These features include:

• finishing tools in Flexi Design;
• nesting enhancements;
• custom weed paths; and
• an improved user interface.

“As its name reflects, Flexi Complete delivers the entire package integrating design, RIP, and production capabilities into one solution,” explained Mikki Webb, president & CEO, SAi. “As we have always done, we’re constantly developing the software to ensure it meets the specific and demanding needs of our customers and in Flexi Complete, we are delivering a solution that genuinely shifts the dial in improving productivity and efficiencies across the full gamut of sign and large format print applications.”

Crafted as an uncoated, bright white sheet featuring a super smooth finish, Go-to Digital is available in a range of 5 basis weights from 80T to 120C. It is stocked in two sizes—13  x 19 in. and 20.75 x 29.5 in.

“The introduction of Neenah’s Go-to Digital marks an exciting addition to our collection of fine papers. As the digital print sector continues its rapid growth, providing cost-effective uncoated solutions becomes paramount for the success of print service providers,” explains Jason Leonard, product manager, digital print at Neenah.

The low tack, picking and piling characteristics of the product result in “excellent board compatibility” and “the product’s low misting characteristics improve performance on high-speed presses,” said a company statement.

Novasens P670 Prime is compliant with INGEDE de-inking requirements and is formulated with 75 per cent renewable raw materials. The series complies with standards including FDA, ISEGA, EuPIA, Swiss Ordinance, and the Dutch Commodities Act.

Emil Schroetter, technology director – sheetfed for Flint Group’s Offset Packaging Solutions, said, “Novasens P670 Prime delivers quality without compromise and unlocks unmatched performance regardless of the board grade used. Furthermore, the ink system comfortably performs on fast-running presses, ensuring excellent printability and increased productivity across multiple press types. Importantly, this product boasts the widest regulatory compliance of any Flint Group Sheetfed ink series in addition to a suite of proven environmental benefits.”

The Nekoosa Dye Sublimation Transfer Paper is paper-based and 100 per cent recyclable. $5 Nekoosa Bucks are also available in Nekoosa Dye Sublimation Transfer Paper. Users can collect Nekoosa Bucks in select rolls of the new product and wide-format print media year-round and redeem them online for a gift card of their choice.

The two new grades of paper in this product line are made to be used as adhesive facestock for food and industrial label applications in which there may be adverse conditions such as moisture, grease or solvents.

The entire Termax range is manufactured in accordance with the ISO 14001 and EMAS environmental standards, the ISO 50001 energy management standard, the ISO 9001 quality standard, and the ISO 45001 occupational health and safety standard. It can also be ordered with PEFC Chain of Custody and FSC C011032 forest certifications.

Yet, if we want to envision a sustainable and harmonious future, we must change our attitudes and discourse, offer new solutions that embody the challenges of tomorrow, disrupt deeply rooted habits, approach growth differently, and recognize that there is not just one way of doing things.

Digital technologies, which commercial printing and the label industry have embraced for a long time, will inevitably contribute, whether we are convinced or reluctant, to providing new perspectives in service of projects and needs. Behind digitalization lies not only the printing aspect, which is often seen in opposition to conventional approaches like offset or flexography, but also a world of finishing, including embellishments such as varnish and foil stamping, as well as cutting, automated workflow management, and enhanced prepress control that bridges the gap between clients and production.

To embrace and perhaps anticipate these technologies, the key is to evolve the mindset, adopt a holistic approach, reconsider the relationship with clients and the market, and thus transform the company culture, allowing new capabilities to permeate and impact all levels of society.

Digital synergies

Web-to-print, continuously evolving in its approach to the market, anticipating needs, and delivering highly refined customer experiences, has directly benefited from the new capabilities offered by digital advancements. It certainly would not have revolutionized the market without this contribution. However, we must not forget that web-to-print and digital technologies mutually leverage and feed off each other to progress and gain market share, forming a virtuous spiral.

In turn, web-to-pack benefits from the capabilities provided by digital means dedicated to the packaging and point-of-sales industry.

