Transform Your Business in Chicago

GRAPH EXPO 15 and the co-located CPP EXPO (September 13 - 16, 2015) in Chicago's McCormick Place South will offer a veritable cornucopia of products and information specifically on the wide- and grand-format visual communications market.

Of special interest to attendees is several of the special show floor features that will showcase wide-format’s growing role within the commercial print market. Applications Island, a brand new show floor feature, will showcase unique new print and wide-format applications. Sponsored by the International Sign Association (ISA) it will be a show floor "oasis" of hot, unique new print applications. This new beach-themed gallery, completely created by print applications with everything from the display walls, to the floor graphics, to the furniture, will also feature print categories that include cross-media direct mail, digital label, books, and more.

Back for a third year, the Inkjet Candy Store is a freestanding show floor pavilion dedicated to a dozen or so of the latest wide-format printers, representing the gamut of inkjet technologies—from aqueous to UV, from rollfed to flatbed—and highlighting the applications for which they were well-suited.

"In keeping with this year's 'Transform' themed GRAPH EXPO, these show floor features are concrete demonstrations of how the graphic communications industry is indeed transforming," said Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) President Ralph Nappi. "These show floor attractions demonstrate the variability and versatility of the industry."

Educational Opportunities

Graph Expo 15 will also present this year's most relevant and in-depth roster of seminars, hands-on lab sessions, and workshops-for the graphic communications industry.
"The graphic communications industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, which makes the 'Transform' show theme especially relevant," said Nappi. "The educational slate at this year's show reflects that transformation and provides information and insight into the evolution of the existing and emerging technologies that attendees can use to build their businesses."

The seminar program will cover a broad range of topics including, but not limited to: Digital Printing, Direct Mail, Inkjet, Printed Electronics, In-Plant Printing, Color Matching, the Internet, Augmented Reality, Wide-Format, Value Added, Design and Marketing, Package Printing, Sales, Acquisitions, Hybrid Documents, Offset Printing, Personnel, and much more. Examples of session topics include:
• "Super Staffing: TechCreative Tactics to Gain YOUR Competitive Edge"
• "Digital Press Integration: DOs & DON'Ts for Commercial Print Workflow"
• "Printed Electronics: Pioneering the 'High Voltage' Profits Potential"
• "Only the Best In-Plants will Survive - The Secrets of Leading In-Plants"
• "Internet Savvy: Secrets to Super-Effective Sales Prospecting"
• "New Tech Opportunities in Digital Cutsheet & Wide Format Printing"
• "50 'AH HA' Marketing Innovations & Ideas"
• "Zen and the Art of Sales Management"
• "NEW Flexible Packaging Opportunities: Investments to Leverage Digital Print"
• "3D for Commercial Printers: Your NEXT Print Profit Pathway"
• "Web 2 Print as a Key Ingredient to Retain and Engage Customers"

Graph Expo 15 Showstoppers

Xante—Booth 431
Visit Xante at Graph Expo to see the Excelagraphix 4200 live in-action. Attendees will be able to participate in hands-on demonstrations of this high speed wide-format inkjet. The Excelagraphix 4200 prints customized, full color corrugated flat sheets, folded and glued RSC's and die cut sheets up to 42 inches wide at speeds of 12 inches per second, for just pennies per square foot.

Xerox Corp—Booth 613
The IJP 2000 produces high-quality color applications in as little as five seconds. When the device runs with the Fotoba FHS42 Cutter, it achieves fast speeds for full-bleed posters, banners and signs. The optional Performance Package combines Xerox technology and scanning solutions. With enhanced image quality management and multifunction capabilities, more high-coverage jobs can be produced faster by correcting streaking and banding that result from print-head performance variations – a common challenge in high-speed, single-pass, wide-format, inkjet devices. The package runs on the device's Caldera GrandRIP+ with an intuitive user interface, so workflow remains centralized.

Epson—Booth 841
Epson will showcase its large-format digital imaging solutions, including the new SureColor F9200 64-inch production dye sublimation transfer printer. Leveraging a dual Epson PrecisionCore TFP printhead and Epson UltraChrome DS ink system with high density black ink, the SureColor F9200 delivers quality output with improved ink efficiency and black density to the roll-to roll fabric production, customized promotional production, soft signage, sports apparel, and home décor markets. A proven sublimation solution, the Epson SureColor F9200 works with various sublimation transfer papers to create a range of quality textiles and applications – soft signage, sportswear, apparel, accessories, and customized promotional items – quickly and consistently.

