Irish printer September / October by Ashville Media Group

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 || THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY || WWW.IRISHPRINTER.IE

Print Powers Ahead

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 CONTENTS

News

A round up of some of the latest news from the Irish print industry.

12 Profile

Belfast-based Alphagraphics celebrates 30 years in the print trade this year. Its Managing Director Wesley Moody talks to Maev Martin about helping the modern printer to face the big challenges, positive industry trends, and their latest distribution deal with Fujifilm.

Packaging

■ John McGrillen, Sales & Marketing Manager with Dublin-based JR Labels, tells us about the difference the Mark Andy Digital One toner-based press has made to their business. ■ Irish Printer looks at how the industry is bringing digital print simplicity to flexo, how Xaar is adding extra value to labels, and how a direct print technology is now certified as being fully recyclable.

GPMI showcases the versatility of its vast product range at a special open house and hosts the 11th Signmakers of Ireland golf event in Killarney.

20 Digital Desk

MJ Flood’s Production Print Manager, Phil Schueler talks about Konica Minolta’s technological leap and the upgrades that have taken place across the entire range in 2017, including the launch of the AccurioPress C6100 Series of colour production printers.

22 The Big Picture

Innovation is the name of the game in the textile print and sign & display sectors. We look at Mimaki’s latest press and ink releases, as well known substrates acquire new certificates that widen applications usage.

24 What’s New in Print

Awards Preview

As we begin the countdown to the 40th Irish Print Awards, Irish Printer profiles some of our key partners who are supporting the awards in this landmark year for Irish print.

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Open House

■ NFC Connects Digital & Print ■ Efficient Processing of Inserts ■ Ricoh Introduces Neon Pink Toner ■ Flexo Kit Metallic Ink Unit

Cover Story

New print technologies mean that our industry is now capable of servicing markets that it never printed for before. And, as we all feel the effects of digital information overload, Maev Martin looks at how society is re-discovering print’s unique attributes.

28 Black & White

Canon Europe’s new Océ VarioPrint 6000 Titan series of cut-sheet monochrome production presses feature a range of technology innovations to further enhance productivity, quality and media versatility.

02/11/2017 14:49

EDITOR’S LETTER

Print Awards categories, particularly the introduction of no less than 10 new categories into the event in 2014. With the 2017 awards, we continued our tradition of continuous innovation by introducing a new section called ‘Nominate the Best in the Trade.’ The idea was to encourage businesses in the Irish print industry to nominate best practice companies in categories such as Best Company Website, Best Trade Supplier/Print Finisher, Print & Digital Offering and Customer Service Team. We also called on printers to nominate outstanding skill and dedication in the following categories – Young Print Manager, Young Salesperson, Best In-house Graphic Design, Best Prepress/ Letterpress Printer, and Printer Personality of the Year. At the time of writing, we are delighted with the response that this has generated from the industry so far. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome two new sponsors to the Irish Print Awards this year – Xeikon and 3M – who are profiled on Page 26 – and to say thank you to our judging panel comprising Freddie Snowe, David Mahon, Andrew Horan, Louise Reddy, Ian Cairns, John Charnock, Gerard Whelan, Keith Redmond, Darren Finn and Dave O’Reilly, for their sterling work. And, finally, I wish all of this year’s nominees the best of luck on December 1st.

elcome to the September/ October edition of Irish Printer magazine. 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the Irish Print Awards in Ireland. This is a major milestone, not just for the awards, but for Irish Printer magazine and, indeed, for the Irish print industry. The 40th Irish Print Awards, in association with Canon Ireland, will take place in the Aviva Stadium in Ballsbridge, central Dublin, on December 1st 2017. To mark this special occasion, Irish Printer is producing a special commemorative edition of the magazine which will focus on the past and the future of Irish print as reflected through the prism of 40 years of recognising excellence in design and print at the Irish Print Awards. Irish Printer and the Irish Print Awards have always sought to report on and analyse key developments in the trade over the decades. And our commemorative edition will be no different. As well as profiling the 2017 award winners, we will look at how the Irish Print Awards have grown and adapted to the requirements of the industry – how the event itself has evolved, key milestones, the big (and sometimes controversial!) winners, and, of course, our key sponsors. We will also take a look at the changing face of the Irish

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Maev Martin, Editor Email: maev.martin@ashvillemediagroup.com Tel: (01) 432 2271

THE TEAM Editor: Maev Martin Editorial Manager: Mary Connaughton Creative Director: Jane Matthews Production Manager: Mary Connaughton Production: Claire Kiernan Printed by: Walsh Colour Print on Novatech Matt 150gsm supplied by Antalis Ireland. Contact: Irish Printer, Ashville Media Group, Old Stone Building, Blackhall Green, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 432 2200 Web: www.irishprinter.ie

All rights reserved. Every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate. The publishers cannot, however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. © Ashville Media Group 2017. All discounts, promotions and competitions contained in this magazine are run independently of Irish Printer. The promoter/advertiser is responsible for honouring the prize. ISSN 0790-2026

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TOP STORIES

The Lithrone G840P console and KID at Baird’s.

UK and Ireland Komori 1st for W.G. Baird Antrim’s W.G. Baird has just installed the UK and Ireland’s first H-UV equipped eight colour Lithrone GL840P four-over-four perfector. The press joins an eight colour Heidelberg XL106 at Ireland’s largest sheet fed commercial printer. The new B1 Lithrone is fully automated and incorporates the Komori KID Operational Support Display system and the Komori PDC-SX print density control, which provides automatic registration and colour control in a single process. The traversing scanner of the PDC-SX measures colour bars positioned anywhere on the sheet, so that on perfectors, the bar can be located in the central zone of both sides of the sheet, optimising the sheet image area and helping to reduce paper waste. “We believe in the highest levels of automation to minimise our operators’ involvements in plate changing, inking up and making individual judgements on colour so that they are free to concentrate on print productivity,” says Managing Director, Patrick Moffett. “We’ve long been interested in Komori technology, especially, recently, in their ground-breaking H-UV curing system. Komori UK’s excellent co-operation in organising exceptionally fast delivery and installation, after we incurred damage to our 10-colour KBA perfector, secured the order for them. They have been true to their word, with the GL840P now in production just eight weeks since we signed the order! In fact, the immediacy of H-UV drying has enabled us to replace the 10 KBA units with eight Komori units, as we do not need to have the fifth and 10th units for sealing - the Lithrone’s H-UV completely drys the top side of the sheet before it is turned and the reverse before it reaches the delivery. H-UV curing also offers a welcome benefit to our clients, who often specify expensive and traditionally slow drying stocks, which have in the past required an anti-set off spray and varnish, with its tendency to discolour over time. H-UV eliminates the need for spray powder and varnish and leaves the sheet with a more appealing, tactile feel. We’re branding the new technology of our Komori GL40 H-UV press as Colour without Compromise, which it truly gives!” W.G Baird holds very firm environmental views and the board of directors and senior management engage with the workforce and all suppliers to help further

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its environmental and sustainability ambitions. “The H-UV Komori GL40 adds a package of green benefits to our production portfolio, with waste reducing makeready and control systems, lower power consumption and a UV system that eliminates ozone and heat, reduces CO2 emissions, and also eliminates spray powder and varnish, which, naturally, improves our working environment,” says Patrick. “The extra cost of the ink was a big consideration in our buying process. But when you consider the fact that we do not have to purchase two extra printing units for sealing and the savings in perfecting jackets, varnish spray-powder, reduced cleaning and maintenance, and the productivity gains in our bindery by not processing wet work, the decision to go H-UV became relatively straight forward.” W.G Baird extended into digital printing two years ago with the installation of a Xerox 700. It also has a Xerox Versant 2100 for document and short run work and the HP 26500 large format machine. At the front end, it operates Kodak Magnus Quantum 800 platesetting and Kodak Prinergy 7 Workflow, supported through the latest Kodak Insite pre-press portal to streamline remote job submission and customer approval processes. The Komori H-UV press completes a £6m investment at Baird’s over the last 18 months. “We have upgraded our entire plant,” says Patrick. “In addition to the Komori, we have installed a Heidelberg XL 106 with inpress, two new Stahl TH96 folders with shingling, a new KM 600 Kolbus Binder, a new refurbished Muller Martina Bravo with Amrys, and a new Magnus CTP device. I think by any measure we have the most up-to-date printing plant anywhere in the UK or Ireland and we have the capacity, desire and strategies to grow our sales in both these markets.”

02/11/2017 14:56

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COVER STORY

Augmented Reality was one of the first technologies to bridge the gap between digital and print. Image courtesy of wallmural.ie.

