A MAGAZINE OF NEW IDEAS, DEVELOPMENTS AND SOLUTIONS
A CLASSIC SUCCESS THE J PRESS 720S
VOL. 6, ISSUE 3
SPOTLIGHT ON THE ACUITY LED II
TURNING NO TO YES MEETING CLIENT NEEDS
VOL. 6, ISSUE 3 • FALL 2016
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Quality and Consistency by a ‘Classic’ J Press 720S
8 Turning No to Yes
More ways to meet your client’s needs
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Balancing Act
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Dynamic transformation at Four Lakes Label
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News & Notes
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All in the details
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Plugged in
A letter from Todd Zimmerman Fujifilm’s Flenex FW water-washable plates answer the call of efficiency for today’s printers Technology summits and upcoming industry events
14 Connecting the dots
Flenex offers highest flexo print quality – and much more William Rongey Editor-in-Chief > wrongey@fujifilm.com ENERGY is published quarterly by FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division Copyright 2016 All rights reserved www.fujifilmgraphics.com
Why the Acuity LED II is a popular choice in wide format hybrid printing Digital revolution aside, print still matters
SIGN-UP FOR YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO ENERGY MAGAZINE! www.FujifilmEnergy.com
Press: Komori LS 840 Plates: Fujifilm Superia LH-PJ thermal plates Screening: Fujifilm Co-Res Screening Inks/coatings: • Outside covers: UV 4/c process, Coatings & Adhesives Corp. 5212DE Digital Gloss UV Coating and 1831C Waterbased Softfeel Coating. • Inside covers & body: Conventional 4/c process, Satin Aqueous Coating.
A LETTER FROM TODD ZIMMERMAN
Balancing Act
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t its core, having purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than ourselves. It means we’re not pursuing the latest and greatest in inkjet technology or bending over backward to deliver products on time just to make a profit. We’re working hard at new innovations and new services to help printers print better, respond better to customer wants and needs, and perpetuate the value of print in a rapidly changing digital world. We all run our respective businesses seeking a financial return, but any endeavor only is truly enriching when we balance it with purpose. When we have the intention to contribute to the well-being of an industry and the success of others, it deepens our connection with our work and drives us to get better and better at what we do. At Fujifilm, we believe that if we concentrate on the higher calling of serving others, the financial piece will take care of itself. To take it a step further, we’re confident that when we focus on serving our customers and our industry, innovation and creativity take center stage. By trusting that a mindset of servitude and purpose will result in supporting all of our stakeholders, we believe it frees us up to experiment more and build innovative solutions that further extend our value. In turn, we’re proud to know printers across the globe that share that same commitment of providing value to their respective clients. Running a print business for the single objective of making money probably will fall short of its potential. Meanwhile, a printer that’s guided by the vision of enabling its employees, and providing superior value to its clients, will exceed all kinds of goals. We are proud to demonstrate our purpose in business through Energy magazine. This issue is again chock-full of content and solutions that can help your business and support your purpose. Our cover story, “Pivot Point,” is about understanding when to pivot and offers steps to consider before you turn in a new direction. It’s a must-read for our rapidly changing times.
A printer that’s guided by the vision of enabling its employees, and providing superior value to its clients, will exceed all kinds of goals.”
In our second feature, “Turning No to Yes,” we discuss how the depth of your commitment to your clients can enable you to move from declining opportunities to building the capability to win more business. We’ve also profiled some of our clients who have deployed Fujifilm solutions to fulfill their purpose and better serve their clients. I think you’ll enjoy both articles and hope they provide inspiration for you and your team to gain new mindsets about your purpose. Warmest regards,
Todd Zimmerman Division President, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division Corporate Vice President, FUJIFILM Global Graphic Systems
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PIVOT POINT
If that sounds melodramatic, you’re right. But at some point, most businesses need to adapt and make changes to continue to grow. Recognizing the need for change is the first critical step. The epiphany, or that moment in time when a company understands that its best course of action to change direction is referred to as a pivot, a buzzword introduced by entrepreneur and venture advisor Eric Ries in an article on “Lessons Learned.” Pivots are dramatic shifts in the way a company approaches its business. They come at a crisis point when businesses have to make changes quickly to survive. The term describes how they can change but still stay grounded in what they’ve learned. The approach can be applied to any element of a business model, without changing the underlying vision. “Pivoting is actually another way of saying that the businessas-usual state is not working,” says Randal Moss, co-author of “IGNITE: Setting Your Organization’s Culture on Fire with Innovation.” “Pivots happen when companies find themselves in a distinct need to make marked changes in the way they approach generating value. They must look at their assets, core values, and then re-imagine their business model. What companies should seek to do is undertake an active innovation strategy in order to stay ahead of customer change to avoid the need for a dramatic pivot.”
