Fujifilm Energy Show 2013 - Special Edition

A MAGAZINE OF NEW IDEAS, DEVELOPMENTS AND SOLUTIONS

PRINT '13/SGIA SUPPLEMENT

CAPTURE

THE CAMPAIGN NOW YOU CAN

IN T HIS I S S UE

KISS MAKEREADY GOODBYE Fujifilm Adds Web Press to Production Inkjet Line-up

MIDWESTERN VALUES REIGN AT MILWAUKEE’S IMPERIAL COMMUNICATIONS

IN T H I S IS S U E PRI N T '13/SGIA S UPPL EMENT • FA L L 2013

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CAPTURE THE CAMPAIGN Integrating new technologies, capabilities brings printers to the marketing table

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Midwestern Values at Imperial Communications

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Kiss Makeready Goodbye Gilson Graphics, the first to install the new J Press 540W inkjet web press

Milwaukee printer expands services with Fujifilm solutions

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Fujifilm enters labeling market with launch of Graphium

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Kristi Hubert Editor & Publisher

A letter from Todd Zimmerman

> khubert@prairiefirecommunications.com

Product Spotlight

ENERGY is published quarterly by FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division Copyright 2013 All rights reserved

Inca Onset family

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Inside of the Box, Outside of the Box...

Product Spotlight

www.fujifilmgraphics.com

Fujifilm XMF Production Workflow

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. SIGN UP HERE. www.fujifilmenergy.com

Stock: Sappi 100# Opus Dull Cover and 100# Opus Dull Text Ink: Toyo Press: Komori LS 840 Plates: Fujifilm LH-PJ thermal plates Screening: Fujifilm Co-Res Screening

A LETTER FROM TODD ZIMMERMAN

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hen the doors open on this year’s trade show season, attendees will be presented with all sorts of different options from various vendors. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to hear pundits’ thoughts on the state of the industry and to explore a venue filled with the new technologies and the latest devices.

The hallways at PRINT® ’13 and SGIA will offer you the ability to wander, investigate and learn. Most importantly, these events provide options to make a change in your business or choose a new direction for your company. At each of these events, Fujifilm stands ready to support you.

Three years ago, we were promoting a future focused on inkjet, and we introduced the Fujifilm J Press 720 Inkjet Press, the world’s first half-size, sheetfed inkjet printing press. This year, at PRINT ’13, we are expanding our line of production inkjet equipment by introducing the J Press 540W high-performance inkjet web press and this will be the first time the press has been shown since the technology was demonstrated at drupa in May 2012. At PRINT ’13 and at the upcoming SGIA Expo in Orlando (October 23 – 25), we will also showcase the the latest models in the renowned Onset line of wide format devices offering incredible offset-like image quality, a hallmark of all Fujifilm inkjet devices.

You will also see exciting products from Fujifilm, including Graphium, a new narrow web (up to 16” width) inkjet label press for the label and flexible packaging markets, as well as our world-class cross-media workflow, Fujifilm XMF Production Workflow. XMF features a host of new developments that integrate Fujifilm color management, remote proofing as well as capabilities for automating in-house production and supporting your customers more accurately and efficiently.

While we’re proud to introduce these products, our main objective at these shows is to talk about you and your business. We’re there to talk about your objectives and the market direction you’re taking with your organization. We will be there ready to listen, learn and better understand your business, all with the goal of designing a solution that will ensure continued success for you and our business.

As our industry continues to evolve, the advances in Fujifilm inkjet technology will have an impact on how and what you print and, in some cases, who print will serve. This affords you the opportunity to not only expand your capabilities, but also simultaneously make a significant and positive impact on your business fundamentals.

Inside the pages of this issue, we will give you insight as to what marketers and print buyers are looking for today. A deeper and clearer view into the integration of print and electronic media as well as what marketers are looking for from their print service providers and partners. We are also sharing more information about the products you will see on display at the upcoming events. Please have a look… come in and see us. With the right solution design, we can ensure your success.

Warmest regards,

Todd Zimmerman Vice President and General Manager Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division

BOOTH #1218 BOOTH #2621

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

The

Onset Family Onset delivers a combination of quality, speed, cost and business economics

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nset is, quite simply, a formidable printing machine and it represents a breakthrough in both productivity and profitability. Jetting billions of ink droplets per second, the Onset produces up to 150 full beds of satin-finish prints an hour.

