Graphics of the Americas Opens Thursday

Beginning this Thursday, February 21, graphic communications professionals will gather in Orlando, FL, for the 2013 Graphics of the Americas Expo & Conference (GOA). The event runs February 21-23 at the Orange County Convention Center and features a full slate of education sessions in addition to the cutting edge expo.

Session topics this year include: Prepress & Production; Digital Printing; Sales & Marketing; Management; Wide Format; Publishing; Design & Creative; Photoshop; InDesign; and Web & Interactive.

Attendees who anticipate the Cre8 Conference should be aware that the annual learning hub for designers and publishers has been renamed Digital Classroom Live! American Graphics Institute (AGI) presents the co-located Digital Classroom Live!, a one-stop-shop for creative professionals to update their creative skills and interact with the experts. More than 30 workshops are offered covering design, Adobe Creative Suite applications, and the skills necessary for succeeding in print, digital, and Web publishing.

These popular sessions are presented by the team of authors and instructors who create the Digital Classroom series of books, videos, and online content.

Nano Keynote

GOA will open with a Thursday, February 21 keynote luncheon entitled, "Nanography: The Second Digital Printing Revolution." Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis and pre-registration is encouraged. Ohad Axelrod, product line and segment manager at Landa will discuss commercial global printing trends, how they affect mainstream printing, and will elaborate on the way Landa’s Nanographic Printing process allows printers to economically produce short-to-medium run lengths.

"We are happy to have the opportunity to speak to representatives from a variety of established and high-growth markets," says Axelrod. "I look forward to meeting our current, and perhaps future, customers at Graphics of the Americas."

Graphics of the Americas Expo & Conference (GOA) announces that many of the industry's most prestigious exhibitors have signed on to showcase the latest industry solutions at the 2013 GOA show, being held February 21-23, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA.

"We are extremely pleased with the number of new and returning exhibitors coming to this year's Orlando show," says George Ryan, GOA President. "Attendees will have a first-hand opportunity to speak with senior-level representatives from companies such as Ricoh, Xerox, Konica Minolta, Xanté, Esko, Mutoh, MGI USA, Inc., to name a few. We invite our North and Latin American friends, and the growing populations coming from Asia and other overseas regions, to come see what they may have missed at drupa or Graph Expo."

Expo Roundup

Of course, everything will revolve around the exhibits, demos, and new products being showcased on the expo floor. Some of the not-to-be missed highlights include:

• Xanté Corporation, Booth 635, will bring its complete digital printing portfolio to GOA. The company will showcase the Memjet-powered Excelagraphix 4200 and Excelagraphix 850, plus the Ilumina 650 GS Series, Impressia Digital Multi-Media Press, PlateMaker 6, and the newest version of iQueue Ultimate Prepress Workflow at the show.

• Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, Booth 501, will showcase its latest designs in bizhub office printers and multifunctional products (MFPs), new bizhub PRESS production printers, and award-winning software innovations.

• Mutoh, Booth 971, will be showcasing the ValueJet 1638-64-inch printer. The ValueJet 1638 is known for its staggered dual heads, which create vivid, high-quality prints at speeds over 1,012 square feet/hour. Mutoh will also be demonstrating print-and-cut solutions on the ValueJet 1624, the Wrapper's Choice printer, and new ValueCut Cutting Plotters.

• Rollem International, Booth 409, will preview the 2D Automatic Finisher. The 2D Finisher is an entry-level, bi-directional slitting, scoring, and perforating system for finishing multiple-up photo cards, greeting cards, mailers, and postcards. This system eliminates the need for guillotine cutting and extra manpower, while delivering 100 percent accurate trimming and scoring on digitally printed products. Rollem will also display the multi-function Auto-4 CPS Numbering, Perforating, Scoring and Slitting system. The multiple numbering feature places up to 40 numbers on a single sheet. The computer control offers job recall at the touch of a button, and also offers batch counting features.

• OKI Data Americas, Booth 523, will demonstrate its innovative proColor Series of high impact, digital color printers, including the pro511DW, pro900/905DP and—making its GOA debut—the new 711WT, featuring white toner. Ideal for short-run printing, the proColor line delivers color accuracy and speed whether running labels, cut sheets, or envelopes with variable data and variable graphics. Representatives will be available to speak about special financing options at the OKI proColor booth.

• Arlon, Booth 971, will demonstrate its new Series 2300X, a specialty textured wrap film that comes in both carbon fiber and brushed metal finishes. Series 2300X is an ultra-conformable textured film that allows vehicle customization with special effects, while maintaining a professional look and finish. Arlon's X-Scape Technology permits quick and easy installation. Applied with heat, the film will stretch around simple and moderate curves, from bumpers to mirrors. Visitors will also see the company’s flagship digital vehicle wrap product DPF 6000XRP.

• Esko, Booth 1135, will demonstrate a wide array of software solutions addressing artwork, management, design and prepress, color management, workflow automation, and process integration for commercial print, wide-format, and packaging. Esko Suite 12 introduces new productivity and efficiency benefits.

The new Kongsberg i-XN24, a highly versatile and productive digital finishing system, can be configured for the widest range of applications, from kiss-cutting to packaging mockups, heavy-duty milling, and simple to complex flexo plate cutting with ID marking.