CVS is a great example. The brand made a pivot from being a drug store to being a health store. By ending the sale of cigarettes, it took a genuine risk by pivoting away from a major line of business to redefine its business model. In “IGNITE,” Moss and co-author David J. Neff set out to show how the landscape of an organization can change when you build and implement an innovation framework – a blueprint that enables you to pivot if and when the need arises. 4
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Neff advises that businesses can prepare for the possibility of a pivot by putting an innovative culture and innovation structure in place. By doing so, you position yourself ahead of the customer demand curve. “Pivots come out of crisis and need for dramatic change. The best way to maximize the moment is to let the voice of the customer be the driving factor in the pivot. Make sure that their needs are at the center of the business’s new approach to developing value.” As the business looks at its assets and contemplates how it will generate value in the construct, Neff says it must seize the moment and strive to stay in that moment. The best way to do that is to actively engage your customers and create a structure to take their feedback and transform it into meaningful innovation.
Brian Badillo believes that the art of the pivot is a matter of aligning your business with your true customer partnerships and their changing needs. When this happens, your business can pivot at the right time. In a commercial printing market racked with constant change over the past few years, Badillo, regional VP – Commercial & Specialty, Quad/Graphics, has had a first-hand look at what it means to be able to retool how you do business in response to consumer and market demand. For many in the commercial printing industry over the past few years, staying the course led to the ultimate demise of their businesses. “Making that decision could be the single biggest reason whether a business survives and thrives,” Badillo says. “Since pivots typically mean investment, having committed business to support the new direction makes it less risky. It’s a proactive approach, though, and the company needs to be ready to pivot or potentially risk missing the opportunity. There needs to be a concerted effort to bring both employees and customers along to expedite its success. Surveying customers and communicating at employee town halls help gain buy-in and create excitement for change.” So, why isn’t everybody clamoring to make a change? As with most traditional industries, many never change, while a few disruptors take advantage. “Pivoting typically means investment in personnel, equipment and technology, all which require capital resources that many still don’t have,” Badillo
says. “For many in our industry, it’s still a lifestyle business, with hopes of survival to keep the family nest egg or potentially a sale as an exit strategy and retirement plan. This tends to lead to a very conservative approach to the business and minimal disruption becomes the strategy to survive.”
“If and when leadership sees their market position slipping, their competitors growing, and their product pipeline shrinking, those are the warning signs that warrant change,” Neff says. “Fail-fast is a mantra of innovation. Before facing a pivot, innovative organizations and companies undertake continuous product and program piloting that aims to fail fast.” But, as Neff advises, it is smart to remember that pivoting is a fundamental change in the way a business creates value. “Continuously pivoting could create cultural whiplash,” he says. “Constantly rebranding or rearranging a business creates instability which will lead to a host of performance issues and risk employee retention.” In the end, to pivot or not to pivot will be driven by the changes in the market and the changing needs of customers. Continually assessing the state of your business, and being cognizant of the state of sales, state of the market, and the state of technology within your industry will help recognize the need for change and the help you need to take the required steps to redefine the direction of your business.
