Hewlett-Packard

I just got back from a rather unique business trip. I went to Israel to cover HP's pre-drupa event and get a sneak preview of some of its cutting-edge technology. Not a bad deal, all things considered. It was a fantastic opportunity to see a part of the world I likely would never have gotten to visit.

Last month, Hewlett-Packard brought more than 100 graphic arts journalists from all over the world to Israel, home of its Indigo and Scitex divisions. Against this fascinating backdrop of history and diversity, HP unveiled 10 new digital systems, hoping to make some history of its own.

Next month, drupa 2012 will take over Düsseldorf, Germany. IPG asks industry observers David Zwang, Jim Hamilton, Noel Ward and Bill Lamparter what they expect to see there.

Last week, more than 2,000 digital print professionals gathered at the Dscoop7 conference in Washington, DC. This turnout marked a 30 percent increase in core North American attendees from last year’s event and included attendees from 38 countries around the world. In addition, 95 partners participated in the Solutions Showcase exhibition.

IPG Editor Bob Neubauer recaps some of the highlights of HP's pre-drupa event held in Israel last week, along with a short video featuring some of HP's new products. A longer video will be posted on the IPG Website.

Hundreds of graphic arts journalists from all over the world converged on Tel Aviv, Israel, in mid March, to attend HP's Pre-drupa 2012 event. HP announced 10 new systems that it will introduce at drupa in May, including one that is reportedly the first offset-quality digital press in a B2 size format (29.5x20.9˝), the HP Indigo 10000.

Once their digital color presses are up and running, in-plants often discover a few things they wish they had known ahead of time. We asked four managers to tell us what they learned—and what they wish they had known ahead of time.

HP donated an HP Indigo ws4000 series web press and Esko provided a Kongsberg iCut variable data diecutting system to Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department. “Capturing, printing and diecutting digital images—static or variable—in a closed-loop workflow represents a direction that will keep the commercial printing and packaging industries viable in the years ahead,” said Department Head Harvey Levenson.

Several new wide-format printers are featured from Canon, EFI, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Océ and Screen (USA).

"There is a drum beat in Congress to cut printing," declared U.S. Public Printer Bill Boarman on Wednesday, speaking to a crowd of about 80 government and higher-ed printers, consultants and vendors. He was addressing the INTERQUEST Digital Printing in Government and Higher Education Forum in Washington, D.C. His task, he stressed, as leader of the Government Printing Office, is not to preserve printing at all costs, but to make sure reductions are done in a way that doesn't hurt the legislative process.