Hardware - Print Finishing

Roland DG Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers, printer/cutters and vinyl cutters, has introduced the CAMM-1 PRO Series GX-640 64” vinyl cutter.

Building on 23 years of advanced CAMM-1 technology, the GX-640 is Roland’s largest and most advanced cutter ever, setting a new standard for performance and precision across media ranging from vinyl and polyester to Mylar, polyurethane, sand blast, twill and flock. The GX-640 outperforms other cutters on the market today with a new generation of servo motor technology, superior media handling, and powerful integrated design and output software for both stand-alone cutting and print-then-cut workflows. The GX-640 joins Roland’s CAMM-1 PRO cutter range, which also includes 50” and 30” models.

As a CAMM-1 PRO cutter, the GX-640 offers full integration with VersaWorks RIP software, included with every Roland wide-format inkjet printer.  As a result, the GX-640 can be paired with a Roland printer to produce custom, full-colour POP displays, signs, vehicle wraps, T-shirt heat transfers, labels and decals with ease and efficiency.

The GX-640 features Roland’s optical registration system, Quadralign®, which reads pre-printed crop marks and accurately aligns the graphic. This allows the GX-640 to automatically contour cut pre-printed designs with precision. At 64” wide, the GX-640 also cuts a variety of media in virtually any size and shape. New powerful servo motors and a “heavy mode” setting guarantee results on the largest, heaviest media rolls, including paint mask.

Roland CAMM-1 PRO GX-640 Features:

• Supports 64”-wide media, large enough for virtually any job, including vehicle wrap, window tint or paint protection jobs
• Powerful new servo motor technology and a “heavy mode” handle large, heavy media rolls, including sand blast materials
• New “pre-feed” function ensures proper feeding of heavy media by automatically drawing one metre of media through the device before cutting
• High-performance cutting speed and blade force for precision handling of a wide range of media, including long rolls of thick and thin materials
• Full integration with VersaWorks, Roland’s easy-to-use RIP software, for pairing with our inkjet printers
• Cutting data for pre-printed graphics is output from VersaWorks directly to the GX-640
• The GX-640 recognises printed crop marks, making it fast and easy to contour cut full-colour graphics
• Includes CutStudio, Roland’s feature-rich design software

Roland CutStudio Software

CAMM-1 PRO cutters come with the latest version of CutStudio, Roland’s powerful, easy-to-use design software. With CutStudio, users can draw sophisticated graphics in this vector based programme and also import photos and graphics in jpg or bmp. CutStudio is compatible with Windows 7/VISTA/XP and includes plug-in software for Adobe® Illustrator® CS2/CS3/CS4, CorelDRAW® X3/X4/X5 for Windows, and Adobe® Illustrator® CS2/CS3/CS4 for Mac. As a result, users of these programs can send data directly to the CAMM-1 PRO.

With several awards for enterprise and innovation, Stylo’s creative professionals are continually searching for new and dynamic solutions to everyday sign and display needs. Stylo was founded by existing MD Simon Olley over 20 years ago and from humble beginnings, has now grown into one of the biggest large format print service providers in the UK. Already the proud owners of a Zünd XL flatbed cutter for well over seven years, when the new G3 cutter/router was launched they knew they had to have one.

The Zünd G3 was installed in Dec 2009 alongside the existing XL model. Operations Director Simon Wheeler explained the thought process behind choosing the Zünd G3, “We looked at other cutting beds but decided our experience with the XL had been good and whilst there were other cutting beds in the market, the package offered by Zünd UK included not only the cutter, but levels of service both in terms of sales and future maintenance that were very good and this helped make our decision very easy in the end.”

Hailed as a “new generation of cutters”, the Zünd G3 automates all cutting and trimming functions – manual cutting is reduced to an absolute minimum which removes the potential for mistakes, improves efficiency and reduces waste and cost. It comes with an optimized workflow and will cut materials up to 50mm thick. Designed by award winning industrial designer Richar Amiel, the Zünd G3 is a heavy-duty machine built for a 24/7 workload whilst maintaining accuracy and exceptional quality.

“In developing G3, our primary focus was productivity”, explains Maurus Zeller, Zünd Product Manager. “Productivity means more than just machine speed. This is truly the most multifunctional system on the market. Equally well suited for cutting, creasing, scoring or routing simple shapes or complex contours, the new G3 is perfect for almost any job, consistently delivering maximum quality and throughput.”

