Products on Parade at Ipex 2002

Visitors at Ipex 2002 surely were convinced that they were witnessing the final transformation of a once-analog industry into a wholly electronic, digital-based activity (even if this conviction is not entirely true). Products in exhibit after exhibit relied on software and upgrades, violet laser diodes, fiber optics, light-valve technology, and unique scanning or variable-data imaging approaches.

Still, as the following broad but brief sampling shows, a number of production systems remain reliant on more mundane efficiencies, such as moving paper faster, adding materials cassettes, and punching holes or gluing booklets in line.

Agfa introduced the Grand Sherpa ink-jet proofer, offered in 50", 64", or 87" formats and utilizing Onyx PosterShop 5.6 and advanced-formula ink-jet media, for package printing; a unique six-color system designed to deliver dot-for-dot halftone proofs; and an eight-up Xcalibur 45 thermal platesetter, using advanced Grating Light Valve technology, that can output up to 20 plates per hour at 2,400 dpi.

Agfa also demonstrated ApogeeX, its next-generation workflow software based on PDF, JDF, and digital film; integration of Artwork Systems components into ApogeeX; and its Thermolite Plus direct-imaging plate, rated at up to 100,000 impressions, for on-press imaging applications.

basysPrint, whose platesetters are designed to expose conventional plates, introduced its "f" generation exposure head technology, which utilizes a special chip to boost the number of micromirrors by nearly 40%. By transmitting more data to the plate, imaging speed can be double the previous rates of its UV-Setter units. In addition, new lenses permit three ranges of dpi resolution: 900/1,800, 1,270/2,540, or 1,500/3,000.

As a result, says basysPrint, an "f"-equipped eight-up UV-Setter 710 is much speedier; moreover, the units can be specified with a single head, UV-Setter 710-f, or two heads, 710-f2, which can expose up to 13 and 25 plates per hour, respectively.

Creo Inc. introduced two models of its compact, inexpensive iQsmart flatbed scanners, which utilize XY Stitch technology to scan up to 96 35-mm slides at one time and generate up to 40 scans per hour, achieving true optical resolution of up to 5,500 dpi, plus its new-generation four-page Veris ink-jet tabletop proofer that provides a true symmetrical resolution of 1,500x1,500 dpi.

Creo demonstrated, with its partner Printcafe Software, the Networked Graphic Production product, a workflow "roadmap" allowing collaborative effort, plus connecting Synapse software tools, including Synapse Link, which exchanges production data and job status information between prepress workflow systems and management information systems. Other Synapse programs: Prepare, to allow creative designers to work in languages other than English; Version 3.5 of the InSite Internet portal, presented in a multitude of languages; and Spire color servers.

Additional products from Creo includes Staccato FM screening; Version 2.5 of Profile Wizard; Lotem 800 Quantum platesetter with new F-speed option, capable of imaging 16 plates per hour; four-page Lotem 400 Quantum platesetter; and high-speed Dolev 800V4 eight-page imagesetter, which can produce up to 39 press-size films per hour at 2,540 dpi.

Finally, Six Degrees software from Creo is designed to streamline productivity for creative professionals by organizing, filing, and linking files and projects, and providing easy navigation without input from the user.

For its part, Printcafe showed Version 7.0 of its Hagen OA management solution for European applications, along with its Prepress Connector link to Creo's Prinergy system, PrintFlow dynamic scheduling software, and a new e-commerce Web site for its PrintSmith software.

Dainippon Screen unveiled its four-page PlateRite 4300 thermal platesetter, which can output up to 20 plates per hour at 2,400 dpi, and a unique, multi-format thermal platesetter, referred to so far as PlateRite Ultima, that utilizes twin exposure heads to image 16- and 32-page plates, or two eight-page forms (or smaller) simultaneously, at a high rate of speed.

Fuji launched the latest version of its Valiano Rampage (RIP once, output many, or ROOM) workflow; its first violet laser plate, Brillia LP-NV, plus four additional plates; four-page Vx-6000 CTP unit; and eight-page Luxel V-9600 and Vx-9600 violet B1-size platesetters utilizing 30-milliwatt laser diodes.

Fuji also debuted its ColourKit V3.0 color management software; Co-Res screening technology (enabling 300-line printing at 2,400 dpi, or 175-line printing at 1,200 dpi); HP 5000 DoubleProof; and a FineScan 2750XL upgrade to its flatbed scanner line.

Heidelberg made a flurry of announcements in various categories, including: addition of a single cassette loader, which holds up to 150 plates and supports daylight operation, to the violet Prosetter 102 platesetter, to provide smaller users with affordable automation, plus a faster, more versatile Topsetter P 74 thermal platesetter; ClassicCenter remote inking and register control system for the Printmaster GTO 52 (worldwide, about 100,000 press units are in operation at present); extension of the Prinect workflow, via PrepressInterface, to transfer data to the Sunday 2000 Omnicon control system and to control systems of M-600 web presses and Speedmaster sheetfeds; debut of the AxisControl Prinect module, a standard color measuring system fully integrated into the CP2000 Center press control system; and Star peripherals for the Speedmaster series in an "Environmental Information Center," utilizing CANopen technology (the initials stand for Controller Area Network, a globally standardized data bus system); debut of the downmarket Stitchexpert, designed for the off-line finishing of short-run brochures, rated at up to 4,200 stitched documents per hour and targeted at runs from 500 copies to 10,000; the commercial launch of the high-speed ST 400 Stitchmaster, featuring integrated automatic format presetting and mobile feeder units with servo drives, offered in the A3+ format; and introduction of the SAB semiautomatic bander.

