NEWS FOR YOU  Home › News for you › EFI Asia Pacific unveils innovation centre in Shanghai Showing the company’s confidence and commitment in the Asian market, EFI recently opened its first Asia Pacific High Tech Innovation Center at Hongqiao CBD, Shanghai. Spreading more than 700 sq m in area, the center is designed in such a way that Asian customers now can experience first-hand demonstration of how EFI’s innovative, integrated solutions can make their business more successful than before. The showroom houses an exciting line-up of EFI’s wide-format and super wide-format digital inkjet printers, including its highly-versatile five-metre VUTEk GS5000r RTR UV printer, three-metre GS3200 and Rastek hybrid printers, among others. Besides product demonstration, the centre will also be used for APAC training classes and marketing activities. “Our new generation UV products have been greatly successful in the western world, now we see huge opportunities in the Asia market, ” said Frank Mallozzi, senior VP, EFI WW Sales & Marketing. The opening of EFI Asia Pacific Innovation Center further shows EFI’s confidence and commitment to the world fastest growing market. Marabu and Durst develop solutions to print onto melamine Innovation that hit the headlines in the recent past is that Merabu and Durst have collaborated to develop a UV-drying primer as well as UV-protective varnishes. Both with varying degrees of gloss, which are eco-compatible and printable on melamine-coated panels like resopal or max. These developments have provided access to new and creative fields of applications for interior decorations and graphics. Chipboard panels with laminated melamine surfaces are used to make the resopal, max and Funder utilised for kitchen and office cabinets and partitions. However, due to their low surface tension, printing on these finished panels faced problems of scarce ink adherence and low scratch resistance. Directional signages at all Delhi Metro stations A good news for those travelling on Delhi Metro trains! Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) puts up special directional signages at all interchange stations, which would curb the confusions that commuters normally face while changing trains. The signages scripted in both Hindi and English languages have been mounted on the floors near the gates of different stations. Sun Innovations’ inkjet technology prints solar panels A latest innovation that impressed the whole industry is a technology developed by SUN Innovations & Company to print on any surface of solar panels. The Russian manufacturer of UV-LED printers presented first sample of the printed solar cells during a recent show in Barcelona. SUN Innovations Company with support from RUSNANO and Innovation Centre ‘Skolkovo’ actively worked on the new promising technology to print any surface of solar panels with digital inkjet printing. GMG acquires Aurelon to make entry in large-format printing A leading developer and supplier of high-end colour management software solutions, GMG Color recently announces its acquisition of Netherlands-based Aurelon, a provider of innovative, modular and scalable technology for processing of digital information to any media that requires accurate graphic production and output. With the acquisition of Aurelon, GMG is strengthening its presence in the large-format print production market and continuing its strategic expansion beyond traditional market segments. In its line with aggressive mid and long-term expansion plans, Aurelon is GMG’s second acquisition after the UK-based media production technology company CWS was acquired earlier this year. GMG aims to surge as a leading player in the growing large-format print production market as the acquisition of Aurelon is an important step in this direction and immediately allows the company to offer A to Z production workflow solutions to large-format printers. EFI concludes record-setting ‘Connect’ users’ conference Attended by around 1,000 customers, a record number of partner sponsors and 150 educational sessions, EFI recently completed its 12th annual ‘Connect’ users’ conference held in Las Vegas. Being one of the only companies in the printing industry to provide a fully integrated, end-to-end workflow, EFI highlighted these capabilities throughout during the event with incredible live demos and educational sessions. For the first time at Connect, EFI hosted a special three-day Fiery digital print server and solutions track. The company debuted its new VUTEk GS3250LX UV-curing digital inkjet printer at the event as well, with ‘cool cure’ LED technology and increased productivity to facilitate faster and more efficient job production than ever before. Conclusion of the event was marked with the announcement of 2012 Connect conference, which will be returned to the same venue from April 10-13, 2012. XAAR selects new GM Asia Pacific, ink sales manager New senior positions to support and drive its global expansion, XAAR recently announced the appointments of Bob Bobertz as general manager Asia Pacific and Duncan Gellatly as ink sales