Graph Expo 'A Candy Store' for In-plants

In-plant managers got a chance to see the technologies they've been reading about at the recent Graph Expo show.

For the many in-plant managers in attendance, the recent Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2004 show in Chicago was a graphic arts fantasy land.

"I felt like a kid in a candy store," observes Mike Renn, of Mellon Corporate Publishing, in Philadelphia. "I went to take a look at the latest direct-to-plate systems and software management packages and came away with numerous options."

Attendance this year was pretty healthy, he adds: "I had to wedge myself between bodies to check out the latest gear."

Other managers agreed.

"I thought it was well attended," says John Sarantakos, administrator of University of Oklahoma Printing Services. He went to the show looking for a saddle binder and a platesetting system. He saw much more.

"Most of the large players had big areas with plenty of space to mill around," he recalls. "Heidelberg had the most equipment. Komori had an 81˝ sheetfed that was impressive. Of course the iGen3 and NexPress were interesting."

Some came with more interest in those devices than others.

"I had appointments to look at digital color equipment including the iGen3 and NexPress," says Lee Sperl, of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. "I believe an upgrade to our Xerox 2045 is in the near future. Also of interest was print management software. I spent several hours in those booths."

"I was intrigued by the digital presses and online JDF software packages that would streamline print request processing and take a lot of the stress out of on-demand services," says Mellon's Renn. "I'd like to get a CTP system to upgrade my prepress area, or further simplify the process and go to one of the DI presses. I have more than enough information from the show to help me decide what's best for my operation."

Exhibitors reported good traffic at the show and several, including Sakurai, Hamada and Spiel Associates, told IPG they had sold some of the equipment they had on display.

"All of the venders I talked with were very pleased with not only the amount of people but the interest in equipment," confirms Don Davis, associate director of Louisiana State University Graphic Services, who says he ran into many in-plant managers from universities and corporations at the show.

Davis says JDF was a big focus at Graph Expo.

"Most of the major players are integrating their machines for JDF," he reports, including press and bindery equipment. As for his reason for attending the show: "I was looking at folders, as we need to replace 20x26˝ and a 26x40˝ folders in the next couple of months, so I was looking at MBO and Heidelberg Stahl."

Technology Advances

Graph Expo provided U.S. in-plants with the first chance to see state-of-the-art Drupa introductions in action. Perhaps nowhere was this more apparent than within the booths of traditional sheetfed offset press manufacturers.

The sheer weight of the heavy iron in the Heidelberg booth underscored the company's commitment to sheetfed innovation. Anchoring Heidelberg USA's presence was a multimedia presentation in its 70-seat main theater, where eight sheetfed presses played to packed houses several times each day.

Two members of Heidelberg's Speedmaster family received extensive makeovers earlier this year, the results of which were revealed to the North American market at Graph Expo. The highly automated Speedmaster SM 102-10 PC2S perfector emerged with ergonomic enhancements and extended preset functions designed to minimize makereadies.

Also on display were the Speedmaster CD 74 with optional perfecting in 20.87x29.13˝ and 23.82x29.13˝ formats, and the 27.5x39.4˝ perfectors in the Speedmaster CD 102 series, featuring new Preset Plus feeder and delivery systems, as well as coating innovations.

The new Perfecting Coating System (PCS) allows simultaneous four-color printing and aqueous coating on both sides of the sheet in one pass. PCS functions without additional printing units by integrating an anilox coating system into existing offset units.

In addition to these highly automated, long-run presses, a pair of Heidelberg Quickmaster QM 46-2s—one with in-line perforating and numbering and another with specially designed guards—attracted attention, as did the 13.38x18.11˝ QMDI 46-4 Pro direct imaging press. The Printmaster PM 52 and the six-color Speedmaster SM 52 perfector with coater represented Heidelberg's capabilities in the 20˝ category.