Onset’s pedigree is outstanding: Inca design and manufacturing; Fujifilm experience with images and award-winning ink technology as well as Spectra print heads from FUJIFILM Dimatix. Onset isn’t just the most powerful printer in the world. It’s a whole new business model for graphic print.

Onset works on an industrial scale. It prints like-for-like at double the speed of any other digital flatbed printer, meaning the cost per sheet is much lower than other printers in the market. It speeds through large jobs and offers a variety of finishes – from low-glare satin to high-impact gloss.

Onset is impressive. As Onset proved itself in production, we’ve found it’s capable of producing excellent results at even faster speeds. Its design and precision have

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completely eliminated structural banding and results are so impressive, it’s hard to tell an Onset print apart from offset.

Performance To reach performance on this scale, you have to get ink to the right spot and cure it fast.

The processing power and the engineering needed to put each drop measuring as small as 9 picoliters in exactly the right spot – at full speed – are formidable.

Onset is armed with a power UV lamp system, making curing as close to instant as possible on a broad range of media and Fujifilm’s award-winning Uvijet ink is tuned to work at precise wavelengths. Onset prints board, PVC and polystyrene for perfect P-O-P display, exhibition graphics, backlit and outdoor graphics and the 5’ x 10’ bed can be loaded to maximize prints per pass.

Productivity Onset’s not just a heavyweight in size. For pure productivity, it is the mightiest digital flatbed printer in the world. Because Onset works at great speed, the cost per copy is lower than other machines. Ease of operation

and automation cut labor costs. With Onset, digital print is just as economical or better than screen or offset at up to 1,000 impressions. Digital prepress is faster and cleaner than screen, and has none of the costs of materials and labor screen entails.

And compared to offset, there are no plates or makeready.

Reliability Fujifilm and Inca Digital have solved the hundreds of technological challenges, for example, created by air turbulence over the media, cooling, ink management to multiple heads, alignment of print heads printing across the bed, stresses, and so on. Where we anticipate problems, we build in the right back up systems. So, for instance, Onset sports an array of up to 224 print heads and more than 50,000 nozzles, many of which are used as reserves to accommodate any nozzle drop out.

Onset takes known and understood systems and makes them better. It’s all designed to put drops of ink in the right place for stunning, vibrant results, time after time after time. s

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e

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e Inca Onset S20i

r Inca Onset S40i

t Inca Onset S50i

u Inca Onset Q40i

• Up to 70 5'x10' beds/hr

• Up to 112 5'x10' beds/hr

•U p to 150 5'x10' beds/hr

•U p to 62 5'x10' beds/hr

• CMYK+LcLm or CMYK+white

• CMYK+LcLm

• CMYK

• CMYK+LcLm

• Outstanding productivity

• Offset-like quality

• Entry-level industrial press

• Great quality and productivity

• Exceptional quality and productivity

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CAPTURE THE

CAMPAIGN

NOW YOU CAN INTEGRATING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, CAPABILITIES BRINGS PRINTERS TO THE MARKETING TABLE 4

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It’s a question asked dozens of times a day by industry watchers and probably considered with outright fear by beleaguered printers: Is print dead?

And the short, emphatic answer?

Not just no, but NO!

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rinting still plays a significant role in U.S. and global economies. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry, and customers are finding that its effectiveness is still unmatched in many cases.

“Print is alive and well, but it’s different today,” said Jeffery Dickerson, print buyer at State Farm insurance company. “With more information available on the Web, we’ve had to look at bridging the two worlds. Our agents are allocating resources to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, but some customers prefer printed information. With insight into their preferences, we’re able to tailor our marketing materials to meet our customers’ needs.”

Savvy marketers are using as many channels as possible to reach their target demographic and deliver timely, relevant communications to customers. Striking the right balance between print, digital and mobile communication can help organizations open new channels, reach new customers and boost the bottom line.

Online efforts have much of the limelight these days, but integrating print into the communication strategy can help marketers reach customers – often, ones who cannot be reached any other way.

More and more, marketers and print buyers are seeking outside help in integrating all of the components of their campaigns and printers who can now not only offer a variety of printing capabilities, but also an understanding of marketing theory and practices are finding a plethora of new business.

Shops that have relied on traditional jobs and projects are now adding wide format and digital printing capabilities and are beginning to expand into other areas like inkjet as a result of the shift in what marketing execs and print buyers need and demand.

