Komfi completes update of thermal laminator range
The company said the updates were prompted by the growing trend for printers to bring lamination in-house to provide greater flexibility in lead times and improved cost efficiencies. “Updates to these remaining models provide users with additional features to benefit commercial and digital print, packaging and converting applications,” said Neil Elliott, marketing manager for distributor Friedheim International. These updates follow the recent updating of the Komfi Junior 36, Amiga 36 and 52, and large-format Sirius 107 thermal laminators. The Delta 52, which costs £39,400, has had a speed upgrade from 30m per minute to 35m per minute. New features include a coloured touch control panel with additional software functions. It takes paper weights up to 600gsm. “This makes the kit easier and quicker to use for the operator,” said Elliott. “It also has a de-curling bar that can be used with one hand as opposed to two levers that need both hands.” The Sagitta 52, formerly the Delta 52 Plus, stays roughly the same speed of 50m per minute but incorporates a new stacker with a maximum paper stack height of 73cm. The machine costs £50,970. The Delta 76 laminator, formerly the Sagitta 76/76 E, also stays roughly the same speed at 35m per minute or 50m per minute when fitted with a productivity upgrade; however, it now features an incorporated jogger and the same de-curling bar upgrade as the Delta 52. It costs £58,580....
read moreMTS launches inline folder for inserting lines
The machine, which has recently finished beta testing, is designed for inserting applications where the primary document is a single sheet that needs to be folded from A4 to A5 or roll-folded to DL before delivery to the track of the inserter, where further items can then be added to make up the mail pack. Gerson Louzado, partner at Romford, Essex-based MTS, said that the Feedline 14 would save time and reduce labour costs by removing the need for an offline folding station. He claimed that the Feedline 14 would work with any third-party inserter, adding that it was more “robustly built” and performed “more consistently” than previous machines (from other manufacturers) that attempted to solve the same problem. The Feedline 14 costs £22,500 and is compatible with swing arm, rotary fed and friction fed inserters. It can handle a variety of paper stocks, from bond to gloss, in weights up to 200gsm and has a maximum speed of 14,000sph. It incorporates ultrasonic double detection, to prevent double feeds, and can accomodate a camera for matching applications....
read moreNew Oce to help Lightning Source go big on colour
The 115-staff company in Milton Keynes, part of US-based Ingram, specialises in economic and educational books but said there was a growing need for colour sections within these books. Lighting Source is looking at launching a print-on-demand journal service in 2014. “It would also be good to make inroads into children’s books in terms of older stock or back lists,” said marketing manager Andrew Bromley, hoping to tap into “nostalgia publishing” where parents order single copies of a favourite childhood book of theirs for their own kids. Comics was another possible area of focus, he added. The ColorStream 3700 prints at 100m per minute with a print width of up to 540mm. It features Océ DigiDot technology, which uses drop-on-demand inkjet printheads to jet drops of ink only when and where needed. Group managing director David Taylor said: “Publishers are facing many challenges: not only is there demand for quick delivery from customers but there is also the element of guesswork in determining how many printed copies of books will sell. “With the means to offer true single-copy POD, we are able to provide an inventory-free model for publishers, which means zero warehousing of stock. This offers cost savings, a reduction in pulping and an economically viable solution whether one or one thousand copies are required.” He added: “This printer is helping us bridge a gap in the market. Colour POD has previously been possible, but often at a high cost. Our new colour offer is a game changer for publishers as the cost to print full-colour POD books is approaching the price of black-and-white manufacturing.” Canon UK commercial print group director Craig Nethercott said: “Lightning Source is helping publishers meet the challenges of modern-day book retailing, using the power of digital print to develop opportunities for both itself and its customers. “The traditional method of estimating book sales, printing in high volumes, warehousing stock, together with the prospect of waste if sales are misjudged, is turned on its head for Lightning Source customers and this is a strong offering for the market.”...