manager. These newly appointed positions are parts of the company’s expansion plans, ensuring the best structure in place to deliver rapid growth over the next few years. Bob Bobertz has 12 years experience as general manager Asia Pacific with Linx Printing Technologies, an industrial inkjet manufacturer and a global leader in the product identification market. Based in Hong Kong, he has operational responsibility for XAAR in the Asia Pacific region, including China, Japan, Korea, India, Australasia and the Asian Rim countries. And Duncan joins XAAR from Avecia, a leading supplier of pigment and colorants to the printing industry. Roland bags EDP Award for innovative print and cut technology European Digital Press (EDP) Association confers its ‘Best Wide-Format Print & Cut Device 2011 Awards’ on Roland’s VersaCAMM VS series of metallic inkjet printer/cutters. EDP awards annually recognise the printing industry’s most innovative technological achievements. The award-winning VersaCAMM VS series integrates most advanced digital printing technologies into an affordable, easy-to-use platform, transforming businesses with all the creative possibilities of incredible Metallic Silver Eco-SOL MAX ink. VersaCAMM VS wide-format inkjet printer/cutters are designed in varied range of 64, 54, 42 and 30-inch models to produce premium CMYK, white and metallic graphics, on demand, for signage applications including banners, POP, labels, apparel decoration, vehicle graphics and wraps of all kinds. Ashland’s new technique calculates cohesive strength of adhesive Ashland Performance Materials scientists recently developed a stress-relaxation method for calculating cohesive strength of pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) that offer significant advantages over conventional techniques. The scientists investigated and developed a new process that uses a texture analyser to measure the stress relaxation over a specific time, enabling the force retention (FR) value to be calculated. This newly developed technique is used to measure cohesive strength in pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), which was presented by Ashland Performance Materials, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc, at Pressure Sensitive Tape Council’s Week of Learning held recently in Orlando. Methods used prior to this discovery were often time-consuming, highly dependent on the operator’s skill and had poor repeatability on subsequent tests. FUJIFILM Dimatix reveals its vigour at Ceramic China ’11 Using the recently concluded 25th China International Ceramic Industry Exhibition as a platform to highlight unique drop-on-demand inkjet printhead technology underlying its ceramic market gains, FUJIFILM Dimatix presented their significant and growing presence in the global market for digital ceramic tile decoration using inkjet technology. Being a company serving as a key link to many leading systems builders and ink partners, FUJIFILM Dimatix used the event to reveal its partnerships with many of the world’s leading ceramics printing system manufacturers and ink developers. Impressive galleries at the company’s stand displayed a spectrum of fully fired, digitally produced, manufacturer supplied tiles that had been printed using FUJIFILM Dimatix printheads. The splendid range of products that put on display included flat tiles, wall tiles and cove mouldings boldly decorated with unusual colorants, glazes and materials. Breakthrough products of Zünd receive multiple awards Zünd sets records this year by bagging two magnificent awards. Top Product Award and EDP’s Best Workflow Management Solution of the Year Award are two prestigious trophies presented to Zünd G3 Cutter and Zünd Cut Centre Software respectively. The purpose of EDP Awards is to recognise outstanding products and solutions, Zünd Cut Centre Software was among the recipients. Paper Idea appoints Rohit Panchal as director sales Rohit Panchal has been appointed as director sales at Paper Idea. He brings with him over 12 years of experience in the printing industry. He would play a leading role with sales and business development at Paper Idea, strategically driving the entire photo business vertical along with other distributorship portfolios of the company in coordination with Anuj Mehta, CEO, Paper Idea. Rohit worked with HP India as regional manager, handling the small and wide-format business of HP Designjet. Prior to his position with HP, he also had a seven-year stint with Canon India, working in the company’s graphic arts business division. Anuj remarked, “Rohit is a recognised name in the wide-format graphic arts and photo printing business and best suited to represent Paper Idea’s specialised segment for the Indian industry”. Paper Idea is now moving steadily with a planned strategy. “Appointment of Rohit is a clear message that the company plans to place right leader at the right place. We are in the process of laying a solid foundation with sound business practices and with the best portfolio to serve the key markets in the Asia-Pacific region and European markets as well,” concluded