Business

EFI today announced the 11th annual Connect users' conference will take place next year from April 18 to April 21 at the Wynn Las Vegas. Connect enables leaders from around the globe to attend educational sessions, test drive the latest EFI products, voice their opinions at user group meetings, discuss industry trends, and network with peers.

"We're looking forward to once again hosting EFI Connect at the luxurious Wynn Las Vegas, and next year's springtime event will be the most comprehensive ever, showcasing the full portfolio of EFI products and solutions," said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing, EFI. "Connect provides attendees with countless opportunities for learning, discussion and idea exchange, ensuring everyone takes away new information and insights to make their businesses even more competitive."

For 2010, EFI has reorganised the event to focus more on the needs of the user groups and individuals, moving the user group meetings earlier in the day and improving the daily schedule to offer more in-depth sessions based on the experience level and needs of the individual attendee.

"Connect is a great place to hear from my industry peers about how they're using their system, and to learn new tips and tricks about the software," said Todd Warren, owner of MPI Commercial and Digital Printing, a PrintSmith™ customer. "EFI is always willing to listen to our ideas about new features, improvements, etc. and is quick to implement them."

One new lab area feature will be live workflow demonstrations that will walk a job from acquisition, through management, preparation and production, enabling attendees to see the complete process first-hand. The Connect lab will showcase the latest versions of EFI's print MIS, web-to-print, proofing, and workflow offerings, Fiery® controller and software solutions, wide format printers from the VUTEk® and Rastek™ line-ups, and the latest Jetrion® label printer. As in past years, there will also be an industry vendor area where many of today's leading technology providers will be showcasing their products. 

"These demos, together with some exciting speakers that we'll be announcing over the next few months, promise to make Connect the 'must attend' event of the springtime," adds Mallozzi.

For more information on Connect 2010, go to www.efi.com/connect. Customers that pre-register now can take advantage of super early bird rates as low as $795 - almost half off the 2009 general registration fee. Early registration will lock in the best rates and place attendees on the priority contact list for new event information as it becomes available.

Canon Insight Report into the future of Digital Print - by Professor Frank Romano

This report was commissioned by Canon Europe for the benefit of the European printing industry and others involved in print. Canon Europe had no role in the research or results in any manner. The research team thanks them for their vision and support.

Research by graduate students enrolled in the RIT online Masters’ Degree in Print Media Trends course: Heba Abokamil, Amanda Barber, Marianne Engum, Meredith Needham, Meara O’Connell, Gregory Pake, Charissa Shirk, Sandra Yveborg, Jiayi Zhou, under the direction of Professor Emeritus Frank Romano.

Download the full report (PDF, 859KB)

The new HP Designjet L25500 Printer and the new HP Designjet T1200 Printer are on show on the HP stand (Hall 1 Stand K21/L30) at VISCOM Visual Communication Milan, 5-7 November.

These two latest innovations from HP were launched in October and will be on display for the first time in Italy, today.

The HP Designjet L25500 Printer is designed for ease-of-use and available in 42- and 60-inch models. It utilises HP's Latex Printing Technologies to deliver unrivalled versatility for a wide range of large format applications. Offering print service providers with print durability comparable to eco-solvent inks, the HP Designjet L25500 enables users to significantly reduce the impact of printing on the environment, and increase customer value.

The new HP printer is the ideal solution for small and medium digital print and sign shops, as well as copy shops and photo labs interested in offering an enhanced range of high impact indoor and outdoor applications and increasing their competitive advantage.

The HP Designjet T1200 Printer is one of the latest additions to HP's large-format portfolio. Designed for AEC and GIS professionals to enhance productivity and versatility, this new product features two online rolls with smart switching media length tracking and high-volume ink cartridges, including the new Original HP 726 Matte Black Ink Cartridge, to offer a continuous printing experience at speeds of two D-sized prints per minute.  The HP Designjet T1200 Printer also delivers the thinnest lines in the industry, to enable users to produce prints with precise detail, crisp text, and clear and accurate drawings.

Avery Dennison has appointed Horst Rothenberger to the post of Technical Support Specialist, Offset and Screen Printing, for the Graphics and  Reflective Products division in Europe.

Mr Rothenberger joined Avery Dennison in 2006 at the Schwelm, Germany, manufacturing facility, where he served as process engineer, production manager, and quality engineer.   In his new role, he is responsible for supporting both customers of the Graphics and Reflective Products sales team on technical matters, taking over from Joop van Lammeren, who retires this year after 37 years with the company.

Having worked in commercial offset printing and in bookbinding, qualified as Diplom-Ingenieur Drucktechnik at the Media University in Stuttgart, and worked as a freelance journalist for print-related business magazines, Mr Rothenberger is well-positioned for his new assignment.   He will continue to be based in Schwelm.

Compared to the third quarter of 2008, Group sales decreased 8.1 percent to 681 million Euro, which indicates that the crisis-driven decline in Agfa-Gevaert's markets is bottoming-out.

