VISION VISION
Feature Featurelocation location
INDONESIA EMERALD OF THE EQUATOR
Despite political instability and environmental issues plaguing the nation, Indonesia’s print industry is showing no apparent signs of distress. How does this bode for the digital print climate in Indonesia.
www.visionmagazine.asia
Feature location
VISION
11
At a Glance Country Government Type
Location Population Economic Indicators Currency Print Industry
Republic of Indonesia Multi-party presidential republic that is democratic based on the Trias Politica that recognises the separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers. Southeast Asia 246.9 million (2012) USD$4,271.51 per capita GDP (as of 2012) Rupiah (IDR) More than 1,000 large-medium scale printing firms, Export value worth USD 216 million and Imports value at USD 155 million
The paper and printing industry had shown positive growth, exhibiting a 1.5% increase. Indonesia’s print industry also received a favourable US$10 billion valuation in 2011, and is expected to rise to approximately 6% until 2015. Reportedly, there are more than 1,000 large-medium scale printing firms. This number is expected to rise 3% annually in 2014.
HP’s Indigo 10000 Digital Press is an easy fit for most offset Print Service Providers with a monthly duty cycle of up to 2.2 million sheetsand a maximum paper size of 75 x 53 cm
over page
I
ndonesia, is one of the planet’s most populous countries with over 246 million people living within its borders. Its population, along with a strategic location, puts Indonesia in the running as one of the fastest growing economies after China and India. From 2012 to 2017, Asia Pacific countries share of the market is expected to grow from 47% to 53%, paving the way for emerging markets such as Indonesia to have wide reaching business opportunities. Over the past decade, the Indonesian economy has grown steadily as a result of a high demand for exports of its consumer goods and industrial products.
In 2013 however, Indonesia was hit by a financial crisis when the rupiah fell 21% against the US dollar, more than any other major currency. The currency plunge, along with Indonesia’s central bank aggressive monetary tightening, slowdown in China, and political uncertainty, placed the country as one of the ‘Fragile Five’ emerging nations by investors. Over the fourth quarter of 2013, however, Indonesia’s economy grew faster than expected, as the Central Bureau of Statistics reported a 5.72% increase in GDP. In March 2014, Bambang Brodjonegoro, Indonesia’s deputy finance minister, stated at an investor conference
in Jakarta that the ‘Fragile Five’ label is no longer appropriate for the country, as inflation stabilised and current account and trade deficits shrinking. Analysts have warned however, that it is still too premature to determine the economic situation of the country. Barclays economist, Prakriti Sofat, maintained in an interview with Bloomberg, that Indonesia’s growth will only slow further in the coming quarters, due to the impact of Bank Indonesia’s policy tightening weighs on credit growth and, in turn, GDP growth.
www.visionmagazine.asia
12
VISION
Feature location
The Truepress Jet L350UV inkjet label printing system delivers detail, colour and smooth transitions from its single-pass grayscale piezo printheads with a print width of up to 322mm and web widths from 100mm to 350mm. As an inkjet printing system for labels, the L350 prints up to 16.1 m2 per minute.
The Green Villain A Fight to End Deforestation Deforestation, vanishing natural resources, pollution – these are environmental issues that continuously plague the country. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that between 2000 and 2005, Indonesia was losing 1.87 million ha of forest each year. Global demand for wood pulp was a main cause of Indonesia’s shocking rate of forest loss. Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), Indonesia’s largest pulp and paper company was the world’s second biggest paper manufacturer, until a campaign by Greenpeace and other NGOs claimed that the company was responsible for widespread deforestation in Indonesia. The campaign hit APP hard, as customers were driven away in multitudes. It has been two years since APP has pulled the plug on its deforestation practices in the country to feed its paper mills. It released a Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) that is committed to protecting all the remaining rainforests and promising full transparency of its operations. Its efforts resulted in APP’s slow comeback into the good books of its customers, but the company has more work to be done to assure
www.visionmagazine.asia
Print Industry Continues Rising the industry that it will stay committed to tackle deforestation. Such an immense undertaking would require the support of the Indonesian government, which appears lax at the moment, according to APP’s director of sustainability and stakeholder engagement, Aida Greenbury. Greenbury was reported by Australia’s ProPrint as saying that “the Indonesian government is in election mode and no one wants to make any decisions right now.” She would be referring to the volatile political landscape in Indonesia currently fueled by the stepping down of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this year, and an uncertainty over the upcoming presidential election in July 2014. Poor governance has always received the blame for the environmental issues of the country. In recent years however, there are efforts undertaken by the government to tackle issues of deforestation. The government has strategised to promote the standardisation of products and technical regulations relating to eco-friendly product and technology development. Indonesia is also committed to develop R&D in the field of environmentally friendly technologies.
