Consumables

 

Colorific, a leading alternative ink supplier, and Tech8, the technical support and spares provider for the wide format printing industry, today announced that they will be co-exhibiting at FESPA in Hall A3 on stand C70.  This is the first time that the companies have co-hosted a stand at the event and underlines the close links the companies have developed to ensure that switching to alternative inks is made easy.

Both companies recently exhibited at Sign & Digital UK where Tech8 secured over twenty new maintenance contracts on machines using Colorific inks.  Colorific inks are proving to be the alternative inks of choice – especially when backed up by Tech8’s unrivalled technical support.

According to Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, “In this tough, recession-hit market, wide format printer owners are switching to credible alternative inks in order to realise significant savings and increased profits.  Previously, there had been concerns about the viability of alternative inks – mainly due to scaremongering by OEMs – but our customers are telling us they like the security of being fully backed up by Tech8 in the unlikely circumstance that any issues might occur.”

He adds, “This ‘alternative inks made easy’ model is proving to be a real winner.  We have had great feedback from our existing channel partners and we’re continually expanding our ink product portfolio.  As a result, we are now looking to further expand our distribution channel throughout Europe and would be interested in meeting potential new business partners at FESPA.”

Justin Atkinson, Business Development Manager at Tech8 adds "Colorific were the first to go through our ink accreditation process - accordingly we now have a significant number of Colorific users covered by Tech8 warranty. Our decision to exhibit alongside Colorific at FESPA is further testament to our confidence in Colorific, and underlines our faith that their inks can provide Tech8 customers with a highly reliable and effective alternative to more expensive OEM inks".

Whatever your printer, whatever your application, Colorific have a ‘best in class’ ink to suit your specific requirements; for any given printer and application, Colorific supply ink solutions that are fully tested and proven in the field, with a track record of reliable and trouble-free performance.

Since its introduction to the market, Colorific has continually grown its portfolio of solutions so it now encompasses the majority of wide format printers currently in use today.

Colorific & Tech8 have recently prepared case studies focusing on the savings to be made by switching to properly supported alternative inks.  For more information, follow the links below:

 

Colorific: TJ’s save 50% by switching their Mutoh to Colorific ink

Tech8: Press On Digital Imaging makes big savings with Tech8 Support and Bulk Ink

 

 

Further information on Colorific can be found on their website at www.colorificink.com

 

Further information on Tech8 can be found on their website at www.tech8.eu

 

The Sign and Digital UK show at the NEC proved hugely successful for Josero with their range of Triangle inks, spare parts and new Josero Redjet printer.

The Triangle and Josero stand was one of the largest and most prominent at the show. It featured a Mimaki JV33, a Roland SP540V and a Seiko 64V running Triangle inks in cartridges and Eco Bulk systems.

These were complimented by Josero’s new Redjet super wide 3.2m solvent or bio printer for banner, flex and paper, which is capable of 720 dpi and up to 75 square meters per hour. This printer is easily maintainable with low ink costs and includes a full parts and labour manufacturer’s warranty. There was a huge amount of interest in this new printer at the show. Loic Delor, Managing Director of Josero commented, “We have spent the past year testing and trialing our new machine to ensure it provides our customers with a high quality and reliable product. It is very competitively priced and is excellent value for money. We have many customers who have already placed orders for the printer.”

The stand had a large technical and management team to support its products including Paolo Capano, Inx Digital (Triangle inks is part of world leading ink giant SAKATA INX) - EMEA Vice President of Sales who was delighted with the impact Josero has made on the UK market. Also, the stand had an Ergosoft technician helping and advising visitors on the Ergosoft RIP for all the printers. Josero has a network of dealers throughout the UK and Ireland and representatives from each of these companies were also available on the stand to speak to their local customers.

Triangle inks is one of the fastest growing alternative ink manufacturers in the world. Josero is the sole distributor for the UK and Ireland for Triangle inks. Triangle have an extensive product portfolio which means Josero can supply alternative inks for virtually every model of wide and superwide printer across the whole spectrum of ink technologies - Full Solvent, Eco Solvent, Mild Solvent, Water-based, Bio and UV curable.

