INDUSTRY REPORTS

DRUPA STARTS IN 2021 WITH SHORTENED RUNTIME: APRIL 20-28

drupa, the world's leading trade fair for printing technologies, has decided to reduce the duration of the trade fair from eleven to nine days for 2021. By doing so, it is responding to the wishes of the partner association VDMA (Printing and Paper Technology Trade Association) and many exhibitors to make the trade fair presentation more efficient and to concentrate the volume of visitors in a targeted manner. This is also in reaction to any continuing travel activities and restrictions.

"Since we are currently assuming that fewer visitors from overseas will be able to travel to drupa 2021, we consider a reduction from eleven to nine days to be sensible in order to direct visitor flows more efficiently. At the same time, the duration of nine days ensures that running machines can still be shown, which is a unique selling point of drupa," explains drupa President Claus Bolza-Schünemann.

Despite some corona-related cancellations, the current booking status remains at a high level with over 1,500 exhibitors and a net hall space of more than 140,000 sqm. This once again underlines the industry's confidence in the international appeal of the event and the need for face-to-face meetings, acquisition of new customers or live presentation of running machines still exists. "Many of our customers also see it as their own responsibility to strengthen the industry and provide important impulses personally on site," says drupa Director Sabine Geldermann.

In order to guarantee a professional and safe trade fair as usual, drupa not only adapted the general conditions but also relies on a hygiene and infection protection concept that is continuously adapted to the latest corona protection regulations and official requirements. Sabine Geldermann points out: "The character of drupa in 2021, due to the pandemic and hygiene regulations, will certainly be different from what we are used to, but it will continue to make a very important contribution to the economic recovery.”

HOW DRUPA 2021 WILL BE RUN

drupa organiser - Messe Düsseldorf has issued details about how it plans to run the best drupa show ever even if the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic persists especially through a one-way system in the aisles and by limiting the number of visitors.

Though the Messe ground is expected to begin to host large-scale events from September 2020 with the Caravan Salon show, the world’s biggest event for motorhomes and caravans, Messe Düsseldorf said that its ‘Hygiene and Infection Protection Concept’ would ensure the greatest protection possible for exhibitors, visitors, partners and members of staff.

Newly appointed CEO Wolfram Diener, said his team had found a new way forward: “Enterprises need platforms now to present themselves and their innovations, to network and jointly chart the course for the future. With our leading international trade fairs, we deliver second-to-none prerequisites for doing so. Our hygiene and infection protection standards ensure that the safety and health of our exhibitors, visitors, partners and members of staff are protected in the best possible way. We are ready.”

Consequently, all upcoming events at Messe Düsseldorf arena will be subject to a limitation on the number of people “to ensure minimum distancing can be observed”. This equates to one visitor per 7sqm of accessible gross exhibition space, and one exhibitor employee per 35sqm of accessible gross exhibition space. “The quota each day results from the visitor number calculated in this way, minus the difference between the number of employees actually working for exhibitors in the hall and their calculated number,” Messe Düsseldorf explained.

As a result, tickets will be limited and only available online, and visitors will have to register their details in order to purchase them. “This permits the monitoring of headcount as people enter the venue. At the same time, the provisions of the Corona Protection Ordinance of the federal state North Rhine-Westphalia governing the traceability of all persons present can be complied with and implemented,” Messe Düsseldorf stated.

There will also be a visual inspection as people arrive at the entrances to the event. “Visitors showing obvious disease symptoms at the entrance will be denied access”. Invariably, fresh measures at drupa 2021 will include visitors using the aisles traffic-style by keeping to the ‘right-hand lane’; all doors (except fire doors) will be wide open for contactless use; and maintenance of a minimum distance of 1.5m, with visitors responsible for hand hygiene, wearing a face mask, “following the sneeze etiquette” and “foregoing such welcoming rituals as shaking hands”. If required, face masks will be handed out by Messe staff at entrances while Messe Düsseldorf staff and security personnel will ensure social distancing is observed, exhibitors are also responsible for this on their stands. There will also be additional cleaning regimes and systems to ensure restrooms do not become overcrowded with enough sanitisers made available across the entire facility. Lastly, all payments will be contactless.