Economic data for the country in general may have been conclusively unstable, but Indonesia’s print industry’s statistics appear contradictory. The paper and printing industry had shown positive growth, exhibiting a 1.5% increase. Indonesia’s print industry also received a favourable US$10 billion valuation in 2011, and is expected to rise to approximately 6% until 2015. This rise can be credited towards the Ministry of Industry’s intention to transform Indonesia into a strong industrial nation by 2025. Indonesia will be paying particular attention to productivity and automation, continuing the rising trend in the region’s fast growing printing industry. Reportedly, there are more than 1,000 largemedium scale printing firms. This number is expected to rise 3% annually in 2014. Jimmy Juneanto, chairman of the Indonesian Association of Printers, was reported to state that the export value of its printing industry is USD 216 million and imports are valued at USD 155 million. The growth rate of Indonesia’s printing industry is almost equal to that of the country’s GDP, between 6 to 7% annually. Juneanto had also said that from printing techniques, web offset printing and sheet-fed offset printing still account for about 80% of the total output value of printing, but digital printing is currently experiencing a period of high growth.
Feature location
VISION
13
The HP Latex 3000 can print a variety of products from point of purchase displays, to wallcoverings, vehicle graphics and outdoor banners. With a roll width of 3.2 m it can produce indoor high quality work at 77 m2/hr.
Labeling & Packaging in Indonesia
Digital Print Growth According to BCC’s research reported by Global Information Inc, the Asia Pacific region is the largest geographical market for industrial inkjet technologies. In addition, the International Data Corporation (IDC) expects Indonesia’s printer consumable market to heat up as both OEMs and manufacturers of compatible cartridges are expected to focus on providing lower print cost per page to win both consumers and corporate users alike from 2013 onwards. “We’ve seen strong growth in the digital printing market in Indonesia in the last couple of years. From our own perspective, we’re seeing a lot of interest in our digital large format printing solutions, such as our Latex range of products,” said said Subin Joseph, president director, HP Indonesia. “In the medium to long term, due to the scale of the population and likely economic growth, we would be very positive about digital printing adoption in Indonesia. Also, we see digital printing as being complementary to offset printing, and we have the range of solutions to provide for printing needs within both areas.”
Although offset machines will not be on a decline anytime soon in Indonesia, print service providers are investing in digital in order to strengthen their competitive edge in the industry. Joseph observed that more local printing companies are investing in the company’s wide-format and digital presses: “For instance, PrimaGraphia Digital and Subur, both leading commercial printing companies in Indonesia, added the HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press to ramp up their existing digital printing capabilities.” “Also a strong player in the large format printing business, PrimaGraphia Digital invested in the HP Latex 3000 Printer to extend its lead over the competition by providing its customers with even better print quality and color consistency. Similarly, Bintang Sempurna, a one stop print service provider in the country, recently installed the HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press to double its commercial printing capacity while maintaining the offset quality that its customers are looking for,” Joseph continued. One of HP Indonesia’s key new products that they have introduced is the Indigo 10000, which is able to print large volumes of highvalue pages with a wide variety of applications. The printer is also an easy entry into digital for offset print service providers.
A major trend in the digital print industry in Indonesia is the growth of the labeling and packaging industry. Personalisation and customisation and shorter runs of full-colour labels are driving forces behind the trend. In late 2013, Australia’s Jet Technologies opened a branch in Indonesia as part of the company’s expansion plan. It will be distributing the Screen Truepress Jet L350UV digital label press in the Indonesian market. The company reportedly decided upon Indonesia only after much research on a range of potential Asian markets. In its research, Indonesia’s wide-ranging fastmoving consumer goods manufacturing industry and the size of the market potential were key deciding factors in the company’s decision to set up a full-service branch there. “In Indonesia right now, we see packaging, across all different industry sectors, as being a major growth trend at present,” added Joseph. In line with this trend, the company introduced the HP Scitex FB10000 Industrial Press, which allows users to take on more jobs, like corrugated packaging and displays. Also in their digital printing portfolio is the HP Indigo 20000 Digital press, for diverse digital applications such as flexible packaging, labels and shrink sleeves, and the HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press, for the folding carton industry.
HP’s Scitex FB10000 is an industrial press using High Dynamic Range printing technology for speed and quality on a wide range of media including corrugated packaging and displays - it will print up to 600 m2/hr or 120 full-size sheets/hr at a print size up to 1.6 x 3.2 m
www.visionmagazine.asia
14
VISION
EDUCATION
Graduation Day
Keeping millennials ready for the creative industry Along with creative design methodology and critical thinking, the courses emphasise heavily on practical design skills such as CAD drawing, digital illustration, spatial planning and design, as well as presentation and communication skills. The students also learn standard designing software including Adobe Creative Suite and 3D Max.
N Singapore’s Nanyang Polytechnic focuses on strong industry ties and industrial attachments to keep their students up to speed with the creative industry
anyang Polytechnic’s School of Design recently showcased 153 works by graduating students from the diplomas in Industrial Design, Space & Interior Design and Visual Communication. The students displayed an impressive array of project works, from interesting concepts and designs to actual prototypes and products.