In web offset, the company enhanced performances for its 16-page M-600 presses with a new C24 version, equipped with a JF-55 folder and rated at up to 55,000 copies per hour (cph), plus Omnicolor console for reduced makeready time and paper waste. (An A24 model can print up to 40,000 cph, and a B24 version runs at up to 50,000 cph.) Also, the 64-page Sunday 4000 is now available with an Autoplate system.

In other news, Heidelberg, which said it has sold more than 170 NexPress 2100 presses since the launch of the digital color system in September, unveiled NexTreme software, called the first variable-data application to output in the new optimized PPML/VDX open standard.

Finally, the high-speed, black-and-white Digimaster 9110 Network Imaging System has been equipped with an in-line hole-punching accessory, designed to run at full printer speed, which permits production of documents in looseleaf format or bound with rings, plastic combs, and spiral- or double-wire loop.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) presented its newly acquired Indigo digital color presses with new names and designs, including the HP Indigo Press 3000 (formerly Indigo UltraStream 2000), 1000 (Platinum), w3000 (Publisher 4000), and ws4000 (Omnium WebStream 100).

HP also introduced HP Production Flow, a centralized workflow management tool, and demonstrated HP Custom Publishing, an integrated, Web-based publishing tool linked with 11 partner solutions. These initiatives, designed to appeal to commercial printers, are meant to increase their print volumes and the value of their printed pages, expand service offerings, and increase differentiation by linking their capabilities with the needs of enterprise customers and their agencies.

Quick-response print production and one-to-one marketing capabilities are said to be the primary targets.

KBA, whose focus at Ipex was on short- to long-run commercial printing, introduced the two-up, one-operator Genius 52, a compact waterless and keyless sheetfed press available in four or five colors, which utilizes a unique V-shaped assembly around a central impression cylinder.

The company also demonstrated the four-up 74 Karat press with in-line aqueous coater option, and showed a 14x18 waterless 46 Karat DI (in cooperation with Presstek). In the eight-up format, KBA exhibited a 10-color, five-over-five Rapida 105, and also promoted its expertise in four-over-four perfecting in the large sheetfed format, up to 63.

Longer term, KBA is developing a very-large-format sheetfed press–-about 59x80 in size–-for packaging and converting applications, with a rated makeready time comparable to its 44x64 Rapida 162 machine. The Rapida 205 press, conceived as a six-color plus coater and double-size extension, is scheduled to undergo field testing next year and become available in 2004.

Komori staged the worldwide debut of its LS40 (Lithrone Super) sheetfed press, which features an improved platform several years in development (the press is to be introduced in North America this summer and shown at the Graph Expo show in Chicago in October; a perfector model is planned for release early next year).

The company's new 28 perfector press also has a new design.

MAN Roland, which applied the new ColorPilot ink control system to its Roland 300, 500, 700, and 900 sheetfeds, showed the 200 with an integrated infrared dryer for foil or plastic printing; the 300 with up to three perfecting units, plus packages for ultraviolet curing; the 500 with UV and foil printing; and the 700 with off-line coating. All the machines now have a common design and appearance.

On the web side, the DicoWeb appeared in a 16-page format in a four-over-four heatset configuration.

Muller Martini introduced its Acoro A7 and AmigoDigital perfect binders, CIP4/prepress connection for the Prima/Amrys saddle stitcher utilizing ScenicSoft's UpFront software, Onyx/Rubin inserting and film-wrapping system, and 6,000-cycles-per-hour Valore and 16,000-cph Optima saddle stitchers.

Océ, which has agreed to sell Electronics For Imaging's Velocity Balance and Velocity Build workflow software to enhance its CPS700 color production system, unveiled the Linux-based version of its production workflow management system, Prisma+Pod, described as a function and upgrade solution for Océ's Demandstream digital presses.

Océ debuted its DocSetter software for the "scan and makeready" stage of the document workflow; unveiled version 2 of the Web-based BookStore order-to-production software system; and presented its Demandstream 4040 (which can be fitted with a Duplo DBMO 4000 booklet stitcher) with CustomTone colors.

Presstek, Inc., which introduced Applause, a process-free thermal plate technology, also demonstrated its automated loading system for Dimension 200 and 400 platesetters, its compact eight-up Dimension 800 unit, and its Dimension 400 driven by Electronics For Imaging's new Prepress Workflow.

QTI unveiled RGS Vector, a web press register guidance system featuring a new camera design capable of scanning an entire cylinder circumference with up to 30 image captures per second. The system resides on QTI's Icon network-based software platform.

Scitex Digital Printing showed its Vantage ink-jet digital web press, which features a rated output of 850 81/2x11 pages per minute and carries an estimated purchase price of less than $750,000 for a color model and under $300,000 for a black-and-white machine.

Xeikon International, now a part of Punch International, demonstrated its DCP 320 D and DCP 500 D color production presses (both with One-Pass-Duplex feature, the latter with Kern unwinder and UCoat finisher), plus IntelliStream Version 3.5 front end, and announced that the sheetfed CSP 320 D would no longer be offered. A sister unit, Strobbe Graphics, demonstrated its PressIt workflow, designed for computer-to-plate applications.

Xerox Corporation, which announced finishing options for its DocuColor 2000 Series presses, along with new papers and other specialty substrates, showcased its common DocuSP controller technology for both color and black-and-white systems, and marked the 5,000th installation of its 2000 line, including new controller upgrades and finishing enhancements.

Xerox also previewed such innovations as chemically produced dry inks (due out in the next few months), plus a new program to help printing companies determine the cost difference between offset and digital printing so that they can pin down job profitability before going to press.