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Quality and Consistency by a ‘Classic’ J Press 720S It’s a funny story about how Classic ended up investing in the Fujifilm J Press 720S. To hear Jeff Hernandez tell it, after a complete evaluation of the digital presses on the market, Classic narrowed the field down to two, and then arranged a printer “shootout” with two of its key clients as judges. 6
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“The J Press 720S prints better than offset, its quality is second to none.” —
Jeff Hernandez, VP, Classic
After evaluating the output of the two presses, the clients accused Classic of slipping an offset printer into the test. They thought the J Press 720S printed sheets were actually printed offset. In the end, it was the high quality output of the J Press 720S that stood out. “In regards to color consistency, there is no other digital press that is more consistent; from one sheet to the next, from the tail to the gripper,” says Hernandez, VP of the Broadview, IL., high-end commercial print provider. “Most digital devices are inconsistent, especially with grey (PMS 436), but not the J Press 720S. The ability to calibrate PMS colors accurately is amazing. It’s a solid machine and the technology is revolutionary.” A leader in digital artistry and innovative printing, the 35-plus year old print provider continues to craft solutions, master technologies and expand its capabilities to exceed its clients’
highest expectations. Among its clientele is Fortune 500 brands, including automotive and high-end fashion leaders, as well as B2Bs, boutique businesses and agencies. And the J Press 720S fits right into the mix. With a 29.5-inch x 20.9 inch sheet and an output of 2,700 sheets per hour, Fujifilm’s second generation sheetfed J Press 720S is an ideal solution for printers looking for the quality and robustness of an offset press, and the versatility to handle even the shortest of press runs. For example, take the uptime the digital inkjet press offers. Classic’s uptime is at 90 percent, which exceeded its initial expectations. “It just runs and runs,” Hernandez says. “Our inkjet heads are functioning perfectly, not clogging or streaky, which is a great testimony to the inkjet technology of FUJIFILM Dimatix SAMBA printheads.” With a toner-based machine, press operators often would need to check the output, because they needed to ensure the output is right. With the J Press 720S, Classic’s operators don’t have to sit around and pick samples for review – it just runs.
Hitting another gear The perfect complement to Classic’s other equipment, the printer is pleased with the new business rolling through its doors. “The J Press 720S has opened new avenues to us,” Hernandez says. “We continue to offer the high-quality product we are known for, while now being more cost-effective with short-runs.” Hernandez says that inkjet is the next level of quality, emphasizing how the J Press 720S output is better than offset. Additional benefits include no rollers to deal with, no gap streaks, no roller streaks and no ink problems. “Fujifilm’s J Press 720S
is very consistent from sheet to sheet, it prints better than offset, and quality is second to none,” he says. “It’s the absolute right fit for our needs.” Today, Classic is able to produce a variety of short-run jobs on its J Press 720S, including those that are design-heavy, as well as variable data and jobs with unique specifications. It recently switched a high-end variable specialty publication job onto the J Press 720S.
“Our uptime is at 90 percent, which has truly exceeded our expectations.” — Jeff Hernandez, VP, Classic Hernandez says having more flexibility with color options was key, and now this particular job will continue to be produced on the J Press 720S. “Since we’ve been in production, all jobs we’ve run on the J Press 720S will stay on the J Press 720S,” he says. “Once a client has been introduced to its outstanding output, and recognizes the noticeable differences (compared to the previous press), they do not want us to go back (to the previous press).” For Classic to produce beautiful work off its toner-based machines, it had to work “twice as hard” and deal with markings and streaks. It could never match the quality of offset. “When running regular coated and uncoated stock, the J Press 720S outputs the best sellable sheet in the industry,” Hernandez says. And per Hernandez’s experience, when comparing ink costs, in many situations, it’s less expensive to go with inkjet versus toner.
Jeff Hernandez, VP at Classic, with Fujifilm’s J Press 720S, at their Broadview, Illinois facility. Classic is the official print provider for Fujifilm’s award-winning Energy Magazine.
“Our relationship with Fujifilm goes back 25 years,” Hernandez says. “We are a long-time user of Fujifilm’s Superia LH-PJ plates. All of Fujifilm’s solutions are very consistent, and sustainably cleaner products compared to others in the industry. Fujifilm is very innovative, and always is thinking ahead of the others.”
