Business

Ricoh UK will be exhibiting at North Print & Pack 2013 in May this year and has booked the largest stand at the event (A100 + A200). The company will showcase an extensive range of hardware and software solutions including the first UK showing of the recently launched Pro C901 Graphic Arts +, which is publicly available in the UK in the summer, and incorporates the new EFI E42 or E82 print servers.

Says Stephen Palmer, Head of Production Print, Ricoh UK, “North Print & Pack 2013 is a focused show with a rich, respected heritage and fits well with Ricoh’s desire to participate in events and exhibitions that enable it to get even closer to its customers. Our efforts this year continue to be on working with customers to transform their businesses through greater production efficiency and increased profitability and flexibility, giving them the freedom to operate their businesses successfully and confidently. North Print & Pack 2013 will give us a great platform to achieve this.

The inclusion of the packaging sector in this show is also an exciting development that is representative of the fact digital is helping to break down the barriers-to-entry across a range of related printing sectors, all of which gives our customers the opportunity to diversify and grow their businesses. We are looking forward to meeting with a broad range of customers at the show.”

In addition to the Pro C901+, Ricoh will also be showing a Ricoh Pro C751, a Ricoh Pro 1357 high volume black & white press and the company’s new wide format solution, the MP CW2200SP, as well as a range of new software products from its growing TotalFlow workflow portfolio including Barr EOM and Commercial Marcom Central from PTI Technologies.

Ricoh will be joined on the stand once again by partners including Morgana and Objectif Lune, Pentax and Ricoh’s ITS division. The company will also be promoting its Business Driver Programme, an exclusive online portal for Ricoh customers, designed to help them maximise their investment in Ricoh’s technology through access to an extensive resource of business tools and support.

Finally, representatives from Ricoh will also be participating in the show’s extensive speaker programme. Stephen Palmer will sit on the panel for the ‘Lack of Finance and Government Support = Lack of Innovation and Disparity – Advice on Enabling your Business’ at 2pm on Tuesday 14th May, with Ricoh Director, Tim Carter, and a Ricoh customer presenting on ‘Going Beyond Print to Deliver Value-Added Services, Solutions and Applications – Sharing Customers Real-World, Proven Solutions’ at 4pm on Tuesday.

North Print & Pack 2013 will be taking place at the Harrogate International Centre from 14th – 16th May 2013. For more information, please visit www.printandpack.co.uk.

With seven months to go, the inaugural FESPA Eurasia 2013, taking place in Istanbul, Turkey from 3-5 October 2013, already has over 80% of the floor plan allocated.  Due to increasing demand from new and existing exhibitors requesting to take larger stands currently unavailable in the halls, FESPA has now decided to move the exhibition into larger halls, making it one third bigger than its original size. This expansion takes the show to 21,000m2 (gross).

FESPA Eurasia is a show specifically designed for printers in this region. For the first time, FESPA will be in a position to deliver an event presenting new product innovation, technological advancements, applications, plus relevant conference content and new ideas, right to the Eurasian visitor’s doorstep.

FESPA Managing Director Neil Felton comments, “In my 17 years in the exhibitions sector, I have never seen such an overwhelming response to a launch event. The level of interest we are experiencing for FESPA Eurasia underlines the market’s appetite for an event of FESPA’s calibre. The positive conversations we are having with exhibitors wanting to increase stand size is an encouraging testament to the buoyancy of the market and the strength of the FESPA brand. We also believe our partnership with ARED, with their local market expertise - coupled with the significant investment FESPA is making in the region - has been pivotal to the success of FESPA Eurasia so far.”

Felton continues, “The educational content which is central to all FESPA events will make FESPA Eurasia different to any other show serving this region. FESPA is renowned worldwide for delivering leading educational programmes securing key experts to share knowledge on the latest trends and examples of best practice to help print service providers develop their businesses profitably.”

Mehmet Efe, General Manager, Solvetex comments on the significance of FESPA Eurasia.  “It is important for our business to exhibit at FESPA Eurasia, primarily because it is an international event. FESPA is a global brand, respected brand in Turkey, as well as the other parts of the world and we trust them to deliver and increase the size of the show.”

Taner Güven, Owner, Optimum Digital Planet adds, “I am not surprised by the huge demand FESPA Eurasia has experienced, which has resulted in a need for the show to increase in size. We are really looking forward to exhibiting at the show as the Turkish sector has massive untapped potential. We believe that a FESPA exhibition in this region is sure to be a great success.”

For more information on FESPA Eurasia, please visit www.fespaeurasia.com

The versatility of HP Latex Technologies and the numerous graphic arts projects it opens up is widely recognised, but HP print service provider, Gobet Production SA, of Vernier, Switzerland, has come up with a 'cool' application that should go down a storm with ski lovers.

Gobet runs three HP Latex large format inkjet printers and offers a host of sign and display applications – one of which is personalised ski graphics.  The skis pictured were produced on an HP Latex Printer in around an hour (from conception to final cutting on skis) on self-adhesive vinyl with a gloss laminate.

