Architect’s sketch of the new demo centre for digital and flexographic presses at KBA’s headquarters in Würzburg. — Nine months before the official ceremony to mark the 200th anniversary of Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) in September 2017, the foundations were laid in January at the company’s Würzburg parent plant.
Graphic Repro On-line News Review to Friday 17 March 2017
Welcome to this week’s news roundup with another 30 from the past week, Laurel Brunner’s latest Verdigris Blog on digital printing for packaging; the latest Wild Format Technology Guide from Paul Lindström; and three new Online Features from KBA featuring sheetfed in both medium and large-format, as well as enhanced waterless web offset at Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei in Düsseldorf. (We’re catching up after communications glitch with KBA).
Lots of pre-show news among this weeks headlines with Canon Europe with a brand new machine debut, as well as EFI and Zünd at FESPA 2017 on Monday; Ricoh Europe with wide- and large-format inkjet, and Sun Chemical on Wednesday; and Mimaki Europe and Neschen on Friday. FESPA takes place in Hamburg from 8 – 12 May. Other major event coverage appears for Xeikon Café on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, set to take place from 28 – 31 March in Lier, Belgium; while on Thursday, Sappi Packaging and Speciality Papers led the headlines as they announced their plans to present unique possibilities for new packaging concepts at Interpack 2017, taking place from 4 to 10 May in Düsseldorf.
On Tuesday, Sun Chemical announced that it will exhibit at Metpack from 2 – 6 May in Essen just 36km down the road from Dusseldorf, at the same time as Interpack which doesn’t make much sense to me. On Wednesday we have Graphispag in Barcelona, from 21 – 24 March; and lastly on Thursday from the OE-A as it presents the most innovative ideas and outlooks in a competition for members from the organic and printed electronics sectors at LOPEC 2017 in Munich, taking place on 28 and 29 March.
On Tuesday you will find interesting lead comment from Gareth Ward on Kodak, as it slowly edges towards the sale of its Prosper inkjet operation; while on Thursday, Koenig & Bauer announced the official construction start for its new digital and flexographic demo centre in Würzburg to commemorate its 200th Anniversary, as part of euro 6 million site upgrade.
There are a number of nice recent sales and installations this week, beginning with Manroland Sheetfed on Monday at AIIM. Tuesday saw Revista in Brazil with Eversify; KBA large-format sheetfed at DS Smith in Erlensee; KBA again on Thursday as it moves a high-spec Compacta 518 web offset press from Belgium to St. Petersburg in Russia; and on Friday, Heidelberg UK at Woking printer Optichrome, which has installed two high speed Versafire CP digital presses to replace Xerox machines. This was followed by KBA in the UK as it installs a Rapida 106 6-colour with coater at Offset Printing and Packaging in Kent; and lastly, H Heenemann in Berlin with a Muller Martini Finishing 4.0 solution, the Vareo perfect binder, as the ideal solution to handle digital print in shorter runs as it gears for the future with fast-changing market requirements.
The news doesn’t end there as there are still a number of excellent articles I haven’t mentioned. You’ll find them all if you scroll down carefully… including new software; the BPIF with Apprentices; Flint with global price increases for inks and varnishes; then Canon Europe as it offers a first step into professional-level application versatility with more finishing options.
Lastly, news on Friday as one of our long-standing friends, James Matthews-Paul, is appointed as IPEX 2017 Content Curator. James has already signed the London College of Fashion for a printed fashion catwalk as an early sign of radical changes that could follow, from an extrovert but very clever, passionate and dedicated industry analyst and journalist who always thinks outside the box. James is also of a younger generation with refreshing perspectives, which IPEX definitely needs after its last showing in London.
Our tailender once again serves to remind you of the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open taking place in Cape Town in May, with South Africa’s Reinard Schuhknecht gearing up for his eleventh consecutive appearance in the popular competition – in Thursday’s headlines.
That’s it until next time.
My best regards,
Mike Hilton
e-News comprises: Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative and Wild Format Technology Guides from Digital Dots, and our Drupa and Newsroom, all of which can be accessed from the Website Home Page and its Index. We also have News in Review, which provides a weekly overview and listing of all news added to the site in the prior week.
