GMG launches CoZone Collaborate
The platform allows users to manage, review, proof and approve graphic arts content within an online Amazon Cloud Service-hosted soft-proofing environment. Multimedia file support will be offered by the end of the year. “It is cloud-based – there’s no software or hardware to install and users do not need anything more than a web browser. Unlike other solutions CoZone offers no restriction on user numbers, file sizes or even storage,” said product manager Marcus Wright. He added: “CoZone Collaborate has been developed from the ground up so it meets the needs of people looking for a cost-effective, scalable and easy-to-use system for collaborating, reviewing, proofing and approving media files prior to production.” While CoZone Collaborate provides a soft-proofing and approval toolkit, future GMG CoZone modules to be released will incorporate connections to GMG-calibrated hard-copy output devices for end-to-end workflow. “Consumers have embraced cloud-based solutions for the storage, management and retrieval of their data, be it music, photos, documents or films and they now want the same flexibility in the workplace,” said Wright. “The way that jobs are produced, and the growing expectations of customers, mean that the industry has to sit up and take note. Adopting a more distributed and collaborative methodology that exploits the clear benefits of the cloud when producing content means easier, faster and more streamlined output, which is good for the industry as a whole.”...
read moreCPI in major digital expansion
Last week CPI’s parent company changed ownership and restructured its debt when it was acquired by a new consortium of French investors. With the ownership situation resolved, the £112m turnover UK operation can now press on with the planned expansion of its short-run facilities, which will result in the creation of 20-30 new jobs and a 50-60% increase in its digital print capacity in the UK. It is installing a second HP T360 inkjet web at its Antony Rowe facility in Wiltshire. CPI brands its HP lines as ‘Quantum’ technology, and now has seven systems across Europe. The new press, a colour model, will be fitted with the Timson T-Fold from MPG’s King’s Lynn site. This is the first time CPI has configured one of its HP lines in this way. Francois Golicheff, CPI UK chief executive, said: “In the UK everything is going as planned, we have had quite a good year and gained market share and volume even though there is no Fifty Shades of Grey. “We had already decided to buy a second Quantum line, the equipment from MPG allows us to speed up the ramp-up,” he explained. “We are not doing things because of the demise of MPG, this is all part of our plan. It sits perfectly with the continuing market shift towards shorter, more frequent print runs.” CPI declined to put a figure on the spend, but said it was “a significant investment to support our customers”. It forms part of CPI’s £20m investment plan in the UK. In addition to the T-Fold, CPI is also buying the Kolbus KM600 binding system with sequential signature feeder, Kolbus BF casing in-line and DA 260 casemaking machines from MPG King’s Lynn. MPG’s collapse has resulted in a significant amount of new work for CPI UK. Chief operating officer Ian Browning-Smith said CPI had seen a big increase in volumes for the scientific, technical, medical and academic market (STMA), and in the amount of cased books it was producing. “We shared a large number of customers as the two largest STMA book printers. Instead of dual supply, or working with three or four printers, we’re finding that customers want to find a partner that has the right technology and can deliver large volumes,” he said. “Demand for hardback books is rising, publishers are investing more in those products, which is pleasing,” Browning-Smith added. The new kit will be installed over the next two months. CPI said it would be up and running in time for the traditionally busy pre-Christmas production period. CPI employs 980 staff in the UK....
read moreCPI in major digital expansion
Last week CPI’s parent company changed ownership and restructured its debt when it was acquired by a new consortium of French investors. With the ownership situation resolved, the £112m turnover UK operation can now press on with the planned expansion of its short-run facilities, which will result in the creation of 20-30 new jobs and a 50-60% increase in its digital print capacity in the UK. It is installing a second HP T360 inkjet web at its Antony Rowe facility in Wiltshire. CPI brands its HP lines as ‘Quantum’ technology, and now has seven systems across Europe. The new press, a colour model, will be fitted with the Timson T-Fold from MPG’s King’s Lynn site. This is the first time CPI has configured one of its HP lines in this way. Francois Golicheff, CPI UK chief executive, said: “In the UK everything is going as planned, we have had quite a good year and gained market share and volume even though there is no Fifty Shades of Grey. “We had already decided to buy a second Quantum line, the equipment from MPG allows us to speed up the ramp-up,” he explained. “We are not doing things because of the demise of MPG, this is all part of our plan. It sits perfectly with the continuing market shift towards shorter, more frequent print runs.” CPI declined to put a figure on the spend, but said it was “a significant investment to support our customers”. It forms part of CPI’s £20m investment plan in the UK. In addition to the T-Fold, CPI is also buying the Kolbus KM600 binding system with sequential signature feeder, Kolbus BF casing in-line and DA 260 casemaking machines from MPG King’s Lynn. MPG’s collapse has resulted in a significant amount of new work for CPI UK. Chief operating officer Ian Browning-Smith said CPI had seen a big increase in volumes for the scientific, technical, medical and academic market (STMA), and in the amount of cased books it was producing. “We shared a large number of customers as the two largest STMA book printers. Instead of dual supply, or working with three or four printers, we’re finding that customers want to find a partner that has the right technology and can deliver large volumes,” he said. “Demand for hardback books is rising, publishers are investing more in those products, which is pleasing,” Browning-Smith added. The new kit will be installed over the next two months. CPI said it would be up and running in time for the traditionally busy pre-Christmas production period. CPI employs 980 staff in the UK....