This, in turn, justifies the development of new equipment and solutions by manufacturers. The combination of digital and web-to-pack undoubtedly contributes to democratizing access to simplified packaging solutions that were previously reserved for experts with minimum volumes.

It now allows any brand or project holder to launch, test the market, make mistakes, backtrack, and avoid imposing heavy commitments.

Rapid web-to-pack market growth

All of these factors contribute to the rapid growth of the market share captured by web-to-pack without impeding the traditional business conducted on a personal basis. Moreover, the increasing number of new product launches, special and limited editions, and the incredible trend of offering numerous variations of the same product—to cater to individual consumers’ preferred flavour, colour, etc.—all contribute to the explosion of demands that require online solutions coupled with digital production technologies. If these numerous packages are produced locally, directly within the workshops connected to the web-to-pack platform, the loop is closed.

We are witnessing the development of more or less advanced and transparent web-to-pack offerings, indicating that these solutions seem like El Dorados. However, let us not be mistaken. The production of packaging, even with digital equipment, requires well-controlled processes and technical know-how that are acquired over time, sometimes through setbacks. Some platforms simply act as intermediaries, selling products produced by local or exotic manufacturers, while others make the radical choice of controlling their processes and production in-house, despite the constraints and difficulties this process entails. However, they retain all the added value within their own company.

As with any epic journey, we are witnessing the creation, consolidation, disappearance, and rapid growth of companies until the market structure solidifies. In the meantime, ingenuity and creativity know no bounds, naturally pushing the boundaries.

The remarkable ability of human beings to invent and reinvent themselves gives us hope for a promising future, albeit different from what we know today. Ultimately, one question remains: Do we wish for something better tomorrow, or can we become better ourselves? That is quite a program.

Fred Corbo is CEO and owner of SmilePack.fr, a web-to-pack platform. A part of the Drupa Essentials of Print Series, this article was published in the November/December 2023 issue of PrintAction.

The Prinergy Insite Prepress Portal allows printers and their customers to submit jobs, track progress, collaborate on changes, and proof and approve work. The Prinergy Insite Creative Workflow supports creative design/content creation, reviews, revisions, approvals and asset management within a tightly controlled, task-based process.

The newly implemented two-factor authentication at login safeguards users’ data and personally identifiable information (PII). OAuth (open authorization) for Microsoft Office 365 is now integrated into IPP and ICW for greater security.

“The release of the Prinergy Insite Portals version 10.0 means all essential components and optional add-ons of the Kodak Prinergy Platform are now up-to-date and consistent. The new version provides printers with increased performance, helps them meet customer requirements faster and error-free and makes the digital infrastructure for collaboration with customers and creative professionals more secure,” said Jim Barnes, Kodak’s chief IT implementation officer.

Today’s expanded lineup of resin inks and printers offers bold, rich colour options, an ability to handle a wide range of media, environmentally friendly low-VOC output, and fast-drying prints. Resin ink printers provide production power for a diverse set of applications including wallpaper and fabrics, vehicle graphics, canvas printing, and interior and exterior signage.

Two names, one technology

Resin ink and latex ink are two names for similar, water-based, multi-purpose ink technologies. There isn’t latex or resin in the inks. Although the various latex and resin ink technologies are similar, the ink formulations vary substantially from manufacturer to manufacturer, so you’ll want to research your options carefully.

Resin ink printing works by preheating the material, after which the printer deposits a droplet of optimizer on the substrate. The ink is deposited inside the dot of optimizer, yielding just the right amount of dot gain. Using a high-quality optimizer is critical for controlling the level of dot gain, and therefore for controlling output quality.

Colour quality

In the past, resin ink colours have been known for being less rich and deep than those printed using eco-solvent ink. However, with today’s advanced equipment and ink formulations, some resin inks can achieve deep and rich colours that match the performance of eco-solvent inks.

The latest resin printers use advanced technology like variable dot control to fire different types of ink droplets, yielding unparalleled image quality. In addition, these newer ink formulations create more durable prints with greater scratch resistance than in the past.

Resin ink can be used to produce signage, fleet graphics, posters, banners, stickers, and labels.

