27 Dec 2024

FESPA fans face the FESPA Digital Man challenge

Become 'Digital Man' to win a camcorder or state-of-the-art iPad!

FESPA is calling on its entire community to bring 'Digital Man' to life in the run-up to FESPA Digital 2011, by taking part in a brand-new online competition designed to promote the creativity and effectiveness of digital print as a communications medium.

The cool, sunglass-wearing figure of FESPA Digital Man originally appeared as a Che Guevara-style 'print revolutionary' in the cross-media campaign for FESPA Digital 2009, but has survived to characterise the evolutionary message of FESPA Digital in 2011.

The new Digital Man competition is designed to raise the profile of wide format digital print and engage digital print enthusiasts between now and the exhibition in May 2011.  Managed through the FESPA Facebook portal, individuals or groups are invited to download a Digital Man mask from the FESPA Digital 2011 website (www.fespadigital.com).

Would-be winners need to be photographed wearing the Digital Man mask in an amazing location, next to a brilliant example of digital wide format print, or just doing something exciting (digital Man's favourite sport is parkour, after all.)  Pictures can then be uploaded to a dedicated Digital Man photo album on the FESPA Facebook page, before the 17th May 2011 deadline.

Fans of the FESPA Facebook page will vote on the picture, or pictures they want to win. Fans are asked to judge on the three criteria - location, application or activity.   To vote, FESPA Fans simply click on the 'Like' button found beneath each picture on the Facebook page.  They can vote on as many pictures as they choose, but can only attribute one vote per image.

The winner of the Fan vote will be announced in advance of FESPA Digital 2011 and will be awarded a brand new HandyCam camcorder during a ceremony at the show in Hamburg.  A FESPA Choice Award winner, chosen by Digital Man himself, will be announced on site and will win an Apple iPad.

Marcus Timson, FESPA Sales and Marketing Director, says: "Digital Man has become an icon for FESPA Digital shows.  Digital printers are creative, enthusiastic, optimistic and brimming with ideas.  We're excited about this competition as an entertaining way to celebrate this, and engage our community ahead of our 2011 exhibition.

"It will also serve as an introduction, for some, to our various social media platforms.  Our Facebook pages, along with the FESPA Wide Network (www.widenetwork.ning.com), Twitter (@FESPA) and LinkedIN create opportunities for users to network with members of the digital print community, exchange and gather information on print trends, view videos, images, blogs and get the latest information on FESPA's expansive range of events."

For more information, full instructions and to download the face of FESPA Digital Man, visit http://www.fespa.com/digital/en/the-digital-man-campaign .  To become a Fan of FESPA on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/fespa and click 'Become a Fan'. To learn more about Digi DigitalMan you can even connect with him via his personal Facebook page.

Fujifilm presents ‘euromedia in action’ at Sign & Digital UK 2011

Fujifilm today announces its presence at Sign & Digital UK 2011 where it will showcase ‘euromedia in action’ by creating a unique, innovative retail outlet (stand H10, 12th – 14th April, NEC, Birmingham, UK). This purpose-built Fujifilm ‘shop’ will showcase innovative euromedia products in situ, creating a hands-on environment for visitors to explore different media products, surfaces and applications. As an additional attraction, the retail outlet will also feature some of the latest Fujifilm digital cameras, including the groundbreaking FinePix W3 3D camera, and the brand new retro FinePix X100.

Some of the applications that will be showcased include: internal and external window signage; floor graphics; promotional wall coverings; textured wall decorations; brick vinyl; pop-ups and banners; posters and backlit displays, and universal fabrics. Experts will be on hand to demonstrate the latest innovations with all these applications and visitors will get the chance to apply some of the media products themselves.

Fujifilm will also be showcasing the latest Acuity Advance flatbed printer, demonstrating the productivity, flexibility and quality of this hugely popular machine.

Peter Bray, UK sales manager for euromedia products comments: “We were looking for an innovative and effective way to showcase the many and varied applications that the euromedia products can be used for. Rather than just exhibiting swatches of our products, we felt that this shop was the perfect vehicle to demonstrate how our media products can be applied and to see ‘euromedia in action’.