And true to form, Stylo use their Zünd G3 to cut and route everything you can imagine; from paper posters to 19mm foam PVC. One of their most recent projects involved cutting a 15mm Digital ply with an image on to be used as a hoarding.

Simon continues; “The router Is a serious part of the cutter and enables us to produce cut outs to shape from 12mm Perspex and the quality is so good, there is no need to do anything further with the edge by way of finishing as it’s already finished!”

Stylo specialises in offering a complete service from design through to production and installation of large format graphics. Whilst they offer design and print services to many companies and markets including creative agencies, exhibition builders, office fit outs & corporate launches, it is the retail sector that they champion themselves – excelling in producing static, three dimensional and even animated displays to companies such as TK Maxx, Vodafone, Austin Reed and Muji amongst many others.

The Zünd G3 finishes a number of products including direct to media print, traditional mount and seal products as well as dye-sublimation prints.

Simon concludes; “We are very optimistic about the next 12 months and certainly we have retained a good level of work in the previous twelve months and don’t see this changing in the near future. We are mindful that influences outside our control could make the next twelve months even more challenging, and we are always looking at ways to improve our production and make ourselves as efficient as possible, hence investing now in the right equipment to be able to take us through this next stage. The dynamism and enthusiasm for breaking moulds and pushing boundaries at Stylo is instilled right through the company in every department and is actively encouraged – we like to think that some of this rubs off on our clients so they keep coming back for even more!

About the Zund G3:

• The new G3 is freely accessible from all sides.
• The workstation provides secure storage for modules or tools that are not in use.
• A new V-Cut tool can be used to cut rigid materials up 16 mm (5/8 in.) thick at various angles from 0° to 45°. This makes it possible to create 3-dimensional displays from materials such as Kapa, Egafix, and similar dense sandwich board or honeycomb materials.
• A high-resolution ICC camera attaches to the tool carriage and can be freely combined with any and all tools and modules. This option is indispensible for applications that require efficiently and accurately matching cut to print.
• Zünd’s high quality standards for G3 are also reflected in the unprecedented 2-year warranty that comes with the base G3 machine, something no other manufacturer to date is willing to offer.
• G3 is fully compatible with many widely available CAD and packaging programs.

About Zünd UK:

• The Zünd name is synonymous with the words quality, performance and reliability.
• Established in 1993, Zünd UK has rapidly become one of the industry leaders in the supply and service of precision cutting systems. Industries such as Graphics, Sign & Display, Galleries, Textile, Aviation, Motorsport, Membrane Switch, Packaging, Retail, Interior Design, Outdoor advertising etc…have all benefited from the introduction of our systems.
• Situated to the North of London and close to the M1 / M25 motorway network is Zünd UK's sales and service centre offering a full pre- and after sales service. Zünd UK as a company is renowned for its’ excellent customer service and superior engineering skills. Their headquarters have fully equipped demonstration facilities with all the latest products and accessories from the Zünd portfolio.

For more information on Zünd UK, call 01727 833003

For more information on Stylographics call 01923 800666

Show marks introduction of i-cut production software, a rich collection of software solutions for sign and display, plus demonstration of new Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated digital finishing table

EskoArtwork will demonstrate during Fespa 2010, at Stand 270 in Hall B1, its comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end workflow and digital finishing solutions. Highlights at the show – which takes place from June 22nd to 26th in Munich, Germany – include the introduction of i-cut production software, the collection of pre-production solutions that streamline the workflow for the large-format digital printing and finishing throughout the entire production process, from prepress to the finished product.

There will also be live demonstrations of the new Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated and the most successful Kongsberg XP product lines for sign makers and digital printing converters. EskoArtwork will also be present at the HP Scitex stand,  located in Hall B2 stand 120, where the Kongsberg i-XL will be demonstrated along with the EskoArtwork pre-production solutions.

“Fespa is this year’s most important event for the sign and display industry in Europe, and it's the ideal backdrop and timing to introduce our new solutions,” says Nicolai Gradman, EskoArtwork Senior Vice President CAM & Supply Chain. "We are committed to “shape the future” of our customers´ business and of this industry. Across the ‘design-to-print-to-cut’ spectrum of printed graphics production, EskoArtwork solutions improve each step of the process. In the design phase, application tools improve the graphic and structural design, editing and layout of files to make them print-ready. In the print stage, our workflow integration with RIP software allows the seamless, automated creation of cut ready files for finishing operations. And, in the cut phase, the Kongsberg finishing tables provide flexible, versatile and productive finishing, transforming printed graphics into usable products.”