Versatile print technology

Today’s resin ink printers provide a versatile production platform for a wide range of permanent and temporary signage, including wall, window, and floor graphics, fleet graphics, retail and office graphics, posters, banners, stickers, and labels.

Additionally, resin ink’s water-based print technology meets the requirements for print products used in certain environments, such as schools, health-care facilities, and hospitals. This sustainability aspect of resin inks is also more in demand market-wide, especially for interior graphics. Some manufacturers’ formulations have even achieved GreenGuard Gold Certification, providing assurance that they meet the most stringent standards for low VOC emissions into indoor air.

High-volume production

Many resin ink printers are designed to be high-volume machines and some even offer users lower running costs compared with other technologies. Users appreciate the time savings from resin ink production, which does not require post-production steps like outgassing. This simple workflow means resin ink prints are quickly ready to laminate, install or ship.

Additionally, without the need for post-production steps, resin ink printers can be loaded up with one material and left to run for hours. This makes them suitable for printing on fabrics, signage, window graphics, floor graphics, or fleet vehicle graphics.

Expanded media options

In the past few years, resin ink technology has evolved and the range of media these inks adhere to has expanded. Resin ink printer manufacturers are also focused on helping providers make use of more materials.

There are, of course, specialty materials designed for resin printers. However, when paired with the latest hardware, resin ink is compatible with a wide variety of media types including traditional signage materials as well as fabrics, wallpapers, and uncoated papers.

Durable, sustainable prints

Due to their eco-friendly composition, resin ink prints are in demand for indoor signage and decor, particularly at schools and medical facilities. Since these prints are viewed at close range, they also tend to be higher-margin products for print shops.

Resin inks’ durability has been improved and resin prints are now competitive for outdoor graphic applications such as vehicle and fleet graphics. Some manufacturer’s latex or resin ink formulations are best used for wraps on box trucks and trailers where less conformability is required. However, some of the newest resin inks are far less prone to cracking, which makes them a suitable choice for wrapping vehicles with more curves and edges.

Resin ink printer features

When evaluating resin ink printing technology, there are several important factors to consider.

Production speeds

Like all production equipment, today’s resin ink printers vary when it comes to speeds. Be sure the printer can produce at the speed and volume you need.

Testing, testing

It’s important to request test prints to ensure the ink formulation and printing technology can produce high-quality prints for a variety of applications. If your shop is considering adding high-margin products like vehicle or environmental graphics, you’ll need an inkset and printer that can consistently produce vibrant, rich, durable prints, which can conform to curves and edges.

Printhead technology

For consistently vibrant, detailed output, be sure to inquire about the printhead technology. Some manufacturers use a thermal printhead, which can degrade over time, resulting in colour variation.

Service and support

Another important factor is whether the printer manufacturer you are considering provide solid support and a trouble-free warranty.

Poised for growth

Industry leaders are predicting the printed graphics market will continue its current pattern of growth, and print providers need to consider options that will allow them to successfully meet the expanded demand for digitally printed output.

With their fast-drying, durable, and sustainable formulations, resin and latex inks are making resin ink production an increasingly popular solution.

Daniel Valade is product manager of digital print at Roland DGA. 

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of PrintAction.

Innovative packaging can help products stand out on the shelf. However, matching brand colour across different pack types like stand-up pouches, folding cartons, labels, overwraps, and shelf trays can be challenging. When printing, brands can use either a spot colour or a CMYK breakdown. While spot colours are more accurate, CMYK is more economical. For both, the choice of packaging material, printing process, and ink can significantly influence the final appearance of a brand’s colour on the shelf.

“Colour consistency is critical in brand recognition because consumers often associate any colour discrepancy with product quality,” said Cindy Cooperman, vice-president, brand global strategic accounts, X-Rite Pantone. “Our Brand Colour Assessment Profile aims to alleviate this by helping brands understand how colour will reproduce early in the design process before colour samples are even sent.”

