Welcome to another roundup of news highlights for the past week. In addition to 36 news items, there are two new online feature articles highlighting Alexir Partnership, as it breaks into the niche, small-run folding carton market with a Xerox – TRESU inline digital print and coating workflow, complemented by KAMA and Kongsberg finishing. The second article profiles Enfocus as it drives innovation for today and for the future. You will also find 20 new drupa exhibitor articles from Esko, X-Rite Pantone, Enfocus, MediaBeacon, Komori, Kurz, Xaar, KVA Flexotecnica, Domino, Callas Software, Xerox, Xeikon, Fujifilm, Axaio Software, Technotrans and Epson in our drupa Newsroom. Almost all of these include announcements for new machine launches or debuts or new software launches and upgrades to be released at the event, so please check them out carefully.

We also have a brand new ‘drupa ante portas Blog’ from Andreas Weber out of the exclusive VDMA press event for the business press, held on Monday 4 April, at The House of the Book in Frankfurt, hosted by Dr Markus Heering, managing director of the VDMA; with keynote presentations from Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Dusseldorf; Claus Bolza-Schunemann, drupa president and chairman of the executive board of Koenig & Bauer; Kai Buntemeyer, chairman of the VDMA and managing director of Kolbus; and Dr. Gerold Linzbach, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. You’ll find a news intro on Friday leading to the main article in our drupa Newsroom which also has PDF and Word downloads available for you.

Sales or installations successes this week came from Manroland Web Systems and KBA on Tuesday, as well as Fujifilm with a UK first, as Warwickshire-based Emmerson Press announces its Jet Press 720S investment; then we have POLAR; Manroland Sheetfed, and IFS with Horizon on Wednesday; and Screen Europe at Silhouet Digital Print in Maldegem, Belgium, as it invests in a new Truepress Jet520HD continuous-feed inkjet press to handle increasing demand for colour books to round off the week on Friday.

Also on Friday but related to new kit: Werosys in Denmark announces it has incorporated no less than thirty Meech Hyperion anti-static bars into its intelligent converting environment; and Taopix also announced the release of its latest software edition for personalised photobooks.

If you scroll down carefully you’ll find a lot more relating to the upcoming Sign & Digital UK event taking place at the NEC from 19 – 21 April; the latest from InPrint regarding its recent survey; from FINAT listing its upcoming Webinars; and from Bobst as it considers purchasing WIFAG-Polytype’s coating technology business.

That’s it until next time. I hope you find lots of interest.
With my best regards,Mike Hilton 

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 28,000 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

Mon 04 April…   Highcon to launch new product portfolio at drupa
Highcon to launch a new dimension in finishing with a portfolio of products at drupa this year in Hall 9…

Xeikon to launch Flatbed Die-cut Unit at drupa
Cost effective Xeikon FDU folding carton solution aids production flexibility, with fast ROI for digital or offset litho runs…

MPS to host Open House during drupa
MPS to host an Open House at its company headquarters in Arnhem, The Netherlands during drupa 2016…

Bobst considers purchase of WIFAG-Polytype coating
Bobst and WIFAG-Polytype enter into exclusive negotiations for possible acquisition of WIFAG’s coating technology business…

Blackman & White at Sign and Digital UK
Blackman & White to showcase new software and technical developments at Sign and Digital at the NEC Birmingham…

CMYUK at Sign & Digital UK from 19 – 21 April
CMYUK and Eagle Plastics – a forward thinking partnership is born. Visit CMYUK’s stand at the NEC to discover more…

JPL Print switches press supplier for new B2 Speedmaster
Halesowen business JPL Print & Design has just taken delivery of a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 -5+L…

Tue 05 Apr…    Kurz: New horizons in print finishing
Leonhard Kurz will be presenting new print finishing possibilities and optimised processes at drupa in Halls 3, 7 and 12…

Xaar to launch new technology platform at drupa
Xaar, the heart of industrial inkjet, to announce major new Thin Film silicon MEMS technology platform at drupa in Hall 6…