read moreVoting for the 2013 PrintWeek Power 100 opens
To have your say in deciding who are the print industry’s top players, simply click here and either vote for the luminaries listed or add the details of the person that you think should be ranked as one the industry’s most important individuals. Voting closes on Wednesday 14 August and the PrintWeek Power 100 will be published in the 19 August issue of the magazine. Vote here...
read moreVoting for the 2013 PrintWeek Power 100 opens
To have your say in deciding who are the print industry’s top players, simply click here and either vote for the luminaries listed or add the details of the person that you think should be ranked as one the industry’s most important individuals. Voting closes on Wednesday 14 August and the PrintWeek Power 100 will be published in the 19 August issue of the magazine. Vote here...
read moreRicoh expands digital press range
The Ricoh Pro 8100S, the Pro 8110S and the Pro 8120S are targeted at inplants, print-for-pay operations, digital printers and data centres. They will be commercially available in late August. “Demand for colour continues to grow but a productive, versatile monochrome press remains an essential asset for business-critical applications,” said executive vice president Peter Williams. “These include the transactional printing of bills, invoices, statements, trans-promotional materials and other variable data printing applications. The new machines will replace the Pro 907EXP, the Pro 1107EXP and the Pro 1357EXP and are based on the technology of the Pro C751 and C901 series. Prices will be released at commercial launch. Output speeds are up to 95, 110 and 135 pages per minute for the Pro 8100S, 8110s and 8120S models respectively and they have duty cycles of up to three million. The manufacturer said its laser technology provided a resolution of 1,200dpi x 4,800dpi from a 40-beam laser for better registration and more accurate fill for sharper text and smoother graphics. Additionally, mechanical registration meanwhile has been developed for the three machines to provide precise front-to-back registration alignment, compensating for media expansion and contraction during the duplexing process, which helps for postcards, glossy brochures or any other registration-critical two-sided document. The Pro 8100S series supports a range of inline finishing options, with booklet making, ring binder and perfect binder solutions. These include the GBC StreamPunch and Plockmatic Bookletmaker to ensure customisable inline finishing capabilities....
read moreNGS acquires PBC
According to Companies House NGS managing director Neil Sharp was appointed managing director of PBC on 11 July, the same day the Middlesex firm’s co-directors Reginald Walwyk and Yat Ng positions were terminated. Attempts by PrintWeek to contact Sharp directly by email and phone went unanswered. However in a letter seen by PrintWeek dated 11 July, from NGS managing director Neil Sharp to clients, the “amalgamated” businesses will trade with immediate effect under Purfect Binding Company although the intention is to re-brand the “whole company” within the first quarter of its trading. The letter states: “We will keep you informed of these changes as and when they happen, therefore all orders currently in hand will be invoiced through Purfect Binding Company and future orders will need to be addressed to and will be invoiced through Purfect Binding Company.” According to sources close to NGS, staff were notified a week ahead of the move from their Greenford, West London site to PBC’s Wembley facility. PrintWeek understands that the move is now complete. The letter explains that in addition to NGS’ existing plant list the new entity will acquire PBC’s 16-station Wohlenberg Master E Perfect Binder and a six-station Muller Martini with cover feeder and stacker, which will replace NGS’ older four-station model. It stated: “The experienced workforces of both PBC and NGS will join up and together we will guarantee to beat any genuine comparative Perfect/PUR Binding quotation. “We can now offer a wider and more comprehensive range of Print Finishing Services than any other company all under one roof 24/7, 360 days a year. “The obvious savings in time and money mean you, our valued client, will benefit from, not having to transport the work to different finishers for different processes as PBC can now complete ALL Finishing right through to Direct Mail Distribution and Despatch.” NGS Finishing Solutions was incorporated by Sharp in February 2011 a month ahead of his existing £6m-turnover company, NGS Print Finishers, falling into administration on 2 March owing £1.5m including around £700,000 to other finishers. The business was renamed Print Realisations 2011 while trading through administration and Sharp bought the assets of the business back through NGS Finishing Solutions for £275,000....
