(continued from page 1) Inkjet! Inkjet! Inkjet! Murphy, WW Director of Marketing and Business Development, HP InkJet High-speed Production Solutions (Booth 1202). “To expand beyond short runs and drive the offset-to-inkjet crossover point higher, customers also expect their inkjet solutions providers to reduce the overall total cost of print (TCOP) over the long term. New productivity enhancements are expected to reduce labor cost per print, reduce media waste, reduce media costs, and improve workflow. To further examine a reduced long-term TCOP, more buyers will calculate the hardware acquisition and replacement costs into the equation. Also, the upgradability and durability of a press that is constructed to last 10 years rather than five will increasingly factor into customers’ TCOP calculations. HP maintains these commitments to the market.” On the show floor A good place to start the inkjet tour at GRAPH EXPO 15 is the Inkjet Candy Store (Booth 3040). Also take note of these four leading manufacturers, and their advanced inkjet technologies on display at this year’s GRAPH EXPO. Canon U.S.A. For Canon USA, cutsheet inkjet technology is going to be the next big wave of innovation in the industry, and with that in mind, the company is highlighting the Océ VarioPrint i300. The units are “high-volume, high-quality color digital inkjet printing accessible to a much broader audience,” remarks McMahon. “It combines proven inkjet technology, proven in- and output units for sheets, and Océ iQuarius Technologies. High productivity and low running costs team with the versatility of sheetfed, white-paper-in, full-color-out workflows.” (continued from page 1) In addition, Canon Solutions America is running the Océ ImageStream 3500 at its booth. “It is the first full-color, continuous-feed Océ inkjet solution to print on standard offset paper,” McMahon explains. “This means a printer can save up to 50% on paper costs by using paper already in stock. Its extensive paper spectrum includes standard offset, lightweight offset, and standard offset coated stock—without the need for primers or bonding agents. This press can print up to 525 feet per minute but still has one of the most compact footprints in its class.” EFI EFI is having a good year, with multiple MUST SEE ’EMS awards for a wide range of products in this year’s portfolio. A few of the highlights on display include several of its printers, and a new clear ink technology demo. “The first machine we are showing is the H1625 LED printer, a 1.6 meter hybrid printer with LED-based technology,” says Hanulec. “It can print on board and rigid substrates up to 2 thick, and it is just a true workhorse. Commercial printers are seeing the market decline, so they are looking for ways to diversify their product offerings and grow their market share. All of them are looking at wide format, and at least half of customers are commercial printers. This machine is designed as an entry-level commercial class printer. “The next printer we are showcasing is the GS 200 LX with Ultra Drop technology,” he continues. “It’s a step up, a two meter wide, hybrid printer that can print on rigid or flexible substrates. It has brand new head technology that allows for really precise imaging and perfect 4-point type, with smooth, continuous tone images and great shadow and highlight detail. We selected these products to display because they will really be attractive to commercial print and packaging printers.” Discover New Paths for Print’s Future Show Daily: What are the new show floor features, and why were they added? Ralph Nappi: Every year there’s something new at GRAPH EXPO. For 2015, based on recent show visitors’ feedback, we are pleased to debut three new show floor features. Materials Matter answers the call from print service providers seeking to explore the variety of offerings from the foremost substrate suppliers. In this new featured hub, top substrate manufacturers demonstrate the powerful role that their paper and non-paper substrates play in every print job. Next, with 70% of print service providers seeking unique new print applications to expand their offerings, we introduce Applications Island (Booth 3602) (see page 8). Within this beach-themed gallery, where even the walls are printed applications, show visitors can see and explore a wide variety of examples and ways to expand their offerings to boost their bottom line. Rounding out this year’s timely trio of new show floor attractions, and to spotlight the newest profit opportunities where Packaging Printing, Commercial Printing, and Industrial Manufacturing converge, is The Industrial Printing Pavilion, featuring new exhibiting companies, new equipment, new substrates, and new products. Also here, inside Future Print, show visitors can see and explore the new and emerging technologies including RFID, printed electronics, and experience live demonstrations of profit-building 3D printing applications. Show Daily: Industry groups and associations continue to co-locate with the GRAPH EXPO show each and every year. What makes this “the” show to partner with? Ralph Nappi: Being the industry event of the year, GRAPH EXPO welcomes thousands of print professionals from 12 key industry segments, so it’s the natural—and ideal—venue for co-located event organizers to welcome their clients, members, partners, and prospects for a wide variety of business, learning, and networking activities. Plus, from advance co-marketing support to onsite logistics, GRAPH EXPO is dedicated to optimizing the success of these events. Proven by the more than 50+ returning and “newcomer” co-located events—the industry