Emmerson Press buys UK’s first Fujifilm Jet Press 720S
A UK first for Fujifilm as Warwickshire-based Emmerson Press announces Jet Press 720S investment…

Konica Minolta KM-1 UV digital sheetfed press at beta
PLS confirmed as Konica Minolta’s first European KM-1 beta site customer, with commercial launch planned for drupe…

Technotrans to unveil new products at drupa
Press peripherals specialist Technotrans will exhibit in Hall 2 stand A04 at drupa under the banner ‘Partner in Print’…

Callas Software to launch pdfToolbox 9 at drupa
Callas will showcase pdfToolbox 9 offering powerful, dynamic and easy to integrate PDF processing…

Star Tribune selects Manroland Web for controls upgrade
Manroland Web Systems PECOM-X controls system to replace controls on Star Tribune’s Headliner Offset press equipment…

Unique KBA web service upgrade at The Buffalo News
Top-ranked newspaper publisher maintains quality and productivity for dependability and reliability…

Wed 06 Apr…   Enfocus – driving innovation for today and the future
Enfocus is known worldwide as a provider of end-to-end automation solutions that help customers run more efficient operations…

Xerox to launch two new inkjet presses at drupa
The Xerox Brenva HD Production Inkjet Press and the Xerox Trivor 2400 Inkjet Press will be launched at drupa 2016…

Toray consolidates activities in Central Europe
Centralised service to deliver faster customer response…

Xerox – TRESU: Cost-effective small-run folding cartons
Alexir breaks into niche, small-run digital folding carton markets with Xerox – TRESU inline digital print and coating…

Polar is the REAL deal
Real Digital has taken delivery of a Polar N115 Plus guillotine with comprehensive materials handling…

Shenzhen Kecai adds new 700 to its Roland fleet
A brand-new eight-colour Roland 700 with coating module and UV starts production at Shenzhen Kecai in China…

J Thompson streamlines digital arm with IFS buy
Horizon CRF-362 creaser folder supports fast turnaround work…

Thu 07 Apr…   Esko, X-Rite Pantone, Enfocus and MediaBeacon at drupa
Inspiration Zones for better Packaging and Print at drupa 2016: The related companies will be located in Hall 8b, stand A23…

Flexo Platemaking Simplified: to debut at drupa
Esko introduces next-generation flexo platemaking; bringing major innovation and flexo platemaking simplification to drupa 2016…

Esko’s enhanced digital finishing heads to drupa 2016
Esko takes digital finishing efficiency to the next level with improved machine uptime and better device operation control…

Komori’s drupa 2016 theme to be ‘Open New Pages’
Komori Corporation will exhibit under the theme ‘Open New Pages’ at drupa, with sub-theme ‘Connected Print’ in Hall 15…

InPrint 2016 Survey results available to download now
InPrint Show and IT Strategies’ InPrint 2016 Survey reveals accelerated growth for industrial printing…

FINAT reveals 2016 New Technology Webinar Series
FINAT, the international association for the self-adhesive label industry, is again staging its series of Webinars…

GMG and Hybrid integration to benefit PACKZ users
GMG and Hybrid Software on course to integrate GMG OpenColor and PACKZ software for labels and packaging…

Fri 08 Apr…   VDMA pre-drupa 2016: Welcome to the ‘Haus des Buches’
drupa ante portas – automation, flexibilization, and digitization make print a top growth market! Frankfurt 04 April. By Andreas Weber…

Silhouet Digital invests in Screen Truepress Jet520HD
Growing demand for books in colour drives upgrade by book print specialist, Silhouet Digital Print in Maldegem, Belgium…

Tecnau CutReady for HP Indigo at Dscoop and drupa 2016
Tecnau to exhibit cost-effective CutReady solution at upcoming HP Indigo and industry events, including drupa 2016…

Taopix announces first release of 2016
Taopix, has announced the release of Taopix 2016r1, the latest edition of its personalised photobook and gift platform…

Sign & Digital UK’s latest news from 42 exhibitors
Sign & Digital UK announces latest exhibitor news ahead of 2016 show; from 19 – 21 April at the NEC…

