The Promise of Print 05

A year after Drupa, what new surprises do graphic arts vendors have in store for in-plants? Here's an advanced look.

In-plant managers eager to see the latest graphic arts technologies can't do much better than Print 05 & Converting 05. Held in Chicago once every four years, this is the printing industry's main event.

Larger than last year's Graph Expo show, Print 05 will feature nearly 800 exhibits covering more than 725,000 square feet of floor space.

To help in-plants prepare, many of the industry's key vendors offered a peak at the products they plan to display in Chicago.

Offset

Boasting the show's largest exhibit area as usual, Heidelberg will show off a number of its technologies, including the Speedmaster SM52-8 with perfector, the Speedmaster 74-6 with perfector, coater and extended delivery and the Speedmaster XL 105, the first sheetfed press in a new "maximum performance class." The 105 offers fast makereadies, high production speeds and printing quality. The press achieves a maximum speed of 18,000 sph, enabling cost-effective production of industrialized offset jobs.

MAN Roland will exhibit a 65˝ version of the its extra-extra-large press: the ROLAND 900 XXL. A six-color with coater configuration, the 900 XXL demonstrates the advantages of combining high levels of automation with a super-sized press format and is equipped with a Maxson sheeter, which uses web stock.

Ryobi/xpedx Import Group will introduce the Ryobi 3404X-DI (UV), a four-color, 13.375x18.125˝ digital imaging portrait press with UV capabilities. The group will also spotlight the Ryobi 524HE, a four-color, 14x20˝ press; Ryobi 524GXP, a four-color or 2/2 14x20˝ press; Ryobi 755XL-E, a five-color, 23x29˝ with UV board press; and the Ryobi 758P (S-Type), a 23x29˝ eight-color 4/4 perfector.

The four-color TruePress 344 digital offset press will be at the heart of the Screen (USA) booth. It has a maximum sheet size of 13.4x18.5˝ and a maximum imaging area of 13x18.1˝. It utilizes a thermal multi-array laser diode imaging system and a new processless plate. All four plates are exposed simultaneously. With a print speed of 7,000 sph, it can produce a 500-sheet single-sided job in less than 15 minutes.

Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses will showcase the Diamond 3000TP Tandem Perfector. The 40˝ perfector prints both sides of the sheet in one pass at 13,000 sph without turning the sheet. The gripper is maintained throughout the run. The press is available with up to 12 printing units and has a stock range of .0016˝ to .024˝ for standard printing or .008˝ to .032˝ for folding carton applications.

Sakurai will introduce a new high-speed, fully automated, 20x26˝ four-color convertible perfector. The 466SD/SDP runs at 16,000 iph. Standard features include automatic perfecting changeover, automatic plate changers, automatic blanket and roller washers, a Sakurai auto set sheet preset device and double diameter impression and transfer cylinders.

KBA North America will feature the 41˝ Rapida 105 sheetfed press. Enhancements include faster makeready; 18,000 sph; a mark-free vacuum side guide; extended functionality to control sheet in-feed at the control console; and a motor-driven shaftless feeder. It can handle stock from 48-lb. paper to 48-pt. board with no gripper adjustments and boasts a new Qualitronic II in-line sheet inspection system.

Komori America will exhibit a 10-color (5/5) Lithrone S40 perfector. The LS1040P incorporates all of the features of the Lithrone S40 series and includes a double size, three cylinder perfecting mechanism. The perfector transfers the sheet entirely stress-free, and air controls plus ceramic jackets on the last five impression cylinders assist in mark-free passage of the reversed sheet through to the delivery.

Digital Printing

Xerox plans to introduce the DocuColor 7000, a 70 ppm digital press. Xerox's FreeFlow Output Manager software centralizes print management by acting as a "traffic controller." Output Manager is designed to manage the flow of print jobs to the most appropriate networked print device.

Kodak also intends to roll out some advanced digital color machines. Enhancements to its NexPress technology promise to bring more flexibility and productivity.