PRINT’S RENAISSANCE PERIOD Volumes have contracted, certain applications are no longer required, but print has responded by reinventing itself. New print technologies mean that our industry is now capable of servicing markets that it had never printed for before. And, as we all feel the effects of digital information overload, many are re-discovering print’s unique attributes. Maev Martin reports.

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The research being disseminated by organisations such as Print Power and Two Sides is extremely encouraging for all those involved in the print industry, as well as for those outside the industry who don’t envisage a sustainable future for the medium. For example, Print Power reports Jane Ostler, UK Managing Director for Media & Digital at Kantar Millward Brown, as saying that, while millennials around the world spend less time with traditional media, “Gen Z is consistently more positive about ad formats such as outdoor, print ads and cinema than standard digital alternatives.” In addition, there is evidence to suggest that millennials are taking a self-imposed break from the internet. Ofcom in the UK found that, of the 1,861 teenagers and adults that it surveyed in 2016, those 24 years old or younger were the most likely to embark on a digital detox, with just over 40% saying they had purposely switched off from the internet. Across Europe, 72% of millennials say that they read a print product on a typical day, which is roughly the same as their parents (73% of Gen-Xers do the same) and their grandparents (71% of Boomers). Apart from general media consumption habits, print has proven to be an important component of any media plan,

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COVER STORY effective both on its own and as part of a wider media plan. While research from eMarketer shows that worldwide digital ad spending will reach $223.74bn in 2017, and represent 38.8% of total paid media outlays, with print continuing to decline, some senior marketers are questioning the effectiveness of digital media, and are even wondering if they have over-invested at the expense of other mediums. Research even suggests that print advertising can boost the wider ROI of a multimedia campaign. The recent Food Brand Trusts study conducted by Ipsos in France shows that print magazines have the power to raise trust and brand preference for food companies by up to 7 percentage points. Of particular note is the sense of quality perception, feelings of relevance and proximity that print uniquely conveys. In 2007 Royal Mail wanted to assess if direct mail was still effective, so it commissioned Kantar Millward Brown to work with scientists from the Centre of Experimental Psychology at Bangor University. Participants were shown a number of adverts already in the market, both on screen and printed onto cards, to assess how they reacted to visual and physical stimuli. The scientists found that the physical, tangible material left a ‘deeper footprint’ in the brain. Physical material was found to be more ‘real,’ generating more emotionally vivid memories with a self-selected preference for print advertising over digital.

ABOVE: Using the SureColor SC-S80600, Agnes de Vlin has translated her fine art print series ‘Breeze’ into a range of super wide digitally printed wallcoverings for the contract interiors market.

Some sample signage produced on the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 printer.

Fighting Greenwash Two Sides, the global initiative to promote the sustainability of print and paper, reports a 61% success rate in removing misleading environmental claims made by some of the world’s biggest corporations as they seek to replace paper-based communications with lower cost electronic alternatives. Two Sides research into more than 600 of the world’s leading corporations, including banks, utilities, telecoms and insurance giants, has shown that a total of 460 of those companies have been using misleading and unsubstantiated environmental statements, despite specific advertising legislation to protect consumers in many countries. To date, 278 of those companies have removed such statements as a result of ongoing engagement by Two Sides.

Print Trends the Planet Meanwhile, printers and lovers of print from all over the world joined the global print community for 24 hours of social media sharing to help print ‘trend the planet’ on October 18th. Celebrating its fourth year focusing on the original communications delivery device, International Print Day (IPD) threw open its virtual doors to the global print community, offering people a chance to join a worldwide conversation without borders and share their passion for print through social media that spans all time zones and all types of print. There were many ways for students and artists, printers and their supply chain partners to participate. During IPD they could share their work, their favourite print samples and applications, or simply share a moment with fellow enthusiasts using the hashtag #IPD17. Last year, the IPD hashtag on Twitter generated an impressive 30-million timeline deliveries in just under 24

BELOW LEFT: This larger-than-life, two-metre tall sports shoe was 3D printed by Dekon 3D Plus, based in Switzerland, on a Massivit 1800 3D printer in just under 24 hours. Once printed, the shoe was filled with expandable foam and a combination of self-adhesive vinyl, textiles and paint was applied. BELOW RIGHT: A scale model of a motorbike produced on the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 printer.

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hours. International Print Day is organised by Print Media Centr, a diversified collective of print and print media enthusiasts who bring relevant and topical information and resources to the print and marketing community. #PrintChat is a weekly discussion about all things print and integrated marketing every Wednesday at 4PM ET via Twitter. This hour-long chat, hosted by Deborah Corn of Print Media Centr and moderated by Sandy Hubbard, attracts the best and brightest industry influencers from the print community. For information on how to participate, visit www.printchat.printmediacentr.com

Getting Creative Brands are looking for more ways to bridge the gap between print and digital using artificial intelligence, augmented reality and the internet of things to bring the best of both worlds to consumers. Perhaps the most exciting is Conde Nast’s partnership with Google Home, a smart speaker system that enables users to speak voice commands to interact with services through Google’s intelligent personal assistant. It was released in the US in November 2016, followed by the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Japan in 2017. In a first campaign of its kind, readers of Vogue’s US edition were able to ask the Assistant on Google Home for more information on five articles that appeared in its 125th anniversary September issue. For example, saying ‘OK Google, ask Vogue to tell me more about Jennifer Lawrence,’ delivers audio from the writer of the magazine’s cover story about interviewing the actress. Another example is Forbes, which featured Warren Buffet on the September issue cover, which incorporated a clever use of artificial intelligence. Readers were able to interact with the American business tycoon, who answered questions directly from the reader on investment and wealth on a dedicated microsite accessed by taking a picture of the print product. Moving from the world of publishing to print, Mimaki recently announced the launch of a new approach to 3D printing with the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 UV LED printing solution. They describe it as the ‘world’s first 3D printer with over 10 million colours, enabling the production of colour-realistic signs, prototypes, parts, products and other 3D printed applications that eliminate the need for time-consuming hand painting of 3D printed objects.’ According to Ronald van den Broek, General Manager Sales at Mimaki Europe, other 3D printing solutions have two primary issues when it comes to creating 3D printed objects. Firstly, they cannot produce objects in photorealistic colour. This often requires that objects be hand painted, a time consuming and expensive process. Secondly, most 3D printed objects require removal of stabilising fixtures before they can be used. This again takes time and risks damaging the object. “With the Mimaki 3DUJ-553, both of these barriers are eliminated, since it can print photorealistic colour, choosing from up to 10 million different colours,” he says. “And its water-soluble support material can easily be washed off without damaging the object. This enables the cost-effective production of exquisite 3D printed products with elaborate finishing. We believe this printer will be warmly welcomed by professionals in many industries, from signs and display graphics to education, healthcare, manufacturing, architecture, construction and more. We showed this as a technology demonstration at drupa 2016 to rave reviews. And we have shown the printer and/or objects it has printed at a variety of shows and events since that time. Prospective customers tell us this is exactly the 3D printing solution they have been waiting for, and we expect to see fairly rapid uptake once it is commercially available by the end of this year.”

02/11/2017 15:12

PRINT PROFILE

ADD VALUE HELPING PRINTERS

As Belfast-based Alphagraphics celebrates 30 years in the print trade this year, its Managing Director Wesley Moody talks to Maev Martin about helping the modern printer to face the big challenges, positive industry trends, and their distribution deal with Fujifilm for the Acuity LED press range.

