SGIA Expo 2013: Think Wide!

With more than 219,000 sqft of Expo floor, the 2013 SGIA Expo will showcase the broadest range of products, supplies, materials, technologies, and applications in the screen printing, digital, graphic, garment, industrial, and installation sectors of the specialty imaging industry. SGIA will open its doors October 23-25, 2013 in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. In addition, this year the Expo will offer even more opportunities to attendees by partnering with the IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo—featuring new market ideas for digitally and screen-printed industrial fabrics.

Expo attendees look to the Association’s annual SGIA Expo and trade-show floor as the primary destination for the latest wide-format imaging innovations and market trends.

“The SGIA Expo is a primary gathering point and marketplace for EFI to demonstrate its unique automated workflow, including web-to-print systems, browser-based productivity software solutions, Fiery ProServer-driven digital presses, and several wide- and super wide-format digital inkjet printers,” said Ken Hanulec, Vice President of Marketing for Inkjet Solutions at EFI. “The SGIA event continues to be one of our most successful show venues worldwide.”

The 2013 Platinum sponsors include:

• Agfa Graphics
• Durst Image Technology US
• EFI
• FUJIFILM North America Corp. Graphic Systems Division
• Hewlett-Packard
• Seiko Instruments USA Inc

The 2013 Gold level sponsors include:

• INX International Ink Co.
• Roland DGA Corporation
• STAHLS

Educational Opportunities

A large part of the SGIA Expo revolves around its educational opportunities, and this year is no exception. Educational sessions at the Expo allows attendees to learn from industry experts in the classic Expo sessions, and the opportunity to try their hand at a new process in the Expo-exclusive Zones on the show floor.

Classic Expo Sessions

SGIA’s focused educational sessions offer the perfect mix of topics to meet the needs of your business. Customize your education line-up or choose from one of SGIA’s educational tracks tailored for your imaging community.

Zone Presentations

Whether you’re looking for more info about the latest digital technologies for garment decorating, color management, or installation, or perhaps you’re hoping to find the exact way to become profitable through sustainability or adding digital signage options, SGIA’s Zones have the free educational programming for you to get the job done — right on the show floor.

Color Management and Workflow Solutions Zone (Booth 440): In the free sessions here, learn about color management tools and techniques, as well as RIP technologies, quality assurance, color certification and more. Attendees can even “Ask the Color Expert” if they're looking for personal insight on a project.

Digital Textile Printing Zone (Booth 2080): Check out technical and design requirements, recommended workflows, color management tips, finishing techniques, and recommended best practices for a variety of ink and fabric combinations. Attendees can also see digital printing technologies in action, and meet students and faculty members from the Textile Design Program at Philadelphia University’s School of Design and Engineering.

Digital Signage Innovation Zone (Booth 658): Here attendees can learn about what goes on behind the screen to gain knowledge of the technologies and tools used in this growing sector of the industry. Digital signage can be used to convey messages, present variable or scheduled information, and can add a dynamic element to broader graphics projects. Stop by this Zone to learn more about how to add digital signage options to your business.

Printed Electronics & Membrane Switch Symposium (October 22–23)

After last year’s overwhelming success, this technical event is coming back to the SGIA Expo, and opening one day earlier. Here, attendees will find the most comprehensive and complete educational program for this growing segment of specialty imaging, focused on: Good manufacturing processes, through-hole printing, capacitive touch keypads, and more.

The Symposium features high-end educational programming, delivering relevant, near-future technical information, with sessions topics including:

• Surface Mount Technology (SMT)
• Light Guide Panels (LGPs)
• Mesh Selection & Stencil Preparation
• Finishing with Dimensional Forming

Showstoppers

The show floor will also be chock-full of the latest products in the wide-format sign and graphics market as well. Be sure to check out these "showstopping" products.

HP (Booth 1628) will showcase the new HP Scitex FB10000 Industrial Press for the first time in the US at SGIA. This industrial press allows high-volume PSPs to increase profitability by shifting their retail graphics and corrugated display applications from analog to digital. Powered by six-color HP Scitex High Dynamic Range Printing Technology, the HP Scitex FB10000 Industrial Press combines 16-gray-level printing with the ability to produce 1,000 B1 sheets in less than two hours.

