Business

UK developer Integration Technology Ltd (ITL) says its major 2013 roll-out of UV LED and UV Arc solutions will continue at FESPA.

On stand N3S, the all new LEDZero Solidcure 2 is the latest UV LED curing unit drawing on ITL's 10 years of experience in developing semi conductor light engines. Solidcure 2 offers class-leading dose and linearity of output surpassing other water cooled units of this type in the world. Slim and ultra compact, this water-cooled system has a standard output power of 12W/cm² @ 395nm with alternative wavelengths such as 365nm, 385nm and 405nm available as options.

Fully scalable in both length and width, the LEDZero Solidcure 2 can be tailored to meet extremely specific UV LED requirements on a wide range of applications, including high speed inkjet printing, high speed roll to roll flexographic and offset printing; screen printing; converting; and a wide range of other industrial applications.

Specification benefits include field-replaceable modules offering even further extended service life; driver electronics fully integrated within the lamp head; switch mode power supply unit for world-wide compatibility. Also available in a HD version offering twice the dose of the standard model, the ground-breaking LEDZero Solidcure 2 is commercially-available from July (2013).

FESPA London will meanwhile host a live application of ITL's new SubZero LED system. Although primarily designed for wide format graphics platforms, the SubZero LED will be demonstrating it's high cure capability by being equally at home in a single pass high speed application at the show.

This revolutionary new air-cooled curing solution has a compact footprint and all the proven features and benefits of the established SubZero arc system range making for an easy conversion to UV LED technology for any platform currently using the world leading SubZero.

The SubZero arc program is also enhanced with the launch of two new models on show for the first time. Firstly there is added cure length in the new SubZero 220 along with a new high power version of the very popular SubZero 170 model, which produces 50% more output power than the standard version.

Also on show - and again new for 2013 - ITL's super compact MZero LED utilises all of the proven features and benefits of its sister arc product and incorporates them into an LED alternative enhanced by extra functionalities such as instant on/off, variable power and low temperature operation and a plug and play feature to the lamp head design enabling simple machine integration or field installation.

Ideally suited to digital inkjet applications such as small plotters, 3D product printers or marking and encoding applications, the MZero LED is also equally at home curing inks, coating or sealants in a variety of other industrial applications.

For more information, please visit www.uvintegration.com

[photo shows the established ITL SubZero arc UV curing system and its newly-launched LED curing counterpart]

Antalis has announced the launch of a dynamic new website with fully integrated 24/7 online purchasing and extensive tailored product information designed to deliver customers an easier, faster, smarter online experience.

Designed to deliver an optimum online service, the newly improved Antalis website provides customers with a wealth of features and benefits accessible at a time and place to suit them including online stock and sample ordering, downloadable product information, stock and personalised price lookup, as well as POD’s and order history.

With access to over 13,000 products, the addition of the new downloadable online product guide allows customers to discover the complete Antalis range in one place. Customers are also able to find products quickly with the new intelligent keyword search function and the easy to use selector tools for digital and envelope products to easily identify the perfect product to achieve that competitive edge.

Divided into logical sections, the content rich website also provides customers with the opportunity to browse through hundreds of downloadable documents including FSC certificates and specification sheets, at the click of a button.

Various new sections of the website also offer ideas and inspiration such as Popular Brands which features in-depth information on some of the best-selling and trusted brands and their creative application potential to the Applications section where customers can find advice and recommendations on print, packaging, sign and display and office applications.

“Antalis is proud to serve more than 135,000 customers across the world in more than 45 countries. We have taken their feedback on board to create this new website”, commented Richard Champion, Marketing Director of Antalis UK. He continues, “Designing and building the new platform has been a huge undertaking that has brought together our teams with a common goal: to create a customer-focused, user-friendly website that will generate cost and efficiency gains for them, develop their expertise as well as hopefully inspire them. The internal and customer feedback has been very positive so far and we aim to constantly improve the site with more interactive, rich media content as a true online partner should!”

Alongside the recent launch of the new website, Antalis continues to build its role as an online partner with a strong presence in various social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus.

For more information, please visit www.antalis.co.uk

SA International (SAi), a provider of solutions for the professional signmaking, wide-format digital printing and CAD/CAM for CNC machining industries, has announced a worldwide agreement for the supply of SAi FlexiSTARTER cutting software with the full range of Mutoh ValueCut cutters.

The version of the software configured for use with the Mutoh cutters is known as the SAi FlexiSTARTER ValueCut edition. Currently, there are three cutters in the ValueCut range: the ValueCut 600, ValueCut 1300 and ValueCut 1800, which deliver cutting widths of 610mm (24”), 1320mm (52”) and 1830mm (72”), respectively.

SAi FlexiSTARTER ValueCut software includes the drivers and registration marks for the Mutoh ValueCut cutter as well as a wide range of features for designing, drawing, viewing, manipulation, and tools for plotting and cutting. The software also provides a user-friendly interface for creating cut-vinyl signage and contour cut decals of various substrates for special applications.