read moreRicoh expands digital press range
The Ricoh Pro 8100S, the Pro 8110S and the Pro 8120S are targeted at inplants, print-for-pay operations, digital printers and data centres. They will be commercially available in late August. “Demand for colour continues to grow but a productive, versatile monochrome press remains an essential asset for business-critical applications,” said executive vice president Peter Williams. “These include the transactional printing of bills, invoices, statements, trans-promotional materials and other variable data printing applications. The new machines will replace the Pro 907EXP, the Pro 1107EXP and the Pro 1357EXP and are based on the technology of the Pro C751 and C901 series. Prices will be released at commercial launch. Output speeds are up to 95, 110 and 135 pages per minute for the Pro 8100S, 8110s and 8120S models respectively and they have duty cycles of up to three million. The manufacturer said its laser technology provided a resolution of 1,200dpi x 4,800dpi from a 40-beam laser for better registration and more accurate fill for sharper text and smoother graphics. Additionally, mechanical registration meanwhile has been developed for the three machines to provide precise front-to-back registration alignment, compensating for media expansion and contraction during the duplexing process, which helps for postcards, glossy brochures or any other registration-critical two-sided document. The Pro 8100S series supports a range of inline finishing options, with booklet making, ring binder and perfect binder solutions. These include the GBC StreamPunch and Plockmatic Bookletmaker to ensure customisable inline finishing capabilities....
read moreNGS acquires PBC
According to Companies House NGS managing director Neil Sharp was appointed managing director of PBC on 11 July, the same day the Middlesex firm’s co-directors Reginald Walwyk and Yat Ng positions were terminated. Attempts by PrintWeek to contact Sharp directly by email and phone went unanswered. However in a letter seen by PrintWeek dated 11 July, from NGS managing director Neil Sharp to clients, the “amalgamated” businesses will trade with immediate effect under Purfect Binding Company although the intention is to re-brand the “whole company” within the first quarter of its trading. The letter states: “We will keep you informed of these changes as and when they happen, therefore all orders currently in hand will be invoiced through Purfect Binding Company and future orders will need to be addressed to and will be invoiced through Purfect Binding Company.” According to sources close to NGS, staff were notified a week ahead of the move from their Greenford, West London site to PBC’s Wembley facility. PrintWeek understands that the move is now complete. The letter explains that in addition to NGS’ existing plant list the new entity will acquire PBC’s 16-station Wohlenberg Master E Perfect Binder and a six-station Muller Martini with cover feeder and stacker, which will replace NGS’ older four-station model. It stated: “The experienced workforces of both PBC and NGS will join up and together we will guarantee to beat any genuine comparative Perfect/PUR Binding quotation. “We can now offer a wider and more comprehensive range of Print Finishing Services than any other company all under one roof 24/7, 360 days a year. “The obvious savings in time and money mean you, our valued client, will benefit from, not having to transport the work to different finishers for different processes as PBC can now complete ALL Finishing right through to Direct Mail Distribution and Despatch.” NGS Finishing Solutions was incorporated by Sharp in February 2011 a month ahead of his existing £6m-turnover company, NGS Print Finishers, falling into administration on 2 March owing £1.5m including around £700,000 to other finishers. The business was renamed Print Realisations 2011 while trading through administration and Sharp bought the assets of the business back through NGS Finishing Solutions for £275,000....
read moreInternational Paper exports Carolina to the UK
The American paper and packaging giant is using its exclusive distributor for UK and Ireland Warren Board Sales to stock its Carolina C1S and C2S grades in the UK. The move follows news last month that International Paper had renewed its exclusive contract with the Midlands-based distributor and was to increase its stock range. Carolina C1S and C2S are one- and two-sided coated boards, and can be used for greetings cards, book covers, direct marketing materials, brochures, catalogues and annual reports. C1S is available in weights from 180gsm to 350gsm, while C2S is available from 195gsm up to 465gsm. Carolina is known for its brightness and whiteness values and has good fade resistance, according to the manufacturer. The company said the current version of Carolina, sold in the US for five years, was suitable for high-end digital printers from the likes of Ricoh, Xerox, Canon, HP, Oce, Kodak and Konica Minolta. Carolina is PEFC, while the mill is FSC and Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified. International Paper commercial director for coated paperboard and recycled specialities Michael Krüger said Carolina provided consistent reproduction on any application. Warren Board Sales’ managing director Kieran Ferguson said: “We’ve already seen interest in these new products with the high brightness and whiteness levels catching the attention of most users.” In addition to Carolina, brands such as Everest (SBS), Arktika (GC1) and Alaska (GC2) are available through Warren Board, based in Glenfield, Leicestershire....
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