The AutoRegister, presented at last year’s Drupa, is now commercially available and costs from £36,000. It can be used with Kama’s ProCut range of die-cutters to tighten up on accuracy in cutting, creasing and other finishing operations in digital printing. Kama originally developed the AutoRegister for its ProCut53 die-cutter for the common format of 530x400mm. But it has adapted it further to cater for other sheet sizes including the B2 format 760x600mm, ProDigi 76 die-cutters, and models that hot foil stamp. “This has an accuracy of 0.1mm,” said John Harrison, sales manager for the converting division at Friedheim International, which is the sole distributor for the UK and Ireland. “Sometimes trade finishers are asked to foil stamp an image and that image constantly moves.” He said in contrast to conventional post-press machines, which aligned the sheet along the sheet edges, the AutoRegister positioned each sheet individually based on the actual print image. The kit also costs less than any other alternative register system from competitors, he said. “A camera detects small deviations in the position of the print image relative to the sheet edges. Servo motors correct the sheet position and move the sheet into the gripper with an accuracy of 0.1mm. Cuts, creases and finishing effects can now be applied very precisely.” Kama managing director Marcus Tralau said the system opened up new business opportunities in commercial print and short-run cartons: “Customers can now integrate the system into their digital workflow and get more value-added in-house benefits thanks to the new finishing options. “Sheets which are cut after printing can now also be finished with the same high registration accuracy. This can mean significant cost savings in printing, especially when material utilisation is optimised with multiple blanks per...

Meganews vending machines have internet access and can print more than 200 magazines and journals in real time. Titles spool off a Ricoh Pro C751 digital press and the tech is being trialled in airports and supermarkets in Sweden, said a spokeswoman for the manufacturer. “It takes only two minutes from making a purchase until a freshly printed magazine drops down the hatch,” she said. “The solution reduces publishers’ costs for distribution and logistics. It is also more environmentally responsible, as it saves transportation. She said the spec of the kit used for the vending machine was no different from existing Pro C751s and print was no less glossy. The machine uses vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers for 4,800dpi images on chemical toner. The process involves oil-less technology. “The printing technology inside is currently the Ricoh Pro C751,” she explained. “Ricoh has met the needs of Meganews to ensure the printer fits inside along with the finishing, but the specification and product is the same. “When you choose publication you receive exactly the same content as the printed versions in shops. Maybe the stock of the paper will vary. An interesting concept for consumers is they can buy archived magazines or special editions, as these are stored on the system.” She added: “They are looking at expanding beta sites to other areas where there is potential good footfall. This may include the UK but at present there are no further details. The kit is integrated within the system but the spec of the product has not changed.” The idea is the brainchild of Swedish journalist Lars Adaktusson, his brother Hans, and their company Meganews Sweden. Ricoh supplied the technology, while Sweco created the software, card terminal and screens, and LA + B designed the stand. Ricoh said a survey carried out by Swedish research institute Innventia for Meganews found fossil greenhouse gases generated during the life cycle of a magazine printed in a kiosk were around 60% lower against conventional print and distribution. “This is because 40 per cent of traditionally printed journals are not sold, must be returned and go to recycling. Some of Sweden’s leading publishers are taking part such as Bonnier Tidskrifter, Aller Media, Albinson & Sjöberg, LRF Media, IDG, Talentum and Medströms.” Tommy Segelberg, director of Nordic operations’ production printing business group at Ricoh Sweden said: “Purchases are made on screen using a credit card, ensuring convenient and secure transactions.” Ricoh Europe director of business development Graham Moore said: “This product responds to the growing need for on-demand printing. It is also an example of true innovation and we are proud Ricoh’s leading technology is contributing to magazine production of the...

