PRINTING United Digital Experience Continues Today With a Focus on Offset Technology

The PRINTING United Digital Experience, taking place online October 26-November 12, continues programming in this second week of the 14-day event with a focus on Commercial – Offset technology and education. Registration is free for all attendees and a single sign-up allows for complete access to the entire schedule of daily events, available through January 31, 2021, at digital.printingunited.com. The Daily Guide detailing the agenda for the day can be accessed here.

Companies in the commercial offset realm have embraced opportunity in creating growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Printers have been producing PPE, social distancing signage, and other COVID-19-related printed materials. Some have also been able to successfully pivot into industries that got a boost from the pandemic in areas such as health care, home education, and home entertainment. PRINTING United Digital Experience sessions and new technology showcases highlight these areas of opportunity and case studies in how commercial printers are adapting for the future.

Spotlight On: Commercial – Offset   

Day seven of the PRINTING United Digital Experience, sponsored by RMGT/Ryobi, offers a powerful line-up of new product demonstrations, education, and video demonstrations of the latest technology being shown to the global community. Attendees can listen to the latest developments from industry leaders in the space, including the following sessions.

PRINTING United Alliance Chief Economist Andy Paparozzi begins the day at 10 am ET with an Industry Outlook into how some commercial printers have been successful in growing their businesses in the middle of the pandemic, how this group rates the growth prospects of major print and wide-format markets, capital investment objectives, and opportunities post-COVID.

Commercial - Offset Keynote Address
10:15 am ET -- Thrive in a Transformative Marketplace with the Latest Sheetfed Offset Technology
Presenter: Mike Philie, Principal, The Philie Group
Changes in a transformative marketplace create opportunities for those who are prepared. The latest sheetfed offset technology provides innovators the opportunity to increase revenue, decrease costs, and exceed the expectations of their customers. Hear how leaders are integrating new technology, expanding customer needs, and their qualified staff to position themselves for continued success.

Panel Discussions:

11:15 am ET -- How Commercial Sheetfed Offset Printers Are Shrinking Turn-times and Streamlining to Meet Shortrun Demands
Moderator: Jim Workman, VP, Technology and Research, PRINTING United Alliance
Panelists: Jonathan Wallace, President, Wallace Graphics; Niels Winther, Managing Partner, Chairman, and Owner, Think Patented

12:15 pm ET -- Profiting Through Automation in Offset Commercial Printing
Moderator: Patrick Henry, Senior Editor, Printing Impressions
Panelists: Charlie Cox, COO, Wallace Graphics; Scott Burnett, Production Manager, Cedar Graphics; Kevin Heslin, President, Seaway Printing; Shawn Sundquist, President, Range Printing

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS
In addition to insightful education, attendees interested in the most cutting edge technology dedicated to the space will have the newest solutions broadcast at their fingertips during the event.

10:45 am -- RMGT/RYOBI
Being shown is the newest member of the RMGT 9 Series family -- the 10-color RMGT 970 long perfecting press running at the RMGT factory in Japan. The video will document a complete 4-over-4 makeready, print 250 color controlled 8-up sheets that are LED cured, ready to move to bindery, with just one press operator, all in under five minutes.

“We are embracing this new format and are excited to see how many printers have signed up for the PRINTING United Digital Experience Offset PRINT Day,” said Chris Manley, President, Graphco. “Our company hosted a Watch Party last Friday and we can’t wait to welcome our virtual visitors to the RMGT booth on Tuesday morning."

11:00 am – AGFA
Agfa showcases the latest technologies that help printers improve efficiencies and print quality while saving costs and delivering added value, including: The Eclipse, advanced process-free digital plates; SPIR@L Screening, an innovative screening technology that replaces traditional dots with alternative shapes to increase quality and reduce production costs; Apogee v12, the latest version of Agfa’s comprehensive automated, integrated workflow solution; PressTune, a smart print process control system that ensures consistent high quality and fast makeready; and InkTune, which lowers ink consumption by to up 30% while maintaining print quality.

“One of the key challenges facing offset printers today is finding ways to reduce costs and increase profitability,” said Deborah Hutcheson, Director of Marketing, Agfa North America.  “Agfa is excited to share our latest Innovations that help commercial printers reduce their total cost of print manufacturing during the Commercial Offset session at PRINTING United Digital Experience. Our experts will share how Agfa's latest market-driven innovations extend from the prepress environment into the pressroom with unparalleled ink savings coupled with a significant reduction in paper waste, make-ready times, chemistry, water, and maintenance.”

11:45 am -- MULLER MARTINI
Andy Fetherman, Muller Martini’s VP of sales and technology, presents Muller Martini’s Finishing 4.0 perspective on how customers can transform their facility into a “smart factory” -- one that embodies a highly-digitized, highly efficient workflow, from file to finished product.

12:00 pm – GEW
LeoLED represents the next generation for LED-UV curing and is set to have a significant impact in this highly competitive market. In LeoLED, the technology has been redesigned and refined for simplicity and offers excellent value, while at the same time delivering maximum power and dose of UV energy. The LeoLED cassette is fully compatible with GEW’s ArcLED hybrid system and brings LED-UV within affordable reach for all.

“GEW is proud to support all that the PRINTING United Digital Experience has set out to do and how it is servicing the global printing community,” said Jennifer Heathcote - Business Development Manager, GEW. “We have worked hard throughout 2020 to keep our customers and their equipment operating at peak performance. We greatly appreciate that the PRINTING United Digital Experience is working to set a stage for us to be able to spotlight our leading UV curing systems for the various market segments we serve. We are especially pleased that this content will be available to all of our customers and those interested in learning more about what we bring to this market segment for months to come.”

Register for the complete PRINTING United Digital Experience at: digital.printingunited.com.

Become a PRINTING United Sponsor
To participate in the PRINTING United Digital Experience as a 2020 sponsor, email sponsorship@printing.org, or visit https://pru20.exh.mapyourshow.com/6_0/login.cfm. Sponsorship for PRINTING United 2021, being held October 6-8, 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, is available through Jack Noonan, VP of Business Development, PRINTING United Alliance: jnoonan@printing.org.

About PRINTING United Alliance
PRINTING United Alliance is the new entity borne of the merger between Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and Printing Industries of America (PIA). In a milestone in the printing industry, SGIA and PIA officially combined in 2020 to create the largest, most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in the United States.

Members now have unparalleled access to preeminent education, training, workshops, events, research, government and legislative representation, safety, and environmental sustainability guidance, as well as resources from the leading media company in the industry – NAPCO Media.

PRINTING United Alliance produces the PRINTING United Expo, the most influential days in printing. The expansive display of technology and supplies, education, programming, and services are showcased to the industry at large, and represents all market segments in one easily accessed place. In 2020, PRINTING United introduced the PRINTING United Digital Experience. For more information, visit PRINTINGUnited.com.