D&K–Booth 1067
D&K’s Diamond Hard Velvet Matte Finish is now available with SuperStick digital adhesive. Diamond Hard Velvet Matte Finish is available on all laminating film types and offers a scuff-resistant matte finish with a velvet smooth feel. This finish is now available with D&K’s proprietary SuperStick digital resin for a superior bond to digital images and other difficult print types.

HP—Booth 1202
The new 126-inch HP Latex 3500 Printer builds on the success of over 26,000 HP Latex printers installed worldwide by better meeting sign and display PSPs’ production needs. Ideal for standardized workflows, the HP Latex 3500 Printer handles high-volume, dedicated application production, boosting productivity and helping to reduce production costs. With heavy-duty roll handling up to 660 pounds and 10 liter ink supplies, the printer enables more unattended operation, such as overnight printing. Additionally, dual-roll split spindles offer easier, safer handling of oversized rolls; in-line slitters reduce bottlenecks in finishing; and built-in LED lights support on-the-fly proofing.

Ricoh Americas—Booth 1231
Ricoh’s wide-format portfolio expanded this year with the Mimaki JFX200-2513 inkjet flatbed printer, powered by Ricoh's piezo print heads. This entry level device prints on virtually any substrate -even wood and stone. Ricoh's print heads provide three drop sizes simultaneously, resulting in smooth, natural color gradations. Along with CMYK and white, the JFX200-2513 has clear ink for full or partial gloss coats - and a clear control unit, combining clear ink jetting and UV light for practically instant drying. The environmentally friendly JFX200-2513 uses long-lived LED-UV curing lamps with low heat output and operates with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

KIP—Booth 2613
The KIP 800 Color Series provides a comprehensive solution for a range of wide format printing tasks that require the highest levels of quality and performance. The system’s workflow provides powerful print control for any production environment from a range of print submission applications, cloud printing, scan & copy, variable data printing and fully integrated stacking and folding. The KIP 800 Series systems are engineered to deliver breakthrough color print quality while providing real value from high quality images, reliable performance and efficient operation.

Mimaki USA—Booth 2644
The JFX200 UV-LED flatbed printer features a 4- by 8-foot, landscape-oriented format that is small enough to fit into most sign and graphic print shops. Its vacuum table includes two areas that can be activated to securely hold a board over the entire area, or separately for accurate positioning of smaller media. It can print onto a wide range of media up to 1.9 inches thick including acrylics, foam board, corrugated plastics and more, for applications such as backlit displays, signs and posters, interior décor, glass and metal decorative panels and more. White and clear (varnish) inks available.

Zünd—Booth 3007
Zünd is showcasing the S3 cutter with automatic sheet-feeder and robot integration for a totally automated production workflow. From Prep Center, a powerful but easy-to-use SaaS layout/nesting application, to Zünd Cut Center’s automatic QR-code capture, attendees can see every aspect of Zünd Total Automation in action. No matter how graphics are nested, or in what sequence single or multiple stacks of printed sheets are fed onto the cutting table, Zünd Cut Center automatically captures the embedded QR-codes, retrieves the corresponding cut files, and cuts sheet after sheet without interruption, all while the robot continuously picks and stacks finished product.

Magnum Magnetics—Booth 3048
To complement its direct-printable magnetic substrates for digital and offset presses, Magnum Magnetics is proud to introduce its Magnum-UV line of protective and aesthetic UV-curable coatings for digital and offset printing. Magnum-UV provides an exceptional gloss or matte finish for your printed pieces, giving them a distinctive and attractive look. Magnum-UV features scratch- and scuff-resistance and superb adhesion to multiple substrates, including vinyl, film, paper, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester and more. Great for making your printed magnetic signage or graphics look their best and hold up against the elements!

Vivid Laminating Technologies—Booth 3449
The new Easymount Air range is a breakthrough product in wide format lamination. The air pressure controlling the rollers allows you to mount and laminate with incredible accuracy. The patented technology allows the roller to adjust to the exact thickness and pressure required allowing faster production times. This new development allows the roller to lock in place, ensuring foam or fluted boards do not get crushed; other pneumatic wide format laminators lack any precision. Their rollers are either up or down, there’s nothing that controls how much actual pressure is being applied.

