Large Format Review - Business News

Integration Technology Ltd (ITL) is set to open a Japanese office in Janaury 2012 to further support distributors and its growing customer base in the country.

ITL has operated in the region since 2001, in partnership with local distributor Neopt, to support its digital graphics market business, adding Finesensing in 2009 for an ever growing number of specialist industrial applications.

In a move mirroring ITL’s proven strategies in China, the USA and South Korea, the company is to open a representative office in Tokyo, providing technical sales, parts stores and administration functions for the territory.

“Having our own office in Japan is timely given the success we achieved in the market and in terms of the benefits a more dedicated presence offers our distributors and customers,” says ITL Sales Director David Johnson. 

He adds, “This office will afford us a more comprehensive understanding of a key technology market, consolidate our relationships with research bodies, and effect better technical feedback from local materials suppliers.   We will also be able to provide enhanced technical support for both field testing and projects via a dedicated fully trained ITL resources in Tokyo.”

Agfa Graphics and Spandex have announced the signing of an agreement under which Spandex will distribute the range of :Anapurna UV curable inkjet printers throughout Europe.

"Our customers look for solutions in the market, not just for a printer or any particular technology," said Frederik Dehing, Vice President Region Europe at Agfa Graphics. "With Spandex as a partner, we can help customers find the right solution for their application needs, from printing to finishing."

Mr. Leon Watson, Group Hardware Director at Spandex said: "The :Anapurna UV flatbed range fits perfectly into the sign and display market, as well as commercial print. In a fast changing market, it’s imperative that the machines we provide can support the application needs of our customers. The :Anapurna does that by offering high-speed, high-quality prints on machines ranging in price from €50,000 to €130,000. The addition of the new :Anapurna M2540 FB, will further cement Agfa Graphics' standing in the UV market."

At several upcoming events and exhibitions, :Anapurna will be shown integrated in the Spandex product portfolio.

Fujifilm Graphic Systems UK has revamped its customer showroom at the company’s UK headquarters in Bedford to showcase innovative new print applications and highlight what can be achieved with the latest print technologies.

The central focus of the new showroom is an innovative coffee bar, decorated with some of the latest wide-format media and showcasing all different types of print. Currently themed as a surfers’ coffee bar, the area features a number of creative printable media applications, including a printed floor vinyl, self adhesive and pasteable printed wallpaper, and 3D vinyl applied to surf boards.

“As well as providing a functional environment to demonstrate our expanding product range, we are hoping we will spark the imagination of printers coming to our showroom so that not only do they go away with new ideas, but they can gain a full understanding of what our products can help them achieve,” says Graham Leeson, European marketing communications manager, Fujifilm Graphic System Europe.

“We intend to change the theme in our showroom regularly and will focus on highlighting the innovations that our customers are proactively creating. Over the last few years, the UK showrooms of many suppliers in the industry have suffered due to increasing cost pressures, so we are delighted to be investing in an environment in the UK where printers can see what can be achieved with the latest print technologies.”

Also featured in the new showroom is a ‘Show-Off Wall’ that demonstrates a range of creative print applications; a ‘Test Drive Wall’ that enables visitors to get hands-on with the various media in Fujifilm’s euromedia range, and the Fujifilm Surface Table, a coffee table-style touch screen device that can be used to create photobooks from scratch.

Fujifilm has a range of equipment on show, including the latest wide-format Acuity flatbed printer, a range of digital presses with finishing capabilities and a portfolio of pre-press and plate production equipment. The entire showroom is managed via a central XMF Workflow hub, demonstrating true cross-media print production in action.

The showroom opened its doors to its first visitors on 7th September and has received very positive feedback so far.

“We look forward to customers coming to visit and seeing for themselves the many and varied opportunities that Fujifilm-powered solutions can bring to their businesses,” concludes Graham Leeson.

Initially put together as a bit of fun and based on office chit-chat about who might buy who, our original 2009 Rich List was one of the most clicked stories on our website.  It was obviously a popular piece, so we've updated it and now present to you the Officially Unofficial LFR 2011 Wide Format Rich List.

Listed below are the publicly traded companies involved directly (or through subsidiaries) in the wide format digital print marketplace.  The uppermost list shows those listed in the Forbes Global 2000, with their current rank, whilst the list below shows some of the other big players who are important through either financial size or their market presence to merit inclusion.

All figures are in $ USD Billions.

