Drupa with a British Accent

WITH MORE than 1,000 exhibitors expected from more than 40 countries, IPEX 2010 is the British version of Drupa. Held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, England, from May 18-25, the show will occupy more than 645,000 square feet of floor space, filling 11 halls. Organizers hope to attract 55,000 visitors.

IPEX heralds itself as the largest English-speaking global technology event for print, publishing and media. Given the sparse attendance at last year's PRINT 2009 show in Chicago, it would be hard to dispute this proclamation. Still, one wonders if IPEX will receive the same cold shoulder from printers this year, given the recession's continuing grip.

Acquired by IIR Exhibitions in 2006 from industry association Picon, IPEX has undergone a makeover. A new footprint was created to provide visitors with a floor layout that features the entire print production workflow.

To promote the show, IIR Exhibitions and AD Communications recently hosted the IPEX International Media Summit at the ExCeL London international exhibition and conference center. Some 80 journalists, representing more than 100 graphic arts titles from around the globe, gathered for a preview of what some key exhibitors will be highlighting at IPEX.

New Technologies On Display

Among the products discussed at the press event were the enhanced versions of the toner-based Xerox 650/1300 continuous-feed monochrome printing systems. New features include: heavy-weight media compatibility, running duplex applications up to 200 gsm, the FreeFlow Print Server 7 and ImageSmooth Technology for producing sharp images. Xerox also announced its first production ink-jet system, but further details are being held for the show.

With its largest stand to date at an IPEX show, Canon Europe will provide the first international showing of the imageRUNNER Advance Pro series of light production engines. Canon image–PROGRAF printers—ideal for large-format applications such as graphics and signage—will also be featured.

Under the banner "Power to Succeed," Fujifilm Europe will introduce the Jet Press 720 B2 sheetfed digital ink-jet press suited for short-run printing. With production speeds of approximately 180 sheets (A4 size equivalent) per minute or 2,700 B2 sheets an hour, it employs SAMBA print-head technology for single-pass, ink-jet printing at 1,200x1,200 dpi resolution. The worldwide rollout schedule of the Jet Press 720 will be announced at the show.

The Acuity Advance HS wide-format UV ink-jet printer will also be highlighted by Fujifilm. It features a modified print head, offering production speeds of 430 square feet per hour.

Ricoh will showcase two new color printers for the light production printing market: the Ricoh Pro C720 and Pro C720s. According to Graham Kennedy, product manager for Ricoh Europe, the printers are ideal for the quick turnaround of items printed on thick stocks, such as direct mail or point-of-purchase materials. Both printers can handle coated and uncoated paper up to 300 gsm at 72 ppm. They offer a maximum image resolution of 1,200x1,200 dpi, a paper capacity of 11,000 sheets and a stacking capacity of 13,000 sheets.

With the theme "Get back to growth," Océ is using IPEX to debut the Océ Arizona 550 GT display graphics printer. Designed as a true flatbed system, the device can print on a variety of rigid substrates up to 49.2x98.4˝ in area and up to 2˝ thick. A roll media option for printing onto flexible media up to 86.6˝ wide is offered. Capable of printing 431 square feet per hour, it uses UV curable inks and Océ Varia–Dot imaging technology.

Pitney Bowes will demonstrate its ability to "1ntegrate" print and mail with the IntelliJet Printing System. It can operate at 400 fpm in a 30˝-wide format and at 1,200x600-dpi color quality. Pitney Bowes also announced that a major company in the healthcare payment industry—and the first in the U.S. market—has already ordered three of the new production color printing systems.

Also to be unveiled are three new inserters, and the latest developments to two inserters—Mailstream Productivity Series 26 (MPS 26) and FPST Split Drive Inserting System. Full details will be announced at the show.

New from Domino Printing Sciences will be the N600 digital label printing press, which offers a native resolution of 600 dpi operating at up to 246 fpm using durable UV inks. Capable of printing onto a range of paper and plastic label stocks, the N600 will be demonstrated in a reel-to-reel configuration with a print width of 13.1˝.

C.P. Bourg will launch the new BCMe sheet preparation module, designed to be used in-line with high-volume color printers such as Xerox's iGen4 and with Bourg's new BSF near-line sheet feeder.

Other IPEX Exhibitors

Though not part of the IPEX International Media Summit, other companies have also offered a preview of their IPEX plans:

Heidelberg will unveil the Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor for UV printing with process colors. Printers can now enjoy the benefits of Anicolor, such as low waste and uniform coloring across the entire form, in UV printing. This makes it possible to print non-absorbent substrates such as plastics. UV printing delivers a high-gloss coating and a print product that is rub resistant and quick drying, which in turn enables fast finishing.

Heidelberg is also expanding the Suprasetter A52 and Suprasetter A75 models for thermal printing plate production. A new Dual Top Loader (DTL) will enable fully automated plate feed of two different plate sizes. Another new feature is the additional imaging option "High Resolution 5,080 dpi." This enables special security printing applications such as banknotes, guilloches and certificates to be imaged at maximum resolution.

Presstek will demonstrate the new Presstek 75DI digital offset press at IPEX. It offers very high quality (300 lpi or stochastic screening), extreme automation (eight-minute job-to-job turnover) and a small environmental footprint with waterless printing technology, chemistry-free imaging on press, fast run-up for minimal waste, and consistent quality from job to job and within each job. The 75DI press has a maximum print speed of 16,000 sheets per hour. It has a maximum paper size of 31.02x23.62˝, a minimum paper size of 10.98x7.87˝ and a maximum print area of 29.53x22.83˝.

CGS will debut several Web-based products including ORIS Aproove, an interactive Web collaborative approval tool featuring a powerful decision-tree workflow, unlimited users and client server architecture. Also to be unveiled is ORIS Press Matcher // Web, the latest version of the award winning ORIS Press Matcher, bringing color-managed output across multiple presses, conventional and digital, and wide-format. ORIS Ink Saver will demonstrate its environmental impact in saving not only inks and solvents but also reducing paper waste and dryer temperature.

Glunz & Jensen will show it new Gecko series of CTP plate processors. This basic processing platform is recommended for printers who are looking to get started with true CTP. With it's open terminal interface, Gecko connects to all setters with a simple ready/not ready interface functionality.

And finally, PEX calls itself the largest English-speaking global technology event for print, publishing and media. plans to bring "a new interactive trade show experience with a focus on its customer needs." IPEX attendees will be the first to see the Kodak PROSPER 5000XL Press, driven by Kodak Stream Inkjet Technology. It offers offset class output along with the ability to print permanently on glossy coated papers. Kodak experts will show how the new developments on the PROSPER Press, as well as its Unified Workflow and CTP solutions, can help increase production efficiencies and return on marketing investment. IPG