Wide Format Online magazine had two representatives at the recent Ipex show in the UK and we have already published the first from local industry legend, Andy McCourt.
Practical Publishing of South Africa, publishers of Sign Africa and close friends of Wide Format Online, also sent us their report and we have pleasure in publishing their report below.......
Ipex has a history of being a launch pad for new technologies. In 1988, the exhibition saw the introduction of PostScript and the first colour-capable imagesetters. In 1993, Indigo and Xeikon both exhibited the world's first digital presses. Ipex is the world's largest English-speaking international industry event, according to Picon, owner of Ipex.
The final Ipex attendee net figure was 50,322, not including repeats from 135 countries, excluding over 20,000 exhibitor, agents, dealers, distributor, OEM’s and 500 international media personnel. The international ratio has increased by 8% compared to 2006, with the overall visitor attendance representing 48%. The largest overseas visitor groups came from France, Germany, Netherlands with a 4% overall increase from Western Europe. Notable increases in attendance levels came from Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa as well as China and India. Exhibitors commented on the high level of personnel seniority from both overseas and UK companies. 77% of attendees were senior managers, company directors and owner/managers.
Top investment areas over the next 12 months according to the attendees is Digital Printing, Creative Services, Sheetfed Printing, Print Management, Post press, Packaging, Online/web to print, Wide Format.
According to the organisers, the areas of interest for the attendees were as follows:
Digital Printing – 44%
Commercial Printing – 23%
Finishing – 22.9%
Pre-press – 20%
Colour Management – 18%
Paper – 17.6%
Design & Creative - 17.2%
Inkjet – 16.3%
Digital Workflow – 16.2%
Packaging – 16.1%
Consumables – 13.2%
Wide Format – 12.8%
Since the last IPEX, there has been more of a consolidation rather than the introduction of new technologies, which has been accompanied by the fine tuning of inks, print heads and engineering to bring the best out of today’s printing machines. They attempt to give them the functioning and durability that everyone needs. In terms of the market, it is now larger than ever where equipment numbers are concerned and the expected growth concurs with new models and variations. On the other hand, the number of manufacturers in the mainstream has depleted.
The industry has also witnessed some major takeovers over the last couple of years. Canon and Océ, Agfa and Gandinnovations are good examples of this.
With the exception of the introduction of HP’s latex printing technologies, the innovation was dull for a couple of years. Then 2008 had a flood of more prestigious units making their way to market with a heavy-weight rush at FESPA Digital 2009 showing Durst, HP Scitex and Inca digital all representing their solutions, with each offering very different designs and constructions.
In the time that came after the 2007 FESPA exhibition, the more prestigious wide and super-wide machines appeared to be settling down peacefully with NUR’s Expedio being challenged in the UV-curable ink side only by Matan’s Barak. The HP takeover of NUR later that year did not seem to hinder the flood of printers all coming into the market, surprisingly at around the same time as one another. These were led in terms of time by WP Digital, with Durst and EFI Vutek appearing at FESPA Digital 2008 with their own new contributions for this market space.
More recently, it has become apparent that UV-curable ink technology has taken hold of the market in a big way, with machines being made available to all budgets, and output now sporting this chemistry.
Recently, there were rumours surrounding solvent inks, that they were slowly disappearing with innovation, however Ipex showed that solvent-based inks have not disappeared at all. This can be seen through the Epson’s Stylis Pro GS6000, which has been a hit with its photographic quality and lack of odour complemented by greater durability and an ink-set with a strong scope.
Seiko I Infotech has also been revived since January 2009 when a three-year agreement with HP ended. This resulted in mild solvent-based printers, which essentially brought the ColorPainter series back to the market. Roland DG has also continued to support its solvent-based chemistries but also brought out its first UV-curable printer, which is different to anything else available at present. Its use of white and clear has involved it in the packaging and prototyping markets with its print-and-cut capabilities. Similarly, Roland’s introduction in 2009 of the first metallic inkjet ink had its introduction in a mixture of a print-and-cut model. More recently, the company has conducted a redesign of of it’s VersaCam with the V6040, which also contour-cuts as well as handling metallic and white ink sets.
Roland had the print-and-cut ground to itself for many years until Mimaki (2008) launched its own print-and-cut family. These cost-effective selections undoubtedly bring competition to the market and, like Roland equivalents, are proving prevalent for solvent-based decals, stickers and small signs and displays, which are ripe for contour cutting.
Probably the most static in terms of print is the aqueous-based option, an area many thought would be forgotten at this stage. As such, growing numbers of photographers are moving across to digital cameras, and sales of Epson, HP and Canon printers continue to grow in space.
In many ways, the principles used in solid equipment haven’t changed too much in the past few years. Looking back four years at IPEX 2006, wide-format digital print had reached a zenith for the time.