read moreKomfi completes update of thermal laminator range
The company said the updates were prompted by the growing trend for printers to bring lamination in-house to provide greater flexibility in lead times and improved cost efficiencies. “Updates to these remaining models provide users with additional features to benefit commercial and digital print, packaging and converting applications,” said Neil Elliott, marketing manager for distributor Friedheim International. These updates follow the recent updating of the Komfi Junior 36, Amiga 36 and 52, and large-format Sirius 107 thermal laminators. The Delta 52, which costs £39,400, has had a speed upgrade from 30m per minute to 35m per minute. New features include a coloured touch control panel with additional software functions. It takes paper weights up to 600gsm. “This makes the kit easier and quicker to use for the operator,” said Elliott. “It also has a de-curling bar that can be used with one hand as opposed to two levers that need both hands.” The Sagitta 52, formerly the Delta 52 Plus, stays roughly the same speed of 50m per minute but incorporates a new stacker with a maximum paper stack height of 73cm. The machine costs £50,970. The Delta 76 laminator, formerly the Sagitta 76/76 E, also stays roughly the same speed at 35m per minute or 50m per minute when fitted with a productivity upgrade; however, it now features an incorporated jogger and the same de-curling bar upgrade as the Delta 52. It costs £58,580....
read moreFujifilm launches ‘class beating’ white Onset
The Inca Digital-built flatbed, which will be launched at Fespa Eurasia next month, is understood to be the first in a series of white ink-enabled Onsets. The CMYK+WW machine features two white ink channels, and Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems marketing manager, high end, Tudor Morgan hinted that more white-enabled Onsets could be launched in the near future, perhaps including a six-colour-plus-white machine. “Inca is working on a wide range of white models, the key reason for doing this is that people often forget that if you go back to 2004/5 then it was Inca that first commercialised white,” said Morgan. “White has always been part of the Inca offering, but the reason it hasn’t been on the Onset until now is that these machines are really aimed at volume work and users historically didn’t want to slow them down to print white. Or they had other methods to incorporate white and it wasn’t economical. However, we’ve had more and more interest in white.” The Onset S40i runs Fujifilm’s latest Uvijet OZ UV inks and its full-width print array uses 168 Fujifilm Dimatix printheads, 56 of which are dedicated to white. It features the same 15-zone vacuum bed as the six-colour S40i as well as a choice of uni- and bi-directional and super high-quality print modes. However, the white functionality will not be retrofittable to CMYK+Lc+Lm Onset S40is. According to Morgan the S40i features newly developed Dimatix printheads, which, when combined with the OZ ink system and the Onset’s architecture, create a machine that can print extremely fast even in white mode. “If you wanted to print white today, the best you’re going to get is probably 20-30sqm/hr, and here we are with something that can print big bold graphics at 175sqm/hr full flood white,” added Morgan. The S40i is capable of 560sqm/hr in CMYK mode. The white-enabled Inca Onset S40i will be given its global debut at Fespa Eurasia, which takes place on 3-5 October in Instanbul, Turkey. It’s available for shipping immediately and pricing will be “on par with” the six-colour S40i....
read moreFujifilm launches ‘class beating’ white Onset
The Inca Digital-built flatbed, which will be launched at Fespa Eurasia next month, is understood to be the first in a series of white ink-enabled Onsets. The CMYK+WW machine features two white ink channels, and Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems marketing manager, high end, Tudor Morgan hinted that more white-enabled Onsets could be launched in the near future, perhaps including a six-colour-plus-white machine. “Inca is working on a wide range of white models, the key reason for doing this is that people often forget that if you go back to 2004/5 then it was Inca that first commercialised white,” said Morgan. “White has always been part of the Inca offering, but the reason it hasn’t been on the Onset until now is that these machines are really aimed at volume work and users historically didn’t want to slow them down to print white. Or they had other methods to incorporate white and it wasn’t economical. However, we’ve had more and more interest in white.” The Onset S40i runs Fujifilm’s latest Uvijet OZ UV inks and its full-width print array uses 168 Fujifilm Dimatix printheads, 56 of which are dedicated to white. It features the same 15-zone vacuum bed as the six-colour S40i as well as a choice of uni- and bi-directional and super high-quality print modes. However, the white functionality will not be retrofittable to CMYK+Lc+Lm Onset S40is. According to Morgan the S40i features newly developed Dimatix printheads, which, when combined with the OZ ink system and the Onset’s architecture, create a machine that can print extremely fast even in white mode. “If you wanted to print white today, the best you’re going to get is probably 20-30sqm/hr, and here we are with something that can print big bold graphics at 175sqm/hr full flood white,” added Morgan. The S40i is capable of 560sqm/hr in CMYK mode. The white-enabled Inca Onset S40i will be given its global debut at Fespa Eurasia, which takes place on 3-5 October in Instanbul, Turkey. It’s available for shipping immediately and pricing will be “on par with” the six-colour S40i....
