As you’re reading this, almost 600 exhibitors are preparing to showcase their products and technology in what promises to be one of the most revealing, educational, event-filled and exciting shows in recent years.
It’s been called the drupa of North America, and though it may not equal Europe’s mother of all tradeshows in floor space and exhibitor numbers, it’s certainly North America’s number one annual industry showcase when it comes to products, events, educational opportunities, giveaways (there’ll be more than 1,000 prizes given away) and sheer excitement.
“Graph Expo and our nearly 600 exhibitors provide a unique opportunity for industry leaders to learn about technology, programs and processes that’ll enable them to adapt and thrive in today’s challenging times,” says Ralph Nappi, president of Graphic Arts Show Company – Graph Expo’s show organizer and producer.
“Participation in this show offers as much opportunity and return on investment for people not looking to purchase equipment, as it does for those who do. Where else can you see the latest technology from around the globe, with such a small investment of time and resources?” he adds.
McCormick Place South in Chicago, Illinois will host the show Sunday to Wednesday, October 26 to 29, from 10am to 5pm each day, except Wednesday when the show concludes at 4pm. About 600 exhibitors will strut their stuff throughout the 450,000 sq. ft. floor space.
This year’s extravaganza will also feature more than 70 educational programs and seminars in addition to hundreds of live demonstrations showcasing the latest products and technologies covering prepress, offset and digital printing, finishing, mailing and fulfillment, package printing, converting and wide-format. The show will be the premiere for many products in North America as well as worldwide.
Two of the hottest emerging technologies in the industry – RFID and printed electronics – highlight an exclusive new floor feature called Future Print. You’ll want to understand these new technologies, and discover how to integrate them into your current product mix.
Other must-sees include the XPS Land showcase, where you can explore Microsoft’s powerful new XPS technology, and experience it in live production mode on the show floor. At the Wide Format Pavilion, wide-format inkjet manufacturers and suppliers will feature a versatile array of new products and equipment. Some premiered in D√ºsseldorf this year, but many will be making their U.S. debut.
The Mailing & Fulfillment Center will highlight the latest production technologies and applications designed to add value to your clients’ projects. This year’s pavilion is the largest ever since its inception, occupying 38,900 sq. ft. and featuring 73 exhibitors. Experts will be available to discuss everything including addressing, bar coding, data processing, folding, labeling, slitting, sorting, stamping, storing/racking, warehousing and more. For more information, please visit www.graphexpo.com.
At press time, here’s a glimpse of what some of the industry’s major players will be exhibiting. Some may add even more products and technology to their booths in the interim – what an exciting bonus that should be!
Adobe
Adobe PDF Print Engine 2 is the next-generation, full-featured printing software that enables end-to-end workflows for graphically rich publishing based on PDF. Designed for offset and digital printing, it enables printers to fulfill the promise of variable data printing and help their customers develop personalized campaigns for different target audiences. With support for PDF/VT – the emerging PDF standard for variable data printing – the software offers an easy on-ramp to add VDP to existing workflows. PDF Print Engine 2 makes personalized publishing more practical and broadly accessible while enabling print service providers worldwide to realize significant performance gains.
Adobe Acrobat 9 software helps users communicate the way they’ve always wanted to using PDF, the standard for electronic document exchange. Adobe Acrobat 9 lets users combine PDF files, audio and other documents into PDF portfolios that are simple to browse using customizable interactive navigation designed in Flash; collaborate on documents more effectively and efficiently; and simplify the creation and completion of forms to efficiently collect, analyze, and use data. With Acrobat, users can protect and control sensitive information, safeguard work and communicate exactly as intended.