PriscoDigital –Booth 3607
PriscoDigital LLC will conduct LIVE design-to-print-to-cut workflow demonstrations featuring the Kongsberg XP24 Automatic Digital finishing system from Esko. The Kongsberg XP24 is one of the fastest digital finishing systems on the market, helping to turn short-run POP / POS display work and corrugated packaging into profitable, value added jobs and allowing printers to offer their customers on-demand production with just-in-time delivery. With a maximum working area of 87x126-inches and a maximum speed of 66 inches per second, the XP Series can convert a wide range of board, sheet and roll materials from papers, styrene, PVC, corrugated and foam boards to the most demanding applications such as acrylics and environmental boards. The system is driven by the i-Cut Suite of software that dramatically increases productivity by automating and standardizing preflight, editing and layout of graphic files.

INX International Ink Co.—Booth 3617
EcoPure HPJ Soy inks drive performance and value while offering environmentally friendly benefits. A premium quality quickset ink that outperforms on all levels, it is formulated with high percentages of soy and other vegetable oils and contains a cobalt-free drier package. It also qualifies for the American Soy Seal and is GRACoL G7 certified. These inks offer superior ink transfer for faster start ups and minimum density variation, fast set times to turn jobs, a wide water balance window for easy operation, high trap percentages and other benefits.

Colter & Peterson--Booth 3625
The Prism P115 represents a new style machine from North America’s largest independent distributor of paper cutters and paper handling equipment. The 45-inch-wide durable, affordable and cost effective cutter offers the latest automation and electronics. Designed for safe and easy operation, new features include a slotless table and Microcut computerized back gauge system with a 15-inch touchscreen that assures precise cuts each and every time.

Creative Banner Displays —Booth 3948
Simple, slide-in and slide-out graphics make this our easiest graphic exchange retractor. The stylish hardware design is extremely durable and affordably priced, making this retractor an easy choice for repeated use. Graphic features a plastic mounting rail that easily slides in and out of the flip-open base for smooth graphic changes.

MultiCam—Booth 4045
The affordable Digital Express from MultiCam represents a major breakthrough in productivity. Use this versatile, configurable platform for high-speed digital finishing at speeds up to 7000 inches per minute. A wide-format, sheet-fed or conveyorized cutting platform, the Digital Express combines high-speed digital registration with powerful routing and knife-cutting capabilities. This fully automated cutting system goes hand in hand with any print service provider by decreasing lead times, increasing quality and eliminating waste.

Mutoh—Booth 4241
Mutoh’s newest ValueJet printer, the VJ 1628X is a 64-inch Eco-Ultra printer than prints with CMYK plus white and metallic ink to really make your images stand up. With blazing fast print speeds, two year on-site limited warranty and Smart Printing technologies, the ValueJet 1628X is perfect for creating vehicle wraps and decals, stickers, labels, trade show graphics, banners, wall graphics and much more. The ValueJet 1628X comes standard with a take-up system and Mutoh Edition FlexiPrint SE software.

Roland DGA—Booth 4253
Roland’s new VersaUV LEJ-640FT UV flatbed printer is an innovative, industrial-strength inkjet that prints directly on substrates up to six inches thick and weighing up to 220 pounds, including larger three-dimensional objects. The LEJ-640FT’s rigid, all-steel frame reduces vibration, while adjustable pinpoint guides ensure precise registration. A zoned vacuum bed optimizes suction to keep substrates of different sizes flat, and dual stepper motors incorporated with a rack and pinion drive system ensure accurate printing. In addition to CMYK, the LEJ-640FT offers white and clear coat inks for creating POP displays, art, architectural signs and two-sided signs with high visual impact and unique dimensional effects.

ImageOne Impact -Booth 4441
ImageOne Impact will launch a new 10-roll wall rack for any size print media or wrap films, the MondoRaxx Jumbo. The 10-roll wall rack holds full 50-yard rolls of print media, color change media, banner rolls, laminates, and much more. This heavy duty aluminum stamped design is a proven solution for your wall rack needs. Just add your desired length 1” diameter dowel or pipe and hang. To mount, just select your location, use proper mounting hardware for your needs and wall mount type (lag bolts for stud or cement wall, etc.) bolt the racks in place, add your desired length 1” diameter rods, dowels or pipe and hang your rolls.