With this program, X-Rite Pantone’s colour experts will create a personalized colour assessment profile using the brand’s specified colour. Brand managers and designers can use this report to:

• see how specific brand colours will look on multiple packaging substrates;
• determine whether CMYK is accurate enough for various pack types;
• make informed colour decisions early in the design phase; and
• save time, minimize unexpected surprises, and eliminate time wasted trying to hit unachievable colours.

For a limited time, X-Rite Pantone is offering the Brand Colour Assessment Profile for no charge. To learn more and request a customized report, visit https://www.xrite.com/categories/training/cpg-brand-color-assessment-program.

“Fiery XF was already extremely flexible in terms of printer and cutter support, but the introduction of version 8 takes that to another level with the hundreds of newly-added supported devices,” said Sue Hayward, CMYUK commercial director. “In practical terms, no matter which printer or cutter a customer wants to add to their large format print production, chances are Fiery XF 8 will support it. This keeps onsite disruption, integration, installation, and training times to an absolute minimum, making all our lives easier.”

Fiery XF combines RIP, colour management, and workflow software in one solution.

For more information on Fiery XF or to request a free trial, visit www.fiery.com/xf .

PaperTyger is tear-resistant, like synthetic paper, but feels and prints like actual paper. It has two sheets of FSC-certified paper with a layer of biodegradable, durable film in between that makes each sheet tear-proof.

PaperTyger is suitable for maps, menus, manuals, scorecards, race bibs, wristbands, etc. It is also foldable. In terms of finishing, PaperTyger is foldable and perforated, die-punchable, and suitable for embossing, foil stamping, gluing and bonding, and sewing and grommeting.

“The durability of Paper Tyger results from a patented paper/film/paper solvent-less laminating process that delivers the toughness of a synthetic sheet with the benefits of an uncoated paper printing surface,” said Jeff Tapping, president of Huge Paper. “The technology places a polymeric film in the laminate, naturally water, weather, and grease resistant. One of its significant advantages is the ease of printing and converting. This high-white product’s smooth, consistent surface yields vivid graphic images and sharp definition of small text and barcodes, making it more versatile for a diverse range of applications. Printers will also appreciate that no special inks, setups, or prolonged drying times are required, further reducing production costs. If your substrate’s price, printability, and integrity are paramount, then PaperTyger is a wise choice.”

Huge Paper stocks the full range of PaperTyger products in digital and litho sizes, including coated and uncoated options – lower basis weights of 27#, 54#, and 74# for uncoated sheets and a heavier 108# cover stock that is coated on both sides.

Crawford Technologies’ ILA is a dual-screen device that breaks down communication barriers by allowing users to communicate via text, speech, American Sign Language (ASL) and/or braille, all in any language desired.

Using ILA, users can speak, spell aloud or type their words and the entire conversation is immediately communicated to the other party in their chosen language.

“As international travel and immigration have grown so widespread, organizations need fast, easy-to-use, accurate language translations to communicate with their customers effectively. Any organization, including health care, airlines, hospitality, insurance, education and government entities, that interacts with a diverse customer base, benefits greatly from being able to communicate in any language in real time,” said Ernie Crawford, president and CEO of Crawford Technologies. “ILA is built with accessibility in mind, providing instantaneous communication that eliminates the frustration and risk associated with miscommunication. It encourages positive interactions with anyone, no matter what method is used to communicate.”

The Fujifilm 46kUV Inkjet Printbar System features a drop-on-demand design and printing speeds of up to 500 feet per minute. Additionally, Fujifilm’s 46kUV Inkjet Printer System has a native resolution of 1200 DPI.

“We’ve seen the use of inkjet continue to grow in the label and packaging markets given its ability to produce high-quality output with variable data,” said Greg Balch, vice-president and general manager of the Fujifilm Integrated Inkjet Solutions group. “Our vision behind the 46kUV Inkjet Printbar System is to help fill an important gap in the market for imprinting at high DPI and with high reliability.”

Fujifilm’s 46kUV Inkjet Printbar System is available in four print widths, including 10 in., 13 in., 17 in. and 20 in.