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Sound familiar? You’ve all faced those near-impossible orders or client demands that just can’t be met, but saying no is hard these days. And sometimes, saying yes turns out to be even harder, especially when it puts you at risk of not delivering on your word. So, how can you better position yourself to accommodate the business that comes your way without compromising the efficiency of your staff or service?
And that’s what’s key – knowing what you can do.
Instead of turning away that mailer job completely, Foxy Propaganda offered to print full-color sticker materials and apply them to pre-fab boxes to meet the mail date. And then they asked about the next one.
Freeman says it’s easier to say yes to a client you’ve already worked with, because you’re familiar with their files, their schedule and their desired outcomes. But for newer or one-time clients, knowing your team’s abilities allows for more “yes” answers when that demand comes in last minute. “The combination of knowing their work and knowing your team’s schedule and capabilities helps when those rush or very tight deadline projects come through,” Freeman says.
In today’s printing industry, technology is expanding shop capabilities, and workflow processes constantly are changing to be more efficient. That’s why it’s imperative you know what you can provide a client, whether the client is old or new, at any given time. If you know, you’re empowered to say, “yes.”
In addition, having someone on staff dedicated to the operations, someone with their finger on the daily workflow, drastically can increase your ability to take on more work. That intimate understanding of the shop allows for more flexibility as orders come in.
While this project was in the works, they gathered all the necessary information for producing a full-color wrapped mailer box for the next drop date so that they could begin to prepare in advance. In the end, both projects were successful. Terra Freeman, Foxy Propaganda’s Sales Manager, says, “It all worked out because we set limits on ourselves, and because we knew our capabilities.”
LEAD WITH HONESTY
It’s not just knowing what you can do that’s important, it’s being aware of what you can’t. That’s where honesty comes in. If an order is placed that simply can’t be done, be honest up front. Inform the client of the specific reasons why you can’t accomplish that goal or meet that deadline. ENERGY
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TURNING NO TO YES
Dorie Clark, a Strategy Consultant, Speaker and Author of “Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It,” says when dealing with a client who needs it “two days from yesterday,” explaining the situation is the first place to start. “Let them know what’s logistically possible. If they’re making an extraordinary request that you simply can’t accommodate, explain why. If you’re gracious and try to help as much as you can, they’ll appreciate it.” It sounds easy, but in today’s world, and especially in times of economic pressure, it’s tempting to say yes to everything, even if the job isn’t possible. Not only is this bad for your staff, but for your reputation as well. “When it’s not possible to fulfill a client request, and you say yes anyway, you damage the longterm relationship, because you’ve broken your word and violated their trust,” Clark insists. “People-pleasing in the short-term will kill your business over the long-term.”
As much as saying “yes” is the ultimate goal, shying away from saying “no” can do more harm than good. Doug Vrazo, Director of Business Development at The Fowler Group, says it’s like any relationship. “Sometimes, a client, like a friend or a child, is demanding things that aren’t feasible, and the danger is in constantly meeting those unrealistic deadlines, because you’re enabling them to be disorganized.” In the desire to keep the job, you can set yourself up for further frustration if you’re not clear up front. But, of course, you want to keep those jobs coming, and the desire of every printer is to constantly assess their capabilities so they can accommodate almost anything that comes their way. So, how can you turn that “no” into a “yes” in a way that satisfies the client, keeps the business, and enables your team to do the best job possible? Vrazo’s solution is to meet with the client outside of the rush. “Ask a lot of questions up front – at the beginning of the relationship. What’s important to them? Where do they place value? This enables you to serve them in the way they want to be served.” 10
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These discussions allow you to increase the success of working together on some of these challenges. “Try to respect the objectives and aesthetics that they’re trying to accomplish, while also doing it in a way that you can execute,” Vrazo says.
KNOW YOUR CLIENT
While knowing your own capabilities is a big part of the solution, intimately knowing your client’s needs is essential. Like the team at Foxy Propaganda demonstrated, working ahead to know the client’s upcoming needs and schedule can get you started on future projects immediately and allows you the proper time to provide exactly what they’re asking for. Whether you know it’s a consistent project or based on a holiday schedule, you can start your planning early. “Taking time to get to know a client’s business well will enable you to build trust and plan together in advance,” Clark says.