read moreIpex unveils steering group tasked with making it a world class event
The group will be chaired by St Ives chief executive and Ipex president Patrick Martell and signed-up members include Malcolm Lane-Ley, executive chairman at Anton Group; Communisis client services director Tim Ainsworth; Roger Pitt, managing director of Headley Brothers; ProCo managing director Jon Bailey; Scott Logie, strategic marketing director of St Ives; and York Mailing and Pindar director Norman Revill. “I know that Ipex has come through a difficult period, but that is very much behind it now. I think what the show stands for now on the content side means it will still be a big event and will still offer incredible value to visitors,” said ProCo’s Bailey. “We’ve been tasked with making sure that the visitor journey on offer at Ipex adds value to printers like me. The show has an important role to play in the industry through education and joining people together, and I’m really pleased to be part of that.” Martell added: “I look forward to chairing the first Ipex 360 Committee meeting with my industry peers. Ipex 2014 promises to be a world-class ‘must-attend’ event that will reflect and address the latest trends and issues in the industry.” The first 360 Committee meeting takes place 9 October, by which time Ipex event director Trevor Crawford hopes to unveil some additional brand owner members. “We’re still talking to several other significant players, who I hope to tie down in the coming weeks,” said Crawford. “With Ipex 2014 pre-registration now open and our visitor marketing campaign in full swing, the Ipex 360 Committee will play a vital role to deliver an event that printers and marketers want.” Click here to register for your free Ipex visitor pass....
read moreIpex unveils steering group tasked with making it a world class event
The group will be chaired by St Ives chief executive and Ipex president Patrick Martell and signed-up members include Malcolm Lane-Ley, executive chairman at Anton Group; Communisis client services director Tim Ainsworth; Roger Pitt, managing director of Headley Brothers; ProCo managing director Jon Bailey; Scott Logie, strategic marketing director of St Ives; and York Mailing and Pindar director Norman Revill. “I know that Ipex has come through a difficult period, but that is very much behind it now. I think what the show stands for now on the content side means it will still be a big event and will still offer incredible value to visitors,” said ProCo’s Bailey. “We’ve been tasked with making sure that the visitor journey on offer at Ipex adds value to printers like me. The show has an important role to play in the industry through education and joining people together, and I’m really pleased to be part of that.” Martell added: “I look forward to chairing the first Ipex 360 Committee meeting with my industry peers. Ipex 2014 promises to be a world-class ‘must-attend’ event that will reflect and address the latest trends and issues in the industry.” The first 360 Committee meeting takes place 9 October, by which time Ipex event director Trevor Crawford hopes to unveil some additional brand owner members. “We’re still talking to several other significant players, who I hope to tie down in the coming weeks,” said Crawford. “With Ipex 2014 pre-registration now open and our visitor marketing campaign in full swing, the Ipex 360 Committee will play a vital role to deliver an event that printers and marketers want.” Click here to register for your free Ipex visitor pass....
