Taste of PRINT 17: Preview the Show Floor Here First

The largest gathering of the printing, publishing, in-plant, graphic communications, and mailing/fulfillment communities in the Americas, is back in Chicago for PRINT 17 September 10-14.

PRINT 17, owned and produced by NPES, The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, brings together the industry’s most advanced technologies and products, touching every aspect of the business, all in one place. Use this guide to help you plan the best use of your time at the show. And don’t forget to check out the MUST SEE ‘EMs to see some of the most innovative technologies available today.

Showstoppers

KBA—Booth 213
KBA is spotlighting its new LED-UV technology, KBA’s VariDry LED-UV. KBA personnel will be on hand to discuss LED-UV curing, a low-energy drying technology that delivers numerous benefits. These include a particularly high print quality, ability to stand out on critical uncoated and offset stock with sharp dots and high color brilliance, no fold breaks even with high ink coverage due to elastic polymerization, and the elimination of printing powder. The LED-UV process is environmentally friendly because it consumes little energy and its ink systems are free from mineral oils. It consumes only 20% of the energy needed by conventional UV processes.

Morgana Systems—Booth 226
Morgana Systems is debuting its next generation DigiFold Pro 385 at PRINT 17. “The Morgana DigiFold 385 has long been the benchmark product in the creaser/folder sector,” said Ray Hillhouse, vice president of sales and marketing. “With the improvements in speed and productivity for the current crop of digital print engines, Morgana has provided an additional option for our customers.” The model incorporates a high-capacity vacuum top-feeder that can take a sheet pile of up to 17.5 inches.

GMC Software—Booth 244
GMC Software is showcasing GMC Inspire Designer, the heart of GMC Inspire, a leading solution for creating, managing, and delivering quality customer communications that span the entire customer journey, across multiple channels. As part of GMC Inspire, GMC Inspire Designer integrates with a print provider’s core systems, enabling rapid repurposing of existing print-based content to create high-impact digital communications. The solution features an omnichannel preview that can simultaneously display on one screen the print, web, tablet, and mobile versions of the communication for easier and quicker testing and compliance.

Aurigma—Booth 251
Customer’s Canvas is a 3rd party web-to-print editor that supports personalization capabilities for nearly any type of print products, including business cards, marketing collateral, photo books, magazines, mugs, t-shirts, hats, stationery, seals, and stamps. It is a powerful editor component that can be used with custom web-to-print systems, and can integrate seamlessly into any existing website without requiring changes. Customer’s Canvas also supports Adobe Photoshop templates, designed to make life easier on printers and enabling them to provide a user-friendly online ordering experience for their customers.

PrinterBridge by 4over—Booth 435
4over is exhibiting its new web-to-print solution PrinterBridge, a solution in line with the company’s goal to empower customers to transform their businesses with innovative products and technology. PrinterBridge lets print providers offer customers an expanded library of print offerings through a completely customizable, fully functioning online storefront; you can configure the product options, control the markups, and take the next step in streamlining your company’s growth. PrinterBridge lets you take control, as you manage sales performance while growing your customer base and market visibility.

Crawford Technologies—Booth 454
CrawfordTech is highlighting its 20-plus years of workflow experience with PRO Conductor. This robust workflow solution is being featured at PRINT 17 with an interactive dashboard. The powerful dashboard provides organizations with insights and real-time updates on everything happening within their production workflows, including the status of integrated production hardware and software solutions. With the dashboard, operations can connect all of their processes within a powerful workflow solution, resulting in end-to-end management. In addition, the dashboard can be configured for a number of different users, providing self-service and transparency to both internal and external customers. 

Messagepoint—Booth 455
Messagepoint Inc. is exhibiting its cloud-based content management platform. Messagepoint software makes it possible for service providers to easily and cost-effectively meet the customer communications management needs of their enterprise customers, driving the pace of change for omnichannel print and digital customer communications. By providing an intuitive and secure environment for business users to directly own and control touch-point messaging content and business rules, Messagepoint makes it possible for a high level of collaboration. Enterprise customers can create, modify, and approve customer messaging content and targeting rules in customer touch points across all channels through an intuitive cloud-based application prior to production.

PressWise by SmartSoft—Booth 538
PressWise streamlines your operation, letting you run your entire shop with a single, affordable, end-to-end MIS, and workflow automation solution. PressWise comes complete with robust features such as web ordering, unlimited templates, estimating, quoting, order processing, workflow management, complete shipping integration, fulfillment, and the ability to integrate with most third party web storefronts and existing back-end accounting systems such as QuickBooks.

