Large Format Review - Business News

The family of HP Latex printing solutions distributed by HP channel partner William Smith has been extended with the addition of two new models. Both the HP Designjet L26500 printer (replacing the earlier HP Designjet L25500) and the larger HP Designjet L28500 machine (due for launch on 20th January) share all of the now familiar environmental and performance benefits but in addition open both similar and specific new applications through a raft of upgraded design features. 

As with all HP Latex printers, these new platforms incorporate the unique and patented HP Latex Ink Technology. This has only a minimal VOC (volatile organic compound) content, contains no HAP (hazardous air pollutants) and does not generate ozone emissions during the printing process. As a consequence, no expensive fume extraction or special ventilating equipment is required, thus adding to the appeal of migrating from hazardous solvent-based systems to this faster, cleaner and ultimately more cost-effective water-based printing technology.

The HP Designjet L26500 now has a larger print width of 61 inches (1550mm) that makes the printer better suited to applications involving flexible media used, for example, in soft signage and textile printing. Furthermore, a new 40kg take-up system with dancer bar will increase the printer’s ability to keep media under tension for unattended printing. The L26500 also allows simultaneous double-sided printing as well as providing new ink formulations that are said to impart deeper and glossier colours and an enriched black finish. The six-colour platform provides a print resolution of 1200dpi and a variable print speed of up to 22.8 square metres/hour. It will handle a wider range of roll-fed media, including vinyl, backlit polyester film, textiles, thin banner-grade material and lined mesh for porous media.

The larger HP Designjet L28500 has been engineered to meet the needs of companies with an even broader range of applications and higher productivity levels and in particular those companies who perceive textile printing and soft signage applications as specific areas for future growth. The printer has an addressable width of 104 inches (2.6m) and shares the same environmental and performance benefits of the L26500 model but in addition can claim a 70 per cent increase in productivity.

Both printers are fully compliant with all relevant EU safety and environmental standards. Significantly, these include GREENGUARD certification that will enable odourless printed output for the more sensitive environmental applications such as those found in hospitals, educational establishments and other buildings where standards of health and safety are paramount.

The printers are compatible with both MAC and PC platforms, have a one-year warranty and are supported by the comprehensive HP Care Pack Service package.

For further information, please visit www.williamsmith.co.uk

[photo shows HP Designjet L28500]

Roland DGA Corp. has announced that Carolyn Klages of Klages Kreations in Oviedo, Florida, is the North American December People’s Choice winner in the Roland Creative Awards international design contest.  From a field more than 60 entries, Klages’ unique “ski wrap” was voted number one in December, winning her a 16 GB Apple iPad2 and Roland headphones.

Her winning entry was designed around a collection of five pairs of skis, lined up and individually wrapped to display the company’s logo. Produced on a Roland VersaCAMM VS-420 42-inch metallic inkjet printer/cutter, the wrap includes metallic elements, such as scrollwork and snowflakes, which give it a reflective quality and unified look.  Printed on adhesive-backed vinyl using the layered metallic setting in Roland VersaWorks RIP software, the shimmering prints were then laminated, precision cut on the VS, and installed on each ski.  Ski bindings were removed prior to installation and then reattached to create the whimsical display.

“I entered December’s contest and was very pleased to hear that we had won,” Klages said.  “But the real prize for me has been taking a look at creative projects produced by Roland users from all over the globe.  Looking at all the many ways artists are using Roland equipment has really sparked our creativity.  A big ‘thank you’ goes out to Roland for sponsoring such a wonderful contest to encourage creativity in our field, and also for making great equipment!”

Founded in 1995, Klages Kreations is a custom embroidery, monogramming and design business that also offers twill and chenille work. The company recently expanded its capability by adding a Roland VersaCAMM VS-420, allowing it to now offer printed, full-colour heat transfers, banners, decals and window clings, as well as custom “ski wraps” produced from original artwork.

Since its launch in September 2011, the Roland Creative Awards contest has received more than 750 entries from 14 participating regions representing 123 countries worldwide.  Contest entrants compete for monthly People’s Choice awards, as well as the grand prize trip to Japan and a machine of their choice. Entries are being accepted until 29th January 2012. 

To submit work, or to join in the vote for January’s North American People’s Choice winner, please visit the Roland Creative Awards official site at www.rolandcreativeawards.com.

