PWA Issue 1 2014

Page 1

Print World Asia Magazine

Covering the Printing, Packaging and Publishing Industries across Asia. MICA (P) 155/12/2013 - KDN PPS1529/05/2013(025527)

Issue 1 2014 US$8.50


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th Asian PrintAwards 2014

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Contents Page 4 8 10 14 16 20 24 26 30 32 34 38 40 44 46 48 50 52 58

WEBCRAFTERS’ NEW BUSINESS GROWTH SPURS THE ADDITION OF SECOND KODAK PROSPER PRESS Fujifilm raises the bar for web-to-print solutions with the launch of XMF PrintCentre V5 STRATASYS 3D PRINTERS HELP ENERGIZE DEVELOPING REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD Beyond Machines EFI and Landa Form Strategic Alliance ASDA Becomes First Retailer to Implement PantoneLIVE Sri Lanka Wins Its First Gold at Asian Print Awards 2013 KBA Japan on the road TO SUCCESS WITH HIGH-TECH SHEETFED OFFSET THE MAKINGS OF LUXURY SUSTAINABLE ADVANTAGES to the Very Large Format and Packaging Segments ContiTech Increases Asian Presence with New Flexo Products 100% MINERAL OIL-FREE BLACK INK LAUNCHED TO PROVIDE SAFE FOOD PACKAGING APPLICATIONS FIRST QUADTECH COLOR QUALITY SOLUTION for the gravure market HP SCITEX FB500 Industrial Printer to Offer White Ink on Rigid Graphics BusAds Flies High at Asian Print Awards 2013 New three knife trimmer from Muller Martini Coloursonic Installs HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer to Offer White Ink on Rigid Graphics News from around the world The Last laugh Page

Issue 1 2014 57 Ubi Ave. 1, #03-06 Ubi Centre, Singapore 408936. tel+65 6733 5342 fax +65 6733 3586 Publisher Paul Callaghan paul@cpublish.com.sg Events Elizabeth Liew eliew@cpublish.com.sg Advertising Manager Abel sales@cpublish.com.sg Journalist Shah Jumari editorasia@cpublish.com.sg Advertising Sales Matthew Callahan matt@cpublish.com.sg Accounts/Circulation Meynard accounts@cpublish.com.sg


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Digital Technology

WEBCRAFTERS’ NEW BUSINESS GROWTH SPURS THE ADDITION OF SECOND KODAK PROSPER PRESS As more and more publishers have turned to digital printing to reduce inventories and manage supply chains, Webcrafters has seen digital page volumes rise significantly. The company installed a KODAK PROSPER 5000XL Press three years ago, and it is now preparing for the installation of an additional KODAK PROSPER 5000XLi Press in early 2014 to handle continued growth. Webcrafters, based in Madison, Wisconsin, has been serving the educational and trade book market for more than 100 years and knows the importance of dependability and redundancy when the rush hits. With almost 400 employees, Webcrafters operates three shifts a day, five days a week most of the time, but ramps up to 24/7 when needed during seasonal high volumes in the spring and summer. Webcrafters has seen steady growth in page volumes for digital printing across all the segments it serves, from educational and trade books to B2B catalogs and publications. The new press will give the company more flexibility for longer digital runs and fits into its strategy for growth and delivering the best results for its customers.



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Digital Technology in-line KODAK PROSPER Image Optimizer Station (IOS), which automatically prepares commercially available substrates for inkjet printing at full press speeds. “One of the challenges we have is that we do a lot of work with very heavy ink coverage,” noted Filsinger. “The PROSPER Press handles ink coverage very well—better than any of the competitive solutions we looked at in the market.”

“The PROSPER Platform has continued to evolve since its introduction, and many of our customers are now installing additional devices to handle rising volumes or new revenue opportunities,” said Jerry Miller, Kodak’s Vice President and Regional Business Manager of US&C Digital Printing Solutions. “Upgradability is an important part of the entire Kodak portfolio—customers can invest in an inkjet press platform today with the knowledge that their solution will grow and expand as needed. The PROSPER 5000XLi Press is a perfect example.” When talking about the decision to invest in a second KODAK PROSPER Press , John Filsinger, Senior Vice President of Operations at Webcrafters, cites scalability, redundancy and Webcrafters’ long relationship and experience with Kodak. “Scalability is a very important factor for us, and the PROSPER Press family gives us that capability,” he said. “We continue to update our first press with all the new features, so the two presses will be virtually identical. We don’t have to worry about these presses getting outdated— which speaks to Kodak’s commitment to ongoing innovation. “Over the years, we have felt that Kodak really understands our

needs, and has always delivered cutting-edge technology,” he added. “We have relied on Kodak for film, plates, and digital printing technology from the beginning. We’ve been using several KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Presses for shorter runs and for covers and tabs, and continue to do so. Kodak has been and continues to be a good partner offering the right solutions to meet our business objectives.” The PROSPER 5000XLi Press offers full process color perfecting with a print width of up to 24.5 inches (62.23 centimeters) at speeds up to 650 feet (200 meters) per minute with a duty cycle of 90 million A4 or US letter pages a month. The system is capable of print quality that rivals offset output—up to 175 lpi. It features the Intelligent Print System (IPS), which combines in-line video monitoring and advanced software controls to process thousands of press inputs that measure imaging performance, detecting variations and making adjustments as needed on the fly. Other highlights of the press include an auto-adjusting intake system that simplifies changing paper stocks; a variable-length paper path to improve drying; an advanced drying system that adjusts for ink load, web speed, and substrate; and the

“We will be expanding our line of supported substrates, which will open new markets for us,” added Brad Koch, Vice President of Sales for Webcrafters. “The PROSPER Press is enabling us to serve our clients with new and enhanced offerings, and we are already seeing the benefits. Our clients trust that we will be able to help them achieve their goals by utilizing the best technology along with the outstanding service we are committed to deliver.”


DO I CONTROL JOBS FROM ORDER TO DELIVERY? I HAVE TO. IS THERE A SINGLE END-TO-END SOLUTION? Get all the tools for success with EFI. EFI print products and production software give you an end-to-end digital solution that helps assure profitable growth. Keep control from the moment your customers order a job to the moment they get it.

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Š2013 EFI. All rights reserved.


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8

PrePress

Fujifilm raises the bar for

web-to-print solutions with the launch

of XMF PrintCentre V5 ge VDP a n a m stores ently i b c e ffi w e for B2B tions to y c t n i r u f u c c e tomati ional s u t i a d d w e A ation N r t s i n i m tions ffice ad a o c i k l c p a p print a in the b s o t e i t b i l e i w b nge of d capa e a r c n e s a r h e En ore div m a o t applied e b n a c m that e t s y s ’ -in-one An ‘all Fujifilm announces the latest version of its cloud-based web-to-print solution, XMF PrintCentre V5. XMF PrintCentre allows print companies to create multiple e-commerce web stores for selling print, and manages the whole print buying process from online purchasing through to delivering print-ready PDF files into any PDF print production system including Fujifilm’s XMF Workflow. “Web-to-print is a self-service approach to buying print, and this process has to be reliable and straightforward. The new capabilities

A new stream of features

cluded within the online job editor has now been introduced to intelligently adjust variable data text in order to fit into the space allocated. Consequently, users can save time as they no longer need to redesign the template, or use alternative text when the text supplied is ‘too long’.

The management of VDP is a key aspect for many companies. Fully aware of this, Fujifilm has equipped XMF PrintCentre V5 with advanced functionalities to improve the efficiency within different work environments. An auto fit capability in-

Another additional feature related to VDP that has been incorporated into XMF PrintCentre V5 is auto format. This allows the variable data sets to be automatically reformatted to omit any gaps, in case not all data fields have been completed. A busi-

added to XMF PrintCentre V5 provide print buyers with more automation and control over the way print is purchased,” highlights John Davies, workflow business strategy manager for FUJFILM Europe.


Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

PrePress

9

ness card where not all the contact information is available, for instance, would be automatically adapted according to the details provided so that it looks consistent with all other entries. These new VDP features are an expansion of the many capabilities that already exist to simplify the production of variable data print. New updates have also been applied to the back office of XMF PrintCentre to improve the ease of use of many administration tasks Firstly, it’s now possible to handle tax calculations using multiple rates. Secondly, in addition to the capability to publically show the home page of B2B web stores, but only allow access with a given username and password, XMF PrintCentre V5 can now also provide an extra security layer to hide the entire web store behind a login screen for maximum protection. Changes have also been made to allow pricing information to be removed. This is particularly useful in scenarios where costs are managed centrally, but the ability to order print is given only to nominated registered users, such as single retail stores. Several other additions to the XMF PrintCentre back office system include the ability to copy and modify existing products in a web store to speed up the creation of new products, and the ability to provide more choice as to how the final PDF files are delivered to various print locations to support a wider range of print production workflow systems.

John Davies underlines: “XMF PrintCentre is an ‘all in one’ solution which includes an extensive set of capabilities that are available at a very competitive price.” He adds: “the new V5 capabilities provide web store administrators with more tools to allow

them to meet the demanding needs of their clients, and also improve the experience of print buyers using the system for VDP applications.” XMF PrintCentre V5 is commercially available immediately.