Aleyant—Booth 542
Aleyant is highlighting tFLOW, a powerful digital and large format automation workflow solution that is already integrated into the Aleyant ecosystem. tFLOW simplifies and automates difficult file management tasks and processes to increase efficiency and production throughput. It auto-receives files via your Aleyant Pressero storefront or 3rd party web-to-print solution. Jobs are automatically checked and fixed as they arrive, and clients are automatically sent proof files for approval. You can auto-send print-ready production files to specific departments, or to 3rd party imposition software, RIPs, or cutters. Use tFlow's built-in collaboration, chat, and review feature with customers and your team to eliminate email chains, text messages, and calls.

Hop-Syn—Booth 558
Hop-Syn is displaying its BL Synthetic Paper for backlit displays. The white translucent polypropylene sheet is used by big brands and print partners for transit posters in bus shelters, airports, and major retail stores throughout the U.S. The calendered sheet offers a unique combination of features, such as a smooth matte and a 63% translucent white finish that produces sharp images with high color density. Even when not backlit at night, or in daylight, the BL grade still allows printed images to shine. Hop-Syn BL offers the print performance and quality of backlit polyester, but at a fraction of the cost.

HP—Booth 613
The 29-inch HP Indigo 12000 digital press produces a wide range of commercial applications, delivering superior print quality, high productivity, and wide versatility. The press brings breakthrough printing capabilities that extend unique, high-value opportunities to grow business. The HP Indigo 12000 delivers extremely smooth and sharp prints, matching or even exceeding offset quality. Specialty media printing, using One Shot transfer of all color separations in one pass with perfect registration, and expands application possibilities to specialty substrates. Produce photo canvas, plastic cards, synthetic products, and high-end metalized prints. Use HP PrintOS Site Flow to efficiently manage any number of jobs per day, even hundreds or thousands.

Epson—Booth 831
Epson is showcasing the new SureColor P5000 Commercial Edition with SpectroProofer. The 17-inch desktop production printer leverages the 10-color Epson UltraChrome HDX pigment ink with Violet ink for an expanded color gamut, delivering 99 percent PANTONE PLUS FORMULA GUIDE solid-coated color matching. Touting the optional SpectroProofer, it quickly and easily automates profile creation, optimization, and verification tasks for simplified contract and remote proofing. The improved design includes a 10-channel PrecisionCore TFP print head with new ink-repellant surface coating, improved dust and static control, and printless nozzle checks to support increased efficiency for the graphic design, flexographic, and proofing market.

OpenSoft—Booth 837
InkRouter from OpenSoft is an automated print procurement solution that cultivates a new model in job routing. By connecting print sellers and print providers via a global network, the API technology develops new markets and advances the growth of trade printing without adding iron on the floor. InkRouter uses an algorithmic adaptive intelligence to find the lowest landed cost in the most convenient locations for print sellers. Its bi-directional API technology facilitates and matches orders based on JDF/CIP4 compatible XML definitions at no charge for the transaction.

BÖWE SYSTEC North America—Booth 841
BÖWE SYSTEC’s is displaying its Fusion Cross Inserter, for transactional mail applications. It delivers a cycle speed of 22,000 envelopes per hour for all folded envelope sizes and up to 16,000 per hour for flats. It can automatically changeover between any folded or flat-sized envelope in fewer than five minutes. It also features the user-friendly cockpit operating system with easy to configure recipe-driven application programming. This market proven inserting platform provides the direct mail segment with unprecedented throughput and efficiency, dramatically changing the capabilities for direct mailers and their unique challenges and complexities.

Rollem International—Booth 845
Rollem International is spotlighting two Insignia sheetfed die cutters, designed to fill the void for shorter-run fast turnaround die cutting for packaging, direct mail, and labels. Die-cut, kiss cut, score, and emboss with this easy to operate flexo-magnetic die cutter. Two Insignia models will be on display—the IS6 20x20 and the IS7 30x24. Key features include speeds up to 5,000sph, quick changeover, and the ability to handle stocks up to 24-pt. thickness including plastics, PVC, polypropylenes, and Tyvek. Live die-cutting demonstrations will include presentation folders, folding cartons, labels, and shaped mail.

Pitney Bowes—Booth 848
Pitney Bowes is highlighting its Epic Inserting System, a high-speed, multi-format solution cost that effectively combines high-performance physical mailing capabilities with precise advanced digital intelligence to process complex transactional mail applications with demonstrated integrity and high yield to simplify capacity planning, increase operational productivity, lower total cost of ownership, and improve return on investment. An intuitive digital user interface makes it easy for operators to view progress and identify risks. Real-time reporting and alerts help operators quickly adapt to changing conditions to facilitate a seamless flow of work from one stage to the next.