Avanti
If you thought JDF is reserved for large print shops, Avanti has some great news for you. Avanti will demo its JDF framework at Graph Expo. Sure, the company has several large JDF customers, but also several clients employing less than 30 people. These smaller shops are currently realizing the benefits of a JDF-based workflow every day. Avanti’s JDF framework gives shops the ability to receive automated JDF job instructions directly from applications such as Adobe to Avanti. It then sends those job instructions to digital and litho presses as well as bindery equipment. Every step along the way, information is automatically passed back to Avanti using JDF/JMF for real-time job tracking and costing. To arrange a demonstration of Avanti’s JDF framework at Graph Expo, please contact Michele at mtr@avantisystems.com or visit the Avanti booth.
Canon
Demonstrating its commitment to future innovation (on the award-winning imagePROGRAF large-format product line), Canon USA will introduce a new 44-inch imagePROGRAF large-format color production system at the show. The system runs a dual-roll configuration with two- size rolls, and offers high-capacity ink cartridges requiring minimal user intervention. Capable of printing two full-density A1-sized plots in less than one minute, the printer is designed to address the specific needs of the high-volume technical document print market.
CP Bourg and Robert E. Thistle Ltd.
Robert E. Thistle Ltd., distributor for C.P. Bourg in Canada, already had in place an excellent dealer network across Canada when it teamed up with C.P. Bourg in 1998. In fact, Thistle Ltd. has been a leading supplier of high-quality, cutting-edge finishing equipment to the digital and on-demand markets for many years. The company still provides parts and supplies for the small offset market, but its main focus is in finishing solutions from C.P. Bourg and several other major manufacturers.
The new range of products you’ll see at the show include the C.P. Bourg BB3002 automated perfect binder (16 installations in Canada so far at press time), released in a fully-integrated PUR version that allows the binding of more challenging, digitally-produced jobs and difficult-to-bind stocks.
PUR technology for the C.P. Bourg BB3002 single-clamp binder allows more precise gluing and better adherence while using less energy and less glue. The perfect binder is available with either the traditional EVA or the newest Nordson PUR glue system. The system’s unique features include tool-less, automatic set-up using an icon-driven touch screen – to easily select and set most functions from a list of menu options. The machine also measures book block thickness automatically, and calculates the centerline of the cover to fasten the spine – to bind books of the same size and different thickness one after another, automatically, without operator intervention.
Draabe
Draabe, a leading global provider of direct room humidification systems focusing mainly on the printing, paper and packaging industry, will be showcasing its hygienic, fault-free, high-pressure air humidification systems at Graph Expo. The right humidity plays a crucial role in quality in most production facilities. The Draabe TurboFog high-pressure nozzle system, for example, ensures a constant, year-round relative humidity of 50%. Optimal humidity is a pre-requisite for trouble-free prepress, printing and further processing. If the humidity is too low, electrostatic and paper distortion rise, spoilage increases and both time and money are wasted.
The innovative TurboFog system features a pulsating hydraulic flow and special titanium nozzles that atomize the water to a micro-fine aerosol directly in the room. Not only is this procedure very energy efficient, it’s also quiet and totally drip-free. The air humidity is controlled by a precision hygrostat. The atomization is activated as soon as the air humidity falls below the set optimum value. Only highly pure, de-mineralized water from a reverse osmosis unit integrated in the Draabe System is used in order to ensure hygienic and trouble-free operation of the air humidification system.
EFI/VUTEk
EFI, a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, will be showing how its award-winning solutions, integrated from creation to print, deliver increased performance, cost savings and productivity. The company’s robust product portfolio will be on display, including the latest Fiery digital color print servers, a line-up of VUTEk superwide digital inkjet printers, Jetrion industrial inkjet printing systems, and print production workflow and management information software – including the new EFI Pace and EFI Monarch solutions.