Working In Harmony Digital communication may offer the benefit of being delivered “in the moment,” but printed pieces carry a credibility that is unmatched. A beautiful four-color printed piece is tangible, making it hard to be ignored and provides the ability to connect with consumers emotionally, using words and images. The ability to hold a brochure, catalog, direct mail piece or other collateral is an important part of the consumer experience.

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For example, training manuals at State Farm were once printed in bulk, collated and stored at a company facility where managers could order them as needed. But it was costly to maintain and information was quickly outdated, resulting in a high amount of waste. Today, much of the information is now housed online or can be ordered and printed by regional offices as needed. Being able to produce smaller runs enables State Farm to still offer physical materials to its national network of agents, but at a more cost-effective price point.

At Draftfcb, it’s not just managing volume, but understanding the end-user and the types of materials that resonate best.

Making it meaningful and relevant requires understanding customer preferences and types of communication that resonate.

Through customer relationship management (CRM) technologies, data mining and simply polling customers, many organizations now better understand their customers and how to communicate effectively with them.

“Printed pieces are evolving as more content is going digital, but now we can use data from CRM and DRM technologies to speak to individuals – not just segments, demographics or psychographics,” said Melissa Clemente, vice president and print production director, at Draftfcb Chicago. “Companies that are savvy about using those databases can deliver the right message to the right person at the right time. While there’s no argument that digital has changed the print landscape, the two mediums play well together, can inform each other and enable organizations to market effectively.”

More On-demand One of the biggest changes to the print landscape is the move from static content production to on-demand print communication. Historically, print buyers purchased large quantities in long runs, based on projected need. But that’s changing as more print is managed on an as-needed, on-demand basis.

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“Digital printing has come a long way,” Clemente added. “We are now in a place where every printed piece can be a one-off and directed to the individual with pertinent, timely information and relevant offers. Through new technologies, we can design template programs, whether it’s a catalog, direct mail piece or brochure where all of the four-color content, whether it’s an image, headline or copy can be customized and printed beautifully. The possibilities are endless and really exciting.”

As a result, marketers are looking to printers that not only have VDP capabilities, but who also know how to best harness the power that VDP offers in order to achieve the results the campaigns require.

More Meaningful, Relevant Communication With greater customer insight, marketers are now able to bridge the Web and offline worlds and make printed materials more meaningful and actionable to an individual. Despite printing smaller volumes, organizations can achieve greater impact with printed pieces and ensure they’re optimizing every channel to reach customers.

State Farm reduced its number of external-facing publications from 12 to two, but these publications are now personalized to resonate with the recipient. Similarly, through a long-standing relationship with Rand McNally, State Farm agents offer road atlases to customers as a promotional tool to draw attention to its automobile insurance offering.

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While many customers rely on GPS technology to guide their road trips, the company found its promotional maps are still appreciated by a segment of customers who enjoy viewing topographical information that is unavailable on a GPS device.

The Convergence of Print and Digital Worlds While social and mobile technologies deliver new modes of connecting with customers, discounting the role of print is shortsighted – and organizations are finding strength in a blended approach to their communication mediums.

“We’re going through a major project at State Farm and looking at how people want us to communicate with them,” Dickerson said.

“Now we can meet an individual’s needs and get our information to customers in the most effective manner possible. Through a combination of digital and print technologies, we’re able to deliver more personalized, customized messages and add greater value to our customer relationships.”

One of the biggest boons to marketing communication is the ability to have one-to-one conversations in both the online and print world that is iterative and cumulative. For example, Draftfcb works with clients to create direct mail pieces that contain personalized URLs to bring print customers online and add tracking and transparency to its marketing campaigns.

With a unique URL, the communication is targeted to the individual and helps inform marketers on customer preferences and activity.

Printed business cards, stationery, brochures and other specialty items also traverse the online and offline worlds, often pointing to online resources or social media that enable customers to connect digitally. This makes it easy to find business contacts on social networks while having the benefit of a tangible document.

Many businesses are also including QR codes to bridge the gap between print and digital. At State Farm, they’re used to enable customers to download information to their smartphone or connect customers with a local agent’s microsite. But effective use of QR technology requires delivery of a meaningful experience.

Whether incorporating QR codes on business

cards, vehicle wraps or billboards, the focus should be on adding value. Including a short video or mobile offer can drive engagement and increases the effectiveness of mobile barcode technology.