Heidelberg designed and printed a total of 56 jobs during the four days of the show, drawing on a supply of 650,000 sheets of paper, 500 pounds of ink and 300 gallons of various coatings. A total of 1,050 violet plates made from Heidelberg Prosetters were run.

Prototype Printing Plant

Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) was the major theme at the MAN Roland booth, where the company created a prototype plant employing the latest advancements from EFI, ppi Media, Creo, MBO, Muller Martini and, of course, MAN Roland. MAN's CIMcity pavilion featured a six-color, 41˝ Roland 700 now capable of speeds to 16,000 sph.

Premiering products included a double coater module, Eagle Eye in-line quality control, a digitally controlled in-line sorter, the QuickChange makeready accelerator and the Prindor in-line foiler.

The digitally driven, in-line sheeter reduces raw material costs for sheetfed printers by enabling them to use web rolls in place of more expensive cut sheets. Cost reductions of up to 20 percent can be achieved. The device also reduces paper waste because it can dimension sheets precisely to the specifications of each job, eliminating the need for trimming.

This new digital version lets the press operator switch the cutting format in a matter of seconds by just introducing the format on the control panel. No tools or gear changes are required.

MAN Roland's new in-line sorter streamlines makereadies and improves quality control during press runs by identifying and diverting waste sheets before they wind up in the delivery pile. That means press crews don't have to stop the press to eliminate rejects from the product stack. The in-line sorter functions as a second delivery on the Roland 700 so the press can continue to run producing saleable sheets, as waste sheets are automatically removed from the production stream.

Working in conjunction with the in-line sorter was EagleEye, a video-driven inspection system that checks the quality of each sheet—at full speed and on-the-fly—as it exits the last printing unit and before the coating unit. To guarantee precision results, the device examines the entire sheet length-wise. When an anomaly is spotted, EagleEye activates the in-line sorter to divert the problem sheet.

QuickChange was introduced as a new makeready productivity option on the Roland 700, capable of reducing makereadies by an additional 30 percent through an integrated bundle of seven modules. QuickChange reportedly makes it easier and faster than ever to transition from one job to the next. Just as importantly, QuickChange reduces waste dramatically.

MAN Roland's prototype DirectDrive concept also made its North American debut. Visitors witnessed how DirectDrive decouples the plate cylinder from the press' main drive on a demonstration unit. The result: all of the plates on a Roland 700 with DirectDrive can be changed simultaneously, instead of one at a time, considerably slashing makeready time.

Also shown was the new Prindor in-line foiler that automates the application of foil and metallic effects to printed products by incorporating the process in the printing cycle. That eliminates the need for hot foil stamping and the time and expense associated with that technique.

New Perfectors

Visitors to Komori America's booth saw two new sheetfed perfector solutions that were introduced at Drupa: the new six-color Lithrone S40 perfector and the more entry-level, four-color Spica convertible perfector.

The LS640P couples features of the Lithrone S40 series with Komori's double-size, three cylinder perfecting mechanism. Capable of speeds to 15,000 sph, the LS40 perfector is available in four-, six-, eight- and 10-color configurations with or without coater. The cylinder configuration is said to improve print quality by reducing the chance of marking, and prevents ink from coming into contact with the ribbed vacuum cylinder.

Sheetfed perfecting was also a major theme at the Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses (MLP U.S.A.) booth, where a new eight-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Diamond 3000TP Tandem Perfector with tower coater was demonstrated. The four-over-four Tandem Perfector prints two-sided work at 13,000 sph without reversing the sheet. In addition to coating capabilities, the press incorporates automated plate changing, Mitsubishi's DiamondLink III automated control

system and a spectrophotometer-based, closed-loop color control

system.

The centerpiece of the KBA North America booth was the newly designed Rapida 105 sheetfed press. During live demonstrations, the 41˝ press performed automatic plate changes in less than four minutes, and was running at 18,000 sph. KBA has expanded its capabilities to include a new extended functionality to control sheet infeed at the control console; a motor-driven shaftless feeder; an optional side lay-free infeed; the ability to print stock from 40-lb. paper to 48-pt. board; as well as the new Qualitronic II in-line sheet inspection system, video register, Densitronic closed-loop color control and ink temperature control for optimum print quality.

