Getting Ready For Drupa

At a series of recent pre-Drupa press conferences held in Europe and Greece, a number of graphic arts equipment manufacturers offered a glimpse of new technologies that would be unveiled next month in Germany at the printing industry's largest trade event.

Agfa-Gevaert plans to debut numerous new products and enhancements to existing offerings.

The company will show its Azura chemistry-free thermal digital plate, currently in field testing stages and slated to be commercially available before Drupa begins. Says Agfa, the non-ablative plate offers very wide exposure and press latitudes, and run lengths of up to 100,000 impressions. The ecologically friendly Azura plate features resolution of 2% to 98% for medium-volume users in two-, four-, and eight-up formats.

Agfa also has added a four-up thermal CTP platesetter to its product portfolio, Acento, complementing the company's Palladio four-up violet model. A variety of configurations are available. For instance, Acento E, a 16-channel platesetter, produces 10 plates per hour, while the 32-channel Acento S produces 20 plates per hour. Three plate loaders are available in 50-, 100-, and 300-plate configurations.

Also new are an entry-level, lower-cost manual Palladio four-up violet platesetter and new proofing products, including a large-format, double-sided imposition proofer called Grand SherpaMatic, with remote and soft proofing capabilities.

Hardware refinements to existing products include Palladio and Galileo violet CTP system upgrades from a 5-mW laser diode to a higher-energy 30-mW diode. Agfa also has increased the imaging speeds for its Xcalibur XXT thermal platesetters.

On the software front, refinements include the release of ApogeeX Version 2.0, Agfa's workflow solution. Version 2.0 is far more scalable than its predecessor, says Agfa, and is able to handle load distribution for process-intensive tasks. Agfa also has upgraded its Delano project management system to Version 1.1, with more functionality.

Agfa also will show its Alterno product, a color conversion software application for the packaging market. Finally, Agfa's Dotrix subsidiary will be showing its the.factory digital ink-jet press for industrial print applications.

Creo Inc. will show numerous new prepress solutions revolving around its "Accelerate Your Business" theme.

On the hardware front, the new very-large-format Magnus VLF CTP machine–-which Creo says is the fastest fully automated VLF device on the market–-can image 15 80.7×59.4" plates per hour at a resolution of 2,400 dpi. When smaller plates are loaded two at a time, the machine can image 31 B1-size (28×39.3") plates per hour at 2,400 dpi.

Magnus, the design of which is built upon that of the Creo Trendsetter VLF device, uses higher-power heads, new electronics, and a loading architecture that reduces non-imaging time, say company officials. With a drum size of 63´83², Magnus can image a wide range of thermal media (including Creo's Positive Thermal Plate) for VLF presses, including KBA's new large-format Rapida 205 press to be released at Drupa. Magnus enables portrait-plate and dual-plate loading, as well as a continuous-load option.

Creo also will show its new, affordable Prinergy Evo workflow system. Highly automated and easy to maintain, the PDF-based offering is designed for simple, automated operation from the desktop. Within the workflow realm as a whole, Creo says its new and enhanced workflow solutions serve to extend the company's support for the industry-wide Networked Graphic Production (NGP) open-standards initiative.

Here, the new Synapse Director workflow management system provides production management and connectivity between the new Brisque Version 5.0 workflow solution and NGP systems. A new version of Prinergy also is being introduced with new members of the Synapse family.

As part of the Creo Certified Color initiative, the new Mio Edition of Profile Wizard color management software makes creating quality ICC profiles quite easy, says the company.

Creo also will show a new hybrid prepress workflow that integrates Prinergy with Xerox DocuColor digital color presses, enabling operators to instantly direct work to either a digital printing device or offset press.

Additionally, a new version of the Veris proofer will be shown, as will two software packages, Spotless 4 and Spotless X, that enable printers to represent spot colors on press with process inks, enabling printers to dramatically reduce the use of special inks in their pressrooms.

Enfocus Software plans to unveil Instant PDF 3.0, a major upgrade of its PDF preflight application. The offering affords the transparent creation and delivery of flawless PDFs, claims the company, while allowing for the downstream definition of creation parameters.

Described by the manufacturer as a dramatically reworked and much more mature version of its Instant PDF product, Instant PDF 3.0 allows users to store all settings–-including print styles, job options, PDF profiles, and action lists–-needed to create error-free PDFs.