Anuj. INTECH finds prospects upbeat for Indian market Having been present in the industry for more than 10 years of digital inkjet business, Intech Digital Technology Limited boasts of its globally acclaimed Blackjet brand, which pulled huge crowd during the recent India Sign + Digital (ISD) Expo 2011 in New Delhi. The company staged its ink range at the stall of Sun Sign & Technologies, an exclusive Blackjet distributor in India. Talking to Sign & Graphics, Adrian J Peirse, director, Intech Digital Technology Limited said, “Since our presence in the Indian market has been around for last five years, we have developed good position in the subcontinent with the help of our distributors.” A licensee of a number of leading printhead majors like XAAR and others, Intech Digital Technology is strategically headquartered in Hong Kong, fairly covering the entire Asia region. “We’re now looking forward to setting up a manufacturing plant in India,” mentioned Adrian. However, the exact schedule of the project is not yet confirmed. He added that India is an important market for them as they are taking up new strategies to seize the surging prospects in the region’s large-format digital printing segment. Accustomed to technologies and performance categories of a unique range of printheads, Blackjet is such a product that matches the Indian market. “Of course, to some extent, there are very few (ink) products in the market, compatible with a family of popular printheads,” remarked Adrian adding that the unique marketing approach of Sun Sign & Technologies helps them persuade new customers in India. Bordeaux starts manufacturing in US Israel-based Bordeaux Digital Print Ink Ltd announces that its subsidiary Bordeaux Digital Inc has opened its first R&D and manufacturing facility in the US. The facility marks the company’s first manufacturing site beyond Israel. The new plant will operate alongside the existing factory to offer an expanded portfolio of UV curable inks, liquid laminates and solvent inks to many of the global markets Bordeaux currently serves. The US factory of Bordeaux Digital Inc has core products including a complete product line of liquid laminates (clear coatings) and UV curable inks for most leading wide and super-wide digital printer brands such as HP, Vutek, Nur, Durst, and Agfa including inks fully compatible with the Jeti printer family. Avery Dennison opens innovation centre Enhancing capabilities for the apparel industry in design, high-definition graphic embellishments, RFID-enabled inventory… Avery Dennison’s Retail Branding and Information Solutions (RBIS) recently opened its first Europe-based Customer Design and Innovation Centre. The centre incorporates into one location a state-of-the-art design workshop and a global supply chain, where leading apparel retailers, brands and manufacturers can create custom solutions. Avery Dennison RBIS is the global leader in apparel and footwear labelling, packaging, price ticketing, brand protection and RFID-enabled inventory solutions. Launch of the centre reveals the company’s leadership and investments in material science, high-speed digital printing and information technology. EFI stages latest inkjet innovations, software integration Demonstrating its latest innovative UV-curable ink technologies for the wide-format digital printing industry, along with a vast portfolio of software products that enable customers to capture more work and profit, EFI brought on stage its newest additions in wide-format production families including the versatile new roll-fed EFI VUTEk GS3250r 3.2m system, the revolutionary VUTEk GS3250LX with LED ‘cool cure’ technology, the enhanced VUTEk GS5000r UV roll-to-roll system, and two entry-level Rastek UV systems. “Our latest solutions offer exciting and innovative options for print service providers, display producers, screen printers, sign-makers and photolabs who want to increase their throughput, and gain new business through offering greater versatility and faster turn-round,” said Scott Schinlever, senior VP and GM of EFI VUTEk and Rastek. Neolt shows aptness of XAAR heads on its UV printers Neolt, a specialist large-format UV printer manufacturer, demonstrated the flexibility and quality of XAAR 1001 and XAAR Proton printheads with its X-JET and AsterJET UV printers in a recent show held in Germany. The company also launched its innovative Neolt Industrial Inkjet Module (NIIM) during the show. This module, which is a complete inkjet printhead engine, features XAAR 1001 printheads and is aimed at those wishing to develop their own specialist industrial inkjet systems. Neolt X-JET flatbed is a high-end, high-performance hybrid UV printer equipped with advanced, low maintenance XAAR 1001 printheads featuring unique TF technology. An easy-to-use, versatile and cost-effective machine, available in 2.05 m and 3.2 m widths, X-JET prints at up to 90 sq m/hour onto a wide range of roll-to-roll and rigid medias. And Neolt AsterJET series of hybrid UV printers are available in a choice of 1.65 m and 2.2 m widths and in either four or six colours. Top