Messe Düsseldorf Group widens its portfolio in Southeast Asia

Following the exponential growing market demands of the plastics, packaging and printing industries in Indonesia, the Messe Düsseldorf Group of Companies is pleased to announce its close involvement with INDOPLAS, INDOPACK and INDOPRINT from 2012 onwards.  The collaboration will allow the further development, expansion and internationalisation of the exhibitions to reflect on Indonesia's evolutionary path driven by a burgeoning economy and increasing consumerism. 

Messe Düsseldorf Asia and its local partner - PT Wahana Kemalaniaga (WAKENI) - will organise the three independent exhibitions from 11 to 14 April 2012 at the Jakarta International Expo.  With its dedicated team, expertise, extensive global network and commitment to delivering world-class events, Messe Düsseldorf Asia will take a leading role in organising all three exhibitions and elevating them to a more prominent level offering high quality platforms for its international and Indonesian exhibitors and industry partners to present cutting-edge and global technologies on machinery, processing solutions, equipment and services to Indonesia's booming manufacturing sectors. 

To be held biennially, the synergistic co-location of INDOPLAS, INDOPACK and INDOPRINT will bring about a truly international platform to serve Indonesia's plastics, packaging and printing industries.  Acknowledging the growing importance and opportunities of the Indonesian market, all three exhibitions in 2012 will be supported by VDMA's Plastics and Rubber Machinery, Food Processing and Packaging Machinery and Printing & Paper Equipment and Supplies divisions.  

INDONESIA – Rising economy in Asia!

Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest and one of the fastest growing economy in Asia, is the 4th most populous nation in the world with over 240 million inhabitants. GDP growth in 2010 was 5.9% and remains strong with projected growths of 6% in 2011, 6.4% in 2012, before expanding by 6.3% a year on an average in 2013–15. Domestic consumption is one of the major driving forces behind the country's economic growth accounting for close to 70% of the GDP. 

The increasing middle class has fueled demand for food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, household chemicals and other consumer products. The lucrative Indonesian food processing industry valued at approximately US$42 billion offers significant market opportunities for all involved in plastics, packaging and printing.  As it is, Indonesia's packaging industry market is expected to reach US$ 4.6 billion in 2011 from US$ 4.1 billion in 2010.  Where printing is concerned, the industry is projected to grow an average of 6% until 2015.

Increasing foreign investment has also become a big boon for many Indonesian firms.  Indonesia's investment coordinating body BKPM, is hoping to attract US$30 to US$40 billion in annual foreign investment by 2015.

With the tremendous potentials and strong developments in the manufacturing sectors in Indonesia, the collaboration could not happen at a more opportune time.  Messe Düsseldorf Asia will work closely with the k, interpack and drupa teams at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH as well as the 71 worldwide representative offices to increase and enhance the value and exposure of INDOPLAS, INDOPACK and INDOPRINT on an international scale.  Participating details on all 3 exhibitions will be available soon. 

About the organisers

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH is one of the world’s most successful exhibition organisers, responsible for organizsng more than 20 of the world’s number one exhibitions in various industries including plastics, printing and packaging -- namely, the globally acclaimed K Fair, drupa and interpack held in Düsseldorf, Germany. Its subsidiary office - Messe Düsseldorf Asia, with extensive expertise in organising trade fairs in Southeast Asia, has developed a portfolio of numerous trade fairs in Southeast Asia since 1995.  Its trade fairs for the plastics and rubber sectors in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam (M-PLAS, TIPREX and Plastics & Rubber Vietnam), and printing and packaging in Thailand (PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL) have met with resounding successes and are today benchmark events serving the regional markets of Southeast Asia and beyond. PT Wahana Kemalaniaga (WAKENI) represents Messe Düsseldorf GmbH for the marketing and promotion of its trade fairs to the Indonesian market including K, drupa and interpack.

HP Print Solutions line-up at Graphispag to demonstrate growth-enhancing opportunities for customers

HP will demonstrate an extensive range of commercial, industrial and large format graphic printing solutions, geared towards helping customers increase their profitable growth, at this year's Graphispag exhibition (Barcelona, 22nd -26th March).

Spanning the breadth of HP's broad graphic solutions portfolio, the HP showcase (Hall 2, Stand No. C339) will include innovative HP Indigo digital printing technology, designed to fulfil customers' demanding requirements for both sheet- and web-fed, high-volume, VDP projects for commercial print and labels; HP Scitex printers, designed for a myriad of signage printing applications; and HP Designjet printers for the sign and display, photographic, architectural and engineering sectors.