Instant PDF 3.0 features a simple user interface and set-up, and can be directly integrated with QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, and the Mac OS X print panel through a "Save as Certified PDF" menu item.

Also at the show, Enfocus will highlight its work with JDF via a technology preview that illustrates how job ticket support will be incorporated into all of its products. It will use Drupa to show how its job ticket and JDF approach fits in with OEM partners' efforts in the JDF realm.

Esko-Graphics will demonstrate its solutions both for the commercial printing and packaging markets.

Reinforcing its commitment to violet-light computer-to-plate (CTP) technology, Esko-Graphics will be showing its new Plate-Driver Compact four-up CTP system, aimed at smaller printers that want an affordable entry-level CTP device. The PlateDriver Compact's 40-mW violet laser is equally suited to expose silver as well as photopolymer plates.

The DPX 4 four-up polyester platesetter, which can expose plates at resolutions between 1,200 and 3,000 dpi, produces imaged, processed, punched, dried, and cut-to-size press-ready plates as large as 26.77×29.90".

Esko-Graphics also will reveal a number of enhancements, including enhanced optical technology, to its Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) platesetters for the digital flexographic market. For the converting market, Esko-Graphics will highlight the new features of its Kongsberg Digital Converting Machine (DCM), suited for production runs of from 10 to 300 sheets.

The company's new workflow software solution, Scope, which serves commercial and packaging markets, uses PDF as the core graphics format, while also supporting XMP, JDF, and XML. Tools range from desktop software extensions to specialist workstations.

Some of Scope's workflow components are updated versions of existing Esko-Graphics solutions, such as FlowDrive. FlowDrive 5.1, which allows users to create profiles for any kind of output device, including film- or plate-based technologies, is an update of FlowDrive 5.0, introduced at Graph Expo 2003.

The latest version of ArtiosCAD, Version 6.0, introduces 3D Designer, a new feature that allows users to construct three-dimensional package models on screen from a CAD drawing or 3-D model of the object.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) will show the HP Indigo press 5000, the first of the new series of printers developed under the HP umbrella since the former Indigo organization was acquired in 2001.

Built for the mid- to large-sized commercial printer, the HP Indigo press 5000 uses Indigo-developed ElectroInk Series 4.0 technology to output 4,000 four-color, letter-size pages per hour (68 pages per minute), and can print on more than 32 types of coated and uncoated substrates. Able to print up to seven colors, including Pantone colors and other brand colors, the press incorporates innovations in paper handling (multi-tray 5,500-sheet paper input and 6,000-sheet paper output systems), inking systems (enhanced adhesion for use on coated stocks, and improved rub resistance), and production software tools.

The press uses HP's new Press Production Manager digital front-end, which features enhanced workflow tools for imposition and job control, and a remote user interface. Additionally, new color management tools offer users fully configurable ICC-based color management capability.

Says the manufacturer, HP CMYK Plus technology–-which, says John D. Meyer, director of HP's Hardcopy Technologies Labs, connects the CMYK and RGB worlds–-offers automatic, consistent color management across a range of devices, including the HP Designjet and other large-format ink-jet printers.

The HP Indigo press 5000 also features proprietary Adaptive Half-Toning technology, which analyzes text as it is being printed and intelligently adds dots to fill in gaps at the edges, ensuring sharp text and imagery. Finally, says HP, the press has low consumables pricing that does not require a volume commitment.

Slated to become commercially available at the end of 2004, the HP Indigo press 5000 will retail for $395,000 as a four-color machine. A seven-color version will be on display at Drupa. To date, more than 2,000 Indigo digital presses are installed worldwide.

HP also is introducing at Drupa 2004 the HP Indigo press 3050 ($335,000), which replaces the HP Indigo press 3000, and offers enhanced reliability improvements and lower pricing; the HP color 9850mfp, its first high-speed (50-ppm), multi-function color printer; and the six-ink HP Designjet 30 and Designjet 130 printing systems, the output of which resists fading for 70 years, says HP.

HumanEyes will demonstrate its advanced lenticular solutions in various locations at Drupa, including the KBA booth. HumanEyes officials say that patented technology allows users to easily create genuine three-dimensional images using mainstream equipment such as digital cameras.

