Welcome to another roundup of news highlights and Laurel Brunner’s Verdigris Blog for Friday 14 August, which this week examines the Maggi Noodles ‘contamination’ saga which began in Uttar Predesh, India. There’s also a new addition in Online Features Chapter 06, featuring PhotoBox, Europe’s leading personalised product company, as it optimises its canvas production division with an Esko Kongsberg digital cutting and finishing device, supported by Esko’s Automation Engine Workflow solutions; and in our drupa Newsroom, the third drupa expert article, this month from Sean Smyth, discussing inkjet printing.

Although the news was rather thin on the ground this past week with only 16 articles in total, it contains some very important announcements. Monday saw a new one-day event announced, set to take place in Manchester, UK on 3 December. The GlobalChannelPartners Summit 2015 describes itself as a new and unique networking opportunity for UK, European and Global players in the printing and packaging industries. We also have Epson at ITMA in Milan, Italy in November.

Tuesday and Wednesday saw the latest figures from both Koening & Bauer and Heidelberg, which always provide a true indication of how the industry has performed over the past three to six months, and perhaps more importantly, what can be expected for the remainder of the respective financial years from the world’s largest press manufacturers. You’ll find KBA’s half year results leading the news on Tuesday and Heidelberg with its first quarter results on Wednesday. If you combine these with last week Friday’s announcements (the links are still below) from Sappi, Kodak and Langley Holdings which includes Manroland Sheetfed, then they provide a much broader picture or guide, and there are some real positive signs.

On Thursday, Goss International took the lead with the first triple-wide Uniliner newspaper press in the United States, and reveals top results from the new technology at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as it invests heavily in the long-term viability of printed newspaper editions. Friday’s lead is also devoted to the future of newspapers, but this time with digitally printed editions for Guernsey and Jersey, as the Guiton Group, which owns the Jersey Evening Post, partners with Kodak to introduce Stream Inkjet technology to create a more flexible business model for the future of the newspaper industry in the Channel Islands. The company plans to produce eleven titles in total, including ten of the leading UK national newspapers which currently rely upon being flown to the islands each day for local distribution. Also on Friday, Manroland Web Systems announces intelligent ‘Imposer’: The first automated imposition solution for both digital and offset printing.

There’s a few more if you check them out carefully, including some nice installations successes from HP Indigo at Traffic Print Online Solutions in Germany, which has installed the 200th HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press. Then we have Heidelberg prepress, press and postpress at Keno Graphic Services; Heidelberg Stahlfolder at Grunwald, and KBA at Travel Bags Inc, all in North America.

The tailender goes to UPM as it opens an art exhibition by Chinese contemporary artist Wei Qingji on 14 August at Bioforum, UPM’s showroom at Biofore House Helsinki, as part of this year’s Helsinki Festival programme. The exhibition will remain open until 31 October.

That’s all until next time.

My best regards,

Mike Hilton

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Our e-News comprises: 

Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative from Digital Dots. Our Drupa and FESPA Newsrooms can be accessed from the Index on our Home Page, as well as News in Review, which provides a weekly overview and listing of all news added to the site. 

Headline News
Over 27,000 news items have now gone online since we launched our Website in September 2001. News for the past 24 months can still be accessed via the Home Page and its continuation news pages 

From Monday 10 August

Mon 10 August…    Packprint Workshop returns to Labelexpo Europe
Full details have been announced for the Packprint Workshop’s return to the Labelexpo Europe’s show floor for 2015 in Brussels…

Epson at ITMA’s 17th Edition in FieraMilano, Rho
ITMA 2015: Epson, For.Tex & F.lli Robustelli present the new frontiers of digital textile printing, from 12 – 19 November…

GlobalChannelPartners Summit 2015 – Manchester
A new and unique networking opportunity for UK, European and Global players in the printing and packaging industries in December…

Tue 11 August…   First half-year 2015 report for Koenig & Bauer
Increased intake in first six months results in well-filled order books with clear sales and earnings rise expected in second half-year…

3D packaging design and proofreading at Labelexpo
Four Pees announces its presence at Labelexpo, together with Global Vision and Creative Edge Software…

Keno opts for Heidelberg prepress, press and postpress
Keno Graphic Services jumpstarts growth with Heidelberg upgrades in every department as it transitions from half- to full-size shop…

Wed 12 August…  Successful start to financial year 2015/2016 for Heidelberg
First quarter figures show that the strategic reorientation is having an impact, with improvements in both sales and the result…

Traffic Print installs the 200th HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press
Traffic Print Online Solutions, Germany installs the 200th HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press, replacing toner-based technology…

Inkjet – state of the art or sci-fi fantasy print?
Drupa expert Article no 3, by Sean Smyth, a consultant and journalist and technical editor Digital Labels & Packaging magazine in the UK…

Thu 13 August…   The first triple-wide Goss Uniliner press in the USA
Goss reveals top results from new technology at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to support long-term viability of printed edition…

Chinese master painter Wei Qingji at the UPM Bioforum
UPM opens art exhibition by Chinese contemporary artist Wei Qingji on 14 August at Bioforum, UPM’s showroom at Biofore House…

Esko Kongsberg and Automation Engine for Photobox
PhotoBox optimises canvas production division with Esko Kongsberg cutting and Esko Automation Engine workflow solutions…

Fri 14 August…   Kodak and Guiton: Digital newspapers in Jersey and Guernsey
Kodak Stream inkjet technology creates a more flexible business model for the future of the newspaper industry in the Channel Islands…

Manroland Web Systems and Ultimate in co-development
Manroland Web announces intelligent ‘Imposer’: The first automated imposition solution for digital and offset printing…

