The third pre-drupa Media Week to be organised by UK-based print and graphic communications consultancy, AD Communications, on behalf of drupa owner and organiser, Messe Düsseldorf, saw a 140-strong corps of print journalists from around the world descend on drupa city in January.The media representatives were briefed first-hand about the state of arrangements for the greatest show in print this year, as well as the exhibition plans of exhibitors, Heidelberg, Domino, Dalim, Presstek, Ricoh, Screen, EFI, Xerox, Fujifilm and Kodak.
Journalists heard from Messe Düsseldorf president and CEO, Werner M. Dornscheidt, that some 1648 exhibitors (including four from Australia), had booked 173,177sq m of exhibition space at drupa 2008 and that there is a waiting list for any available space.
The Australian exhibitors are all software companies: Ink Outside The Square, Lithotechnics, Printsoft Group and Serendipity Software.
As expected, Germany is providing the largest number of exhibitors at 605 (37 per cent), with Italy providing 160. Perhaps the shape of things to come, China is next with a compliment of 121 exhibitors, just ahead of Great Britain with 117.
Dornscheidt commended intending drupa visitors to purchase their drupa tickets online for deeply discounted prices; purchase of online tickets, he told journalists, also availed drupa visitors of the use of free public transport in and around Düsseldorf and from as far afield as Cologne, 45 minutes away by train.
In his welcoming remarks, Albrecht Bolza-Schünemann, president of drupa 2008 and CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA), reflected on the debut of drupa in Düsseldorf 57 years ago. Despite the widespread development and adoption of new media, “more paper, cardboard, foils and other materials are currently being printed than ever before,” he says.
According to Bolza-Schünemann, a total of almost 500 million tonnes of print is produced each year, of which approximately 100 million tonnes alone are for commercial purposes, with a far greater amount for packaging use.
“Global volumes of print climb from year to year by three to five per cent,” says Bolza-Schünemann. “In highly populous nations such as India and China, growth is even in the double digits.”
He says that even newspaper circulation overall is growing, due to double-digital growth rates in emerging markets, and that the growth of packaging production and consumption is substantial, all of which suggests a continuing bright future for print - and the importance of planning a visit to drupa 2008.
Organisers are expecting 400,000 visitors over the 14 days of drupa 2008, as well as 3500 journalists to report on the event and the trends unveiled.
In addition to official presentations from the organisers, selected exhibitors gave the graphic arts press corps some idea of what to expect on their stands at drupa 2008 this May and June.
Hei Performance, Hei Value
Heidelberg senior vice president Global Marketing, Adriana M. Nuneva, told journalists that her company participated in some 120 shows globally each year; as a result, Heidelberg has developed an ongoing strategy for handling such events, building on knowledge and experience gained from each successive event.
In addition to its tried and true focus on product solutions, customer care, workflow competence and application marketing, Heidelberg will introduce Business Consulting including running a successful print shop and process calculation to its drupa 2008 presentation on 7800sq m over two halls.
“Our objective with our product and service offerings is to make Heidelberg customers the most competitive”, explains Nuneva.For the first time ever, Heidelberg will devote an entire hall to Packaging Print Solutions, including special applications and very large format (the Speedmaster XL 162 will be shown for the first time at drupa 2008) as well as integrated packaging production.A raised ‘Hei Way’ running through the halls will give visitors perspective over the total range of Heidelberg solutions; everything from the Hei School, through Anicolor, Prinect Integration, One Pass Productivity, Small and Medium Format Solutions to Polar print finishing devices.
Heidelberg will also be highlighting its education services via the Print Media Academy (PMA) as well as its recently re-branded Saphira line of consumables.
Domino does digital
British inkjet specialist, Domino Printing Sciences plc is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and looking forward to a successful drupa outing, during which it will launch four new products.
With annual turnover of approximately US$500m, 64 per cent of Domino’s output is destined for use in primary packaging, with 11 per cent derived from commercial printing, a segment which Domino is seeking to grow substantially, according to commercial printing product director, Philip Easton.