The Group's recurring gross profit margin improved from 30.1 percent in the third quarter of 2008 to 32.3 percent. It was positively influenced by efficiency programs, lower raw material prices and certain one-off effects and negatively impacted by manufacturing inefficiencies due to lower use of capacity.

Continuing its strict cost management, Agfa-Gevaert further reduced its Selling and General Administration expenses. The average monthly SG&A expense was brought down from 51 million Euro in the third quarter of 2008, to 44 million Euro in the third quarter of 2009, which is a cost decrease by 13.7 percent. The SG&A expenses represented 19.4 percent of sales, versus 20.8 percent in the third quarter of 2008.

The Group's recurring EBITDA (the sum of Graphics, HealthCare, Specialty Products and the unallocated portion) increased from 54 million Euro in the third quarter of 2008 to 68 million Euro. Recurring EBIT increased strongly from 27 million Euro to 43 million Euro.

The restructuring and non-recurring items resulted in an expense of 7 million Euro, versus 8 million Euro in the third quarter of 2008.

As in the first half of 2009, the non-operating result was affected by pension provisions (mainly concerning inactives), to cover for increased pension deficits in theUSAand theUK. The non-operating result amounted to minus 23 million Euro.

Taxes amounted to 8 million Euro, the same as in the third quarter of 2008.

The net result amounted to 4 million Euro, compared to minus 13 million Euro in the third quarter of 2008.
Balance sheet and cash flow

* At the end of September 2009, total assets were 2,931 million Euro, compared to 3,160 million Euro at the end of 2008.
* Inventories were 514 million Euro (or 97 days). Trade receivables (including deferred revenue and advanced payments) amounted to 532 million Euro, or 70 days and trade payables were 190 million Euro, or 36 days.
* Notwithstanding the limited impact of the securitization program, net financial debt improved to 500 million Euro at the end of September 2009, compared to 569 million Euro at the end of June 2009. Net financial debt improved by 350 million Euro over the past 2 years.
* Net operating cash flow amounted to 55 million Euro.

Agfa Graphics' sales decreased 8.8 percent versus last year's third quarter. Both the market environment and the activity levels were in line with the second quarter, but sales were positively influenced by certain one-off effects.

Profitability was positively impacted by efficiency programs, by lower raw material prices and by the above mentioned one-off effects. Negative effects came from the underutilization of the manufacturing capacity, bad debt provisions and competitive pressure. Compared to the third quarter of 2008, Agfa Graphics further reduced its Sales and General Administration expense with 9 million Euro.
The recurringEBITDA margin amounted to 8.8 percent of sales. The recurring EBIT margin increased to 5.6 percent of sales.

In prepress, Agfa Graphics received its first order for :N92v printing plates from the Chinese Guangzhou Daily, one of the world's top 100 daily newspapers. Furthermore, Agfa Graphics supplied an :Avalon N8 platesetter to Sungwon Adpia, the largest consumer of Computer-to-Plate printing plates in the Korean Printing industry.

In Norway, Agfa Graphics signed an important contract with Hjemmet Mortensen Trykkeri AS, the largest printer in the country. The deal includes the installation of two :Avalon N16 platesetters, a service contract as well as a three-year contract for :Energy Elite printing plates. Agfa Graphics also signed an exclusive 5-year printing plate contract with Roularta Media Group, a majorBelgian-French publishing and printing firm.

Also in prepress, Agfa Graphics announced the signing of an agreement with Kemtek Imaging Systems Ltd. for the distribution, service and support of Agfa Graphics' product range for commercial printers in Southern Africa.

In industrial inkjet, Agfa Graphics' next generation range of :Anapurna large-format printers continued the success of the last quarters. With contracts signed all over the world, Agfa Graphics was able to expand its market position in the large-format segment.

Furthermore, Agfa Graphics introduced new features for its :Dotrix Modular inkjet press. The new Express Print Mode increases the press' productivity by 35 percent. The second feature expands the :Dotrix Modular's color gamut.

In the USA, Digital Packaging Solutions recently installed Agfa Graphics' :Dotrix Modular press. The system enables the company to deliver on-demand services for the packaging industry.

The world's first :M-Press Tiger was successfully installed at the SMP Group in London. The :M-Press Tiger is the second generation of the :M-Press industrial flatbed press. In recent months, various orders were booked for Agfa Graphics' high-end inkjet press.

Outlook - For the rest of the year, the Agfa-Gevaert Group does not expect major changes in the market environment.

Xaar, the world's leading independent supplier of industrial inkjet printheads has confirmed the appointment of Keith Nixon (BSc, MBA) to the role of European Sales Manager.

Keith joins Xaar after spending 12 years with Fujifilm Sericol, where his most recent role was Digital Business Manager. Prior to that, Keith spent some time working for both Domino Printing Sciences and Linx Printing Technologies.

Phil Eaves, Sales & Marketing Director at Xaar comments: 'We are delighted to be bringing Keith on board. His knowledge of inkjet applications and the printing industry is ideal for this role. This is a great appointment for Xaar; it strengthens our sales presence in Europe at a time when Xaar inkjet applications are developing into new market segments. I am extremely confident that he will be a valuable asset to the team.'