“One of the ways the courses keep up with evolving technologies in the creative industry is through mandatory attachment programmes. Through our Industrial Attachment Programme, we are also able to validate if what we are teaching the students is current,” said Ms Tan Mui Siang, Course Manager for the School’s Visual Communication programme.
One of the contributing factors to the professional standard of the students’ works is the School’s Industrial Attachment Programme (IAP). Students are attached to an industry in their final year of study to put into practice the skills acquired while in their course. The IAP also allows the students to keep abreast of the requirements and expectations of the industry.
The industry partners span from semi-government to private organisations. These include the Singapore Philatelic Museum, Flextronics, Kimberly-Clark, Kingsmen Creatives, Banyan Tree, Moove Media and other major design firms and retail mall owners.
next page www.visionmagazine.asia
EDUCATION
VISION
15
Close Ties with the Print Industry One of the long time partners is Starlite Printers, which allows student interns to practise their skills and learn about print and converting processes. Other printing companies are also supporters of the interns. “Since we started the Visual Communication course in 2007, we not only send students to printing companies, but also organise educational trips to Tien Wah Press, Oxford Press and SPH. Teckwah Corporation, a partner in our NYPIndustry Scholarship programme, is another staunch supporter. Our students were even given the opportunity to design the hoardings for its new building in Paya Lebar,” said Mr Tan Khee Soon, deputy director (Academic), School of Design, Nanyang Polytechnic. “Most of the students are familiar with digital printing; it’s more convenient. However offset printing is a major aspect of the print industry. Sending the students to attachments not only exposes them to offset printing, but it teaches them new skills as well,” said Mr Tan, highlighting the importance of maintaining close ties with the print industry. “Offset calls for a different set of skills. For example, when doing press checks in offset, colour adjustment is done there and then, whereas adjustment for digital printing is done
above and below: graduate showcase pieces for public display from multiple design disciplines on a computer. Most of our students become designers, so it’s essential for them to know what sort of machines are out there in the market, be it 4-colour, 5-colour, even 2-colour machines.” The School of Design frequently conducts design seminars and workshops, inviting industry practitioners to share current industry technology with the students. Among these was a session conducted by Pantone on the creative industry’s default colour matching system, the Pantone Matching System.
Practical Design Skills Along with creative design methodology and critical thinking, the courses emphasise heavily on practical design skills such as CAD drawing, digital illustration, spatial planning and design, as well as presentation and communication skills. The students also learn standard designing software including Adobe Creative Suite and 3D Max. “The most vital skill, in my opinion, is the learning of Autodesk 3D Max. It is a valuable programme that can allow designers to transcend the limitations of 2D designs into 3D ones,” said Leonard Lam Yong Heng, a final year student undertaking the Diploma in Visual Communication. Leonard worked with the Southeast Asian office of Adidas in the visual merchandising department for his attachment. A high point of his internship is the successful implementation of a 3D planogram template for the company. “It was a valuable software skill that I was able to put to good use in the 3D planogram template for Adidas. We were also given challenging studio projects that stimulate our creative thinking; realising 2D designs into 3D displays. This was essential in planning planograms, retail standardisation and displays as it involves 3D space planning,” Leonard shared. Leonard is a recipient of the Singapore Good Design Mark and the Singapore Design Award this year for his final year project, the Xin Xin Dialect product.
www.visionmagazine.asia
16
VISION
Media
ASLAN introduces extensive floor graphics programme with fire safety certificate HL: ASLAN Introduces Extensive Floor Graphics Programme with Fire Safety Certificate Floor graphics are an effective means of advertising. However, due to the risk of slipping they underlay certain safety regulations depending on surface, application and the environment. Till now, fire safety certificates are only valid for unprinted films, and are no longer valid as soon as they’ll be printed and laminated. As the first manufacturer ASLAN offers a fire safety certification for the already printed films in combination with floor graphics laminate according to DIN EN 13501-1. The fire-rated floor graphics solutions from ASLAN are therefore ideal for applications in public areas such as airports, train stations and at trade shows. The ASLAN floor graphics programme consists of self-adhesive films for various surfaces such as smooth floors, rough asphalt and carpets, which are combined with the corresponding laminates in the slip-resistant classification R9 or R11.
Orafol Signarama to use Orafol products for global rebranding year the company started a branding research project to reaffirm its position as a premium brand that provides expertise and a customised approach. Signarama’s new branding – including a contemporary colour scheme, logo, tagline and icon – is being rolled out across all franchise locations this year using a variety of Orafol Graphic products to create new window graphics, fleet wraps and lobby displays. Signarama has designated Orafol Americas its vendor of choice for all its vinyl materials and Orafol Graphic Products are used for franchisee training. Before opening a store, every franchisee attends a two week school at Signarama’s corporate headquarters that features hands on training using Orafol Graphic Products. Orafol Americas will partner with Signarama to provide materials for the franchise’s worldwide rebranding exercise with Signarama confirming that Orafol Americas has also been named Signarama’s vendor of choice for vinyl products used throughout its network. Signarama, the world’s largest sign franchise with over 900 locations in 50 countries, said that last www.visionmagazine.asia
Attendees learn to work with a variety of premium vinyl graphic films, digital media, laminating films and reflective products for signage, graphics and digital printing applications. Signarama offers its franchisees the highest quality software, equipment, materials and service, which it says has helped the company maintain its position as an industry leader.