Meganews vending machines have internet access and can print more than 200 magazines and journals in real time. Titles spool off a Ricoh Pro C751 digital press and the tech is being trialled in airports and supermarkets in Sweden, said a spokeswoman for the manufacturer. “It takes only two minutes from making a purchase until a freshly printed magazine drops down the hatch,” she said. “The solution reduces publishers’ costs for distribution and logistics. It is also more environmentally responsible, as it saves transportation. She said the spec of the kit used for the vending machine was no different from existing Pro C751s and print was no less glossy. The machine uses vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers for 4,800dpi images on chemical toner. The process involves oil-less technology. “The printing technology inside is currently the Ricoh Pro C751,” she explained. “Ricoh has met the needs of Meganews to ensure the printer fits inside along with the finishing, but the specification and product is the same. “When you choose publication you receive exactly the same content as the printed versions in shops. Maybe the stock of the paper will vary. An interesting concept for consumers is they can buy archived magazines or special editions, as these are stored on the system.” She added: “They are looking at expanding beta sites to other areas where there is potential good footfall. This may include the UK but at present there are no further details. The kit is integrated within the system but the spec of the product has not changed.” The idea is the brainchild of Swedish journalist Lars Adaktusson, his brother Hans, and their company Meganews Sweden. Ricoh supplied the technology, while Sweco created the software, card terminal and screens, and LA + B designed the stand. Ricoh said a survey carried out by Swedish research institute Innventia for Meganews found fossil greenhouse gases generated during the life cycle of a magazine printed in a kiosk were around 60% lower against conventional print and distribution. “This is because 40 per cent of traditionally printed journals are not sold, must be returned and go to recycling. Some of Sweden’s leading publishers are taking part such as Bonnier Tidskrifter, Aller Media, Albinson & Sjöberg, LRF Media, IDG, Talentum and Medströms.” Tommy Segelberg, director of Nordic operations’ production printing business group at Ricoh Sweden said: “Purchases are made on screen using a credit card, ensuring convenient and secure transactions.” Ricoh Europe director of business development Graham Moore said: “This product responds to the growing need for on-demand printing. It is also an example of true innovation and we are proud Ricoh’s leading technology is contributing to magazine production of the...

Scotland’s health minister Michael Matheson said it was disappointing that the UK government had decided not to take action on the standardised packaging of tobacco products. He added: “The Scottish government remains committed to introducing standardised packaging, given the strong evidence to support the impact it will have on preventing young people from starting to smoke. “We will now identify an appropriate timescale to introduce legislation on standardised packaging to the Scottish Parliament.” It follows UK health minister Jeremy Hunt’s announcement last week that the government would delay any plans to ban company branding on tobacco packaging until it has seen the impact of similar action in Australia, where plain packaging legislation has been in place since November 2011. In a written statement published alongside the government’s long-awaited Consultation on the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products, Hunt said: “Having carefully considered these differing views, the government has decided to wait until the emerging impact of the decision in Australia can be measured before we make a final decision on this policy in England.” In March, Scotland launched a tobacco control strategy making it the third country in the world to set an ultimate target of becoming tobacco-free and having less than 5% the population choosing to smoke by 2034. The strategy also included a commitment for the introduction of standardised packaging and education programmes to prevent young people from starting to smoke. Mike Ridgway who fronts a lobby group of UK packaging firms, said that last week’s announcement from the Scottish government suggested more thought is also needed north of the border. “All they have done is said they are thinking about a timescale. Who knows how long that might be? I’m sure they are committed but they are thinking about the practicalities. “How easy is it going to be if everything in Scotland has to have a different packaging design on it than south of the border? I think that would be a serious problem for retailers.” Institute of Packaging Professionals managing director Kevin Vyse said that both governments need to carry out more research before changes are made. He added: “There needs to be more in-depth data. We live in a world where branding plays a huge role and we need to properly look at how this would impact such an industry and all those businesses involved in it. “Changing to standardised packaging won’t stop smokers and in fact it is our belief that the gruesome pictures and lack of branding could in fact encourage a sort of cult behaviour with younger smokers. “I don’t think this is as much to do with waiting for evidence from Australia, where I don’t think there is much evidence yet,...

The new model, which sells for around £120,000, replaces Special Binding Service’s previous Autobond Mini 105 laminator, which was destroyed by smoke and water in an inferno last year. The new kit in Brisbane outputs 10,000 sheet per hour B1. Autobond managing director John Gilmore said: “The old kit was about five years old and we moved heaven and Earth to get the new machine there; it’s a 10-week shipping time. What makes this model stand out is it’s really fast, very productive. Makeready takes five minutes.” Mini 105 mark II is a 105cm x 76cm landscape laminator with a maximum operating speed of 60m per minute. It utilises a Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 feed head and is fitted with an optional perfector to laminate two sides in one pass. It also features a stacker. “Special Binding Service has shown real character to bounce back from last year’s setback,” said Gilmore. “Australia is consistently proving to be one of our best markets for laminators. Because of the vast distances, it is essential to have reliable and versatile machinery.” Special Binding Service is a full finishing house for printers offering binding and lamination of book covers and posters. Production manager Warren Swinburne went to Drupa to replace the company’s production line. Tom Ralph, managing director of Australian agent Graph-Pak said: “Autobond is renowned across the Australasian markets for producing great build quality machines that are powerful, easy to use, and that can help expand a company’s business.”...