The HP booth will also feature the recently announced HP Designjet Z5400 PostScript ePrinter and HP Latex 3000 Printer. The Designjet Z5400 PS ePrinter is the first multi-roll, large-format ePrinter for copy shops, providing easy media switching and reduced downtime. Creating a competitive advantage for high-volume PSPs, the HP Latex 3000 Printer offers broader media versatility, including heat-sensitive substrates. Third-generation HP 881 Latex Inks also provide a scratch resistance comparable to hard-solvent inks on certain substrates while the printer’s increased production capacity helps meet tight deadlines.

MACtac’s (Booth 2018) MACmark Marking Films offer an impressive range of colors, textures and finishes for large-scale wall and window murals, wall words, decorative elements, privacy and safety accents. Its wallChalker chalkboard vinyl installs anywhere, can be cut in any shape and has a deep black finish for high contrast with any color chalk. MACmark 8900 has the color for your design whether you want soft and subtle or bold and brilliant graphic. Glass Décor 600 features four stylish patterns on a glass-clear carrier to update interior windows and partition. Glass Décor 700 provides beautiful etched-glass effects for interior and exterior glass surfaces in frosted, dusted, and five satin-finished soft translucent color.

Value Vinyls (Booth 4027) will be displaying a variety of media and industrial printable fabrics ay SGIA Expo, including a wide selection of new printable industrial materials.

Gold sponsor INX Digital (Booth 2122) will offer a pair of new Triangle brand inks. MED is a UV LED ink developed for use in Mimaki 3042 UV LED desktop printers. Available in six colors plus white and compatible with Ricoh Gen 4 print heads, MED is more flexible than Mimaki LH100 series inks and offers tremendous benefits. Users can experience better adhesion to difficult and wider variety of plastics, in addition to high abrasion resistance and a smoother print surface without banding.

EGS alternative solvent inks are designed specifically for use with the Epson GS6000 printer. EGS has many benefits, including better Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) resistance and your choice of optional ink sets; match OEM with no color profiling necessary or one that offers a significant increase of outdoor durability compared to the OEM inks that requires color profiling for best color gamut.

Colter & Peterson (Booth 2365) will feature three Microcut retrofit back gauge computer retrofit kits adaptable to any size paper cutter from 20 to 150 inches. Mircocut BASIC, JR, and PLUS WS systems memorize cutting sequences instantly, store them indefinitely and recall them quickly at the touch of a button. The system improves production time by automatically programming a job while cutting the first lift, making automation effective for two or even three lift jobs.

American Inkjet Corporation (Booth 1233) is unveiling new inks for HP and Canon printers. The company now offers inks and remanufactured cartridges for the HP Designjet Z6200. The inks are designed to match OEM color and quality and have Delta E values of

Canon Solutions America, Inc. (Booth 1606) is showcasing the Océ Arizona 660 XT UV flatbed printer at SGIA Expo. It features six independent ink channels, multiple print configurations, and an extra-large table size. All Océ Arizona 660 models can be configured for maximum productivity or optimized White Ink utility; or with both White Ink and Varnish for maximum versatility.

Also, on the show floor will be the Océ ColorWave 900 printer. It has a raw print speed of more than 12,000-square-feet per hour. Delivering 3.4 billion, 1.2 picoliter drops of aqueous ink per second, the machine is able to produce resolutions of 1,600 x 1,600 dpi. With a maximum media width of 42 inches, the printer incorporates six media rolls, possessing a total input capacity of 13,650 square feet (up to 650 feet per roll).

Drytac's (Booth 654) WindowTac and ViziPrint, two specialty adhesive solutions for stunning window graphics, will be on full display at the Expo. Drytac will also debut two new aqueous-based liquid coaters and feature SilkScape, the latest print media for its line of retractable banner stands. In addition, Drytac experts will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the various product lines.

