ColorJet’s soft signage printer
SoftJet showcased at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg

Puttting the ‘Made in India’ marvel on an offshore platform and pushing a new bar in soft signage solution, ColorJet India demonstrated its SoftJet textile printer at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Softjet easily prints on polyester-based fabrics that can be recycled and used environment-friendly aqueous based inks. The printer is designed in two different print-width models (2.5 m and 3.2 m), opening new business avenues for customised decorative fabrics and others.

A perfect system to directly print on fabric for soft signage solutions, SoftJet optimises replacement of PVC-based media and creating amazing backlit applications and even flexible displays can be printed on this printer. The printer comes with a proprietary AIVC technology for consistent print performance by maintaining constant jetting conditions even in varying environmental conditions. It has an automated feed and a take up system synchronised with tension bars for unattended long print-runs on various types of fabric. SoftJet also has a pneumatic control-based tension bar on media feed and take up, to ensure consistent tension on fabric and automatic adjustment, based on the type of fabric being used.

“Softjet is designed to encourage entrepreneurs in soft signage business at a lower investment,” said Pavan Gupta at Colorjet India Ltd. He added that the printer would be attractive for those engaging in projects on flags, banners, hoardings, demo tents, vibrant backlits and such kinds. So far, Softjet has been installed and running successfully to the fullest satisfaction of PSPs all across the world. “We are proud user of Softjet Plus printer, which is proved to be extremely versatile for printing soft signage. The printer helps us absolutely replace PVC-based media as we print both backlit and flexible displays, and also umbrellas, flags, banners, hoardings, canopies, etc,” narrated Biju Thomas, Rights Concept Advertising LLC, Dubai, UAE.

Another overseas adopter of SoftJet, David Hornsey, sales director, Jetmark, Australia, said the textile printer has enabled them to fulfill every requirement of their customers, whether in making mall dropdowns, demo tents, hoardings, banners, flags and backlit boards. “We are extremely satisfied and pleased that we brought the digital printer all the way to Australia. ColorJet’s unique 3E design philosophy: Economic, Efficient & Ecological represent the perfect combination of advanced technology, inbuilt quality and excellent value for money,” he said. ColorJet India caters its products to 14 countries worldwide.

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Caldera Graphics acquired by Dover

Dover, a diversified global manufacturer, has announced its acquisition of Caldera Graphics SAS (Caldera) for total consideration of approximately EUR 35 million, including an amount related to achieving certain performance metrics. French graphic art printing software company Caldera has 25 years of experience in developing, marketing and supporting high-quality technical software with a commitment to increasing productivity, cost-efficiency and colour output. Following the acquisition, Caldera will operate within Dover’s Printing and Identification platform, alongside MS Printing Solutions (MS) and the JK Group serving the global digital textile printing market.

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FESPA Digital becomes annual
event in Europe from 2017 onward

FESPA Digital, one of the leading flagship biennial international exhibitions for digital wide-format, screen and textile prints, will be an annual event from 2017 onward. The decision has been made by FESPA, in consultation with exhibitors and visitors, to provide the global specialty print community with one comprehensive yearly destination event, covering all technologies, processes and applications.

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ONYX Graphics supports
new Océ Colorado 1640 UVgel printer

Continuing the company’s push for innovation, ONYX Graphics stands prepared to drive the recently launched Océ Colorado 1640 UVgel as the printer begins shipping later this year. At the recent ISA Expo in Las Vegas and FESPA Digital 2017 in Hamburg, visitors would see how the new Océ Colorado 1640 printer compatibly uses ONYX Thrive Software to deliver unprecedented productivity in roll-to-roll printing, matched with excellent output quality on a broad range of media for optimum applications versatility. The combination of the printer’s automation features like UVgel technology with the ONYX 12.2 will result in minimum cost of operation. ONYX Graphics has custom built this driver to include a new user interface to support the printer’s multi-roll functionality, and simplified page size and media handling.

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3M announces blade-free installations

Following its recent acquisition of Knifeless Tech Systems, 3M is launching a range of 3M Knifeless Tapes that incorporate patented technology which uses a filament embedded in the centre of the tape for cutting adhesive films. The film is placed over the knifeless tape and cutting is achieved by pulling the filament up through the film. The tapes are both flexible and blade-free allowing installers to quickly and confidently cut graphic film, along the contours of the surface, with precision and without risk of damaging the film surface. Now that 3M has announced the availability of Knifeless Tape Technology, with this new range of films from the company, graphics installers will enable car wrappers and installers to cut through graphic film with sharp, clean lines and curves without the need for a blade, leaving a smooth finish and causing no damage to the surface of the film.

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New XAAR 3D Centre in
UK now operational for business

XAAR has opened its new 3D Centre in the UK, announcing to provide the most comprehensive services available globally for High Speed Sintering technology. High Speed Sintering is a revolutionary Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing technology which uses inkjet printheads and infrared heaters to manufacture products layer by layer from polymer powder materials at much higher speeds and lower costs than other 3D Printing processes. This technology is therefore of interest to companies looking to use 3D printing in volume manufacturing. Visitors at the official opening of the 3D Centre were given a tour of the facilities which included High Speed Sintering machines and associated peripheral equipment for pre-processing, post-processing and quality control/inspection.

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RICOH Pro L4100 Series first
latex system to achieve Color-Logic certification

In the latex world, RICOH’s Pro L4100 Series is the first latex system to achieve global Color-Logic certification. The printer, combined with the ColorGATE Productionserver software, is now certified for use with the Color-Logic process, a global standard in metallic and decorative effect colour communications for a variety of special effect printing applications. Color-Logic’s decorative effects use existing workflows to achieve dynamic results without the use of special equipment. Its simple print production process enables print service providers to provide brand owners, product managers, corporations, and their advertising agencies with the ability to differentiate. RICOH Pro L4100 Series, which features the company’s own non-solvent based aqueous resin inks, features the latest generation of RICOH piezo variable drop printheads.

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Roland DG refurbishes website
more interactive and responsive

To improve visitor experience, Roland DG has revamped its website, with interactive and responsive designs. The new website, which functions as the hub of Roland DG online, reflects the brand’s values and ethos of being the ‘easiest company to work with’ by keeping visitors at the heart of its user experience. Featuring information, specifications, brochures, imagery and inspirational videos of all Roland DG technologies, the website is developed intelligently to help visitors easily through to the content that they wish to see. The new website is available at: https://www.rolanddg.co.uk/