3M Envision transluscent and diffuser film range 3M launched the Envision range of translucent and diffuser matte finished, cast films, designed to reduce the need for lighting by increasing the level of brightness to achieve a higher level of brilliance in backlit and frontlit illuminated signs. The 3M Envision Diffuser Film 3735-50/60 is a white vinyl film (50 µm) that controls brightness and light distribution and is designed to work with LED light sources. The Envision range are pressure sensitive substrates that use a solvent acrylic adhesive to create a permanent and non-removable surface with a maximum durability of up to 8 years. They are designed for flat and flexible surfaces in either an interior or exterior environment and are a premium performance product. 3M says Envision makes it practical to use LEDs since instead of adding more LEDs to achieve a level of brightness required, Envision can enhance visibility through brighter, improved light transmission and the use of fewer light sources and energy. The range also presents a greener solution without sacrificing performance. Envision is available in rolls 1.22m wide and a length of 45.7m.
media
VISION
17
3M new Scotchcal Perforated Window Film IJ67 for short-term window applications
3M Commercial Graphics has introduced 3M Scotchcal Perforated Window Film IJ67, a removable film designed for short-term promotional first surface window applications. This 5.9 mil vinyl film has a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a 40 percent die-perforated pattern that allows a full image to be seen on the outside of a window, while allowing viewing through
retail and non-regulated vehicle windows from the inside. IJ67 comes with a polycoated paper release liner that is backed with a continuous paper layer, enabling easier registration on UV, solvent and latex digital printing platforms, as well as screen printing equipment. With applications on interior and exterior building windows and dividers, as well as non-regulated
vehicle windows, the product gives graphic manufacturers an ideal solution for windows. Film IJ67 is available from 3M distributors in 54inch x 50-yard rolls, with additional roll sizes available from FDC Graphic Films, Inc. This new film provides an excellent alternative to 3M Scotchcal Perforated Window Graphic Films IJ65 and IJ66, which have been discontinued.
HP - new canvas and backlit products HP has introduced a suite of new sign and display inkjet media for HP Latex printers including: HP Premium Satin Canvas A bright, white based media that allows a wider color gamut for fine art and photographic reproductions that are accurate and consistent. The canvas is scratch and crack resistant for quick finishing, including stretching for gallery wraps and mounted applications. HP Everyday Satin Canvas A semi-matte, slightly textured canvas with improved performance and lower costs, making it ideal for production oriented dĂŠcor and display work, while maintaining a quality consistent with fine art gallery wraps. Next-Generation HP Backlit Polyester Film An updated backlit film has a super wide color gamut that produces vibrant colors and sharp detail when backlit. All HP sign and display media for latex printers are optimised for Original HP inks and produce long lasting consistent products through quality, permanence, reliability and sustainability. www.visionmagazine.asia
18
VISION
INK
Fujifilm Uvijet KV thermoforming UV ink Uvijet KV is extremely flexible so that it can heat and cool without cracking or flaking and since thermo forming is becoming more popular in industrial applications a variety of plastics are now in use. Typical printable substrates include polystyrene and PETG, both of which mould easily into new shapes when heated.
Fujifilm Euroe has launched of new thermo forming UV-cured inkjet ink, Uvijet KV, aimed at light industrial applications. The Uvijet KV ink, a product of R&D from the company’s ink manufacturing plant in Broadstairs, UK, is a result of a market demand for a high quality digital ink designed specifically for use with the company’s mid-range flatbed printers, the Acuity Advance Select and Acuity Advance Select HS. 0Fujifilm pioneered wide format digital UV inkjet inks and was able to use its expertise to develop
Uvijet KV saying the new formulation maintains the quality, vivid colours and performance associated with the the company’s ink brand, without compromising print speed. The inks work with a therm forming system so that once the printing of a flat plastic sheet is completed, it is removed to a mould where it is heated up to take on the shape of the mould, and then cooled. The ink has outstanding elongation properties of 300-400% when heated, returning to a normal state when cool.
Agfa develops nanosilver conductive inks Agfa has developed a nanosilver conductive ink which allows users to cut material costs and drive miniaturisation in many key applications (RFID and smart cards, NFC for communication between devices but also remote control devices for small equipment). Besides outperforming silver flake inks, it also proves to be an effective replacement for indium tin oxide (ITO) in displays.
temperature during manufacturing. The new ink has been used to produce a conductive grid for displays that is so fine that it is practically invisible yet delivers increased overall conductivity. Research has predicted that by finding niches like a replacement for ITO, demand for new copperand silver-conductive inks can reach up to 22% of the total conductive ink market by 2018.