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Management/General

Peppermint Energy headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D. produces portable, plug-and-play solar generators

STRATASYS 3D PRINTERS HELP ENERGIZE DEVELOPING REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD Companies using FDM 3D printing technology to create innovative energy solutions that aid those without reliable electricity Additive manufacturing using 3D printing technology has the potential to compress supply chains, minimize materials and energy use, and reduce waste, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But beyond streamlining production processes, companies are also using 3D printers to bring innovative, low-cost energy solutions to the market itself - including port-

able solar arrays and bicycle-powered generators.

its flagship product called the FORTY2. Like a solar plant in a suitcase, the FORTY2 is a portable array that draws enough energy from the sun to provide light, refrigerate medicine or food, or power a laptop. A battery connected to the array stores power for use when the sun is down.

Organizations such as Peppermint Energy and Designs For Hope have used 3D printing technology from 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys (to help individuals spur economic development, participate in emerging industries, and access educational op- For real-world design testing of the portunities in areas of the world that FORTY2, Peppermint Energy’s dedon’t have reliable access to electricity. velopment team used Stratasys 3D printing technology to 3D print Worldwide, 1.3 billion people lack functional prototypes. At three feet access to electricity, according to the wide and roughly 60 pounds, the International Energy Agency. South FORTY2 required a robust housing Dakota-based Peppermint Energy strong enough to hold all of its comis determined to change that with ponents. The first full-scale proto-



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Digital Technology

type, built in a Stratasys Fortus® 3D Production System, revealed some of the design considerations that led to the FORTY2’s simple operation. In response to the devastating Haiti earthquake in 2010, the FORTY2 was developed to bring emergency power to the area, and is being used in the rebuilding efforts, as shown in this video. “It’s only when you see it in physical form that you realize the form and function should be the same,” said Peppermint Energy co-founder Brian Gramm. Using Stratasys FDM 3D printing technology, the team was able to quickly make modifications, allowing for fast improvements and saving an estimated $250,000 in tooling costs. For example, a power switch is unnecessary; just opening the FORTY2 turns it on. The Peppermint team also decided to make the whole device even smaller than intended after carrying the first prototype proved awkward. Another company, Designs For Hope in Alabama, has developed an inexpensive, durable device that enables rotational energy to be harvested and stored from one of the simplest and most readily available forms of transportation in developing regions worldwide, a bicycle. The device holds a generator on a bike, harvests its power and conditions the electricity

Developed from a 3D printed prototype made from strong ABS plastic, the FORTY2 is a solar generator using sunlight to power lights and laptops

The FORTY2 brings reliable electricity to developing areas around the world including Haiti

for storage in a battery.

The development team began making prototypes on a Dimension 3D Printer from Stratasys, but the initial design Designs for Hope, a nonprofit organization had some flaws. After the team 3D located in Alabama, created an inexpensive, printed out its first idea and held it next durable device that holds a generator on a to a bicycle, they realized it wouldn’t bike, harvests its power and conditions the electricity to feed a battery. These prototypes work, said Chris Bond, founder of were created by a Dimension 3D Printer from Designs for Hope. After many design Stratasys iterations and prototypes, made pos-

sible using the Dimension 3D Printer, the team finalized the device, and has since worked with missionary networks to place units in the field. One recipient is a Uganda orphanage whose only power comes from a small solar-panel system. Orphanage workers commute seven to ten kilometers daily by bike. Once at work, they charge their cell phones from the solar panels, gobbling up limited power. Bond hopes his device alleviates this problem.

“The beautiful thing is, they’re using their bikes anyway,” says Bond. “It’s free energy.”


IST METZ presents:

Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

Digital Technology

Energy efficient UV systems for all printing applications

13

UV systems from IST METZ can be integrated into printing presses of any shape or size. This allows production of high-quality UV packaging, UV labels, UV commercials prints and special UV applications.

IST METZ manufactures and develops all key components, such as UV lamps, reflectors and electronic power supplies, in-house: MAdE In GErMAny!

Our new subsidiary IST METZ SEA Co., Ltd. in Bangkok provides services and consulting for all UV applications.

IST METZ SEA Co., Ltd. 1558/12 Baan Klang-Krung Soi 4, Bangna-Trad Road, Bangna Bangkok 10260, Thailand phone +66 2 1 82 00 43

We want to become your regional partner for all UV printing matters. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss UV solutions for your specific needs!


Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

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Digital Technology

Beyond Machines Indonesia-based company, Book & Story proved to be a force to be reckoned with on the Digital platform at the Asian Print Awards 2013. -By Sha Jumari.


Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

Digital Technology

year. Not only were we awarded with Gold medals, we also received a Platinum Sponsor Award for the first time. It was particularly special because it’s a Judges’ Award.” When it comes to printing quality work, it’s not just about the printer used. A skilled hand and an understanding of the machines come into play as well. According to Kusuma, one of their major issues was in having trained staff – an issue that plagues many printing companies. “We have been so busy this year. Our biggest problem at the moment is the skilled manpower, since our work is characterised by its detailed finishing and binding. It takes time to train new staff to be able to produce the level of quality in our products. I’m glad to say that we’re able to manage it so far,” Kusuma continued.

Looking at Book & Story’s submissions, it’s hard to believe that they were printed using copier machines. The company swept awards in the digital categories at the latest edition of the Asian Print Awards, winning three Golds, a Bronze and a Platinum Sponsor award. The awards committee particularly lauded their submission for the Book Printing category, comparing it with top quality offset printing. At the helm of the company is Vincent Kusuma, who started Book & Story in 2009 to cater to the needs of photographers for high-quality custom-made photo books. This year, he submitted four of his best

pickings for the awards consideration. Together with the clients, his team carefully executed all paper selection, binding and finishing techniques and colour preparation on the projects. A defining characteristic of the company’s products is their use of copier machines by Konica Minolta, a trait Kusuma prides with. When asked if the same machines that were instrumental in their wins in the past years were still being used, Kusuma quipped: “Yes, I still use my so-called ‘copier machines’ (laughs)! It was fabulous to win the awards! We are so proud to get this achievement this year, and we plan to do even better next

“The staff is extremely proud and happy as this is our biggest achievement thus far. But we’re still a small and considerably new company, so there is still plenty to learn. We’ll continue improving ourselves to be able to expand the business. I’d love to be able to share the excitement of the award ceremony with the staff! Here’s hoping that the next awards ceremony will be hosted in either Jakarta or Bali,” Kusuma enthused. There’s no slowing down for the company. Kusuma has plans for expansion for Book & Story. Along with the expansion, he is looking to upgrade their equipment. The brand of choice? Konica Minolta, of course. “We have great support from Konica Minolta, and we would like to explore new machines when they become available in Indonesia.”

15


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Digital Technology

EFI and Landa Form Strategic Alliance EFI™ and Landa Corporation have entered into a partnership agreement for the development of a digital front end (DFE) as part of Landa’s end-to-end Nanographic Printing™ solution. Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI, and Benny Landa, Chairman and CEO of Landa Corporation, conclude their strategic agreement for Landa’s new high-performance DFE powered by EFI Fiery® technology.

Landa’s new DFE will employ highperformance, EFI-developed Fiery® technology. With this technology, the Landa DFE will offer unique, new functionality for sheetfed and webfed Landa Nanographic Printing™ Presses in the commercial, folding carton, point-of-sale, publishing, and flexible packaging markets. The Landa DFE will stream jobs at full printing speed for 4-8 color printing with Landa Nanographic Printing Presses and will enable press operators

to perform last-minute job changes on the press, to proof jobs and to print rush jobs on-the-fly. In addition, it will collect production feedback from the presses and support closed-loop color control and inspection. The Landa DFE will support all job dynamics including static, VDP (Variable Data Printing) and EPID (Every Page Is Different) printing. The agreement brings together two pioneering businesses in the digital printing industry with the vision to

fundamentally change how mainstream applications are produced. Offering a breakthrough for cost-effectively printing short-to-medium job lengths up to five times faster than existing digital printing presses, Landa’s revolutionary presses create demanding technical challenges for processing job data. EFI, as the worldwide leader in color DFE and digital print workflow technology, is uniquely positioned to deliver such cutting edge technology to meet Landa’s stringent color management, job workflow and integrated MIS demands. EFI CEO Guy Gecht and Landa Chairman and CEO Benny Landa announced the partnership today to an audience of 1,000+ EFI customers during the opening session of Connect, EFI’s annual users conference in Las Vegas.