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hen Wesley’s father, Wesley Senior, started the business 30 years ago Alphagraphics was selling mainly printing ink. Having been a sales representative for Punch & Co, distributing Mander Kidd inks in Northern Ireland, at first out of the garage of the family home, Wesley Senior then decided to go out on his own with the help of his wife Deborah. Alphagraphics’ first premises was on the site of an old mill on Ravenhill Avenue. After a decade there, the company re-located to its present site in Newtownbreda. A key addition to the portfolio was the agency for Fujifilm pre-press products soon after Frank Quinn joined Alphagraphics in the early 1990s. “Frank and one or two of the original members of the team are still involved in the company so it still feels very much a like a family,” says Wesley. While Alphagraphics has enjoyed a long association with Fujifilm on the pre-press side, the distribution deal with Fujifilm for the Acuity LED press is a new departure for the company and one that Wesley is very excited about. “We have supplied and installed a lot of Fujifilm equipment over the years, but this has largely been confined to the pre-press arena,” he says. “However, wide format consumables are now a significant feature of our turnover and the addition of a unique range of equipment, along with the back-up of one of the most serious players in the market, seems like the logical next step for us. We are not about to re-invent our business model, but we have always aimed to add value where we can and the Acuity range certainly

Freddie Snow with Michael Butler, Flint Group, and Wesley Moody Snr, founder of Alphagraphics, at the 30th anniversary Open Day.

does that. Our 30th anniversary Open Day on September 21st was the ideal opportunity to launch the Acuity showroom and it helped make the connection in the minds of our customers, old and new, between Alphagraphics’ heritage and where we see ourselves in the future.” Over the years, the company has continued to add to its product range, whether it’s coatings, blanket conversion, laminates, rollers and adhesives, so they have become a one-stop-shop for any consumable that their customers need. “We draw the line at paper, though!” he says. “The process of diversifying hasn’t let up over the past 30 years, but we are always mindful of ensuring that we stick to our strengths. We have a huge amount of experience and expertise within the company on anything that is related to print, packaging and, increasingly, sign and digital. Should our customers ask us questions we can’t answer, for whatever reason, the hand-in-glove nature of our relationship with our suppliers, whether it be Flint Group, Hexis, Fujifilm, or Pulse, means we are usually in a position to find a solution to any problem.”

Big Changes, New Challenges Thirty years ago there was at least one small, familyrun printing company in almost every town in Ireland. While some of those companies still exist and are among Alphagraphic’s best customers, most have disappeared

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PRINT PROFILE

and acquisition and reinvention has been the order of the day in the modern Irish print industry. “In some ways Alphagraphics has changed and in others it hasn’t,” says Wesley. “Our customers’ priorities have always been our priorities. We are very much a service-driven supplier and I’d like to think our customers would back me up on that.” I suppose the big challenges facing Irish print companies depend on where each individual print business sees themselves in their own market. However, there appear to be a few major boxes that a print service provider needs to tick in order to remain competitive. As a supplier, Alphagraphic’s aim is to help Irish printer tick those boxes by availing of their service and product range. “If quick turnaround is a priority for you, then maybe it is quicker drying inks and balanced press chemistry that is required,” says Wesley. “If it is food packaging compliance that you need, then it is a portfolio of products that meet criteria such as Swiss Ordinance and Nestlé guidelines. If it is about adding value, then we need to help print businesses source niche products that help them to stand out from the competition. We all have a lot of plates (pardon the pun) to spin at the same time but that is the reality of the industry that we are in. I say ‘industry’ but in many ways the Irish print industry is a few different industries woven together into one.”

Positive Trends According to Wesley, standards and quality in the industry are getting better all the time. “Given that we only see a tiny fraction of what is leaving our customers’ gates, we actually see this as much through our suppliers’ product ranges as anything else,” he says. “All of our partners are innovators and respond to the demands of the industry. Much of this innovation in recent years has come in the sign and digital market, but clearly HUV and LED is about to make a big impact on the litho industry, so it is an interesting time across most sectors. And in narrow web, our partner, Pulse Roll Label Products, is leading the way with its high-strength, mono-pigmented UV flexo inks, so there is innovation in the label market too.” Narrow web represents a big growth area for Alphagraphics at the moment. They recently signed long-term supply agreements with a number of well-known label producers in Ireland, such as James Hamilton Labels, who have converted to food packaging compliant products. “As usual, we worked closely with our partners, in this case Pulse Roll Label Products, to ensure that a bespoke package was delivered for each customer,” he says. Two interesting projects that are currently underway at the company include linking X-Rite colour management systems to ink dispensing software and marrying them with Pulse Roll Label’s database. “In today’s market, where Delta-E tolerance is becoming more and more important

TOP: David Trimmings of Boxpak Ltd receiving the Fujifilm camera he won in Alphagraphics’ 30th anniversary open day prize draw. ABOVE: Lorraine Bell, GPS Colour Graphics, and David Phillips, Director, Alphagraphics

to producers and customers alike, we are seeing a lot more investment in this area,” he says. “We have been very busy with X-Rite over the past year, especially with the eXact spectrophotometer, which has become the industry’s instrument of choice. We use the devices and software ourselves in Belfast where we are linked to Flint Group’s Global Colour Matching System for our litho ink matching.” Alphagraphics used the same visitors book for its recent Open Day that they used for an event to mark the move into their current factory almost 30 years ago. “Many of the names were the same, (all of them serving a life sentence!), so that was very satisfying for us as a company,” he says. “And the mixture of old and new was also very pleasing.”

30th Anniversary Open Day The Alphagraphics 30th Anniversary Open Day marked the opening of a showroom currently dedicated to the Fujfilm LED 1600II wide-format printer. “We wanted to enter the market with a printer that was unique,” says Patrick Sherry, Alphagraphics’ Sales Manager in their Sign & Digital division. “The Acuity has a number of features that set it apart from the opposition. It is by no means entry level, but it is affordable, and it will add a great deal of value to our customers’ output.” The Acuity LED 1600II offers an eight-colour LED-cured ink system, including a 95% density white and a clear. “We prefer to market the ‘clear’ as a varnish, depending on the design, as it really brings a different dimension to some higher-end output”, says Patrick. The output is driven by the industrial-strength Dimatix Q-Class print heads, which allow for speeds of up to 33 square metres per hour. Rigid material can also be fed through at up to 13mm. “This makes the Acuity the most versatile performer in its field,” he says. “Not only that, the Acuity will print up to nine levels of ink in the same pass, so the variety of effects and textures it can produce is very impressive. It turned a few heads among visitors to our Open Day and the number of leads that it has generated is very encouraging.”

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02/11/2017 15:15

PACKAGING xxxxxxx

IRELAND FIRST ww

For JR Labels

In a move that is highly strategic for its trade printing business, Dublin-based JR Labels installed the first Mark Andy Digital One toner-based press in Ireland in April. Maev Martin talks to Sales & Marketing Manager John McGrillen about the difference it has made to their business.

Mark Andy’s Digital One press.

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aunched at Labelexpo Americas 2016, Digital One is an entrylevel digital and converting label press designed to print short-run prime labels with inline converting at a modest investment level. The aim is to allow label converters to free up capacity on high output flexo presses and bring greater efficiency to short run, fast turnaround work. The Digital One, which has a 330mm web width, is based on a hybrid platform that includes a CMYK dry toner unit preceded by a web cleaner, followed by a flexo station for cold foil or lamination and, finally, a die-cutting unit. “Since April, we have produced a wide variety of labels on different substrates and the print quality is fantastic,” says John. “Our customers are delighted with the results and service, especially the fast turnaround. On some orders, labels have been delivered within 24 hours of receiving the artwork. We have been producing mainly short-run, multiple items on the press. The speed of set-up on full colour is terrific and the cost and time savings in comparison to our conventional presses makes it a very important addition to our print room.” JR labels also operate two Mark Andy 2200 10-inch flexo presses, one of which is two-colour, the other a sixcolour, and a 4150 16 inch six-colour press

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PACKAGING RIGHT: David Duffy, Paul MacDonald and Andrew Carson with JR Labels’ new Digital One press.

for larger labels and long-run requirements. “The Digital One press fills the gap we have between flexo capability and demand for short-run work, and it matches the quality of anything we produce here, no matter what substrate we use,” says John. “It has added considerably to our production capability and is beginning to open markets that we couldn’t tap into before.” Of key importance with the Digital One is its inline capability to print one flexo colour in addition to CMYK, or apply a varnish or cold foil, and die cut, all using well-proven Mark Andy technology.“We have yet to really put the machine through its paces on other applications such as foil but that will come in time,” he says. “It also does not require the stock to be pre-treated, which saves both time and money and, almost best of all, there is no click charge!” Another cost saving for JR Labels is the fact that all of its existing die tooling is fully compatible with Digital One.

Going Digital So what were the features of the Mark Andy Digital 1 press that encouraged JR Labels to make the investment? “We looked at the various digital offerings that were available, but when we saw the Digital One in Manchester we were extremely impressed by its ability to print full colour with an option for an additional colour,” says John. “Also, varnish, laminate and foil can be done and die cut all in a single pass. The other main deciding factors were the use of standard materials and the fact that we could utilise the existing cutters that we use on our flexo machines. The cost was also very attractive for an operation that is making an entry into digital print. Our aim with digital is to exploit its benefit and add value to JR Labels and our customers. Would we invest in more digital technology? Yes, but we want to get to grips with this first. Then we can see how best we can progress. I don’t think digital will replace flexo in the foreseeable future. However, the newer combination presses offer the full gamut of flexo, digital and screen in one pass, which will make the older technology redundant in time.”

