The 37-storey building at 20 Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, hit the headlines this week after it emerged that a car had been badly-damaged by the concentrated beam created as the sun reflects off its curved surface. Business owners in the area have also reported damage to their properties and even small fires. Developers Land Securities and Canary Wharf are proposing to erect a scaffolding screen at street level as a quick fix, however printing industry experts have suggested a print-based option would be the ideal long-term solution for the problem. Nick Kapp, business development manager at Reading-based large-format graphics specialist VGL said: “There’s quite an easy solution to this, put a giant graphic on it and change it regularly!” Kapp added that it would be possible to create a subtle effect: “By using a Contra Vision product people inside would still be able to see out. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be an advert, even if you just printed it grey it would work – it could be a printed colour or texture.” Adam Mcmonagle, technical operations and marketing specialist at Macro Art in St Neots suggested the application of a low-reflective vinyl film, or even a mesh. “They could use a mesh screen, perhaps a little bit offset from the building, at that particular point.” Roland Hill, managing director at specialist see-through graphics technology developer Contra Vision, which holds a number of patents for the technique, added: “This could have been avoided by using Contra Vision in the first place. Because Contra Vision is made with ink, the reflection is diffused – it’s multi-directional. “It’s going to depend on the specific nature of the problem, and will require careful appraisal of the angles involved to find the right long-term solution,” Hill said. The skyscraper had been nicknamed the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ because of its shape, and has now been dubbed the ‘Walkie-Scorchie’ instead....

The large-format imager for high-volume flexo platemaking exposes plates of up to 1.3x2m (50x80in), and is suitable for wide-web applications, such as flexible and cardboard packaging. The Thermoflexx 80 is the largest in the range, which also comprises the 18, 20, 30, 48 and 60 models. The device offers a range of a resolutions including 2,400, 2,540, 4,000, 4,800 and 5,080dpi. At maximum resolution it can image 3.75sqm/hr, although the manufacturer added that upgrades, available from the beginning of 2014, will enable the platesetter to image significantly faster. Other key features, designed to reduce plate manipulation, include a new automatic plate clamping system to simplify plate loading and unloading, meanwhile plates can either be held in place by vacuum or magnetically. The need to cut plates to fit a dedicated vacuum zone has been eliminated because the Thermoflexx 80 is built with a vacuum slider to provide greater flexibility of plate width. Xeikon’s prepress director of sales and marketing Christophe Lievens said the device offered unique quality. “With this device and the option of 5,080dpi, we are offering a very high quality for the flexo printing industry. If high resolution is required, it is possible to switch between two resolutions at any time. “The flexo printing industry is, just like the entire printing industry, a very competitive business and printers need to differentiate in order to be better. This is what we put a lot of focus on; we produce equipment which helps our customers to become more competitive. The new features we are introducing on our Thermoflexx equipment offer our customer flexibility, quality, productivity and cost efficiency,” he added. Lievens said that price would be dependent on configuration and commercial availablity was expected from December. The Thermoflexx 80 will be demonstrated for the first time at Labelexpo on 24-27 September, where visitors will also be able to see the results of Xeikon’s recently launched dry ICE toner for digital label presses. Also currently in development is Xeikon’s Trillium liquid toner, which was first announced at Drupa 2012. In an update in July, the manufacturer said development was on schedule and that the first beta sites would be up and running from spring 2014, with commercial availability expected in the US around six months later....

The large-format imager for high-volume flexo platemaking exposes plates of up to 1.3x2m (50x80in), and is suitable for wide-web applications, such as flexible and cardboard packaging. The Thermoflexx 80 is the largest in the range, which also comprises the 18, 20, 30, 48 and 60 models. The device offers a range of a resolutions including 2,400, 2,540, 4,000, 4,800 and 5,080dpi. At maximum resolution it can image 3.75sqm/hr, although the manufacturer added that upgrades, available from the beginning of 2014, will enable the platesetter to image significantly faster. Other key features, designed to reduce plate manipulation, include a new automatic plate clamping system to simplify plate loading and unloading, meanwhile plates can either be held in place by vacuum or magnetically. The need to cut plates to fit a dedicated vacuum zone has been eliminated because the Thermoflexx 80 is built with a vacuum slider to provide greater flexibility of plate width. Xeikon’s prepress director of sales and marketing Christophe Lievens said the device offered unique quality. “With this device and the option of 5,080dpi, we are offering a very high quality for the flexo printing industry. If high resolution is required, it is possible to switch between two resolutions at any time. “The flexo printing industry is, just like the entire printing industry, a very competitive business and printers need to differentiate in order to be better. This is what we put a lot of focus on; we produce equipment which helps our customers to become more competitive. The new features we are introducing on our Thermoflexx equipment offer our customer flexibility, quality, productivity and cost efficiency,” he added. Lievens said that price would be dependent on configuration and commercial availablity was expected from December. The Thermoflexx 80 will be demonstrated for the first time at Labelexpo on 24-27 September, where visitors will also be able to see the results of Xeikon’s recently launched dry ICE toner for digital label presses. Also currently in development is Xeikon’s Trillium liquid toner, which was first announced at Drupa 2012. In an update in July, the manufacturer said development was on schedule and that the first beta sites would be up and running from spring 2014, with commercial availability expected in the US around six months later....