 

KPMF gains strength in the UK market

UK based Kay Premium Marking Films - who has been manufacturing self adhesive vinyls in Wales for 20 years - is currently entering an exciting phase.  Following the recent introduction of three new distributors within the UK, KPMF has made the decision to exhibit as a manufacturer at Sign & Digital UK 2011 Exhibition.

KPMF felt the Sign & Digital UK Exhibition was the perfect platform to promote its three new UK distributors: Sign Serve who will look after customers throughout Wales; MDP Supplies who will focus on customers in Lancashire, Northern Ireland and Scotland and ATC Signmakers Supplies who will cover Manchester, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. 

As well as drawing attention to its outstanding new UK distributors and its current product range which includes calendered and cast vinyls, aliphatic polyurethanes, functional and digital films, KPMF will be presenting a selection of new and innovative cast products, including a selection of attractive etch glass window films, some exciting overlaminates and two new collections of innovative and attention-grabbing vehicle wrapping materials.

KPMF continues to grow throughout the world, especially in Europe, the Middle and Far East and its Managing Director Rob Musto is enthusiastic about where he wants to position KPMF over the next decade: “Our customers know that they can depend not only on the quality of our films but on the technical advice available from our own support team and from our distributors.  The resource and investment we commit to research and refinement of our product range has earned us an enviable reputation in the world marketplace: I want us also to become first choice in the UK sign market.”

 

X-Rite & Pantone announce new colour management seminar

X-Rite, Incorporated, the world leader in colour management, measurement and communication technologies, and its wholly owned subsidiary Pantone, the global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards for the design industries, today announced a new educational colour management seminar.

Targeted at printing, packaging, pre-press, and graphic design professionals the two-day, modular seminar will open in Chicago on March 29th and 30th, followed by New York City on May 17th and 18th. Topics covered will address all aspects of colour management, from process control and pressroom workflow, to colour control for designers, spot colour management and how to improve display to print matching.
 
The colour management seminar consists of 3 sessions, and attendees will have the option to participate in any one or all of the sessions, as follows:
 
Day 1: “Going beyond density: optimal process control for printing.”
 
AM Session: Offset press process control with a particular focus on process color. Ideally suited for sheet-fed or web offset quality assurance managers, prepress professionals, production supervisors, and press operators.
 
PM Session: Flexographic press process control with a particular focus on packaging and spot colours, including Pantone.  Ideally suited for flexographic quality assurance managers, prepress professionals, production supervisors, and press operators.
 
“These two half-day sessions are designed to help attendees gain better control of all the variables that can affect colour quality on press. We will discuss press conditions, plate quality control and why it is so important to look at measurements beyond just density to truly control colour. We will also provide basic troubleshooting guidelines to deal with measurements that are out of spec,” explains Murphy Keeley, VP of Services at X-Rite.
 
Day 2: “Colour immersion: an in-depth look at colour management for creative/design professionals.”
 
Led by Pantone colour experts, this full-day session is ideally suited for wide format printers, sign-makers, prepress professionals, graphic designers and commercial photographers. Attendees will learn all aspects of colour management from design through prepress. Topics will include “How to Work with Cameras for More Accurate Color“, “Display Calibration to Improve Color Editing”, ”How to Get better Display-to-Print Matching”, “Proper Use of Pantone Colors in your Files”, ”Color Management Setup in Adobe® CS”, “Preflighting for Different Output” and ”Producing Color-Accurate Proofs that Match Your Press”.
 
 
“Print buyers and brand owners are becoming more demanding in their colour requirements. With tighter margins, wasted time and materials are not acceptable. Improving turn-around speeds with better colour and less waste is more important now than ever, and mastering the tools and methods to manage colour is critical in all areas of production, from file creation all the way to the pressroom. Leaders in the printing and design industries are recognising the need for quality colour management education, and to fulfill this demand, X-Rite/Pantone has put together this very comprehensive course,” comments Murphy Keeley.
 
The first seminar will take place in Chicago, IL March 29-30, 2011 at the Marriott Hotel located at 540 North Michigan Avenue. The next event will take place in New York City May 17-18 at the NYC Seminar and Conference Center 71 West 23rd Street.