Epson
At 24 and 44 inches, the Epson Stylus Pro 7900 and 9900 offer a new level of professional inkjet technology for commercial, flexo and package proofing, as well as for professional photographic and fine art printing. Both printers feature Epson’s 11-color UltraChrome HDR (High Dynamic Range) ink technology, a high-density pigment chemistry developed by Seiko Epson. This revolutionary ink, combined with AccuPhoto HDR screening technology, helps provide a wide color gamut with smoother transitions and the industry’s most precise and consistent color. The Epson MicroPiezo TFP‚-¢ ten-channel print head provides accurate dot placement, dot shape and fast print speeds. An optional integrated Epson Spectroproofer‚-¢ uses the latest X-Rite technology, enabling professional color workflows by automating color calibration and print verification. Epson makes these new printers easy to mange with a colour LCD control panel, ePlatten media loading, spindle-free roll media adapters and a rotary cutting system.
Fujifilm
Fujifilm is planning to premier in North America its new XMF workflow technology, a completely new workflow based around Adobe’s PDF Print Engine.
“This technology is designed to bring new levels of productivity to the small and medium printer,” says Tony Karg, senior director of Business Development & Marketing (Graphic Systems).
Fujifilm is also expecting to showcase new digital printing solutions, such as the Xerox iGen4 and Docucolor 700. Its wide-format inkjet solutions will include the Mutoh Blizzard and Screen JetPress 2500 UV roll/flatfed printer. Fujifilm will also be showing its Ecomax-T (thermal imaged true process-less) and Ecomax-V (violet imaged, chemistry-free) plates technologies.
“In this challenging market, it’s important for Fujifilm to offer printers products that reduce their costs (Ecomax-T), enhance their productivity (XMF) or add new revenue to their business (iGen4/wide-format inkjet). This is essential to our business partnership with our commercial printing customers,” says Karg.
Gandinnovations
One of the world leaders in grand-format digital printer innovations will be showcasing its top-of-the-range products, including the introduction of the new NanoJet UV True Flatbed digital printer, the new Jeti 3348 Galaxy UV RTR digital printer and the award-winning Jeti 3324 Aquajet Direct-to-Fabric digital printer – as well as its full Jeti range of grand-format digital printers. The new NanoJet uses 24 Spectra high-performance print heads. Each 15-picoliter head is specifically designed to deliver high-resolution droplets, printing 800 dpi at speeds of 220 sq. ft. per hour in Photo-Realistic mode with superb results.
The Jeti3348 Galaxy is a new 3-metre UV RTR digital that prints quality images at 664 sq. ft. per hour in 6-colour and features 48 Spectra print heads. The unit uses Gandinnovations’ UV-curable branded inks on a variety of flexible materials suited for all types of indoor and outdoor applications. Live demonstrations of the Jeti 3324 Aquajet Direct-to-Fabric digital printer (European Digital Press 2008 Award winner) will take place during the show. The printer uses Gandinnovations’ formulated, water-base dye dispersed inks printing in six colors at 400 dpi. The company’s high-speed Jeti 3150 X-2 UV True Flatbed digital printer will also be showcased.
GBC
On display will be the Guinness world-record-setting GBC 8500 Cyclone laminating system, capable of speeds up to 500 ft. per minute. This ultra high-speed, single-sided system is available in three models to accommodate maximum sheet lengths of 31”, 44” and 56”. The new mid-volume GBC 7580 laminator is designed for one-sided finishing while running at speeds up to 200 ft./min. On-demand laminators showcased include the compact GBC 620os and the GBC 5031TS, a two-sided system with an in-line feeder and cutter.
For off-line production punching, GBC will feature the heavy-duty Magnapunch, ideal for high-volume jobs. As the digital print industry’s first near-line, high-speed production punch, the Quantum P70iX is designed for easy setup, changeover and operation. As always, GBC will feature a full range of binding styles, including CombBind, WireBind and ProClick. The semi-automated ProClick Pronto, a semi-automated desktop binding solution, creates bound documents with an easy-to-edit binding spine. GBC’s production level ShredMaster shredders safeguard private information.