The Messe said that the lifting of travel restrictions was a vital aspect of the resumption of events. The German Federal Government has gradually lifted the restrictions for entries from other countries since 1 July 2020. “Such initiatives especially benefit Düsseldorf’s leading international trade fairs as they stand out with their particularly high international attendance. In 2019 this stood at 73.4% for exhibitors and 37.1% for visitors,” the Messe stated.

KOENIG & BAUER STANDS BY DRUPA

Many visitors and machines in action at drupa 2016. drupa 2021 should also be an experience for visitors.

Koenig & Bauer reaffirms its commitment to participate in the world's largest trade fair for the printing industry, which has been postponed until April 2021. The company is well positioned and the stand in Hall 16 will be retained.

Since drupa was founded in 1951, the company has maintained an uninterrupted presence and welcomed customers from all over the world, even in times of crisis. "We continue to see drupa, the world's leading trade fair, as an important building block in the graphic arts industry and we see it as our responsibility to support this industry. We want to do our part to continue to provide important impulses locally in personal discussions," says Claus Bolza-Schünemann, Koenig & Bauer CEO and drupa President, explaining the company's position. "We have confidence in Messe Düsseldorf's hygiene concept and in the sense of responsibility of all visitors.”

Agreeing with Bolza-Schünemann is Koenig & Bauer Board Member - Ralf Sammeck, who added that: "Trade fairs will not be the same as they were before COVID-19, and Koenig & Bauer is also supplementing communication with its customers with virtual formats and customer-specific events, for example in our new Customer Experience Center. Nevertheless, these formats can only convey the performance capabilities of the broad product portfolio to a limited extent. Nothing beats experiencing the latest technologies up close in action with the public and the trade fair feeling. For Koenig & Bauer there is no more suitable platform to present the product diversity from digital, offset and flexo printing to intelligent digitalization and service solutions to an international audience", adds Christoph Müller, member of the board at Koenig & Bauer.

KOMORI OPT-OUT OF DRUPA 2021

Komori Corporation ("KOMORI") has announced its decision to cancel its participation to the drupa 2021 exhibition due to remaining concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19).

The printing press technology giant said it decision to suspend exhibition; “Is made in response to the continued raging of the novel coronavirus infectious disease and its serious impact to the economy of both the developed and emerging countries, taking into consideration the potential risks of second or third surge of the pandemic, and to put highest priority in securing the health and safety of our global customers as well as our employees”.

The company said that while its decision was extremely unusual in the circumstance, it plans to host a number of open houses and participate at regional shows to showcase new product offerings; “Our plan is to launch an array of new products and services in the days to come, through open house events and active participations to regional exhibitions. New information will also be released utilizing various media such as corporate websites, information and video distribution service using emails or SMS, online exhibitions and webinars” Komori expressed.

Aiming to become a company that inspire customers through its Kando: Beyond expectations Concept, WHERE To Print gathered that Komori always put customers first. “We will always listen to our customers, develop and deliver innovate technologies and services that are essential for printing companies worldwide to adapt to such climate changes” Komori explained as the company noted that its concept of Connected Automation to revolutionize labour productivity of the printing industry.

MANROLAND THROWS IN DRUPA TOWEL

Manroland Sheetfed has joined Heidelberg, Komori, Bobst and Xerox in backing out of drupa next year.

The company will instead stage online events streamed from its Offenbach headquarters in the autumn. It is blaming the ongoing pandemic for the decision. "Exhibiting at Drupa, or any other trade fair for that matter, makes absolutely no sense during the current COVID-19 pandemic,” says group Managing Director Rafael Peñuela-Torres.

The company had taken space in Hall 13 where it had planned to show new Roland 900 Evolution and Roland 700 Evolution Elite. “Unfortunately, it is just not practicable in the current circumstances,” says Peñuela-Torres.

While Manroland Sheetfed is not the leading producer of litho presses it once was, its absence will be felt by organisers and visitors alike.

