By Digital Output staff
Print 17 takes place September 10 to 14, 2017 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. With its return to the Windy City—Graph Expo was held in Orlando, FL last year—the event is promoted as the largest gathering of print and graphic communications buyers, decision makers, and suppliers in North America.
New this year is the Learning Experience, consisting of over 50 educational sessions that inform attendees on everything from design to packaging and emerging technologies. Seminars, hands-on labs, panel discussions, and theater presentations on the show floor are all part of this experience.
Above: GPA features its growing collection of substrate for wide format in booth 3840.
At the Exhibition
Here, we share information on some of the exhibiting vendors.
Amazing Print Tech, booth 667, releases a new version of its web to print design engine eCardBuilder 5.2. It features over 100 new products and thousands more templates as a free upgrade to current users. Upgrades include new template creation functionality and enhanced image editing capabilities. The improved optimized interface allows ordering on any mobile device with faster speeds. A new version of APIs allows for even deeper connectivity.
Avanti, booth 635, asks is there really any ROI in a print MIS? For many shops, the answer is yes. But what about yours? Avanti helps hundreds of printers significantly improve profitability with its JDF-certified print MIS. Avanti Slingshot helps deliver more jobs, in less time, with the confidence in knowing that every aspect of a shop is integrated into one powerful print MIS platform.
Canon U.S.A., booth 1213, showcases the advancements that it is making to push the boundaries in graphic arts with its broad portfolio of innovative solutions. It highlights game-changing developments to the company’s product lineup, including the Océ Colorado 1640 64-inch wide format device offering breakthrough productivity on a range of applications. Also on display is the latest imagePRESS, imagePROGRAF, varioPRINT iSeries, and Arizona devices.
Colordyne, booth 3349, displays the affordable, compact, and easy-to-use 2600 Series Mini Press, ideal for customers looking to increase productivity and obtain greater flexibility, faster turnaround times, and reduced run lengths. This solution is capable of printing up to 1,600×1,600 dpi with speeds of up to 60 feet per minute, and can use both inline and offline finishing options.
Color-Logic, booth 4813, highlights its color communication system for metallic inks and metallic substrates. Suitable for both conventional and digital devices, the system produces 250 metallic colors. Physical samples demonstrate dynamic metallic colors and decorative effects on marketing collateral, point of purchase materials, signage, cartons, labels, tags, and direct mail.
D&K, booth 4231, demonstrates the AutoKote Pro, which offers a fully automated laminating solution with a small footprint. The AutoKote Pro includes a sheet feeder, one-sided laminator, and a diagonal cutter all on a compact frame. This operator-friendly system makes lamination fast and simple with a large digital control panel for easy job setup and operation. The diagonal cutter is also capable of separating thick laminating films.
EFI, booth 2302, partners Ricoh and Konica Minolta feature the new, 65-inch EFI Pro 16h LED UV hybrid inkjet printer. This hybrid roll/flatbed cool cure LED offers superior image quality and the ability to print on just about any substrate. The printer includes white ink and offers true four-level, variable drop grayscale printing. An embedded EFI Fiery proServer features FAST RIP acceleration technology for higher productivity.
Epson, booth 831, promotes the Epson SureColor P5000 Commercial Edition with SpectroProofer. The 17-inch production printer provides enhanced performance and reliability to the commercial and graphic design, flexographic, and proofing markets. The printer uses violet ink for an expanded color gamut, delivering a 99 percent Pantone Plus Formula Guide solid-coated color matching. The SpectroProofer high-performance in-line spectrophotometer, developed jointly with X-Rite, quickly and easily automates profile creation, optimization, and verification tasks for simplified contract proofing.
Fujifilm, booth 2013, features the North American debut of two presses—the Acuity LED 3200R, a superwide format roll press for high-quality displays; and the Inca Onset B1 format press, specifically developed to offer a high-quality, short-run B1 solution for the offset, screen, and industrial printing markets; along with the J Press 720S, the world’s first sheetfed inkjet press; and the Samba printhead, some of the most advanced technology available.
GBC/SEAL, booth 3613, celebrates 70 years of innovating finishing. GBC showcases the newly redesigned high-volume Magnapunch Pro with half-second punch cycle and 13-interchangeable die sets. Backed by a three year warranty, the all-metal housing and cast aluminum base promise unmatched durability. Also experience the entry-level wide format 27-inch GBC Catena 65 laminator. Featuring an improved ¼-inch mounting gap, pivoting table, and AutoGrip shafts—all aimed to improve versatility and ease of use.
GPA, booth 3840, features its growing collection for wide format presses, including Metalized Styrene, substrates that look like thick metal sheets without the added weight. Created with a thin metal layer and thick styrene base, these lightweight and durable sheets are ideal for high-end signage and point of purchase displays. Available in five colors and finishes, this material is printable with UV-curable wide format presses, and can be easily cut and transformed into limitless custom designs.