The speed of set-up on full colour is terrific and the cost and time savings in comparison to our conventional presses makes it a very important addition to our print room.

Business Benefits JR Labels, which was established in 1978 by Ron Carson and is now managed by his son Andrew, is a 100% trade house. “We pride ourselves on our trade work and guarantee 100% security and confidentiality for our customers - it’s like an NDA, and they all appreciate the fact that their work is safe with us,” says Andrew Carson. “An important part of this is having the ability to deliver the right quality, and to do so on-time, every time. This was the thinking behind the company’s investment in Digital One.” While the company’s ethos of ‘trade only’ has not changed, JR Labels is keen to serve the increasing demand for short-run work with a high degree of variation. According to John McGrillen, the addition of the Digital One has increased opportunities for JR Labels with their trade customers who are looking for a reliable converter for roll labels. “We deal with a large number of print houses and packaging suppliers who provide a onestop-shop to their customers,” he says. “The Digital One will also open new doors with design agencies and potential customers that need cost effective high quality labels and service.”

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Production Dynamo

According to JR Labels Production Manager David Duffy, the Digital One unit is extremely quick and easy to makeready. “It is very much a label printers’ machine, so if you are used to narrow web flexo, it is an easy crossover,” he says. “The print quality matches what we can achieve on our other Mark Andy presses, even the tricky flesh tones, so we can now choose which technique to use, purely on the basis of run length and availability.”

A Mark Andy House

JR Labels has been a Mark Andy house for 27 years. What is it about the Mark Andy range that they believe distinguishes it from other flexo press brands? “We have relied on Mark Andy flexo presses for years and we felt they were the best company to understand the digital needs of a label converter,” says Andrew Carson. Paul MacDonald, Mark Andy’s UK & Ireland Sales Manager, says they were delighted to secure the first order in Ireland for Digital One from JR Labels. “The nature of their exclusively trade work will be a real test of its capability and offers them additional and varied capacity,” he says. ‘Workhorses,’ is how David Duffy describes Mark Andy machines. “They are reliable, easy to use and are a printer’s friend, which is why we have been such a loyal customer.”

02/11/2017 15:17

PACKAGING BELOW: Tactile effects created with Xaar’s unique High Laydown Technology.

Bringing

DIGITAL PRINT SIMPLICITYto Flexo Bobst drives flexo towards the digital world of print, Xaar brings extra value to labels and a direct print technology is certified as fully recyclable.

016 IP_SeptOct_2017_Packaging_2.indd 16

o win the battle faced by the converting industry today, it is necessary to have the ability to cope with a number of challenges - new generations of substrates, inks, varnishes and adhesives, changing market requirements and trends and successfully unlocking the new value potential of the technology behind Industry 4.0. This can be best achieved through industry collaboration across suppliers of equipment, systems and consumables, as well as converters, incorporating raw materials through to pre-press, impression, finishing, quality control and workflow, right through to the final product. Bobst has been a forerunner in initiating and fostering these collaborations along the supply chain. The Revo Digital Flexo project, which Bobst highlighted at Labelexpo, is an example that has made the greatest impact, by breaking technology limitations and successfully driving flexo toward the digital world of printing. “Aside from Revo’s extraordinary achievements, in terms of process productivity, print and colour consistency and repeatability, what I find unique is the level of process and technological support that partners provide and that converters can find in the Revo Academy, which is housed in the Competence Center of Bobst Firenze, in Italy,” says Daragh Whelan, a member of the Bobst solution master team. “We are the only manufacturers in the world to have an internal prepress department that is totally dedicated to clients’ results and solution proposals. At the Academy, we can guide clients coming from different segments of the label, flexible and carton packaging markets through the whole process, from their file to the end product, as well as advise them about the best products to choose based on their requirements and goals. We can also calculate their ROI and TCO using our customer data to compare and increase their efficiency levels.” Revo is a team of technology leaders - Americk Packaging, Apex International, AVT, Bobst, Dupont, Esko, Flint Group, X-Rite and UPM Raflatac - in flexography that has been formed to optimise the flexo process by ‘digitalising’ the complete manufacturing process in order to reach ‘new revolutionary standards’ in the printing and converting of labels and packaging. The Revo Project Team aims to provide an answer on behalf of the flexo industry to the increasing importance of digital print, especially in label and narrow web packaging. Members cooperate, innovate and share together technologies to define ‘off-the-shelf’ protocols, hardware and software, immediately available to converters, who want to start producing in a digital flexo environment, without extra costs. Simone Topazzini, Project Manager and Competence Centre Coordinator, Bobst Firenze, explains the role of each Revo partner’s technology in the process. “As the Revo Academy is equipped with the latest prepress and plate making equipment from Esko and DuPont, our clients can send their current files, convert them to seven-colour ECG and have plates produced on site,” he says. “Plates

02/11/2017 15:20

PACKAGING are mounted and verified automatically using our DigiMount flexo plate mounter. On press, most tasks are performed automatically using Digital Flexo. Low-migration inks from Flint Group also allow customers to use samples for migration testing and with GTT anilox rollers from Apex International, we can guarantee no spitting and clean printing throughout the print run. On press, AVT 100% inspection equipment, with an inline spectrophotometer, reads and reports realtime data into the Color Cert program from X-Rite, so clients can instantly see the data relating to Delta E, dot gain and trapping. Many clients find this extraordinary as it takes less than two hours from file to printing!”

High Laydown Technology High-build, textured effects (also called tactile or dimensional effects) can be used to significantly enhance the shelf appeal of products and ensure that they stand out when on display. A new high laydown technology for printing a range of textured effects on labels, folding cartons and products is now available from Xaar. When incorporated into the Xaar 1003 and Xaar 2001+ printheads, Xaar’s High Laydown (HL) technology can be used to print very high levels of UV clear varnish, even at high speed. The Xaar 1003 GS12U can print an 80 micron layer thickness at 25 m/min line speed, or a 50 micron layer at 50 m/min, in a single pass, thereby building in texture as part of the print process. A recent InfoTrends study (CMYK: The Use of Special Effects in Digital Printing) found that print buyers are willing to pay up to 89% more for textured effects compared to standard CMYK-only work. As well as adding texture as part of the print process, Xaar’s HL technology can be used for producing raised foil effects for extra impact. Tactile information effects such as warning triangles required on hazardous products and Braille can also be created without the need for an additional print stage or process.

LEFT: The Revo Digital Flexo project is successfully driving flexo toward the digital world of printing. RIGHT: Direct Print Powered by KHS.

(EPBP). The recyclability of the direct printing process was first certified by the EPBP in 2013 and has now been reconfirmed. This means that an independent organisation has clearly attested that PET bottles processed by Direct Print Powered by KHS are officially approved for bottle-to-bottle PET recycling. During development the experts had to overcome one specific challenge before the printed containers could be certified for the recycling process. “The washing water must not be contaminated during the recycling process,” explains Martin Schach, Head of the Printing Technology Department at KHS GmbH. “The ink must also not deposit itself on the crushed PET bottles.” KHS has managed to develop a digital printing process with low-migration, LED UV-curing inks for the food safe decoration of PET bottles where the print reliably flakes off during the recycling process.” In 2015, the Belgian brewery Martens Brouwerij was the first beverage producer to launch PET bottles with Direct Print Powered by KHS to market and make use of the technology, which has since been further developed for the customer. These developments include a higher print quality and new forms of decoration, resulting in a level of flexibility that enables the print on each separate bottle to be individualised through the use of different motifs.

Low Migration Inks Aid Recyclability Direct Print Powered by KHS has again been granted interim certification from the European PET Bottle Platform

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17 26/10/2017 14:26

02/11/2017 15:20

OPEN HOUSE

GPMI HOSTS 2ND SUCCESSFUL

OPEN HOUSE

Graphic & Paper Merchants Ireland Ltd (GPMI) reinforced its position as the leading supplier of print technology to the industry in Ireland when it showcased the versatility of its vast product range during an open house (August 30th to September 1st) at its Clondalkin HQ.

The Agfa Anapurna H2500i UV LED press.

ollowing an extremely succcesful show in October 2016, GPMI promised to raise the bar even further by offering customers some new and exciting products. And they certainly delivered on that promise, with the first showing in Ireland of Mimaki’s TS30-1300 printer and Agfa’s Anapurna H2500i LED press, both of which were launched at this year’s Fespa. “Our commitment to staying at the forefront of print technology is vital to our success, and to the future growth of the Irish print trade,” says Enda Brophy, Managing Director, Graphic & Paper Merchants Ireland Ltd, Mimaki’s TS30–1300 is designed for transfer dye sublimation and features a 54 inch wide output with fluorescent inks. The printer is ideal for creating sportswear, promotional apparel and mouse-mats, as well as rigid items, ranging from mugs to metal plaques. The rather impressive looking model is currently on display in GPMI’s showroom. To complement their new transfer printer offering, GPMI recently partnered with Monti Antonio to supply their thermal transfer equipment range. Agfa’s Anapurna H2500i LED is a high-speed hybrid UV LED-curable inkjet system with a printing width of 2.5 metres. “The Anapurna H2500i combines high quality with high productivity for outdoor, indoor, rigid and flexible

GPMI corporate branding produced on the Mimaki TS3-1300.