Visitors can also learn about PantoneLIVE support. PantoneLIVE within Esko's workflows delivers an end-to-end color management and color communication solution.

• Nilpeter, Booth 555 and sponsor of The FlexoZone, brings the state-of-the-art version of the industry's quality workhorse, the FB-3, to GOA. In the FB-3, the latest technology is integrated into a new, ground-up designed platform. The ergonomically designed printing stations include five servos for complete automation of all adjustments including job save, job load, and job change, as well as pre-setting, impression settings, and side register load.

The dual axis servo transport system ensures that the FB-3 will continually deliver the highest level of print reproduction, as well as unparalleled registration performance. Other features include Nilpeter's CLEANINKING system, quick-release anilox rollers, and plate cylinders, which combine with the available quick-change Revolver die-cutting system.

• Zund America, Booth 571, is exhibiting the versatile and cost-effective digital cutting/routing system built for 24/7 production, the G3. The G3 M-1600, with an active cutting area of 52x63 inches, will be on display in the Wide Format Print Shop Live! As is the case with all Zund machines, this smallest of 11 G3 models can be equipped with a range of modular tools for kiss-cutting, through-cutting, oscillating and rotary cutting, creasing/scoring, and v-cutting, as well as 2D and 3D routing of materials up to 2-inches thick. 

• MGI USA, Booth 723, will showcase the new JETvarnish 3D inkjet spot UV coater. The JETvarnish 3D gives graphics professionals a dual set of tools to increase profitability—traditional flat spot UV coating, and new 3D raised effects—together for the first time, in one production unit. Also on display will be MGI's flagship Meteor DP8700 XL multi-substrate digital press, featuring a wide range of compatible substrates (paper, plastics, and envelopes), sheet sizes up to 13x40 inches in production, laser-safe prints, and no click charges.

• Lithco, Booth 514, is a manufacturer, master distributor, and blanket converter—and now the home of Gaebel rulers. See a comprehensive selection of prepress, press, and bindery supplies available from one source at Lithco. Lithco will offer show specials on magnifiers, Pantone, Gaebel rulers, micrometers, Correct-A-Plate Pens, Myron L meters, and more.

• Coastal Business Supplies, Booth 1400, features the new wide format 42-inch Mutoh RJ-900X. This newly upgraded model is ideal for everyday sublimation transfer printing for apparel, banners, hard surface substrates, and more due to its superior line sharpness, continuous tones, and smooth transitions in its photo quality prints. The new model features high print speeds and improved paper handling capability, as well as Intelligent Interweave technology to eliminate banding.

• AFINIA, a division of Microboards Technology LLC, Booth 1154, will be showing the L801 Label Printer. Based on market-changing inkjet technology from Memjet, the L801 is positioned to bridge the gap between high-speed and desktop printing applications by putting variable, full-color print in the hands of a wide range of users.

• MultiCam Inc., Booth 343, is enhancing the digital finishing market with three affordable, easy-to-use Computerized Numeric Control (CNC) cutting solutions that route, knife cut, crease, and perforate at speeds up to 7000 ipm. The EZ Knife is an automatic knife-changing system that supports rotary, kiss-cut, drag, angle-knife, oscillating, and ultrasonic cutting. MultiCam's exclusive MultiVision digital camera/software-based registration system recognizes fiducials visually, aligns images, and automatically corrects distortion and rotation.

• Xitron, Booth 1349, will highlight its full array of prepress and pressroom workflow in conjunction with Xitron dealer Global Prepress Systems of Boca Raton, FL. Featured products will include Navigator Workflow (Harlequin RIP), with live demonstrations offered, Xenith Sierra Workflow (Adobe PDF Print Engine), and KeySetter Connect ink key presetting and closed loop color control.

• Intergraph, Booth 701, Enfocus’ distributor to the Latin American market, will offer attendees one-on-one demonstrations of Enfocus software. Enfocus Switch allows users to accomplish repetitive tasks associated with receiving, sorting, and processing files automatically. Switch's automation of these tasks standardizes processes, reduces errors, and frees up resources; resulting in substantial savings in time and money.

PitStop Pro 11 introduces Smart Preflight & Correction—a flexible way for designers to preflight and correct files to their specific production requirements. Smart Preflight is more powerful and accurate than previous PitStop preflight solutions, resulting in higher quality PDFs.

• Goss International, Booth 715, will highlight press models that are central to its leadership position in North and Latin America, including the Goss M-500, M-600 and Sunday presses. M-500 commercial web presses feature proven technology to deliver high print quality, efficiency, and reliability at up to 40,000 impressions per hour. The latest generation Goss M-600 16-page press features enhanced Autoplate technology, optional DigiRail inking, advanced workflow, presetting, and “smart” inker technology, all designed to minimize makeready time and waste.

The Sunday Vpak presses provide the productivity and print quality advantages of web offset, along with high-tech inking and exacting control over presetting, register, color and tension. The Sunday Vpak 3000 is available in web widths of up to 75 inches (1905mm) to address the growing trend towards wider web packaging, while the Vpak 500 model is available in web widths of up to 41 inches (1041mm).

• Color-Logic, Booth 564, will demonstrate the latest version of its Process Metallic Color System software. Also on display will be a new and enhanced DVD, including press-ready marketing files which can be utilized by licensed printers to demonstrate the special metallic effects available with the Color-Logic System.