Business - Events

Fogra Graphic Technology Research Association organises the third Digital Printing Symposium in Munich on the 23rd and 24th of May 2011- with simultaneous German/English interpreting. It is directed at all individuals interested in up-to-date and exclusive information about digital printing. This includes businesses that are already printing digitally and seek useful hands-on information for daily practice as well as offset printing presses that want to add digital printing to their product spectrum. Further still, the symposium is also targeted at signage and screen printers, who are considering an entry into large format inkjet printing (LFP).

Small format as well as large format digital printing will be handled in more than 20 technical lectures by internationally recognised experts from the research field, qualified practitioners and manufacturers. Offset printing functions as the de facto reference in each case. It needs to be clarified, if and under what basic conditions an entry into digital production printing makes sense. Environmental protection and sustainability of the printing process also play a pivotal role here. Further still, process control in daily production and the methods of finishing printing products manufactured digitally shall also be addressed.

In the case of prepress, the emphasis is on data preparation and the cross-media handling of colour. The symposium offers users of colour management tips to optimise their workflow and to adapt it to the newest findings. The area of large format printing mainly addresses the printing of advertising material on various printing substrates, including textiles.

A special session handles 'single pass inkjet printing', i.e. printing without print head movement. In recent times, it is being lauded as the digital production print process of the future. To what extent expectation and reality concur shall be clarified in talks by manufacturers, users and research experts.

The participants of the symposium can deepen their knowledge in a special subject in one of four workshops. An exhibition by various manufacturers in the field of digital printing completes the event. In addition to the official programme, an informal dinner at a typical Bavarian brewery cellar provides a fitting atmosphere to meet old acquaintances and make new contacts.

 

Servicing the Sign and Graphics industry for over 120 years, Granthams is one of the UK’s leading suppliers for Sign, Display and Graphic technology supplies. Specialising in colour solutions for the Signs, Graphics, Fine Art and Photography, Granthams is using Sign UK to promote its latest products including its wide range of large format indoor & outdoor solvent and pigment based systems from HP, Canon, and Mimaki. 

New for Sign UK 2011 will be the Elements Eco-friendly alternative to solvent, offering low cost purchase and running costs with impressive outdoor durability onto a wide range of uncoated medias.  RIP options are also available from ColorGATE, Onyx, Rasterlink, Shiraz and Signlab.  In addition they will also supply a wide range of cutting solutions for general signmaking, as well as contour cut and die cut solutions from Graphtec & Mimaki including Signmaking Software for Macintosh & PC.  Finishing solutions including trimmers and laminating systems are fast becoming a 'must have' accessory. Granthams offer a wide variety of laminators from the popular Easymount and Drytac JetMounter range of hot and cold laminators through to the heavier duty Seal systems, offering a solution to suit every budget.  They also offer a full consultancy service including installation, on-site training, media profiling and ongoing support, backed up by a wide range of Mac and PC solutions, including RIP servers & back-up solutions. As well as extensive consumables support.

Kirsty Reader, General Manager at Granthams explains what Sign & Digital UK means to them and for their customers; “Sign & Digital UK is the annual show that brings everyone together in the Sign and Digital market, sets a benchmark of what is out there and provides an opportunity to ensure signmakers have what they need to meet their customers needs and compete in the fast moving competitive market. Last year we experienced customers wanting to get new ideas to link with what they were already doing, realising they needed to be unique as well as competitive to compete in a difficult climate. Sign UK is and always has been a very valuable show for us, and the contacts we make at the show continue to bring us revenue throughout the year that follows. We realise that not everyone can afford to buy a new printer but with options available from our experts to upgrade, trade in or simply repair or cover under extended warranty, we ensure they get the most from their investment.”

 

As Mimaki’s exclusive distributor, Hybrid Services Ltd will have a big range of Mimaki products on their stand – right at the entrance to the halls. With multi award winning digital printing solutions for rigid & flexible signage, flags, banners, promotional products, labels, vehicle liveries, exhibition graphics and outdoor durable prints – to name but a few, there’s a Mimaki suitable for everyone at the show.

 

These include the Mimaki CJV30 printer / cutters, a substantial range of flatbed & roll-to-roll UV products and a selection of textile and soft signage printers. One exciting feature will be the Mimaki UJF-3042 flatbed A3 LED UV printer which will be producing personalised products, small format signs and branded goods on the stand. Visitors should head along to see how it can help inspire new revenue streams or improve production processes for their business and take away a printed sample too.

 

Highlights also include the launch of the new Mimaki JFX-1615plus flatbed UV machine, a chance to see the incredible mix of speed and quality with the Mimaki JV5 along with the opportunity to win VIP tickets for two to a match at Manchester United.

Marketing manager for Hybrid, Duncan Jefferies said, “Sign & Digital UK is the perfect opportunity for visitors to see all that’s great in digital print. We look forward to welcoming customers old and new to the Hybrid stand to witness the breadth of capabilities that Mimaki has on offer.”

 

Gerber Scientific Products (GSP) has announced its success at the FASTSIGNS Vendor Show in Las Vegas in January.

"We are happy to report several new sales of our Gerber CAT UV flatbed printer. Customers were wowed by the Gerber CAT UV's ability to print on so many substrates, in particular its performance on Coroplast, polystyrene, and paper-based products. They loved the vibrant colours it produces," said GSP marketing communications manager Heidi Luck.