“The ability to communicate relevantly has opened up in a great way,” Clemente said.

“Incorporating new technologies with print materials enables organizations to gather data that informs the next type of communication and build meaningful relationships with customers.”

Emerging Print Technologies Marketers today have access to a range of different commercial print technologies to meet a variety of needs. And while inkjet technology has been used in consumer technologies for more than 30 years, the last five years have shown breakthroughs for commercial use. ”There are so many kinds of presses and processes to meet varying printing needs,” Clemente added. “You may have massive web runs, but you can also have very small digital runs.”

For example, wide-format printing has increased possibilities for printers, enabling them to diversify offerings, control costs and provide eye-catching ways for marketers to connect with customers. Combined with variable-data printing, marketers now have a more exciting, personalized way to connect with consumers.

Taking A Holistic View Even as new technologies emerge, print continues – and will continue -- to play a critical role in reaching customers and inspiring them to action. Savvy marketers and print buyers – and their printing partners – that understand how to connect the online and print worlds can deliver more relevant and personalized communication to customers.

“Print buyers that want to succeed need to stay up to date with the latest trends in digital and how to effectively incorporate paper into the mix,” Clemente said. “It’s no longer logical to have a print program or a digital program.

For the most effective strategy, it’s about taking a holistic view and understanding how it all works together to be the most effective.”

Print is real, intimate and extends a legitimacy that no other medium offers. Inkjet technology has provided the print industry with a cost-effective method for producing high-quality, short-run display POP and signage.

With new print technologies, it’s now possible to print directly onto products that weren’t previously possible. Combined with greater access to customer insight and more relevant communications, printers and print buyers, working together, can help marketing create more personalized marketing messages, visually bring products to life and get greater return from its investment in printed materials. s

Wide-format printing is also changing the visual landscape, creating new possibilities for print. High-end machines make it easier to produce affordable vehicle wraps that can be tailored to a specific vehicle type with minimal effort. If marketers want a different look or logo or a progression of imagery that can easily be done because of new technologies.

Outdoor printing is also now more affordable.

It used to be you’d have to do a large run to make it economical. Now, the technology and equipment has opened up opportunities for smaller users of print as well as large entities that do a lot of printed pieces.

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CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT

Midwestern Values Reign at Milwaukee’s Imperial Communications At one time, Milwaukee, Wisc., was heralded as “the Great American City” and has also been called “a Great Place on a Great Lake.” Stemming from a reputation built on hard work, honesty and a willingness to help, these monikers define what it’s like to live and work – and do business – in Milwaukee.

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nd that’s what it’s like to do business with Imperial Communications, a 114-year old company in suburban Milwaukee that, today, specializes in both commercial and package printing. “We’re not actually printers, we’re problem solvers,” says Robert (Bob) Stormowski, Imperial’s chairman of the board. “We find out what issues our customers are having and help solve them.”

It’s that willingness to find – and sometimes create – a solution and then to roll up their sleeves and pitch in that’s earned Imperial Communications their reputation. “We're a printer with Midwestern values, with Midwestern pricing and a national client base.”

Like its hometown, Imperial has a long history in the spirits industry. Milwaukee became synonymous with beer in the 1850s, when there were more than two dozen breweries in the city. “And those bottles needed labels” adds Bob. “We printed a tremendous amount of beer labels until Prohibition, and then we printed labels for soda bottles.” Imperial’s business in the spirits industry continues and, today, the company produces a number of

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point-of-purchase pieces for everything from wine and sangria to vodka and gin.

Wobblers, neckers and danglers Today, Imperial has an impressive list of wine and spirits-related clients in California and has found a way to hang just about anything from a bottle, from coupons to corkscrews.

“The corkscrews with the bottles of wine were a bit challenging, as we had to construct a way to attach the corkscrew, kit them and then package the two of them together,” he explains. “It was a bit of a challenge, but we figured it out and it was a huge hit with retailers.”

Imperial’s clients know they can call them in a pinch, too. A winery was launching an in-store campaign and needed 500 additional “neckers,” the tags hung around the neck of a bottle, on bottles that were already on store shelves – and they needed it in four hours.

