Here is my reasoning for predicting a very solid trade show with opportunities for everyone. The new product pipeline coming from technology research and development follows a logarithmic expansion path. GATF’s Technology Awards program was introduced in 1978. Since then, 161 vendor products have been acknowledged as “expecting to make a major impact on the printing industry.” Over 40% of those products were chosen in the last seven years alone. The ‘Must See ’ems’ competition, held annually for the past eight years in anticipation of the upcoming Print and Graph Expos, has likewise increased its quantity of nominations and award acknowledgements almost every year.
Some of the highlights and vendors worth watching:
Prepress
Soft or “virtual” proofing continues to gain ground saving the time and expense of overnight couriers. Integrated Color Solutions and Kodak Polychrome Graphics each have SWOP-certified, color-critical, collaborative packages available for less than $30,000. Real Time Image is a key vendor that is enabling several other systems to achieve this vital capability as well. Proof-It-On-Line is another offering worth seeing.
Inkjet color proofing for dual sided signature proofs as well as hard copy digital proofs is mainline with Epson Stylus Pro 7600/9600 with their proprietary UltraChrome Ink.
Workflow tools to aid multiple versions of a job, often created by multiple languages, are vitally important. Esko-Graphics N.V. offers an interesting solution with their FastVariants scripting software.
Press
A specialty vendor is offering an ultra violet coating advancement that can be retrofitted on existing presses. Adphos-Eltosh North America replaces ambient air with nitrogen in their INERT-UV system for sheetfed presses.
Interest is expected to continue to climb for Heidelberg’s SP 52 (20.5”) sheetfed press with in-line rotary die cutting for spot waste removal on door hangers and presentation folders.
PostPress
The Graph Expo is setting up a dedicated area for Mailing and Fulfillment vendors. Many full service graphic communications firms will find this concentration of specialty value-added hardware, software and equipment a significant attraction.
Digital Finishing
Xerox’s square fold booklet maker is a stand alone, digital finishing product with a unique square-book look allowing printing on the spine for saddle-stitched booklets.
Baumfolder Corporation’s Flexifold Modular Folder is fast and foolproof for digital printing operations that don’t have a dedicated finishing department.
