On Demand Conference Watch For New Opportunities

Despite the economic downturn, many printers made the trip to New York to see the latest in on-demand printing technologies.

by Bob Neubauer

With print sales predicted to be relatively flat in 2002, it was encouraging to see the exhibit floors of the ninth annual On Demand Conference fairly busy with attendees. According to conference organizers, nearly 19,000 "industry professionals from around the world" were in attendance.

Though the number of exhibitors (150+) was down from last year (200), the event still drew a number of in-plants to New York's Jacob Javits Center, to do some serious looking—and even purchasing.

Still, all was not rosy, as Charlie Pesko pointed out during his opening keynote speech.

"No matter what print segment you are in, you will not see the good old days of past years again," noted Pesko, managing director of CAP Ventures and founder of the conference. "The print industry will recover, but growth will not return to previous levels."

He noted that advertising, promotional and direct mail printing will continue to grow, but newspaper, periodical and business forms printing will decline.

"We have to face the fact that the offset printing and publishing industry is being displaced by technological advancement, in addition to electronic pages," he said. "These advancements include digital production printing, distributed work group and desktop printing, as well as wireless technology and the Internet."

He urged printers to embrace emerging technologies that may displace print, while devising strategies to offer new value-added products and services.

Digital Printing Devices Abounded

Certainly, adding new services is prudent, but the old ones aren't gone yet, as evidenced by the array of digital printing devices on the show floor. Xerox drew consistently large crowds to demos of its new DocuColor iGen3 digital production press (formerly called FutureColor).

Cluster printing continued to make headlines as Canon U.S.A. inked a deal with T/R Systems to link its imageRUNNER and CLC color production systems with T/R's MicroPress X Series servers. Konica Business Technologies, too, announced a new cluster server, Unify Konica 2.0, from Advanced Hi-Tech, which can connect up to nine black-and-white printers and one color device.

Even Xeikon International, which made headlines after filing for bankruptcy protection in Europe, was back in action at the show to tout its new business strategy, together with new owner Punch International, which has now also acquired Xeikon America. Interestingly, its new plan halts the market introduction of the CSP 320 D, Xeikon's sheetfed printer, so the company can concentrate on its web presses.

Here are some of the equipment highlights from On Demand 2002:

Celebrating a total of 170 NexPress 2100 color digital press sales so far, Heidelberg USA previewed a few technologies at the show. HeiPort is a new e-portal that will let printers communicate with print buyers through a Web site, enabling an array of e-services, like remote proofing, online quotes and ordering, job management and file transfer. Another new product is NexTreme, a variable data application for the NexPress 2100. It allows the creation of high-volume variable jobs.

One of Heidelberg's chief rivals, Xerox, was getting a lot of attention at On Demand with its iGen3 press, set to launch later this year with a list price of $510,000.

"Offset is the market we're going after," revealed Frank Steenburgh, senior vice president and general manager of iGen3 Business, in an IPG interview. Able to produce 100 full-color 81⁄2x11˝ pages per minute, iGen3 is a level above the Heidelberg NexPress 2100, insisted Steenburgh, who feels the 2100 competes more directly with the DocuColor 2000.

Also at On Demand, Xerox debuted the DocuSP 2000XC controller, which will provide a common platform for operating both digital color and black-and-white printers. Operators will be able to run jobs on multiple printers with common workflow software.

Scarcely a month after officially becoming a division of Hewlett-Packard, Indigo showed off several of its digital color printers with new names. The six-color Platinum is now the HP Indigo Press 1000, producing 2,000 color pages per hour (pph). The seven-color UltraStream 2000 has become the HP Indigo Press 3000, with a speed of 4,000 color pph. The Publisher 4000 is now called the HP Indigo Press w3200, printing 8,000 color pph.

In an interview, Indigo Founder Benny Landa said HP's marketing support will now allow Indigo's salespeople to increase their focus on sales. He admitted, though, that the in-plant market was not a major target, since he expects most corporations to outsource the bulk of their four-color marketing work.

In the web-fed world, Xeikon's new parent company, Punch International, assured attendees that Xeikon's manufacturing capabilities have been enhanced by Punch's expertise and its 13 production plants worldwide. At its booth, Xeikon showed off its 20˝ DCP 500 D color press, running 8,280 pph. In addition, the entry-level DCP 320 Dx was on display. With a 70-ppm speed, it produces color variable data printing.