Domino will launch its Bitjet+ v4.5 which it says sets new standards for binary inkjet; the K150, a third generation drop on demand printer; the L400, a new thermal print head technology developed by Lexmark; and BaseLine, Domino’s first offline handling solution.
Dalim partners with UPM
DALIM Software Solutions unveiled products to complement its portfolio of production automation and workflow solutions. Dalim focuses on providing publishers dynamic cross-media content with virtual magazines, implementing working JDF applications, and putting Adobe Print Engine on board.
Dalim has been a major driver of JDF connectivity and is using its new TWiST JDF Connectivity Package to connect to and drive applications like Alwan CMYK Optimiser directly from the workflow.
ViRTUAL LiBRARY, to be officially launched at drupa, presents a realistic view of a magazine for approval, offering visualisation possibilities for the reader, along with dynamic content possibilities for the publisher.
A partnership between Dalim and UPM will see ViRTUAL LiBRARY developed further as a paper sales tool allowing the global paper giant to realistically simulate the effect of various paper grades to its customers, including the effects of whiteness, see-through and opacity, in real time, without the need for real print samples.
Presstek strategy
PRESSTEK CEO, Jeff Jacobson, former supremo at Kodak Polychrome Graphics, has succeeded in luring other management talent including ex Kodak staff to his team which is developing a strategy to grow the business into a major graphic industry player. Among the ex-Kodak staff now on board at Presstek are Jeffrey Cook, CFO; Mark Levin, president, Americas; and James LaRue, VP Manufacturing & Worldwide Supply Chain.
Jacobson reminded the media that Presstek has successfully brought to market a range of new generation colour printing solutions, including the first chemistry-free CTP system; the first on-press (DI) printing technology; the first daylight safe printing plates; the first thermally imaged plate; and the first digitally imaged waterless plate.
Between 1987 and 2004, Presstek partnered with some of the industry’s largest manufacturers to deliver products enabled by its technology. Presstek DI technology enables presses from Ryobi, Heidelberg, KBA, and Kodak.
Presstek will feature its own environmentally friendly DI digital offset presses, combined with Momentum Pro workflow, at drupa 2008. The company claims its DI presses are the “most efficient, cost-effective, environmentally friendly and profitable production option for short-run, high quality digital offset printing.”
Presstek will also show its chemistry-free platemaking solutions. Metal platemaking systems, including the productive and versatile two-page and four-page Dimension Excel series, Dimension 800, and the Vector TX52, will be featured.
Ricoh leadership ambition
RICOH voiced its intention to become a leading force in the production printing market at the pre-drupa media event.
Predicting that the production printing market will grow to €12.8bn by 2013, Ricoh aims to expand its presence in this market and become a leading force
by 2010. It will use drupa as a platform
for the introduction of its new high
production capacity Pro C900 and
C900s colour digital printer and multifunction device.
Also launching is the Ricoh ‘Pro’ brand, for easy identification of the company’s production printer portfolio.
In addition to organic growth, over the last four years, Ricoh has further extended its production printing expertise with
the acquisition and incorporation of Hitachi Printing Solutions, the European operation of Danka/Infotec and the
joint venture with IBM InfoPrint Solutions Company.
Ricoh says it is now offering a comprehensive product portfolio that integrates within the digital print workflow, has a flexible range of software solutions and a service and support network around the globe. Ricoh’s expansion into production printing is in addition to its commitment to its established core business within the office market where it provides a range of printers, copiers, scanners and multifunction devices.
Kodak: “Print is Powerful”
KODAK conducted two presentations, the first for CREO Color Servers “Print on-demand Solutions” and the second, an overview of Kodak GCG solutions, in the form of an interview Q&A session, hosted by a BBC journalist.
The company says its aim is to develop “flexible solutions that help print
providers develop the right production system for their unique business
and customer needs, regardless of the type of technology they choose.”
Kodak says its stand will showcase “a wide range of hardware and software innovations that generate revenue, profit, growth, and business opportunities for print service providers and their clients, reinforcing print’s role at the heart of successful communications campaigns under the banner of ‘print is powerful’.”
