Mimaki upgrades hybrid printer for flexible textile printing

Mimaki has announced that its Tx300P-1800 and Tx300P-1800B direct-to-textile printers have been updated to simultaneously load both textile pigment and sublimation dye inks. This enables the use of a single printer to print directly on a wide range of textiles without the need to change out ink systems.
“Recently, in the textile and apparel markets, quick deliveries and short, customised production are becoming increasingly important. This new system is specifically designed to address this need

Staff Writer, 20 April 2017

Flint raises ink prices due to raw material

Flint Group has announced price increases of between 4% and 7% for all its packaging, narrow web and sheetfed inks and varnishes.  The company blamed the price rises on a “prolonged period of significant raw material cost inflation, force majeure announcements and changes in the supply outlook for raw materials for printing inks and varnishes”.
The higher prices, which will vary by product group, come into effect on 3 April.  Flint’s Packaging, Narrow Web & Sheetfed Division business

Staff Writer, 20 April 2017

Konica Minolta aims to change

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) Ltd. (Konica Minolta), a leader in the Graphic Communications industry will be demonstrating its latest innovations and advanced technologies at this year’s Graphics Canada. Under the theme, Changing the Face of Digital Print, Konica Minolta’s exciting line-up of new products and services will enable customers to enter new markets, optimize virtualized workloads, drive sales and maximize manufacturing efficiencies.
Recently in February 2016, Konica

Staff Writer, 20 April 2017

Ricoh launches its new digital Pro C5200 press series

Ricoh has launched a new series of digital colour cut-sheet presses.  The Pro C5200 series comprises the Ricoh Pro C5200s and Ricoh Pro C5210s that is mainly intended for use by commercial printers producing between 10,000 and 100,000 impressions a month.
Ricoh UK head of new marketing services Gareth Parker said: “This would suit quite an interesting mix of the market, you would put in smaller commercial print requirements but also corporate requirements as well, which has been a keen focus

Staff Writer, 15 March 2017

Xerox and EFI collaborate to sell digital front ends

Xerox and Electronics For Imaging (EFI) announced a  partnership to bring to market a next generation digital front end (DFE) to drive Xerox digital production presses. The agreement includes the sale of Xerox’s FreeFlow Print Server (FFPS) DFE business to EFI. Under the terms of the deal, EFI will continue to produce and support FFPS so current customers do not experience interruptions in sales or service.
“Customers will gain a powerful solution with more efficiencies, performance and quality

Staff Writer, 15 March 2017

Kodak at Hunkeler Days

Kodak’s stand at Hunkeler Innovation Days allowed visitors to see latest advances in the company’s Stream and Ultrastream Technology which create new opportunities in digital printing, including a wider range of applications and substrates that can be utilised.  Prototypes and various configurations of Ultrastream technology was on show and visitors viewed printed samples to compare the advanced quality to offset printing.
Norifumi Tasaka, GM, Development Headquarters Quality Assurance

Staff Writer, 15 March 2017

Screen launches upgraded Truepress

Screen has launched its upgraded Truepress, the Jet520NX.   
After a period of beta testing in Japan, Screen inkjet solutions instructor Marchel Bres said it is now in its final stages of release to the European markets. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
“I’m really excited by the machine,” said Bres.
“The way it behaves with the uniformity and alignment is perfect, plus the quality and the speed, so really good.
“It definitely attracted a lot of interest, people walking past the stand have come

Staff Writer, 15 March 2017

SwissQprint launches 2 new 4xCMYK flatbed printers

SwissQprint has launched two new “4x4” flatbed printers that come configured with quadruple CMYK printheads.
The 4x4 models of the Nyala 2 (3.2x2m flatbed) and Impala 2 (2.5x2m flatbed) series are said to retain the same quality as the existing 2xCMYK models, but are around twice as fast.
The UV machines, which are said to be suitable for screen printers as well as booth builders and large-scale digital print firms, can be used to produce high-quality POS items, displays, posters and banners.
The

Staff Writer, 16 February 2017

Mutoh marks Heimtextil debut with new dye-sub printer launch

Mutoh is marking its first participation at Heimtextil by launching a new dye-sublimation transfer printer suitable for home textile and interior decor printing.
The 1.9m-wide ValueJet 1948WX is being premiered this week at the textile and garment manufacturing trade fair in Frankfurt and is expected to be commercially available by March/April.
The machine integrates a staggered four printheads setup and a large built-in dual heater, which the manufacturer said enables high speed printing and

Staff Writer, 16 February 2017

Onyx Graphics unveils Onyx 12.1 software

US-headquartered software developer Onyx Graphics has launched Onyx 12.1 software, the latest version of its wide-format print workflow and RIP product.
The software builds on Onyx 12, which was shown in Europe for the first time at Fespa Digital last year, by offering accelerated speed and performance, a simplified user interface, enhanced automation and advanced finishing tools.
Onyx 12.1 is available for the full Onyx software product line including Onyx Thrive workflow, Onyx ProductionHouse

