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GraphExpo_ShowDaily_September_27_2016

PIA Releases Detailed Descriptions of 2016 InterTech Technology Award Recipients Printing Industries of America (Booth 1425) released detailed descriptions of the six recipients of the 2016 InterTech Technology Awards. The independent panel of judges deliberated over technology nominations which showcased the dynamic and innovative nature of the industry. The judges singled out the following technologies as meeting the award criteria of being truly innovative and expected to have a major impact on the graphic communications industry. The recipient technologies are listed below alphabetically by company: Omnifi re 250 from Heidelberg The Omnifi re 250 from Heidelberg personalizes and decorates a wide variety of objects up to 11.8" in diameter using UV inkjet printing in an automated robotic process. It pretreats the object, prints up to fi ve colors, and can apply a protective coating. Unlike traditional industrial solutions, it can print one item like a soccer ball and then switch in seconds to a different shaped item such as a wine bottle. The InterTech judges singled out the Omnifi re 250 as a breakthrough technology that will lead to a myriad of new applications and business opportunities. Stahlfolder TH 82-P: Streamfeeding in all Stations from Heidelberg The judges were won over by the engineering ingenuity and productivity gain of the Stahlfolder TH 82-P. The hallmark innovation is that it can run in streamfeeding mode so that sheets or signatures are overlapped up to half their length as they enter each folding station, enabling a 50% higher throughput at the same linear speed. While one piece is exiting a fold plate, the next one is already arriving. This approach means that the folder can produce at the speed of a sheetfed offset press while maintaining the same fold quality achieved in single sheet operation. Highcon Beam with 3D Modeling from Highcon Systems Ltd. The combination of Highcon Beam’s digital cutting and creasing capability and the optional 3D Modeling module lets users pursue opportunities in 3D production. The workfl ow converts 3D models into separate layers according to a paper’s thickness that are then laser cut on the Highcon Beam. Compared to other technologies with expensive material costs, Highcon’s machine builds large scale masters and molds for a fraction of the cost, and in minutes rather than days. One judge commented, “This is an intriguing application that lets printing companies get involved in 3D with paper, a substrate they’re undoubtedly more comfortable with.” Imp from InSoft Automation Imp software (Booth 2575) is a stand-alone tool for planning and creating print-ready layouts. The level of automation is impressive, but the standout feature is the ability to optimize layouts across a variety of job types (from packaging and labels to magazines) and print processes (offset, digital, and wide-format). Moreover, rectangular fl at jobs and die cut jobs can be ganged separately or together. The software’s modularity makes it particularly cost-effective, letting users add modules as their business expands. Imp’s ability to locate dies in inventory that can be reused for a new layout also got the judges’ attention. Color 800i/1000i Press Metallic Dry Inks from Xerox Engineering dry toner with refl ective pigments was diffi cult enough, but Xerox (Booth 1625) also fi gured out how to apply it to achieve a high sheen gold and silver. Using a fi fth housing station on its Color 800i/1000i Press, the metallic dry inks provide a high-impact dimension that opens the door for new revenues or savings by migrating lucrative foil stamping or metallic ink offset applications to personalized and print-on-demand jobs. Said one judge about the ability to apply silver and gold via dry toner, “This is a game changer; I wish I had this capability on the machines I currently run.” Versant 2100 Press with Ultra HD Resolution from Xerox Ultra HD Resolution lets companies produce jobs at a resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi on the Xerox Versant 2100 press, a quadruple increase in resolution from other presses. The judges noted that with the resolution increase there’s no longer a reason to avoid the elements that used to be a problem for digital print-gradients, thin fonts, and vector graphics. The key to the innovation is the ability for the Versant to resolve color to a depth of 10 bits (versus 8 bits) throughout the imaging chain, from the EFI print server to the print engine and Versant components. The InterTech stars, recognized as a symbol of technological innovation and excellence, were presented during the 2016 Printing Industries of America Premier Print Awards and InterTech Technology Awards Gala, September 25. A technology review booklet showcasing all of the year’s entries is available at GRAPH EXPO 16 and with the August/September issue of Printing Industries of America's The Magzine. It’s Never a Bad Time to Learn OSubstrates are getting a much-needed opportunity to shine at this year’s GRAPH EXPO. ne of the biggest draws of trade shows like GRAPH EXPO is the opportunity to talk to a vast number of vendors and compare their latest offerings in a single place, at one time. It is a chance to directly compare and contrast everything from equipment, to software, to substrates in a way that can’t be matched by any other forum. Substrates, in particular, are getting a much-needed opportunity to shine at this year’s show. At the Materials Matter pavilion, which fi rst debuted in 2015, substrate vendors have the opportunity to talk to visitors and help educate them on the differences between types of materials. “We’d like attendees to celebrate the role that well-crafted materials play in the print ecosystem, and to thoughtfully consider the role materials play in every print project,” notes Bart Robinson, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Mohawk (Booth 2413). “Materials are the foundational ingredients of a print project, and much like extraordinary printing techniques and powerful design, high quality materials can be used to elevate print projects from good to great.” “After more than 20 years in the specialty substrate business, we are very familiar with the common substrate issues faced by commercial printers. We want printers to walk away from the show with the knowledge that they don’t have to settle for poor material performance, suppliers with limited expertise, inconvenient supply chain solutions, and poor customer service. We want them to know that there is a better solution,” agrees Mellissa Campbell, Marketing Coordinator for Masterpiece Graphix (Booth 2512). Both vendors stressed that they hope printers walk away from the pavilion feeling empowered to make better decisions around their material choices and supply chains. They want visitors to ask the hard questions and share their pain points and problems so the participating vendors can collectively help them fi gure out the best options for their unique combination of equipment and customer projects. While the materials themselves will be center stage at the pavilion, it is knowledge about how those substrates can help a print shop expand and better serve their customer base that is the true take-away. 40 | September 27, 2016 | GRAPH EXPO 16 Offi cial Show Daily | PrintingNews.com


GraphExpo_ShowDaily_September_27_2016
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