As well as being the master distributor of Triangle Inks in the UK and Ireland, Josero has a range of its own products including new and used printers and spare parts.

With an international audience anticipating the latest and best products for the metal decorating industry, INX International is ready to answer the call.  The company (Hall 3, Booth B25) will feature its EVOLVE Advanced Digital Solutions and a pair of new inks at METPACK 2011, which runs from May 10-14 in Essen, Germany.

The new metal decorating inks making their debut will no doubt leave an impression on show visitors. TP UV Fusion is the first UV hybrid low migration ink available in the market for 3-piece metal decorating, and the TP LEC base system of thermoset inks represents the latest in high quality, earth friendly low energy cure products. 

"We are glad to be back at METPACK and looking forward to seeing a sizeable number of people in our booth.  The metal decorating business has a good vibe to it right now," said Rick Clendenning, President and CEO of INX International.  "Our two new inks are exactly what the industry is looking for.  With the advances our EVOLVE brand is making in short-run production, I'm very optimistic. The timing is right for printers to move their businesses forward."

The TP UV Fusion hybrid inks offer several distinct advantages. Specifically formulated for indirect food packaging applications that require low migration and low odour inks, these unique inks conform to Nestle requirements for packaging inks.  They also qualify for the ASA Soy Ink Seal since they are environmentally friendly without VOC solvents, in addition to being both ITX and Benzophenone free.  With exceptional adhesion to a wide variety of base coated metal substrates, TP UV Fusion offers excellent press stability and colour balance that is comparable to the best conventional litho inks on the market.

INX International's outstanding Research & Development capabilities played a significant role in the development process of TP UV Fusion, using an independent laboratory to conduct a migration analysis.  The lab confirmed the migration limit of 10ppb in 95% ethanol, with the overall migration conditions meeting the requirements specified in Directive 85/572/EC.  The sample material for these hybrid inks also was exposed to 95% ethanol for 10 days at 40° Celsius.  It was determined the overall migration values were far below the limit of 10 mg/dm?, and by using LC-MS/MS no photo initiators or acrylates were detectable.  By using GC-MS, no significant identified signals above 10ug/kg (10 ppb) were observed.

The TP LEC base system thermoset inks for 3-piece metal decorating are formulated for fast make-ready and low temperature bake.  With outstanding printability, these bright, low energy cure inks offer excellent adhesion and fabrication and abrasion resistance, while producing good gloss and a clean, sharp image.  An environmentally conscious product, nearly one-fifth of the LEC base system consists of soy and vegetable oil contents and is formulated VOC free.

EVOLVE Advance Digital Solutions is a brand concept designed to help traditional printers and converters evolve to digital printing with industrial inkjet systems.  A full range of resources is available, including integrated systems, chemistry, parts, service and consulting.  Some of the best known products are designed for the metal decorating industry, including the CP100 UV digital cylindrical printer and the MD series of UV flatbed printers.

The CP100 uses Xaar patented through-flow technology that is available only through INX.  Designed for short-run cylindrical printing and packaging work, it is extremely cost effective.  Like the CP100, the MD series offers best in class performance and image quality.  The MD660 and MD1000 printers quickly and inexpensively deliver real-metal sample proofs in just minutes for the short-run production of items such as decorative tins, general line containers and aerosols.  They print on coated or uncoated aluminum or steel substrates at speeds ranging from 65' to 120' per minute with exceptional resolution in excess of 1000 dpi.

Agfa today announced the North American introduction of Synaps UV, an environmentally-friendly, premium waterproof substrate designed for indoor and outdoor sign & display applications using UV-curable inks.

Synaps UV offers a high gloss finish, bright colour reproduction, and high tear and chemical resistance. This synthetic media is suitable for high resolution printing, provides stability and presents graphics in their truest form.