WAYS YOU CAN BETTER POSITION YOURSELF TO SAY ‘YES’
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OFFER CREATIVE SERVICES TO DESIGN HARDER WORKING CAMPAIGN ELEMENTS SUCH AS VERSIONING OR VARIABLE DATA Gilson Graphics’ creative department ran a case study in which a college wanted to improve enrollment. Gilson was able to deliver a customized versioning and variable data campaign that resulted in greater response and enrollment. To all of their clients, they offer detailed advice and solutions based on their expertise and equipment. “We now offer insight on how to design a piece to best fit the production capabilities of our equipment,” says Dave Gilson, President of Gilson Graphics. “From final size, type of binding, how and where it is best to use variable data or versioning, type and weight of paper, coating requirements, postage choices and shipping options. All of which can add up to a considerable savings for the client.”
Working together is the key when discussing how to best manage the client relationship. Thinking of yourself as a partner, rather than merely a vendor, can change the dynamic. That more intimate relationship allows for better service overall, helping you get to that “yes.” Dorie Clark says this type of perspective is essential. “The former, [thinking of yourself as a partner], is a peer relationship, while the latter is subservient.” A subservient mindset causes you to feel like you’re lucky to have the business and that you need to do anything to keep it. This leads to more misalignment and commitment to projects that can’t actually be accomplished, violating that trust.
who aren’t aware of the printing business or how long certain processes take, but established clients should know what you can and can’t provide. If they don’t, Vrazo says it perpetuates the problem. “If you keep it a secret, or information is kept behind the curtain, you shouldn’t be surprised that expectations are unrealistic.” As partners, it’s your responsibility to make sure each party is successful.
“That’s not a healthy dynamic,” Clark says, “Ideally, you’re lucky to have each other, because you have a mutually beneficial relationship.” But the onus is on you. Printers should take responsibility for informing clients and prospects about the services they can provide. The last minute demands always will come from those
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ADD DIGITAL CAPABILITIES TO BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO RESPOND FASTER AND TURN JOBS MORE QUICKLY Holland & Crosby Limited invested in the latest technology Onset X3 and digital cutting tables to match print output capabilities. “Digital print technology offered our customers faster speed to market, better print resolution and greater variability – all at a reduced cost,” says Scott Crosby, VP Sales & Marketing, at Holland & Crosby Limited.
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ADD WEB-TO-PRINT AND WORKFLOW CAPABILITIES TO GET MORE JOBS IN AND MORE JOBS OUT bluemedia implemented “mission central” and began to run their entire shop on ColorGATE. “ColorGATE has proven to be an incredibly valuable asset at bluemedia,” says Hayes Holzhauer, EVP of Operations at bluemedia. “It has allowed us to reduce pre-press work, maintain consistent color accuracy, increase our throughput, and achieve better material yield. I can’t imagine operating without it.”
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Vrazo recounted a situation in which a client needed performance programs printed on a semi-regular basis. The client was largely unaware of print timetables and, in turn, would request the print jobs one at a time, often at the last minute. After a few efforts to meet the immediate need, Vrazo’s team provided the client with a full production schedule, and then met with them to agree upon deadlines for art files and other materials. The result was a success for both parties. The printer was able to look at the full scope of the projects for the year and plan ahead, and the advanced planning allowed the client to not only receive optimal production management, but also the best price comparisons on paper. In the end, it’s not really about “yes” or “no,” it’s about fostering a sincere relationship, one that inspires constant communication and collaboration. It’s an ongoing partnership that requires attention and care, and overall, enables everyone to benefit from the relationship.