The past four years have seen a progression of already active technologies rather than the materialization of new ones. These changes have also seen a separation of the digital market into more specialised chunks. Packaging and labelling seem to be finding their own sectors, whilst textiles, displays and general signs have been joined by a growing number of industrial applications.
It is difficult to say what will happen in the future. While industrial applications and new inks can supplement already existing technologies, it is likely that there will be the extensive change in evidence that has been witnessed at previous shows.
Wide-format digital print has grown astonishingly since its foundation; a levelling off and more direction into unusual and niche applications both confirm the maturity this process has reached today.
The following is a list of just some of the wide format exhibitors at Ipex
Agfa
Agfa Graphics offers a range of products for wide format inkjet applications. Delivering printers, inks, service and application know-how.
Products at IPEX: the latest configuration of Dotrix, which now features six colours and a low migration ink called Agorix LM. Additionally, they have the Anapurna 2500LED, which uses the company’s universal printheads and high powered LED curing. They also showcased the M-Press Tiger.
CGS
CGS offers solutions for wide format market include Oris Color Tuner/Web, a browser-based contract proofing option. Provides a range of proofing, colour managements and workflow software. Products at IPEX: Oris Color Tuner/Web is a browser-based contract proofing option, whilst Press Matcher produces files for digital machines as well as other output devices for standardised colour across multiple platforms. Oris’s Ink Saver provides intelligent colour-managing ink reduction and print optimisation. The Oris Certified Suite is a modular easy-to-use system for quality control of hard copy proofs, soft proofs and printed sheets.
Canon Europe
This company has two major sectors: consumer imaging (video, digital cameras, bubblejet printers) and Business solutions (including large format inkjet printers for commercial use). Products at IPEX: imagePrograf 8300, 6350 and 6300 models incorporate its new 12-colour Lucia Ex pigmented ink set, which features an enhanced colour gamut and improved durability.
Provides wide and super-wide printers and debuted the new Rho 50R, super-wide UV inkjet printer. Products at IPEX: Durst’s 5m Rho 500R is made its UK debut and sits alongside the Tau 150, a UV curable high-speed narrow web unit, which is suitable for industrial applications and materials such as labels.
EFI
Delivers value-added combinations of hardware, software and consumables. Its product portfolio includes Fiery digital colour print servers. Vutek super-wide digital inkjet printers, UV and solvent inks, Rastek UV wide-format inkjet printers and Jetrion industrial inkjet printing systems. Products at IPEX: The addition of a CRM module to EFI’s Pace integrated print management solution has extended its MIS capabilities to include redined tracking and customer liaison. PrintSmith Sign uses EFI’s existing management structure. The latest generation of the EFI Fiery XF is v4.1, which supports contour cutting machines with drivers for 1200 cutting and routing tables from 70 different manufacturers. EFI eXpress is another cross-platform product, which is designed to streamline proofing and photographic applications with production tools. The proofing option includes Ugra/Fogra (v2.2 and v3.0) and IDEAlliance (ISO 12647-7 2009).
Elpical Software
Elpical is now a specialist in the field of digital image enhancement and management. Products at IPEX: key products include Claro Single, Claro Premedia Server, Claro Layout, 4LeafClover and EmailManager.
Enfocus
An EskoArtwork company that provides modular tools to safeguard job quality throughout the complete production chain. Well-known product brands include instant PDF, PitStop and Switch. Products at IPEX: well-known brands include Instant PDF, PitStop and Switch.
Epson
Company: imaging products include printers and proofing options for a range of large-format markets such as photo, fine art and poster printing.
Products at IPEX: Epson Stylus Pro WT9700 inkjet machine, which demonstrates contract packaging proofs and sample production onto a diverse range of media. This machine features the company’s UltraChrome HDR_White ink set. The Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 printer utilises eco-solvent inks, which are extremely low odour and thus makes this machines ideal for applications which are designed for interior use.
EskoArtwork
An integrator of solutions for sign and display, packaging, commercial printing and professional publishing. Kongsberg short-run converting and signage finishing systems are part of its portfolio, alongside the Enfocus suite of PDF tools.
Products at IPEX: the new automation featured the Kongsberg i-XE10, so digital printing companies can bring production in house. The new Studio 10 interactive 3D packaging tools include an online library of packaging shapes, and claimed to be an industry first.
Folex
Folex offers a wide range of large-format inkjet media as well as products for HP Indigo, Nexpress and Xeikon pressed (digital printing), films for membrane switches (screen printing) and grinding stones complete the product range. Products at IPEX: Folabase Soft U, a synthetic underpacking foil which presents outstanding damping properties.
Four Pees
A worldwide distributer of ProofMaster and PrintFactory, a production suite for large format printing. Other represented brands include axaio software, Barbieri, callas software, CtrlPublishing and Elpical.