DNSC—Booth 854
DNSC showcases its x-Nano digital ink solutions for color applications, magnetic MICR, invisible NIR/UV fluorescent, and the innovative INKcrypt ink. INKcrypt inexpensively and securely eliminates counterfeiting and unauthorized alteration using item-unique DNA identity markers, which can be authenticated on the spot using Qtouch test strips. Also on display are Spector ProX invisible UV fluorescent ink-signature analyzer, and X-Series pigment powders and dispersions for various security and special effect applications associated with ink, paint, paste, dispersions, gel, cream, and powder for digital and non-digital printing applications.

Canon—Booth 1213
Canon USA is featuring the Océ VarioPrint i300 digital press with ColorGrip. The VarioPrint i300 can help printers find the right solutions to create new market opportunities, particularly in the growing graphic arts market. Powered by Océ iQuarius technologies, the VarioPrint i300 features innovations allowing for robust, high quality prints at high speeds. Providing outstanding performance and reliability, the versatile output of the VarioPrint i300 lends itself to creative applications on a variety of media types in the transaction, direct mail, book, and commercial print markets.

Duplo USA—Booth 1225
Duplo USA is spotlighting its new DDC-810 Digital Spot UV Coater. A compact and design-driven solution, the DDC-810 utilizes 600x600 dpi inkjet technology, UV lamp curing, and camera image registration to deliver production output with texture and depth by applying a gloss varnish to defined areas of the substrate. Using the PC Controller software, operators can easily set up a job in four simple steps to begin producing applications within minutes. Its CCD camera system along with unique registration marks ensures the most accurate registration of the spot UV layer onto the printed document.

Standard Horizon—Booth 1231
The Standard Horizon BQ-480 is the latest introduction in Horizon’s line of perfect binders, setting new standards in automation and efficient, high quality production. The BQ-480 paces its class in several key areas, including set-up and changeover for variable book production, where it reaches a maximum speed of 800 books per hour for book of one production, supporting book thicknesses from 0.04 inches to 2.56 inches. Designed to meet the requirements of PUR book binding, the BQ-480 includes a gentle elevator delivery system with a mere 5 millimeter drop to deliver books without damage or marking.

Xerox—Booth 1302
Xerox is highlighting the new Xerox Trivor 2400 High Fusion Inkjet Press, integrating the Trivor 2400 Inkjet Press with new High Fusion Ink. The system combines high-speed inkjet printing with standard offset coated stocks to enable printing on higher value personalized communications such as direct mail, catalogs, and magazines. High Fusion Ink enables inkjet printing directly to offset coated stocks, eliminating the need for treatments, coatings, primers, and other intermediary print processes and expensive papers. The aqueous pigment inks are designed with high performance solvents and binders that optimize wetting and drying on a range of gloss, matte, and silk offset coated media, while also performing on uncoated media.

Kirk-Rudy—Booth 1648
Kirk-Rudy, Inc. is featuring its newest inkjet printing system. The UltraJet v21 is a high-resolution, high-speed small format inkjet system designed to meet the rigorous demands of a production environment. The 2.12-inch piezo inkjet print head can produce consistent 600-dpi quality at high speeds. This system can easily connect up to four print heads and can be configured to work in line with other systems for a large variety of variable data printing. Available in aqueous or UV versions, the UltraJet v21 is powered by Kirk-Rudy’s own XJet software, features a pneumatic head lift, and is extremely easy to use with very little maintenance.

Ricoh—Booth 2022
The eye-catching colors of the Ricoh Pro C7110X are game-changers that can empower commercial printers to achieve graphic greatness. The Ricoh Pro C7110X, a 90 ppm, five-color digital press with a fifth color station, supports an impressive array of toners including neon, clear, and white. There’s never been more to see with the Ricoh Pro C7110X’s fifth color station’s eye-catching white and neon options. These features make it possible for users to produce 1200x4800 dpi images on dark media, while any of the color combinations work well with window clings, VDP, POP displays, and custom materials.

Komori America Corporation—Booth 2607
Under the theme “Vision 20/20,” Komori will highlight its vision of the future by showcasing its Impremia IS29 inkjet sheetfed UV printing system. The Impremia IS29 is an innovative machine that delivers on Komori’s three core competencies—product reliability, high quality, and substrate freedom. “Vision 20/20” underscores the company’s continued commitment to offer solutions that expand potential and improve margins with the ability to produce diverse print communications. Following that path, Komori will share offset presses, digital printing systems, and postpress equipment along with software and K-Supply products that support quality and productivity.