Imperial boasts a range of capabilities (POP/POS, commercial print and packaging, digital printing and fulfillment, with workflows consisting of web to print, print-on-demand,

inventory management, warehousing and fulfillment and kit packing programs) and it boasts a range of equipment (Xerox® 1000 Color Press, Xerox 700 Digital Color Press, two Mutoh ValueJet 1638 devices, Fujifilm Acuity UV flatbed printer, Javelin 8-up platesetter with LH-PJ plates, Epson 9900 with SpectroProofer, all from Fujifilm, as well as two Komori 40" 6-color + coater presses) that help Stormowksi and his staff meet their customers’ needs. “Basically, we brought everything in house so we can have complete control; we don’t like to outsource,” says Jim DeLisle, the company’s vice president of operations.

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As for the 500 neckers, “we were able to print them digitally on our Xerox 1000 and I drove them two hours south to the store where our client was hosting the event and it all went off without a hitch.”

‘Quality never fluctuates’ Not only does Imperial do all it can for clients, but the company does it with an unwavering commitment to quality. “Our customers are used to litho, so all of the equipment we put in has to be of that quality and Fujifilm has helped us make sure we meet that standard,” says Jason Stormowski, president of Imperial Communications.

Beyond that, “we don’t have tiers of quality.

We do a variety of work, but we produce everything at ‘annual report’ level,” he explains.

“Whether it’s a coupon or a corporate piece, the quality level never fluctuates.”

The company worked with Fujifilm to implement G7® last year to ensure standards were consistent and being met on every job. “We’ve tweaked G7 to create our own standard, but we generally run very tight to G7,” explains DeLisle.

In addition to relying on G7 to ensure quality, DeLisle’s enlisted every employee as part of his quality control team. “Everyone that works here is in QC,” he adds. “They need to understand the process and understand the ticket. Every employee should be looking at the entire job, not just his portion. If something’s not right, any one of them can stop a job at any time.”

and solvents and achieved FSC® Certification.

“We also want to partner with suppliers that share our commitment to the environment, and that’s another reason we’ve elected to work with Fujifilm,” explains DeLisle. s

Katherine Welles / Shutterstock.com

A commitment to stringent standards isn’t reserved just for the jobs Imperial prints; the company also follows stringent standards with regard to how they print, meeting and, in some cases, exceeding California EPA standards. Imperial moved to its current location six years ago and, in doing so, doubled the size of its space, from 20,000 sq. ft. to 40,000 sq. ft.

When they moved in, Imperial replaced all lighting with Orion lighting, which has an energy savings of 50 percent, while providing 50 percent brighter lighting, worker safety, reduced heat and less noise. They’ve also adopted a plant-wide recycling program, eliminated the use of alcohol and alcohol substitutes, moved to low-VOC chemicals

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Fujifilm XMF: Someday All Workflows Will Be Built This Way……

Workflow is a crucial function that sits at the heart of every print operation, whether offset, digital or a combination of the two. The right workflow is an opportunity to streamline a print shop, to automate the work and to impact the bottom line. An ineffective workflow creates bottlenecks and wastes precious, expensive time. Fujifilm understands that and has reinvented its XMF Workflow to meet the needs of today’s printers.

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ne of the most comprehensive workflow platforms for managing integrated production available today, Fujifilm’s XMF Production Workflow is built around PDF and JDF technologies and offers a rich set of capabilities in pre-flighting, color management, imposition and screening for platesetters, digital presses as well as Fujifilm’s family of J Press inkjet presses.

XMF provides intelligent automation, flow and color control, flexibility and improved communication as well as direct communication to XMF Remote, a powerful job submission/job approval solution. The remote capabilities of XMF have already proven extremely advantageous for Panaprint, a Macon, Ga., printer specializing in publication printing and responsible for producing thousands of pages each month for more than 650 remote users.

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“Because we have such a large remote base, we wanted to makes sure whatever workflow we used was going to be robust and stout enough to handle that,” explained Jerry Axtell, Panaprint’s prepress manager.

“Fujifilm was able to provide us with additional capabilities and features that we really wanted and needed.”

With the remote component of XMF Workflow, Panaprint is able to offer its customers the ability to easily upload, proof and approve jobs – and it can all be done via the Internet and even from a tablet.

Based on Adobe’s PDF Print Engine (APPE), XMF Workflow has, from its inception, led the way in combining the creative depth of Adobe’s Creative Suite applications with streamlined print production. XMF Workflow brings together Fujifilm’s expertise in color, imposition and workflow production to allow printers to increase efficiency and productivity while maintaining high-quality production at all times.