USE UNIQUE COATINGS TO MAKE PRINTED PIECES STAND OUT Jeff Hernandez, VP at Classic, a Chicago-area based high-end commercial print provider uses a number of coatings to deliver added value to printed pieces, including soft touch, high gloss and even scents. His unique applications are applied to each and every cover of Energy magazine. ENERGY
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Nelson, Imaging Manager at Four Lakes Label, says Fujifilm’s Flenex process has helped transform his business. Flenex has given Four Lakes the ability to enhance print capability, extend color gamut and eliminate prep-manipulation. Flenex FW provides the highest flexo print quality at the fastest production times, while significantly lowering cost-in-use compared to thermal, solvent or other water-wash technology. “With Flenex, we are making plates in about 32 minutes, compared to over 45 minutes with our previous thermal technology,” Nelson says. “That’s 25 percent faster. And we now have consistency, reliability and assurance that we are going to get the exact same plate today, tomorrow and three months from now.” This unmatched image quality has helped give Four Lakes Label a competitive advantage in producing food and medical labels across a range of 85 stocks, including reflective, metallic, semi-gloss, matte and film. The Sun Prairie, Wis.-based division of Western States Envelope & Label provides labels, tags and other printing products. Sun Prairie is the central hub for the five other sites under Western States Envelope & Label, providing support in customer service, imaging, production and shipping. When operators voiced quality concerns over their previous supplier, management took action. The previous technology only enabled Four Lakes Label to hold a tonal range between a seven percent dot, up to 90 percent. Anything outside of that range basically broke apart, Nelson says. It also experienced “scum-dots,” which gave the appearance of lint or dirt in the print, when running on-press.
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“Extending our color range with Flenex helped us with highlights, and now we can hit finer dots, and have higher gradation, which was previously unattainable,” Nelson says. “The flat top-dot with Flenex allows high gradation, unlike a round top-dot with a thermal plate, which tends to provide poor gradation.”
With such efficiencies, Four Lakes Label can conceivably cutdown their lead-time, allowing it to be even more competitive in the marketplace. And there’s more benefits, too. The waterwash process makes Flenex environmentally friendlier and safer. “With the Flenex water-wash processor, we are only using a mild detergent, the residual solution can go down the drain like common wastewater; it’s a much greener solution,” Nelson says. “The success at Four Lakes Label is a great example of Fujifilm’s customer-focused philosophy,” says Rob Swearingin, National Sales Manager, Packaging, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division. “We strive to understand our customer’s business goals, both short and long term, focus on their needs, and then provide the most innovative Fujifilm solutions that will add value to their business.”
Today, Four Lakes is experiencing enhanced print capability, with its Flenex plates consistently holding a .08 percent dot, up to a 95 percent dot linear, Nelson says. “This results in extended color gamut and additional detail in highlight and quarter-tone values, which all but eliminates prep-manipulation for minimum dot. With 175 lpi, one percent dot, and superb dot structure, Flenex delivers consistent ultra-high quality prints.”
In the end, it’s a partnership that continues to pay dividends. “Fujifilm has helped us by delivering market-leading technology, as well as sales and technical support to identify, address and implement key quality and cost saving programs,” Nelson says. “Flenex has vastly improved quality, allowing us better repeatability, and reduced cost in-use. Our faster turnarounds are absolutely attributed to Flenex.”
The capability to hold down finer dots and better ink transfer is helping decrease ink costs for the Four Lakes team because it lays down less ink. “With the rubber-based Flenex plates, ink transfers better, and we are getting an increased print image, while using less ink. With Fujifilm inks, we are always hitting the target marks,” Nelson says.
One of the best qualities of the Flenex plates is its ability to eliminate the classic “back and forth” between press and prepress. Shorter set-up times, less make ready, less material waste, and overall faster processing times all add up to a positive impact on the bottom-line. “With the Flenex solution, we can back expose, main expose, wash out, dry, post expose and de-tack all with one processing unit,” Nelson says. “We no longer have to go back and forth between an exposure unit and processor. Flenex is an easy and efficient all in one process. By using all UV inks for four color printing on press, we can hold better densities, have clearer, crisper printing and consistency between shifts. We also save time on press by not having to struggle with density and it allows for faster make-readies. Our projected annual cost-savings compared to our previous process is 50 percent.” ENERGY
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CONNECTING THE DOTS Flenex offers highest flexo print quality – and much more
The innovative water-washable chemistry provides the highest flexo print quality at the fastest production times and, at a significantly lower cost-in-use than other water-washable technologies. SOLUTIONS THAT MATTER Flenex eliminates all solvents and wicking cloth, while getting to press faster, running longer and producing outstanding print quality for your customers. Flenex is available in digital and analog versions for UV, as well as waterbase and solvent inks.