EskoArtwork’s new solutions reflect the needs of today’s digital printing and finishing markets. The Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated offers the fastest and most productive solution for finishing a wide variety of creative digital print applications. With the new automation features, digital printing companies can bring production in-house. It allows them to not only improve turnaround times but also saves on the use of dies while reducing costs. The Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated works along any small-format to medium-size digital press and is a profitable solution to finish a wide range of digitally printed applications up to print-runs of several thousands, depending in design complexity.

Building on its experience developing prepress and workflow solutions, EskoArtwork also introduces a new range of software tools called i-cut production software. “EskoArtwork is doing something very different in this industry by offering a complete workflow solution from design through finishing,” adds Gradman. “This industry lacks dedicated tools to streamline operations, improve throughput, and reduce errors and material waste. This is an issue that many converters are even not aware of. We are convinced this is set to change when they experience the enhanced i-cut production software.”

New – i-cut production software raises productivity, saves time and reduces errors

The i-cut production software is targeted specifically at companies that drive a large format digital printer and/or digital finishing system and require professional tools to streamline their workflow. i-cut production software is part of the EskoArtwork Suite 10 of design, pre-production and automated workflow solutions.

"For the first time, wide format printing and digital finishing companies will be able to work with a complete, integrated solution, with our new i-cut software, " explains Gradman. "It's comprised of different modules, with i-cut Preflight for efficient PDF preflighting and editing, i-cut Automate for data workflow and i-cut Layout for interactive layout and nesting. For precise and accurate die-less cutting, the i-cut Vision Pro control system is essential."

One of main advantages of i-cut production software is that users don't have to go back to a native application, working within a PDF file. Furthermore, it reduces errors by spotting them before RIPping, and it optimizes the layout, which ultimately reduces material costs and minimizes the set-up time. Users with more specific requirements can easily also add additional modules: Structural Design module that allows integration with all standard structural design programs and contains a brand-new box builder function; Graphics Preparation module to create the cutting contour on both vector files and images and True Shape Nesting module offering a powerful true shape nesting solution, particularly for irregular shapes.

New – Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated digital finishing

The Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated is equipped with a newly designed stacker and sheet feeding system, and has been specifically designed to meet the growing demand for finishing small-format, short-run digital printed materials.. It opens opportunities for creative, new applications with irregular shapes or finishing structures, such as folders, greeting and business cards, small signs and displays, packaging, flyers and many more novel applications.

The sheet feeder system automatically loads and places the printed materials on the table. The automated stacker enables non-stop sorting and neatly stacks the finished parts. The system also automatically separates  waste from the finished items.. As a result, the machine can run unattended, delivering a significant saving on man-hours. The Kongsberg i-XE10 itself combines high production speed and precision with easy operation. It can handle a maximum sheet size of 900 mm x 1200 mm at a maximum speed of 80 m/min.

Kongsberg XP, a true production machine

The Kongsberg XP series is designed to operate continuously in a 24/7 production environment. It is targeted at manufacturers of POP and permanent in-store product displays that need a fast and highly reliable solution for short-run production. With the launch of the Kongsberg XP digital cutting table in 2009, EskoArtwork offered a faster and equally highly reliable solution, specifically suited for short-run production—and the market responded positively with more than 60 successful operational installations worldwide. Customers such as the STI Group in Germany, Third Dimension in the US and Artbox in Sweden to name a few, are enjoying a tangible ROI through dramatically increased productivity and efficiency, reduced costs and faster turnaround times.

On the second day of the show – June 24th – EskoArtwork product specialists Ruben Cagnie and Einar Ek are presenting the latest novelties in the Fespa Innovation Theatre at 13.00.

SEAL Graphics will be at Fespa 2010 with a comprehensive selection of its protective and mounting films.   These, together with three popular laminating machines: the SEAL 600 MD, the award-winning SEAL 62 Base and the AquaSEAL AS 1600, will cover a wide range of applications.

The AS 1600 applies water-based liquid varnishes onto a variety of media; while the roll laminators 600 MD and 62 Base have been developed to apply film laminates for the professional finishing of diverse materials.