Another show highlight was the new 20˝ KBA Genius 52 offset press designed for the short-run color market. Visitors were impressed with its ultra-short makeready times of less than five minutes, high-quality print results and low startup waste of less than 10 sheets.

Others Press Ahead

Highlights from other press manufacturers included:

• Akiyama promoted the eXtreme sheetfed press, which offers speeds of 16,000 sph. Its unique cylinder configuration reportedly delivers cardboard printing with much higher quality than a conventional, one-sided press. The sheet transfer mechanism employs a double diameter impression cylinder and triple diameter transfer cylinder, ensuring higher productivity. A total of three inker temperature control rollers are provided.

• Hamada of America touted its B Series of 14x20˝ sheetfed presses featuring semi-automated plate changers, automatic blanket washers, running register and stream feeder with swing gripper infeed for achieving fast makereadies.

• Sakurai USA introduced a new production press designed to optimize the printing of short runs and on-demand turn times, with its five-color, 23x29˝ 75 series with coater. The six-up format size and 15,000 sph speed present an economical alternative to running jobs on a 40˝ press. The 575SD features automatic plate changers, roller washers and blanket washers, as well as a fully automated coating recirculator. Its remote ink console is CIP4 compatible.

• In the xpedx/Import Group booth, the Ryobi 524GX (four-color, 20.47x14.76˝) press was on display in the U.S. for the first time. It's part of the 520GX series, which features a top printing speed of 15,000 sph and is also available in two-, five- and six-color configurations. Perfecting configurations are available for all but the two-color model. Other features include semi-automatic plate changer, automatic program inking, suction tape feeder, and presetting of impression pressure and pull side guide. Also shown was a Ryobi 755XLP "D".

Digital Printing Innovations

Advancements in digital printing on display around the show floor reflected a further maturation of the technology, with particular focus on robustness and reliability.

The trend of digital printing system vendors introducing new monochrome solutions continued in Chicago. In several cases, these are existing devices or OEM versions being distributed by additional firms.

Just prior to the show, Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) signed an agreement with NexPress Solutions under which the former will sell NexPress color and Digimaster monochrome printing systems on a worldwide basis. KPG is starting with the NexPress 2100 color press and, in fact, reports taking its first order at the show. That machine now features the ability to use a fifth imaging unit to apply a clear coat or spot color, the latter of which has enabled the press to become a Pantone-licensed device.

Now officially a Kodak company, NexPress Solutions added the Digimaster E125 (125 ppm) print system to its monochrome product family. Like the E150 model introduced earlier this year, it features enhanced image quality (600x600 dpi), a modular design and optional MICR capabilities. In addition, both models support a greater range of substrate weights (up to 266 gsm) and sheet sizes (up to 14.33x18.5˝) than previous models.

At Graph Expo, Canon U.S.A. featured the imageRUNNER Pro 125VP (125 ppm) and Pro 150VP (150 ppm) black-and-white production printer additions to its product family. The company held its own Digital Solutions Forum exhibition in Las Vegas later in October. There it made 14 product introductions, including the imageRUNNER 8070 (85+ ppm) and 9070 (105+ ppm) black-and-white devices based on the ImagePlatform architecture.

In the cut-sheet arena, Océ announced U.S. general availability status for its VarioPrint 2110 600 dpi, 105 ppm monochrome printer. It also reported continued development of the VarioStream 9000 webfed production platform, with the VarioStream 9220 highlight-color, two-over-two configuration entering pilot testing. Océ says it eventually intends to extend the lineup to a five-over-five color version.