Commenting on the agreement, Yuji Yata, Director and General Manager, International Business Division at Mutoh, said, “A key factor in Mutoh’s ability to deliver products and services that ignite the imaginations of our signmaking customers is our offering of strategic partnerships with the industry’s foremost solutions providers. This is exemplified in our collaboration with SAi, which will play a major role in ensuring that ValueCut users are afforded the functionality required to meet their needs.”

“The agreement to bundle SAi FlexiSTARTER software with Mutoh ValueCut cutters not only provides a value-adding package for customers worldwide, but is acknowledgement of SAi’s leadership in the market by a major supplier,” added Sarit Tichon, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, SAi. “The use of cutters enables users to maximize the use of their printers to provide continuous production by separating the printing and cutting processes. SAi FlexiSTARTER will simplify the overall process while delivering high quality cutting.”

FESPA visitors can find expert guidance on developing a more sustainable business throughout the show. The organisers of the event say that the first port of call should be FESPA’s stand (D50N), where FESPA’s Planet Friendly team is sharing a series of five specially created environmental fact sheets, one for each day of FESPA 2013.  These include:

1. Responsibilities under REACH
2. Why become a green printer?
3. How to become a green printer
4. Ultimate guide for green printers
5. Green printing – did you know?

FESPA consultant Paul Machin will also be on hand at the FESPA stand on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th June to answer questions in person on any environmental issues. Paul is a leading industry expert on health, safety and the environment. He works with FESPA within the scope of the Planet Friendly programme and participates on FESPA’s behalf in Intergraf’s Environmental Working Party and in the Intergraf CheMI group, which deals with the impact of REACH, the European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use. He is a member of the UK Health and Safety Executive’s Printing Industry Advisory Group and an advisor to the European Union (EU) Environmental Agency on best environmental practices to the printing industry.

Throughout the show, FESPA TV will screen excerpts from interviews with UK ‘planet friendly’ printers Ian Greenaway of MTM Products and Paul Noble of Banner Box, who explain how they are adopting environmental best practice in their businesses.

Sustainability stream at FESPA Jet Set Conference

Paul Noble is one of three printers to present their environmental case studies as part of the Sustainability seminar stream, which runs from 14.00h to 17.30h on Tuesday 25th June as part of the Jet Set conference (Stand B75N).

Richard Owers of PurePrint will explain how his company’s environmental efforts earned a Queen’s Award, while Ian Crossley of Greenhouse Graphics will show how going green and improving profitability go hand in hand.

The Sustainability seminar sessions will be chaired by Laurel Brunner of Verdigris with contributions from independent environmental consultant Clare Taylor under the heading ‘Sustainability: what does it mean to you?’. The Sustainability programme also includes independent technical advisor Rachel Butler looking at the supply chain; with Laurel Brunner presenting on print’s carbon footprint; and Peter Kiddell of the FESPA UK Association who will explore the connection between efficiency and sustainability. At the end there will be an expert panel chaired by Peter Kiddell comprising Clare Taylor, Laurel Brunner and Paul Noble discussing and answering questions on sustainability issues.

FESPA’s Head of Membership Services Chris Smith spearheads FESPA’s Planet Friendly initiatives, which are funded through the Profit for Purpose reinvestment programme. He comments: “FESPA is committed to helping printers pursue environmental best practice, both to ensure that they are compliant with legislation, but also to help them reap the efficiency and profit benefits that follow from more sustainable processes. Environmental performance can still be an important competitive differentiator too.

“On the FESPA stand in London and through the Jet Set conference, we’re offering visitors free access to some leading lights in the field of sustainable print. Printers can combine this intelligence with expert insights from the hundreds of equipment and consumables suppliers exhibiting at FESPA. They’ll leave the event equipped with all the information they need to formulate a clear strategy for achieving commercial success by running a more sustainable business.”

For more information, please visit http://www.fespa.com/planet-friendly.html

Cross Media 2013, scheduled to take place on 23rd and 24th October 2013 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, is gathering momentum as a number of key print, marketing and publishing suppliers sign up. The latest exhibitors include Adestra, Circdata, Data IQ, Headley Brothers, Imprint, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Layar, LimeTree, Outbrain, Paperhat Consorcio, Papermule, Pensord, Premier Paper, Semaphore Partnership, Shuttleworth, Sitecore, St Ives Group, Translate Media, Waggener Edstrom, Woodwing, Workflowz and Xeikon.

Building on the success of its inaugural 2012 event, where 59% of visitors were marketers, brand owners or agencies, 28% print and marketing service providers, and 13% publishers or other content creators, Cross Media 2013 will focus on the theme of ‘Joined-up thinking – the power of multi-channel marketing’.