The Books Are My Bag campaign was launched in April at The London Book Fair, but kicks off in earnest with a Big Bookshop Party on Saturday 14 September. This will see bookshops around the country hold readings, competitions and author events, and distribute Books are My Bag canvas bags. The campaign is calling on book lovers to show their support by purchasing a book on 14 September from their local bookshop. Further events will be held in the run up to Christmas, with over a quarter of a million bags distributed from 14 September to Christmas at over 1,800 chain and independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland. “The campaign is really designed to make people aware of the importance of the bookshop in our high streets and campuses and also of the role the bookseller plays in the community,” said Tim Godfray, chief executive officer at the Booksellers Association, one of the organisations collaborating on the campaign. “It’s not just about selling books, it’s also about promoting reading and improving literacy.” Also collaborating on the campaign is advertising agency M&C Saatchi, the Publishers Association and the Society of Authors. It has so far been endorsed by a wide range of authors, publishers and retailers including creator of the Horrid Henry childrens books Francesca Simon, publishers Random House and Penguin, and Waterstones and WH Smith. Rumoured to be among the around 100 high profile individuals supporting the campaign, are Jamie Oliver, Mariella Frostrup, Bill Nighy and Delia Smith. A full list, with accompanying images of the celebs sporting campaign bags, will be revealed on 14 September. Several UK printers, including Clays and CPI, have also expressed support. Alison Kaye, UK group sales director at CPI said: “CPI is naturally very supportive of any initiative that puts the spotlight on books and helps bookshops to flourish. Well over half of consumer book buying decisions are made in a bookshop, so the high street is vital to the entire publishing industry. The Books Are My Bag campaign will encourage everyone to share their passion for books, which is good for us all.” Highlighting the need for such an initiative, the Books Are My Bag campaign points to the fact that 88% of British book buyers are concerned there are fewer bookshops on the high streets than five years ago. Godfray said: “Our bookshops have been under a lot of pressure in the last few years because of the way consumers are altering their buying patterns, and I think it’s important to remind consumers they have a real role to play.” He added: “It’s not really a question of the high street bookshop being only a champion of the printed book,...

The Books Are My Bag campaign was launched in April at The London Book Fair, but kicks off in earnest with a Big Bookshop Party on Saturday 14 September. This will see bookshops around the country hold readings, competitions and author events, and distribute Books are My Bag canvas bags. The campaign is calling on book lovers to show their support by purchasing a book on 14 September from their local bookshop. Further events will be held in the run up to Christmas, with over a quarter of a million bags distributed from 14 September to Christmas at over 1,800 chain and independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland. “The campaign is really designed to make people aware of the importance of the bookshop in our high streets and campuses and also of the role the bookseller plays in the community,” said Tim Godfray, chief executive officer at the Booksellers Association, one of the organisations collaborating on the campaign. “It’s not just about selling books, it’s also about promoting reading and improving literacy.” Also collaborating on the campaign is advertising agency M&C Saatchi, the Publishers Association and the Society of Authors. It has so far been endorsed by a wide range of authors, publishers and retailers including creator of the Horrid Henry childrens books Francesca Simon, publishers Random House and Penguin, and Waterstones and WH Smith. Rumoured to be among the around 100 high profile individuals supporting the campaign, are Jamie Oliver, Mariella Frostrup, Bill Nighy and Delia Smith. A full list, with accompanying images of the celebs sporting campaign bags, will be revealed on 14 September. Several UK printers, including Clays and CPI, have also expressed support. Alison Kaye, UK group sales director at CPI said: “CPI is naturally very supportive of any initiative that puts the spotlight on books and helps bookshops to flourish. Well over half of consumer book buying decisions are made in a bookshop, so the high street is vital to the entire publishing industry. The Books Are My Bag campaign will encourage everyone to share their passion for books, which is good for us all.” Highlighting the need for such an initiative, the Books Are My Bag campaign points to the fact that 88% of British book buyers are concerned there are fewer bookshops on the high streets than five years ago. Godfray said: “Our bookshops have been under a lot of pressure in the last few years because of the way consumers are altering their buying patterns, and I think it’s important to remind consumers they have a real role to play.” He added: “It’s not really a question of the high street bookshop being only a champion of the printed book,...