Attendance may have been down slightly from the previous show (about 3%), but the over 6,800 who attended the recent Montreal show, as well as many exhibitors, reported good results as they met with more decision-makers and key purchasers.
“We had an outstanding show with good traffic in all areas of our booth. We featured solutions showcasing how a commercial printer can play to their strengths in offset, digital and display graphic printing,” says Tony Karg, senior director of business development and marketing (Graphic Systems), Fujifilm Canada Inc. “The Acuity Advance wide format inkjet device had steady traffic, as did our Xerox 700 DCP digital press. (Xerox wasn’t at the show, so Fujifilm was representing the Xerox technology to the Quebec market). Our new XMF workflow was the real hit. Incorporating the latest version of the Adobe PDF Print Engine ripping technology, the Quebec market was very impressed by the range of functionality and features,” he says.
Epson and EFI joined forces at the show to create what both companies expect will be the most advanced and complete proofing solution on the market to date. The new Epson Stylus Pro 900 Series Proofing Editions combine the unique proofing advantages that come with the Epson Stylus Pro 7900 or 9900 wide-format ink jet printers, along with EFI’s most robust proofing RIP workflow to date, EFI Colorproof XF v4.0 for Epson. The end result is a unique and complete solution designed to redefine what’s possible for virtually all contract-proofing applications, say the companies.
EFI Colorproof XF v4.0 RIP for Epson takes advantage of the latest Adobe PostScript 3 and Adobe Print Engine 2.0 technologies and processes files to ensure consistent and accurate proofs for all types of color print work – commercial or flexographic. And with complete support of Epson’s optional SpectroProofer, virtually any colour management process is completely automated, reducing labour costs significantly.
Tim Wakefield of Insource Corp. demonstrated specialized mailing technology from Kirk Rudy, Rena and KAS, including detailed video presentations on Buhrs and Norpak equipment.
“Our theme for the show was mail-related automation with full security, including camera-based verification, read and print, inkjet printing, personalized Post-it note application, card tipping, inserting and polywrapping,” he says. “We found the response to our booth quite favourable with significant interest in the closed-loop camera verification – that included options such as sheet feeder control, database activated selective inserting, personalized multiple pocket matching, read and print and reporting, all within one controller. The fact that this can be fitted on inserting, poly and bindery/stitching equipment was seen as a huge benefit,” he adds.
Andr’ Simard of ICC Technologies found new leads and finalized two contracts during the show. “We got our return on invesment through our customers who use GraphICC management software,” he says.
GraphICC is a management solution software for print shops specializing in sheetfed, web, digital, large format and flexo. The company is the result of over 20 years of joint effort with professionals from the printing industry. The end product is a completely integrated and user-friendly printing management tool that includes orders and estimates, price confirmation, job dockets, inventory, production planning, job costing, shipping and delivery, as well as invoicing using a fully integrated accounting management system and powerful office automation tools.
“Friday was the best day of the show for us. Overall, the timing was ideal for our increased commitment to the bilingual markets of Quebec,” says Brian Armstrong, president of Printer Gateway. “We had a chance to meet with clients, prospects and get face-to-face with the people that matter most to us – our resellers. We plan to return to the next Quebec show.”
The fact that there were a number of companies that didn’t exhibit at the show only improved response, according to Armstrong. “There were still a large number of people, both exhibitors and visitors. The real test of these types of events is how you manage the business you generate. In the end, people are more impressed by how much you care and how committed you are to them as ‘trade only’ suppliers – rather than how much you know or your level of technical expertise,” he adds.
MD International featured the CP Bourg BSTD Plus Tower Collator/Feeder connected to the new CP Bourg BME Automated Booklet Maker. Steve Thistle was there from Robert E. Thistle Co. Ltd., and told us how the CP Bourg BSTD Plus Collators feed system uses true vacuum feed belts and air-sheet separation. “These towers have the capability,” says Thistle, “of multiple feeding out of any pockets or in combination with other pockets – allowing you to merge pre-collated sets from a digital device with uncollated sheets or colour output or simply use as a feeder.”
The new BME Automated Booklet Maker has many unique features, says Thistle, including total NC control (no knobs to turn or levers to move), totally visible paper path, the ability to control the accessory from a remote source, capability to handle the largest range of formats for any collator or online accessory, an input size up to 370×600 mm (will take iGen3 production), capability of handling landscape A4 brochures and a new soft-handling paper path designed for digital prints that can be marked or scratched easily.
Alain Proulx of Techno Gestass echoed many exhibitors’ feelings, saying that booth traffic was solid. “Attendance was better than expected, considering the current economy, and there was an excellent level of interest from buyers,” he says. “More importantly, the show definitely attracted the quality buyers.”
The company is the first Roland distributor in Canada and in 2003, expanded to offer a more complete line of equipment solutions for the sign industry, gradually adding CNC routers, laser engraving and cutting machines, direct-to-garment printers, laminators, substrate cutters, heat presses, a wide variety of media and other accessories. Techno Gestass also sells into many diverse industries such as woodworking, gifts and awards, orthotics, moldmaking and more.
KBR Canada, now the exclusive distributor for KBA products in Canada, with the exception of British Columbia, had excellent results at the show, according to KBR Canada’s Executive V.P. Karl Belafi Jr. “We showcased the latest technology in finishing automation at our booth and came away with several leads which resulted in actual sales only about 10 days after the show,” he said.
Leading press manufacturer Heidelberg (www.heidelberg.com) had “a fairly successful Montreal show even with lower attendance,” said Jean-Francois Colpron, V.P., product management and marketing, Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited. “Our sales were in the small-format CTP(s) Thermal and Polyester and in the Quickmaster 46 press line, with a few units of each sold.”
“Mediatech (www.mediatech.ca) was proud to launch its new GEO premium FSC-certified inkjet papers at the show,” said Alain Paradis.
“We were able to see the growing interest in FSC papers, including our new line that includes matt-coated, photo and proofing papers, all designed to work with water-based-ink printers.” The Quebec-based company supplies a wide variety of media for large-format inkjet printers – either water-based, eco-solvent, solvent-based or UV curable.
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