read moreUK’s first Promotional Products Week hits the mark
The event aimed to raise the profile of promotional merchandising including printed products, which is worth more than £765m, said association deputy-general Gordon Glenister. The week was a first in the BPMA’s 48-year history, he added. Initiatives included a dedicated website, www.promotionalproductsweek.co.uk, an awareness-raising campaign including 300 Brunel University students, the handing out of promotional products including branded cupcakes and window stickers, and activity on Twitter and Facebook. “The print and promotional industry are not great on social media and we are desperately trying to educate them. This week was a great vehicle for us to share content,” he said. “It was not just focusing on the BPMA but individual members including suppliers and distributors. “Our event was supported by almost 600 members who conducted their own marketing campaigns around the week and promoted it in their own regions and to their own clients to raise awareness of the importance of promotional work and what they do.” Highlight of the week was a House of Commons dinner, where 25 members discussed issues such as trading standards and future challenges with MP and industry supporter MP Brian Binley. The week was also flagged up with a survey of 1,000 people. It concluded the UK was “a nation of freebie hunters”, said Glenister: “Brands, companies and organisations should note that three in 10 consumers have changed their regular brand in order to receive a promotional product.” Nearly half of consumers would switch brand for cooking accessories, while nearly 42% would switch for a coffee mug. Other popular items included fizzy-drink branded glasses, cuddly toys, and cosmetic purses or tote bags. Many products are kept and used such as pens, T-shirts and keyrings. “The power and attraction of promotional merchandise is clearly demonstrated, with almost a sixth of consumers saying they would use devious means such as giving out false personal details or gaining uninvited entry to a venue or event, to get an item. The most fibbed-for item was toiletries.” Nearly half said ‘significant’ branding was acceptable, whereas a third said it should be ‘subtle’. In the current economic difficulties nearly three-fifths of consumers were more likely to keep freebies than before the recession. One in 10 would give a free branded product as a gift. Glenister said: “Promotional merchandise is far more than just a freebie. Used correctly it delivers powerful and positive advertising messages, as well as a thank you. Our recent research showed branded gifts can deliver a higher or equal return on investment than most forms of advertising.”...
read moreUK’s first Promotional Products Week hits the mark
The event aimed to raise the profile of promotional merchandising including printed products, which is worth more than £765m, said association deputy-general Gordon Glenister. The week was a first in the BPMA’s 48-year history, he added. Initiatives included a dedicated website, www.promotionalproductsweek.co.uk, an awareness-raising campaign including 300 Brunel University students, the handing out of promotional products including branded cupcakes and window stickers, and activity on Twitter and Facebook. “The print and promotional industry are not great on social media and we are desperately trying to educate them. This week was a great vehicle for us to share content,” he said. “It was not just focusing on the BPMA but individual members including suppliers and distributors. “Our event was supported by almost 600 members who conducted their own marketing campaigns around the week and promoted it in their own regions and to their own clients to raise awareness of the importance of promotional work and what they do.” Highlight of the week was a House of Commons dinner, where 25 members discussed issues such as trading standards and future challenges with MP and industry supporter MP Brian Binley. The week was also flagged up with a survey of 1,000 people. It concluded the UK was “a nation of freebie hunters”, said Glenister: “Brands, companies and organisations should note that three in 10 consumers have changed their regular brand in order to receive a promotional product.” Nearly half of consumers would switch brand for cooking accessories, while nearly 42% would switch for a coffee mug. Other popular items included fizzy-drink branded glasses, cuddly toys, and cosmetic purses or tote bags. Many products are kept and used such as pens, T-shirts and keyrings. “The power and attraction of promotional merchandise is clearly demonstrated, with almost a sixth of consumers saying they would use devious means such as giving out false personal details or gaining uninvited entry to a venue or event, to get an item. The most fibbed-for item was toiletries.” Nearly half said ‘significant’ branding was acceptable, whereas a third said it should be ‘subtle’. In the current economic difficulties nearly three-fifths of consumers were more likely to keep freebies than before the recession. One in 10 would give a free branded product as a gift. Glenister said: “Promotional merchandise is far more than just a freebie. Used correctly it delivers powerful and positive advertising messages, as well as a thank you. Our recent research showed branded gifts can deliver a higher or equal return on investment than most forms of advertising.”...
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