MBM—Booth 2644
MBM is showcasing the Aerocut Prime Complete. This air feed slitter/cutter/creaser perforator finishing solution for finishing is well-suited for short-run digitally printed applications. The Aerocut Prime Complete includes the new Tri-Suction Feeding Mechanism, Flex Mode, and barcode reader, which allows the machine to program itself for a particular job. The solution also includes Lytrod software to simplify the task of formatting, imposing, and adding personalized information to documents for fast and efficient cutting on the Prime.

Eagle Systems—Booth 3002
Eagle Systems is displaying three cold foiling machines in varied sizes in its booth. Lithographic cold foiling is an inline printing process on a sheetfed offset press that allows a metallic foil to be positioned anywhere on a printed sheet with litho precision producing halftones, fine lines to 200 line screens at press speeds. The ability to utilize multiple webs from 2 inches to full press width allows for major cost savings ideal for both long and short runs. Since this foil is overprinted, it allows for infinite color choices all in one pass.

Masterpiece Graphix Glassmate—Booth 3143
The next generation of static cling, Masterpiece Graphix GlassMate is an ultra-low-tack, washable, removable/repositionable decal film intended for use indoors or outdoors, primarily on glass or other very smooth, glossy surfaces. The proprietary adhesive system allows the decal, when applied properly to a clean glass surface, to remain in place indefinitely on most interior applications, and then be removed easily and without any adhesive residue. The facestock is formulated with a blend of plasticizers designed to enhance printability and to extend the shelf life of the product.

OKI Data Americas—Booth 3218
OKI Data America is demonstrating flagship digital color printer, the proColor C942. Redefining both what can be printed and what can be printed on, the C942 CMYK + White digital color printer uses industry-best white toner for breathtaking graphics in highly specialized—and affordable—short runs. Attendees can see how the C942’s white toner is printed as a standalone spot color or laid under CMYK for captivating color prints on a vast array of media, including light and dark stocks weighing up to 360 gsm.

Spiral Binding—Booth 3808
Spiral Binding is spotlighting the EX610 high-speed automatic punch. The EX610 maximizes productivity and can reach up to 8,400 cycles, or 125,000 punched sheets, per hour. It is compatible with a number of different sheet widths and dies, including Wire-O, plastic comb, Velobind, and more. The continuous paper loading increases productivity without stopping the machine while a turnover drum keeps pre-collated pages in order. The EX610’s simple setup and user-friendly operation save time and allow users to focus their energy elsewhere, thereby decreasing labor costs and promoting production where needed most.

Memjet—Booth 3822
Memjet is showcasing its new pigment-based printing platform, DuraLink., which builds on the transformative VersaPass inkjet print head technology. At PRINT 17, visitors to the Memjet booth will see how the quality of these fast, affordable, and easy-to-use printing technologies unleashes infinite potential for printers of all types. Visitors will see demonstrations of Memjet-powered solutions from IPT Digital, New Solution, and Printware. Memjet will also showcase how the quality, flexibility, and affordability of DuraLink enables the creation of affordable solutions for high-volume printing markets.

GPA Specialty Fine Papers—Booth 3840
GPA is showcasing its collection of specialty papers engineered specifically for dry toner presses, available exclusively in the North American market through GPA. This lineup brings a never-before-seen selection of high end papers to the dry toner arena, offering opulent textures, pearlescent shimmers, and recycled or translucent options to create more captivating print. This collection is perfect for creating distinguished photo books and prints, direct mail, corporate communications, stationery, marketing collateral, and other value-added products in today’s most lucrative markets. This collection helps end-users seeking more tactile and engaging stocks make a stronger impact on their audience for greater profitability.

Mimaki—Booth 4019
The JFX200-2513 wide format flatbed printer is a 4x8-foot landscape-oriented model that is small enough to fit into most print shops. With the capability to print onto thick substrates, it offers the ability to produce a diverse range of prints for both indoor and outdoor use. It is well suited for applications in the printing industry such as packaging prototyping; and in the signage industry for backlit displays, signs and posters, interior décor, glass and metal decorative panels, and more. White and clear inks plus jettable primer are available.

EFI—Booth 4022
The EFI Productivity Workbench provides an actionable web-based intelligence dashboard with one-click real-time access to task-based, customized, business critical data. Available for all six of EFI’s Productivity Suite workflow products, the Workbench connects multiple EFI systems, gathering real time data with "ContextSense" links back into the system, providing visibility and accountability for estimating, capacity utilization, AP functions, shipping, and more in a live dashboard. Users can quickly order and retrieve “what if” business planning capabilities, and an EFI ConnectMe collaborative chat functionality in the Workbench provides direct links to database records to communicate with other users or groups of users.