HP DONATES D300E BIOPRINTERS TO COMBAT COVID-19

The BioPrinter

HP has announced the deployment of HP D300e BioPrinters, associated supply cassettes, and training, free of charge, to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Universities, and Research Institutions in the U.S. and Europe to help accelerate drug and vaccine research to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Each of us has a role to play to combat this pandemic, and HP and the HP Foundation have donated millions of dollars in products and grants to support local communities impacted by COVID-19 worldwide,” said Annette Friskopp, Global Head and General Manager, Specialty Printing Systems, HP Inc. “We are inspired by the research being conducted by laboratories worldwide to better understand this pandemic, and if the HP D300e BioPrinter in the hands of these scientists can help accelerate their drug and vaccine research, it’s our responsibility to step forward and dedicate resources and technology to make it happen.”

How it works
The BioPrinter with inkjet printing technology enables automated laboratory dispensing to “print” pharmaceutical samples instead of ink. The BioPrinter accurately dispenses or “prints” volumes from picoliters to microliters for fast, reliable dispensing of small molecules and biomolecules. The BioPrinter enables labs to eliminate serial dilution from dose response workflows, miniaturize qPCR reaction volumes, and easily dispense any volume in any well for a broad array of low-volume dispensing applications in drug discovery, genomics, and proteomics research.

Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the largest and leading public research institution in Spain, will leverage the BioPrinter to investigate how the spike protein of COVID-19 reacts in the population most at risk for infection, including healthcare professionals, security forces, and the elderly. The Madrid-based institution will also contribute to the research of new drugs capable of controlling the interaction of the ACE2 receptor for the protein S of COVID-19, the main gateway for the virus; and map the SARS-COV-2 "peak" protein using different fragments and epitopes of proteins, among others.

Researchers from the Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling (CNRCS) at University of Houston are developing anti-viral drugs and prophylactic vaccines for COVID-19. In particular, efforts to develop an innovative drug screening platform for the virus are in progress. This high-throughput screening system can be easily modified for other infectious diseases. The BioPrinter will be used to dispense reagents with high accuracy and develop a drug development tool for COVID-19 treatment.

Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory at Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences in Siena, Italy focuses on monoclonal antibody (mAb) discovery against infectious diseases. The lab will use the BioPrinter will accelerate their testing of potency of mAbs against COVID-19, as well as other infectious bacteria and viruses.

Grenoble Alpes University Hospital (CHUGA), the third largest research university in France, released emergency aid to a team of scientists and doctors to launch bio-clinical research on COVID-19 immunization. The BioPrinter will be used to automatize the screening of infected individuals' sera for neutralizing antibodies.

COVID-19 Community Response
HP and HP Foundation have committed to donate an estimated $8 million worth of technology and grants to support blended learning and local communities impacted by COVID-19 worldwide. HP and its global network of partners and customers have also produced more than 3.3 million 3D printed parts for face shields, respirators, nasal swabs and other items for distribution to hospitals.

KODAK RELEASES NEW PRODUCT ROADMAP

Prosper Ultra 520: prints full coverage on coated stock

Kodak has announced a raft of new products that would have been the centrepiece of its drupa exhibit.

Drupa 2020 would have opened today (16 June), and a host of industry manufacturers are using the show’s original timeframe to showcase new product launches.

Introducing the new products, Kodak Executive Chairman and CEO - Jim Continenza said: “Welcome to the new Kodak. I’m excited about where we’ve come in the last year-and-a-half and the direction we’ve gone over the life of the company. Print, film and chemicals is what Kodak does, and we are doubling down on digital," he stated as he announced new Kodak’s product portfolio which include a new version of its Sonora process-free plate, Sonora Xtra, two new platesetters, a high-speed inkjet press - the Prosper Ultra 520, and a relaunch for its Nexfinity digital press platform. Kodak has also built upon its existing joint venture partnership with Uteco for the Sapphire Evo W 1.25m-wide flexible packaging press, which Kodak said could take on gravure and flexo for runs up to 20,000sqm.