Hewlett-Packard will focus on open standards and end-to-end workflows that highlight the entire family of HP Indigo digital presses, including the HP Indigo press 5000, with new applications that can only be produced digitally using liquid HP ElectroInk. Featured in the Wide Format Pavilion will be HP Designjet printers, media and HP Vivera inks in applications such as remote proofing, graphic design and professional photography.

RISO will have its HC5000 on hand. It provides affordable full-color digital printing at up to 105 ppm for as little as 3¢ per page. The HC5000 harnesses two new proprietary technology platforms, ForceJet and ComColor, to deliver affordable and vivid full-color printing.

The Epson Stylus Pro 7800 and 9800 (24˝ and 44˝ respectively) incorporate forward-thinking designs with new eight-color ink technology. Each solution features Epson UltraChrome K3 ink. K3 ink has eight color pigments, including a new three-level black technology, for professional color and black-and-white prints.

Bindery

The Baum 26˝ and 30˝ wider-format folders offer high productivity and trouble-free operation. They are available with eight-page and 16-page right angle units and the Baum K20 knife folder, which increases flexibility. The reverse-drive continuous feeder provides longer production runs with a maximum folder speed of 9,000 ipm.

Brandtjen & Kluge will exhibit its latest automatic folder/gluer, the OmniFold. The OmniFold offers right and/or left sheet registration, rack-and-pinion elevator driven feeding section and vertical buckle folder. The OmniFold is modular, allowing users to expand the machine's capabilities as needed.

Duplo USA will show its System 5000 collating and booklet making solution. It now offers the 2KT head and foot trimmer.

Epic Products will display the Model CTi-635 in-line coating system for the Xerox iGen3 press, which uses Xerox DFA architecture and will apply UV or aqueous coatings. The system can also be retrofitted to the tower coater on any offset press, replacing roller metering with an anilox system, or custom-manufactured as a blanket coater.

Gateway Bookbinding Systems will showcase the PLASTIKOIL Concept QS2 dual interline system for the manufacturing and automated insertion of plastic spiral binding. The system, with the 3000 QS quick setup auto coil inserters, allows for quick book binding. The units can interline or be detached for independent production and produces at rates of 1,400 books per hour, with coil diameters from 6mm to 30mm.

Heidelberg will show the Stahlfolder TH 82 buckle plate folding machine, part of its TH/KH generation of Stahlfolders. Changeover times on the TH model are reduced by efficient automation components and ergonomic operation. In addition, overall output is increased by comprehensive workflow integration and maximum flexibility with a modular machine concept.

The StitchFold bookletmaker and trimmer system, from MBM Corp., uses wire-fed stitching technology. With a sheet capacity of 25, the StitchFold can saddle stitch and trim 2,300 sets/hour. The system provides lower operating costs than bookletmakers using preformed staples, as 65,000 booklets can be produced from a single spool of wire.

MBO America will introduce the Slitter Shaft Cassette, which provides easy access and exchange of the slitter shafts and improves makeready time and operation throughput. The retractable cassette brings the slitter shaft to the operator with a pull of a handle. This cassette is available on Perfection buckle folders and Combi-(K) folders for working widths of 26˝ to 64˝.

Morgana Systems will showcase creasers, folders, bookletmakers and cutters, as well as the Morgana DigiFold, which provides creasing and folding and uses patented technologies specially developed for the digital market.

Muller Martini will introduce the Bolero Model 3028 perfect binder. The system, which runs at 8,000 cph, can perform its own makeready, utilizes a CIP4 and JDF-ready digital interface, can handle product sizes for one-up and two-up production, and offers a wide product range for jobs requiring hot melt, cold glue or PUR in perfect bound, lay-flat or book blocks for casing-in. Muller Martini will also debut SigmaLine technology, a modular, commercial-quality, on-demand digital book manufacturing solution.

The Rollem Advantage is an airfeed scoring, perforating and slitting machine. The system offers no cracking or marking and accuracy on a variety of stocks with the side guide register. The Advantage processes all types of brochures and catalogs, slitting of variable data sheets, postcards and business cards, micro-perfing and slitting/perforating for CD/DVD inlays.