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wide-format jobs,” says Enda. “It features the latest LED technology and delivers fine text reproduction of up to 4pt. The white ink offering creates possibilities for printing on transparent material for backlit applications. In addition, the H2500i LED is fitted with air-cooled UV LED lights that save on energy, costs and time. Due to their minimal energy output, these LED lights are ideal for thin heat-sensitive materials and are currently available for private viewing in our showroom.” Apart from the new print technology, GPMI also introduced some new software to the Irish market in the form of the CGS ORIS colour management suite. “These software tools set worldwide standards in terms of colour precision and repeatability for any printing system,” says Enda. “This ensures maximum production reliability, so we would encourage print companies to contact us to avail of a free audit to discuss how this product can help their business grow and save them money.” On the substrates side, the open house event highlighted how Avery Supreme Wrapping films can create truly outstanding vehicle graphics, with GPMI announcing the availability of many Avery products by the metre. Another product range that attracted a lot of attention was Altuglas Cast Acrylic. “From ‘bloc’ letters to signature sheets and the recently launched gold and silver options, we are now offering further opportunities for printers to present new products to their customers,” says Enda. “GPMI were proud to welcome over 80 companies and 120 people to the Open House and we would like to thank everyone who took time to get to the show. We would also like to thank our suppliers who made the event such a success - Brett Martin, Avery/MacTac, Esko, Altuglas, BGT, Agfa, Josero/Bubble Free, iSub/ Monti Antonio, Neschen and Hybrid Services.” GPMI was established in June 2015 as an independently-owned entity following an MBO led by Carlow native Enda Brophy. “Despite the groups international problems, Paperlinx Ireland was solvent and one of only three former Paperlinx companies in Europe that were successfully saved through MBOs (the others being Poland and Spain),” says Enda. “Following an internal re-structure, Dr Dermot Smurfit invested €1m in the business as a minority shareholder and appointed former CEO of Robert Horne UK & Ireland, Stephen Mason to the board. In March 2016 GPMI announced the acquisition of ‘The Reprocentre,’ which specialises in large format digital and commercial offset printing equipment, software solutions, sales and servicing. The integration of the Reprocentre into GPMI headquarters at Fonthill Business Park was seamless. Our state of the art customer showroom, which is on a par with (if not better than!) any similar facilities in Europe, is always open, so we invite our customers to visit us at their convenience.”

02/11/2017 15:29

GOLF

The team from Slogadh Signs in Co Kerry with Oisin and Suneel Seetal at the first tee.

The Real Print team with GPMI’s Karl Byrne.

Two time champions Freeneys receive their 5th place prize from GPMI Managing Director Enda Brophy.

Double Victory for EF Signs GPMI’s 11th Signmakers of Ireland golf event took place at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club in September. With nearly 30 customers in attendance, the event witnessed its first double as local lads EF Signs of Tralee took home both trophies. “Played on the four-time Irish Open venue, Killeen Course, Pat Lawlor kept The Waterville Cup on county soil with 37 points in tough conditions,” says Suneel Seetal, GPMI’s General Manager – Ireland. “Day 2 brought customers from the four provinces to Mahony’s Point and EF signs was victorious once again. With over 90 green fees over the two days, the event would not happen without our customers attending and the continued support of our suppliers Northern Ireland Plastics, Brett Martin Foamalux, Avery, Skybond, Norwich Corrugated, Altuglas Acrylic, Mactac, Mimaki, Agfa, HP, Esko, GM Media, Politape, Simona PVC, Sabic and Bright Green Technology. A special thank you goes to Sapphire Signs for the course signage and to local signmakers Slogadh Signs, Sika Signs and EF Signs who donated welcome signage. This event has the best prize table in amateur golf and we invite our customers to attend, laugh, have fun and try to get your company’s name on the trophy! All of us at GPMI look forward to welcoming you to our customer appreciation events in 2018.”

Winners of the 11th SignMakers of Ireland Invitational, EF Signs of Tralee, Co Kerry, at the first tee.

The second place prize was presented by Finbarr Heaney, Northern Ireland Plastics (far right) to Munster Signs & Print, Co Waterford, JOD Signs, Co Cavan and Nick Hughes of Brett Martin Foamalux.

Frank Jameson Memorial Trophy is presented by GPMI Managing Director, Enda Brophy to Willie Havlin of Fergusons in Co. Derry (Closest to Pin) and GPMI’s Karl Byrne (Long Drive).

GPMI’s General Manager Suneel Seetal with defending champions Blacksheep, who came fourth.

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03/11/2017 09:23

DIGITAL DESK

Getting More

PROFIT

from the

PRINT ROOM Billed as their fastest, most efficient and automated presses yet, Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C6100 Series of colour production printers, launched on September 1st, is designed to support the increasingly demanding high volume print environment. MJ Flood’s Production Print Manager, Phil Schueler talks about Konica Minolta’s technological leap and the upgrades that have taken place across the entire range in 2017.

RIGHT: Phil Schueler, Production Print Manager, MJ Flood.

onica Minolta and MJ Flood’s year of innovation began in April when they presented the AccurioPress C2070 and bizhub Press C1100 at an event in the Red Cow Moran Hotel. Konica Minolta’s Accurio Press C2070 is the successor to the high-functionality of the bizhub Press C1070 Series. However, according to Phil Schueler, this production printing system is capable of handling an even wider range of applications. “The C2060 and C2070 presses have continued to generate a lot of interest in the market throughout 2017,” he says. “That is because they are entry level machines that can do pretty much everything, from 350gsm duplex printing, depending on configuration, to the production of phenomenal colour consistency and half tone reproduction. This gives us a bit of an edge. Also, they are spec’ed higher than a lot of the competitive entry level/mid-range machines in those segments.”

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The C2070 features better paper handling than its predecessor, and a continuous supply of up to 1200mm sheet size. Its multi-bypass unit and banner printing kit enables 1,200mm banner printing to support a wide range of applications – four, six and eight-page panel type brochures, banner ads, and POP Displays. The new LU-202XL paper tray is capable of feeding a maximum of 1,000 sheets of 750mm long paper to realise ease of high-volume printing of items such as book covers, tri-fold catalogues and pamphlets. The C2060/C2070 also has a dedicated fuser unit for high speed envelope printing. The Accurio can handle up to 350gsm thick paper duplex printing and is capable of feeding all the way down to 62gsm. Kinsale’s Daol Design, Print & Sign recently installed an AccurioPress C2060 press with banner printing configuration. “Maurice O’Leary has been a customer of ours for a number of years and we saw an opportunity to present him with a new system for banner printing and he was blown away by the samples that we showed him,” says Phil Schueler. “With the AccurioPress C2060, he can now do 750mm printing and envelope production runs as well and all on a smaller system he didn’t need to invest in a €40,000 machine.” Daol Design, Print & Sign had been operating a Konica Minolta bizhub 1060L entry level machine, which MJ Flood took out and traded up for the Accurio C2060. “The financials of the investment made sense for Maurice,” says Phil. “He was looking to upgrade, so we sat down with him and discussed the applications that he wanted to grow and generate more revenue from. Banner and envelope printing were the areas that he wanted to develop. The biggest value add for Daol was giving them more capabilities, including the bypass tray with an extension unit that can do up to 1,300mm, and an LU202 XL, that can deliver up to 750mm prints.” Daol Managing Director, Maurice O’Leary says they are printing a variety of jobs on the press. “We are general printers, so we are printing everything on it, from NCR paper to 350gsm business cards, brochures and flyers,” he says. “There is no job that you can’t put through this machine. Where we might have had to litho print certain jobs in the past, with the C2060 we can now digitally print them cost effectively. And the photographic quality is exceptional - the machine is producing litho quality material. The C2060 allows us to take on banner size sheets and has a very good finishing system for booklet making and folding. And the quality coming off the C2070 is vastly superior to other digital presses that we would have used in the past. I’m delighted to be working with MJ Flood. Your business is only as good as the people that support it and they are a pleasure to work with. And their maintenance staff are outstanding. They never let us down.”