Rank Company Sales Profits Assets Market Value 42 Hewlett-Packard 127.20 9.10 119.9 90.30 141 Canon 45.70 3.00 49.10 61.90 173 DuPont 32.70 3.00 40.40 48.80 190 3M 26.70 4.10 30.20 65.20 457 Xerox 21.60 0.60 30.60 14.60 460 LG Chem 16.80 1.90 11.30 22.80 672 Fujifilm Holdings 23.30 -0.41 29.30 17.30 837 Dai Nippon Printing 16.90 0.25 16.90 9.00 1584 Konica Minolta 8.60 0.18 8.90 4.80 1596 Seiko Epson 10.50 -0.21 9.30 3.40 1698 Avery Dennison 6.50 0.32 5.10 4.40 1909 DIC (Sun Chemical) 8.10 0.03 7.60 2.30               Eastman Kodak 6.49         Sequana (Antalis) 5.67         Bemis (Mactac) 5.24         Paperlinx (RHG, PaperCo) 4.57         AGFA Gevaert 4.09         Toyo Ink 3.24         Sakata (INX) 1.55         EFI 0.55         Roland DG Corp 0.40         Mutoh 0.34         Mimaki 0.28

You can also compare the above figures with those from our 2009 Rich List

Sources: Forbes Global 2000 list for 2011, Financial Times Market Data. E&OE.

A Birmingham boss is halfway through a monstrous challenge that includes cycling over 1,200 kilometres in a gruelling ‘Tour de France’ style charity event.
 
Tim Andrews, managing director of graphics and signage expert Hollywood Monster, has been joined by Simon Jenkins, senior vice president of the development team at global property group Prologis, and Wragge & Co real estate partner Mike Trainer for the duration of the challenge.  The three left Tim’s hometown of Solihull last week and cycled to Paris, via London, on the first leg of the event, raising money for the Marie Curie cancer charity.
 
On Wednesday September 21 they were joined by more than 50 property professionals for the 340-mile Prologis Challenge Bike Ride - the second leg of the trip. They will cycle across France and into Geneva, Switzerland, a journey in which they will climb 2,000 metres over the Jura mountain range. They are due to reach their destination on Saturday.
 
Tim, who recently ran a marathon and cycled 75 miles on the same day alongside ‘Blind’ Dave Heeley in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, said he was enjoying the challenge and the camaraderie.  “We had a great journey from Solihull to Paris with no real problems so that has been a great warm-up for the next leg of the challenge. Simon, Mike and I are all good friends so we’ve supported each other along the way."
 
He continues, “It will be tough through the Jura mountain range as we head for Geneva – that’s when the legs and the lungs will really start to burn. One section is straight from the Tour de France so I’m sure that’s going to hurt, but it’s all for a good cause.”

[photo shows (from left) Tim Andrews, managing director of Hollywood Monster, Simon Jenkins, senior vice president of the development team at Prologis, and Wragge & Co real estate partner Mike Trainer.]
 

 

Following the opening its first centre in Long Island, USA, Fastsigns, the world’s premier business-to-business marketing solution franchise with more than 530 locations, is looking to expand its local presence and open as many as eight locations in the area.

In conjunction with its official arrival to the marketplace, Fastsigns' CEO Catherine Monson will be hosting a seminar for local entrepreneurs in Westbury, NY on September 27, 2011 to discuss the company’s key development plans and available franchise opportunities in Long Island, Westchester County and New York’s five boroughs. Lunch will be included and reservations are required. Monson will also discuss Fastsigns’ footprint in the sign industry, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit and professionalism necessary for success in the region.

“The opening of our first location in Long Island initiates our growth plans in a market where the demand for a customer-centric sign and graphics operation is high,” said Monson. “I look forward to speaking with those who attend the seminar about our business model and franchise offerings, and launch the next phase of our expansion initiative.”

Fastsigns franchised sign centres provide marketing and visual communications solutions to companies of all sizes and across all industries. Its product line includes not only signs and graphics, including banners; flags; building signs; digital and electric signs; yard signs; vehicle graphics; labels; trade show exhibits and displays; point-of-purchase signs; and posters; but also mobile websites, promotional products, printing and other marketing services.

For franchise information, contact Mark Jameson at mark.jameson@fastsigns.com

For more information or to make a reservation, contact Terra Tomlinson at terra.tomlinson@fastsigns.com or call 214-346-5612. Seating is limited.