Kodak Versamark, formerly Scitex Digital, unveiled its new brand in January. At Drupa, Kodak Versamark will introduce the next iteration of its business color technology for high-speed, variable-data printing. This technology includes the latest in its V-Series systems, the VX5000.

All products in the V-Series feature the same print engine and controller, but offer different paper-transport options depending on user needs.

With a print resolution of 300× 1,200 dpi, the V-Series features output speeds of up to 325 feet per minute, with a throughput rating of more than 1,400 pages per minute. The VX5000 features 9"-wide print heads that offer enhanced resolution by generating up to four drops per spot.

Integrated with the VX5000, the CS600 system controller, developed jointly with EFI, and based on the EFI Fiery digital front-end, is designed to meet the needs of the transactional document, data center, and direct-mail markets. The controller offers color management at the printer level, including ICC profiling, soft proofing, color calibration, and ink reduction management.

Additionally, Kodak Versamark will show the latest product in its 4000 series, the 4350 UV printing system, which is said to be able to print on virtually any paper substrate as well as plastic, flexible packaging, and paperboard, at resolutions up to 300×600 dpi.

According to the manufacturer, the 4350 is targeted to markets that have been underserved by water-based inks.

Kodak Versamark also will be featured at Drupa within a Workflow Solutions Center, along with its five workflow partners, Emtex, Exstream Software, GMC Software Technology, Group 1 Software, and PrintSoft.

MAN Roland, one of the anchor exhibitors in the PrintCity display of integrated systems in Hall 6, plans to focus not on equipment and machinery, but on customer-oriented products and processes–-more than 50 in all, created on site–-that show innovation, unique combinations of steps and processes, and imaginative approaches to print use and efficiency.

At the same time, MAN Roland, which reports it has 2,000 Pecom installations, will introduce PrintNet for enhanced factory management, along with the Quick-Change system for makeready efficiency (involving job, feeder, infeed, wash, color, airglide, and clamp operations, which can combine to trim delays by up to 30%), almost 100 new items and solutions for its Roland 700 sheetfed model, plus JDF compatibility for open integration.

The newest Roland 700 innovation, to be demonstrated at Drupa, is direct drive of the plate cylinder, which allows either simultaneous plate changing (if the press is so equipped) or wash-up of all units, or a combination, or a "flying plate change" on one cylinder while the others are in operation.

High-volume production on XXL-format equipment can maximize versatility by producing work via printing and perfecting (32 pages on each side of the sheet, for a total of 64 pages), plus in-line folding using an MBO T-1420 folder; work-and-turn approach to produce 32 perfected pages at maximum output using an in-line slitter; and streamlining billboard production by printing just four panels instead of 18 or nine, as is commonly done.

Roland 900 XXL presses (30 systems sold so far) can be fitted with a Rollomatic non-stop delivery device, single- and double-coating units, and kits for microflute and UV curing.

In-line devices are available for Roland sheetfeds to achieve perfecting, coating or double coating, sorting, sheeting, slitting, and EagleEye inspection via a press-mounted video camera.

The most intriguing innovations involve in-line production: deep debossing with high embossing, which can be linked with diecutting and perforating, for single-pass production of unique products; fitting printing units so that they can apply glue, foil, and pressure to create special products; the Roland 700 Ultima, a special design that applies an opaque white, followed by two intermediate units and a perfecting device; and a six-unit Roland 700 LTTLV configuration that is equipped with in-line sheet feeder, complete UV curing equipment, EagleEye sheet inspection, two coating modules, an in-line sheet diverter, non-stop delivery, and basic materials logistics system in the delivery module.

Commercial web features include operator-independent Job Change, no-handling-required Webbing-Up system, quick-makeready folder technology, and zero-makeready imprinting units, either for content change on the fly or six-color Hexachrome production.

Finally, MAN Roland is releasing for sale its DicoWeb digital press, described as a completely integrated production process, from digital data to finished, billable product, now featuring variable-diameter sleeve cylinders (changeover in two to four minutes) for maximum format variability.

M.Y. PrinTech will show its FMsix Technology in conjunction with its industry partners Artwork Systems, Coates Lorilleux, Creo, DuPont, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, MAN Roland, and Sun Chemical, and will participate in the special "Nasty Beast" project within PrintCity.