HP large format reseller John E Wright & Co Ltd has recently supplied and installed the HP Designjet L26500 latex printer at Derbyshire-based graphics specialist Kaylee Transfers Ltd’s Long Eaton premises.  Established in 1948 as a screen printing business, Kaylee specialises in graphics and badges for automotive, construction, agricultural and marine vehicles. The company also provides a variety of POS, banners, and other large format solutions to its customer.

“We were looking to add to our existing offering of UV and solvent flatbed and roll printers and having looked at various options, the latest HP Designjet L26500 latex printer seemed to be the obvious choice.  It offers a number of improvements on previous versions including extra width, increased speed and double-sided printing abilities.  It provides us with a low-maintenance, cost-effective means of creating professional signage on a host of media,” states Iain Hardiker, managing director of Kaylee.

“Apart from the eco-friendly benefits that the printer offers, it also enables us to achieve the great quality and rapid turnaround expected by our clients across the retail and manufacturing sectors.  Plus, the ability to print across a variety of media with the latest generation of latex inks simplifies jobs when multiple media types are being used,” he adds.

“When choosing John E Wright as our supplier, I was immediately impressed by the Technical Manager Mark Dawson and his team. Apart from providing us with a competitive offer, they demonstrated in-depth experience in both installation and training. I believe this is because they run their own print machines...  The person you speak to is not just a salesman but has almost certainly operated the printer himself,” Iain Hardiker continues.

He concludes, “The printer arrived early from HP and within 24hrs it was installed and networked, initial training had taken place and the first job had been delivered to our client! I would recommend anyone considering a new HP printer to consider John E Wright as their supplier.”

Mark Dawson, Technical Manager at John E. Wright, comments, “Helping clients like Kaylee Transfers really isn’t any different to dealing with our own operations. We know what they need to achieve, what their clients’ expectations are, and how to go about making it all work together.  This includes a clear understanding of various media, technical profiles and the way that the new ink will interact with that media to provide the best image possible.  When Iain told me that Kaylee wanted to achieve the ISO14001 certification, the HP Designjet L26500 – with its green credentials – was the obvious choice.  It combines the advantages of the water-based technology with the ability to meet Kaylee’s quality and cost criteria.”

The installation and training process was greatly aided by the fact that John E Wright has recently been certified as the first UK company to be accredited with the HP EcoSolutions-Trained Print Company status.  This programme helps latex printer owners ensure that they receive the maximum benefit from their HP Latex printer.  It includes modules on getting the most from the environmental profile of the printer, on building a long-term commitment to sustainability and on how to engage clients on printing sustainability to help drive growth.

Mark Dawson adds, “As a regular user and reseller of HP latex printers, we were immediately interested when HP announced the introduction of the HP Latex University and the HP EcoSolutions Certification.  We felt it would be useful to undertake the Eco Solutions Training to gain more knowledge on how latex technology can benefit ourselves and our customers.”

As a result of its EcoSolutions Training, John E Wright’s will be helping all customers – like Kaylee Transfers – who purchase HP latex machines to undertake the relevant training.  As Mark Dawson explains, “The better that latex technology is understood and utilised the better it will be for all of us.”

John E Wright and Co (members of the GWL Group) is one of the largest resellers of HP Designjet printers in the UK.  Established in 1900, John E Wright has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the print industry and is classed by HP as an Elite Reseller.

John E Wright and Co is currently offering demonstrations of the HP Designjet L26500 at HP’s demonstration suites in Nottingham and Bracknell.

For more details on John E Wright and the demonstrations it is currently offering, please visit: www.johnewright.com

For more information on Kaylee Transfers, please visit www.kaylee.uk.com

[photo shows Mark Dawson (L) and Ian Hardiker (R)]

EFI has acquired privately-held Cretaprint S.L. based in Castellón, Spain, a leading developer of inkjet printers for ceramic tile printing.

"As evidenced by our record revenues, we are benefitting from strong traction in our industrial inkjet segment and are excited about expanding into the ceramic tile market, which represents a tremendous growth opportunity for EFI," said Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI.  "We have been tracking the swift transformation from analogue to digital technology in tile imaging for quite some time, and have been deeply impressed with the fast growth and global leadership position of Cretaprint."

"We are extremely excited to join EFI and look forward to leveraging EFI's Silicon Valley high-tech DNA, inkjet expertise, workflow, and colour management," said Victor Blasco, CEO of Cretaprint. "EFI's global presence will accelerate the adoption of our digital technology across the globe and especially in emerging markets."