AquaSEAL AS 1600

By applying a durable external coating the AquaSEAL 1600 is suitable for use with vinyl and waterproof inkjet media.  The liquid laminate protects digital prints against wear, humidity, UV radiation and chemicals.  Visitors to Fespa can see how varnish is applied onto printed digital non-woven wallpapers, such as Neschen's 'Erfurt wallpaper CA'.  Even though digital print wallpapers are robust themselves, it is recommended to apply a layer of clear varnish as an additional protection in high traffic areas, for example in doorways and lobbies in hotels and restaurants.

"The requirements in the graphics industry are extremely multifaceted", says Frank Seemann, marketing and communications director for the SEAL brand, "which is why we are keen to discuss with visitors which varnish is suitable for which medium and which application."

SEAL roll laminators 600 MD and 62 Base

The roll laminator SEAL 600 MD is a robust bidirectional, high-performance, high-demand device equipped with two heated roller pairs.  Due to its two roller pairs this high-performance machine can process hot and cold laminating applications independently.  Additionally, the device comes with variable temperature, velocity and pressure controls.  The rollers are lifted and lowered pneumatically enabling the operator to comfortable mount, laminate and shrink-wrap a variety of materials up to 1.550 mm wide and up to 25 mm thick.

The cost-effective laminator SEAL 62 Base is a powerful starter model equipped with all basic features which users need for professional mounting of finishing and protective films as well as double-sided adhesive film.  The fully developed roller technology reliably processes pressure-dependent materials up to a thickness of 50 mm at a velocity of up to 5 m/min.  Both rollers are made of silicone and the heat assisted (up to 40 C) top roller provides a high degree of consistent quality.  The maximum working width is 1.575 mm.

Among its myriad film laminates, SEAL expects three of its new products - UV Sol Lam, Print Shield Pro Anti Graffiti and Base Stoplight 190 - to be of particular interest.  The UV Sol Lam range consists of especially durable, pressure-sensitive PVC laminating films with a solvent adhesive to enhance all digital print technologies, especially those using UV-curing inks.  Bumps are evened out without problem, so that the print media are very well protected against damage as well as fading due to UVA and UVB radiation.

With its specially finished surface, Print Shield Pro Anti Graffiti film protects digital print media against graffiti and vandalism very effectively.  The film is washable and extremely resistant to damage by a large number of detergents and solvents.

Base Stoplight 190 is a strong polyester rear side film with an aluminium core and works as a light protection for roll-up displays.  Media are mounted to the self-adhesive film in a cold lamination process.

Drytac a leader in finishing supplies and equipment has added the DES-6 Edge Finishing System to its existing edging system product line.

The DES-6 is a compact, flexible edging system that can apply a C profile edging to both straight-edged display boards and die-cut or digitally cut shaped boards from 3/8 inch or 5/8 inches (10-16 millimeters) thick.

Great for edging digitally cut, eco-board structures like furniture, shelving and display structures for retail displays and tradeshows, the DES-6 has friendly controls and is an excellent value to sign shops wanting a low price point.

Programmable logic controller (PLC) technology and a digital display allows precise glue application, edging feed and cutting to make applying edging to eco-boards like Xanita and Re-board simple and cost efficient.

The SEAL 62 Base has won 'Wide-Format Imaging' magazine's Readers’ Choice Top Products Award for Laminating Equipment in the US.

Wide-Format Imaging's poll focused on its readership of corporate and senior level management professionals directly involved in wide- and grand-format imaging who were asked to rate the best products in 27 categories.

Ideal for mounting and laminating pressure-sensitive graphics up to 61ins wide, the SEAL 62 Base laminator supports the rapidly growing digital display market. This machine represents a flexible package at an affordable price without compromising functionality. The top roller’s heat-assist feature ensures superb results with a wide range of materials.  Whatever the experience level of the operator, the SEAL 62 Base is easy-to-use and delivers genuine flexibility with high performance for the small to medium sized user.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the SEAL 62 Base,” said Frank Seemann, head of marketing and communications. “SEAL is no stranger to the Wide-Format Imaging Reader’s Choice Awards, but it is especially rewarding to see one of our newer machines winning this year.  The 62 Base is a real work-horse and has been designed to provide years of trouble-free use.”