International 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....
read moreSwallowtail beefs up its digital capability
The device, which includes an inline booklet-maker, cost around £60,000 and is an addition to a kit list that includes a Konica Minolta C6500 and two Heidelberg Speedmasters, a CD102-5 and an XL75-5 with laminator. The Linoprint C751 medium-volume device is driven by an EFI E41A RIP and runs at 75 pages per minute. Joint managing director Simon Tilbrook said: “It’s very fast and offers excellent quality. It also prints on a slighter longer sheet, so we can now do A4 landscape work. Both digital machines are extremely busy.” Norwich-based Swallowtail employs 53 staff and makes £6m turnover from work including brochures, stationery, newsletters, magazines, greetings cards and books. Production director James Baxter said: “Our customers will struggle to see which process is used and that means where we produce a short run digitally and then a full run subsequently – which happens quite regularly with book or new product launches – we can move from digital to litho with confidence, using the most appropriate technology for the volume.” Swallowtail Print was created two years ago with the merger of local businesses, Norwich Colour Print and F Crowe & Sons....
read moreSwallowtail beefs up its digital capability
The device, which includes an inline booklet-maker, cost around £60,000 and is an addition to a kit list that includes a Konica Minolta C6500 and two Heidelberg Speedmasters, a CD102-5 and an XL75-5 with laminator. The Linoprint C751 medium-volume device is driven by an EFI E41A RIP and runs at 75 pages per minute. Joint managing director Simon Tilbrook said: “It’s very fast and offers excellent quality. It also prints on a slighter longer sheet, so we can now do A4 landscape work. Both digital machines are extremely busy.” Norwich-based Swallowtail employs 53 staff and makes £6m turnover from work including brochures, stationery, newsletters, magazines, greetings cards and books. Production director James Baxter said: “Our customers will struggle to see which process is used and that means where we produce a short run digitally and then a full run subsequently – which happens quite regularly with book or new product launches – we can move from digital to litho with confidence, using the most appropriate technology for the volume.” Swallowtail Print was created two years ago with the merger of local businesses, Norwich Colour Print and F Crowe & Sons....
read moreRicoh gears up for wide-format launches
The supplier recently advertised for a product business manager to work on the launch plans for its new large-format printer series, the Pro L4000. Ricoh is also taking on additional CRD (central reprographic department) print sales specialists and a commercial print sales specialist. The L4000 was shown as a prototype at Drupa last year. The five-colour CMYK+W piezo-electric inkjet device uses latex ink and currently comes in two widths: 1,371mm or 1,620mm. At the North Print & Pack exhibition in May Ricoh demonstrated its MP CW2200SP multi-function inkjet printer, which produces monochrome and colour output and is suitable for CAD and some graphics applications. It uses Ricoh’s LiquidGel print technology and produces a full-colour A1 print in just under a minute, or three monochrome A1 prints per minute. Strategic marketing manager Gareth Parker said: “Wide-format sits squarely within the production print realm of the business, and we recognise we need to bring in some specialist expertise. “We’re demonstrating our commitment to wide-format through recruitment and are extending the team accordingly,” he added. The firm is currently in a pilot phase with the L4000 models, with full product roll-out expected in Q1 2014....
read moreRicoh gears up for wide-format launches
The supplier recently advertised for a product business manager to work on the launch plans for its new large-format printer series, the Pro L4000. Ricoh is also taking on additional CRD (central reprographic department) print sales specialists and a commercial print sales specialist. The L4000 was shown as a prototype at Drupa last year. The five-colour CMYK+W piezo-electric inkjet device uses latex ink and currently comes in two widths: 1,371mm or 1,620mm. At the North Print & Pack exhibition in May Ricoh demonstrated its MP CW2200SP multi-function inkjet printer, which produces monochrome and colour output and is suitable for CAD and some graphics applications. It uses Ricoh’s LiquidGel print technology and produces a full-colour A1 print in just under a minute, or three monochrome A1 prints per minute. Strategic marketing manager Gareth Parker said: “Wide-format sits squarely within the production print realm of the business, and we recognise we need to bring in some specialist expertise. “We’re demonstrating our commitment to wide-format through recruitment and are extending the team accordingly,” he added. The firm is currently in a pilot phase with the L4000 models, with full product roll-out expected in Q1 2014....
read moreDe La Rue makes Polar investment
The Polar 115N Pro machines from Heidelberg have been installed for banknote cutting at De La Rue’s Gateshead factory, replacing four Schneider Senator machines. A De La Rue spokesman said: “We were impressed the Polar guillotines could be networked to speed set up and make the transfer of work between machines very easy.” Heidelberg UK marketing director Mark Hogan said a standard Polar guillotine cost around £50,000, but specialst devices for banknotes, which need high precision and accuracy, cost around £100,000. “Metal strips in notes make them wavy and uneven, so accuracy of clamping is important,” he explained. “It also reduces waste – there was a lot of waste in cutting of banknotes before this machine.” Hogan added that the devices’ 115cm width married up with the largest sheet sizes from De La Rue’s presses. A twin clamp option with swivel back-gauge enables micro-adjustments for different stock heights, while more constant clamping reduces manual intervention and improves quality, according to the manufacturer. Other features include Optiknife technology for quick and safe changeover, as well as touchscreen programming, which Hogan said was popular with operators. De La Rue has designed or produced more than 150 national currencies and also creates security documents including passports, driving licences and tax stamps....