The main advantage of nanosilver inks is its high conductivity, and it can be expected that this new ink will replace silver flake inks in many applications soon. With the new inks it is possible to design a target resistance with a far thinner layer (1-2µ versus 10-20µ, obviously using a finer printing mesh) or reduce the dimensions of the printed traces, or a combination of both. The coverage (conductive area per kilogram of ink) of the nanosilver ink is much higher than with traditional flake inks: 60-80m2/kg, compared to 15-20m2/ kg. As a bonus, it is possible to print much finer lines and spaces, supporting the ongoing trend for miniaturisation. Recently, printed circuits were designed and printed featuring 150µ lines and spaces. This was not possible with standard inks.
Other opportunities: Replacing ITO in displays has been identified as an interesting application for conductive inks, amongst many other opportunities. Companies active in the membrane keyboard market, which are now looking to deploy their expertise in new markets like printed electronics, show high interest too, especially when conductive inks are a major part of the bills of materials cost and there is a clear advantage in reducing the amount of ink needed. Electronic product code (EPC) companies have also considered the use of the new inks as a means to integrate RFID antennas into products.
Nanosilver displays: One of the spurs for developing the new nanosilver conductive ink aimed at improving Agfa’s existing products based on conductive polymer, which is used to form a transparent antistatic layer for the manufacturing of LCD displays. Beyond this specific application, nano conductive silver ink also finds its way into flexible transparent electrode applications, to replace the incumbent technology based on ITO. ITO is not the ideal solution as it has limitations in conductivity when applied on polymer (film) substrates; on one hand because it is very brittle, but also because it must be annealed at a high www.visionmagazine.asia
Printing options: To apply the nanosilver inks on a substrate, a screen printing technique was developed combined with a sintering process at 130°C or more, all very comparable with solutions for applying silver flake inks. Alternatives using inkjet or flexo techniques are currently under investigation aiming at a wider choice for the integrators. With the new ink, Agfa has moved beyond the laboratory stage and prepares for large-scale supply in 2014. Meanwhile Agfa is cooperating with various systems integrators. They value the nanosilver ink mainly for its peerless electrical performance in small printed circuits.
Fujiflim management said that its Acuity platform, long recognised as a benchmark for print quality in its category has, with the addition of Uvijet KV ink, enabled users to take advantage of profitable new applications The company recognises that large format printing has for some time been expanding away from the traditional graphics markets and has used its extensive ink and application knowledge to develop solutions which allow these systems to be used for different light industrial applications. The company went on to say that the use of inkjet printing in thermo forming is not well established, but there is an opportunity for early adopters to use a creative approach to open and develop new markets. The Uvijet KV inkjet set can be used in conjunction with Fujifilm’s UV-cured screen white, Omniplus UL and is commercially available in Europe now.
Bordeaux to launch custom made inkjet technology at Fespa Munich 2014 Bordeaux Digital Printink plans to launch new custom made inks, chips and solutions at Fespa Munich 20-23 May 2014 that the company says are compatible with most wide and grand format digital printers. The Company says Fespa Munich will see the launch its newest 700ml cartridge with dedicated chip on an Epson SureColor S printer. This solution uses Fuze Eco SC ink, a mix and match with the original ink, preserving ink quality and allowing the user to swap, one colour at a time, from OEM to Bordeaux cartridges without requiring any prior or post preparations. Bordeaux says this is the most convenient solution in the market today and is aimed to replace Ultrachrome GS2 ink. The company also offers Fuze Eco SC in 1000ml bags, which provides 40% more ink than OEM cartridges. Used with Ink on Demand’s Smart Cartridge System, this Eco solvent solution provides longer uninterrupted printing cycles and enables users to monitor the ink level and receive real time ink changing alerts. In addition to showcasing its UV curable ink series and adhesion promoters, the company will also run live demonstrations of its dye sublimation high density inks. For Girect-to-Textile and transfer printing, these water-based textile inks are manufactured from non-hazardous, hypoallergenic raw materials with low environmental impact. The inks feature bright, vibrant colours, excellent image definition for high quality printing and a long shelf life.
ink
VISION
19
XAAR 1002 GS6 printhead for UV applications Xaar technology for performance and reliability delivered by TF Technology combined with the Hybrid Side-Shooter architecture, a true ink recirculation system which ensures maximum production uptime. Ease of use has also been enhanced by an improvement to the customer electronic interface and by enabling a reduction in the set up time required.
Inkjet technology specialist Xaar has released the Xaar 1002 GS6 printhead for UV applications.
precision resulting in high resolution text and images with smooth tones.
The 1002 GS6 printhead has been developed for a range of UV applications including labels, laminates, direct-to-shape, packaging and other types of product decoration, where industrial levels of reliability are required.
A key feature of the 1002 is its ability to print heavily pigmented high opacity white inks and high viscosity varnishes reliably, using the company’s patented ink recirculation technology, TF Technology. The printhead is suitable for a wide range of UV applications including labels and printing onto clear packaging for bottles, where opaque backup whites and high build spot varnishes are required.