SPEED
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With a total processing time of less than 40 minutes, Flenex is more than three times faster than solvent systems, 1.5 times faster than thermal and 25 percent faster than competitive water-washable plates.
With 200 lpi, 1 percent process dot, and superb dot structure, Flenex delivers consistent ultra high quality prints.
PRODUCTIVITY
The exclusive chemistry of Flenex requires use of only a mild detergent for washout. This eliminates the potential negative environmental impact of manufacturing, applying and disposing of solvents.
Flenex gives you faster plate-making time, which translates into significantly more output per shift. That allows reduction of labor costs, which means you can allocate that time to more value-added activities.
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PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
SAFETY The low pH level of this unique washout solution provides a much safer work environment than other water-washable plates that require high alkaline solution and create industrial waste.
INK COMPATIBILITY Both the analog and digital versions can be used with UV, waterbase or solvent-based ink. There is no requirement for different plates for different ink types. Since the only equipment required to process Flenex is lowcost standard water-washable equipment, both the cost of the thermal and solvent systems and the sizeable footprint is significantly less. While almost any existing water-washable equipment can be used with Flenex, Fujifilm also offers a full range of equipment, from small stand-alone units to much wider full in-line systems.
WITH FLENEX, THE RESULT IS 1% FLAT TOP DOTS AT 200 LINE SCREEN FOR THE HIGHEST FLEXO PRINT POSSIBLE.
The industry-changing technology behind the performance of Flenex is its rubber based photopolymer chemistry. When imaging a plate, whether analog or digital, the goal is for the cross-linking of the photopolymers to occur precisely as defined by the film or digitally ablated area on the plate. Precise cross-linking results in a well-shaped dot, and quality prints. Unlike plastic based chemistry where oxygen inhibits the dot shape on the plate, Flenex rubber based plates are not affected by oxygen in the cross linking process.
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HANDS-ON
Innovative solutions presented to attendees at Fujifilm Inkjet Summit Ask Tony Bielecki for his insights on what an inkjet can do in the field, and he’ll tell you how the machine handles everything his company puts in front of it – and more. That was the theme that ran through Fujifilm’s recent Production Inkjet Summit, where invited attendees had a front row seat to the latest and greatest in inkjet technology. The two-day event was part of an on-going series hosted by FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division, at its Chicago Technology Center. One of the main attractions was the J Press 720S, which continues to add to its market reputation for printers looking for a digital inkjet solution that delivers the quality of offset prints with the versatility to handle the shortest of press runs. “We run jobs several times throughout the year for some clients," Gilson Graphic's Bielecki said. "The J Press 720S matches the color perfectly every time.” The Summit's collaborative information exchange also included industry-relevant presentations, including a session on "Color Management" and the "Inkjet and the B2 market," presented by Jim Hamilton, group director, On-Demand Printing and Publishing, InfoTrends. Also featured was a customer user panel session of J Press 720S owners, including Bielecki; Jeff Hernandez, Classic; and Rick Riegger, The Bernard Group.
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ENABLE THE LABEL Showcasing Fujifilm’s technological leadership in packaging
The latest innovations in packaging technology were on display when FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division hosted its Prime Label Technology Summit at its Chicago Technology Center. The event, part of an ongoing series, is intended to be a collaborative information exchange, allowing senior-level label and packaging professionals to share their challenges and insights, interact with industry experts. They also are able to learn more about Fujifilm’s entire graphic systems portfolio. Among the items on the Summit to-do list was an inside look at the Graphium, the next generation of UV inkjet press for labels, packaging and specialty print, and the opportunity to learn more about Fujifilm’s innovations in flexographic inks, plates and platemaking. In addition, attendees were privy to a Corporate Overview and Packaging Market snapshot from Fujifilm leadership. Chris Lynn, a partner in Hillman Technology Partners, discussed the growing opportunities to add value in the label segment with digital inkjet technology.