02/11/2017 15:22

DIGITAL DESK

ABOVE: Image shows the paper path on the AccurioPress C6100

Q: The entire Konica Minolta range underwent a refresh and upgrade in 2017. What do you regard as the highlight of that process? A: The introduction of banner printing was a big development for us and an even bigger highlight was the introduction of the new high volume AccurioPress C6085/C6100 with banner printing and all of the other benefits, such as 400g duplexing, that we hadn’t been able to offer to customers previously. Konica Minolta is an excellent company for listening to customer feedback. For the last 10 or 15 years they have really taken an interest in getting feedback from the field, and future design has been influenced by that.

Q:What were the big selling models for MJ Flood in 2017? A: We have installed a lot of C2060 and C2070 models this year but the banner functionality on both the mid-range and high-volume systems has opened up a lot of doors for MJ Flood and has allowed us to offer our customers not just an upgrade to their existing machines, but an upgrade with some new enhancements. Estate agents six and eight page panel type brochures are becoming more commonplace in the market and our digital presses are ideal for those applications. People are looking for new ways to do things with digital print and this new series expands the printer’s offering and adds value to what they are selling. The C2060 and C2070 with the three tray unit is an entry level machine that can duplex up to 350g, depending on configuration. There are not many machines at entry level in this industry that can do that. When it comes to the C6085/C6100 series, there is no competitor that can do up to 762mm auto duplexing and up to 1,300mm overall, plus 400g duplexing and envelope printing with one machine. The recent launch of the C6100 series on the Irish market is an example of really good timing by Konica Minolta. They waited until the competition had their machines out and released the C6100, so that gives us a great advantage over the other suppliers in the field.

envelope printing, via a dedicated fusing unit - all of these features are targeted at growing printers’ business. Reliability and stability is further enabled by Simitri HD E toner for higher offset-like natural textures, while lower temperature fusing reduces damage to paper, resulting in higher quality finishes and improved environmental performance.

Q: What press features have printers been looking for this year? A: Longer sheet size seems to be a hot button feature for a lot of printers. People are looking for the next step in terms of automating print processes. Our new IQ-501 Colour Care Unit boasts an inline spectrophotometer and three different scanning units. The IQ 501 carries out colour measurements, density correction and calibration, so you don’t need an offline spectrophotometer at all. Essentially, with the colour care unit, printers overcome some of the biggest pain points in digital print production, such as time-consuming front to back registration, extensive colour set-up and complex paper set-up operations.

BELOW: Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C2070.

Q:Why should Irish print companies invest in the C6100 series? A: The AccurioPress C6100 Series is now available in the 85ppm C6085 and the 100ppm C6100. The fast and flexible series has been created for operations that have recently started digital printing and are now expanding their service, as well as for those who need to handle large, repeat, print volumes. The range offers full automation for a lot of the print processes, which takes the guesswork out of any registration set up. Also, it offers printers significantly higher productivity because there is no slowdown depending on weights. The cost per page is aggressive and the 400gsm duplexing capability means that packaging applications can now be sought after by commercial print companies, which is a very exciting and progressive development for the market. Enhanced functions, including stablised paper feeding, support a wide range of paper weights from 52gsm to 400gsm, plus embossed paper, encouraging broader production possibilities. Other enhancements include low-cost

020_IP Sept_Oct 2017_Digital Desk.indd 21

02/11/2017 15:22

THE BIG PICTURE

EYE CATCHING High Performance INKS & Substrates Innovation is the name of the game in the textile print and sign & display sectors. We look at Mimaki’s press and ink releases, as well known substrates acquire new certificates that widen applications usage.

M BELOW: Mimaki’s UCJV150-160 printer.

022_IP Sept_Oct 2017_Big Picture.indd 22

imaki’s latest dye-sublimation offering, the new TS30-1300, is a 1.3 metre dye sublimation printer that was launched at Fespa earlier this year. Hybrid’s Textile Product Manager, Brett Platt says that its configuration with yellow and pink flourescent inks is of particular interest. “We now have the option of fluorescent inks for the TS30-1300,” he says. “The extraordinary shades achievable using these inks makes them ideal for the production of dancewear and event branding and we’re keen to show this off to potential purchasers.” Value and vibrancy can be added to bespoke, quality products by using neon inks and offer the additional safety feature of enhancing visibility to sports garments. Mimaki’s yellow and pink neon inks are ideal for including in designs for cycling kits, swimsuits and gymnastics apparel. “The TS30 will also open doors to fashion designers and

studios,” says Brett. “For sampling purposes, it’s no longer good enough to present a design idea on paper and the TS30 makes it cost effective to show compelling samples or even made up garments on a range of different polyester fabrics.” In September, Mimaki announced the launch of the Mimaki UCJV300160 and UCJV150-160 roll-to-roll UV LED printing and cutting solutions. Mimaki is also introducing a new environmentally friendly ink, LUS170, which, it claims, is guaranteed to ensure vibrant, eye-catching print results. The UCJV Series is expected to be available for customer shipments in the fourth quarter of 2017. “The UCJV Series is available in two models: the four-colour UCJV150160, and the UCJV300-160 that can accommodate up to seven ink colours in cost effective one litre bottles,” says Ronald Van den Broek, General Manager Sales at Mimaki Europe. “Each can produce a wide variety of print-and-cut applications offered by many signage, commercial and packaging printers. UV-LED curing technology enables printers to utilise an expanded range of media, including uncoated print media and many thin film substrates that may be too heat sensitive for latex or solvent high heat fixation systems. Combining white and coloured inks on the UCJV300160 model adds value to applications utilising transparent or semi-opaque films. Compared to alternative inks such as solvent and latex, UV-curable inks deliver greater opacity with less ink consumption per square metre of coverage while maintaining image vibrancy and density. High opacity white ink also facilitates block-out printing within a single print, enabling print service providers to easily and efficiently create window graphics that can be viewed differently from either side, as in a PUSH / PULL door sign. These features ensure higher throughput, reduced waste, and perfectly registered double-sided graphics with lower overhead costs per print.” The UCJV series printers will ship with updated RasterLink6 plus software. This new version of the widely used Mimaki RasterLink RIP software includes an ID Cut function to make printing and cutting easier and

02/11/2017 15:37

THE BIG PICTURE

ABOVE & LEFT: The Coala Magnets range of large-format magnetic media for interior displays allows outlets to re-apply and reposition graphics and messaging in shops and restaurants.

Magnetic Media for Interior Displays

faster. The barcode, read by the crop mark sensor on the UCJV printer/cutter, contains cutting and rotation information, allowing the UCJV machine to automate the cutting process. RasterLink6 plus software also includes the FineCut plug-in for Adobe Illustrator, allowing a print preview for 4-layer printing that enables operators to preview the transition day and night effect before printing. RasterLink6 plus now supports PDF 1.5 and above.

Latex & Inkjet Press Certifications Soyang Europe has made available a new range of HP latex certified textiles that leverage the most from the printer manufacturer’s latest latex ink set. All the new fabrics pass the ISO 105-X12 test, or dry rubbing, ensuring that the prints are vibrant and sharp and are also robust enough for use in soft signage applications. The entire range of fabrics is manufactured in Germany by Aurich Textilien. The range comprises a variety of products, including the Supernova knitted backlit, DigiFacination lightweight woven fabric, DigiPanorama 250g display fabric, and the lightweight DigiCompetition display fabric for stretch frame systems. All benefit from FR rating and Soyang Europe says they are suitable for sewing, finishing and transporting without noticeable loss of image quality, change in gloss, or mark off. “HP and Aurich have worked jointly to optimise this range of fabrics in order to achieve the best latex ink adhesion and, thanks to the unique finishing agent, print companies with the latest generation HP Latex printers will see significant benefits,” states Soyang Europe Managing Director, Mark Mashiter. “The opportunities for printed textile continue to grow, so this is a substantial user base that can now enjoy great potential for incremental business with the new fabrics. We’ve seen an increase in requests from print companies with wide format latex machines for better performing fabrics.” Meanwhile, the HP test centre in Oregon in the US has certified Mitsubishi’s inkjet papers from the Jetscript DL 84 series on the HP PageWide web press systems. The Jetscript DL 84 inkjet paper series is a double-sided matt coated product range with grammages from 89gsm to 248gsm. The series offers excellent image quality for a wide variety of printing applications, such as personalised customer communications, target groupspecific designed books, posters and greeting cards.

