Business

Marghera, 25th June 2009: pixart.it, the European leader in web-to-print based digital printing services, has announced the installation of a new four-colour Komori LS 29 offset press at the company’s Marghera production facility. The Komori is the company’s first foray into commercial litho printing and joins a fleet of digital printing machines which is unrivalled in Europe and has made the company one of the continent’s digital printing powerhouses.

Matteo Rigamonti, managing director, pixart.it explains the rationale behind the Italian company’s latest investment: “In January 2009 we introduced a new offset printing services to our customers. The response from the market has been tremendous and in a very short time we achieved the high volumes which more than justified this major investment. With this inhouse litho production capacity we can now ensure we maintain print quality and control over production times for longer run work, both of which are so essential to our core proposition - to offer quality printing at competitive prices and a 24/48 hour delivery service throughout Europe.”

Alongside the new Komori four-colour offset press, pixart.it has installed a Basysprint automatic CTP plate production system. Mr Rigamonti says he chose the Komori press and Basysprint CTP unit due to the highly automated printing process they offered which will enable the company to constantly achieve a quality end result, repeatable over time, even in the hands of operators who have little specific experience in the traditional
printing sector.

The new press and CTP system form the centre piece of an aggressive investment strategy that is once again rapidly expanding the company’s printing arsenal to help it meet ever increasing customer demands. Further investments on target for installation over the coming months include an Arizona 350 XT high quality flatbed printer; another KIP Color 80 system (the second it has installed in the last year); the company’s second Rho 320 R roll-to-roll system in less than a year; and two Zund G3 cutting systems, which will join six Zund cutting systems already installed across the company’s two Marghera production sites.

Continues Mr Rigamonti: “pixart.it has always been a company that will invest in the right and most innovative technology to meet its customers’ demands and enable us to achieve the optimum price/quality ratio. So, the installation of the new Komori is completely in line with this strategy. What's more, it's fundamentally important for us to be able to guarantee all our customers the quality and service which has always set us apart. We can now do this by managing the high volume print production process inhouse as we do with all our cut-sheet and wide format digital printing services.”

Pre-registration for all those wishing to attend Ipex 2010 is now officially available via www.ipex.org/register and will result in a £30.00 saving off the entrance fee. The show organisers have confirmed that there will be free fast-track entry for all pre-registered visitors to the international event which will take place from 18th – 25th May 2010 at the NEC in Birmingham UK.

To cater for its international audience, the Ipex organisers have translated the pre-registration forms into French, Italian, German, Spanish and Simplified Chinese. Visitors who register via the website will also benefit from a discounted official Show Catalogue as well as exclusive pre-show email newsletters announcing new event features and visitor incentives.

Comments Nick Craig Waller, Ipex 2010 Marketing Director: “Our online registration system is extremely popular and provides the quickest and easiest way for our exhibitors’ customers and prospects to attend. Pre-registration for Ipex 2010 does not only save the visitor a great deal of time when they actually arrive at the event, it also saves money.

“With over 1,200 international companies representing all sectors of the print, publishing and media industry, Ipex 2010 will bring the world’s leading technology suppliers under one roof. Visitors will be able to discover new products, experience the latest industry innovations and emerging technologies but also get a chance to take away inspirational ideas from the business-focussed features at the event.”

Anyone who arrives at the event without having pre-registered will have to pay a £30.00 entrance fee.

Offering an important information and planning tool, the Ipex website – www.ipex.org – is already playing a crucial role in collecting and disseminating information to exhibitors and visitors alike. The increased functionality of the site enables exhibitors to post far greater detail about their specific plans. In addition, visitors have access to the latest exhibitor lists, including up to date product and service information, floorplans as well as cost-effective travel packages and logistical information.

Lance Blizzard (MWV Group Technical Process Manager) and Simon Landau (CWE/GMG Technical Director) with the ISO 12647-2 standards print and proof.

 

MWV’s AGI Media, a leading supplier of packaging solutions for the media entertainment industry, announced today that its Slough operation has achieved the FOGRA PSO ISO 12647 print certification, making them the first UK-based company to achieve this standard.

