Sign & Graphics | Bi Monthly Publication of Signage Industry in India

BenQ India unpacks digital signage
and interactive touch display solutions

Reiterating on its successful stride in projectors, displays and monitors, BenQ India introduces an advanced range of interactive flat displays, high brightness, wireless & laser hybrid projectors. The products unveiled at a recent expo in Mumbai included interactive flat panels RP 700+, RP 650, high brightness projectors, PU 9730 and SH 963, interactive projector MW853UST, wireless projectors W1070+ and MW665. Rajeev Singh, country head & GM at BenQ India asserted that riding on the success of their newly expanded product line up of flat panels and interactive touch displays, BenQ has brought in innovations to today’s public spaces. Interactive flat panels, RP 700+ and RP 650, are bringing its users the maximised convenience, efficiency and viewing comfort.

Gandy Digital launches ‘Softjet’ soft signage printer

Latest from Gandy Digital is its ‘Softjet’ soft signage, high resolution, digital dye sublimation printer, which was recently unveiled for the first time at SGIA 2014 in Las Vegas. Engineered exclusively for textile printers and PSPs looking for increased production volume and print quality, this newly unpacked textile printer explores new revenue streams and drives profitable growth. Softjet is an ideal platform for new players to enter the soft signage market, or existing suppliers to upgrade their service capability.

A roll-to-roll, direct-to-fabric printer available in 6’ 2’’, 8’ 4’’ and 11’ print widths, Softjet is ideal for applications including indoor and outdoor soft signage, wall graphics, wall coverings, flags and tradeshow displays. This textile printer with the latest RICOH Gen 4 and Gen 5 printheads is designed for heavy duty textile printing, built to the company’s usual high quality standards for operational reliability.

Traffic safety and reflective
signage printer from Avery Dennison

TrafficJet 1638 XTJ digital printing system from Avery Dennison Reflective Solutions is engineered for traffic safety and reflective signage jobs. This proven traffic sign and work zone printer pulled crowd at Salón C!Print held recently at Madrid. TrafficJet 1638 XTJ is perhaps the first-of-its-kind printer to offer the simplicity of eco-solvent inkjet printing with the required long-term durability and warranted material performance.

Equipped with specially-formulated eco-solvent inks in black, green, red, blue, yellow and brown, TrafficJet 1638 XTJ is complemented with a range of Avery Dennison retro-reflective films, which are high-quality prismatic materials including T-11500 OmniCube, T-7500 , T-6500 and the T-2500 series in all traffic colours as well as fluorescent yellow, yellow green and orange films.

Esko launches i-cut Production
Console operating platform for Kongsberg

In response to the increasingly growing demand for ever more sophisticated production tools has inspired Esko to develop the i-cut Production Console. This newly developed front-end operating system is a common platform for all Kongsberg digital finishing systems. It combines the feature set of the XL-Guide tailored for packaging applications and i-cut Vision Pro, the industry standard front-end for cutting and short run productions. Designed for all operations on all Kongsberg tables, the i-cut Production Console forms a solid foundation for any future developments. The i-cut Production Console (iPC) drives all functionality found on Kongsberg tables, such as camera control, machine set up, tool recognition, calibration and tool adjustments. iPC is designed to guide and support the operator, and incorporates a number of logical, user-friendly features: from its icon-based graphical interface with colour coded alerts and updates, to the ability to follow production progress from a distance.

HP launches mobile
app for HP Latex 300 series

HP offers innovative user experience with HP Latex Mobile app. This newly introduced HP Latex Mobile app, which will be free to download for smartphones by January 2015 and for tablets in mid-2015 from Google Play and the Apple App Store, offers remote monitoring for HP Latex 310, 330 and 360 printers, including job information, print status and alerts. With the app, PSPs can stay informed as to the status of print jobs while out of the office and track projects through completion, as well as monitor print status and supplies to avoid surprises. The HP Latex Mobile app has not only simplified my working processes, its remote monitoring capabilities also give the confidence to know what’s happening while the machine operator is out of the office.