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M-600: World’s best selling 16-page commercial web press

Goss print quality, reliability and high-speed performance features combine with sheetfed quality and run lengths to make the 16-page M-600 press a leader in application versatility.

www.gossinternational.com

LOCAL CONTACT: Goss International 2 Toh Tuck Link, #05-01 Singapore 596225 PHONE: +65 6462 4833


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Digital Technology “Benny Landa is a legend in our industry, and we are excited to work with his company as its exclusive DFE technology provider,” said Gecht. “Landa Nanographic Printing Presses have potential to accelerate the migration of mainstream commercial printing and packaging to digital printing. The Landa DFE provides a proven, ultra-high-speed and wellintegrated front-end platform that Landa customers will require.” “Our unique Nanographic Printing™ process enables us to offer offsetquality digital printing and a combination of format size and throughput speeds unprecedented in the graphic arts industry,” said Benny Landa. “Reaching this remarkable and exciting goal requires partnering with best-in-class providers. That is the reason we chose Fiery technology and EFI as our development partner – to deliver the highest quality ultra-highspeed front-end platform to match the quality and performance of our Nanographic Printing presses.” End-to-end digital printing solution for mainstream applications Landa selected EFI because of its technology leadership and expertise in high-speed digital systems and color and print management. Landa customers can use the new DFE to create an

end-to-end solution that naturally fits into their printing operation, whether full offset, all-digital or hybrid offset/ digital.

offering the processing power needed to drive large volumes of offset-quality digital images, including personalized/ variable-data content.

Landa Nanographic Printing Presses will be installed next to offset presses and use the same substrates. With the new DFE, Landa Nanographic Printing Presses will integrate into a printer’s existing prepress, production, and business management workflow and finishing equipment. The Landa DFE will also ensure consistency, accuracy and compliance to leading color standards. It will enable highspeed, variable-data printing on any off-the-shelf B1 format (41 in. / 1,050 mm) substrate.

The new Landa DFE will enter beta testing as part of the beta installations of the B1 (41 in. / 1,050 mm) format Landa S10 Nanographic Printing™ Press slated for Q4 of this year.

High-end processing with integrated workflow capabilities As with current EFI Fiery platforms, the new DFE will integrate with EFI’s industry-leading MIS/ERP systems, as well as with leading third-party prepress and workflow platforms, for streamlined job management and processing. Fiery is the first and only DFE platform that carries a 100% perfect pass rating from industry organization VIGC’s PDF RIP Audit. The Fiery DFE technology EFI is developing for Landa will use scalable, robust systems

About Landa Landa Digital Printing (www. landanano.com) is part of the Landa group. Its Nanographic Printing™ technology bridges the industry's “Profitability Gap” – cost-effectively producing short-to-medium runs. Landa Nanographic Printing™ Presses yield the lowest cost per digitally printed page in the industry and combine the versatility of digital with the qualities and speed of offset. Founded by Benny Landa, the Landa Group also includes Landa Labs, its innovation arm that explores nanotechnology for use in alternative energy, drug delivery and other fields; Landa Ventures, which invests in related technology firms; and the Landa Fund, which helps underprivileged youth pursue higher education. Benny Landa continues to add to his portfolio of over 800 patents worldwide, which provide the companies he founded with a solid intellectual property base.

Thanks to all our valued Sponsors

26th August - 29 August 2015 Bangkok Thailand


Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

Digital Technology

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Agfa Asean Sdn Bhd Level 1, MENARA AmFIRST, Jalan19/3, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Tel: +603-79535800 Fax: +603-79535900


Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

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Sheetfed Offset

A S DA

Becomes First Retailer to Implement PantoneLIVE Leading retailer to adopt cloud-based service for consistent color throughout its packaging workflow X-Rite and Pantone, Danaher Corporation brands, announced that Asda, one of Britain’s top value retailers and a wholly owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart, will employ PantoneLIVETM, a cloudbased color service, throughout its global supply chain. PantoneLIVE allows Asda to standardize on a single platform and manage digital access rights to facilitate color communication across packaging

materials and suppliers, improving operational efficiencies. “The proposition was challenging – develop a solution that not only enables us to assess print quality across the entire list of Asda approved packaging printers, but also present complex, technical color data in an easy-to-understand format,” said Andy Wilson, print manager at Asda. “As most of the print validation solutions on the market were aimed at printers rather than brand owners, it quickly became apparent that selecting the right partner to develop the solution was crucial, and XRite/Pantone ticked all our boxes.” With color so critically tied to brand equity, maintaining color consistency across product pack-

aging is essential to ensure authenticity and consumer confidence. The PantoneLIVE suite of solutions provide Asda with a secure, cloud-based repository for its precise color data, allowing brand managers to communicate color specifications across the supply chain and validate compliance and track supplier performance anywhere in the world. “Printers being able to validate their own work in real-time makes PantoneLIVE a game changer,” said Jason Gilmartin, senior print manager at Asda. “With its implementation, we will now be able to manage our print base intelligently with true ‘closed loop’ color’ management from initial concept to final print whilst slashing waste, reducing cost and driving greater


PERSONAL

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Sheetfed Offset brand consistency. At last, the days of print managers approving print at the end of a printing press are coming to an end.” “It is mission critical for a large retailer such as Asda to achieve better and more consistent color results across different categories, suppliers and regions. We are extremely pleased that PantoneLIVE is the chosen solution for accurate color communication and control in their entire packaging supply chain,” explained Dr. Sonia Megert, vice president of the Pantone Digital Business unit at X- Rite/Pantone. “Spectral data for Asda’s main brand colors are stored securely in the PantoneLIVE cloud, thus helping reduce color variation in the production process, ensuring their colors are correct every time, on every packaging material.” In addition, PantoneLIVE’s centralized color management system helps achieve speed to market efficiencies from initial design to final production, ultimately lowering product development and manu-

facturing costs. Asda will begin to deploy PantoneLIVE immediately with Smart Price, Chosen by You

and Extra Special private label brands.


KBA Sheetfed Offset

KBA Rapida 105 With Rapida 106 technology inside Robust, fast, versatile – and ideal for your market. Our all-new Rapida 105 represents the highest evolutionary stage in its class, with an array of features normally reserved for high-end presses. Based on the makeready world champion, our Rapida 106, it incorporates inking units that respond faster than ever, venturi sheet guides, a highline AirTronic delivery and a raft of automation modules.

KBA.R.635.e

For more information on our new Rapida 105 use the QR code or contact us. KBA Printing Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., +86 10 8447 5909, w.zehner@kbachina.com KBA Koenig & Bauer AG (Asia Pacific) Sdn. Bhd., +60 3 788 588-60, KBA@KBAasiapacific.com KBA Asia Pacific (Singapore Branch), +65 6562 8582, ssegger@KBAasiapacific.com KBA (HK) Co. Ltd., +85 2 2742 8368, jkwan@kba.com.hk Intergraphics (Thailand) Co. Ltd., +66 2 259 3071, jtsuwan@igraph.co.th www.kba.com

Koenig & Bauer AG


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Sheetfed Offset

Sri Lanka Wins

Its First Gold at Asian Print Awards 2013

Gunaratne Offset (Pvt) Ltd’s maiden participation in the Asian Print Awards in 2012 saw them scoring a Bronze. This year, the Sri Lankan company returned with vigour to be inducted into the Gold trophy board. Sha Jumari reports. Established since 1982 in the commercial sheet-fed offset printing industry in Sri Lanka, Gunaratne Offset took home the Gold in Posters, Showcards, and Point-of-Sale Material – 4 or More Colours. They then went on to win two Bronze medals in the Calendars and Leaflets, Flyers, Folders & Brochures categories, a remarkable feat considering this is their second year running in the Asian Print Awards.

“We are privileged to take part in this prestigious annual competition for the second time in 2013. We entered the competition last year and we’re happy to say that we won a Bronze then. This year, we won one Gold and two Bronze awards. Feelings are just great mainly because this is by far the highest international recognition we have ever received. It was also the first Gold award won by an Offset printer in Sri Lanka. For us, this was a significant achievement since this is the only regional print quality competition of its kind in Asia,” said Asoka E. Gunaratne, chairman. “Once again, we proved our stability in quality and reliability, and managed to win the confidence of our customers. We take pride in our quality awareness, and by winning these awards we are able to prove to our clients of that. We wish to have their continued support in future,” Gunaratne beamed.

When it comes to delivering the best in print, it is all about the details. “We have CtP pre-press equipment, sheet-fed single & multi sheet Heidelberg printing machines and finishing equipment, all installed under one roof. When choosing equipment, raw materials and workmanship, we always evaluate the exact requirements of every individual print job we undertake in order to minimize wastage. Thus, we are able to maintain an attractive production cost without compromising the quality,” Gunaratne shared. Gunaratne is also optimistic about the future of the print industry in Sri Lanka. “Hopefully, there will be more Sri Lankan printers who will send their entries to the prestigious annual competition. It’s a good opportunity to be evaluated by an international team of experts and also explore the offshore print market.”