For more information on Gobet Production SA and the services it offers, please visit www.gobetproduction.ch

Leicester-based Phoenix Colour plc has made a £250,000 investment in an Océ Arizona 360 GT printer and a ZÜND G3 L2500 cutting system to 'open the door' to more work opportunities.

Business owner Peter Davis, 59, who first started a print apprenticeship 40 years ago, said, “The Océ Arizona and ZÜND are head and shoulders above the opposition in terms of quality. The investment, which will have paid for itself within three years, has given me a new lease in printing and has already brought more business to the company.”

New business is growing rapidly and approximately 25% of work previously done on other printers and mounted manually to substrate has already been transferred to the Arizona. New outlets include various size boxes that are being printed and cut for bespoke promotional products such as game boards. As another example, Kitchen companies require display boards for international business shows and others require print samples direct on to wood.

Another benefit is that 75% of die-cutting work previously outsourced is now done in-house at Phoenix Colour.  “The reason for buying Océ and ZÜND systems was based purely on quality against the competition,” said Mr Davis. “Although Government funding helped reduce the price by £25,000. It’s been so successful that I am now having a big sales drive in the POS (Point of Sale) market and expect to grow my business in that area by 25% in the next year alone.”

Dominic Fahy, Océ UK’s Business Group Director, Display Graphics and Imaging Supplies, adds, “The feedback from Phoenix Colour is typical of companies that are improving their bottom line by investing for the future. The Océ Arizonas are impressive digital systems that set the standard in the market for quality. They can help create new innovative applications to drive new business and realise cost savings and productivity improvements.”

Three Addaction centres in Lincolnshire have been given a revamp thanks to award-winning signmakers, Allen Signs. The company was brought in to give the Addaction buildings in Lincoln, Boston and Grantham, which were undergoing a complete refit, a new look. The idea was to create bright and welcoming environments for the service users - people overcoming addictions - which would reflect the positive aims of the organisation.

Work at the Lincoln site on Newland included using translucent cut out vinyl lettering to display quotes and inspirational messages on the internal walls. This was then colour-matched to reflect the artwork and the organisation’s branding. As well as internal work, signs were also put up outside. Work was completed in just two days to ensure as little disruption to the centre as possible.

Work at the High Street site in Grantham and the Wide Bargate premises in Boston involved removing a mirror film on the windows and replacing it with a frosted etch stripe detail which let natural light into the building whilst obscuring the view of passers by into the meeting rooms. The overall designs and concepts were carried through to each site, but the messages and quotes as well as the colours used were changed, to give each centre its own identity.

Glen Merryweather, Sales and Marketing Executive at Allen Signs based in North Hykeham near Lincoln, said, “We worked with each team at the Addaction sites to discuss the options available which would help to turn their ideas into reality.  The Grantham and Boston Addaction sites presented further challenges for us as we needed to come up with an inventive way to allow light in while obstructing the view in to the meeting rooms. We’re very pleased with the eye-catching and engaging graphics now in place at all of the sites."

He continues, “It was great to work with Addaction, helping them to engage with their clients and improve the facilities and services they offer.  We hope to build on this success so far by helping to provide a solution for their London Head Office later this year.”

Steve Hewish, Locality Manager for Lincoln and surrounding areas at Addaction, said, “Our aim was to create an environment where people could seek the help and treatment they need in a positive setting, which is where the idea for the quotes and bright colours came in.  When we started asking around we were told it would be a difficult, if not an impossible job. Then we had our first meeting with Allen Signs and they just got on with it. All the quotes are from service users from each centre, so they really do mean something. We wanted to brighten the place up, which has been very successful. The whole project has had a positive impact on service users.”

For more information on Allen Signs, please visit www.allen-signs.co.uk

Model Holding AG is the holding company of Model Group, a well established family owned business.  The company has been working alongside Fujifilm for a number of years and believes that - whilst presently only accounting for a small portion of its activities - digital print technology is very much the future.

Founded in 1882 as a small mill board factory, the company originally found its niche in the production of corrugated board and industrial packaging. Today Model Group is led by the fourth generation of the founder’s family and has his head office in Weinfelden, Switzerland, and over 16 subsidiaries and production sites spread across eight other countries in Europe.

Model Group is prominent in the packaging business and boasts more than 3000 employees, 550 of which are based in Weinfelden. In 2011, the group produced 619 million m2 of corrugated board, as well as 26,300 tonnes of cardboard packaging and 284,200 tonnes of container board.

The corporate HQ in Weinfelden is the flagship corrugated board plant. Here lies one of the company’s outstanding Innovation and Competence Centers (ICC), where all the technical expertise is directed into new packaging developments to keep Model at the forefront in its field.

Over the years Model has built a strong reputation in a variety of markets such as food & beverage, cosmetics and automotive. Blue-chip multinationals like Unilever, L’Oreal, Nestle’ and Kraft trust Model as a competent supplier able to satisfy the most demanding requests through a holistic and consultative approach.