Canon releases uniFLOW version 5.4
Canon’s uniFLOW V5.4 with improved scanning and mobile printing extends print room integration…

Meech’s static control solutions at Werosys in Denmark
Werosys has incorporated thirty Meech Hyperion anti-static bars into its intelligent converting environment…

Last lead article from previous update…

Last Friday’s lead…   EIB Development Loan to fund Heidelberg’s R&D programme
European Investment Bank to fund Heidelberg’s R&D activities, focusing on, and taking digitisation to the next level…

Kertomalla paranee project launched in Finland
Kertomalla paranee ‘improve by sharing’ project is looking for areas of improvement and new solutions to improve the daily life of cancer patients. You can also participate and send suggestions…

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.

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 – 2016
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.

Online Features 2016 Mar/Apr Chapter 04

Xerox – TRESU: Cost-effective small-run digital folding cartons
The Alexir Partnership breaks into niche, small-run folding carton markets with Xerox – TRESU inline digital print and coating workflow, and KAMA / Kongsberg finishing…

Enfocus – driving innovation for today and the future
Enfocus is known around the world as a provider of end-to-end automation solutions that help customers run more efficient operations…

Most recent…   Fedopress adopts Xeikon 3500 for Revenue Duty stamp printing
Belgian Finance Dept print supplier takes printing of tobacco duty stamps in-house to increase security and efficiency and lower costs…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2016

Most recent…    Gathering Carbon Footprint Data
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 01 Apr

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. It is divided into the following Chapters for your convenience and ease of use… but you do have to scroll down to view each of the Chapters…

drupa ante portas Blogs 2016

NEW…   VDMA pre-drupa 2016: Welcome to the ‘Haus des Buches’
drupa ante portas – automation, flexibilization, and digitization make print a top growth market! Frankfurt 4 April, in preparation for drupa 2016…

drupa 2016 News from Exhibitors
Latest additions can now be accessed in our drupa Newsroom.

Esko, X-Rite Pantone, Enfocus and MediaBeacon at drupa
Inspiration Zones for better Packaging and Print at drupa 2016. The companies will be located in Hall 8b, stand A23…

Esko: Flexo Platemaking Simplified: at drupa
Esko introduces next-generation flexo platemaking; bringing major innovation and flexo platemaking simplification to drupa 2016…

Esko’s enhanced digital finishing offering for drupa
Esko takes digital finishing efficiency to the next level with improved machine uptime and better device operation control…

Komori’s drupa 2016 theme to be ‘Open New Pages’
Komori Corporation will exhibit under the theme ‘Open New Pages’ at drupa, with the sub-theme ‘Connected Print’ in Hall 15…

Kurz: New horizons in print finishing
Leonhard Kurz will be presenting new print finishing possibilities and optimised processes at Drupa in Halls 3, 7 and 12…

Xaar to launch new technology platform at drupa
Xaar, the heart of industrial inkjet, to announce major new Thin Film silicon MEMS technology platform at drupa in Hall 6…

KBA-Flexotecnica to showcase hybrid web press at drupa
KBA-Flexotecnica will be showcasing the new CI flexo NEO XD LR hybrid at drupa 2016 in Hall 16…

Domino partners with IBIS, Kern and Gremser for drupa
Domino Digital Printing Solutions to feature expanding range of technologies, including monochrome books and B2 sheetfed; textures, and 7-colour label printing…

Callas Software to launch pdfToolbox 9 at drupa 2016
Callas will showcase pdfToolbox 9 offering powerful, dynamic and easy to integrate PDF processing…

Xerox to launch two new inkjet presses at drupa
Xerox to introduce its first cut-sheet inkjet press and new continuous feed inkjet platform…

Xeikon to launch Flatbed Die-cut Unit at drupa
Cost effective Xeikon FDU folding carton solution aids production flexibility, with fast ROI for digital or offset litho runs…