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Sheetfed Offset

KBA Japan on the road TO SUCCESS WITH HIGH-TECH SHEETFED OFFSET

After several Rapida 106 presses comes the first Rapida 145

KBA Japan on the road to success with high-tech sheetfed offset The employees of KBA Japan moved into their new Tokyo office in September 2012 making it the first subsidiary in the 200-year-long history of Koenig & Bauer (KBA) to be based in the Land of the Rising Sun. The team in Tokyo is being led by Kenneth Hansen, managing director of KBA Korea in Seoul. He has worked in the Asian graphic arts industry for over 30 years and is a valued expert on the Japanese printing industry with outstanding contacts. After only 15 months Kenneth’s efforts in Japan with KBA sheetfed offset presses have begun bearing fruit. Long and highly automated high-tech presses from KBA are proving particularly popular. So far four Rapidas have been installed in Japanese printing firms or are on their way there. Especially the world makeready champions Rapida 106 and Rapida 145 have generated a great deal of interest and can now be seen live in operation. Long Rapida 106 at Taisei in Tokyo Japan, which ranks among the top five printing press markets in the world, has long been a blank spot on the KBA map. In the past only pub-

President Yoshiro Ohno of Taisei Co. Ltd. in Tokyo (r) with Kenneth Hansen, managing director of KBA Japan, during a visit to Radebeul lication rotogravure and web offset presses for telephone directories were delivered. Therefore Kenneth Hansen carefully planned KBA’s entry into this market. The Japanese team received comprehensive training before prominent packaging printer Taisei in Tokyo flipped the switch on the first Rapida 106 at the beginning of 2013. The press features

eight printing units, simultaneous plate changing, packages for foil and board handling, capabilities for UV mixed operation and a cold-foil module. In addition, the employees in Japan are supported by their colleagues from Korea and Germany with regard to commissioning and service activities.



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Sheetfed Offset

Rapida 145 for Kinsei Printing in Osaka

Following initial successes of the medium-format Rapida 106 with packaging printers, the first Japanese commercial printer recently opted for a large-format press. Kinsei Printing in Osaka ordered a Rapida 145 with six printing units, simultaneous plate changing (DriveTronic SPC) and a maximum output of 17,000sph. Kinsei Printing is a commercial printer specialising in large-format, high-quality printing of maps, books, brochures, calendars and posters. President Morikiyo Nosaki states that the KBA Rapida 145 with its combination of outstanding speed, quick turnaround times and high quality is a perfect match for his customers and his company. Morikiyo Nosaki: “After a series of print tests we had no doubt that this machine will carry us well into the future and make Kinsei able to meet the demands of the market segments it is in, in addition to supporting our expansion. None of the other manufacturers came close to meeting our ambitious demands, but KBA’s Rapida 145 exceeded them. I now know why KBA is the undisputed world market leader in large format.” The Kinsei plant in Osaka only operates large-format presses and until now has had presses from Mitsubishi, Komori and manroland. Installation of the new KBA Rapida 145 will begin in spring 2014.

A highly automated KBA Rapida 106 with comprehensive kit for inline finishing has been in action at prominent packaging printer Taisei Co. Ltd. in Tokyo since spring 2012

L-r: Kenneth Hansen, president Morikiyo Nosaki of Kinsei Printing and KBA sales director Dietmar Heyduck in front of the printing house in Osaka

Commercial printer Kinsei Printing decided not to choose a coater to go with its six-colour Rapida 145. However, the press features simultaneous plate changing (DriveTronic SPC) ensuring the economical production of small runs


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Finishing Technology

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Packaging Technology

THE MAKINGS OF LUXURY With their anthology featuring luxury timepieces, Percetakan Image Vest Sdn Bhd made their maiden entry into the Asian Print Awards 2013 and took home the Gold. -By Sha Jumari. What does it take to produce an award-winning masterpiece? An attention to detail and meticulous prepress processes, according to Percetakan Image Vest Sdn Bhd (PIV). The Malaysia-based company submitted The Art Of Time, a brochure compilation of high-end watches presented upon a black background for the

Limited Editions & Artworks Reproductions category at the competition, which scored them the Gold award. “Receiving such an accolade from such a respected organisation is definitely a milestone for us. As a young company, it was an honour just to be shortlisted in a category with an im-


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Packaging Technology

pressive list of established industry players,” said Daniel Lin, managing director. The client required the work to be able to evoke emotions by being up close and personal with the watches. The sharpness, colour and vibrancy of the timepieces need to be on point so that the reader can truly appreciate the designs, even in 2D. “We decided to do this by using multipiece die cutting images, difference type, surface paper material and PU material. Every die cutting must have its own representative image, and coupled with our expertise in selecting paper materials, we were able to achieve what the client desired,” said Lin. Special attention had to be paid to each timepiece during the colour editing process, since the special papers used in the brochure had different ink absorption rates.

“At this point, we had to tailor everything to specifications and colour proofing was of utmost importance. During the printing stage, we use a special light fast ink that complements the plates, and this ink creates a protective layer termed a “wax”, which prevents the surface area from being easily scratched. The Art Of Time has many solid colour pages, and skipping this step will be detrimental to the luxury pieces featured within,” Lin continued. Like any other print work, there are challenges in producing the submission, one of which was in complying with international standards of printing and production. “To a layman, the black background is pretty much invisible because it is the beauty and magnificence of the timepieces that shines, yet the background must be flawless otherwise

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the imperfections will draw attention rather than the products on feature. It took a lot of effort just to get the black perfect, with an even and consistent colour tone throughout the entire brochure,” Lin explained. The submission was put against industry big boys, C&C Joints Printing Co. (Shanghai) Ltd and Pragati Offset Pvt. Ltd. When asked about his competition, Lin seemed comfortable with their placing at the top: “As the saying goes, your friends like you, but your enemies define you. The Art Of Time was nominated in a category that included international players with an illustrious history in the field of print. If our competitors define us, I think it is safe to say that we are pretty happy where we are.”


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Packaging Technology

SUSTAINABLE ADVANTAGES

to the Very Large Format and Packaging Segments When Grafiche Esposti in Mantua (Italy) wanted to find a way to combine the colour fidelity and high-quality images required for its customers’ display stands with more sustainable print production processes, it turned to Kodak for its technical know-how. The result was an investment in the KODAK TRENDSETTER VLF Platesetter and KODAK SONORA XP Process Free Plates, in formats of up to two square metres (21.52 square feet) - a first in this sector. The plates eliminate processor costs and reduce environmental impact by removing the need for chemicals.

In 1979, Giovanni Esposti, who was already working in the field of photolithography, founded his own firm - called Fotostudio Esposti - to supply advertising and industrial photographic services to local, national and international companies, especially those producing toys. In 1981, encouraged by the success and loyalty of his customers, he founded Studio E, a successful company combining photography and photolithography. In 2000, the company became Grafiche Esposti, following the involvement of Giovanni’s sons Marco and Stefano.

the world of packaging and offset printing began when we started printing high numbers of display stands for important firms in the sector. Coming back to this market more and more often, we came to love this creative and highly diversified sector, to the extent where we designed new cardboard products. The most difficult part of designing a display is combining creativity, cost efficiency and ease of assembly. Today, all of our work is carried out for direct customers only.” Grafiche Esposti produces for various sectors: food, toys, cosmetics, glues, stationery products, stockings, etc. Customers include major names national and international brands. In fact, the company took the decision to target high-quality customers who would, in addition to supporting its commercial expansion, also stimulate technical and creative growth.

In the words of Marco Esposti, the company’s current technical and creative director, “Without quitting photolithography, which is still the core and essence of graphics, our activity has shifted to printing. Our years of experience in photolithography have helped us to maintain our strengths, such as colour fidelity and the qual- “Our lean structure, prepress expeity of our work. Our venture into rience and continuing investment


Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

Packaging Technology in technology allow us to guarantee quick service, quality and flexibility”, says Marco Esposti. A first for KODAK SONORA XP Process Free Plates in the very large format segment Grafiche Esposti has a complete prepress department that already comprises a KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System. The latest acquisition was the KODAK TRENDSETTER VLF Platesetter a few months ago. This reliable and robust system guarantees accurate, stable exposure thanks to KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology and has proven to be highly productive. However, the real innovation at Grafiche Esposti was the decision to use 0.4 mm (0.15 inches) KODAK SONORA XP Process Free Plates in formats of up to two square metres (21.52 square feet), a sector first. As Silvano Finelli, owner of the Kodak plate distributor F.lli Finelli, explains, “Colour fidelity needs to be perfect for display stands. The KODAK TRENDSETTER Platesetter and the KODAK SONORA XP Process Free Plates ensure this. There is no chemical processing because the thermal plate is process free and the screening on the plate is clean and unaltered, rendering printed images of better quality than those from processed plates. What’s more, moving to process-free plates had no negative impact on operations. On the contrary, the detail is finer and registration is better. With the KODAK TRENDSETTER VLF Platesetter, after exposure the plate is mounted in the printing machine. Just a few rotations of fount are needed before starting production since the plate is ready to transfer ink immediately and very efficiently, producing extremely precise and sharply outlined dots.”

“Our customers are not only satisfied with the quality of the results, many brands are highly conscious of the environment so they also greatly appreciate the fact that their displays are printed using plates with a low environmental impact. This is especially important in the food sector. For us it is a value added factor that is sure to attract new customers,” Mr. Esposti adds. Passion and positive thinking Grafiche Esposti has demonstrated that incredible results can be achieved with the right mix of technical know-how, flexibility, creativity, passion for the job and an endless drive for innovation. These factors have combined to put the company at the forefront in design and in offering customers innovative packaging solutions, in a constant quest to satisfy their demands. The company’s latest cause for celebration was winning first prize in the exhibitors’ category for short-term cardboard displays at

the third edition of DIVA (Display Italia Viscom Award), an international competition organised in collaboration with Display Italia, dedicated to the best display solutions for POS. Grafiche Esposti produced a very unusual and functional totem designed by Marco Esposti - a coffee capsule dispenser with a special internal mechanism made of cardboard. In the words of the chairman of the jury, a professor at the European Institute of Design, “A stroke of genius in producing a product never before imagined, made of a recyclable ecological material such as cardboard.” Olivier Claude, General Manager for Print & Vice President Commercial Business EAMER, Kodak comments, “Eposti’s award winning approach to print led it to invest in our leading environmental solutions that also deliver on that all-important question of quality. We hope this latest investment will spur them on to gain even more industry plaudits.”