It uses Kodak’s latest Ultrastream continuous inkjet technology and prints at 600x1,800dpi at speeds of up to 150m/pm. Features include inline priming, flexo white, and post-coating options.

“It has eight times the productivity of the leading competition,” stated Senior Vice President for Digital Print Randy Vandagriff, and Kodak claimed that running costs were half that of competitors “creating more profit per job” for printers.

The next-generation Ultrastream high-speed inkjet tech is also deployed in the new Prosper Ultra 520 press. This is targeted at mid-volume commercial, direct mail and publication print applications due to its ability to print full coverage on coated stock. “The Prosper Ultra 520 will deliver our customers a new product with high productivity, high image quality and the lowest running costs in the market,” Vandagriff stated. “The advantages and benefits include heavy coverage and high-volume applications that can’t be done on inkjet today.” The press prints at 600x1,800dpi and has a 520mm print width. It can print at 150mpm, or more than 2,000ppm, and handles stock from 45-270gsm. Kodak also highlighted its use of “eco-friendly, water-based inks” using nanoparticulate pigments, which means it avoids the “rising cost of solvent chemicals”. The Ultra 520 is slated to go into beta test later this year, with shipping planned for early next year.

The Prosper 6000 remains in the portfolio for higher-volume applications such as 20m/month whereas the 520 volume is 10m/month, Vandagriff added. 

The cloud-based Prinergy On Demand workflow, which was unveiled at Kodak’s GUA user conference, is also now available via monthly subscription. “It’s an open platform that works with all technologies, not just Kodak solutions,” said Vice President for Print, Todd Bigger. Licenses will be included in the monthly sub fee, making the entry point “much easier” he added.

At its pre-press wing, Kodak billed the new ‘T-Speed’ Magnus Q800 as “the world’s fastest 8pp CTP for process-free plates”. It is 15% faster than the existing model and can handle up to 80pph. Automation options include a Multi Pallet Loader with a 3,200-plate capacity. The Q800 goes into beta testing this month and is slated to ship in September.

In the pipeline for next year is the Magnus Q4800 CTP with dual imaging for VLF applications including 96pp web presses. Maximum plate size is 1,650x1,600mm and Kodak said it would be the only platesetter on the market able to “image two 1,650mm-wide plates simultaneously”.  Pallet automation means the Q4800 can operate with up to eight different plate sizes inline, with a capacity of 4,800 plates. “It will have the most flexible pallet automation available,” Kodak stated.

The new Sonora Xtra plate is aimed at opening up process-free to more printers. It is described as being “tougher” with “improved handling robustness” including for use with UV inks, as well as being 20% faster to make ready than the existing Sonora X plate.

Another product from Kodak’s stable is the Nexfinity electrophotographic digital press which is being relaunched. Kodak is majoring on the Nexfinity’s flexibility and ease of use for digital enhancements, versatility in the range of substrates it can handle including 6pp via long sheet, productivity at up to 152ppm, and its perfecting accuracy.

Kodak CEO - Jim Continenza had referenced the plans for ‘One Kodak’ that he announced last year October by stating that: “Not only are we back, we are going to change from a divisional structure to a functional, measurable, trackable, accountable structure. We’re going to be easy to do business with.” And obviously with financial strength from sale of its packaging business,

“Kodak has never been in a better financial position in the last 20 years” Continenza assured.

MORGANA UNVEILS FLAGSHIP AUTOCREASER

AutoCreaser Pro XL features new feeder technology and long sheet capability

Morgana has expanded its AutoCreaser range with a new highly automated flagship model as the creasing family celebrates its 20th anniversary following its launch at Drupa 2000.

The new AutoCreaser Pro XL features a raft of new features, at the centre of which is a new vacuum feeder with Adaptive Process Control (APC) which monitors sheet float and adjusts in real time. “It’s a cracking machine,” said Ray Hillhouse, VP Sales and Marketing for Morgana parent company - Plockmatic Group. “APC makes it a very intelligent feeder. It has a sensor on it that monitors the separation of sheets as they come up the pile and makes adjustments to the height of the table and the vacuum.” Unlike previous Morgana machines, the Pro XL feeds from the top of the pile rather than the bottom, which Hillhouse said enables it to handle even lighter digital stocks.