FOGRA UK partner City & West End Solutions oversaw the testing, with Simon Landau of CWE having previously assisted AGI with the provision of the necessary technical consultancy and supply of GMG Colour Management Software.

The FOGRA PSO ISO 12647-2 accreditation is primarily focused on the correct, optimised colour for the printing process.  In order to receive this accreditation, many process modules had to be conducted and carried out correctly such as evaluation and selection of materials, correct colour management , the production of contract proofs, measuring control and visual appraisal under standard viewing conditions.  General Manager, Andy Watts, stated “We pride ourselves on producing premium packaging and have embraced standardisation and critical process control to ensure quality and predictable, consistent and repeatable colour results to help build and protect our  customers’ brands.”

The MWV Group has invested heavily with CWE Solutions in GMG’s Print Control & Rapid Check software for press standardisation and GMG Colour Proof for the production of all their colour accurate contract proof’s.

This new certification complements the ISO 12647-7 (proofing process) for closed  loop colour which the company has already achieved.

AGI Slough’s other existing accreditations include:  ISO 14001 environmental  management system; ISO 9001 NQA quality management standard;  FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft);  and the International Safety Award from the British Safety Council in 2008 for safety procedures and working practices.

Additionally, AGI Slough has chain of custody certification from both the FSC and PEFC, which provides third-party validation of MWV’s sustainable fibre sourcing practices, and helps assure customers and consumers of the company's responsible environmental stewardship.

 

UK printers scooped the top awards in Interior and Textile categories at this year’s FESPA Digital Print Awards, as well as taking second place in the Vehicle Category and receiving a further commendation in the Textile Category.

The competition was open to printers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and attracted more than 200 entries, which were evaluated by an independent jury. The winners were announced on the eve of the FESPA Digital 2009 exhibition (12 -14th May 2009) in Amsterdam. One winner and one runner-up were selected for each of the six categories, and an additional 11 entries were commended by the jury.

Derbyshire-based Bonar Floors (now trading as Forbo Flooring Systems*), was singled out in the Textile Category for its innovative floor solutions, created for Milan-based architectural practice Sottsass Associati. The Sottsass Collection project involved producing a range of original designs using Bonar Floors’ flocked flooring - a unique, velvety, minimalist textile floor cladding. The company overcame a number of obstacles, which included adapting the Reggiani Giano machine to meet the requirements needed to create the innovative flooring solution. The two-millimeter-long flock had to be dyed and fixed to its roots, so the design team and colourist research technicians worked with the Reggiani machine experts for 18 months to achieve the desired results. Finally, the machine needed a specially acclimatised chamber, which meant that the entire facility was moved from one part of the factory to another to achieve the optimum operating environment.

Southeast England’s VCG Colourlink triumphed in the Interior Category, beating the competition with its Birmingham Post: Fort Dunlop project for interior architectural practice MMoser Associates and their client BPM Media. VCG Colourlink worked closely with the MMoser Associates’ creative team to develop high impact graphics across a wide range of substrates to radically redesign the client’s open-plan office creating artwork for the walls using a combination of historical, contemporary and abstract images. The key challenge was delivering colour consistency with diverse printed materials, ensuring these complemented the surrounding furniture and fittings, clearly defining the workspace into specific zones. As the client's business was newspaper publishing, a ‘newsprint dot’ theme was used for the images, which were printed onto VCG Colourlink’s trademarked Digital Wallpaper®, using the EFI VUTEk QS2000.

AST Signs Ltd from Manchester and Cumbria was runner-up in the Vehicle Category. Client Eddie Stobart wanted to achieve a new look for its vehicles with maximum visual impact. Printed using several Roland large format printers, the wraps needed to be cost-effective, had to last at least three years and, for the first time, the bumpers also had to be wrapped. The sheer size of the fleet - 1,500 44-tonne articulated units and 2,600 trailers - presented major challenges. Due to time constraints, the company was not able to remove the normal vehicle accessories prior to wrapping, which meant extra care needed to be taken to ensure high quality fitting. The AST Signs Ltd design team had to be very creative to ensure that the fleet's image looked consistent throughout.