Matan releases MatanFlex fleet graphic printer

MatanFlex, a new three metre UV system specifically developed for fleet graphics, is one of the latest launches from Matan. This printer is specifically designed to print graphics used for truck curtains and car wrapping. Featuring an innovative flexible UV ink developed specifically for this purpose, MatanFlex printer, together with the UVFlex inks, is quite advance than any conventional solvent printers printing fleet graphics.

MatanFlex has outstanding stretchable properties with an elongation to break of up to 250 percent. Such added feature makes this printer a perfect match for any challenging applications. Printed truck curtains go through a lot of repeated folding, pulling and tearing, which regular UV inks cannot survive without breaking. Car wrapping demands a great deal of stretching and heating, which have also not been possible with UV inks until now. But MatanFlex is here to fulfil all these requirements.

Zünd launches re-engineered version
of G3 cutter to handle thicker materials

Digital cutting equipment specialist Zünd introduces new version of its established G3 cutter. The system has beam height to 120 mm and models L-3200 and XL-3200 are now able to accommodate thicker materials up to 110 mm. Corrugated cardboard, solid cardboard, foam, corrugated plastic and others are just a few of the substrates that can now be processed by the widely appreciated G3 digital cutting system. Oliver Zünd, CEO, comments, “By enabling the G3 to handle thicker materials, converters can now cut a wider range of substrates, saving time and increasing efficiency.” The modular design of Zünd cutters and their components also make it possible to tailor configurations to meet very specific production and automation needs.

EFI acquires thermoforming
ink technology of Polymeric Imaging

EFI announces its acquirement of key intellectual property assets for digital inkjet printing of thermoformed products from Polymeric Imaging, a specialist provider of UV and LED inks for industrial and graphic arts applications. Based in North Kansas City, Mo, Polymeric Imaging has extensive R&D experience in the development of inkjet inks that address important curing, adhesion, density and durability issues that industrial and graphic arts print professionals encounter when printing on challenging substrates. EFI will use the acquired technology to enhance its customers’ inkjet production capabilities for thermoforming and other high-elongation applications requiring exceptional ink durability and flexibility.

EFI redefines ceramic tile printing with Cretaprint

Innovative printing systems of EFI eventually redefines the ceramic tile printing. EFI’s newly introduced Cretaprint C4 tile printer is featured with advanced electronics, a newly engineered ink system, new EFI ceramic ink sets, automatic printhead cleaning technology, more compact design and a new vacuum system. Cretaprint C4 features width up to 745 mm and offers a more compact footprint and is 30 percent lighter. A new user interface and advanced nozzle plate cleaning system are among the additional features of this new tile printer.

3A Composites launches new
SMART-X graphic display board

Latest addition in the product line of 3A Composites is the newly introduced 100 percent recyclable SMART-X graphic display board. Showcased to the international crowd during the recent 2014 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, this new premium-quality distinctive lightweight foam board from 3A Composites consists of an all-plastic sheet that is uniquely constructed with a moisture-resistant expanded polystyrene core and two layers of UV-resistant solid polystyrene (HIPS). SMART-X is manufactured without adhesives applied between its core and facers. It can be installed outdoors without experiencing any significant change in colour for a period of up to two years.

Mimaki introduces JV150 and CJV150 series

Two new series of Mimaki’s JV and CJV families have broaden the company’s product line bringing proven platform capabilities to PSPs who are looking for high quality, versatility and reliability but in smaller volumes. The newly introduced JV150 Series printers are 54-inch JV150-130 and 64-inch JV150-160 which are based on JV300 Series platform introduced earlier this year. JV150 Series models feature advanced piezo technology print heads capable of print speeds of up to 605 sq ft/hour. JV150 Series printers can use either SS21 eco-solvent inks or Sb53 dye-sublimation inks.

Based on the recently-introduced CJV300 Series models, the CJV150 Series printers add cut-and-print capability for signage or textile applications.

