Highlights from Printex so far…last day today!

The team from Image Magazines have been hard at work at PrintEx19 this week, gathering all the latest product news and highlights from Printex/Visual Impact. Although this is only a snapshot of the incredible offerings we were able to see up until Thursday afternoon, a detailed review of these and others will be featured in our October/November issue.

Amari

A walk through of the Amari stand revealed the new:

• Roland VG2-640 print and cut machine
• Flora Xtra2512LED flatbed printer
• Flora Xtra1800RUV UV Roll to Roll and Colex’s SharpCUT flatbed cutting table, in addition to the Lamination Systems SignEasy 1600 PLUS and Signmaster 1600 Pro laminators and the Inglet InBlade cutter.
• Live demonstrations of the complete YelloTools and Tec7 ranges of tools, accessories and adhesive solutions

Epson

Epson’s theme of “We do Print. You do Business” was evident on its stand as Gordon Kerr, Business Marketing Manager (pictured), took us on a tour, pointing out the launch of the:

• SureColor S60660L and S80660L 64-inch signage printers which extend the award-winning Epson SureColor S-Series into the high productivity market segment with integrated bulk ink systems for improved workflow, reduced running costs, and a lower TCO.
• SureColor F6360, a 44-inch dye-sublimation printer designed to replace small format screen printing, with a flexible low-cost solution that enables repeatable high-quality output production with minimal equipment, materials and mess.
• SureColor T5460M  36-inch printer with integrated large-format scanning capability
• SureLab D860, a compact commercial grade photo printer
• SureColor F560, a new world-first, single-vendor, 24-inch dye-sublimation printer with integrated bulk ink system designed

Graphic Art Mart

Graphic Art Mart revealed an array of new application films, such as the KPMF Vehicle Wrap Films, Architectural and Safety Window Films, Supreme Wrapping Film range as well as the Sihl’s WallGrafX Prime polyester fabric for application on various surface and edges. The Massivit 3D 1500 (including the customised beer bottle which took 6 hours to print) was certainly a hit with visitors!

HP

Jeremy Brew took us on a tour on the HP stand, highlighting the:

• HP Stitch S500, which made its local debut at PrintEx. The HP Stitch S Series portfolio is the first to introduce dye sublimation ink into HP’s Thermal Inkjet printing technology, designed to meet growing demand for polyester-based textiles across sportswear, fast fashion, home décor and soft signage
• HP Latex 315 and HP Latex 570 printers which offer a sustainable alternative through water-based inks, recyclable HP ink cartridges, and energy-efficient printers that produce odourless prints

Kissel + Wolf

On the Kissel + Wolf stand, Tomas Lorenc, Sales Director, Digital - Kissel + Wolf discussed the:

• Kornit Avalanche PolyPro: Building on the success of the Kornit range DTG printing equipment, it is the industry’s first digital, industrial process for high-quality printing on polyester. The technological innovation is achieved by an innovative ink set and a physical and chemical process specifically developed for low temperature curing, and polyester enhancing functionalities developed to maintain fabric characteristics and provide superior fastness. This unique process prevents dye migration on polyester.  The inks are Oeko-Tex and Eco-Passport certified and do not contain PVCs or other toxic ingredients
• InkCups Helix UV LED Digital Rotary printer. Fast and flexible, this cylinder printing machine is designed to print superior quality full-colour (CMYKWW + varnish) images on straight-walled and tapered cylinders.  Both printers made their Australian debut at the show.

Mimaki

Brad Creighton, National Marketing Manager, Mimaki, took us on a tour of the stand, with a focus on the JFX200-2513 EX, a successor model of  the JFX200-2513 (also on display), a large flatbed LED UV inkjet printer on sale from 2013. The JFX200-2513 EX is capable of directly printing on a wide variety of materials including white board, transparent/coloured board, wood, cardboard, and metal with a size of up to 2,500mm x 1,300mm. The newly developed head unit has increased the speed of white & colour simultaneous print used for transparent/coloured boards by 200% compared to the conventional model. The newly featured "Draft mode" achieves a higher-grade productivity, realising a maximum printing speed of 35m2/h. This is the first time that the JFX200 2513EX has been shown in Australia and NZ.

Mimaki UCJV-300 UV LED printer cutter, an affordable and versatile UV-curable 64-inch inkjet printer, able to both print and cut sign graphics. It’s wider colour gamut includes orange and light black inks (which reproduces highly accurate grayscale printing with no unexpected colour shifts and smooth grayscale gradation without tone-jump), ensuring faithful colour representation.

• Other features include: White Ink with Great Opacity
• Instant Drying for Immediate Lamination
• Low Heat LED UV Technology
• Built in Cutter
• Low Priced One litre Bottles of Ink
• the WrapStyle Premium Car Styling Team in action, car wrapping.

Mimaki UJF Mark II Series, which offers expanded capabilities with additional ink capacity. It includes features that enable users to create specialty items, awards, and personalised products; and for customised ‘just-in-time’ production, component pieces and more.

Océ

Steven Badger, Senior Business Development Manager, Océ, took us on a tour of the Océ stand, showcased to the theme of ‘Speed’. Inspired by London-based photographer Horst Friedrichs’ book of the same name, which was printed on an Océ Prostream roll-fed printer, Océ’s stand highlights the power (and speed) of digital print. Steven took us through the:

• Colorado 1650 64- production printer, which builds on the breakthrough productivity, output quality and media versatility of the now well-known Colorado 1640, with a new, flexible UVgel ink technology that extends media versatility automated nozzle maintenance, and new Océ FLXfinish curing which allows users to swap between matte and gloss finishes at the touch of a button; and
• The Arizona 1360 GT with productive print modes, optional light and white ink support, optically clear varnish and enhanced screening. Part of the Océ Arizona 1300 series, it allows for print on photographic or fine-art applications on a wide range of media, including odd-shaped, heavy, smooth or pre-cut media and unusual objects such as canvas, glass or wood.