Fujifilm to occupy a 2,020 sq/m stand in Hall 8b at drupa
Fujifilm outlines its largest presence at drupa 2016 under the slogan “Value from Innovation” in Hall 8b and in Hall 1 with Heidelberg…

Fujifilm ‘Value from Innovation’ at drupa 2016
Under the slogan ‘Value from Innovation’, Fujifilm outlines its Graphic Arts strategy for drupa…

Fujifilm Jet Press 720S to take centre stage at drupa
Fujifilm will be using drupa 2016 as a platform to showcase how the Jet Press 720S is transforming print businesses today…

Fujifilm: New Uvistar Hybrid 320 superwide UV press launch at drupa
The Uvistar Hybrid 320 offers the ultimate combination of speed, quality & reliability in a hybrid press…

Fujifilm: New LED-UV inkjet press for flexible packaging
Fujifilm to launch new, next generation 540mm wide LED-UV inkjet press for flexible packaging market in Japan…

Axaio Software to showcase at drupa 2016
Together with callas software, Tucanna and Four Pees, Axaio will present its solutions at drupa in Hall 7, stand C19…

Technotrans to unveil new products at drupa
Press peripherals specialist Technotrans will exhibit in Hall 2 stand A04 at drupa under the banner ‘Partner in Print’…

Epson stand at drupa to be split into 5 zones
Epson to present its most advanced range of professional production inkjet printers and presses at drupa 2016 in Hall 5…

Epson drupa exclusive: New super-fast wide-format printer
Epson to unveil new SureColor SC-P10000 1626mm wide-format printer combining highest printing speed with superior quality…

Previous…   KBA Service Complete with KBA 4.0 at drupa
Digital transformation with KBA 4.0: On the way to the networked print factory and full closed-loop solutions…

Picon Pavilions at drupa support 21 UK manufacturers
‘Best of British’ showcase with focus on new prepress, printing, finishing & ancillary products & forging international partnerships…

POLAR’s highlights at 2016 drupa in Hall 1
POLAR will once again present a wide range of solutions for handling diverse market demands…

Global Graphics raises the bar in inkjet quality with drupa launch
New Harlequin Multi-Level Digital Screening Engine helps single-pass inkjet presses achieve high quality at high speed…

HP breakthrough enhancements reinvent commercial printing
HP Inc. expands commercial printing fleet with eight new Indigo and PageWide Web Presses as it prepares for drupa 2016, with the show’s exhibit space in Hall 17…

HP Indigo expands for flexible packaging and folding cartons
HP Inc. to unveil the industry’s most productive label press for converters and brands in Hall 17 at drupa, as well as major upgrades for other presses…

Leonhard Kurz @ Drupa stand D60 in Hall 3
Drupa 2016 – Don’t just touch the future – live the future with Kurz innovation and creativity…

Landa to unveil 13,000sph B1 digital press at drupa
Landa’s lineup of offset quality Nanographic Printing presses at drupa will include Landa S10 B1 sheetfed, as well as a one metre-wide web press for plastic packaging films…

Landa to unveil ultra-fast metre-wide W10 web press
Landa to unveil its new webfed Nanographic Printing Press for flexible packaging at drupa…

New metallisation printing technology to be unveiled at drupa
New Landa Nano-Metallography offers zero-waste metallisation graphics at half the cost of foil…

Bobst to lead with innovation at drupa
Bobst to use drupa to showcase innovative solutions that will drive customer productivity higher, open up new capabilities…

Cerm proves inspiring collaboration at drupa
Omni-presence of Cerm at partner stands during drupa demonstrates growing importance of MIS in print automation process…

Kodak brings the ‘Science to Create’ to drupa
With a host of new product launches and technology developments to be featured on its stand in Hall 5…

Kodak to raise the bar in inkjet printing at drupa 2016
Ultrastream technology launch; Prosper 6000C press and XGV demonstration for flexible films to be featured on Kodak’s stand in Hall 5…

Kodak Prinergy cloud services and Unified Workflow Solutions
Kodak’s software solutions will deliver efficiency, quality and flexibility for print and packaging service providers and will drive further automation and business management…