Staff Writer, 16 February 2017

Xerox and EFI Partner support

Xerox Corp. & EFI announced a strategic partnership to bring to market a next generation digital front end (DFE) to drive Xerox digital production presses. The agreement includes the sale of Xerox’s FreeFlow Print Server (FFPS) DFE business to EFI. Under the terms of the deal, EFI will continue to produce and support FFPS so current customers do not experience interruptions in sales or service.
“Customers will gain a powerful solution with more efficiencies, performance and quality to meet

Staff Writer, 16 February 2017

Ricoh launches Pro 8200 series mono digital printers

Ricoh has launched its new Pro 8200 series of mono digital printers as direct replacements for the Pro 8100 series. They will become commercially available from January 2017.
Speaking to PrintWeek at the event, Ricoh EMEA product manager Emma Pynaert said the 8200 series is an enhanced version of the 8100 series with some technical modifications. It takes heavier weights, has more media capabilities and can print at faster speeds.
According to Pynaert pricing has yet to be decided but she said

Staff Writer, 16 January 2017

HP releases Edge Printing Technology

HP has added a new Edge Printing feature to its variable data SmartStream Designer software for Indigo users.
The latest feature for the technology manufacturer’s Smartstream Designer software plugin for Adobe InDesign Version 11, will allow printers to create images on the page edges of books as well as across multiple spines.
Printers can use the feature to create a broad range of effects such as personalised designs that are only visible when the book is closed, that are different according

Staff Writer, 16 January 2017

Hunkeler to highlight Digital Advancements

Hunkeler will hold Innovat-iondays for the 12th time in Switzerland on February at the Messe Lucerne exhibition facility. Innovationdays will feature innovations, world debuts, and a full range of practical solutions in digital printing. Experts from more than 80 industry leaders will come to Lucerne to showcase their latest products and technologies.
More than 40 practical solutions will be on hand at the show across 2 exhibition halls, with workflow focuses including transaction &

Staff Writer, 16 January 2017

Ricoh upgrades Pro 8200s series

Ricoh has announced the enhancement of Pro 8200s series by expanding the capability of its long sheet (banner) printing of up to 700mm and an improved stacker to allow heavier media use.
Benoit Chatelard, Vice President, Production Printing, Ricoh Europe said: “Chatelard, Vice President, Production Printing, Ricoh Europe, says, “The 8200s series empowers printers to produce a wide variety of applications by eliminating manual steps. Printing on thick and coated media for attractive inserts

Staff Writer, 16 January 2017

Hapa expands inkjet range with two new additions

Swiss manufacturer Hapa has extended its drop-on-demand piezo inkjet range of systems with the launch of two new units. The MedJet 470, which uses technology based on Hapa’s Webjet technology, is designed to be compact and integrate easily onto continuous or intermittent motion packaging machines. The single-colour UV inkjet, which is designed for the medical packaging industry, uses solvent-free UV curing inks.
The unit is suitable for printing onto a wide range of substrates including

Staff Writer, 22 December 2016

Azonprinter expands portfolio with new UV LED printer

Croatian manufacturer Azonprinter has extended its Razor product range with the launch of a new UV LED printer.  The Azon Razor Hale, which is commercially available with immediate effect, features an LED curing system with a long-lasting, energy-efficient UV LED lamp that generates low levels of heat.
The machine, which offers a printable surface area of 290x800mm, can print directly onto PET, ABS, TPU and polycarbonate substrates as well as wood, stone, glass, canvas, ceramic, leather and

Staff Writer, 22 December 2016

Ultimaker launches third-gen 3D printer

Netherlands-based 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker has launched its third-generation Ultimaker 3.  The new 3D printer startted shipping in November. It is priced at £2,795.
The machine is Ultimaker’s first release since the Ultimaker 2 was launched in 2013 and is its first to have dual extrusion capabilities.
The Ultimaker can print a wide range of materials, including nylon, PVA and PVC. A further Ultimaker Plus range of materials is due to be brought out in the next six to 12 months.
It prints

Staff Writer, 22 December 2016

Glamour mag ditches format

Glamour magazine, which pioneered the ‘handbag-size’ format is ditching the dinky edition in favour of a new, larger size that reflects today’s “more luxurious and indulgent” print experience.
The Condé Nast title will launch its new look from the February 2017. The new format is 276x203mm, the same size as stablemate Vanity Fair, whereas the handbag size was around 20% smaller at 223x168mm. It will also be printed on thicker, brighter paper but Condé Nast declined to specify the make and

Staff Writer, 22 December 2016

Agfa Graphics unveils Fortuna 10 software for security printing

Agfa Graphics is set to launch the 10th version of its Fortuna security printing software. Fortuna 10 is a modular package for the digital design of security elements that is aimed at high-end security printers. The software is currently being beta tested and will be commercially available for Windows 10 at the end of the year.
This version, which will replace Fortuna 9, features new security design tools and modules, new rasters and a series of additional tools focusing on productivity and