For Production Printing

Konica Minolta Business Solutions introduced bizhub PRO, a subset of its bizhub brand tailored for production printing environments. The bizhub PRO 1050 is a 105-ppm, 600-dpi monochrome production printing system that features patented Simitri polymerized toner, supports a large maximum paper size (12.75x18.11˝) and can be configured with a range of finishing options. The company also previewed the bizhub PRO C500, its next-generation color production device, and PageScope Publisher, a low-cost application designed to streamline job management and "makeready" processes in print-for-pay environments.

According to Delphax Technologies, the "Books for Schools" program surpassed its pre-show goal for production of classic books during Graph Expo 2004. Inside pages were produced using a new Delphax CR2000 monochrome web printer capable of running at up to 450 fpm—or nearly 2,000 8-1⁄2x11˝ ppm—using electron beam imaging.

The group had committed to donating a minimum of 5,000 books to the Chicago Public Schools, and had already exceeded that number before the end of the second day of the show. Six classic works of literature were produced in soft cover.

Color covers were produced by Xeikon America, which was highlighting its Xeikon 5000 digital color press. The press is said to be a new design offering improved image quality, reliability and durability, with a top print speeds of 130 ppm and a 20˝ maximum media width.

Other vendors providing components for the book production line included Keene Technology (splicer); Stralfors Inc. (sheeter); MBO America (MBO folder and Palamides stacker); Shuttleworth Inc. (conveyor); Muller Martini (perfect binder); and GBC (lamination). Glatfelter provided the paper.

Nipson showed two new continuous-feed printers: the VaryPress 200 (230 fpm) and 400 (410 fpm), based on magnetographic imaging with cold-flash fusing. The monochrome printing systems feature a next-generation writing head designed to offer longer life and a smaller spot size.

Color system vendors continue to fill out their product lines, as well.

Xerox Corp. unveiled the DocuColor 8000 digital color press, which outputs 80 ppm at 2,400 dpi and supports up to a maximum 12.6x19.2˝ page size. The company says that the device builds on and provides a next step up from the DocuColor 6060, which remains in the production line, and shouldn't be considered a "baby iGen3." Also introduced was the Xerox 180 highlight color system, a cut-sheet device that prints at 180 ppm in one color plus black.

LabelExpo 2004 actually served as the launching pad for HP's newest product, the HP Indigo press ws4050. It is designed to produce full-color, variable labels from roll stock up to 13˝ wide at 52.4 fpm. The company previously introduced the HP Indigo press 5000 and 3050, both of which produce up to 4,000 pages per hour, offer an 800-dpi resolution and print in up to seven colors.

In a deal that primarily addresses the corporate data center market, Kodak Versamark and Emtex have teamed up to integrate the latter's VIP and VDE output management software with Kodak Versamark printing systems. Kodak Versamark's CS600 controller, jointly developed with EFI, remains the intended front end for the new VX500e continuous ink-jet color system targeted to graphic arts applications. It prints a 1,200 dpi equivalent resolution at more than 1,400 impressions per minute.

At the other end of the ink-jet scale, Riso formally unveiled its HC5000 cut-sheet ink-jet printer, which produces 105 ppm with a low per-page cost. The device offers a choice of 600- or 900-dpi printing on a maximum page size of 133⁄8x215⁄8˝. Riso also showed its new M912 color 11x17˝ Multi-Function Printer, which can handle media sizes up to 12x36˝ for applications like posters, banners and signage. Other products featured were the V8000 high-speed printing system for two-color/one-pass work and the RP3700 Printer-Duplicator, RISO's 120-ppm ledger-sized printer.

The State of DI

While a fairly stable group of players continue to develop the underlying technology, there has been an ebb and flow among the ranks of companies that actually market presses incorporating DI (Digital Imaging) and other forms of on-press imaging.

Of late, KPG has been reporting a steady stream of DirectPress sales. Its latest models, the KPG DirectPress 5634 and 5334, incorporate Presstek's new ProFire Excel imaging technology and ProFire Digital Media. This combination is said to produce a 16-micron spot, thereby enabling 300 lpi printing with support for FM/stochastic and hybrid screening options.