Heidelberg
Industry-leader Heidelberg is inviting Graph Expo visitors to see the latest equipment, technologies and workflow solutions in a running, completely integrated print shop environment. The “shop” will be demonstrating Heidelberg’s theme of HEI Performance – HEI Value through a range of featured prepress, commercial print, packaging, post-press, service and workflow solutions. Visitors will learn what it means to “Get Prinected” and experience the benefits of shop integration.
“Integration across the print shop is becoming more and more important for giving printers a competitive advantage in the marketplace,” says Jim Dunn, president, Heidelberg USA. “In addition to our technologies and equipment for commercial and package printers, Heidelberg is placing a particularly strong focus on our Prinect workflow solutions at this year’s show, to demonstrate the importance of the integrated print shop in today’s industry environment.”
Making its U.S. debut, will be the Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 press with perfecting unit (XL 105-P), which is designed to optimize one-pass productivity for large-format printing. The press, which can run at speeds of up to 15,000 iph, will be shown as a 10-color model – perfect for commercial or packaging customers due to its ability to accommodate a wide range of substrates. Its features include Prinect Inpress Control, which won a 2008 InterTech Technology Award and is the first inline device for sheetfed presses that uses spectrophotometry to measure color and register while the press is running. Also shown will be the Prinect Press Center, Heidelberg’s standardized high-performance control station, which provides uniform operator guidance, including color and register control for all new Speedmaster presses.
HP
“This year’s Graph Expo will be like a mini drupa for HP booth visitors,” says Danny Ionescu, vice-president, Graphic Arts, HP Canada. “HP is transforming the industry by delivering a full range of solutions for virtually every market, from light production to large-format applications to high-volume digital printing. I’m very excited about Graph Expo this year,” adds Ionescu.
HP will highlight how the industry’s broadest portfolio of digital color graphic arts solutions enables its customers to engage in “progressive, profitable printing.” It will feature several new technologies from drupa, including the first North American showing of the HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press, a high-volume digital color press that prints 120 high-quality, 4-color, A4-size pages per minute.
The 7000 can print large numbers of static jobs with run lengths ranging from one copy into the thousands, as well as variable-data work requiring the “every page is different” capabilities of digital.
HP will also feature its new HP Indigo WS6000 Digital Press, which offers twice the productivity of the successful HP Indigo press WS4500 and is targeted at labels and packaging converters with significant volumes of medium and short-run jobs. HP will also have solutions for large-format printers, including UV flatbed, rollfed and hybrid solutions obtained in HP’s recent acquisitions of Macdermid Colorspan and NUR Macroprinters.
Also among the new products being shown is the HP Designjet L65500 Printer – the first of a new category of large-format signage printers with HP latex inks that reduce the impact of printing on the environment, and offer broad outdoor and indoor application versatility. It offers a wide range of applications, from point-of-purchase displays, transit signage, wall murals and exhibition graphics to vehicle graphics and fleet marking.
Island Clean Air
Island Clean Air will feature its Duster Air Filtration systems, the most effective and widely used mobile air filtration systems in the graphic arts industry, according to the company. They remove toxic fumes and odours, spray powders, dust, solvent fumes and VOCs associated with digital printers – all with low consumables and user-friendly maintenance. They provide a healthier working environment while enhancing green initiatives. The systems also meet EPA and OSHA requirements.
KBA
KBA will have its GATF award-winning Genius 52 UV 20-inch-small-footprint press producing a huge variety of jobs on all types of substrates, including paper, plastic, board and eye-catching lenticular pieces. Technical and application experts will be on hand to discuss, the world’s make-ready champion KBA Rapida 106, the new KBA Rapida 7, and new advancements from the world leader in large format as well as KBA Complete (the new print consultation service subsidiary). In addition, printers will be able to visit KBA customers in the area producing unique work with their KBA presses.