The Metalvac Seal is a functional metallized paper with heat-sealing properties on the back. It is suitable for graphic and flexible packaging applications (flowpacks, sachets, envelopes, or wrappers) for non-food products (collectible cards, stickers, toys, hotel amenities, etc.) and food products that do not require a specific barrier. The shiny metallized side is suitable for offset printing (conventional and UV), flexography (UV, solvent, and water-based), and gravure.

The Metalvac Barrier WV is a functional metallized paper with heat-sealing and barrier properties against water vapour, light, and a certain level of grease. It is suitable for flexible packaging applications for both non-food and food products (confectionery, coffee, tea, powdered products, etc.). It is heat-sealable on the metallized interior side and printable on the exterior side through gravure, flexography, and offset printing.

With the latest release, Eco3 enables every size of newspaper operation to move to the cloud and adds more integration with third-party systems.

Arkitex Production 6.0 brings the cloud experience to a broader audience by leveraging its multi-tenant capabilities. For smaller newspaper printers, combining multi-tenancy with the cloud allows them to move their systems to an external server hosted by Eco3, thereby reducing their in-house IT hardware, software handling and services.

Meanwhile, larger customers can invest in their own multi-tenant server to consolidate the sites within a newspaper group.

“As Eco3, we are reiterating our unwavering commitment to the newspaper industry with the latest release, Arkitex 6.0, which delivers value-adding improvements to support customers in a highly competitive and challenging industry,” said Andy Grant, Eco3’s global head of software.

“The latest release of Fiery Command WorkStation 7 helps print rooms gain operational efficiencies with new features that elevate colour performance, accelerate job setup, and simplify server settings,” said John Henze, vice-president, sales and marketing, Fiery. “With direct integration to ColorGuard, operators no longer need to step out of the Command WorkStation interface to action colour process control tasks, including colour verification and recalibration. Within one interface, companies can monitor the colour quality of multiple Fiery-driven print devices to ensure they produce colours that meet customer expectations.” 

The Fiery Command WorkStation 7 is free to all Fiery customers. Customers can also sign up for a free Fiery account to download Fiery software and back up settings and licenses.

Achieving precise brand colours in the inkroom and on the press has traditionally been a complex and time-consuming task due to various factors affecting the printing process, such as the condition of anilox rolls, doctor blades, and even the press wash-up between jobs. Press operators often resort to manual adjustments, a process known as “ink toning” during make-ready, which can take up to one to two hours. ChromaQA’s SmartInk technology uses a formulation engine that removes all the subjectivity with toning ink on press.

Stephen Rankin, director of product management at Techkon, said, “The SmartInk recipe correction feature in ChromaQA 5 is in an industry-first for packaging printers who must match brand colours under tight tolerances. SmartInk removes the guesswork by providing precise recipe corrections using the printer’s base inks, streamlining the process, and cutting make-ready times in half. In addition, we’re excited to announce that ChromaQA 5 also includes a completely new, dynamic and interactive, web-based reporting system and a new global instrument management dashboard to ensure instrument accuracy across a fleet of devices.”

Joining the Drytac Zero range of products, Polar Blockout UV is a 2.0 mil (50μ) highly opaque layered white PET film with a matte finish. It is coated with a white pressure-sensitive, permanent aqueous acrylic adhesive which is protected by a 50# siliconized PE coated release paper. It is a suitable solution for two-sided window graphics and other block out layer requirements.

The film is compatible with UV printers, offers seven years durability across interior and exterior applications and can be supplied in widths of up to 54 inches/1370mm.

“Polar Blockout UV offers another effective solution for customers seeking to produce colourful and impactful window graphics,” Dennis Leblanc, senior business development manager for North America at Drytac said.

“Our team has worked diligently to develop a high-performing sheet, in a wide range of colours with maximum versatility on press,” says Ellen Bliske, director of product management.

Neenah Pearl Papers are suitable for invitations, greeting cards and envelopes, luxury packaging, and impactful marketing materials. The collection includes 12 colours in three weights.

Extensive trials were conducted on HP Indigo 6K and 8K digital presses—involving concurrent testing by more than 20 press owners over the course of several months—to confirm that DigiPrime Vision 9000 is ready for the market.