The core of the machine is a press unit from Ryobi, which is marketing its own version (Ryobi 3404-DI) in the U.S. through its distributor, xpedx/Import Group.

For its part, Heidelberg has opted to incorporate Presstek's new ProSpot imaging into the Quickmaster DI Pro digital press while continuing to use PearlDry Plus plate material.

Screen (USA) demonstrated the TruePress 344 digital offset press—making its U.S. debut—running processless plate technology from Konica Minolta to produce up to 7,000 sph. The press handles a maximum sheet size of 13.4x18.5˝ and offers a 2,400 dpi resolution that supports Spekta hybrid screening.

Bindery Goes Big Time

At Graph Expo, exhibitors touting the next generation of finishing equipment showed that bindery gear is now just as automated and digitized as prepress and press equipment.

Muller Martini, for example, showed printers how to make the most of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) in their binderies and pressrooms. Under the theme "Integration—Solutions from A to Z," the company introduced a host of interoperable stitching, binding, printing and on-demand finishing products.

"This year's Graph Expo was about more than bringing our Drupa advancements to North America," said Werner Naegeli, president and CEO.

Muller Martini's BravoPlus Amrys demonstrated CIM connectivity. As its name indicates, BravoPlus Amrys (Automatic Makeready System) automates one of the most time-consuming jobs in the bindery—setting up saddle stitching systems between jobs. Job parameters can be entered on the system's console, retrieved from the system's built-in hard disk or captured directly from a company's MIS or prepress system, via JDF (Job Definition Format).

At the show, everything the saddle stitcher needed to know about the project was supplied directly from a JDF digital job ticket. A second BravoPlus Amrys was an integral part of MAN Roland's CIMcity workflow display in its booth.

Muller Martini's AmigoDigital perfect binding system produced classic works of literature as part of the "Books for Schools" program. The demonstration ran continuously at the Delphax booth to document AmigoDigital's short-run, zero-makeready production capabilities.

Standard Finishing Systems used Graph Expo as the launch pad for the Standard Horizon i2i system, a full-featured CIP4/JDF-enabled digital workflow that brings automation and job status visibility to the bindery.

Standard Horizon showed a complete i2i system that can ingest JDF file data to drive a network of finishing solutions that includes the AFC-546AKT folder, BQ-270 perfect binder and StitchLiner saddlestitcher. Horizon belongs to Networked Graphic Production (NGP), a strategic alliance of printing industry manufacturers that have joined forces to deliver on the promise of JDF-based integration and interoperability.

The Horizon i2i system provides barcoded tickets for easy job management; the ability to save and recall recurring jobs; job record data for accounting and analysis; automated machine setup; and the ability to monitor job status of i2i-connected machines in real time from a central console. The system leverages the value of finishing parameters that can be input at the point of job creation, allowing jobs to flow seamlessly through the print production process.

Visitors to the MBO America booth witnessed JDF folding data being generated by Metrix LithoTechnics' new automatic layout calculator, and being fed into the MBO Datamanager to automatically set up an MBO Perfection folding machine with Navigator control.

MBO's digital integration software, Datamanager, has been commercially available for several years. However, until Metrix, no PPF/CIP3 generating system has been able to create complete folding data for custom folds, the companies say; instead operators were restricted to standard folds from a catalog.

Metrix, on the other hand, does not use a catalog, but allows users to build their own custom folds using a simple, step-by-step graphical user interface that mimics folding a sheet on-screen. Metrix ships with a library of more than 80 common folding schemes, but also allows users to simply build custom folds.

Heidelberg introduced its line of Eurobind perfect binders for small- and mid-sized printers in the North American market. Also making its domestic debut were the high-volume Stitchmaster ST 350, an operator-friendly, semi-automatic saddle stitcher, as well as the entry-level Stitchmaster ST 90 saddlestitcher.