read moreDe La Rue makes Polar investment
The Polar 115N Pro machines from Heidelberg have been installed for banknote cutting at De La Rue’s Gateshead factory, replacing four Schneider Senator machines. A De La Rue spokesman said: “We were impressed the Polar guillotines could be networked to speed set up and make the transfer of work between machines very easy.” Heidelberg UK marketing director Mark Hogan said a standard Polar guillotine cost around £50,000, but specialst devices for banknotes, which need high precision and accuracy, cost around £100,000. “Metal strips in notes make them wavy and uneven, so accuracy of clamping is important,” he explained. “It also reduces waste – there was a lot of waste in cutting of banknotes before this machine.” Hogan added that the devices’ 115cm width married up with the largest sheet sizes from De La Rue’s presses. A twin clamp option with swivel back-gauge enables micro-adjustments for different stock heights, while more constant clamping reduces manual intervention and improves quality, according to the manufacturer. Other features include Optiknife technology for quick and safe changeover, as well as touchscreen programming, which Hogan said was popular with operators. De La Rue has designed or produced more than 150 national currencies and also creates security documents including passports, driving licences and tax stamps....
read moreCSG buys Saxon Recycling
Family-run CSG first moved into print recycling in 2008 when it bought Dorset-based J&G Environmental, now the UK’s biggest print waste handling firm. Following this latest acquisition, which was completed in July, former Saxon owners Mick Adams and Richard Stimson have joined CSG for a six-month handover period, while J&G managing director John Haines will head up the £2m-turnover company. The business will continue to trade under the same name and will operate from its existing Whittlesford premises, with its twelve staff joining CSG. J&G, which employs 49 staff, turns over around £20m per year and collects all non-paper based waste from more than 2,000 print businesses around the UK. Haines said the acquisition of Saxon would help the group expand its reach. He added: “Saxon will be a huge asset to J&G. It helps us to expand across a wider geographical area. Saxon have a strong presence across the South East. There are three main players, us being one and acquiring one of the others will help consolidate the market. We felt this move really made sense.” Haines said that with the move from litho to digital there had been a huge reduction in chemical waste, so the company has had to diversify. “There was an obvious drop in waste as people have begun to move away from litho, but under the umbrella of CSG we have been able to open up our markets to more hazardous waste collection from non-print customers.” CSG managing director Neil Richards said: “Waste creation is one of the printing industry’s top three environmental impacts and our acquisition of Saxon comes at a time when the industry is enthusiastically embracing more sustainable waste management. “Like us, Saxon has long supported the goal of routine recycling and re-use of print waste which makes them ideal partners for us. Between them, the two companies can provide the most comprehensive waste management service yet available to the printing industry.” He added: “Despite a testing trading environment, our strategy is to continue to grow the business. This latest acquisition is a further step in the group’s expansion plans and we look forward to announcing more business developments in the...
read moreCSG buys Saxon Recycling
Family-run CSG first moved into print recycling in 2008 when it bought Dorset-based J&G Environmental, now the UK’s biggest print waste handling firm. Following this latest acquisition, which was completed in July, former Saxon owners Mick Adams and Richard Stimson have joined CSG for a six-month handover period, while J&G managing director John Haines will head up the £2m-turnover company. The business will continue to trade under the same name and will operate from its existing Whittlesford premises, with its twelve staff joining CSG. J&G, which employs 49 staff, turns over around £20m per year and collects all non-paper based waste from more than 2,000 print businesses around the UK. Haines said the acquisition of Saxon would help the group expand its reach. He added: “Saxon will be a huge asset to J&G. It helps us to expand across a wider geographical area. Saxon have a strong presence across the South East. There are three main players, us being one and acquiring one of the others will help consolidate the market. We felt this move really made sense.” Haines said that with the move from litho to digital there had been a huge reduction in chemical waste, so the company has had to diversify. “There was an obvious drop in waste as people have begun to move away from litho, but under the umbrella of CSG we have been able to open up our markets to more hazardous waste collection from non-print customers.” CSG managing director Neil Richards said: “Waste creation is one of the printing industry’s top three environmental impacts and our acquisition of Saxon comes at a time when the industry is enthusiastically embracing more sustainable waste management. “Like us, Saxon has long supported the goal of routine recycling and re-use of print waste which makes them ideal partners for us. Between them, the two companies can provide the most comprehensive waste management service yet available to the printing industry.” He added: “Despite a testing trading environment, our strategy is to continue to grow the business. This latest acquisition is a further step in the group’s expansion plans and we look forward to announcing more business developments in the...
read moreFFEI unveils Graphium narrow web digital press
The Graphium, which will cost less than £500,000 and be commercially available from October, is to be unveiled next month at Print13 in Chicago and, later in September, Labelexpo in Brussels. The device would “transform” productivity, profitability and the ability for printers and converters to respond to product and market changes, said managing director Andy Cook. The key, he said, was high-opacity white ink and flexibility. “Graphium represents a new generation of digital inkjet press aimed at the narrow-web market – low capital investment, high-quality print, unparalleled productivity and the most versatile range of applications. “Bring all of these factors together and you have a ‘cost-in-use’ that defines Graphium as the most productive, high-opacity digital white press on the market,” he added. The Graphium is targeted at the label, packaging and signage markets, Cook said, and works on virtually all substrates from highly absorbent papers to plastics. It has a maximum print width of 410mm and operates at up to 1,230sqm per hour. It uses Uvijet Graphium UV-curing inks developed by Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, with Xaar 1001 printhead technology. Cook added: “The biggest player in the market is HP with the Indigo, but that’s toner based. This is not trying to take them on, it is offering a broader application in terms of what you can print on, how you can print it and what you can do.” Cook explained that the Graphium was based on similar technology to the Caslon, launched by FFEI in partnership with Nilpeter at Drupa five years ago, and still commercially available. But while the Caslon was an add-on to the Nilpeter FA-Line flexo kit, the Graphium was a standalone machine, he said....
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