Imposition features are built into the latest iteration of XMF as well, automating what’s often a time-consuming process. For Brown Industries Inc., a Dalton, Ga.,-based provider of printing, product samples, design, workflow integration and tactical direction, that was a key factor in the decision to change to XMF.

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“ With XMF, Fujifilm has introduced a great product into the market. I can see the David and Goliath story coming to fruition in the marketplace of production workflows; I wanted to be a part of it.”

-B ill Kregel, Prepress Manager, Brown Industries, Inc.

“We really like the imposition built right in; you don’t have to go to another program,” said Bill Kregel, prepress manager at Brown.

“It’s so much quicker and, again, more flexible. We looked at updating our former workflow, and with respect to the total cost of ownership, there is no comparison. This is a major move for us, the install went really well, and we have a great relationship with Fujifilm.” s

Finish Jobs In the Time It Used to Take to Plan Them Traditionally, and even still today, job planning has been an area of print production often overlooked when it comes to identifying opportunities for efficiency. In many shops, highly skilled people plan the work and it’s still often done with a combination of pen, paper and experience. But, as print shop owners know, the skill required to properly plan and route work often means a great deal of time.

And then came Metrix.

An easy-to-use job planning software, Metrix does in minutes what used to take hours. The software determines the most efficient, cost-effective project plans from a database of each shop’s presses, finishing equipment and stocks. It also eliminates the need for desktop imposition software and converts project plans into imposition data and sends it directly into the prepress system. Metrix also easily exchanges data with MIS, prepress and finishing systems. s

LEARN MORE! Visit metrixsoftware.com or scan the QR code

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Kiss Makeready Goodbye Fujifilm Adds Web Press to Production Inkjet Line-up

Two years ago, Fujifilm told attendees at the annual Graph Expo show in Chicago that the future was “all inkjet” and Fujifilm’s experts weren’t kidding. Over the last two years, the company has continued to advance its extensive line of inkjet solutions and to invest significantly in R&D – and that’s culminated in the introduction of the J Press 540W, an inkjet web press.

The Inkjet Advantage Inkjet web printing offers two distinct advantages over traditional web offset printing.

With conventional web offset presses, the printing sizes are limited by the size of the plate cylinder. With inkjet presses, which enable direct data printing, there’s more flexibility in the cut-off size of the paper and inkjet presses can therefore accommodate a wider variety of jobs, while remaining efficient for standard jobs that use a standard paper size.

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argeted at high-quality, short-run digital work, the J Press 540W is a perfect answer for printers producing leaflets, personalized magazines, school textbooks, books and newspapers.

The J Press 540W features a unique design that enables duplex printing within a single tower, meaning it’s got an extremely compact footprint – the smallest of any inkjet web device on the market. The J Press 540W has a top printing speed of 417 ft/min and is designed to accept a paper width between 6.2 inches and 21.54 inches.

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Additionally, the J Press 540W is able to print short-run work more efficiently and can handle variable data jobs. Conventional web presses have evolved to be highly efficient for high-volume, high-speed printing, but aren’t able to handle short-run work effectively.

By combining short-run and variable data capabilities, the J Press 540W presents a number of new opportunities for a growing number of applications that require these features.

Fujifilm Inkjet Technology The new J Press 540W uses a combination of Fujifilm technologies, including the company’s VIVIDIA line of inkjet inks. “These inks have been developed specifically with image

quality in mind,” explains Jeffrey Nelson, Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division’s business development manager. “These inks allow high-density images to be printed at high speeds, with less ink transfer from sheet to sheet.”

Fujifilm has used its experience and knowledge to develop both pigment and dye-based inks for use with this press which, when combined with the ultra-compact footprint, maximizes the application flexibility and versatility of the machine.

The J Press 540W also utilizes a proprietary FM screening developed by Fujifilm in order to deliver the smooth colors and sharp text while also eliminating moiré and rosette patterns.

Fujifilm’s XMF Production Workflow system is used to drive the front end and allows for full variable data printing. Known for its speed and flexibility in handling work across digital and offset print processes, Fujifilm XMF boasts an improved user interface, which helps increase automation, efficiency and, ultimately, profitability. s

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Gilson Graphics in Grand Rapids, Mich., was the first in the world to install the J Press 540W, pairing it with a J Press 720 the company installed nearly two years ago.