Matan Digital unpacks new 3-m Quantum SWF printer

Engineered for high definition indoor graphics, this latest launch from Matan Digital is its Quantum SWF (Super-Wide Format) hybrid UV printer. This new printer features Matan’s groundbreaking Quantum Printing Engine, comprising leading edge printhead technology, with inherent seven pico litre drops and three grayscale levels, advanced LED UV curing and LED-curable UV inks. This printer is developed specifically in order to answer the needs of PSPs seeking the highest quality printing for a wide variety of applications. Another innovative feature in the new Matan printer is the ID Backprint, an external discrete printing device that prints file and job information on the rear side of the media, facilitating the identification of the finished job and helps prevent errors in finishing, packing, shipping and installing.

FESPA re-launches its
Planet Friendly Guide in new format

Adding a series of ‘mini’ guides, FESPA has re-launched its respected Planet Friendly Guide in a new format. Originally published in 2007 as a single document, the guide has now reconfigured as one introductory guide and 10 subject-specific guides. The guides are available free of charge to members of FESPA’s 37 national associations. The guides now target separate areas where digital and screen printing can be approached with sustainable measures. This recognises the need for information specific to a printer’s own print processes and business priorities, making it easier for printers to access the information that matters to them. In addition to the introductory guide entitled Sustainability and the Future - How Can Printers Meet the Challenges?, the ten subject guides cover Pollution for Screen Printers; Pollution for Digital Printers; Hazardous Substances for Screen Printers; Emissions to Water for Screen Printers, so on.

Re-board expands product line

Existing range of Re-board’s products has been expanded following the addition of a new White Core board, which offers a fluted core designed completely white. The area of usage for this newly introduced White Core is same as for traditional Re-board applications, such as store aisle displays, exhibition stands, furniture, window displays, store fixtures, among others. In addition, White Core is perfectly designed for customers who are looking for applications that deliver a feeling of very clean product or environment. Earlier, those customers who did not want natural brown core to be visible had to put on an edge band. But this no longer remains a hindrance after the introduction of White Core.

New Roland RT-640 dye
sublimation transfer printer

Roland DG introduces Texart RT-640, an advanced, 64-inch dye sublimation transfer printer in either four or eight colour ink configurations featuring innovative print control technology and a choice of powerful RIP software. This new Roland printer incorporates a gold-plated, anti-static printhead capable of printing seven different droplet sizes for smooth gradations and dense colour. A newly designed Feed Adjuster, combined with a more powerful fan and an included take-up system of the printer ensures added stability for high-speed printing up to 32.6 sq m/hour. Equipped with a bulk ink system that uses one litre airtight-sealed pouches, Roland Ink Switching System in Texart RT-640 allows users to load a fresh pouch without stopping the printer.

Kiian introduces new line
of transfer sublimation inks

Kiian Digital unpacks its range of vivid pink, yellow and green fluorescent transfer sublimation inks which were premiered at 2014 SGIA Expo. These new additions to the company’s Digistar range of inks are designed for attention-grabbing graphics on sportswear and other textile printing applications. Kiian ink portfolio is matched with specific printheads for optimum performance and the highest quality results. Digistar PES HD-One inks are designed and formulated for the first generations of Epson piezo-print heads. Digistar Hi-Pro inks, tailored for the latest DX7 generation heads and Digistar K-One transfer sublimation inks are formulated for use with the high capacity Kyocera printheads.

Esko India launches
Kongsberg V cutting table

Showcased at the recent IndiaCorr Expo - SinoCorrugated 2014 held in Mumbai, Esko India launches Kongsberg V cutting table designed to deliver reliability, precision and ease of use for those engaging in activities revolving around displays, mock-ups and others. Kongsberg V is capable to complement offerings of sign makers with productive digital finishing and some of its unique features include the rock-solid tabletop construction as well as camera system that ensure print-to-cut registration, even with print-distorted materials.

This newly introduced Kongsberg cutter offers a broad selection of tools, providing quality results on a wide range of cutting, creasing, and plotting activities.