Another web product, the PageStream 210 Twin, from Océ Printing Systems USA, offers two-over-two color output at 210 impressions a minute. Its split Quick Change Developer Station lets users create duplex documents with black and a different highlight color on each side. It can be configured as two devices, with each doing duplex or simplex highlight color.

Océ Printing has also joined the cluster printing crowd; its CPS700 color production system and DPS400 digital printing system can be combined as clustered units, managed by Océ Doc Works Exec software.

Scitex Digital Printing launched its newest digital color printing system, VersaMark Vantage, which produces 100 percent variable data in black, spot color or CMYK process color. It runs up to 708 impressions (325 feet) per minute using binary, single-row continuous ink-jet technology.

Canon held its Digital Solution Forum at the Javits Center this year, so attendees had two places to go to see Canon products, like the new imageRUNNER 1600 and 2000. Operating at 16 and 20 ppm, the systems offer scan-once-print-many technology. They can support monthly print volumes of up to 50,000 impressions.

Canon's deal with T/R Systems makes the MicroPress X Series server available for use with imageRUNNER and CLC color printers, including the imageRUNNER 85 and 7200 black-and-white models and the 50-ppm CLC5000 color system. Canon also introduced the CLC 1140 and 1180 color laser printers for short production runs and proofing. They produce 11 color ppm.

Konica Business Technologies introduced the Konica 7085 production printing system, with a speed of 85 ppm. It boasts a maximum duty cycle of 750,000 impressions, 100-sheet stapling, scan server functionality with direct scan-to-e-mail, and a toner yield of up to 60,000 impressions. Paper trays can accommodate 12x18˝ paper.

Ricoh announced its first color printer to be supported by T/R Systems MicroPress X Series: the Aficio Color 6513. This system prints 13 ppm in full color and 51 pages in black and white. Also at the Ricoh booth was the Aficio 1105 with the SPF-9R booklet maker. The 1105 has an automatic reversing document feeder with batch feed capabilities and a document server/editor, which allows documents to be scanned into the system's memory.

Danka Business Systems announced it will integrate new document management/tracking software as part of its Danka @ the Desktop platform. This includes software, hardware and services to help customers manage document workflow and printing, improve productivity and lower costs. This software controls and monitors copier and printer usage, capturing document costs by user, department, client or project.

Danka also announced it will market the new Toshiba e-STUDIO210c and 310c full-color multifunction copiers, and it will integrate the Canon imageRUNNER 7200 into its printing solutions.

At On Demand, Mohawk Paper Mills announced a new color copier initiative. Mohawk's Digital/Color Copier focus gives copier owners high-performance papers that minimize down time and improve the visual quality of output. The new line includes five shades of white, three finishes, three sizes including 18x12˝ for full-bleed color copies, matching cover stocks and matching envelopes.

Hammermill Papers has added a new 60-lb. cover weight to its line of Photo Natural Color Copy Paper. Designed for the reproduction of photographic images, Photo Natural combines a subtle, warm, white shade with an ultra smooth finish to give imaged skin tones a more natural appearance. Photo Natural is acid-free for additional archival qualities, which keep important documents looking good longer.

Georgia-Pacific exhibited its Spectrum Multi-System line of imaging paper. Spectrum is designed to enhance performance in digital printing environments. It is engineered to provide optimum contrast and clarity for both color and black-and-white images in digital print formats. The Spectrum line also includes Spectrum DP, a cost-effective choice for general office printing/copying as well as high-speed digital presses.

Domtar had a new line of business papers on display, including the Microprint line of technology papers. The new whites are brighter, smoother and engineered for specific end-use applications. They are: Microprint Color Copy, Microprint Multi-System; Microprint Inkjet; Microprint Laser; Microprint Digital Publishing Text and Microprint Digital Color Press.