HP, booth 613, demonstrates the HP Indigo 12000 Digital Press, HP Indigo 7900 Digital Press, HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press, HP Indigo 5900 Digital Press, HP Latex 3600 Printer, HP PageWide XL 8000 Printer, HP Latex 570 Printer, HP DesignJet Z6800 Photo Production Printer, HP PageWide Web Press, in addition to HP Specialty Printing Systems solutions for direct mail.
Magnum Magnetics, booth 448, showcases it extensive line of printable magnetic solutions, including MessageMag thin magnetic sheeting for offset, digital, and flexographic presses, plus several post-print magnetization options. Magnum’s booth also includes its sister companies, Magnum Inks & Coatings and Magnum Tapes & Films. These new divisions of Magnum feature complementary coating and printable film products that many customers use in their printing processes, whether on magnetic media or elsewhere.
Mimaki, booth 4019, displays the JFX200-2513 UV LED flatbed printer. It is a 4×8-foot, landscape-oriented model that can print onto substrates up to two inches thick, offering the ability to produce a diverse range of prints for both indoor and outdoor use. It is ideal for applications in the printing industry such as package prototyping; and in the signage industry for backlit displays, signs and posters, interior décor, and glass/metal decorative panels. White and clear inks plus jettable primer are available.
The Mosaica Group, booth 4207, is a Midwest-based supplier supporting wide format, digital, flexographic, and other processes. It showcases the Mimaki UJV55-320 superwide format UV inkjet printer, the Mimaki TS300P dye-sublimation printer, and the DYSS V-PRO X7-1630 digital table cutter by DGS, as well as new substrates.
Mutoh, booth 4241, demonstrates its new ValueJet 626UF tabletop UV printer that prints up to 5.9 inches thick and features an optional rotary attachment. Along with the newest printer, it showcases the most popular wide format ValueJet printers in the portfolio including the 1624X eco-solvent and the 1638UH dual head UV LED hybrid.
Oki Data Americas, booth 3218, redefines what is printed and what can be printed on with the C942 CMYK + White digital color printer. It uses best-in-class white toner to deliver breathtaking graphics for highly specialized—and affordable—short runs. This as well as the company’s wide format ColorPainter printers are on display.
PressWise by SmartSoft, booth 538, shows the latest enhancements to its all-in-one web to print, MIS, and workflow automation platform. These include an Imposition feature, Signature Capture for Delivery option, Advanced Full Service Mailing development tools, the creation and sending of Purchase Orders, entering Shipping Carriers/Methods, a Single Sign On add-on service, and several other new features revealed at the booth.
PrintReleaf, booth 567, introduces software enabling printers to track the paper used in customer projects and plant sufficient trees to compensate for paper consumption. The service includes independent certification and verification that the appropriate number of trees was planted. PrintReleaf operates within the printer’s estimating software.
Racad Tech, booth 148, highlights Web to Print (W2P) Cloud, an advanced, adaptable, and affordable solution to satisfy print needs for any type of printer. The W2P Cloud open architecture circumvents design, functionality, workflow, and template limitations due to the fact that the system integrates with multiple platforms, displays multiple templates, and communicates with any MIS/ERP system. W2P Shop is a modular W2P solution offering every type of feature for online ordering.
Ricoh, booth 2022, demonstrates its industrial printer portfolio, including EFI, Mimaki, and Ricoh offerings, helping print service providers broaden revenue streams with brilliant signs, banners, wallcoverings, and wraps for indoor and outdoor displays. Ricoh showcases its Ricoh Pro L4160 wide format printer, which boasts eco-friendly, aqueous latex ink and seven color printing, including orange, green, and white.
Trotec, booth 3152, showcases its new SP2000 high-speed laser cutter for large format materials. Built for efficient production, the laser safety class two system offers functionality that translates into competitive advantages for signmakers—including processing speeds up to 6.5 feet per second, laser power up to 400 watts, a working area of 66×98 inches, and access from all four sides.
Xerox, booth 1302, promotes its next generation of digital printing technologies—including continuous feed and cutsheet inkjet along with xerographic presses, revenue generating applications, and workflow and personalization solutions. See how to take advantage of the best opportunities in today’s competitive graphics communications marketplace. XMPie, A Xerox Company, highlights solutions that deliver highly effective, personalized cross-media communications and web to print portals.
Zünd, booth 4404, exhibits a fully configured G3 M-2500, a highly versatile, multi-functional cutting/routing/finishing system with a cutting area of 52×98 inches. Also on display is the latest version of Zünd Design Center (ZDC), an easy-to-use Adobe Illustrator plugin for creating packaging and three-dimensional displays from folding carton, corrugated cardboard, honeycomb/corrugated display board, ACM, PP, and PVC. All ZDC designs are ready to be imported directly into Zünd Cut Center, Zünd’s efficient and easy-to-use production workflow.
See You There
We’ll see you at Print 17. Digital Output, as well as sister publications DPS and Industrial Print, are in booth 4616. Stop by and grab copies of our most recent issues.
Sep2017, Digital Output