Many FASTSIGNS attendees also enjoyed GSP's "The EDGE of the Jungle" demonstration area where they learned new ways to maximise the use of their EDGE to compete in new markets and increase profit margins. "Visitors to the EDGE demonstration area loved the ideas they gleaned and had fun participating in a challenging material giveaway game," said Luck. "Attendees learned profitable ways to use LexEdge, static cling, magnet, Permagrip and many other materials, and GSP came away with numerous opportunities for the EDGE and consumable materials."

FASTSIGNS shops learned how to "Revive and Thrive" in Las Vegas this year with new technologies and ideas from GSP.

 

Market-leader Océ will be demonstrating a diverse range of applications on its multi award-winning flatbed printing systems at Sign & Digital UK at the NEC in Birmingham from 12-14 April 2011.

The Océ Arizona 550XT and Océ 350 GT systems, both part of the Océ Arizona family, the world’s best-selling UV flatbed printers for the display graphics market, will star on Océ’s stand D10 at show in Halls 17 and 18.

Océ is also planning to have significant customer interaction for its stand that will also include state-of-the-art technologies and products being showcased.

The Océ Arizona 550 XT UV curable flatbed printer is twice as large and nearly twice as fast: the Océ Arizona 550 XT printer, delivering the same award-winning print quality. It will have pride of place alongside the Océ Arizona 350 GT UV curable flatbed printer, both powered by ONYX® Workflow Software X10 Océ Edition market-leading RIP software.

Other products at Sign & Digital UK will include the Océ ColorWave® 600 poster printer, which incorporates Océ CrystalPoint® technology that uses toner pearls. Solutions for creating durable graphics on coated and uncoated media will also be shown.

Once again at the show, Océ, an international leader in digital document management and delivery, will be partnering Zünd Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd, the UK distributor for Zünd Systems Technik AG, the Swiss manufacturer of digital flatbed cutters. The two companies will be displaying the Zünd G3 L2500 digital cutting system.  Products from Océ Imaging Supplies will also be shown, and Océ will host daily competitions, in which prizes will be awarded to visitors.

Océ and its partners will use the event to demonstrate the latest labour-saving innovations, designed to reduce waste and increase productivity. There will also be online access to the popular Océ Media Guide, which provides detailed advice and guidance that helps printing professionals select the best media for their printers and applications.

Derek Joys, Océ UK’s Display Graphics Systems’ Programme Manager, said: “Once again our stand will be a must-see part of the show experience for all our customers and prospects, as well as other visitors. Sign & Digital UK is an important platform for us to demonstrate with world-leading technologies our commitment to this all-important market sector.”

 

The BPIF has announced that it is to stage a one-day Finance and Investment Conference, entitled “The Challenge of Transformational Change”. The conference will focus on how change is affecting the print industry and what challenges and opportunities this could bring for companies and businesses in the sector.

The conference will be held on 22 March at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. The keynote speaker for the event will be Futurologist and author, Dr James Bellini.

Dr Bellini will focus on “Tomorrow’s company – the challenge for managers”, where he will discuss what the future holds for UK companies; how long-term predictions are made and whether they can be trusted. He comments, “The coming decade will see the biggest shift in global economic realities since the Industrial Revolution and the rules of business are changing fundamentally.  Managers need to ask themselves: 'Have we embraced these new realities; is our company 'futureproof'?'

The conference will seek to provide business owners and suppliers with answers as to how they can make the most of the opportunities provided by the current economic transformation the industry is going through, whilst at the same time minimising the risks these opportunities may present.

The results of a new BPIF survey on capital investment for 2011 will also be presented at the event by Andrew Brown, BPIF’s Director of Corporate Affairs. The survey will cover capital investment plans and priorities; nature of investment proposed; investment processes adapted; key strength of successful companies going forward and sources of funding.

Case studies will be provided by:

• Richard Barfield, Chief Financial Officer with Bezier, will discuss the topic of transformational change.
• Chris Poll, Chief Executive with Credit Pal, will discuss “Doing Business Together, focusing on the impact of Lombard’s pull-out from print industry financing.
• Charles Jarrold, Business Development Director with St Ives Plc, will tackle “Cost Leadership”, including how to minimize costs, R&D and investment.
• Anthony Thirlby, Managing Director of ESP Colour, will focus on the subject of “Achieving top line growth – but not at any price”, highlighting how to stay ahead of the competition and the challenge of overcoming a downward commodity pricing sector and shrinking sector.
• Edward Ryder, Managing Director of Biskit, whose subject is “Turn customer services into a sales hungry tiger”, will also provide an examination of the customer’s perspective, what inspires loyalty and what reduces it.
• James Buffoni, Head of Marketing with Ryedale Group, will discuss “Differentiating your business with cutting-edge technologies”. James will show how advanced technologies can help a business to add significant value to a customer’s printed products and campaigns.

Supplier perspectives will be provided by: ROI Digital, Ricoh, KBA and RK Harrison.

The conference is open to BPIF members at a cost of £150.00 plus VAT for the first delegate and £75.00 plus VAT for additional delegates. Non-members will be charged £220.00 plus VAT and £110.00 plus VAT for additional delegates.