Kodak
Kodak will highlight robust solutions in the areas of conventional, digital and blended production workflows. In addition to product demonstrations, Kodak will feature samples of integrated communications campaigns created with Kodak software and digital printing solutions. The Stream Concept Printhead from Kodak will be on display, demonstrating the speed and integration capabilities of the technology. Capable of delivering monochrome offset class VDP applications at up to 1,000 fpm to commercial offset printers, the Stream Concept Printhead shows Stream Inkjet technology’s potential for hybrid printing. As the first-planned product with this new technology, the 4-inch Stream Concept Printhead is designed to produce a deep, rich black at 600 dpi on glossy substrates. As well, it’s easy to operate and service.
In the Futures area, visitors will be able to see a video of the 4-color Stream Concept Press from Kodak in action, and view samples of its offset class color output. Also at the booth are samples featuring the Kodak NexPress Intelligent Dimensional Coating Solution and the Kodak NexPress Dimensional Clear Dry Ink. The two combine to create a raised printing effect that enables tactile effects so that images can have a dimensional feel that mimic the surface of the items in the image. For example, customers can print an image of an orange that feels like an orange or wood grain that feels like wood grain. For added versatility, users can identify specific areas of the image that are to be raised and specify variable heights.
Komori
The Komori Lithrone SX40 will make its U.S. debut at the show. The LSX40, introduced at drupa 08, features a host of upgraded features designed to further improve print quality and job cycle times. With a new maximum running speed of 18,000 sph, higher speed fully automatic plate changing and the new KHS-AI system, job changeover times are reduced by more than 35%, says Komori. The supersized LSX40 also runs a 41” sheet for maximum efficiency and productivity. Also on display will be the Lithrone SX29, Komori’s largest mid-size press that provides the fastest job cycle time in the industry. Rounding out the Graph Expo line-up is the Komori Spica 429 convertible perfector press, ideal for printers moving into the multicolor market.
Manroland
This industry leader will continue to build off the momentum at drupa and premier for North America its PRINTVALUE program. These include printservices, printnet, printcom and printadvice. The company will also offer in-show demonstrations, free training seminars and opinions from sheetfed, commercial web and newspaper press operators who use PRINTVALUE services. Watch and learn how TelePresence, manroland’s 24/7 remote diagnostics press support connection, can prevent downtime by solving most mechanical, electronic and software problems over the telephone.
Visitors can also attend manroland’s early morning breakfast and live demonstrations of the ROLAND 900 Large Format Press and ROLAND 700 Hi-Print Press with Foiler at its Print Technology Center. Large-format printing is a growing market segment and the ROLAND 900 is part of manroland’s Value-Added Printing solutions. Manroland will again sponsor Dr. Joe Webb’s annual Industry Forecast seminar on October 28.
Presstek
Presstek will showcase a huge array of high quality, environmentally friendly, fully-integrated digital printing solutions, including a full range of CTP platesetters and chemistry-free plates, DI digital offset presses and workflow solutions. Presstek 52DI and 34DI presses with new UV printing capability, says Presstek, combine all of the benefits of UV printing with the easy-to-use, highly automated DI press delivering fast turnaround short-run and high-quality color printing on a wide range of substrates.
Presstek’s new range of chemistry-free CTP systems include the Compass Series of 4-up and 8-up platesetters, ideal for a wide range of printing environments and offering production speeds from 15 to 38 plates per hour and image up to 250 lpi with Presstek’s Aurora Pro chemistry-free plates. Compass platesetters also image a range of low-energy (830 nm laser), third-party thermal plates. For the quick and in-plant printer, Presstek is showcasing the new Vector FL52 with chemistry-free Freedom Pro plates.
Presstek will also debut its newly expanded range of workflow solutions (including Presstek Latitude) that provide PDF and JDF prepress workflow, automation tools for screening, trapping, imposition and a complete web-based, end-to-end print-on-demand workflow and business management solution.
Ricoh
To complement the color and production strategies of Ricoh’s Production Printing Group (PPBG), the Ricoh Pro C900 will officially launch at this year’s show. In addition to the Ricoh Pro C900 launch, PPBG will also be exhibiting the Ricoh Pro 1356EX and its Kodak Nexpress products.