Scott Logie, Strategic Marketing Director for St Ives Group, comments: "As the world of marketing develops from single channels into a truly cross media discipline, it is essential to have trade shows that give suppliers, agencies and clients the chance to interact. We are excited to be part of Cross-Media 2013, not just for the chance to show off our own Group companies, but for the opportunity to meet and learn from a range of different organisations that can help our business develop in line with our clients’ needs."

Digital marketing service provider LimeTree will join the list of first time exhibitors at Cross Media 2013. Malcolm Graham, CEO, says: “As platforms for marketing communications continually multiply and evolve, Cross Media offers the ideal opportunity for us to showcase our expertise and offering. It promises to be the ideal event for us to meet with big brands and agencies in 2013.”

Kate Russell, Business Development & Partnerships Manager at Layar, adds: Publishers can no longer avoid the need for a digital strategy that includes linking their print with their digital assets. Cross Media's audience of publishers, printers and marketers reaches straight into the heartland of Layar's clients and partners. We are looking forward to informing them on how they can easily integrate augmented reality into their campaigns and generate new revenue streams with interactive print.

Cross Media will also feature over 50 seminars in five dedicated theatres during the two-day event. The Cross Media, Digital & Direct Marketing, Content Marketing, Mobile Marketing and Print & Innovation theatres will provide the latest opportunities, solutions, case studies and seminars to address how the marketing, print and publishing industries can maximise the effectiveness of their multi-channel communications to deliver a higher return on marketing investment.

Sarah Gavin, VP Marketing of Outbrain Europe, comments: "As content marketing continues to be elevated as a must have element of the marketing armoury for many brands, we feel it is important to support events where the creation of truly integrated cross media campaigns are celebrated. Cross Media has acknowledged the growing importance of content marketing with a dedicated theatre and we are looking forward to the undoubtedly lively and interesting debate that will take place there."

The industry’s major print and marketing associations are also throwing their weight behind the Cross Media 2013, including the BPIF, the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM), Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Content Marketing Association (CMA), Internet Advertising Bureau UK (IAB), Xplore International and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA).

Kristin Brewe, Director of Marketing & Communications, Internet Advertising Bureau UK (IAB), comments: “The IAB is very pleased to support great industry events like Cross Media, which showcases how businesses can leverage digital to meet consumer needs and stay competitive. In today's connected world, it's no longer a question of whether a business gets digital but more about how they adapt. Cross Media is a forum that can help with that.”

“We are thrilled with the level of support we’re receiving from some of the industry’s key marketing service providers, associations and suppliers, whether it’s digital, mobile or print. After the success of the launch event last year, the number of new and returning exhibitors is testament to this,” comments Nick Craig Waller, Cross Media 2013 Event Director. “Cross Media offers the perfect platform for marketers, brands, agencies, designers and print service providers to engage with suppliers to keep up to date with the latest solutions that will help maximise the ROMI on cross media marketing campaigns, and we look forward to delivering an event that will do just that.”

To pre-register for Cross Media 2013, please visit www.crossmedialive.com/register.

FASTSIGNS says it is continuing to live up to its brand tagline “More than fast. More than signs” by demonstrating two 3D printers and discussing new technological advances in the printing and sign industries at the International Franchise Expo (IFE) June 20-22 in New York City.

The well-known franchising event will take place at The Javits Center and uniquely showcases hundreds of franchise companies offering a wide range of opportunities at nearly every investment level.

Mark Jameson, FASTSIGNS Senior Vice President of Franchise Support & Development, will be at Booth No. 215 sharing the company’s vision and discussing the future of the industry. Experts will also be at the booth with functioning 3D printers, showing how they work while explaining the benefits they present to businesses across a multitude of industries. One of the showcased printers, the CubeX™ Duo, is encased in clear glass so show attendees can stop and watch as it prints dimensional items layer by layer. 

More than 70 free seminars are also being held at the expo, each focused on a specific franchising topic. FASTSIGNS franchisee Clint Ehlers will be serving as a panelist during a session entitled “Making the Leap: How to Succeed as a Franchisee” at 2:00 p.m. on June 20 in Room 1C03. Also on June 20, FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson will be an expert panelist on “Symposium 5: Global Franchise Expansion: Strategies for Lucrative and Planned Growth” at 10:00 a.m. in room 1D06. In addition, Jameson will serve as a panelist on the specialty seminar “Opportunities for Veterans in Franchising” at 10 a.m. on June 22 in room 1B02.

“The IFE presents the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in franchising to learn more about the industry and meet face-to-face with franchisees and company executives,” Jameson said. “At FASTSIGNS, we are hoping to speak with individuals interested in master franchise and area developer opportunities to expand our international network. In addition, there are still great opportunities to open new centers in the U.S. and across North America. We’re looking forward to speaking with show attendees about these opportunities and explaining exactly how FASTSIGNS is so much more than only signs.”

For more information, please visit www.fastsigns.com.