convenes at GRAPH EXPO. Show Daily: With the economy still on the upswing, what do you expect the buying mood to be in the printing industry? Ralph Nappi: The thousands of industry professionals who are here in Chicago for GRAPH EXPO 15 represent the resiliency and optimism within our industry. With a brighter economic outlook many are here to make those long-awaited investments. But whether to finalize their purchasing decisions, research upcoming next investments, or explore “the next big thing,” all who are here are looking toward the future and for technologies and products that will enable their success. Show Daily: Given the access to information attendees have today, why is GRAPH EXPO still relevant? Ralph Nappi: Time and again, attendees and exhibitors express that GRAPH EXPO and PRINT remain the one place, and the one time each year where they can come to “gain the pulse” on the industry, make profitable new business connections, and learn what lies over the horizon. Of course, print industry experts, analysts, and the media are here without fail because it’s the only place to engage, exchange, and report, in real time, on the breaking industry news most relevant to each of 12 key industry segments. Instructors and students—our industry’s future workforce—are here too seeking to learn more about the expanding opportunities in the “new” graphic communications industry. In a nutshell, the cross-pollination of knowledge, expertise, and engagement among each of these industry “audiences” at GRAPH EXPO and PRINT is unrivaled by any other U.S.-based exhibition. HP For HP, the focus this year is on showcasing new technology and machines that push the boundaries of quality. “HP is showcasing its High Definition Nozzle Architecture technology, unique print samples, and new HP Inkjet solutions that address a broader range of applications from general commercial printing to production mail to publishing, and reset the bar for inkjet quality and performance,” says Murphy. “Inkjet technology is constantly evolving to meet the demands of today’s print buyers and brand owners, and HP is committed to leading that charge with advanced solutions that push quality and performance boundaries.” RICOH Americas Corp. RICOH has two printers taking center stage at its booth this year, the InfoPrint 5000 and the RICOH Pro VC60000. “With 85 billion impressions around the globe, the InfoPrint 5000 family provides customers with a high quality, fully scalable solution that meets all of their transactional and commercial printing needs,” Wong notes. “The InfoPrint 5000 is unique in that it uses up to 50% less power than other products in the market (according to customer results) due to using low water content inks, and delivers one of the longest and most reliable printhead lives in the market. As a field-upgradeable platform, the InfoPrint 5000 continues to expand its media support, color, and ink management and enhancements, all while not interrupting the customers’ productivity.” Adds Wong, “Coupled with RICOH’s software offerings, the RICOH Pro VC60000 enables a more rapid shift from offset to digital as commercial printers focus on data-driven applications and workflows requiring high performance color inkjet presses with vibrant print quality and increased media flexibility. It is capable of producing more than 100,000 letter images per hour and provides a function-rich total solution for customers who are new to digital color, as well as for those already using digital print but wanting to consolidate and streamline their operations.” Mohawk Leads “Materials MMatter” Initiative ohawk (Booth 3002C), in cooperation with the Graphic Arts Show Company, organized the collaborative, featured space “Materials Matter” at GRAPH EXPO 15. The new Materials Matter pavilion (Booth 3002) features multiple fine paper and substrate manufacturers to demonstrate the powerful role that paper and non-paper substrates play in every print project. The 1,200 square foot hub features Graphic Design USA Magazine (GDUSA), Glatfelter, Holliston, Legion Paper, Lindenmeyr, Mohawk, and Sappi North America as well as a “substrates lounge” meeting space for attendees. Mohawk spearheaded the initiative, which aligns with the brand’s Maker Campaign, celebrating the role that well-crafted materials play in the print ecosystem, and supporting the brand’s leadership position in the digital print industry. In an era of impermanence, a renewed interest in the tangible has emerged. Though the Internet and digital communications have permanently changed the graphic arts landscape, they have also revealed the lasting impact of print. The impact of print is hard-wired in our brains and is tied to print's tactile qualities and its ability to deliver a message with an indelible impression. This underscores the importance of selecting and using the highest quality papers and substrates to achieve the finest end results. The goal of the Materials Matter show floor feature is to establish a prime show floor location to improve visibility and traffic for likeminded substrate manufacturers, while raising the overall awareness of paper and substrate options at GRAPH EXPO. Mohawk occupies a 10x20' space within the Materials Matter area, where attendees can obtain samples of high quality envelopes, innovative digital substrates, and a new line of swatchbooks, that have been redesigned to make the paper specification process clearer, easier, and more intuitive for printers and designers. 62 September 13, 2015 | GRAPH EXPO Official Show Daily | PrintingNews.com
GraphExpo Show Daily Day 1
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