Industry analysts continue to project rapid growth in ceramic tile inkjet printing, as noted by Dr Ray Work, Work Associates. "The tile industry is moving towards inkjet," said Dr Work. "The financial incentives are so great that the entire industry is converting rapidly to inkjet. The ceramic tile manufacturer can pay back their investment in an inkjet digital press for ceramic tiles in as little as six months." *

The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) conducts annual membership surveys. Their 2011 Industrial Printing Survey Report indicates that over 75 percent of its members utilise digital printing and also consider ceramic tile printing to be a strong market opportunity.

EFI will use its extensive knowledge of inkjet technology to enhance Cretaprint's quality of output, software control, colour management and more. EFI's digital experience and award winning imaging technology in combination with Cretaprint's leading ceramic tile printing will provide the industry with expanded offerings, superior workflow software and a worldwide support network that will expand Cretaprint's reach worldwide.

EFI plans to strengthen Cretaprint's operations in Spain, to further their expertise and innovation within the tile industry and to grow their market presence. "As a pioneer in the digitisation of the print industry, EFI is expanding into lucrative new markets. The ceramic tile industry can greatly benefit from our innovative portfolio of technologies," said Ghilad Dziesietnik, Chief Technology Officer of EFI. "We look forward to sharing our success with Cretaprint's 1,700-plus global customer network and expanding their talented employee base in Castellón."

Fourth Quarter 2011 Preliminary Results

Separately, EFI provided preliminary results for the fourth quarter of 2011, ended December 31.  For the fourth quarter the company expects record revenues of approximately $163 million compared to $145 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, marking EFI's eighth consecutive quarter of double digit growth. The company noted that the results were driven by record revenue in both the Inkjet and APPS/MIS segments.

 

Tech8, the technical support and spares specialist for the wide format printing industry, has launched a new first class pay-as-you-go service and support package for UK owners of large format digital printers. Unlike some other pay-as-you-go support deals, this option matches the service terms offered by Tech8 to its annual warranty customers.

The new Tech8 service has been launched to meet the needs of customers who prefer to pay-as-they-go rather than be on a long-term warranty contract. It offers all the priority benefits of a warranty contract, but without the upfront costs, contractual obligations or small print exclusions that can sometimes be associated with them.

Tech8’s pay-as-you-go option is available for print owners of all leading wide format printer models. The company has fully-trained engineers based across the UK and offers a 24 hour response. The company also carries a large inventory of spare parts in stock so they are available for immediate despatch.

“Sadly, when it comes to large format printer service, pay-as-you-go customers are often treated like second-class citizens,” comments Justin Atkinson, Business Manager at Tech8. “If these customers aren’t on the most-expensive level of pre-paid annual warranty, they can find they have to contend with long wait times for service, a lower level of priority and frankly a second rate service. This ultimately means their printers can be out of action for days.”

Justin adds, “At Tech8, we understand that a faulty printer costs a business time and money. Our primary aim is to always get the machine back up and running as soon as possible and we see no reason to delay that if a customer does not have a pre-arranged warranty with us.”

“We also like to offer our customers choice and - much like the mobile phone model – we like to offer our customers the option of paying upfront on a contract/warranty basis or to pay-as-they-go,” he concludes.

For more information on Tech8 and its pay-as-you-go option, contact Tech8 on Tel: 01628 560893 or visit their website at www.tech8.eu

Printing Industries of America, formed in 1887, is pleased to announce that 2012 marks its 125th anniversary as an association. To help celebrate this milestone, a new logo and webpage have been created. The webpage will highlight not only the history of the organisation but also the future of print and Printing Industries. Video and audio pieces featuring industry experts will be developed to capture their view of print’s past and its future. Celebrations will take place throughout the year, including one at Printing Industries of America’s booth at GRAPH EXPO 2012.

"It's important to look at our history to not only see what we've accomplished, but to learn from our past," Michael Makin, CEO of Printing Industries of America, said, "This association has grown and evolved over the years to nurture printers as they've embraced change in the industry, and we're excited to look back and explore our rich history. There’s certainly a lot of information to glean from the past 125 years."

Printing Industries of America was born out of a constitutional convention held in Apollo Hall in Chicago, Illinois, to help assuage the printing industry's competition and labour problems. Then known as United Typothetae of America, the association defined a mission that it still carries to this day: exchanging information and assisting each other where necessary.

Over the last 125 years, Printing Industries of America has grown to provide state-of-the-art research, hands-on training, and economic insight and helped spread the value of print. This anniversary celebration will look at those facets and educate members of the industry with key insights and a storied history of how Printing Industries of America has evolved to what it is today as well as what it will be in the future.

All of the 125th anniversary content will be available at www.printing.org/125years.