Spiel Associates will introduce the Sterling Coilmaster III plastic coil binding system, which creates plastic coil from plastic filament and inserts it into the book, cuts it and crimps it. The systems offers an angled roller, a spreading device and binding with any pitch with round or oval holes at speeds up to 700 books/hour.

The Spartanics M500 is a turnkey punching and diecutting system that uses electro-optical sensors to scan and record registration marks at production rates up to 165 strokes/minute. The M500 system is available in three formats, produces rates of up to 70,000 CR80 cards/hour and has a modular design for configuration with either sheetfed or coil, hard tool or steel rule die.

Standard Horizon will feature the Horizon i2i system, a CIP4/JDF-enabled digital workflow. The i2i system will ingest JDF file data to drive a network of finishing solutions that include floor-model folders, perfect binders, collators, bookletmakers and saddle stitchers. The system offers bar-coded tickets, job record data, automated machine setup and the ability to monitor job status of i2i-connected machines.

Streamfeeder will introduce the Servo series high-speed feeder/dispenser, which reduces manual labor for batch counting, collating, accumulating, automatic wrapping, kit fulfillment and package inserting. Features toolless, single-knob adjustments and flexibility for use in high-speed stand-alone applications or integration into other systems.

Technifold USA will debut the TCM20 tabletop creasing solution, geared for short- to medium-run offset and digital print shops. It uses Tri-Creaser technology to eliminate fiber cracking on digitally or traditionally printed paper by producing a letterpress-quality crease. The TCM20 will run sheets up to 20˝, has a near-zero setup time and uses a handfed design to minimize waste.

The Therm-O-Type Zip-A3 can crosscut, slit and score products printed on sheets up to oversized A3. Using a programmable guillotine crosscut and gutter-cut slitting blades, bleed and non-bleed formats can be run. Up to eight, 21-up business card sheets can be run through the Zip-A3 per minute.

Vijuk Equipment will exhibit the Setmaster collator with in-line gluing, static pinning and the ability to collate CDs. It can shrink wrap on the Conflex fill-and-seal wrapper, which wraps at high speed using a continuous rotary hot knife sealing system. The Setmaster's adjustable suction feeding heads pick up a range of materials, from carbon or NCR papers to heavy chip boards. Many models available based on sheet sizes from 2-1⁄2x2-1⁄2˝ to 52x76˝.

Mailing

Böwe Bell + Howell will introduce Print Stream Optimization, which improves throughput of mail inserting equipment by manipulating the print stream in order to optimize equipment utilization. High performance is achieved in a manifesting environment, where inserter output is maximized while maintaining the manifest order required by the USPS.

Buhrs Americas will demonstrate the BB300 envelope inserting system. It boasts heavy-duty construction and flexible configuration. System performance has been increased by 25 percent to 10,000 cph and a packing thickness up to 15mm.

Neopost will introduce its digital mailing system, the IJ 70. Ideal for mid-volume mailing, it processes up to 150 letters/minute while calibrating length, width and thickness up to 5⁄8˝ to ensure the proper amount of postage is applied to each piece. It adjusts for document thickness and features 10 preset job functions.

Secap's Jet 1 integrated address and bar code printing system is designed for printers considering mailing services. It has print configurations of 3˝, 4.5˝ or 6˝ with production speeds up to 30,000 per hour. Optional accessories include feeders, tabbers, dryers and mail pre-sorting conveyors.

Proofing & CTP

Enovation, a Fujifilm company, will feature the FinalProof GxT with digital halftone proofing technology. With true halftone dot screening, FinalProof expands by imaging dot percentages of CMYK and spot color donors for accurate spot color matching. With newly released metallic and opaque white donors, it is able to laminate to a variety of substrates.

The Presstek Vector TX52 chemistry-free platesetter provides the small-format printer with a metal platemaking solution. The system is designed for maximum ease of use to streamline the entire platemaking operation while delivering the speed, quality and performance required to meet customer demands. Its compact size and daylight-safe operation allow this unit to fit into any shop.