Initially offered for HP Indigo 6K and 8K digital presses, DigiPrime Vision is also in the final development stages for the HP Indigo V12 digital press.

Available to purchase now, ReTac Clear PET is a 3.0 mil clear polyester (PET) film with a clear ReTac adhesive​ and forms part of Drytac’s ReTac range of solutions.

The film can be applied to all flat and simple curved surfaces. The solution has also been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for incidental food contact.

“We are delighted to add ReTac Clear PET film to our ever-expanding range of products,” said Drytac’s senior business development manager for North America, Dennis Leblanc. “This new solution is suitable for use across all manner of applications, while its non-PVC qualities make it a more planet-friendly option for users. Add in ease of installation and clean removal, as well as five-year durability across interior and exterior projects, and ReTac Clear PET is an incredibly exciting addition to the Drytac product portfolio.”

Prinergy 10.0 is available at no additional cost to customers with a service contract or users of the cloud-based Kodak Prinergy with Managed Services.

“Version 10.0 of Prinergy workflow software takes automation to a higher level with numerous improvements and new functional capabilities. Altogether, these advancements help printers to streamline their workflow processes while safeguarding their infrastructure and improving profitability,” said Jim Barnes, Kodak’s chief IT implementation officer.

Previously, they utilized profiles downloaded from the RIP vendor on one machine, while on the other flatbed, they relied on custom profiles created years ago for a specific media. For roll devices, they utilized profiles included from a different RIP.

During our discussion, I suggested utilizing a single RIP software platform across all devices to maintain consistent colour output. This approach ensures the same underlying colour management process is applied to all printers, resulting in improved colour accuracy. Additionally, using a single RIP software can simplify spot colour reproduction.

Initially, I worked with flatbed printers that utilize UV-cured ink. Through my experience with UV and LED curing systems, I have come to realize that it is unnecessary to develop a profile for each individual type of media. Instead, I opt for a media with a neutral white point, which serves as my profile for all media. This is because on UV and LED curing printers, the ink adheres to the surface of the media and is bonded with the LED/UV lights. The sole difference in colour lies in the media’s white point.

I have measured various batches of styrene and coroplast and the white point varies from batch to batch. One can be blue while another can be neutral. The same is true for coroplast and other media.

A master profile

Printing and colour management become easier with a single master profile. There is no need to guess which profile to use, and managing your spot colour library becomes simpler. Most importantly, if you need to re-profile due to a change in colour, you can do so within an hour to bring the machine back to its baseline. I have come across systems with six to eight profiles created at different times, and redoing all those profiles in case of colour drifts can be a daunting task.

Some have argued against my theory, claiming that I am not taking into account the media’s white point. While this may be true, it’s important to note the white point is constantly shifting. Although profiling the bluer styrene may provide a slight advantage, there’s no guarantee the next batch will be the same colour. Additionally, some argue different media types require separate profiles due to their unique characteristics. However, this is not the case with UV and LED-cured inks, as they do not behave like aqueous or solvent inks.

Getting back to my customer. I created one master profile for each machine. I then tested the colour on three different media. I measured the colour between the two flatbeds. The primary and secondary colours (CMYKRGB) were within 1.1 DE00 average to each other. Visually you could not see a difference between them. They did share the same ink set. I then compared the roll printers to the flatbed and the variation in the same colours was an average of 2.3 DE00. Still a very close match but there was a slight saturation difference. However, the colour was really close.

Lastly, I measured the Lab values for the custom brand colours and created new spot colours in the RIP. We printed and optimized the brand colours for each printer. The brand colours now matched so that if they colour print a job on any of the four printers, they would be visually very similar. 

I wanted to share this experience because this customer had been doing a great job with printing but spent too much time every day making colour adjustments. I revisited the customer after a few months, and they said that now they are able to print, and they don’t have to think about colour. If they get a new custom brand colour they know how to measure it and load that colour into the RIP, print the swatches and choose the best version. This becomes the brand colour for that printer. That process takes 30 minutes. The operator said, “Now the greys are grey.” Yes, the foundation of colour that you may recall from my last article.  