The C900 is designed for advanced production printing with increased productivity, high-quality and flexible inline finishing options. It creates high-quality color at 90 pages per minute, even when printing on heavy stock. You can load paper and toner without pausing jobs in progress.
In partnership with Kodak, Ricoh will also offer four Kodak Nexpress Digital Production Color Presses, including the Kodak Nexpress 2100, 2100 Plus, 2500 Digital Production Color Presses and the Kodak Nexpress S3000 Digital Production Color Press. Also featured will be the Pro 1356EX, which launched in May 2008, and is the fastest MFP on the market, printing at 135 ppm. The Pro 1356EX, along with the entire Pro line, also incorporates high-speed color and black & white scanning.
Standard Finishing Systems
The Andover, Massachusetts, company continues to be an industry leader in supplying print finishing systems, paper handling equipment and reprographic products. It will be introducing the new Standard Horizon BQ-270C Single-clamp Perfect Binder that features a large 10.4” intelligent color touch-screen control console and an ergonomically-designed digital caliper – to measure book thickness and automatically transfer this data to the binder for quick, automated setup. The binder is designed for short run-length POD and commercial print book markets, with single-person production of up to 500 books per hour. Together with all other Horizon products, the BQ-270C will be connected to the Horizon i2i Bindery Control System, a JDF-enabled digital workflow that brings complete automation and job status visibility across the bindery.
Xeikon
Xeikon, a pioneer in digital color printing, will be exhibiting its flagship product, the Xeikon 8000, launched earlier this year at drupa. The 8000 boasts true 1200 dpi at 4 bits per spot. Operating at speeds that are more than twice as fast as its nearest competitor, says Xeikon, the press has been developed to optimize print productivity and provide fast, cost-effective and eco-friendly printing. It enables duty cycles of up to 8.5 million pages per month.
Show visitors will have the chance to witness the unique capabilities of the 8000, as it will be up and running throughout the show. In addition, Xeikon experts will be on-hand to site new 8000 customers (both U.S. and international) and discuss the applications and numerous benefits of the machine.
Xerox
The new Xerox iGen4 will be shown for the first time in the U.S. According to Xerox, it’s the most productive and highest-quality cut-sheet digital press in the printing industry today. Its advanced automation means more “uptime” for printers, with 25% – 35% more productivity and more profit. The iGen4 prints at 110 pages per minute and has the largest sheet size (14.33” x 22.5”) of any digital color press. Xerox will also showcase a variety of color and monochrome products including the new Xerox 650 Continuous Feed Printing System and Xerox 700 Digital Color Press as well as DocuColor, Nuvera and wide-format products. Also highlighted will be new advances in digital printing technology, color and environmental leadership, business development services and tools as well as workflow solutions. Booth visitors can also use “conversation stations” to have in-depth discussions with experts, and learn how to generate new business opportunities.
Xpedx and Ryobi
More printing technologies, more post-press productivity and more profit-building solutions will be showcased at Graph Expo. Xpedx, the exclusive U.S. distributor for Ryobi printing presses (xpedx does not distribute Ryobi in Canada), will erect a complete, end-to-end workflow. At center stage will be the fully automated Ryobi 7510 with an optional UV coater. Featuring one-pass, full-color convertible perfecting, the 7510 doubles a printer’s 4-colour and 5-colour productivity, simplifies job handling, saves floor space and prints up to 15,000 sph. Printers will also learn how to optimize their end-of-line with bindery and finishing equipment, mail stream management products and packaging equipment and supplies. They can also explore custom solutions, such as xpedx kitting services that move their jobs off the floor and out the door, driving productivity.
Supporting this technology is the xpedx distribution infrastructure, delivering paper and pressroom consumables from a single source through merchant divisions, retail stores, or via eBusiness solutions from xpedx.com. Printers will learn which option is right for them from business consultants staffing the booth.