Headline News
Almost 29,000 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 page
Week beginning Mon 13 March – date published also appears in article footline
Monday
Océ Colorado roll-to-roll printer to debut at FESPA 2017
Canon Europe’s expanded range of wide-format solutions with FESPA 2017 Hamburg launch of new 1625mm Océ Colorado…
EFI’s new Vutek 3r and 5r printers at FESPA
To set new benchmark in speed, resolution and automated finishing / productivity for signage and graphics…
Zünd at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg from 8 – 12 May
The FESPA show will put into focus the modularity and the diverse uses of Zünd digital cutting systems…
Focus on the new KBA RotaJET L and VL series at HID
KBA at the Hunkeler Innovation Days 2017 in Lucerne with the RotaJET L inkjet web press in live production…
Avant Imaging installs Manroland R706PLV HiPrint
AIIM’s decade-long partnership with Manroland Sheetfed continues to spur growth and attract new business…
Tuesday
Clarke pleads patience as Prosper deal still hangs
Kodak is slowly balancing the books, and just as slowly edging towards the sale of its Prosper inkjet operation. By Gareth Ward…
Revista and Eversify begin mobile publishing journey
Brazil based Revista Publish has embraced the world of automated mobile publishing after investing in Eversify…
KBA large-format for new DS Smith facility in Erlensee
A new high-speed 17,000sph six-colour Rapida 145 with inline coating unit for display and consumer packaging…
Sun Chemical at this year’s Metpack from 2 – 6 May
Sun Chemical to showcase extensive portfolio of metal decorating solutions at Metpack 2017 in Essen, Germany…
Bograma at the Xeikon Café 28 to 31 March
The Swiss manufacturer will demonstrate creative power of die-cut finishing with digital print in Lier later this month…
Wednesday
Ricoh wide-format and large-format at FESPA 2017
Ricoh supports new market moves for print service providers at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg, including direct-to-garment…
Sun Chemical at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg
Sun Chemical to showcase full portfolio of inks for screen, industrial and inkjet printing and for printed electronics…
New Solution to exhibit at Graphispag in Barcelona
New Solution to showcase new range of label and corrugated packaging printers at Graphispag Barcelona 21 – 24 March…
AVT boosts inspection efficiency at the Xeikon Café
Helios Turbo HD will show advanced real-time digital print inspection and process control in Lier from 28 – 31 March…
Sawgrass’ Virtuoso Print Manager breaks new ground
Sawgrass’ new Virtuoso Print Manager is the first universal print software for all Virtuoso HD Product Decorating Systems…
Thursday
Sappi: Innovative, sustainable packaging solutions
Sappi Packaging and Speciality Papers to present unique possibilities for new packaging concepts at Interpack 2017…
KBA’s new digital and flexographic press showroom
Koenig & Bauer builds new demo centre in Würzburg to commemorate its 200th Anniversary as part of euro 6 million site upgrade…
BPIF celebrates National Apprenticeship Week
The BPIF celebrated with a visit to Jaguar Land Rover, a Letterpress workshop and second edition of Apprentice Newsletter…
From vision to product at LOPEC 2017 in Munich
OE-A presents the most innovative ideas and outlooks in competition for members from organic and printed electronics sectors…
The 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open
South Africa’s Reinard Schuhknecht gears up for his eleventh Canon South African Disabled Golf Open in Cape Town…
Flint announces inks and varnishes price increases
Flint Group announces global price increases of between 4% – 7% for its Packaging, Narrow Web and Sheetfed products…
KBA Compacta 518 moving from Belgium to Russia
Special web width for Deviz in St. Petersburg, one of the largest and most experienced printing companies in Western Russia…
Friday
Xeikon Café announces final conference programmes
Xeikon Café conference programmes and the live production scheme of innovative digital print applications. From 28 – 31 March…
Mimaki Europe bigger than ever at FESPA 2017
Mimaki Europe has two stands: one dedicated to textiles, the other to Sign & Display, Industrial Print and 3D…
Neschen Coating at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg
Neschen will exhibit a large number of new products and innovations at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg, from 8 to 12 May…
IPEX 2017 aims for new horizons with JM-P as Content Curator
James Matthews-Paul appointed IPEX 2017 Content Curator. Signs London College of Fashion for printed fashion catwalk…
Canon adds new entry-level imagePRESS C650
Canon offers a first step into professional-level application versatility with more professional finishing options…
Optichrome pumps up the volume with two Versafire CPs
Woking printer Optichrome has installed two high speed Versafire CP digital presses from Heidelberg UK, replacing Xerox Versants…
Offset Printing and Packaging invests in KBA Rapida 106
KBA Rapida 106 6-colour with coater bound for Kent, as Offset Printing and Packaging prepares for the future…
Muller Martini Vareo paves the way for Heenemann’s future
For H Heenemann in Berlin the Muller Martini Vareo perfect binder is the ideal solution to handle digital print and shorter runs…
The lead articles from a week last Friday…
KBA at Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf from 4 – 10 May
Marking and print solutions for the most diverse forms of packaging at this year’s Interpack in Düsseldorf, on a joint stand in Hall 12…
The Inkjet Conference 2017: The first programme details
The world’s biggest inkjet event, TheIJC returns to take place 24 – 25 October 2017 in Swissôtel Düsseldorf…
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, folding and finishing, and consumables. with offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.