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Packaging Technology

ContiTech Increases Asian Presence with New Flexo Products Out to revolutionise the packaging and labeling industry in Asia, the company has added the CONTI Laserline brand of f lexographic products to expanded service centers in Singapore and Shanghai. Sha Jumari reports.

The Singapore center recently opened its doors to industry players to introduce the CONTI Laserline, specifically developed flexographic printing plates for direct laser engraving. Leveraging on its expertise in rubber and as a renowned printing blankets manufacturer, ContiTech is able to produce elastomer plates.

At the heart of the CONTI Laserline is the new flexographic printing process technology, “Direct Laser Engraving,” or DLE for short. Collaborating with HELL, the process essentially uses a laser to cut away surfaces of the plates that are not to be printed.

“The idea of rubber engraving has been played around for a while but it could not come to fruition because of the separate R&D being done by the plates and the engraving people. By working closely with HELL, we were able to combine our rubber knowledge and their engraving knowhow to create a technology that


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Packaging Technology

works. Due to the partnership, our products are in tune,” said Thomas Christensen, managing director. The service centers in Shanghai and Singapore both house the HELL (Premium Setter) direct laser engraving system. With the Premium Setter installed, the center is able to supply the plates directly to customers, on top of providing on-site demonstrations. “At this point, few in the flexographic industry have the right lasers to engrave into the elastomer printing plates. This is one of the reasons why we brought in the HELL Premium Setter, so that we are able to demonstrate to the market that this system works. If need be, we can even supply to the customers the high quality plates done right here at the center,” said Terence Ho, regional sales manager for Southeast Asia.

Although ContiTech has a preferred partnership with HELL, the elastomer printing plates can be engraved using other equipment as long as it features Fibre or CO2 lasers with the appropriate laser power. Centered on rubber, the product line offers a number of advantages over traditional photopolymer plates. The DLE production process is completely solvent-free and requires no chemicals at all. Only water is needed to wash away the ash like residue leftover from the laser engraving process, making this one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. The Laserline CSC plate series also contains a patented compressible layer to eliminate the need of expensive foam adhesive tapes typically used with photopolymer plates. The integrated layer makes it possible to print halftones and

solids alongside, while offering better controllability of dot gain. The plates are available as rolled material to allow for flexible applications and help customers cut significant costs. This technology is the only truly 100% digital Flexo plate making process, eliminating the additional process needed in conventional and CTP systems. With the faster turnaround times, one wonders how this bodes for the digital print market. Christensen, however, is convinced that this technology would not cut into the digital market. “Digital has its role and position in the industry, but not in the mass segment. Digital is still for the niche markets - we’re talking customised, shorter runs and small series. Label and packaging printing will still be volume business, whereas digital lacks the output yet,” asserted Christensen.


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Packaging Technology

100% MINERAL OIL-FREE BLACK INK

LAUNCHED TO PROVIDE SAFE FOOD PACKAGING APPLICATIONS Domino has launched a new 100% mineral oil-free (MOF) black ink developed to address increasing concerns regarding the migration of printing inks and mineral oils onto the carton board and food packaging. Domino’s new 950BK MOF black ink is non-hazardous, fully sustainable and based on vegetable oils. The environmentally friendly 950BK black ink, which is manufactured using vegetable oil, has been designed specifically for use in Domino’s C6000 drop-on-demand (DOD) outer case coding printer for food packaging applications. It has been estimated that more than half of the cardboard used in Europe is recycled. Much of this recycled cartonboard which is used in food packaging, is produced through the recycling of newspapers. And, it is the mineral-oils from this newsprint ink that is finding its way into the cardboard during the recycling process. These mineral oils contain aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons which can be easily absorbed and over time, accumulate in the body. By the introduction of Domino’s new 950BK MOF black ink with the C6000 outer case coder, packaging suppliers can be assured of a completely safe solution for printing text, graphics and supply chain bar codes onto paper and cardboard food packages and cartons. This is achieved by eliminating the risk posed by the migration of harmful toxins leaching


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Packaging Technology

from mineral oil-based inks from the print on the outer cases and into the food products inside. In addition, the biodegradable properties of the 950BK MOF ink assist in the de-inking of printed matter during the recycling process. An active member of EuPIA (the European Printing Ink Association), Domino has an extensive fluids development and testing facility at its UK headquarters. This enables the company to monitor market requirements and work with its customers to introduce

new consumables that are safe and compliant while delivering exceptional product coding and optimum printer performance. “The growing concerns about the potential health risks for consumers from mineral oil-based ink contamination is now far too serious to ignore,” says Andrew Gunton, Product Manager – Fluids at Domino. “We have therefore taken a proactive stance by developing an environmentally friendly mineral oil-free ink for our C6000 outer case coding solu-

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tion. This gives brand owners and manufacturers complete peace of mind that their food products will remain free from mineral oil contamination.”

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Packaging Technology

FIRST QUADTECH COLOR QUALITY SOLUTION for the gravure market Cartotecnica Veneta S.p.A, of San Pietro, Gù (PD), Italy, is simplifying color preparation and improving print quality on its gravure printing line with QuadTech’s new Color Quality Solution, and attracting new business in the process.

QuadTech’s ‘industry first’ integrated Color Quality Solution relays in-line spectral data gathered by QuadTech’s SpectralCamTM to ink formulation software from X-Rite and ink technology from Huber Group to ensure a consistent color measurement standard from the brand owner’s request to last printed image. The system installation was managed by QuadTech’s agent, ColorConsulting, S.r.L, and supported by the QuadTech team from the United States. Cartotecnica produces finished and semi-finished flexible packaging and folding cartons primarily for large Italian and Eu-

The QuadTech Color Quality Solution enables automatic sharing and processing of color data between in-line color control and off-line color measurement industry leaders.

ropean food and beverage brands including Ferrero, Nestlé Italy and Unilever. The company’s vast substrate portfolio - ranging from coated and uncoated paper and board, to aluminum foil and thin PP and PE films - requires different ink sets, discrete color targets and precisely imaged gravure cylinders. Before the installation of the automated system, achieving the standards of accuracy required was time-consuming and expensive. The QuadTech Color Measurement System with SpectralCamTM is positioned after the last printing unit on Cartotecnica’s gravure line. Once the press is running SpectralCamTM measures the multiple pre-defined color targets throughout the print run to ensure accurate, repeatable color quality. The system receives the color targets, ink quantities, viscosity, substrate, run length, and other parameters utilizing the QuadTech Color Quality Solution and ICON platform. The network-based QuadTech ICONTM platform controls all components from one central station. Job data is automatically saved for recall providing makeready, material and labor savings.


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Packaging Technology

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With Huber Group’s ink technology the company can use just one set of color base inks for varying substrates instead of multiple ink gravure series. The X-Rite Ink Formulation software pin-points customer-defined color targets to form a spectral color curve and then checks existing stocks availability for any matching return ink before formulating an ink recipe. This is highly effective as 80% of print jobs at Cartotecnica are repeat jobs, so stored inks are kept to a minimum. Ink formulation is then carried out using the Huber Group color database that doses exact color quantities. New formulations are verified using a strike-off produced on The Phantom QDTM portable table-top proofing system from Harper Corporation and a handheld X-Rite SpectroEye. If the formulation is correct, the ink is produced and production can begin. The industry

minimum ink batch is 20kg but at Cartotecnica the minimum ink volume is 40kg, so it is essential to achieve the correct color first time right to minimize waste. “Before QuadTech’s Color Quality Solution, the production of gravure inks was manual, laborintensive and wasteful,” said Francesco Meneghetti, President of Cartotecnica Veneta. “Our vast substrate portfolio has always a challenge as it requires different ink sets, unique color targets and accurately made gravure cylinders. Therefore, excess ink was a frequent occurrence but now ink storage space has now been reduced from two rooms to a fifth of one room.” The Color Quality Solution has also secured new business for Cartotecnica just 30 minutes after showing Nestlé Italy representatives a live makeready on its problematic multi-layered substrate for its Buitoni range. That

substrate includes plastic film on one side and an aluminum foil on the other, but the Cartotecnica’s QuadTech system achieved accurate repeat prints in minutes. “We have also eliminated unpredictable manual intervention. Our operators find the QuadTech solution very easy and so accurate to use that they want to work with the system every day, for every job, Meneghetti said.” Set-up is simple and once the color is on the press it decreases makeready time because the system knows exactly what to expect from any ink, cylinder and substrate combination and can rectify anything within minutes.”