Products at IPEX: The ProofMaster for colour accurate contract proofs; and PrintFactory, a production suite for wide-format printing. Additional representation included Axaio software, Barbieri, Callas software, CtrlPublishing and Elpical.
Fujifilm
The Fujifilm portfolio includes pre-press and pressroom solutions for wide-format, digital and offset print, as well as workflow software for print production management. Products at IPEX: Inca Onset S20 flatbed high productivity machines complemented by the Uvistar 5m roll-to-roll machine. The Uvistar 3.5m and 5m printers are new additions, as well as the Print Run Controller.
Global Graphic Software
Company: developer of the Harlequin and Jaws Rips used in pre-press workflows, for colour printing and for wide-format proofing and printing.
Products at IPEX: it is the developer of the Harlequin and Jaws Rips and the gDoc range PDF and XPS edocument software for office workers. The Harlequin and Jaws Rips are used extensively in pre-press workflows for colour proofing and for wide-format proofing and printing.
GMG
Company: specialises in high-end colour management software solutions for the whole graphic arts industry including large-format printers.
Products at IPEX: the latest version of the ColorServer v4.6 allows files from multiple sources to be standardised for consistent output, with RGB to CMYK conversion and spot colour mapping.
GMP
GMP manufactures hot and cold laminating machines, including offerings for the large-format market. Also manufactures laminating films that are produced through the only co-extrusion coating lines in the laminating industry.
GTI Graphic Technology
Maker of colour viewing and lighting products for the graphic arts and photographic industries.
Products at IPEX: the designer and manufacturer of tight tolerance D5000 colour viewing and lighting products. The products are available under the name Graphiclite.
HP
The exhibitor with the broadest portfolio of commercial and industrial digital printing solutions at IPex. They demonstrated the potential of digital print, including wide- to super-wide format printing for indoor and outdoor applications.
Products at IPEX: HP Indigo 7000 Digital Press Series that help commercial printers deliver what their customers need, when they need it, with more value and less waste.
Leopold Professional Imaging
Leopold Professional Imaging supplies Fotoba X-Y cutters and finishing products, designed for wide-format media and able to sense cut mark data laid down by several leading Rips. Models up to 5m wide was seen at Ipex.
Products at IPEX: The XLD 170 is uniquely designed to work with both Rolls & Sheet and at 1.7m wide it is a extremely flexible solution for finishing production solutions
Mimaki Europe
Manufacturers are wide-format inkjet printers and cutting machines for the sign/graphics, textile/apparel and industrial markets.
Products at IPEX: Mimaki’s ground-breaking and future-oriented UV-LED technology, represented by its JFX and UJV-series was shown.
Oce Printing Systems
Wide-format offering includes printers for both colour display graphics and technical documentation. They showcased their high-speed digital production printers.
Products at IPEX: The Océ VarioPrint 6320 Ultra combines super-fast speed and tunable print quality and the Océ UV flatbed printer.
Roland DG
Products at IPEX: VersaCAMM VS-640, a next-generation printer/cutter that delivers entirely new application potential with genuine metallic ink and the advanced ink handling technology required to print it
Screen Europe
A part of Dainippon Screen (Kytoto Japan), Screen’s equipment includes workflow systems, Rips, platesetters and digital offset machines as well as wide format printers.
Products at IPEX: Screen PlateRite 8000N thermal platesetters and Truepress Jet SX is the world's first full colour B2 sheetfed inkjet press
Shuttleworth Business Systems
A print management systems developer and supplier with 25 years experience.
Products at IPEX: MIS, CRM and template estimating, sales order processing, costing, invoicing and accounting. Also DataFlow option, which gathers factory feedback so that it is easy to see all current job information.
Verivide
Supplied specialist lighting equipment and demonstrating its console for visual proofing. The company also has a Pantone distributer.
Products at IPEX: the Fenestra console was demonstrated to deliver a new level of excellence for visual proofing.
Xennia Technology
A chemistry-driven industrial inkjet integrator. Showcased a new machine incorporating Xennia’s industrial print modules; print engines, ink systems and software in a hybrid flexible/rigid substrate printing system.
Products at IPEX: the Xennia Sapphire scanning XY inkjet printer is designed for large area multi-colour printing onto flat substrates and the Xennia Viridian printer provides fast, high quality printing of narrow web materials including flexible packaging materials and label stocks, with the capability to print white or other undercoat layers and additional spot, metallic or overcoat inks
X-rite/Pantone
X-Rite, which now includes Pantone, provides colour management systems for proofing and calibrating scanners, monitors, Rips, printers and presses.
Products at IPEX: the EasyTrax is a semi-automated quality colour control solution, which features Windows 7 compliance. They also featured the X-Rite/Pantone full range of colour solutions.
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