drupa 2020 (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’. Visit the drupa 2020 Website.You should also visit blog.drupa.comfor the very latest industry news and developments.
Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017
Only 49 articles for last year – but you will find another eleven Expert Articles and ten drupa ante portas Blogs from Andreas Weber in our drupa Newsroom. There were over 70 last year, and over 90 in 2013 and in 2014 which can still be accessed via the Index on the Home Page.
Value Dialogueexclusive Interview series
An important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital printing!
‘We keep our promises: sustainable industrial production with premium quality digital printing.’ – Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. Interview by Andreas Weber…
Online Features Mar/Apr Chapter 04
Elegant printed products in waterless coldset at RBD
Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei invests in a further varnishing unit for the waterless KBA Cortina in Düsseldorf…
De Groot’s new KBA Rapida 106 replaces two machines
An eight-colour KBA Rapida 106 with simultaneous plate changing joins the production facility in Goudriaan, the Netherlands…
KBA large-format for new DS Smith facility in Erlensee
A new high-speed 17,000sph six-colour Rapida 145 with inline coating unit for display and consumer packaging…
KBA at Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf from 4 – 10 May
Marking and print solutions for the most diverse forms of packaging at this year’s Interpack in Düsseldorf, on a joint stand in Hall 12…
Verdigris – Environmental Initiative
Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017
Digital Printing for Packaging
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 17 Mar
Thai Forest Certification Scheme
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 03 Mar
Technology Guides – from Digital Dots
Technology Guides for Wild Format 2016 – 2017
This is the brand new series for 2016 – 2017. All have illustrated PDFs to download.
No 24 Calibration & Device Profiling – Intro
While a surprising number of prepress operators and designers still spend a huge amount of time and materials ‘trying to get the colours right’, this should really be a quite straight forward process today. By Paul Lindström…
No 23 How Printing Companies Can Improve Output Quality
Most wide format printing engines have the potential to produce excellent output quality, both in terms of resolution and colour gamut. By Paul Lindström
Drupa Newsroom
Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index. It is divided into Chapters for your convenience… but you must scroll down to view each Chapter and its content when you visit the Newsroom…
News from Messe Düsseldorf
Out soon: 4th drupa Global trends Report 2017
General confidence amongst printers and suppliers for 2017 but mixed fortunes for markets and regions alike…
The various Chapters in the drupa Newsroom are highlighted below. When you enter, just scroll down to see and access the complete collection::
drupa daily; drupa Exhibitors’ show + post-show News; drupa pre-show Exhibitor news; post-drupa from Messe Düsseldorf; drupa ante portas Blogs from Andreas Weber; drupa Expert Articles – and more
The Graphic Repro On-line Website is supported and sponsored by:
Canon SA, Screen Europe, Drupa 2020, Esko, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Kemtek Imaging Systems, Leonhard Kurz Stiftung, Manroland Web Systems GmbH, Ricoh Europe, Sappi Limited 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.
Our Website urls are:
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
”It seems to me that Heidelberg has played an important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital printing.“ 