NexPress platform supports industry growth and demand
Kodak announces the latest NexPress Color Press and its next generation electrophotographic platform, poised to deliver category’s highest quality, greatest value…

Kodak drives Flexo to be print process of choice
New Flexcel NX System ’16, NX Implementation Services and next generation ‘Ultra NX experience’ are key technologies for packaging printers at drupa 2016…

Kodak increasing investment in offset print
Kodak will announce its fourth and fifth new plate products launched within the last year and its entrance into the pressroom consumables market…

Kodak announces improved CTP automation portfolio
Kodak extends CTP options giving printers choice, efficiency and speed, to be unveiled at drupa…

Esko brings ‘Packaging Simplified’ to drupa
Market leader boosts innovations in both the software and hardware products to address pressing industry challenges…

Esko Software Platform makes Packaging Simplified
Major upgrade of all Esko software focused on productivity and improved user experience…

Xeikon Trillium One at drupa 2016
Tonnik liquid toner makes fast, high quality, cost-effective, high volume digital print a production reality…

Xeikon to showcase Fusion Technology at drupa
Fusion technology expands automated digital label and packaging production possibilities…

KBA: More performance and automation in large-format
Drupa highlight for packaging printers: KBA Rapida 145 with new double-pile delivery and automated pile logistics…

New Xaar 1003 raises the bar for industrial printing
Xaar announces the launch of the Xaar 1003 family of printheads which set a new benchmark for industrial inkjet, to be shown at drupa…

Enfocus Appstore takes off and heads to drupa
New marketplace quickly becomes a vital resource that connects, supports and advances the Enfocus Switch Community…

HP Inc. to inspire print providers at drupa 2016
Company to unveil HP PrintOS, a cloud-based, mobile platform that simplifies and automates print production management…

Agfa Graphics at drupa 2016 ‘We Embody Print’
Agfa Graphics to address opportunities for growth at drupa 2016…

Print the Future with Xeikon at drupa 2016
It’s all about growth with new products and services for labels, packaging and document printing, including its brand-new 60 m/min Trillium One press…

Duplo to take technology to new level at drupa
The stage is set for Duplo International to demonstrate its world-leading capabilities in print finishing systems at drupa 2016…

Next generation CHILI publish solutions to debut at drupa
The online editor that started it all, now with new innovations, partnerships and customer successes…

CHILI publisher v 5.0 announced for drupa showcase
The next generation of online editing from CHILI Publish is here as CHILI publisher redefines document editing…

CHILI announces rendro 1.0: A new era for PDF rendering
Full relief rendering of PDF documents can now be accessed anywhere, anytime, from any platform with CHILI rendro 1.0…

X-Rite announces PantoneLIVE Private Cloud
Provides printers and converters with a secure, online repository for proprietary colours to streamline workflows: to be demonstrated live at drupa 2016….

drupa 2016 Expert Article Series and more
Can be found in our Drupa Newsroom via the Index on the Home Page.

Most recent…   Digital versus traditional packaging print
Touch the future. Drupa Expert Article No 8 by Michael Seidl, publisher and editor-in-chief of various specialist publications in Central and Eastern Europe including Print & Publishing, Packaging and Visual Communication….

drupa 2016 News from Messe Düsseldorf

Most recent…   3rd drupa Global Trends Report: Optimism for growth in 2016
With just weeks to go before drupa 2016 opens, the results of the third drupa Global Trends report have now been published…

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

FESPA Federation News in 2016

Continued success for exhibitors at FESPA Eurasia 2016
FESPA Eurasia 2016, to be held from 8 – 11 December, CNR Expo, Istanbul, is beginning to take shape…

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

Antalis South Africa, Canon SA, Dainippon Screen,  Drupa 2016,  EFI, Esko,  FESPA. Goss International Inc,  Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG,  HP Graphic Solutions,  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< /a>-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, graphicrepro.net, PO Box 10 Peterburgskoe Shosse 13/1, 196605 Pushkin 5, St. Petersburg, Russia.  e-mail graphicrepro.za@gmail.com