022_IP Sept_Oct 2017_Big Picture.indd 23

Antalis has launched a new Coala Magnets range of large-format magnetic media for interior displays. The range allows outlets to re-apply and reposition graphics and messaging in shops and restaurants where branding needs to be regularly refreshed. “Antalis offers an innovative solution combining the magnetic adhesive base (Coala Magnetic Base Films) with the printable ferrous films (Coala Ferro Films),” says Chris Green, Head of Channel, Antais Visual Communications. “This allows a permanent magnetic wall to be created that can be updated with seasonal promotions in an easy and effective way. Coala Ferro Films deliver high levels of print quality and are suitable for printing with eco solvent and solvent inks, as well as UV inkjet and latex inkjet. Without any professional assistance, users simply need to choose their preferred display surface (a wall, a door, a partition wall, or even cylindrical shape) and place the Coala Magnetic Base Film on top. Available in a variety of formats and thicknesses, this material serves as the base for then positioning the Coala Ferro Films. In addition, the Coala Magnetics range includes printable magnetic PVC in a wide variety of thicknesses, force and surfaces, suitable for applying directly to any metal object including vehicles and electrical appliances for applications such as magnetic signage and fridge magnets.”

BELOW: HP and Aurich have worked jointly to optimise this range of fabrics in order to achieve the best latex ink adhesion.

02/11/2017 15:37

WHAT’S NEW IN PRINT

Ricoh Introduces Neon Pink Toner

New Neon Pink toner enhances the creative capabilities of the Ricoh Pro C7100X series

Ricoh has launched Neon Pink toner to enhance the creative possibilities for a wide range of print, from posters and invitations to ticketing and advertising. The Neon Pink toner has been developed for the fifth colour station on the Ricoh Pro C7100X series colour cut sheet digital production press. It expands the colour gamut, enhances images and can be used as a solid or highlight or graphic colour. When combined with other process shades, it can create a neon palette. The toner is reflective under UV light to extend the range of printing possibilities offered by standard CMYK, white, or clear printing. The new addition supports a ‘dramatic market expansion’ of special effect enhancement capabilities for magazine, direct mail, retail and point of purchase markets, as highlighted by the InfoTrends report Beyond CMYK: The Use of Special Effects in Digital Printing. It states that nearly 1.8 trillion colour pages in the US and Western Europe, or around 30% of the total colour pages, currently receive some type of special effects enhancement. The Neon Pink toner will be available from November. It is retrofittable, which means existing clients can expand the capabilities of the Ricoh Pro C7100X presses they operate today.

NFC Connects Digital & Print

Antalis has introduced PowerCoat Alive by Arjowiggins to its print portfolio to allow customers to connect and engage with brands in new ways through the use of creative papers and smartphones. A sheet of PowerCoat Alive comprises three layers of paper - two layers of conventional creative paper between a layer of PowerCoat Alive paper where a pre-printed RFID circuitry and silicon chip is inserted. The three sheets are then laminated to create a sheet of connected PowerCoat Alive. The result is an NFC-ready paper that can be linked directly to a web page on any NFC-enabled device. With the launch of the new IOS 11 update, NFC technology is now compatible with all smartphone operating systems, including both Android and IOS11, and available on Apple iPhone 7 and above, opening the technology up to a wider audience. PowerCoat Alive can be printed, finished and handled as you would any other paper. This enables any printed materials such as magazine adverts, packaging and labels to be interactive and deliver additional content such as special offers and product information. In addition, businesses using the paper can obtain data via a dedicated analytics platform to measure the impact of their campaigns and better understand customer behaviour.

Efficient Processing of Inserts

Newspaper inserts are among the most commercially successful print products but the insert boom presents major challenges for newspaper producers. In order to efficiently process and successfully deliver large numbers of inserts to ever smaller zones, connecting individual work steps, from the take-off of the paper to the ramp, is becoming increasingly important. Muller Martini presented its monitoring and tracking module Connex.Info 4.0 for the mailroom for the first time at the IFRA World Publishing Expo in Berlin in October under the motto of ‘Finishing 4.0 – Advanced Inserting, Logistics and Connectivity.’ Visitors got a virtual tour of Europe’s most cutting-edge mailroom and best practice example was used to demonstrate how more than one billion inserts a year can be processed efficiently. Muller Martini showed the high-performance inserting systems that newspaper producers can use to keep track of insert processing, and sophisticated solutions to help them meet the major logistical challenges by covering every aspect of data handling.

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Newspaper inserts are among the most commercially successful print products.

02/11/2017 15:46

WHAT’S NEW IN PRINT

Metallic inks are an essential requirement for folding carton niches such as chocolates and confectionery.

Flexo Kit Metallic Ink Unit Tresu Group’s compact flexo printing unit for rapid application of high-gloss metallic finishes on to digitally printed folding cartons is specially designed for integration into a production line that features a HP Indigo 30000 digital press and a TRESU iCoat coater. Using printing sleeves and featuring a dedicated anilox roll, chambered doctor blade and pump, the Flexo Kit unit provides a separate uncontaminated supply system for gold, silver, aerodyne, and other special-effect coating finishes. The unit is fine-tuned to the unique flow and drying characteristics of metallic inks, so ink can be applied at speeds of up to 4,600 sheets per hour, equivalent to maximum printer and coater speeds. The pumps and chamber doctor blade provide an enclosed ink flow throughout the unit, allowing tight regulation of viscosity and pressure, and preventing foaming. Its automatic cleaning facility means ink changes can take place in minutes. Additionally, the unit’s anilox rolls feature elongated cells to handle relatively large particles without clogging. Flexo Kit is built for fast integration into existing iCoat units, and can be specified for inclusion on new machine orders.

The visionary office. A whole hall full of ideas for the hard copy sector, OEM suppliers and recyclers – only at Paperworld Remanexpo. From recycled printer consumables to hardware, software and components, here you’ll find new perspectives: paperworld.messefrankfurt.com/remanexpo Are you aware of our Business Matchmaking? The ideal service to help you plan your visit effectively – completely free of charge once you buy your ticket! info@ireland.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 14 83 48 39 83

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DU: 11.09.2017 65776-008_PW_Remanexpo_BM_TheIrishPrinter_130x390_IE • FOGRA 39 • CMYK • jw: 15.08.2017

Hello new perspectives.

Irland

27. – 30. 1. 2018, Frankfurt am Main

13/10/2017 11:34

02/11/2017 15:46

AWARDS PREVIEW Commercial Vehicle Wrap Printer of the Year, Sponsored by 3M

Celebrating

A Major Milestone

in Irish Print

The 40th Irish Print Awards will take place on Friday, December 1st in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Here we profile some of the industry’s key players who have renewed their support in this landmark year for the awards and for the Irish print industry.

Digital Printer of the Year, Sponsored by MJ Flood MJ Flood was founded on the principle of providing top quality local service to its customers. With eight offices around Ireland, the company can provide a local service to printers all over the country. “MJ Flood is delighted to be the new sponsor of the Digital Printer of the Year category,” says Marketing Manager, Agnes Paliga. “We decided to become a sponsor to reflect the huge success that we have had with the Konica Minolta brand in the commercial print sector. Konica Minolta have just completed the roll-out of a whole new range of colour digital printers for this market with class leading print quality and exceptional paper handling. Seven years ago we were unheard of in this market and now we are the market leader. This has been done through a willingness to invest in people and training, and to provide finance to an industry that was on its knees during the recession. This partnership with the Irish Print Awards is about letting the industry know who we are and what we are about.”

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Large Format Digital Printer of the Year, Sponsored by GPMI GPMI (Graphic & Paper Merchants Ireland) is the country’s largest Irish-owned supplier to the print and signage trade. “With offices in Dublin and Belfast, we employ 70 people who are dedicated to ensuring that our business can support our customers’ needs and their daily demands,” says Managing Director Enda Brophy. “Entering our third year as an independent, we are committed to the highest quality products and the widest stock holding, while offering the best delivery service at a competitive price. We are confident that our expertise can help you and your staff when it comes to providing your clients with new and innovative solutions. We look forward to working with you in the near future. Our showroom in Dublin is open every day, or at weekends if required by our customers. As exclusive distributors in Ireland for Agfa, Mimaki and Esko, GPMI/Reprocentre are proud to continue our support and sponsorship of the Large Format Digital Print Award and we wish all participants the very best for the 40th year of the awards.”