The EFI (Booth 2601) VUTEk GS3250LX is a fully loaded, production-level LED UV-curing hybrid printer. It integrates with EFI Web-to-print and MIS solutions with native JDF connectivity between the Fiery XF RIP and VUTEk system to deliver a powerful, sustainable process improvement opportunity. The 3.2m EFI VUTEk HS100 Pro is a versatile high-speed digital UV press with productivity and image quality that will appeal to screen printers and the commercial sector wanting a cost-effective digital platform to produce longer sheet runs at a low total cost of ownership.

Fisher Textiles (Booth 2422) has added style GF 9766 Poly Cube (FR) to its grand-format fabric line for dye sublimation printing. It is 6.6 oz/yd2 and 118 inches wide. This bright white woven fabric is flame retardant and passes NFPA 701. It is 100 percent Polyester. In addition to office cubicle walls and partitions other applications include ceilings and conference room walls.

The new Mutoh (Booth 248) ValueJet 1617H - 64" hybrid printer is newest addition to the ValueJet line. It prints on both rigid and roll-to-roll materials using Mutoh's UV alternative, MP Ink. With a half inch print height and white ink capability, the VJ 1617H is perfect for endless applications including packaging prototypes, trade show displays, POP signage and indoor and outdoor graphics.

Neschen Americas (Booth 1428) is showcasing the new SEAL 65 Pro MD high-production laminator. Measuring 65 inches wide, this newly designed, multi-functional laminator delivers SEAL quality and performance at a competitive price. The 65 Pro MD is ideal for finishing professionals in a high production shop running both hot and cold applications. It can run thermal films at twice the speed of other laminators on the market.  

Paradigm Imaging Group (Booths 201, 1601) has introduced the latest addition to the SID Triton printer line—the Triton 160. It is the first 63-inch eco solvent printer in the SID lineup, and features a single Epson four-color print head which is adjustable up to .25 inches to accommodate thicker media such as foam board or polystyrene. The Triton 160 prints up to 161 sq. ft. per hour (at 720 dpi, four pass), or for projects requiring higher resolution, 86 sqft/hr (at 1440 dpi, 8 pass).

Reprographic Technology International (Booth 3237) will be showing its Vortex 4200 printer, powered by Memjet. The printer targets several print applications, including CAD, AEC, GIS and point-of-sale graphics with a combination of speed and quality never before thought possible. Inside the Vortex 4200 is Memjet technology with five printheads for single-pass wide format printing of uncompromised speed and quality.

Roland DGA’s (Booth 828) new 64-inch SOLJET Pro 4 XF-640 is built for speed, precision and performance. Equipped with the industry’s most advanced dual mirrored print heads, a reinforced chassis, redesigned take-up and pinch roller systems and wide-gamut Eco-Sol MAX 2 inks, this next generation printer delivers vibrant, detailed images at speeds up to 1,098 sqft/hr.

Seiko I Infotech Inc. (Booth 1822) has released the ColorPainter M-64s, a new low odor mild-solvent, high-speed inkjet printer. It offers 64-inch (162cm) wide printing in six or seven colors, with speeds up to 66 sqm/h. The high speed printing capability of the M-64s was developed specifically to address the growing demand for high productivity from the signage and indoor graphics markets.

Direct Print Textiles from Top Value Fabrics (Booth 1638) provide an advanced printing platform for superior banners, flags, exhibit graphics, fine art reprints and advertising displays. Textiles include 3.2 oz. Flag Polyester, 3.3 oz. Polyester Satin, 5.2 oz. Stretch Polyester, 6 oz. Polyester and 7.3 oz. Heavy Polyester. The innovative fabrics are available in widths from 61” – 126”, meet NFPA 701 FR specifications and are REACH Compliant.

The Expolinc Panel Base from Expolinc (Booth 1035) has been the talk of the industry with its arrival this year. It is an ideal, timeless solution for rigid graphic panels. Made of anodized aluminum and available in three different widths (3 inches - sold in pairs, 15 3/4 inches, 24 inches), the Panel Base works perfectly in different environments. The Panel Base is also able to hold the Magnet Frame, which is a double-sided frame that holds flexible, easily transported graphics with magnets.