Both printers were launched in Australia for the first time.

In addition, Steven pointed out the bespoke capabilities of the Oce Zund Digital Cutter and Océ Touchstone, part of an end-to-end solution which enables graphics producers, sign-makers and décor service providers to use an Océ Arizona flatbed printer to print multiple layers easily, resulting in printed effects that mimic textured surfaces, embossing, metallic accents and raised lettering.

It comprises four individual components: a plug-in design tool for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator; the ONYX Thrive workflow solution; the Océ Touchstone software using Océ ALPS (Advanced Layer Printing System) technology; and an Océ Arizona wide format flatbed printer.

Roland DG

Greg Stone, Product & Marketing Manager Roland, revealed that  three new products have made their debut at the show, including :

• The VersaStudio BT-12 Direct-to-Garment printer, an easy-to-use Direct-To-Garment printer designed specifically for cotton fabrics
• The VersaUV LEF2-200 flatbed UV printer, with optimised ease and efficiency, which allows users to print directly onto accessories, giftware, ceramics, and countless other popular products. The printer also offers brilliant colour results, realistic textures and stylish embossed effects; and
• The TrueVIS VG2-640, VG2-540 large-format inkjet printer cutters that features more than 40 exciting enhancements, new TR2 ink with Orange and new colour management presets for superior colour reproduction, and industry-leading print and cut accuracy with smart new automated pinch rollers.

Also in evidence on the stand was a dedicated design station where visitors can design and output their own keepsake on the VersaStudio BT-12 Direct-to-Garment printer; and the new Roland Texart RT-640M multi-function dye sublimation printer, which can print directly onto coated polyester fabrics as well as dye sublimation transfer paper.

Ricoh

A walk through of the Ricoh stand revealed Roland’s PrintEX19  'inkerching' themed campaign and a stable of new products, including the:

• Ricoh Pro TF6250 large format UV flatbed printer, which features impressive print speeds, one-touch automated daily maintenance and diverse substrate flexibility supported by carefully designed ink sets offering a wider colour gamut than the Pro T7210.
• Ricoh Pro L5160 latex roll-to-roll large format printer which prints at segment-leading speeds of up to 44sqm per hour in outdoor standard mode and 25sqm per hour in indoor standard mode and produces applications up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi. Additional features include automated maintenance, a durable design, Ricoh’s GREENGUARD-certified latex inks and industrial-grade Ricoh print heads.
• Ricoh Ri 1000 Direct to Garment printer, launched in response to the growing demand for easy to use, efficient and affordable garment decoration solutions, and joins the Ri 100 and Ri 6000 in Ricoh’s rapidly expanding DTG portfolio of solutions. Faster than the Ri 3000 it replaces, the Ri 1000 delivers greater print quality with enhanced resolution of 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi and supports CMYK plus white ink to ensure dazzling results on fabric of any colour.

Spicers

A chat to Cyndi Setia, Marketing & Design Manager for Spicers revealed that the “Spicers Supermarket” has been well received at the show. Visitors get the “Grand Opening” retail experience and can explore the aisles for trusted brands like Re-Board, 3M Window and Graphic films, Ace Outdoor, Yupo, Palboard, Digitac and Corflute. In addition, The Spicers stand showcases a complete workflow featuring the versatile Mimaki UCJV300-160 LED UV Print & Cutter, the new and reliable Roland VG2-640 Eco-Solvent Print & Cutter, the super-fast RollsRoller Application Table, and the Neolt Sword ELS Vertical Cutter.

Ricky Richards

A visit to the Ricky Richards stand revealed solutions suitable for every application, including exhibition displays, flags, billboards, lightboxes, floor graphics, window graphics, wall coverings and more. Some products that caught our eye were the:

• Dreamscape - Terralon: environmentally commercial grade wall covering (recycled and recycle-able)
• Ricky’s new Green Samba FR yarn made from recycled plastic bottles
• Squid - self adhesive transparent, textile woven print medium. Versatile and simple, it is printable using UV and eco-solvent technologies, and can be cut with a laser cutter or flatbed plotter.

Starleaton

To celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, Starleaton has its biggest and most creative stand at PrintEx. At 345 square metres, the stand showcases its full range of media and hardware from industry leading manufacturers Epson, Zund, Neschen, Impulsa, Flexa and more. Its centre box with multiple rooms wrapped and printed with a variety of materials for special effects has gained a lot of interest.

Peter Way, Starleaton’s Technical Sales Manager showed us the new Xrite iPro3 Plus  spectral colour measurement solution specifically designed for imaging, print, and textile professionals. It has been optimised for digital printing on a range of materials and surfaces, including ceramics, textiles, glass, metal, wood, vinyl, plastics, thin films, cardboard, paper, and more. ICC profiles can be created for almost any substrate and calibrate print production devices for the highest level of colour accuracy. Ian Cleary, Industrial Sales Manager, EFI machines took us through the EFI Pro 32r  roll-to-roll LED printer and EFI Pro 16h LED Hybrid wide-format printer.

Vivad

Vivad’s Ewen Donaldson took us on a tour of his big ‘space ship’ -

M18 Mission Control, passionately describing the process of creating the extraordinary ‘printergalactic’ space theme, which he affectionately refers to as his “playground”. In addition, he expanded on the launch and capabilities of the Vivtrack web-to-print portal and Vivad’s innovative VivaSEG display systems.

Printex last day is today, open until 4pm at Sydney Showground Olympic