The 1002 GS6 printhead incorporates multiple new technology features providing improved drop volume uniformity and drop placement accuracy for higher quality printed images. The printhead’s 1000 Optimised Geometry nozzles can jet and place drops with the highest
The printhead builds on the success of the 1001 GS6 unit resulting in manufacturers choosing
Sun Chemical and T+ink form T+sun Sun Chemical has formed a partnership with T+ink to create a new venture T+sun which will to provide conductive ink solutions for packages and other print applications.
packaging and brand protection groups. T+sun will utilise Sun Chemical’s global R&D, technical support, manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain, marketing, and sales.
US headquartered Sun Chemical, the worlds largest producer of inks, confirms that it has signed off on an agreement with T+ink a designer and developer of “thinking ink” solutions that make objects smart, interactive and secure. T+ink technology is used on items such as print ads that change colour, concert tickets that unlock bonus videos, packaging that becomes its own point of sale for reorders and automotive keyless entry surfaces that light up when a driver approaches.
Sun says that T+ink is one of the first emerging companies to commercialise true printed electronics across a variety of industries, including toys, packaging, promotional products, construction and apparel by utilising patented technologies designed to replace switches, wires, buttons, speakers, lights, sensors, microphones, antennas and batteries with printed ink for touch and motion-activated applications.
The new T+sun organization is tasked with providing conductive ink solutions to make packages and objects communicate, engage customers and manage inventory systems by tapping into the global resources of Sun Chemical, including the company’s electronic materials,
T+sun plans to be on the frontier of creating smart and interactive objects by providing a fundamentally new way for brand owners to communicate with their consumers, manage inventory and a great deal more. For example, by using conductive ink to replace RFID codes at a fraction of the cost while offering more security than QR codes.
HP Designjet L25500 - get Coveris latex ink cartridges US based Coveris Advanced Coatings has announced an addition to its Magic Ink line with latex cartridges for HP Designjet L25500 printers. Magic Ink is an alternative solution for inkjet users, combining cost effectiveness with equivalent OEM performance and are
formulated to deliver image quality, accurate colour reproduction and print longevity. Coveris say Magic Inks are compatible with all brands of inkjet media, allowing flexibility to print on any substrate. In addition to HP inks, Magic Inks feature cartridges for Canon, Epson, Mimaki mild solvent, Mutoh ValueJet, Roland ecosolvent and Seiko low-solvent printers.
The 1002 GS6 is a versatile printhead capable of handling a wide range of fluids and viscosity ranges and is backwards compatible with the 1001 GS6. Also available alongside the Xaar 1002 GS6 is a range of systems components – including the new slimline HPC3, the XUSB and Xaar Hydra. These have been designed for easy configuration, optimisation and integration to reduce time to market. In addition, the improved uniformity of the Xaar 1002 GS6 allows manufacturers to configure narrow web and wide-format printers faster and more easily. As the Xaar 1002 GS6 is compatible with Xaar 1001 GS6-enabled printers, users can upgrade easily at any time. Systems featuring the 1002 GS6 printhead are available now from a number of Original Equipment Manufacturers including Autobond, Durst, EFI, FFEI, Hymmen, INX Digital, KHS, Krones, Sacmi, SPG Prints and Till Engineering.
Kiian Group launches Kiian Specialty Kiian Group, an international supplier of inks for textile and industrial markets, announced that it will use InPrint 2014 as the launch platform to introduce Kiian Specialty, a new business within the Kiian Group. Part of an ongoing growth strategy to better align its ink and screen chemical manufacturing businesses, this development is designed to streamline production operations and ensure a clearer and faster route to market for Kiian Group products. Fabio Festorazzi, CEO of Kiian Group will also assume the role of General Manager for Kiian Specialty. As part of the development of Kiian Specialty, Kiian Group has recruited Frank Jellinek to the role of sales and marketing director. A highly experienced ink specialist, Jellinek has an established and proven track record within the specialty chemicals industry. This includes roles at Laporte (later Rockwood Industries) and subsequent global sales and business development positions with Flint Ink and Pemco International. During this year Kiian Specialty Inks will launch new benchmark inks for textile printing, where the company is already a leading international player, plus on the industrial side the company plans to deploy a number of technological and commercial initiatives. www.visionmagazine.asia
20
VISION
ceramics
Ceramics
The next digital frontier EFI’s Cretaprint C3 multipurpose digital ceramic decoration printer can hold up to 8 ceramic printing bars for decoration and special finishing and has options for print width, direction, resolution, speed and ink discharge rates.
The ceramic tile industry is rapidly shifting to adopt inkjet technologies. Asia is already home to some of the largest ceramics markets globally, is ceramics printing the next big thing?
W
hen 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.
Ceramics in Asia
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.
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.