Staff Writer, 14 November 2016

Afrina Label launches 2 new label finishing systems, 3 more coming

Narrow-web label printer manufacturer Afinia Label UK has launched two new label finishing systems and announced that three more are on the way.  The DLF-220 and DLF-220L, which were launched last month, both unwind, knife cut, remove waste, slit and rewind labels. The DLF-220L has an additional lamination feature and is able to work with both unsupported and ‘linered’ laminates.
The firm said these machines can be used to create full-bleed labels using web widths from 110 to 225mm due to

Staff Writer, 14 November 2016

Xerox upgrades C60 and C70 printers

Xerox has added a number of enhancements to its C60 and C70 printers following customer feedback. The printers can now take substrates weighing between 60 and 300gsm (256 autoduplex). Previously, they could only take autoduplex weights up to 220gsm and the lightest weight they could take was 64gsm.
They also now come with Paper Catalogue, an online library of substrate attributes, which allows customers to get fast access to frequent stocks.
Other improvements include the addition of the simple

Staff Writer, 14 November 2016

New 3D printer launched

Netherlands-based 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker has launched its third-generation Ultimaker 3.  The new 3D printer was launched in October this year, with shipping starting in November.
The machine is Ultimaker’s first release since the Ultimaker 2 was launched in 2013 and is its first to have dual extrusion capabilities.
The Ultimaker can print a wide range of materials, including nylon, PVA and PVC. A further Ultimaker Plus range of materials is due to be brought out in the next six to 12

Staff Writer, 14 November 2016

Mimaki unveils two new UV curable UJF flatbed printers

Mimaki has launched two new UV flatbed printers aimed at sign and graphics firms looking to diversify their offering and manufacturing companies requiring flexibility and short-run production capabilities.
The UJF-3042 MkII and the UJF-6042 MkII are the successors to the UJF-3042HG and UJF-6042 models respectively.
The devices can print at maximum speeds of 2.48sqm/hr and 3.52sqm/hr respectively, which represents a 20% improvement in speed over previous models, as well on objects up to 153mm

Staff Writer, 16 October 2016

Roland launches new SG series of wide format eco solvent printers

Roland DG has announced the launch of two new wide-format eco-solvent printers in its TrueVis range, the 760mm-wide SG-300 and the 1.4m-wide SG-540.
The two printers comprising the SG series were launched on 1st September and are priced at $9,084 for the 300 and $12,329 for the 540. They join other printers in the TrueVis range, launched in March 2016, including the VG-540 and VG-640.
Roland sales manager Rob Goleniowski said: “Effectively what we have done is incorporated our knowledge of

Staff Writer, 16 October 2016

Fujifilm launches new Select range printers

Fujifilm has launched its Acuity Select 30 HS series of printers. The two printers in the series, the standard and X2, follow directly on from the Acuity Select 20 series, launched at Fespa, but have added features and print at almost double the speed.
They became available for purchase from 7th September and start at $168,727, $51,916 more than the starting price of the 20 series.
Fujifilm wide-format product solutions manager Steve Cookman said: “This is the next iteration of the Acuity

Staff Writer, 16 October 2016

Xerox’s digital career pathway

Xerox is answering the call to train the next generation print industry workforce with the Xerox Digital Career Pathway Program (XDCPP), which will be highlighted on Education Main Street in booth #570 at Graph Expo which takes place Sept. 25-28 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.
Formerly known as the Xerox School to Career Program, the XDCPP is a trade program that provides students the opportunity to learn digital print production skills and knowledge they need to succeed. The

Staff Writer, 16 October 2016

Eastsign has launched flexible textiles press for ‘quick’ jobs

Digital print kit manufacturer Eastsign has launched a flatbed transfer heat press that it said can complete a textile job in one minute.

The FOT series flatbed thermal transfer machines are suitable for jobs such as garments, flat sheets, cut pieces and seat pads, according to the Hong Kong based firm.

Features include a three-way open shuttle for processing large pieces of fabric. Eastsign said the machines boasts an even distribution of temperature and pressure and strong pneumatic

Staff Writer, 15 September 2016

New desktop, direct-to-garment printer launched by Ricoh

Ricoh gave customers a sneak peak of its new direct-to-garment printer at an event recently.

The firm showed off an AnaJet mPower mP10i desktop device as part of a technology showcase.

Ricoh acquired AnaJet earlier this year. The mPower i-series printers are now fitted with Ricoh’s Gen4 drop-on-demand printheads and use water-based pigment ink.

The two models in the range, the mP5i and mP10i, both print in CMYK plus two whites. They produce the highest quality images on many types of

Staff Writer, 15 September 2016

Komfi launches book edge printing machine

Thermal laminating machine supplier Komfi has introduced a book-edge printing machine that is specifically designed for digital UV printing on book edges using inkjet technology.

The imiJet BE70 is semi-automatic in operation and features an integrated PC that provides built-in help and self-diagnostics, as well as easy job preparation.

The printing process involves a one-person operation via a screen and involves the application of either UV inks or UV varnish to all three book

Staff Writer, 15 September 2016