WHERE To Print gathered that the 8,500sph device can place up to 30 creases per sheet with minimum crease-to-crease distance of 0.1mm. Like the rest of the AutoCreaser Pro range it features rotary perforation as standard, but it also boasts an enhanced General User Interface (GUI) that enables three-step job set-up for user friendly set up and operation.

“The real goal is that more than 90% of the work coming though the machine can do so with no adjustments and be handled by the automatic settings,” Hillhouse said as he also noted that; “There has now been close to 10,000 units of all versions of this market-leading family of creasers sold since the original in the year 2000. With this new addition we can show that the ever-reliable creaser simply gets more versatile, easier to use, and above all more productive.”

The Pro XL can handle sheets from 93x210mm to 385x700mm, which can be extended to long sheet formats up to 385x1,300mm with an extension table for long sheet formats, which comes as standard for the first time. The new edge-registered feeder, which has a maximum pile height of 200mm can handle substrates from 80-400gsm and while rotary perforation comes as standard it can also be configured with an optional cross perforation unit. The AutoCreaser Pro XL can also be linked to Morgana’s Autofold Pro, which uses highly accurate flying knife technology, for an automated crease/fold line that can fold and crease across the sheet.

INÈDIT SOFTWARE EXTENDS SUPPORT TO X-RITE I1PRO 3 AND I1PRO 3 PLUS COLOUR MEASUREMENT DEVICES

..INTEGRATES OF I1PRO 3 WITH NEOSTAMPA AND NEOMATCH SOFTWARE.

Inèdit Software, a leading company in software development for workflow and colour management in digital printing, now supports X-Rite’s i1Pro 3 Family, one of the best spectrophotometers on the market for digital printing.

In an effort to offer customers the best results, the i1Pro 3 and Inèdit software allow users to create digital print profiles on practically any surface such as textiles, ceramics or wood. In addition, having a proven tool with years of experience enables users to be more accurate in matching colours and delivering the best colour results.

The Rip Software developed by Inèdit, neoStampa, is positioned as a leader in digital textile printing thanks to its accurate colour management and excellent results from a unique solution based on RGB colours. Likewise, Rip is complemented by neoMatch, the software specialized in creating colour libraries. Both solutions, together with the company's other programs, allow the user to have a specialized digital printing workflow focused on the best colour management and colour matching in the market. "Working with i1Pro 3 provides users with the security of having accurate results. The tandem between neoStampa and i1Pro is a guarantee of success in achieving colour matching and the best possible accuracy," says Jose Antonio Caballero, Founder and Commercial Director of Inèdit Software.

The i1Pro 3 Family is more accurate, reliable and twice as fast as its predecessor. It can simultaneously measure M0, M1, and M2 in a single pass while accounting for optical brighteners. Included in the family is the new i1Pro 3 Plus, which features a larger aperture of 8mm to support new materials and substrates used in digital printing applications. It also supports transmission scanning for backlit film and materials used in signage. “X-Rite is excited to work with Inèdit Software to help customers deliver consistent colour for digital textile printing,” said Ray Cheydleur, Printing and Imaging Product Portfolio Manager, X-Rite. “When paired with RIP software, the i1Pro 3 allows textile printers to easily define printing system settings, create ICC profiles, linearize, and more.”

neoStampa integrates the i1Pro 3 Family from version 9.0.6 of neoStampa, which was released at the end of March this year and can be downloaded free of charge from the Inèdit Software website.

SUN COMPLETES SENSIENT DEAL

Sun Chemical has completed its acquisition of Switzerland-headquartered textile and packaging inkjet ink manufacturer - Sensient Imaging Technologies (SIT).

SIT was the inks wing of Sensient Technologies and makes a range of high-performance inkjet inks, including water-based sublimation, pigmented, reactive dye, and acid dye inks for textile applications. “We are delighted to welcome the employees of SIT to the Sun Chemical family and we are excited about the prospects of combining our offerings in digital technology, capability, products and services to the valued customers and distribution and technology partners of the Sensient inks business and Sun Chemical,” said Sun Chemical Global Director of Digital Business - Peter Saunders.