Angus Pady is a G7-certified expert that has helped customers resolve colour management challenges for over 30 years. He can be reached at angus.pady@fujifilm.com.

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of PrintAction.

The Kodak Ektacolor Inks, used in stream inkjet technology, are formulated to create brighter, clearer, punchier print. It is available for both pigment and dye-based applications. Ektacolor Inks are manufactured using Kodak’s proprietary pigment micro-milling process, which creates fine nanoparticle pigments with a very narrow size distribution.

Kodak has launched a range of Kodak Optimax primers that are said to improve ink receptivity, ink adhesion, rub resistance, and image quality across a huge variety of substrates, including paper, cardboard, plastic, film, and even metalized materials.

“Along with our high-speed continuous inkjet technologies, these inks and primers create a complete inkjet ecosystem with perfectly matched components, all developed and manufactured in-house by Kodak. This helps printers produce a huge variety of applications efficiently, productively and profitably,” said Jim Continenza, CEO, Kodak.

“With HP 2600 as the latest addition to our solvent ink portfolio, big brand manufacturers can continue to reduce maintenance costs and gain production efficiencies that drive higher uptime on their packaging coding lines” said John Meiling, director of marketing and category management with HP Specialty Printing Solutions. “HP is committed to delivering outstanding print quality throughout the life of the print cartridge, helping brands realize low maintenance coding and marking, while also making progress towards their sustainability goals.”

HP also introduces a thermal inkjet (TIJ) 108-mm bulk printing solution for coding and marking on secondary packaging. This TIJ technology enables direct printing on the outside of packaging boxes, improving recyclability by avoiding glues and other adhesives required with traditional labelling processes.

The newest addition to the Drytac Polar Grip range, Polar Grip Air is a 3.2 mil white polymeric PVC film featuring a high-tack grey adhesive and a bubble-free technology release liner.

While built on the same technology used in the Drytac Polar Grip collection, the new Polar Grip Air is easier to apply than its sister Polar Grip film. It is also flexible. Its ability to adhere to coarse surfaces, such as brick or concrete, makes it a suitable choice for projects such as indoor and outdoor wall graphics. Polar Grip Air can also adhere to products with low surface energy.

Compatible with latex, eco-solvent and UV printers, Polar Grip Air is available in roll widths of up to 54 in. The film is also supplied with a seven-year interior and exterior warranty when used with matching laminate.

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to add Polar Grip Air to our already-extensive range of film products,” said Dennis Leblanc, Drytac’s senior business development manager for North America. “Drytac’s Polar Grip products have proved incredibly popular with users around the world and have been deployed in a wide range of projects. Polar Grip Air offers yet another option for customers seeking a reliable, high-quality solution for use in both indoor and outdoor work.”z

“Our customers have come to depend on the exceptional performance delivered by Fiery DFEs, and that’s why we chose Fiery as the core DFE technology strategic partner for our next-generation sheetfed presses,” said Gavin Jordan-Smith, senior vice-president and general manager, head of global sales strategy division & RGC North America sales, Ricoh Graphic Communications. “Our long-term co-innovation and collaboration with Fiery in the development of DFEs optimized for use with Ricoh Pro line presses has been an important factor in the overall success of our production printing portfolio. With this new Fiery DFE, we have continued this work, supporting the increasingly productive digital printing solutions that our customers require.”

“Ricoh continues to advance its digital press portfolio and pairing the new Ricoh Pro C9500 with a high-value Fiery DFE is an unbeatable combination that helps reduce labour costs, improve output quality, and cut job turnaround times,” said John Henze, vice president, sales and marketing. “With a Fiery DFE, customers can maximize their investment in new presses for increased profitability while ensuring the highest quality and accuracy the first time, every time.”