RIPit Computer will introduce its CTP configuration and show its newest SpeedSetter violet metal CTP and Symphony workflow solutions for small- and mid-sized printers.

A Kodak non-process plate called Thermal Direct will make its debut at Print 05. It is designed for small- to medium-sized printers.

Software

Agfa will show its Agfa Suite software solutions. These include the latest releases of ApogeeX, Agfa's digital workflow software, :Delano and :Delano Approve Web-based project management tools and :Arcadia, a publishing and digital asset management solution.

BCC Software, a Böwe Bell + Howell company, plans to show NEWLEAF, a robust VDP composition tool. The program's WYSIWYG interface lets users control placement of graphic and text components. It features Data Source Wizard, which links databases to the design palette, and is compatible with most industry-standard high-speed laser printers.

Creo, a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak, will display Synapse EyeMedia software. This digital asset management system integrates with the Prinergy workflow management system and the Synapse InSite Internet portal into prepress.

Kodak will also demonstrate KODAK Enterprise Management Solution (EMS) software, developed by Creo. It is designed to allow printers to seamlessly integrate print and business workflow. It is intended for printers whose businesses extend beyond offset printing to include digital print, fulfillment and mailing. Modules address core business needs, such as sales force automation, quoting and estimating, job management, purchasing, production planning and scheduling, and financial capabilities.

EFI will launch next-generation Fiery System 7 software and color servers with enhanced graphic arts, production automation and VDP functionality, and expanded integration with its entire product portfolio. In addition, Executive Information System, an interactive interface for the Hagen, Logic and PSI systems, will provide real-time analysis of a range of management data.

Enfocus Software's entire PDF quality control product line, including PitStop Professional, features core Certified PDF technology and is Acrobat 7/PDF 1.6 compatible. Enfocus gives designers, printers and publishers tools like Certified PDF to create and exchange PDFs.

FlightCheck Studio, from Markzware, watches over jobs from the very start by allowing users to customize document output specifications, and alerts when an item does not fit the original choices. No more incorrect color models, RGB images or any surprises.

Printable will show the PrintOne Customer Center, which provides a secure, branded Web portal through which customers can make print purchases via the Web. With the new advanced functionality, it is possible to match the look and feel of the customer portal to any enterprise Intranet or Web site.

Quark will debut QuarkXPress 7. Packed with expert transparency tools, Unicode and Open Type support and collaboration and interoperability based on open standards such as JDF, PDF-X and PPML, QuarkXPress 7 will transform creative communications.

Rampage Systems will introduce Rampage JVX, a JDF-enabled workflow. New features include remote job submission, remote preflighting, a notifications manager and options for remote proofing and collaboration, second-order FM screening and multi-phase hybrid screening.

Ink & Paper

Mohawk Fine Papers will introduce i-Tone uncoated paper for HP Indigo printers. The process is the result of a collaboration between Mohawk and Nalco. Developed specifically for HP Indigo presses, i-Tone has been applied to Mohawk Superfine and Mohawk 50/10, bringing higher performance to a new generation of printers.

Jetrion will launch low-VOC solvent inks for Videojet and Domino continuous ink-jet printers. Printers who use the new Jetrion inks can decrease VOCs, enabling operation expansion while remaining within VOC emissions limits. Jetrion's low-VOC solvent CIJ inks offer reliability and performance at a lower price.

Flint Ink will feature ArrowStar sheetfed inks, formulated to perform on all sheetfed presses. The UV sheetfed and web-printed forms product is designed to enable maximum press speeds and cure. Its low tack formulation allows for performance on a range of substrates and presses.

Rena Systems will offer EasyInk AqueousT for HP-based ink-jets. Up to now, materials that use aqueous coatings could not be addressed with standard ink-jets. With the EasyInk AqueousT, most coated materials are as easy to use as regular paper.

Van Son Holland Ink will show its oil-based Quickson PRO, which is available in process and PANTONE colors. Packaged in 2.2-lb. vacuum sealed cans, it features ink and water balance for fast setting time. After processing, it may be coated in-line with aqueous coatings, off-line with UV coating and will film laminate.