In a statement, Sun said it believed that post-COVID industry landscape would accelerate digital and inkjet migration in many markets, including fast fashion and packaging, and that the SIT deal combined with other strategic organic investments would put the group in a strong position to seize the digital opportunities.

SIT manufactures inks for a wide range of applications, from textiles, to corrugated packaging and display graphics. Its edible inks are used for printing onto sweets, cakes, and pharmaceutical pills and capsules. Its brand names are ElvaJet, Xennia and SensiJet and the inks work with a range of printheads including Fujifilm Dimatix, Epson, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Kyocera and Xaar.

ROLAND ANNOUNCES LATEST VERSION OF VERSAWORKS 6 RIP SOFTWARE FOR INKJET PRINTERS

Roland DG has announced that it has released the latest version of its VersaWorks 6 RIP software for inkjet printers and initiated a free upgrade service for customers using compatible models.

Included with Roland DG’s inkjet printers and printer/cutters, VersaWorks 6 RIP & Print Management Software is designed to maximise the characteristics of printer, ink and media to enable high-quality printing and improved efficiency for print production. The main features of the VersaWorks 6 latest version are:

New “True Rich Color” Print Setting
To enhance the colour reproduction capability and the colour gamut provided by your printer and inks, we developed a new True Rich Color preset. Now vibrant colour can be combined with neutral greys, smooth gradations and natural skin tones to create stunning graphics. This pioneering colour expression is unequalled for durable graphics.

CutContour Lines Can Now be Added and Edited in VersaWorks 6
The latest VersaWorks 6 is equipped with a "Job Assistant" function that can automatically add contour lines for cutting PDF design data within the RIP software. Even if the cut contour line is missing in a submitted file, printing and cutting can now be performed quickly without returning to the design editing software, allowing jobs with short delivery times to be reliably met.

Compatible with Popular Spectrophotometers Used in Wide Format Printing
In order to respond to the diverse colour matching needs of printing businesses, such as accurately reproducing an intended colour, precisely printing a corporate colour specified by the client, or managing the printer so that the same colour is always output, a spectrophotometer is essential. The latest version newly supports drivers for the latest models of the Barbieri, Spectro LFP qb and Spectropad spectrophotometers.

Paul Willems, Director of Business Development and Product Management, Roland DG EMEA, said, "By providing our users with the latest version of VersaWorks 6, we believe that we can strongly support our customers' printing businesses in terms of both quality and efficiency. In addition to the printer itself, we will support our customers' creativity by offering a total solution that includes software and application assistance."

For a full list of printer models compatible with the latest version of VersaWorks 6 and more details about how to download it please click here.

ROLAND LAUNCHES PRINT ONLY TRUEVIS

Roland DG has expanded its TrueVis range with a new print only printer designed for high-end applications.

The TrueVis VF2-640

According to Roland DG, the new eco-solvent TrueVis VF2-640 offers "incredible colour reproduction and outstanding performance" on applications including signs, backlits, posters and vehicle wraps. The 1.6m-wide, 1,200dpi roll-to-roll printer can be configured with up to eight colours and joins the VG2, which was launched last year, and the four-colour SG2 ranges in the TrueVIS portfolio. Running Roland's Greenguard Gold-certified TR2 inkset, it can use CMYK plus a choice of light cyan, light magenta, light black, orange, green, or white. In "standard mode" it's capable of 30.4sqm/hr in four colours and 12.3sqm/hr in seven plus colours.

"The TrueVis VF2-640 is an exciting addition that will elevate the work of sign businesses and print service providers. As a print-only device the VF2-640 offers ultimate flexibility to users who may want to upgrade their existing printer or invest in just the technology they need," said Paul Willems, Director of Business Development and Product Management, Roland DG EMEA while noting that; "For a host of applications, the TrueVis VF2-640 will push production to the next level while delivering astonishing colours. The addition of green, as well as orange and white, really does allow the creation of stunning graphics."

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