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Wide Format / Proofing Technology

HP SCITEX FB500 Industrial Printer to Offer White Ink on Rigid Gr aphics HP has announced that

Coloursonic, London, has installed an HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer to add a white ink capability to its direct-to-rigid substrate printing capacity and accelerate graphics production. A full-service graphics provider, Coloursonic offers services from consultancy and design to installation virtually anywhere in the world using either its own teams or working with established partners. The company’s output includes banners, exhibition graphics, corporate interiors, POS retail displays, roll-up and pop-up stands, lightbox signage, window graphics, event branding, TV and film backdrops, hoardings, corporate interiors, wallpaper and vehicle wraps. “While we had great capabilities, what we were not able to do was print in white direct to rigid substrates,” said Michaela Chandler, owner, Coloursonic. “We had the opportunity to work on an extremely large job comprising more than 500 differing items ranging in size from one to three metres in length. The ability to print high-quality graphics using white ink, direct-to-substrate, led us to believe that the HP Scitex FB500 would be the best printer to do the job.” Coloursonic bought the HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer at FESPA 2013 in May and it was in production by the first week of July. HP reseller CWE Solutions of Chessington, Surrey, installed the printer, and work on the

important job started almost immediately. “The HP Scitex FB500 is user-friendly and versatile, making it a pleasure to work with,” said Chandler. “We had allocated a month to complete the work, but we completed it in two weeks, giving us capacity to handle additional work. The white print capability is remarkable and allows us to offer exciting new options: for example, we have just finished printing on stained glass windows for a film set. The ability to print on both flexible and rigid substrates gives us an added degree of production flexibility and enables us to make big time savings. Eliminating the process of laminating graphics to rigid materials enables a more efficient use of manpower and ultimately increases our throughput.” Located about ten minutes away from London’s in-town exhibition venues, Coloursonic often receives urgent requests for event and show graphics, so the company is used to working to tight deadlines. The HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer can print direct to rigid substrates at speeds up to 7m2/hr for indoor applications and up to 7.9m2/ hr for jobs to be viewed outdoors. The white ink option(1) enables easy production of white text and logos.

“In the short time we’ve had the HP Scitex FB500, we’ve printed on acrylic, Kappa, Foamex, Dibond®, corrugated board and glass mirrors,” said Chandler. “We’re not really sign makers, but we’ve been fulfilling requests for them, so that might be a new market we can explore further.” Coloursonic›s combination of highquality print, versatile and up-to-date equipment, reliable logistics and the ability to coordinate long-distance deliveries and installations has fostered long-term loyalty from customers, resulting in mutual growth. “These are retailers we began working for when they had two or three shops in London, and are now international brands with up to 150 stores,” said Chandler. “With the new HP Scitex FB500 and our existing HP Latex 850(2) Printers, we are able to meet requests efficiently and cost-effectively. We think HP has the right approach to the large-format graphics market and we’ve been very pleased with how easy the printers are to use, and with the final results.” Coloursonic has installed an HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer to add a white ink capability to its direct-to-rigid substrate printing capacity.


Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

HP Latex 3000. The new industrial revolution.

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Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

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Wide Format / Proofing Technology

BusAds Flies High at Asian Print Awards 2013 BusAds Pte Ltd soars to the top with its larger-than-life aircraft decal entry, whisking away Gold and Platinum Sponsor awards at this year’s edition of the Asian Print Awards. Sha Jumari reports. In 2012, BusAds entered the Asian Print Awards for the first time to take home the Silver medal for their entry in the Large-Format and Outdoor Signs category. This year, the Singapore-based com-

pany not only scored a Gold in the same category, but was also awarded the EFI’s Platinum Sponsor Award for Best in Digital Wide/Superwide Format award. The winning entry was an air-

craft decal, a project for VietJet Air, Vietnam’s low-cost airline. The airline collaborated with Walt Disney Pictures for the launch of animated film, Planes.


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Wide Format / Proofing Technology

Piloting BusAds to the top is Alvin Mark Yapp, who is ecstatic about the win: “Extremely exhilarated. It was a pleasant surprise and a humbling experience. In the tradition of the Asian Print Awards, you’re not told which category and application were shortlisted, much less the award that you’ve been recognised for. There’s a lot of tension and speculation amongst the staff to see which of their projects made it to the top three.” Established in the outdoor display arena, BusAds is the only production house approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to do aircraft decals, both exterior and interior. Besides Vietnam, the company lists Indonesia, the Philippines and Dubai as part of its regional clientele. “There was no physical meeting with the client - everything was done through email and colour proofs were couriered over. We had to be careful with the application process because the aircraft stickers are very soft. Application was done offshore and we did not have the luxury of reprinting the panels should installation go awry, so we only had one chance to get it right. Installation was done over

one night with no downtime. We did it such that there was a very small margin for error,” Yapp shared on the process and challenges of the decal production. The award wins serves as motivation for Yapp and the company to keep pushing envelopes in the print industry. “It inspires us to continue to give our best in outdoor display. Staff morale is up as being recognised gives us a lot of pride and will have effect on the work that we do. We are encouraged to go beyond boundaries, not just in aircraft decals, but in exploring areas that have traditionally been challenging, such as on funnels and hulls of a ship,” said Yapp.

There is no rest up ahead for BusAds, as Yapp insisted that winning comes with a certain kind of responsibility. “Winning is great, but the real work comes in maintaining that position. To win at the Asian Print Awards and have the judging committee agree and be consistent in their assessment of our work, it speaks volumes. The clients are comfortable and confident that an independent body has acknowledged our work, and we have to continuously keep up with that,” Yapp maintained.

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Finishing Technology

New Granit Three-Knife Trimmer from Muller Martini The new Granit three-knife trimmer impresses with innovative SmartPress technology, resulting in consistent, first-class trim quality. The fully automated equipment has a wide range of applications in softcover and hardcover lines.

The Granit uses patented SmartPress technology, which has proven its worth in the higher performance range, to provide optimal, consistently high trim quality. It ensures a gentle and controlled pressing procedure in which all air between the sheets of paper completely escapes, even if the product is bulky, allowing for the product to be trimmed perfectly, which is key to consistently high product quality. SmartPress technology is adaptive. In other words, pressing automatically adjusts during production to fluctuations in product thickness, ensuring consistent book quality.

Versatile Uses The Granit three-knife trimmer from Muller Martini ensures costeffective production in a wide range of applications. The Granit can take full advantage of seamless automation in a fully networked perfect binding line, such as the Pantera or Alegro A6. The operator can perform the necessary fine-tuning directly on the central screen of the perfect binder during production. In addition, the trimming cassette and pressing pad can be exchanged in just a few steps, which shortens job changeover times considerably. Limited Investment Volume If used in existing perfect binding lines, the Granit increases efficiency

Consistent automation from infeed to delivery enables extremely short job changeover times. The trimming cassette and pressing pad can be exchanged in just a few steps, which shortens job changeover times considerably.

enormously. Production runs can be planned and performed efficiently with a job changeover time of just three minutes. The productivity of an older line can be vastly increased, especially for relatively small runs, while the required investment volume remains limited. For Hardcover or as a Stand-Alone Machine The Granit also provides top-class trim quality in hardcover lines. The SmartPress technology meets all the requirements in this area too. In order to achieve short setup times, the threeknife trimmer is easily connected to the commander of the casing-in machine, which enables size data to be transferred quickly.

The new Granit three-knife trimmer from Muller Martini has an extremely wide range of applications. Cost-effective production is ensured thanks to SmartPress technology and full automation.

At companies where perfect-bound products are trimmed using a guillotine cutter, the production process is rendered considerably more efficient using the Granit. If the new threeknife trimmer is used as a stand-alone machine, loading is always ergonomic and safe.


Division ContiTech of Continental AG Print World Asia • 1 / 2014

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Laid-back efficiency. Global-warming-neutral CLIMATE Xtra BLANKETS printing blankets let you lean back and relax. That’s because they enable you to up your efficiency while at the same time effortlessly satisfying your customers' sustainability wishes. More at www.pxp.de

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Wide Format / Proofing Technology

Coloursonic Installs HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer to Offer White Ink on Rigid Graphics HP has announced that Coloursonic, London, has installed an HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer to add a white ink capability to its direct-torigid substrate printing capacity and accelerate graphics production. A full-service graphics provider, Coloursonic offers services from consultancy and design to installation virtually anywhere in the world using either its own teams or working with established partners. The company’s output includes banners, exhibition graphics, corporate interiors, POS

retail displays, roll-up and pop-up stands, lightbox signage, window graphics, event branding, TV and film backdrops, hoardings, corporate interiors, wallpaper and vehicle wraps.

“While we had great capabilities, what we were not able to do was print in white direct to rigid substrates,” said Michaela Chandler, owner, Coloursonic. “We had the opportunity to work on an extremely large job comprising more than 500 differing items ranging in size from one to three metres in length. The ability to print highquality graphics using white ink, direct-to-substrate, led us to believe that the HP Scitex FB500 would be the best printer to do the job.”


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Coloursonic bought the HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer at FESPA 2013 in May and it was in production by the first week of July. HP reseller CWE Solutions of Chessington, Surrey, installed the printer, and work on the important job started almost immediately.