Badged as a six-color system that actually uses seven inks, the offering includes four standard CMYK process colors, plus three special FMsix inks: orange, blue, and green. The technology affords the simulation of spot colors, enabling users to print several designs with a variety of match colors in one pass and on one sheet, says the company.

No special changes to prepress software are required when using the system, as prepress workflow changes only minimally. User benefits include reduced color variation and lower costs, claim M.Y. PrinTech officials, citing a minimization of do-overs and the use of less expensive inks.

Presstek will feature its next-generation CTP systems, multiple new direct imaging (DI) presses, and new digital media for on-press applications. It also will showcase its chemistry-free Anthem plates and process-free Applause plates.

Additionally, Presstek will highlight its next-generation thermal imaging ProFire Excel platform, designed to bring improved productivity, higher quality, and reduced cost to thermal CTP and DI applications, says the company. Intended for incorporation in new presses and CTP products, ProFire Excel supports a 16-micron dot size and stochastic (FM) screening.

New CTP offerings from Presstek include the DimensionExcel platesetter, which can image 20 plates per hour. Offering a smaller spot size and support for enhanced screening technologies, the DimensionExcel system also features new automation capabilities, allowing the operator to load the next plate while the machine is still imaging.

Finally, Presstek will introduce a next-generation DI press distributed by Ryobi and other select manufacturers, based on enhanced Presstek technology; the new, higher-productivity press will offer a 16-micron spot size and 300-line screening.

RealTimeImage will release Version 5.0 of its RealTimeProof on-line proofing solution. The new version will include a "multiple-view" and "compare" feature set, permitting the simultaneous streaming, viewing, collaboration, annotation, and comparison of several file versions in high resolution. The system also offers new, secure approval authentication and lock-out features, and supports the new Macintosh Safari Web browser.

RealTimeProof's Version 5.0's "compare" function identifies and highlights differences between two versions of a file, while also creating and streaming the difference between the versions on the fly. Says the manufacturer, the offering will particularly benefit users that have workflows with multiple stakeholders, such as packaging print providers.

RealTimeImage also revealed that it is developing a special JDF Application server, which will initially be used to connect the RealTimeProof system with the prepress solution from Esko-Graphics.

Since RealTimeImage's graphic arts business was recently acquired by Kodak Polychrome Graphics, RealTimeProof will be showcased in KPG's booth at Drupa.

Scitex Vision will be demonstrating what it calls the world's fastest wide-format digital press, the Scitex Vision TurboJet. The latest in the firm's range of wide-format ink-jet printers, TurboJet is designed for the needs of the display and large-format graphics sector, and is designed to be a viable digital alternative to screen printing.

TurboJet, which produces output of up to 4,304 square feet per hour, also is said to provide high image quality, clearly reproducing text point sizes as small as eight points. The machine, which prints roll-to-sheet (up to 64×144") with a resolution of up to 448 dpi, outputs in four or six colors on a range of substrates, including coated and uncoated paper, vinyl, banner, canvas, Tyvek, polystyrene, and fabric.

Scitex Vision also will feature its CorJet press for corrugated and screen-printing applications. Designed for short-run corrugated printing, CorJet can run straight from standard digital formats, eliminating lengthy platemaking and mounting time, says the company. Users can print short runs of cartons, point-of-sale/point-of-purchase items, and other applications cost effectively, complementing or replacing screen, flexo, and litho printing, say Scitex Vision officials.

CorJet uses drop-on-demand ink-jet technology to produce 600-dpi images. Using four or six process colors as well as quick-drying, water-based, abrasion-resistant, waterproof pigmented inks, an image is produced direct-to-sheet without impact to the surface, the manufacturer explains.

Screen will debut at Drupa the latest generation of its PDF/PostScript workflow, Trueflow Version 3.0, the core of its JDF-based Trueflownet business solution. Screen officials say that Trueflownet provides an end-to-end operating environment designed to drive highly automated, streamlined print ordering and production, coupled with fully integrated print production management.

With file checking, OPI, trapping, and imposition functionality, Trueflow is designed both to drive optimized CTP production and digital printing presses, and to create an advanced automated and streamlined network workflow.