“We’ve been very, very pleased with the quality of the output and with the consistency of the output,” says David Gilson, president of Gilson Graphics. “From the get-go, the quality was there.”

Gilson says that his experience with the J Press 720 sheetfed inkjet press and the relationship his company has with Fujifilm were the impetus for adding the second device. “Fujifilm continues to develop the ink sets we use and the software capabilities we need. Having the confidence in the supplier and in their responsiveness made the decision to put in the W press very easy,” he says.

“We see it as a natural extension from the sheetfed press to put in the web press, which offers us greater throughput and higher productivity.”

Makeready: Wouldn't You Rather Sell These Than Recycle Them?

Gilson Graphics is using the combination of the two J Press devices to do much of the company’s book work, printing the covers on the sheetfed J Press 720 and the inside pages on the J Press 540W inkjet web press.

“With the W press, we can run single-color work and we can run book blocks. If I just look at the book blocks, the W press is at least 15 times faster than the way we were printing previously. That is amazing,” Gilson raves. “To have those books come off that quickly in two-up format and simply take them over to the cutter because they’re already collated and then perfect bind them…it’s really helped save a segment of business that we probably would’ve had to have walked away from because of the competitive nature of it. And, not only has it let us stay in that segment of the business, but also to grow that segment of the business.” s

Average number of makeready sheets on a typical sheetfed job: 400 Average number of jobs per shift: 12 That’s 4,800 sheets you’re currently recycling that you could be selling. Are you serious about inkjet? Find out more at www.jpress720.com or scan the QR code to learn about the J Press 720.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Consistent Color, However You Print

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or printers handling multiple pieces of a client’s marketing campaign, there’s growing demand to match brand and product colors across a variety of printing technologies.

Integrated campaigns may require offset, wide format, inkjet and screen-printed components, all of which must not only match each other, but must also be consistent over time and from job to job.

This has traditionally been difficult to achieve, as color management is often implemented in different ways across various technologies, leading to partial implementation and inconsistent results. Fujifilm’s ColorPath® Sync™ color management solution cuts through this complexity.

A cloud-based system hosted by Fujifilm, ColorPath Sync allows for calibration, profiling and alignment to a number of standards for a wide range of print technologies, from offset and screen presses to wide format devices to the J Press line of inkjet presses.

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This brings consistent production to all devices and turns advanced color management into a simple, reliable and consistent process that can reduce costs through lower ink consumption.

ColorPath Sync Ink Optimization The new ColorPath Sync module is cloudbased solution capable of creating high-quality ink optimized device link profiles (DLP) and integrates easily into virtually any workflow.

Ink optimization is achieved by applying a custom DLP to the data in order to decrease the amount of cyan, magenta and yellow inks, replacing them with black ink. Ink optimization also offers enhanced high-definition screening by using a strategy that keeps each page of each job within a consistent ink limit.

“Ink optimization is ideal for printers that receive a number of files from a variety of sources that must be incorporated into a single job,” explains Don Schroeder, Fujifilm’s director, solutions development. “Implementing the ink optimization portion of ColorPath Sync will not only help printers produce jobs more efficiently and conserve ink, but it also improves the consistency of their work.”

ColorPath Sync Validation ColorPath Sync Validation is also new to the award-winning ColorPath Sync solution an efficient, inexpensive way to validate, evaluate and report the color accuracy of proofs, digital presses or offset printed output.

“Because it’s also cloud-based, printers can perform measurements anywhere they’re able to log in to a web browser,” explains Schroeder. “Additionally, the validation is always linked to the intended print condition or standard as well as the output device, eliminating the opportunity for errors or incorrect settings.”

Fujifilm’s full suite of ColorPath Sync color management solutions are available as a standalone products and have also been integrated into the company’s XMF Production Workflow. s

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Inside of the Box Outside of the Box… and on the Bottle Fujifilm Opens Up to Labeling Market

The impact of inkjet technology on the printing industry continues to compound, and the packaging market is no exception.

Inkjet offers printers a new and more profitable way to approach business and opens the door to a number of projects that weren’t possible. Until now.

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ujifilm has expanded its line inkjet solutions into the packaging market and, at PRINT ’13, will debut the Graphium, a modular UV inkjet press designed to handle labels, packaging and other specialty printing.

The Graphium, manufactured by FFEI Ltd. in the UK, offers printers an alternative to flexo and screen printing of short- to medium-run, four-color labels and decals up to 16” wide. “The Graphium represents a new caliber of inkjet press designed specifically for the narrow web market and it will change how printers work,” explains John Kaufman, product marketing manager for Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division.