As such, Synaps UV is ideal for POS displays like banners, flags, posters and event announcements; POP materials such as window graphics, displays and wobblers; and signage such as posters, billboards, and more. There is virtually no discolouration or deterioration under normal conditions or under extended exposure to environmental UV light. Synaps UV can also be easily cut using various methods including guillotine- or die-cutting and lasers.

Synaps UV media is recyclable. Printed and non-printed Synaps UV paper is 100% re-usable in the production process of new Synaps UV material. It is non-toxic and no ecologically harmful components are used to produce it.

"Agfa has a long tradition of environmental awareness and sustainability practices," said Larry Salomon, vice president of wide format display graphics. "Synaps UV is a premium recyclable substrate that is uniform throughout, is rigid in roll form so it doesn't have play, plus it offers a high gloss, smooth finish with a high degree of printability."

Synaps UV is designed for use with UV-curable inks in offset, screen, flexo, gravure and inkjet printing, and suitable for high resolution screening, including stochastic screening. Its glossy, white finish offers high tear resistance and high chemical resistance. Synaps UV features a smooth waterproof finish that lasts longer than typical vinyl substrates.

 

It's rare to find a shelving unit that really speaks to you, but a visionary, sustainable, strong and powerful new Ultra Board creation by a Central St Martin's design student does exactly that...and it’s a looker too! 

UK-based recycled paper honeycomb manufacturer, Dufaylite, supplied up and coming illustrator Matthew Nicholson with Ultra Board – a lightweight, highly versatile and 100% recyclable substrate – for his unique shelving unit used as part of the Pick Me Up contemporary graphic art fair at Somerset House.

Matthew, studying for his MA in illustration at Central St Martins College, London, chose Ultra Board as his medium and created the concept and subsequent super structure as part of a brief by independent illustration and graphic arts publication No Brow. The unit was stacked with No Brow's entire breadth of stock for visitors to flick through and read from as part of Pick Me Up at Somerset House.

Matthew is no stranger to cardboard and paper materials in his practice, but this project presented the perfect opportunity to test Ultra Board and Dufaylite's honeycomb technology for the first time.
“For this project I needed a material that could stand up to heavy use, yet would retain the gorgeous corrugated edge needed to tie in all the elements of the show,” says Matthew.

“After a few tests it became clear that neither single or double walled cardboard would be suitable. So, after some investigation, I found and chose the 18mm Ultra Board R.”

“I was also impressed by Dufaylite's cutting service,” adds Matthew, “which saved me untold amounts of hard work in cutting the 28 boards needed to create the layered strength and depth the shelving unit needed. I hope to continue a successful creative partnership with Dufaylite, as I feel this collaboration has opened a new and exciting area of my work.”

Tony Moscrop, Dufaylite's Chief Executive, comments: “Ultra Board's strength, versatility, cutting capability and environmental credentials means it has become a hugely attractive material for talented young designers like Matthew. He and his fellow exhibitors, as well members of the public that passed the unit rated it a resounding success, and No Brow are so pleased with the piece that it plans to install the shelves in its shop in London's Old Street. Tremendous stuff!”

Dufaylite Group is the sole UK manufacturer of recycled paper honeycomb – a 100% recyclable, robust and versatile core material that has become an innovation in the signage industry and is used in many industrial applications. Major suppliers to the retail and manufacturing industries, Dufaylite now exports to Europe, Australia and the US. Established in 1955, Dufaylite has a 2.5 acre site near Cambridge employing 42 staff and is ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Standard) accredited due to its ongoing commitment to developing eco-friendly products. 

Soyang has announced that its best-selling digital print media products are now being stocked in its Rotterdam facility ready for distribution throughout Europe.

The Rotterdam Distribution Centre has been in operation since November 2010 and its purpose is to offer Soyang customers fast and reliable delivery of its semi-coated and laminated banner media and digital print mesh in widths from 0.914m to 5m.  Customers are now able to purchase smaller quantities of media on a more frequent basis - thereby offering them the flexibility to react more readily to the ebbs and flows of their businesses.

Soyang also plans to stock self-adhesive vinyl, digital print textiles and print board at its European distribution centre in the near future.