“There’s a whole raft of material that you can print on which is just mind-boggling. One of which is on ceramic tiles, where you can have personalised designs printed on a tile. The ceramic tiles market is in actuality bigger than the print market by a long stretch,” asserted Steve Green, vice president for Asia Pacific, EFI.
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
www.visionmagazine.asia
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 Pte. Ltd.
CERAMICS
VISION
21
Digital print systems could have as high as 86% penetration into the ceramic tiles market by 2017, based on the 40% penetration rate in the market today and vendor revenues for systems and inks will rise from $713 million to $1.3 billion by 2017. 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 introduce ad 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. 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.
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,” Green continued. Besides flexibility and faster turnaround times, lower breakage levels are a benefit. Analogue processes require pattern rollers to come into contact with the tiles during the process, increasing the incidences of tile breakage. Digital is a non-contact printing process, ensuring that less wastage of not just tiles, but ink as well. Although inkjet appears to outweigh analogue processes by a long way, analogue printing is much preferred on strongly coloured surface areas. For now, long run and large stock orders of tiles will also still benefit economically from traditional ceramic tile printing. That said, inkjet technology is always evolving, it is not naïve to consider improved colour quality and further cost reduction as works in progress.
Xennia’s Ultramarine is a single pass high performance ceramic tile printer for short run digital tile decoration. The Ultramarine’s wide print capability delivers high speed print in widths from 415 mm to 725 mm making it ideal for ceramic tile decoration. www.visionmagazine.asia
22
VISION
SOFTWARE
Meadows Autoprice for InDesign CS7 Meadows Publishing, the Illinois USA based publishing solutions provider, has released its AutoPrice software for Adobe InDesign CS7 Creative Cloud users for both Macintosh and Windows-based platforms. AutoPrice is a tool for linking text and graphics in any type of database to Adobe InDesign documents, with the company saying that the streamlined production system is used by many of the largest catalog and financial publishers throughout the world and has set the standard for plug-in based data connectivity software. The software is engineered to automate the process of inserting, updating and versioning prices for catalogs, retail flyers and similar publications and is ideal for updating timetables, phone lists or any other type of information that can be referenced from a database or spreadsheet file. AutoPrice works by extracting and updating prices (or other data) via “placeholders” within documents that are linked to records in any type of database or spreadsheet. Placeholders can be positioned anywhere on the page, including within running text, and can be easily styled for maximum design possibilities. Raw database prices can be styled as they are extracted allowing catalogs, flyers, timetables and similar publications to be created and manipulated in less time. Users can update, reformat, revise and spin off multiple versions with less effort, reducing errors and accelerating production cycles. A single command can update (re-price) an entire publication from a revised database. The AutoPrice database engine has been extensively field tested and is fast, typically requiring no more than a few seconds to completely update a page.
The app also supports graphic file import and exchange, which includes advanced searching and error reporting capabilities. Comprehensive report generation also assists in proofing, billing or index generation. For large projects and multiple files, AutoPrice supplies selectable batch processing, also complete with full reporting. An entire catalog containing hundreds of individual documents can be fully processed within minutes. AutoPrice for InDesign Creative Cloud is backwards compatible with previous versions of the application. Features • Automates intricate data entry by linking databases to InDesign documents, automating previously time-intensive and tedious manual entry of prices and other material • Greater document flexibility as records can be extracted from any type of database and placed anywhere within InDesign documents • Updating, reformatting, revising, batch processing and versioning are easier, reducing errors and accelerating production cycles, allowing users to create more flexible publications in less time • The solution can be used to instantly insert or swap out product pictures, logos or any type of graphic image • Software is compatible with all versions of the Adobe InDesign applications.
Canon US and CGS develop COLORlynx Canon Solutions America (CSA) and CGS Publishing Technologies International have launched a new, jointly developed, Colorlynx calibration technology, a cloud-based profiling solution that supports calibration of Canon’s Imagepress series of digital presses across US print shops resulting in certified files. The companies say they have partnered to provide Canon Imagepress users with a solution employing CGS’ ORIS colour calibration and certification software which enables Imagepress operators to create accurate calibration profiles for their digital presses. CGS’ patented technology integrated in Colorlynx enables users to remotely manage single or multiple Imagepress devices over a secure Internet connection with a local measurement device. The according calibration profiles are generated by the ORIS colour calibration algorithms thus enabling high accuracy in colour reproduction as well as high levels of gray balance stability. As the solution is integrated into the digital front end of the colour devices, it provides greater colour stability, www.visionmagazine.asia
Global Graphics release free VDP PDF manual
reliability and consistency across the whole fleet of Imagepress devices not only in one but also in remote locations. Colorlynx delivers a G7 gray balance for output and the use of its colour verification feature helps to ensure that colour accuracy is consistent. End users enjoy superior gray balance output to increase their press utilisation and reduce overall downtime due to colour inconsistency. US customers leasing an Imagepress C7011/ C6011 from Canon Solutions America will receive a Colorlynx subscription a part of the lease, while customers purchasing an Imagepress C7011/ C6011 from the ESS business unit will receive a Colorlynx subscription valid for three years from the installation date of the Imagepress. Subscriptions include access to software, a golden Colorlynx calibration profile set, complimentary Colorlynx calibration profile sets, and access to Canon Solutions America’s exclusive Imagepress colour calibration protocol.