“Nearly 10 years ago we released the first version of Packz with the goal of providing a ‘Swiss Army knife’ of prepress tools in a single application, supporting both Windows and Mac, with no need for plug-ins. We’ve been very successful in this approach and have sold more than 5,000 copies of Packz, but many users still relied on other software for package design, 3D rendering, colour management, ganging, etc. But with recent acquisitions by Hybrid Software Group, as well as continuous innovation by our crack team of software developers, we’ve closed that gap with Packz Version 9, and we will increase our customers’ efficiencies even further in future versions,” said Patrick Coussement, co-president of Hybrid Software.

Packz 9 adds support for Content XML, an automated tool for managing nutrition facts and ingredients panels, anti-counterfeit labels, language translations, and variable data for digital output of labels and packaging.

The Nix Spectro L, in tandem with the free Nix Toolkit app or other third-party apps, allows users to instantly measure the colour of any surface. Professionals can leverage this data, including delta-e, spectral reflectance curve, ink density, RGB, CMYK, Lab and paint matches, to make business decisions.

“At Nix Sensor, our mission is to make colour measurement accessible and simple for everyone. The Nix Spectro L exemplifies our commitment to this goal, offering a versatile and efficient solution that can seamlessly integrate into various manufacturing and colour processes,” said a company statement.

Once you have enjoyed the capacity uplift, expanded application possibilities, and explored the production flexibility of digital, especially when making the transition from analogue technologies for processes such as screen printing, what’s next?

Increasingly for print service providers (PSPs) attention is turning to ways to use software to save time and money and, ultimately, boost profits without the need for further expenditure.

In fact, a recent Keypoint Intelligence survey in America exploring how software is transforming large format production found nesting software has specifically been on the rise. It reported 92 per cent of large format PSPs are harnessing nesting and ganging software for capacity optimization and almost 30 per cent of PSPs are saving up to $10,000 annually as a result.

Nesting is a quick and easy way of enabling the most efficient use of often costly substrates. It also ensures smoother completion of post printing processes such as cutting for greater accuracy, reliability, and consistency.

Specialist large format software can also deliver the following operational improvements:

Accurate cost calculations

Alongside substrates, ink is one of the most expensive elements in a job. Accurate calculations for profitable pricing are vital, especially when margins are so tight. Getting it wrong can mean the difference between profit and loss. It could also result in clients going elsewhere.

Consistent results on different substrates

Producing the same job on different substrates and ensuring the colours, depth and vibrancy match can be very challenging. Skilled operators can spend a significant amount of time matching and testing. Software can set up the correct ICC profiles to deliver the consistency clients are requesting.

Reduce the need for skilled staff

Finding knowledgeable employees is becoming increasingly challenging. Easy to use and run large format software enables PSPs to take on less skilled staff or allow vital team members to cover a number of systems more flexibly.

Allow the smooth adoption of digital

Operations that have been running analogue systems are increasingly seeing the value of being able to produce the shorter runs, or customized jobs, which are made possible with digital printing technology. Simple to use large format software aids this switch, supporting a fast and smooth adoption process that drives confidence in the possibilities for a successful transition.

What could enhanced software utilization deliver your business? How can you explore smarter software to make your hardware work harder? A good start would be to explore the possibilities.

Angelo Mandelli is large format and flatbed product manager, Ricoh Graphic Communications, Ricoh Europe

“Incorporating texture into a direct mail piece, holiday card, or an invitation is one way to elevate the perception of it and truly bring the piece to the next level,” says Jason Leonard, technical sales manager, Digital Print at Neenah. “Our goal with this sample kit was to get actual applications in the hands of printers with inkjet equipment, in a format that they could use, to inspire their customers.”

Neenah and Canon Solutions America collaborated to create “Next Level,” a sample kit showcasing the new production inkjet items in relatable formats that help customers envision their own printed piece.

“Commercial and photo specialty print providers are seeking to migrate their traditional offset printing to digital platforms for reasons of labour shortages, retiring offset operators, and the need for variable content,” said Francis McMahon, executive vice president, Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America. “The ability of Canon’s digital inkjet printers to match, and even exceed, that of offset lithography throughout a print run is making that migration possible. Neenah’s new media items strengthen and support offset migration by offering non-digital treated media in a 13 x 19 in. sheet size and a 20-in. wide-roll format, opening new possibilities in digital printing.”