•A vailable in 13” and 16” configurations •C MYK, with optional opaque white

Graphium takes its name from a genus of vibrantly colored swallowtail butterflies.

During their life they represent a truly stunning transformation – one echoed by Graphium’s ability to convert digital files into highquality labels and specialty print.

•S upports up to six digital modules and six flexo stations •W ide range of coated, coated gloss, uncoated paper stocks, cast-coated papers, thermal paper and metalized materials •C apable of printing on pressure-sensitive labels with a variety of adhesives and carrier materials • Variable data option

Graphium combines a range of leading technologies, including an innovative workflow, prepress and color management software as well as inkjet head calibration technology, to ensure consistent quality and repeatable production. For printers, that means consistent proof-topress match and alignment to color standards, yielding high-quality, vibrant printing and excellent adhesion, light fastness and durability.

“When developing this press, we wanted to bring our many years of software and inkjet expertise together to create a complete solution that transforms the print process,” explains Andy Cook, managing director at FFEI Ltd. “With Graphium, converters can now achieve greater efficiency from prepress to production and benefit from reduced start-up costs, minimal waste and increased productivity. The return on investment over conventional printing is huge – not only for short runs, but medium also.”

Graphium offers converters increased flexibility and productivity, enabling them to accept complex projects requiring a wide gamut of colors on virtually any substrate. Supporting up to six digital modules and six flexo stations, Graphium offers the unique capability from a single vendor, of being able to integrate optional flexo and finishing stations inline for conversion in a single pass. This capability significantly reduces production time and cost in comparison to traditional offline finishing.

The Graphium is distributed by Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division in the United States and is slated to be released commercially in 2014. s

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Popular Acuity Series Expanded to Give Printers Even More Options Prints Full-bed Boards in Less than Three Minutes

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ujifilm recently added to the already-successful Acuity line of flatbet UV inkjet printers and introduced the Acuity Select Series, which includes the Acuity Select as well as the recently announced Acuity Select HS models.

“These new additions expand the Acuity platform and now offer users a number of features aimed at improving efficiency as well as widening the gamut of jobs they’re able to produce,” explains Jeffrey Nelson, business development manager at Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division.

The Select Series also includes new print modes to further improve print speed. In either case, the Acuity Select Series allows printers to print higher quality work at a much faster speed.

As with other Acuity models, the Select Series has an optional roll media kit for printing onto a number of flexible materials. This option is incredibly versatile, allowing an operator to prepare rigid material on the flatbed while the roll media option is printing.

The latest addition, the Acuity Select HS (high speed) model builds on the series, but runs at higher speeds, up to a maximum of 646 ft2/hr in its fastest mode. The Acuity Select produces 368 ft2/hr.

Finally, the Acuity Select Series features six vacuum zones, further reducing the need for manual masking. Together with new job handling capabilities for more complex jobs or those requiring multiple sets of prints, users experience improved production efficiencies.

The Acuity Select Series’ print performance is optimized by Fujifilm’s uniquely formulated Uvijet inks. These incorporate the company’s proprietary ‘Micro-V’ dispersion technology that consistently delivers wide adhesion, superb color vibrancy and durability in every print. s

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One of the key developments incorporated into the new Acuity Select Series is the inclusion of additional ink channels: eight channels for the Acuity Select and six channels for the Acuity Select HS. In addition to the standard CMYK ink set, the Acuity Select Series includes additional white and clear ink channels, which can be configured in several ways on both devices: Clear + White The addition of white and clear ink channels allows printers to print on a range of non-white substrates and add a spot or flood coat ‘varnish’ effect. This added versatility of the Acuity improves the efficiency with which these types of valueadded effects can be achieved.

White + White Alternatively, the devices can be used with two white ink channels to improve the density of white in a single pass, which can be particularly useful for demanding backlit, where a double hit of white is often required.

Additional Cyan + Magenta The extra channels can also be configured with additional cyan and magenta inks, which can enhance the print quality or boost the overall print speed of the press with modes created specifically for this configuration.

Don’t Gamble, Get Guaranteed Print Results.

Copies of Print & are available on request from your Sappi sales rep, who can give you the back story on how many of the processes were achieved or arrange a group presentation by our graphic design and print production expert, Daniel Dejan.

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