TLMI MEETING
Fujifilm returns as a Silver Sponsor of the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute’s annual event, October 16 - 19, 2016
DIGITAL PACKAGING SUMMIT Hosted by Napco Media, Fujifilm returns as a Gold Sponsor to this invitation-only event, October 31, 2016 through November 2, 2016
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ALL IN THE DETAILS Why the Acuity LED II is a popular choice in large format hybrid printing
sk Craig Dellinger, and he’ll be the first to tell you that in a time when printers strive to provide the highest quality products and services in the most timely fashion and at a price that hits all points, details matter. That’s why when New Haven Print was looking for a high-performance, wide-format inkjet printer with the ability to get the job done right, on time and able to leave his customers satisfied, Fujifilm’s Acuity LED II was the only choice. “Our Acuity LED II recreates fine art prints and photographs using technology that crafts superior images with a remarkable level of detail,” says Dellinger, president of the Fort Wayne, Ind. company. The Acuity LED II, which features a proprietary-design LED light source, high precision, high-speed, printheads and optimized fast curing UV LED ink, is perfect for printers wanting to save costs by printing with the newest LED UV curing technology. The printer is ideal for a wide variety of promotional tools, from wide format posters to window displays, backlit signs, point of purchase materials and product packaging. 18
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With its high definition capabilities and accurate print with a range of finishes, the Acuity LED II can fit any size printers needs.
The Acuity LED II is built upon Fujifilm Inkjet Technology including printheads, ink, and software, which enables best-in-class productivity to address customers’ needs for high quality and shorter delivery times. Fujifilm technology breakthroughs in LED UV curing, ink chemistry, and printheads work in perfect harmony to give smooth, near-photographic results at the impressive print speed of 355 square feet per hour.
The Acuity LED II is perfect for printers wanting to save costs by printing with the newest LED UV curing technology. The innovative hybrid design is built for printing on wide format roll media, rigid board and sheet substrates up to 10mm (.375 inches) thick and 63.3-inches wide. In addition, the print tables have a unique folding compact design that takes up minimal storage space. And if you’re looking to make an environmental impact, the low heat curing makes it possible to not only save energy but print on more environmental-friendly materials – all without compromising the quality your customers have come to expect from your shop. Your environment checklist includes:
THE BREAKDOWN
A peek under the hood of the Acuity LED II
LED UV LAMPS
The patented full LED lamp curing system is precisely tuned to cure Uvijet ink in a two-stage process. Small, low-dose LED pinning lamps close to the printhead freeze the dot, while the main LED curing lamps fully cure the print, which is ready to use right away.
PRINTHEADS
Uses eight FUJIFILM Dimatix Q-class, high frequency printheads for fast, precise and long-life, high performance production. The combination of VersaDrop multi-pulse jetting technology and accurate control of the jetting, pinning and curing process, allows the Acuity LED II to produce unmatched print quality at surprisingly fast print speeds.
UVIJET INKS
Features a dedicated eight-color ink set, including both clear and white. Made using Fujifilm’s Micro-V ultrafine dispersion technology, Uvijet LL LED UV curable inks offer higher pigmentation, a wide color gamut and produce strong, vibrant images.
RIP
The Acuity LED II delivers with the AL 1600 RIP standard, but also has compatibility with ColorGATE, Caldera and Onyx.
• Prints recyclable, polyolefin films • Uses long life, low energy LED UV lamps • No wasted heat; no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or ozone • Eliminates need for toxic metal halide lamps • Even the ink cartridge cases are reusable With its high definition capabilities and accurate print with a range of finishes, the Acuity LED II can fit any printer’s needs.
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10 Posters in 10 Seconds Yes, you read that correctly. The Onset X3 can produce stunning photo-quality 22" x 28" posters at lightning speeds. Plus, the Onset X series is fully scalable so you can grow at the pace of your business. Fiftyfour press configurations allow you to add speed, material handling options and up to 14 color channels, including gamutexpanding orange ink and white ink, without replacing your press.
Seeing is believing. Visit fujifilminkjet.com today to arrange a demo.