Irish Printer is delighted to welcome 3M on board for the first time this year as they sponsor the Commercial Vehicle Wrap Printer of the Year category. “Similar to competing in extreme sports, it’s the rush of adrenaline that keeps successful wrap shops and installers coming back for more,” says Pooja Dey, 3M’s Product Marketing Manager – Infrastructure Business. “From the most eyepopping of wall graphics to the sleekest of vehicle wraps, no wrapper can achieve optimal performance without the right wrap film and adhesive. That is why 3M is excited to support the Commercial Vehicle Wrap Printer of the Year category and the excellent work that wrappers are doing. The new 3M Print Wrap Film IJ180mC range provides customers with a go-to film that covers all the bases of application needs. With advanced slideability and initial tack optimised for wraps, installers will be able to move the film effortlessly across any application surface, reposition the product to the perfect location after first contact, and bubble-free finish to a completed wrap. Featuring the many high-quality benefits of Comply Adhesive with micro technology, these 3M IJ180mC films will accelerate installation and provide even more design options, making them the ideal solution for any application including vehicles, boats, walls and more. The range includes clear (IJ180mC-114) and metallic (IJ180mC-120) options. Available in 48 inch, 54 inch and 60 inch-wide rolls, wrappers can easily cover vehicle sections without seams. Finally, the 3M MCS warranty gives wrappers peace-of-mind that the films will live up to their guarantees.”

Digital Print Label Printer of the Year, Sponsored by Xeikon “Xeikon, a leading supplier of digital printing technology, is delighted to support the Irish Print Awards and to help celebrate the great work of Irish printing operations,” says Danny Mertens, Corporate Communications Manager, Digital Solutions, Xeikon. “As a technology-agnostic solutions provider, we allow customers to deal with challenges in their own way. As a result, we have developed a wide range of digital technologies for an array of end-use applications, from short-run wallpaper and quality photobooks, to valuable documents, high-end labels and folding carton packaging. Under our ‘direct dedicated digital’ umbrella we present the great possibilities and synergies that continue to be expanded under Flint’s ownership. These are supported by our rich heritage of technology research and development that drives us to expand our portfolio. The most recent example of this is the addition of the new Xeikon CX500 digital label press, which is the first press based on a new generation dry toner platform that is ready for Industry 4.0, and the recently launched Xeikon Panther Series of UV inkjet digital label presses, which includes the high-end Xeikon PX3000 and entry-level Xeikon PX2000.”

02/11/2017 15:48

Y K OUR TI O O B CKET CELEBRATING

40 YEARS

When: Friday 1st December 2017 Where: Aviva Stadium

To book your ticket, go to www.irishprinter.ie/bookyourseat

Contact: Jacinta Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke, Event Manager, Irish Print Awards Email: jacinta.orourke@ashville.com Phone: 01 4322201

Irish Printing Federation

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13/11/2017 16:04

BLACK & WHITE

MONOCHROME PRESSES EXTEND MEDIA FLEXIBILITY Canon Europe’s new Océ VarioPrint 6000 Titan series of cut-sheet monochrome production presses feature a range of technology innovations to further enhance productivity, quality and media versatility.

The Océ VarioPrint 6000 Titan series presses are scheduled to be available in Europe in Autumn 2017 and in the US in 2018.

he technology has been developed to help print companies who operate in the commercial, publishing and transactional segments to produce high quality black and white prints at increased speeds and using a wider selection of media weights and formats. The new Titan series presses build on the well-established Océ VarioPrint 6000 platform. Supporting volumes of up to 10 million A4 size impressions per month, the new presses are ideally suited for producers of commercial print materials, books and transactional documents, as well as large in-plants. The Océ VarioPrint 6000 Titan series comes in three versions to meet specific customer needs Standard/TP(Transactional Print)/MICR - and has a range of finishing options including booklet-making, perfect binding, tape binding, die punching, and trimming. The series also offers an open Document Finishing Device (DFD) Interface for further connectivity to compatible third party finishers on demand. “The new Océ VarioPrint 6000 Titan series presses are optimised for the broadest range of media in the series’ history, designed to help print service providers to extend their applications range and access new commercial opportunities,” says Peter Wolff, Senior Director, Customer Group Commercial Printer and Production CRD, Canon Europe. “The new Titan Light Weight Media (LWM) Option with LWM Air Guide Technology enables printing on substrates as light as 45gsm, opening up multiple new product avenues for users, for example, in applications such as legal documentation, specialist publishing and multi-language product and pharmaceutical inserts. This new light weight media capability is supported by the proven Océ Gemini Instant Duplex Technology, which uses a twin print heads to print simultaneously on both sides of the media without the need to stop and turn the sheet. The Océ Copy Press technology, which presses toner into the substrate at a low fusing temperature, further reduces the physical stresses on the substrate, while also

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helping to maintain a flat surface for optimal print and finishing quality and delivering a matte, offset-like image.” The VarioPrint 6000 Titan series supports plain, coated, textured and other specialty media such as NCR paper. “It is also the only digital press in its class able to print double-sided tabs for products such as manuals and guides,” says Peter. “New Paper Input Module (PIM) options for the VarioPrint 6000 Titan series give customers choices and configuration flexibility. The Standard PIM is for media up to 320 x 488 mm, while the Flex XL PIM is designed for media up to 350 x 500 mm, making it ideal for multi-up digital on-demand book production. Depending on their work mix, customers are able to work with three Standard or three Flex XL PIMS, or combine two PIMS of one size with one of the other.” Following on from its predecessor, the VarioPrint 6000+ series, the increased maximum running speed of 328 A4 images per minute (ipm) in perfecting mode translates to a potential of over 30,000 additional images, in one week, in one shift operation. Four models are available to meet different speed requirements (VarioPrint 6180, 6220, 6270 and 6330), with the option for customers using the lower speed models to purchase temporary licences for increased speed to handle short-term or seasonal production peaks. Increased productivity is also supported by extended functionality in the Titan series’ PRISMAsync print server v7, which allows for advanced job scheduling for up to eight hours to enable unattended printing. Further tools, such as PRISMAsync Remote Manager, Remote Control App for smart devices, and the new PRISMAlytics Dashboard cloud service, boost productivity by enabling remote management and monitoring of multiple engines. Windows 10 base, user authentication, and configurable UI are just some of the features that contribute to device security.

02/11/2017 15:49

NEXT DAY DELIVERY/DISPATCH Stitched Calendars

Sheet Calendars

• 24 page A4 plus cover

• Choice of single-sided A3, A2 or A1

• Saddle stitched and drilled once

• Printed full colour one side on 350g silk board

• Printed full colour throughout – text on 150gsm gloss and covers on 300gsm gloss

Christmas Cards • Choice of A4 scored or A5 scored • Printed on 350g silk card – full colour one side and black on other side • Gloss lamination one side

• Gloss laminate outside covers • 2018 calendar InDesign template available on request Quantity

100 250 500 750 1000

€ €250 €595 €725 €810 €890

ORDERS RECEIVED BEFORE 12PM DISPATCHED NEXT DAY

Quantity

A3 €

A2 €

A1 €

100

€59

€120

€225

250

€75

€150

€250

500

€120

€185

€295

ORDERS RECEIVED BEFORE 12PM DELIVERED NEXT DAY

Quantity A4 scored A5 € A5 scored A6 €

25 50 100 200 500

€35 €55 €85 €99 €135

€25 €35 €55 €75 €105

ORDERS RECEIVED BEFORE 12PM DISPATCHED NEXT DAY

Please contact Mícheál Walsh for a quotation or to set up an account on our website! NOTE: Artwork must be supplied as a print ready PDF and will be printed as received.

Freephone: 1800 613 111 Email: mwalsh@walshcolourprint.com Website: www.walshcolourprint.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING RATES TO CELEBRATE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRISH PRINT AWARDS JULY/AUGUST 2017 || THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY || WWW.IRISHPRINTER.IE

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29/06/2017 16:32

ADVERTISE

To celebrate the 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRISH PRINT AWARDS we are offering SPECIAL ADVERTISING RATES IN 2017 contact, Trish Murphy Sales Manager on: 01 4322231 Or email: Trish.Murphy@ashvillemediagroup.com Advertise_2L_IP.indd 1

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26/10/2017 11:33

07/11/2017 10:30

SECOND TO NONE MORE SPEED MORE QUALITY MORE PROFIT Introducing the VarioPrint 6000 TITAN series Experience the fastest print speeds on the market, combined with the unsurpassed reliability and image quality – the Océ VarioPrint 6000 TITAN series. Ideal for high volume printing of up to 10 million impressions per month, the VarioPrint 6000 TITAN series combines offset-like monochrome printing with low power consumption, minimal noise and ozone emissions*. It’s your print business workhorse.

To discover more contact us at info@canon.ie or call us on 01 2052411.

canon.ie/unleashprint

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13/10/2017 26/10/2017 11:36 11:18