Fespa managing director Neil Felton said the strapline for the wide-format show’s sixth outing captured the same “spirit of adventure and innovation” used in previous Fespa Digital campaigns and was particularly apt for printers heading into 2014. Felton said: “In a market where technology is becoming more mature, many of the visitors to our Digital events have already reaped the early benefits from the transition from analogue to digital. “Now they are making second – or third – generation digital investments or upgrades, increasing digital capacity, and adding workflow software or finishing equipment to enhance the capabilities, productivity and functionality of their digital output equipment. “FESPA Digital 2014 will reflect this evolution, offering a high-calibre educational programme that probes beyond the initial benefits of the digital ‘revolution’, helping visitors discover more about how digital technology can help them add new capabilities and services.” The multi-channel campaign will include social media activity across Fespa’s twitter, facebook, linkedin and youtuber channels. The heart of the campaign will be the event website fespadigital.com, which has gone live today. The sixth edition of the FESPA Digital event will take place at Messe Munich, Germany, from 20 to 23 May 2014....

The Gloucester-based printer will install a new Speedmaster XL 75-4+LX this Christmas, its second XL 75 press, and has opted for an electric metering system on the new machine, allowing it to measure the kilowatts used in production and by extension the amount of carbon produced. The company, which holds ISO 140001, FSC and PEFC environmental certifications, said the latest press would have a 20% reduction in energy usage but up to 40% improvement in productivity over the Speedmaster CD 74 it will replace. Alpha Colour prints greetings cards, signs, business cards and brochures in runs from 50 to 1m and also handles finishing, storage and distribution from its site. In-house finishing helps meet response requirements and cuts down on transport. Energy saving comes from reducing the configuration of the press from five to four units and using DryStar 3000 dryer technology. The wash-up chemistry used on this press is also reduced. Sustainability was crucial, said operations director Dave Oldfield. “With clients such as councils and the NHS we can run a job and tell them how much carbon it uses. More and more customers are interested in carbon and this function is a key attribute in winning new contracts and tenders. We hope it will put us a step ahead of the rest.” The new machine will mop up jobs not handled by its existing Speedmaster XL 75-5 to double Alpha Colour’s litho capacity. Axis Control spectral measurement enhances quality, cuts makeready times and reduces both start up and running waste. Managing director Jeff Williams, who is passing more responsibility to operations director Dave Oldfield, technical director Richard Butt and his wife and sales director Maggie Williams, said: “Succession planning is important and the time is right for me to make way for others.” Oldfield said about 85% of work was litho although Alpha Colour has three digital machines at its plant including Mimaki large-format kit and a Ricoh Pro C901S. The new Heidelberg, with its environmental features, is expected to save not just electricity but paper and chemistry costs....

The Uvistar Pro8W, which is being given its worldwide debut in North America this week, will be available in Europe in the first half of next year, with Fespa Digital 2014 in May a likely launchpad. The Pro8W is available in 3.5m and 5m widths and can print up to 350sqm/hr on an array of media, including rigid, flexible, backlit or block-out and can print roll-to-roll, free fall or roll-to-sheet. It is fitted with two white ink channels across eight dedicated print heads and uses Fujifilm’s Uvijet QN inks, which include CMYK, Lc, Lm and Lk. Fujifilm Europe said that European pricing and availability for the Pro8W had yet to be finalised, although its predecessor cost from £212,000 (including flatbed option). White ink can be layered over or under the CMYK image and can also be used as a spot colour. Another new addition to the machine is a block-out sensor option, which Fujifilm said allows precise registration of opaque media to ensure consistent results, with a maximum deviation of 5mm over 10m. Fujifilm said that the sensor was intended to simplify the printing of two-sided banners for less-experienced operators. Meanwhile inline slitters allow media to be cut to size, reducing the need for off-line finishing. Jeffrey Nelson, business development manager, inkjet solutions, Fujifilm North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division, said: “The Uvistar family continues to expand its capabilities every year. The Pro8 with white is a feature our customers have been requesting, and we are pleased to be able to deliver. “With its automation of rigid media handling, two-sided printing, and in-line finishing, it’s an operator’s dream machine.” The Uvistar Pro8W is being debuted at SGIA 2013 this week....

Up to 20 free places are available to commercial print owners or directors at each of the five events run in conjunction with Print Future. Key focus areas will be business planning, production efficiency, sales and business development, and adding new services. Konica Minolta production printing market development manager Mark Hinder said: “There will be no kit or technology; we are not trying to sell anything but give advice on business, marketing and sales and how to remove costs. The whole programme is geared around their businesses. “We want to teach them what to do to to embrace new ways in the market place. We will give them the tools to make a mini business plan and look at whether they survey customers, how they market themselves and who to, how they train sales people and how they grow business.” The initiative follows on from the Digital 1234 business development training Konica Minolta launched at Drupa 2012 and will underpin a similar training initiative the manufacturer is working on for next year’s Ipex. Follow-up sessions will take place to see how individuals implemented what they learned at the workshops, said Hinder. The workshops will take place at: St Brides in London on 12 November; in Bristol on 19 November; Nottingham on 26 November; Warrington on 3 December; and Livingston, Scotland, on 11 December. Case studies and other good-business examples will be part of the programme. Hinder said: “These events will help enable printers to determine their future growth strategies and opportunities through identifying key priorities. This isn’t about investing in technology and solutions, it’s about knowing how the market will adapt and what to plan for.” BPIF chief executive Kathy Woodward said: “It is really positive to see the whole supply chain coming together to harness the undoubted opportunities of the quickly changing digital arena.”...

Up to 20 free places are available to commercial print owners or directors at each of the five events run in conjunction with Print Future. Key focus areas will be business planning, production efficiency, sales and business development, and adding new services. Konica Minolta production printing market development manager Mark Hinder said: “There will be no kit or technology; we are not trying to sell anything but give advice on business, marketing and sales and how to remove costs. The whole programme is geared around their businesses. “We want to teach them what to do to to embrace new ways in the market place. We will give them the tools to make a mini business plan and look at whether they survey customers, how they market themselves and who to, how they train sales people and how they grow business.” The initiative follows on from the Digital 1234 business development training Konica Minolta launched at Drupa 2012 and will underpin a similar training initiative the manufacturer is working on for next year’s Ipex. Follow-up sessions will take place to see how individuals implemented what they learned at the workshops, said Hinder. The workshops will take place at: St Brides in London on 12 November; in Bristol on 19 November; Nottingham on 26 November; Warrington on 3 December; and Livingston, Scotland, on 11 December. Case studies and other good-business examples will be part of the programme. Hinder said: “These events will help enable printers to determine their future growth strategies and opportunities through identifying key priorities. This isn’t about investing in technology and solutions, it’s about knowing how the market will adapt and what to plan for.” BPIF chief executive Kathy Woodward said: “It is really positive to see the whole supply chain coming together to harness the undoubted opportunities of the quickly changing digital arena.”...