UK based Global Graphics have released a new guide that shows how to ‘do PDF/VT right’ aimed at users who wish to maximise productivity and minimise turnaround time in the deadline critical world of variable data print The publisher claims that designers and users of variable data print can speed the production of VDP jobs using this new guide to the “dos and don’ts” of optimising PDF files for the most efficient processing by digital front ends (DFEs). The ‘Do PDF/VT Right: How to make problemfree PDF files for variable data printing’ is a concise guide that provides objective information and advice to anyone who uses VDP: graphic designers, print buyers, production managers, press operators, owners of PSPs, and d igital press DFE developers. The publishers say that the impact of poorlyconstructed PDF files on production schedules has become a significant issue for print service providers as VDP becomes more popular. With a range of people, from graphic designers to marketing campaign managers and data management experts, using a variety of software to create VDP jobs, a number of complex workflows have evolved. At the same time, VDP jobs have become more complex, placing additional demands on the processing power of the DFE and slowing down the digital press: a delay of half a second on every page of a 10,000-page job running at 120ppm adds 30 minutes to the whole job, while for a job of a million pages at 5,200ppm an extra tenth of a second per page adds 24 hours to the total processing time. The free guide is edited by Martin Bailey (pictured), chief technology officer for Global Graphics and the primary UK expert on the ISO committees that maintain and develop PDF and PDF/VT. A number of leading vendors in the VDP sector have sponsored the guide, including DirectSmile, Global Inkjet Systems, HP Indigo, HP Inkjet High-Speed Production Solutions and Screen. The content is completely vendor-independent and is endorsed by the PODi and Xplor industry associations. The first two sections “Why PDF for VDP?” and “Why optimization matters” provide a simple overview followed by more technical topics including optimising images (for example, by matching the effective image resolution to the output resolution of the digital press), and optimising transparency. A free copy can be downloaded from: www. globalgraphics.com/doPDFVTright
SOFTWARE/FINISHING
VISION
23
Agfa Graphics - Apogee StoreFront now has business analytics and content correction Aimed at print service providers that want to use web-to-print to extend their service offering and reach new business-to-business (B2B) markets, Apogee StoreFront 2.1 brings a series of new features centred around the print buyer experience. Support for personalised stores is one of the main new functions. With Apogee StoreFront users can now customize a store so that individual users only see those products and categories that they need. This is a powerful tool for setting up e-commerce stores for dealer or franchise channels as well as for large corporations that operate across various countries or markets. Version 2.1 also features support for Google Analytics, allowing PSPs to finetune their stores by monitoring buyer behavior and conversion rates within a store, as well as the effectiveness of promotion campaigns on the web, social media or in print. For printer buyers there is a new order history search, which simplifies the reordering, correction and customising process. “Our focus on the end-user experience goes beyond more refined controls and an easier reordering process. We see that more than half of the items ordered in a web store are products that are personalised by the print buyers,” said Andy Grant, head of software, Agfa Graphics. “Occasionally such customised business cards or posters may contain typos or other mistakes that need to be fixed with minimal overhead. Apogee StoreFront 2.1 makes it easy to do last-minute
corrections, which will automatically be submitted to the prepress workflow. Such cost efficiencies are key in today’s competitive market.” All the features in Apogee StoreFront 2.1 (www. apogeestorefront.com), which was recently awarded the “Best web-to-print solution” by the European Digital Press Association, are also available in Asanti StoreFront 2.1, allowing Sign
and Display producers access to the same webto-print interface with their customers. As cloudbased solutions, both Apogee StoreFront and Asanti StoreFront offer a fast and affordable entry into the web-to-print market. Tight integration with both the Apogee Prepress and Asanti production workflow systems saves PSPs time and helps them avoid repetitive data entry.
Zünd EOT-250 electric oscillating tool For service providers who handle tough materials, the Zünd’s Electric Oscillating Tool EOT-250 should prove invaluable. Extra tough materials such as thick carton, sandwichboard, honeycomb and leather present a challenge for both the cutter as well as the blade. With an extended 2.5 mm stroke and high oscillating frequency, the industrial strength, aircooled EOT-250 is capable of handlige these extreme materials at high processing speeds. The 250 is compatible with Zünd G3, S3 and L3 digital cutters the companyy offers a variety of flat or pointed oscillating blades to complement the device plus the EOT-250 is fully supported through Zünd Cut Centre (ZCC).. Zünd recently demonstated an advanced set of tools at Ipex 2014, all were aimed at increasing efficiency in the print environment. During the show the company demonstrated the capabilities of the 250 by cutting media such as sandwich board materials, like X-Board and Reboard, that are up to 22mm thick.
www.visionmagazine.asia