Trueflow Version 3.0 is a major upgrade, says Screen, and a fully JDF-compliant PDF 1.4/1.5 workflow. With JDF-based job tickets, the offering enables two-way communication in a JDF environment, and allows direct connectivity with MIS systems.

Screen also will launch what it says is the industry's fastest 16-page thermal platesetter, the Plate-Rite Ultima 16000. Able to accommodate plate sizes from 25.6×21.6" to 57.9×45.9", the Plate-Rite Ultima 16000 can image up to 23 plates an hour of the latter size at 2,400 dpi. The standard semi-automatic system can be configured with in-line plate punching, and features an in-line preload plate delivery table that enables the next plate to be punched and ready to be loaded while a plate is being imaged.

For automated and high-capacity plate loading, the PlateRite 16000 features an optional dual-cassette plate autoloader (100 plates each) that comes with interleaf paper removal capability. Two dual-cassette systems can be configured to provide 400 plates on line.

Additionally, Screen will introduce its PlateRite Ultima 32000Z thermal platesetter for the 32-page market. Able to image on plates from 25.6×21.6" up to 83.6×50.2", the dual-imaging machine offers a choice of four adjustable imaging resolutions (1,200, 2,400, 2,438, or 2,540 dpi), and can output up to 46 40½×31½" plates per hour, depending upon the sensitivity of the plate media, at 2,400 dpi.

Both imagesetters use 512-channel laser diode heads based on Grating Light Valve imaging technology.

Strobbe Graphics, part of the Punch Group, will present its compact PSA 33MV CTP platesetter, a fully automatic machine that can stock two different plate sizes per cassette, from two- to eight-up formats, in as many as 10 cassettes. Thus, says Strobbe, up to 20 different plate sizes can be preloaded into the machine.

Equipped with a violet 30-mW laser, the PSA 33MV uses flatbed imaging, enabling it to output 25 plates per hour in 850×1,050-mm sizes at 2,400 dpi.

Also to be shown at Drupa will be the semi-automatic, manual-loading eight-up flatbed version of the PSA 33MV, the PS 36.

Strobbe plans to introduce its Gapfinder workflow software tool, which can analyze each job for gap requirements and take the necessary steps to assure press compatibility without any operator intervention. Gapfinder was co-developed with Compose Systems.

Finally, Strobbe will release a new semi-automatic bender called Optobend, its first multi-variable bender that uses optical registration. Optobend can bend up to 42 preinstalled configurations with multiple angle bends.

Xeikon International, another member of the Punch Group, plans to debut the Xeikon 5000, its next-generation digital color press based on its earlier DCP 500 D offering.

Able to print multi-page documents at up to 7,800 full-color pages per hour (130 A4-size pages per minute), the quiet-running, 600-dpi Xeikon 5000 features true one-pass duplex printing with no edge effects, a unique 500-mm paper width combined with virtually unlimited sheet length, and the ability to print onto substrates from 40 gsm to 350 gsm.

Xeikon says engineers started working on a new print system shortly after Drupa 2000, with the goal of producing a high-quality machine geared for short-run as well as high-volume printing. The result: a digital front-end called Swift for the webfed machine.

Because of the implementation of open standards, Swift delivers an improved toolbox that enables faster and better integration of applications and equipment into a seamless workflow, say company officials. Swift processes PostScript, PDF, PPML, and PPML/VDX files at high speeds, and is designed to support future JDF-based digital printing job tickets.

Says Xeikon, the Swift controller, which has a throughput rating of 800 million pixels per second, can easily handle graphically complex variable-data print jobs of more than one million records per job.

Also novel within the Xeikon 5000 is its print tower, which houses 10 new color stations equipped with new, fine-particle dry electrophotographic toner and developer units. The machine features an in-line densitometer, and can be equipped with a fifth (duplex) color station to add spot color, special toner for security applications, or MICR toner, all without affecting printing speed.

Offering users quicker start-ups, a 50% reduction in maintenance time compared to the DCP 500 D, and on-the-fly toner replenishment, the Xeikon 5000—priced at $666,700—is designed for a monthly volume of three million A4 prints. Xeikon estimates that at a direct mail company, for instance, the calculated cost per page is roughly two cents, which includes the press's fixed costs, service, and consumables and usage parts.