In addition to its products and services for the commercial printing market, Kodak’s exhibit at drupa 2008 will include scanners and software for document imaging applications.
New and established electrophotographic and inkjet systems that enable print providers to expand capabilities and applications using digital technology will be on display at Kodak’s drupa stand.
A new series of S-Class branded Kodak Nexpress digital production colour presses leads the list of innovations, productivity and feature enhancements, and workflow applications Kodak is bringing to the electrophotographic side of the digital printing market.
Kodak will demonstrate its next generation of continuous inkjet technology as it displays the Stream Concept Press publicly for the first time at drupa 2008.
Kodak says the higher resolution, smaller ink droplet size, and faster generation of drops involved in Stream Technology will take inkjet technology to offset class quality, productivity and cost.
Meanwhile, the latest expansion of the Versamark V-Series Printing Systems portfolio brings higher resolution to Kodak’s inkjet line and provides an affordable solution for the mid volume range of bill and statement producers.
The new Versamark VL2000 Printing System targets data centres with volumes of more than one million per month of transactional, promotional and TransPromo documents, such as billing, account statements, and direct mail.
At drupa, the Kodak Stream Concept Press and the Versamark VL2000 Printing System will be driven by new front ends from Kodak’s PODS Group.
Kodak’s broad range of prepress solutions¸ including proofing systems, CTP platesetters, digital plates, and the widely accepted Kodak Prinergy Workflow System for offset and flexographic printing, will be on display at drupa 2008.
Screen inkjet offer widens
WHILST prepress remains an important pillar of the business of Screen, the company’s R&D in inkjet printing technology is paying off with an ever-increasing range of new solutions. According to the company, “drupa 2008 will mark the beginning of an exciting new era that will see Screen establish itself as a leading supplier to the digital ‘Print on Demand’ market.”
Under the theme, ‘Creating a Future in Print’, Screen is committed to providing the infrastructure to allow print media to complement electronic media while helping the industry embrace a more environmentally responsible approach to production.
Screen’s drupa offerings will include digital offset printing (Truepress 344), variable digital printing/newspaper printing (Truepress Jet520), newspaper printing (Truepress Jet 520), wide format digital printing (Truepress Jet2500UV), industrial inkjet printing (Truepress Jet650UV); workflow tools (Trueflownet); prepress commitment (PlateRite CTP).
Xerox launches fastest B&W
AS it prepares for drupa, Xerox launched its fastest continuous feed printing system yet. Xerox says its 650/1300 Continuous Feed Printing System will help print providers capitalise on the high-speed, high-volume monochrome printing market, making it easier to produce books, manuals and trans-promotional applications.
The Xerox 650/1300 uses dry toner, xerographic imaging and flash-fusing technology which does not use heat or pressure or make contact with the paper, allowing the device to print on a wider array of substrates. Xerox will also highlight new printing technologies, workflow solutions, business development services and applications.
To demonstrate its decades-long commitment to sustainability, Xerox is integrating green aspects into its 3500sq m booth at drupa. The exhibit is being built with environmentally friendly materials, including energy-saving lighting and
re-usable components.
EFI expertise
FUNDED by ongoing sales of a raft of successful technologies including its legendary Fiery colour print servers, EFI has been on the acquisition trail, adding companies such as Best Color and VUTEk to its portfolio in recent years.
In addition to digital colour print servers, EFI’s expertise extends to superwide format printers and inks, industrial inkjet printing systems, and commercial and enterprise print management solutions.
Fujifilm showcase
FUJIFILM will showcase a wide range of new printing concepts, technologies, products and services on its 1800sq m stand, under the banner, “Digital Power at Your Control.’ Its display and demonstration space in the Digital Printing Zone marks a shift in emphasis for Fujifilm, with the company demonstrating its capabilities in the digital arena alongside its benchmark prepress solutions.
In addition to the Fujifilm stand, Fujifilm Dimatix, which was acquired in June 2006, will have its own stand where it will demonstrate its innovations in industrial piezoelectric print heads and precision micropump technologies for non-impact printing.
Both stands will highlight Fujifilm’s commitment to the development of leading edge print technologies.