Roll Systems showed its roll feed systems for cut sheet printers in several of its partners' booths, as well as its own. The new DocuSheeter LS was shown inline with a Heidelberg Digimaster 9110. Feeding an 11˝ roll, the DocuSheeter LS enabled both 11x17˝ and 8-1⁄2x11˝ saddle-stitched booklets to be produced. No roll change was required. Similarly, a DocuSheeter DT and Grain Rotator, coupled with an inline slitter/stacker, were producing two-up, long-grain 5-1⁄2x81⁄2˝ booklets on a Xerox DocuTech 6180.

The new Baum Binder 300, showcased at On Demand, is designed for perfect binding. The automatic self-centering cover station comes with an automatic opening and closing mechanism and three time programs for cover nipping. An electronically controlled interval system for paper dust and paper chip removal offers "clean" binding quality. Binding is carried out either with hot-melt or dispersion gluing.

Standard Finishing Systems showed its AFC-504AKT floor model folder. Up to 50 different job settings can be stored in memory, and automated set-up can be accomplished in 15 seconds. Precise stepper motors drive end stops and fold plates to the exact location for the sheet size and fold style selected. The AFC-504AKt can handle papers up to a maximum sheet width of 19.2˝, at speeds up to 15,000 sheets per hour.

Laminating shined at On Demand. Among the new products shown was the Mercury laminating system, from GBC Films Group. With a semi-automatic feeder and automatic separator, this one-sided tabletop laminator boasts a one-touch keypad control, fast warm-up time and preset temperature and speed settings for each type of film used. The synchronized feeder automatically sets the overlap, and the integrated sheet separator handles high production output using a precision knife that separates sheets while the lamination web is moving. The feeder also has adjustable side guides for accurate feeding. A built-in decurling bar assures flat sheets.

Additionally, GBC Films Group introduced new Hi-TAC thermal film. Designed to match the color output produced by the various on-demand printer and color copier systems on the market today, Hi-Tac is available in a polyester substrate or GBC LAY-FLAT substrate and in a gloss or matte finish.

Venture Coating Technologies showed the Expression 44˝ Twin wide-format laminator. It features two sets of rollers—two heated rollers on the top and a top-heated roller on the bottom. It can laminate, encapsulate and mount using the top rollers and, when finished, mount using the bottom rollers without having to re-web the machine.

Seal Graphics collaborated with Hewlett-Packard on the launch of new Productivity Photo Gloss Printing Materials. They dry immediately, enabling users to print and finish on demand, without having to wait for prints to dry before laminating. At the booth, sheets emerged from an HP printer and were run straight into a Seal 44 Ultra laminator. Compatible with dye and pigment inks, these products can be used with most large-format printers.

The D&K Group launched SuperStick thermal film. The chemicals in SuperStick allow for the successful thermal lamination of hard-to-stick prints. With SuperStick, there is less static, less adhesive transfer and better handling when laminating. It laminates with ease at temperatures between 230 and 290 degrees, with minimal tension and pressure adjustments required.

For mailing operations, Buhrs Americas showed its BB300 envelope inserting system, designed to handle both small and large envelopes at high speeds—up to 8,000 products an hour. It uses a rotary feeder combined with a continuous running chain for in-line inserting. Users can interchange shuttle and rotary feeders, turn rotary feeders 90 degrees or remove feeders to suit their needs. The Buhrs BC 1.0 Controller, including a PC, cameras, lighting and software, allows zip sorting, grouping, sequence checking and more.

From Bell+Howell came the new DemandWorks perfect binding system. At its core is its cover scoring and trimming mechanism, which automatically adjusts to a document's thickness and eliminates the need for subsequent three-knife trimming. As a result, DemandWorks can handle documents of varying page counts within the same job. Inputs include single or multiple cut sheet or continuous print streams that can be merged and collated. Bell+Howell also displayed its DemandWorks booklet making system for turning out saddle-stitched booklets.

Digital printing was a huge part of On Demand. M.G.I. USA used the show to launch the Evolutiv A330 color digital press for four-color, on-demand printing. With a 13x19˝ format, 2,400-dpi resolution, it can print from three paper sources: paper roll, stacker and tray. It is available with up to four engines, allowing expansion from 360 four-color pages per hour up to 1,440 pph (5,760 monochrome pph). Its Print Station Manager captures post-RIP bitmapped pages and stores them for later customized printing, variable data printing and auto numbering.