“The HP Scitex FB500 is userfriendly and versatile, making it a pleasure to work with,” said Chandler. “We had allocated a month to complete the work, but we completed it in two weeks, giving us capacity to handle additional work. The white print capability is remarkable and allows us to offer exciting new options: for example, we have just finished printing on stained glass windows for a film set. The ability to print on both flexible and rigid substrates gives us an added degree of production flexibility and enables us to make big time savings. Eliminating the process of laminating graphics to rigid materials enables a more efficient use of manpower and ultimately increases our throughput.”

Located about ten minutes away from London’s in-town exhibition venues, Coloursonic often receives urgent requests for event and show graphics, so the company is used to working to tight deadlines. The HP Scitex FB500 Industrial Printer can print direct to rigid substrates at speeds up to 7m2/ hr for indoor applications and up to 7.9m2/hr for jobs to be viewed outdoors. The white ink option(1) enables easy production of white text and logos.

“In the short time we’ve had the HP Scitex FB500, we’ve printed on acrylic, Kappa, Foamex, Dibond®, corrugated board and glass mirrors,” said Chandler. “We’re not really sign makers, but we’ve been fulfilling requests for them, so that might be a new market we can explore further.” Coloursonic’s combination of highquality print, versatile and up-to-date equipment, reliable logistics and the ability to coordinate long-distance deliveries and installations has fostered long-term loyalty from customers, resulting in mutual growth. “These are retailers we began working for when they had two or three shops in London, and are now international brands with up to 150 stores,” said

Chandler. “With the new HP Scitex FB500 and our existing HP Latex 850(2) Printers, we are able to meet requests efficiently and cost-effectively. We think HP has the right approach to the large-format graphics market and we’ve been very pleased with how easy the printers are to use, and with the final results.”


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NEWS New Jeti Titan S and HS from Agfa Graphics set a new standard for print quality, flexibility and productivity Building on the success of the Jeti Titan series of UV-curable wide- format printers (recently recognized for its superiority in the IDEAlliance Wide/ Grand Format Inkjet System Study), the new Jeti Titan S (speed) and HS (high speed) true flatbed UV-inkjet printers combine exceptional print quality and high productivity at a best-in- industry price point. The robust build engines incorporate the latest generation in inkjet print heads (the Ricoh Gen 5 with 1,280 nozzles). The Jeti Titan S is equipped with one row of print heads, yet is field upgradeable to two rows, thus becoming a Jeti Titan HS and doubling the productivity level. Industry build. All features included. Reflecting market demands, the default set-up for both models is six colors plus white (CMYKLcLmWW). White printing is supported different modes including overprint, under-print, spot, under-spot, fill and over-spot for rigids and pre-white for roll media. The productive white ink solution features an automated recirculation system for optimal reliability. The Jeti Titan S and HS are ideal for higher volume or fast turnaround jobs. They are designed to guarantee the highest accuracy in drop placement. The 7 pico liter droplet size makes it possible to achieve photorealistic image quality with fine text down to 4pt positive and negative. The Jeti Titan S & HS are an unbeatable solution for high-value work like POP viewed at close range or for the high-level art, fashion & cosmetics markets. The Jeti Titan S and HS have a 2x3m true flatbed design for optimum registration

and repeatability. Both systems feature a precision moving table, built on a robust steel frame for seven day/three shift endurance, and use the latest generation of print heads and curing technology. Giving even more production flexibility, the ‘flat-to-roll’ option gives users the ability to print flexible media up to 3.2m wide with the same high quality and resolution as rigid materials. Jeti Titan S and HS, Asanti workflow software and Anuvia UV- curable inks form a matched component system, designed to work together optimally to ensure the highest quality results and maximum productivity for a predictable income. The new Objet500 Connex3 is the world's most versatile 3D printer, delivering unparalleled color product realism Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a manufacturer of 3D printers and materials for personal use, prototyping, and production, today announced the launch of the ground-breaking Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer, the first and only 3D printer to combine colors with multi-material 3D printing. A game-changer for product design, engineering and manufacturing processes, the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer features a unique triple-jetting technology that combines droplets of three base materials to produce parts with virtually unlimited combinations of rigid, flexible, and transparent color materials as well as color digital materials - all in a single print run. This ability to achieve the characteristics of an assembled part without assembly or painting is a significant time-saver. It helps product manufacturers validate designs and make

Bike helmet 3D printed on the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer in one print job using VeroCyan, VeroMagenta, and VeroYellow good decisions earlier before committing to manufacturing, and bring products to market faster. "Stratasys' goal is to help our customers revolutionize their design and manufacturing processes," says Stratasys CEO, David Reis. "I believe our new Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer will transform the way our customers design, engineer and manufacture new products. In general and with the Connex technology in particular, we will continue to push the envelope of what's possible in a 3D world." Engineers at beta user Trek Bicycle in Waterloo, Wisconsin are using the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multimaterial 3D Printer for assessment and testing of accessories like bike chain stay guards and handlebar grips prior to actual production. "The Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer changed the way we manufacture at Trek, augmenting our traditional, time-consuming CNC processes with fast, iterative and realistic prototyping and functional testing," says Mike Zeigle, manager of Trek's prototype development group.


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NEWS

Shoes 3D printed on the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer, in one print run, using Vero Yellow, VeroMagenta and rubber-like TangoBlack Plus "Now we produce bicycle parts that look and feel like production parts. We are particularly excited about 3D printing our models directly in color. This gives our designers the ability to graphically display color contact pressure map data on rider contact parts like seats and grips. We are also working on doing the same with FEA & CFD stress data on structural bike components," adds Zeigle. Three Primary Color Materials Combine to Create a Spectrum of Vibrant Colors Similar to a 2D inkjet printer, three color materials - VeroCyan, VeroMagenta and VeroYellow - are combined to produce hundreds of vivid colors. These color materials join Stratasys' extensive range of PolyJet photopolymer materials including digital materials, rigid, rubberlike, transparent, and high temperature materials to simulate standard and high temperature engineering plastics. Another First: Flexible Materials in Color* The Objet500 Connex3 Color Multimaterial 3D Printer also features six palettes for new rubber-like Tango colors,

ranging from opaque to transparent colors in various shore values to address markets such as automotive, consumer and sporting goods and fashion.* "Since its introduction in 2007, the Objet Connex Multi-material 3D printing platform has paved the way for the development of advanced 3D printing materials with unique mechanical and thermal properties," says Stratasys VP of product marketing and sales operations, Igal Zeitun. "The Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer produces models and parts using photopolymers in vivid colors so you can create colorful models from investigating concepts to pre-production pilot runs. "As the first true multi-purpose 3D printer, we believe the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer is in a league of its own, enabling you to dream up a product in the morning, and hold it in your hands by the afternoon, with the exact intended color, material properties and surface finish." The Objet500 Connex3 Color Multimaterial 3D Printer is commercially available today and is sold through Stratasys' extensive worldwide reseller network. *The Flexible Materials in Color are expected to be commercially available in Q2/2014.

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Canon earns highest ranking among Japanese companies in 2013 Climate Counts science-based corporate emissions performance study Canon Inc. announced today that, in a collaborative study on corporate emissions performance conducted by Climate Counts1 and the Center for Sustainable Organizations,2 Canon earned a fourth-place ranking, the highest of any Japanese company included in the survey. The 2013 Climate Counts Science-Based Carbon Study analyzes the operational emissions of 100 global corporations between 2005 and 2012 to determine their performance against sciencebased targets. The companies included in the study spanned 10 industries, including technology, healthcare, oil & gas, and consumer goods. The study relies on a metric developed by the Center for Sustainable Organizations (CSO) called theContext-Based Carbon Metric.3 Embedded in CSO's metric for purposes of the Climate Counts study were science-based emissions targets developed by Tellus Institute, an interdisciplinary not-for-profit research and policy organization. The study evaluates sustainability performance not only in terms of the environment, but also from social and

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NEWS 3. http://www.sustainableorganizations.org/ context-based-metrics-in-public-domain. html 4. Carbon Footprint of Products (CFP) is a system to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of a product over its entire lifecycle, from raw material procurement to production, distribution, use and EoL (End of Life), and display the total in CO2 equivalent.

economic perspectives, assessing and ranking each company’s performance based on emissions per dollar of contribution to gross domestic product, as well as the amount that the company contributes to GDP. According to the study, among the 100 companies surveyed, 49, including Canon, were found to be sustainable, on track to reduce carbon emissions in line with scientific targets designed to avert dangerous climate change. Additionally, among the 49 sustainable companies, 25 successfully achieved revenue growth while reducing their emissions. Canon strives to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the Canon Group at all stages of the product lifecycle, from materials procurement to disposal and recycling. Recognized for these activities, in December 2012, Canon was the first company to acquire certification under Japan’s Carbon Footprint Program4 for multifunction office systems. The Company believes that it was such corporate initiatives that led to the high assessment it received in the Climate Counts study. Targeting the realization of its Action for Green5 environmental vision, Canon aims to achieve highly functional products with minimal environmental burden while providing users with ways to use products that further reduce their impact on the environment. 1. Launched in 2007, Climate Counts is a non-profit campaign that scores companies annually on the basis of their voluntary action to reverse climate change. 2. The Center for Sustainable Organizations (CSO) is a non-profit that conducts research, development, training and consulting to advance the integration of context-based sustainability principles and practices in organizations, measurement and reporting standards, and capital markets around the world.