Other finishing highlights from Heidelberg included the Stahlfolder Easyfold and TH 66 buckle-plate folders and the Dymatrix die-cutting system. The Polar Automated Cutting for Efficiency (P.A.C.E.) line of Generation X/XT high-speed cutters and cutting systems was also featured prominently.

Colter & Peterson's exhibit contained a number of new product innovations. The centerpiece of the display was the new Baumann BASA automatic jogging system connected to a new generation of Wohlenberg pro-tec paper cutters. The Baumann BASA system automates the task of jogging material prior to cutting.

The company also displayed its Prism paper cutter with standard 8˝ liquid color screen, as well as the latest generation of Saber paper cutters with 10˝ color touchscreens and CIP3/4 compatibility.

Rollem USA showcased the PB-15 automatic feeding, jogging, drilling and delivery system. This system combines maximum output with reduced setup time. The only manual setup is the positioning of the heads when changing the hole pattern. Paper size and spine margin of the holes are programmed and set automatically. The PB-15 handles drilling of loose-leaf, perfect-bound books, stitched or folded products. Drilling of loose-leaf piles can reach an output of 1,500 piles per hour.

Mailing technology, a hot trend in the printing industry, made its presence known at Graph Expo. Domino linked two Bitjet+ units and a JetArray to a Heidelberg ST400 stitcher at the show, demonstrating the ability to selectively insert and variably print the corresponding product with inside/outside matching ink-jet capabilities.

The system was driven by Domino's Editor GT controller, an ink-jet controller package that offers users complete control by managing up to eight configurable print heads anywhere on the line. At Graph Expo, the JetArray could be seen printing upside down on a plough-opening station, showing its versatility and ability to print in any print orientation.

Another option for printers interested in mailing, Videojet Technologies debuted the Videojet BX6000 Series of binary array ink-jet printers. With the 128x256 dpi BX6000 Series, printers can produce addresses, maps and other basic graphics, promotional messaging, loyalty cards and a range of other applications.

CTP Innovations Abound

A mix of thermal and violet CTP hardware introductions was sprinkled around the show floor.

Heidelberg showed a strong commitment to thermal at Drupa 04 by introducing a new laser system it developed and is incorporating into the Suprasetter line of thermal platesetters. These platesetters offer versatility in plate handling, format coverage and punching. Various configurations are available, from the four- or eight-page basic models to the automatic Single Cassette Loader (SCL), Multiple Cassette Loader (MCL) and Plate-On-Demand (which allows for instant plate production initiated from the CP 2000 press console) systems.

Heidelberg also continues to be a major player in the violet CTP market. The Prosetter violet product family headlined Heidelberg's CTP solutions at Graph Expo 04, along with the North American premier of Suprasetter. New features shown included a manual by-pass for the SCL configuration, a new Multiple Cassette Loader (MCL) model and Plate-On-Demand functionality.

Over the four days of the show, Heidelberg says it utilized Prosetters to produce more than 1,000 plates run on seven presses with 36 printing units. It reports selling approximately 1,000 violet systems worldwide since the product line was introduced in January of 2002.

Enovation Graphic Systems brought the Fujifilm Saber Luxel V-6 violet platesetter line to Chicago for its North American launch. The machine is said to offer a smaller footprint while supporting a maximum 30-3⁄32x27˝ plate size. It features a 60mW laser and is available in manual, semi-automatic and automatic configurations.

Presstek Inc., still the sole bidder for the business and assets of the A.B.Dick Co., previewed an Automated Plate Loading System upgrade for its Dimension Excel CTP platform, which features new ProFire thermal imaging technology. The upgrade enables automated handling of multiple plate selection, punching, slip-sheet removal, imaging and post-imaging handling.

Screen (USA) arguably could be considered a thermal-only CTP vendor, but its parent organization does offer violet platesetters outside the U.S. market. Its platesetter line now tops out with the high-speed, multi-format PlateRite Ultima 16000 (16-page) and 32000 (32-page) models, both featuring Grating Light Valve imaging technology.