Cardboard and corrugated board are treated as the raw materials for creative output at Model. The company offers a comprehensive range of services from design to manufacture, through the filling and set up of displays and boxes, and including the disposal and recycling of waste cardboard and corrugated board. Thanks to the perfect combination of substrates, print and finishing techniques, Model’s specialists can devise unique products to meet specific customer needs.

In the pursuit of flexibility

Model Group had historically based its production on offset and flexo equipment. Offline and in-line flexo machines are currently operating within the HQ but 10 years ago the ICC at Weinfelden started to investigate digital print, recognising that it was an up-and-coming production method. After initially outsourcing to a digital partner, in 2008 Model installed its first entry level inkjet flatbed device to cut its teeth with this technology.

Edoardo Finotti, head of Model ICC, explains, “In the last few years the importance of digital print has grown steadily. There is an increasing demand for short run and personalised products, as well as strong pressure to reduce costs; digital print perfectly suits those requirements. Model prides itself on being innovative and in tune with the market’s demands, and as a leading packaging manufacturer we didn’t want to lag behind in terms of digital innovation.”

Since 2008 Model has been monitoring the latest developments in digital printing in order to find the most productive, high quality and reliable technology to fulfil the high standards required by the packaging industry. It found the answer to these stringent demands in a wide-format flat-bed Inca Onset S40 inkjet printer supplied by Fujifilm.

“Quality is an undisputed priority for Model and we were extremely impressed by the photographic-like images delivered by the Onset S40. What’s more, this print engine is a workhorse which guarantees extraordinary productivity and fits perfectly into our workflow,” says Edoardo.

He adds, “The Onset S40 takes the flexibility typical of digital print to the highest level. This machine allows us to create limited and bespoke packs and displays with increased efficiency, as it doesn’t require set up times or prepress. It has helped us to diversify our production and has given us the opportunity to choose to go digital, whenever appropriate, depending on the job.”

The Inca Onset S40 prints at up to 470 m2/hr and provides ‘best-in-class’ quality and flexibility at a low cost per print. The Onset S40 can print directly onto substrates up to 50mm thick to create exquisite displays and packaging solutions. This digital inkjet flatbed platform meets high-volume and fast-turnaround production needs thanks to 168 user-replaceable printheads (28 per colour) on a full width print bar delivering a 27 picolitre drop size. These features, combined with Inca's precision ink drop placement, produce superb 600 dpi print quality with the option of four or six colours.

A brand new digital department

Following the purchase of the Onset S40 in May 2012, Model has built a dedicated digital department within its extensive plant in Weinfelden. Out of 20 operators working in print production, four have been allocated to the management of the S40 on a three shift basis. In addition, Model has recently invested in a Zund G3 digital cutting plotter which has been placed alongside the Onset S40.

Edoardo Finotti comments, “We are committed to achieving a fully automated and end-to-end digital workflow. We are focused on the fine tuning between print and finishing devices and currently we are using both the Zund digital cutting plotter and a traditional die cutting machine to keep up with different production requirements.”

What’s more, Model is working closely with Fujifilm as a beta site to test and help in the development of the company’s brand-new Uvijet OC inks for corrugated applications. Edoardo explains: “Fujifilm’s reputation in the R&D of advanced imaging and colour solutions is beyond compare. Its ongoing investment in the research of high performance inks and technologies was pivotal to our decision making process. We are pleased to be on the front line with Fujifilm to help in the formulation of the most appropriate inks for the extremely demanding packaging & display market.”

He adds, “Not only do Fujifilm’s Uvijet OC inks deliver excellent performance in the POP and display market, but also they represent a breakthrough in the packaging sector. We are working closely with Fujifilm to achieve the best possible quality and push the boundaries of these innovative inks to provide our customers with outstanding packaging solutions.”

A reputable brand and a digital future

Edoardo emphasises how Fujifilm’s service perfectly complements the unquestionable quality and productivity of the Onset S40. “Fujifilm is not only a leading supplier whose investments in technology improvements are endless and significant, but it’s also a flexible partner to work with. We have absolute confidence in the brand and the people behind it. Both the sales and technical managers have never let us down. Once, we experienced a problem on a Friday, with an urgent delivery on a Monday - Fujifilm’s service was prompt and we met our deadline.”

Thanks to its dynamic approach and the support of valuable suppliers such as Fujifilm, Model has a positive outlook on the future. Building on the introduction of the digital production department, the company has also launched a web to print platform called ‘Model Pack Shop’. This web-shop allows buyers to submit repeat orders quickly and efficiently through the simple scanning of QR codes placed on boxes and displays previously supplied by Model. Whether for short runs of standard packaging or more complex orders, Model Pack Shop is another digital route Model has embarked on.

Edoardo Finotti concludes, “For us, digital is the future. Today, digital print is nothing more than a small percentage of our business, while Model Pack Shop is just a tool within a traditional working environment. Nevertheless, we are confident both digital technologies will thrive as they are excellent solutions that allow us to compete in a fast evolving market.”