Grunwald ramps up production with Stahlfolder BH 82
Grunwald now runs 16-page signatures at the folder’s full rated speed of 11,000sph, and 32-page signatures at 10,000sph…

KBA UV sheetfed press tapped by Travel Tags Inc.
Industry-leading global provider, based in North America, invests with KBA sheetfed to focus on the needs of its customers…

Lead articles on Friday 24 July from previous update… 

Previous…   Sappi announces its Q3 2015 results
Sappi results for third quarter ended June 2015 highlight impact of exchange rates in a seasonally weak and difficult quarter…

Kodak reports improved Q2 operating performance
On Tuesday, 04 August, Eastman Kodak Company published its financial results for the second quarter of 2015, ended 30 June…

Langley issues Interim Trading Statement 2015
Langley Holdings plc has today published its Interim Trading Statement for the six months to 30 June 2015…

GraphicRepro.Net e-News  (ISSN 1814-2923) is sponsored and made possible by:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG  (Heidelberg), The world’s largest printing press manufacturer for the industry worldwide. Heidelberg customers enjoy the most comprehensive and extensive sales and service network in the industry for JDF compliant workflow, computer-to-plate, sheetfed offset, Web-to-print, digital printing, digital inkjet for labels and packaging, packaging and finishing, all with complementary consumables. Heidelberg has offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.

Electronics For Imaging  (EFI) is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for the commercial printing market. Its portfolio of integrated solutions span production and superwide format printing, graphic arts, advanced professional printing software, and industrial inkjet systems. Its technologies increase productivity by automating print and business processes To find out more visit the EFI Website.

Kodak Commercial Imaging  (Kodak) is a leading provider of innovative solutions for conventional, digital and hybrid print production environments. With the most expansive portfolio for the graphic communications market,  Kodak features technologies, products and services that help print providers streamline processes, optimise efficiencies, broaden services, and grow businesses. To find out more, visit the Kodak Graphics Website.

drupa 2016 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry, responds to the challenges of the changing market and provides pioneering solutions for the future. This is highlighted by the new marketing and communication strategy where drupa claims its position as ‘No.1 for Print & Crossmedia Solutions’ with the slogan ‘touch the future’. The issues of ‘package printing’, ‘multichannel’, ‘green printing’, ‘3D printing’ and ‘functional printing’ will become increasingly important to the overall communication strategy. To find out more, visit the drupa 2016 Website.

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2015
There were again well over 90 last year, including nine downloads, as well as 92 articles in 2013 which can still be accessed via the Index on the Home Page, with prior years’ via Search Archives (option 2) on the Website.

Downloads 2015 Chapter 01

Previous…    UK Printing – The Facts and Figures
Using data from a wide range of official sources, the BPIF publishes UK printing – the facts and figures educational flyer…

July/Aug 2015 Chapter 06

Esko Kongsberg XN22 and Automation Engine create best performing division
PhotoBox optimises canvas production division with Esko Kongsberg cutting and Esko Automation Engine workflow solutions…

Previous…    Esko shares expertise and knowledge with international Honours Class
SuccessfulArteveldeUniversityCollegeGhent student course returns for second year, reinforcing Esko’s industry commitment…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blog 2015

Noodles in the News
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 14 August

Previous…    More Reasons to be Cheerful About Print’s Carbon Footprint
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 07 August

Drupa Newsroom
Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index, as well as via the special Newsroom button on the right of the Home Page near the top.

drupa 2016 News from Messe Düsseldorf

Most recent…    drupa cube: innovative conference programme at drupa 2016
Bridging the gap between print professionals and their creative agency, marketing and brand owner clients across a variety of vertical markets…

drupa cube: Innovatives Konferenzprogramm zur drupa 2016
Print schlägt die Brücke zwischen Kreativagenturen, Marketiers, Brandownern und vertikalen Märkten…

drupa 2016 Expert Articles series

Inkjet – state of the art or sci-fi fantasy print?
Touch the future. drupa expert Article no 3, August 2015, by Sean Smyth, a consultant and journalist and technical editor of Digital Labels & Packaging magazine in the UK…

Previous…    Brand new perspectives in packaging print
Touch the future. drupa expert Article no 2, July 2015, by Des King, a leading freelance journalist in the printing & packaging industries, based in the UK…

FESPA Newsroom
The dedicated FESPA Newsroom can be found in the Index on our Home Page.

The Graphic Repro On-line Website is supported and sponsored by:

Antalis South Africa, Dainippon Screen,  Drupa 2016,  EFI and EFI Vutek, Esko,  Epson Europe BV,  FESPA. Goss International Inc,  Heidelberger Druc kmaschinen AG,  HP Graphic Solutions,  Kodak,  Koenig + Bauer AG,  Kemtek Imaging Systems,  Krause-Biagosch,  Leonhard Kurz Stiftung,   Manroland Web Systems GmbH,  Muller Martini AG,  POLAR-Mohr, QuadTech Inc,  Quark Inc,  Ricoh Europe,  Sappi Limited, Thunderbolt Solutions, and UPM-Kymmene.

If you would like to send news for consideration for the Graphic Repro On-line Website (ISSN 1814-2915) or to submit comments, please e-mail Mike Hilton at: graphicrepro.za@gmail.com.

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GraphicRepro.Net e-News (ISSN 1814-2923)  provides weekly updates from the Graphic Repro On-line Website and is  compiled and published by Mike Hilton, PO Box 10 Peterburgskoe Shosse 13/1, 196605 Pushkin 5, St. Petersburg, Russia.