Rejoining the ranks of Graph Expo exhibitors after a four-year hiatus, ECRM Imaging Systems highlighted its new MAKO 8 platesetter. The eight-page (32.4x45˝) machine combines violet imaging with a straight-through plate path for ease of operation.

Xanté Corp. introduced a new metal CTP solution based on patent-pending, non-photosensitive technology. Aspen metal plates are said to enable a process-free, chemical-free, no rinse workflow using anodized and grained aluminum plates rated for more than 25,000 impressions. The Impressia metal platesetter uses high-intensity radiant light to instantly expose the Aspen plate in sizes up to 13.38x19.87˝.

Just prior to Graph Expo 2004, Esko-Graphics announced it was narrowing the focus of its commercial printing business to the DPX 4 polyester CTP system, PlateDriver Compact violet platesetter, DotMate filmsetter and EskoScan scanner product lines. The company is also moving forward with its plan to introduce the Espresso four-up CtUP (computer-to-UV-plate) system in 2005.

Elsewhere, International Graphic Systems introduced HighWater's Python four-up violet platesetter into the U.S. market, Escher-Grad Technologies showed its fully automated Cobalt-4 and Cobalt-8 violet CTP systems, Glunz & Jensen released the PlateWriter 4200 ink-jet computer-to-plate (iCTP) system and basysPrint highlighted an entry-level, eight-up version—UV-Setter 731e—of its CTcP (computer-to-conventional-plate) system.

Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging U.S.A. has formed a strategic partnership with basysPrint GmbH to sell, service and support the complete line of basysPrint CTcP systems in the United States.

At Graph Expo, Agfa pointed out that its new Acento four-up, thermal platesetter is now shipping in North America. Its chemistry-free Azura plate (based on ThermoFuse technology) is also commercially available.

After a year in the printing plate business, Creo announced it intends to add a production line to its West Virginia manufacturing facility. The plate line is expected to more than double the plant's capacity and is projected to be completed by the end of 2005.

Variable Data Update

Variable data printing (VDP) product introductions at Graph Expo indicate a shift in focus to empowering designers and marketing professionals to take charge of variable data projects. This includes giving them tools to directly execute a program.

In Chicago, Adobe Systems launched the VDP Resource Center (www.adobe.com/vdp). It is billed as an educational resource for creative professionals, marketing departments and print service providers that aims to kick-start the adoption and implementation of variable data publishing solutions.

The resource center will showcase technologies and products that assist creative professionals and print providers in building VDP campaigns. Visitors can download free trial software and purchase VDP plug-in solutions from Adobe ISV partners.

XMPie announced one such product, called uDirect, at the show. This desktop variable data printing solution for Mac or PC integrates into InDesign as a plug-in and is compatible with XMPie's high-end PersonalEffect VDP system. Point-and-click functionality links document elements to variable data sources, and supported output formats include Creo VPS, Xerox VIPP and PPML/VDX.

Creo Inc. previewed a new version of its Darwin VI (variable information) authoring tool that will also work as a plug-in to InDesign CS. It is slated to be available in early 2005, running on Mac OSX. In addition, Creo demonstrated Darwin 6.1.1 software for QuarkXPress 6.1 users.

Meanwhile, Quark Inc. was previewing the forthcoming release of its QuarkXPress 6.5 update, which features the previously announced QuarkXClusive variable data publishing XTension. The utility was developed in conjunction with HP to enable production of customized, database-driven documents output on HP Indigo digital presses.

In-plant managers who attended Graph Expo were not disappointed.

"Overall, a very good show," concludes LSU's Don Davis, "and if the economy will continue [to recover], PRINT 05 should really be a great show."

.

This story was compiled by Chris Bauer, Mark Michelson, Mark Smith and Bob Neubauer.