5. Canon's Action for Green environmental vision aims to combine increased product functionality with minimal environmental burden.

New Yellow Ink from Domino delivers industry-best performance Domino Printing Sciences has launched a new yellow ink for its world leading, easyto-use, A-Series range of CIJ (continuous ink jet) printers. Providing outstanding performance and a level of reliability that has previously been unachievable from a yellow ink in the industry as a whole, the 2YL912 is ideal for a wide range of challenging applications across a variety of sectors, and remains highly reliable even at elevated temperatures of up to 45°C. “Our new ink provides superior performance on a wide range of substrates including HDPE and LDPE,” comments Nick Plaister, Product Manager for CIJ at Domino. “Everyone knows that yellow ink in CIJ can be problematic, but we

have used our knowledge and developed this new addition as a simple solution for coding onto dark or black surfaces. We expect it to be predominantly useful for personal care, food & beverage - where dark labels or glass are being used - as well as some industrial applications. With a 12 month shelf life, and operating in the temperature range 5 – 45°C, we anticipate excellent feedback from the market, and look forward to rolling this out across Europe over the coming months.” 90 Years of Komori From a handfed single-color lithographic stone press to multicolor sheetfed offset, web offset, gravure, intaglio and digital. All in nine decades. The Komori spirit and the machines that it produced. Komori Corporation was born amid the worst natural disaster ever known in Japan — the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 that devastated Tokyo and Yokohama and killed more than 140,000. One of the company’s two founding brothers barely escaped a fire swirl that claimed the lives of 38,000, and the Komori family was separated in different parts of Tokyo, unaware for more than a week of who had survived.


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NEWS

This calamity (accompanied by a tsunami and a typhoon) was followed in the next year by a period of intense reconstruction that concentrated on providing Tokyo with a modern network of roads, trains and public services. The economic tailwinds from this infrastructure building would brighten the fortunes of the Komori Brothers’ workshop, and 50 days after that awful tremor, they finished construction of a building for the Komori Machinery Works, where they would both live and work for the next few years as they sought to build a name in the nascent printing machinery manufacturing industry. Although their first original machine was a lithographic stone press, the brothers had already set their sights on offset technology. But that was for the future. The first problem was that their lithographic stone press didn’t work very well. Shipped to Ibaraki, the components were made without the precision machining required for a printing press. The brothers realized that Japanese precision machining technology lagged behind that of their foreign rivals. But they persevered. Repairing presses damaged by the earthquake in the Tokyo area provided a source of income for the company and the opportunity to become familiar with offset presses made in Germany and the US. By 1929 the original machine with a redesigned gear system was winning high marks. And the brothers were well on their way to launching their first offset press. But then that performed poorly too. This time, though, they knew how to deal with failure. They studied the reasons. They fixed it. They improved it. They rectified the process. They took the customer’s point of view. They acquired better manufacturing equipment. They closed the technology gap. They invented things. Then they patented them. And they never stopped.

More disasters lay ahead. A recession became a depression. A war that started in north China ended only in Nagasaki. One of the brothers was drafted. And Tokyo was once again razed by a firestorm — this time from the sky — that consumed the Komori factories. They still didn’t stop. They began to export. And exhibit at printing shows. And innovate. Then they built a global network. Ninety years have passed since the terrible earthquake and the decision of the brothers — against the advice of many around them — to return to Tokyo and start manufacturing. As Komori once again begins a transition to a new paradigm of printing, the pioneering spirit forged over these many turbulent decades sustains a special confidence. We will make it. We will improve it. We will support it. And we will never stop. Higher output and less effort with short grain Currently, there are several new trends in commercial web offset. On the one hand reaching the highest possible page output per cylinder revolution with so

called high-volume presses with up to 96 long-grain pages and on the other hand there is a focus on achieving the highest possible quality, production flexibility and economic efficiency supported by shorter makeready for smaller job runs up to 10,000 copies. The cutting-edge 16-page KBA C16 is tailored to the second trend. It works with long grain pages, with the pages arranged on the plates in the direction of the web travel. Short-grain doublecircumference presses, with the pages arranged at right angles to the web travel, are less common and not as well-known. These presses have enormous potential in terms of format flexibility, productivity and saving time when finishing. The concept of the new 56-page short-grain KBA C56 SG is based on exploiting this potential. One of these presses together with a C48 SG (48 pages in short grain) have been in operation at a long-standing Dutch KBA user, Em de Jong in BaarleThe KBA C56 SG with a maximum web width of 2,280mm (89.76in) is the only 56-page short-grain web press on the market


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NEWS Nassau, for some time now. Short grain boosts productivity Maximum output is limited by the maximum possible web speed. Individual drives commonly found in parts, such as the reelstand or folder, in modern presses like the C16 and C56 SG could achieve higher web speeds than the physical characteristics of the substrate used allow, in terms of stability, stretching and shrinking. Short-grain presses can produce about 30% more printed sections per hour compared to long-grain presses running at the same production speed because of their smaller cylinder circumferences. For example, when comparing a 96-page long-grain press and a 56-page short-grain press, the 96page press has 40% more page capacity on the cylinder. However, given the C56 SG’s higher cylinder speed, the hourly output of a 96-page press is only just 10% higher. The format size therefore does not determine the productivity of a commercial web press, a fact which is often forgotten. No quarterfold necessary A further advantage of short grain production can be seen in the folder. When printing A4 (8.27 x 11.7in) or similar sized products long-grain presses must have a quarterfold, but this is not the case in short grain. For physical reasons the quarterfold is, vendor-independent, the bottleneck. Before the product reaches the folder delivery, the printed section is first folded lengthways (former fold), is then cross folded (first cross fold) and is finally folded lengthways for a second time, the so called quarterfold. Every time the substrate is mechanically tampered with it is put under more physical strain, which when printing products with a high page count can limit the maximum possible running speed. This differs to short grain: the web is slit and the ribbons are processed individually. Only the first length fold and the first cross fold are needed to produce products similar to long-grain products. The way in which the web is processed is similar to publication gravure printing. Many years ago KBA’s TRB presses reached a web speed of 17m/s and more. We have transferred the know-how we gathered back then to today’s commercial press superstructures and folders with success. Enormous product range and fewer finishing tasks The unique ergonomic-handling and

The superstructure with skip slitter on the second former opens up a raft of unique production options, makes finishing easier and ultimately saves time and money accessibility of KBA superstructures is valued by printers the world over. Anyone who has ever moved ribbons or removed old webs from a press knows how valuable a generous amount of space is. This has traditionally been taken into account in KBA web presses and allows press operators to carry out their work comfortably and without any large obstacles. This is especially supported by the cantilevered turner bars. The C48 SG’s superstructure configuration allows for production with up to six ribbons. Up to eight ribbons can be processed by a former in the C56 SG. Optional extras, such as a skip slitter, a ribbon and section stitcher, can lead to a raft of new product options. In this way sewn A4 products (8.27 x 11.7in) can be processed in folded A3 envelopes (11.7 x 16.54in) inline at top speed, which is suitable for large supermarkets and mail-order companies whose typical advertising products contain stitched inserts. This renders the time-consuming inserting of supplements into the ‘main product’ in a separate step superfluous. Inserting lines in finishing as well as the costly preproduction and the temporary storage of half-finished products before finishing are no longer necessary when producing in this way. Having a raft of production options only makes sense if the print quality is good. Over 15 years ago KBA developed and launched metal blanket technology which supports a more precise circumferential register than sleeve technology. In contrast to sleeves, metal blankets cannot form so called ‘waves’, as the end of the metal blanket fits exactly into the rubber blanket channel.

Automation also with large print runs Today it is hard to imagine printing small- to medium-run jobs without automatic plate changers. When printing large print jobs of more than 250,000 copies the shorter makeready times are economically less important, but a higher level of process stability is essential. This also reduces the possibility of damaging the printing plates when mounting them manually, for example. It should not be forgotten that the plates for the C48 SG are 890 x 2,060mm (35 x 81in) and 890 x 2,280mm (35 x 90in) for the C56 SG, are larger than a normal house door. All KBA commercial web presses have an automated start-up phase and optimised control technology to cut waste and to allow the printer to have a standardised press start-up and stop. KBA’s 16pp commercial web offset presses set new benchmarks with only a seven minute job change including paper and/or adjusting the web width (without changes to the ribbon lead). This can be done simply by pressing a button or automatically at the end of the run planned. The so called EasyPaperChange is made possible by the full integration of the KBA reelstands in the console and control technology and therefore ensures that the system is completely integrated. Something which not all of our competitors offer. So far the C56 SG at Em. de Jong in Baarle-Nassau is the only 56-page shortgrain press with a web width of 2,280mm (89.76in) in action worldwide. Interest in high-volume short-grain presses is great and we are confident that soon further printing houses will invest in this economically attractive technology from KBA.

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NEWS

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