The UK’s Glasgow School of Art received a commendation for its Textile Category entry Mackintosh Re-interpreted for client Hunterian Art Gallery/The Monument Trust/GSA. Using the Stork Sapphire/Mimaki TX2, the Glasgow School of Art set out to replicate Mackintosh’s original designs using contemporary processes and substrates to reproduce the aesthetic quality of the originals. Selected archive pieces were carefully studied, colour managed and handled to ensure that initial printouts matched originals. Mackintosh’s designs then had to be re-interpreted by completing unfinished tiles, extracting motifs and colour elements to make up the final 18 x 3 metre repeat lengths of the vertical textile hangings.

Commenting on the UK printers’ success, Nigel Steffens, FESPA CEO, said: “We are extremely pleased with the response that we’ve had from UK printers at this year’s FESPA Digital Print Awards. Overall, the UK had the second highest number of entries and took home the highest number of wins. Last year’s Awards saw UK printers receive five commendations overall, so it’s great to see them raise their game in terms of the quality of their work and creative solutions that they provide their customers. We look forward to seeing this trend continue at the next FESPA Digital Print Awards.”
 

New appointment at CWES cements their position as the UK's leading proofing system provider.

Rob Thurston, formerly of Xelix, has joined leading large format reseller and colour proofing specialist City and West End Solutions.

With more than 8 years experience with GMG proofing and colour management products, Rob Thurston is highly regarded in the industry. Rob comes to CWE Solutions from GMG reseller Xelix, bringing with him a loyal client base which includes Colour Systems/Fresh Media, Conde Nast Publishing, Bauer, Polestar and other similarly high profile clients.

Rob joins Simon Landau at CWE to bring together two of the UK’s foremost technical experts for GMG products.

Doug Gilbertson, Managing Director of CWE Solutions Ltd, said “This appointment underlines our commitment to keeping CWE at the leading edge of the GMG proofing and colour management sector. Without doubt we are now the number one supplier of large format GMG in the UK, a position we are proud to have achieved. Rob can only add further to the expertise that we can make available to CWE customers".

As testament to these claims, CWE recently provided the technical consultancy that saw AGI Media become the first ever UK print company to achieve FOGRA ISO12647-2 certification.

 

In response to strong growth in the Irish market, Roland DG (UK), a leading manufacturer of eco-solvent wide-format inkjet printers, engravers and 3D prototyping products has announced the integration of Roland DG Ireland into its operations, effective from 1st May 2009.

Roland DG Ireland previously existed as a sales and service team operating from offices within the Roland Music headquarters in Dublin, but will be based in new dedicated premises, details of which will be announced shortly, where it will also have state-of-the-art demonstration facilities. The integration with Roland DG (UK) means it now has access to the UK operation's well established and substantial infrastructure, which will help it to meet the increasing demand for training, machinery and associated consumables from its large and growing customer base in Ireland. It will also ensure that service levels remain high as Roland DG Ireland seeks to maximise its share of the market.

Said Jerry Davies, Managing Director, Roland DG (UK): "Roland DG Ireland's customer base has grown to the extent that its requirements will be better served by a higher level of dedicated service and support, which is exactly what it will get as a result of this integration. Roland DG Ireland's already successful team has been ably led by Dave Rainsford, General Manager, Roland DG Ireland. They have intimate knowledge of the market and its nuances and have developed some very strong relationships over the years. Now with the backing of the UK operation, they are well equipped to build further on their success."

Operationally, Roland DG Ireland will have the added support of the UK's marketing team and will benefit from improved logistical efficiencies when shipping products from Japan, where they are manufactured. It will also be able to enhance its technical expertise with support from the UK's product management teams across its range of wide format inkjet printers, printer/cutters and engraving machinery, as well as the highly specialist laser scanning and 3D modelling sectors.

Concludes Jerry Davies: "Just as in the UK, Roland DG has a strong claim to being the market leader in Ireland, with an install base numbering in the thousands. We're very pleased to have the Ireland operation on board as we fully expect this to grow and both the Irish and UK markets can look forward to some very exciting developments that are currently in the pipeline."