Premedia @ Graph Expo

This year's Graph Expo and Converting Expo, running October 15-18 in the South Hall of Chicago's McCormick Place, promises to be the biggest Graph Expo since 2000. About 40,000 attendees are expected to view the hundreds of products that will be on display.

Nearly 600 exhibitors—including 80 new ones—have booked more than 400,000 sq.ft., making this the year's largest national graphic communications and converting exhibition. The 2004 show exceeded both the 2002 (374,000 sq.ft.) and 2003 (355,000 sq.ft.) editions. As far as attendance is concerned, the Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC) isn't broadcasting predictions, but word has it that pre-show registration is doing well, and conference registration is running extremely strong—at record levels, in fact.

Graphic Arts Monthly, which publishes the Official Show Daily, presents the third in its series of Graph Expo previews, providing an overview of the show and conferences, and focusing each time on a separate category of print manufacturing (i.e., July—Finishing Systems, August—Pressroom), with this issue looking at premedia (or prepress) technologies.

Before the show opens, serious visitors will be attending Executive Outlook, the pre-show session and technology trends briefing hosted by GASC. This year's conference theme, “Connecting Technology for Profit,” will shape a full day of general and breakout sessions, concluding with the announcement of the “Must See 'ems” products and technologies at the show. The traditionally enlightening Executive Outlook luncheon will feature print industry veteran Frank Romano.

Executive Outlook is part of a 60+ session seminar program that accompanies Graph Expo & Converting Expo. Complete information about the program and the show is available at www.gasc.org.

GASC points out that Graph Expo's audience is almost equally divided between companies with more than $10 million in annual sales and those with less (61% came from smaller shops). Ralph Nappi, president of GASC, which manages Graph Expo & Converting Expo on behalf of co-owners NPES, NAPL and PIA/GATF, says the growth is striking because it continues to “buck the trend” affecting trade shows in the graphic arts arena—particularly capital-equipment shows.

Nappi is also forthright about the change in exhibitor displays. “The total space occupied by the largest exhibitors,” he notes, “has actually decreased, which means this growth is broad and embraces our entire show floor, not just a few large booths.” Heidelberg, this year's largest exhibitor, will occupy more than 26,000 sq.ft. (in Booth No. 1200), with 300 staff, six sheetfed presses and 25 live demonstrations over the course of four days. Last year, Heidelberg filled 40,000 sq.ft. at Print 05 show.

Another common theme at the show is joint exhibitions, and reductions of the size and numbers of large production systems. Heidelberg, for example, reports that it will be displaying prepress workflow solutions with Xerox (Booth No. 1217) and Hewlett-Packard (Booth No. 646), as well as press equipment with Carton Craft (Booth No. 1270) and postpress equipment with Robatech (Booth No. 463), Nordson (Booth No. 3605), and Rollem (Booth No. 3529).

Folder and mailer systems manufacturer MBO America—along with Colter & Peterson, known for its paper cutting systems and digital controls of cutters, and Muller Martini, the global pacesetter in print finishing innovation—are inviting attendees to see the latest technologies from all three companies, all in one location in Booth No. 1229.

The marketplace for polyester CTP systems is both strong and growing, reports Jim Luttrell, ECRM marketing director. ECRM (Booth No. 5218) acquired the Esko Graphics DPX polyester platesetter line in April, and formed a partnership with Mitsubishi Imaging for consumables. “As more and more printers investigate CTP, they increasingly appreciate the value of Polyester CTP,” says Luttrell. Mitsubishi Imaging will continue to be the Master Distributor for the DPX family of polyester platesetters. Mitsubishi Imaging has been the distributor of the DPX product line in North America for over eight years.

It is estimated that there are over 6,000 polyester CTP platesetters in the field today and that DPX machines represents over 70% of these installs. ECRM quotes State Street Consultants, which says total CTP sales for all non-metal or Polyester CTP systems in the U.S. and Canada in 2005 were estimated to be 750 units, and 1,300 units for metal CTP systems. Polyester CTP thus represents 36% of the market.

ECRM sites the 2005 the Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIR) group study, “The Life Cycle of the Analog and Digital Lithographic Printing Plate” to project that U.S. and Canadian platesetter sales will increase 9.5% through 2010. The majority of these sales (90.9%) are projected to come from the commercial printer with one to 19 employees (with revenues of $150,000 to $2.8 million), mostly first-time buyers that will purchase both workflow and CTP. These demographics make a persuasive case for the growth of polyester CTP systems, which are more economical for the smaller operation making its first step into CTP.

The engineering makes these systems a cut above the old-style polyester platesetters, with plates that stretched during runs, and couldn't be images quickly. The DPX 4 CTP is an internal-vacuum drum system featuring fast, highly accurate punched and processed plates ready for press. Using fiber-optic cables to transmit directly into the optics and high-speed spinner, it can output 38 plates (23.8×29.3´´) per hour at 1200 dpi and 27 plates per hour at 2540-dpi resolution. The DPX Lite is a two-up, automatic CTP polyester-plate system, producing imaged, processed, punched, dried and cut-to-size press-ready, 13.3×21.6´´ plates. Using internal-drum technology, a built-in 220mm open punch and temperature-controlled, built-in processor, DPX Lite exposes at resolutions between 900 and 3600 dpi.

RIPit Imaging Systems (Booth No. 5434) offers a number of smaller-format models. SpeedSetter VM4 CtP System with OpenRIP Symphony Workflow (with Adobe PostScript 3) is a computer-to-conventional-plate model. It's also showcasing the SpeedSetter VM4, which can image all brands of violet plates.

Mitsubishi Imaging (Booth No. 4629) supplies SilverMaster and Silver DigiPlate plate materials, and offers its branded Diamond Jet inkjet substrates for proofing, photo and poster printing applications.

“While the majority of attention now focuses on 'direct-to' technologies like CTP, there is still a flourishing demand for imagesetters,” notes ECRM VP Mark Givens. The U.S. market still represents 50% of our total new imagesetter sales.”

In addition to the Mako 56 four-up platesetter—imaging up to 22´´ wide, allowing for color bars and printer's marks, and suitable for most B2 presses—ECRM's Mako 46 delivers four-up imposed pages or poster images up to 18.1´´ wide; and the two-up Mako 36 is an entry-level platesetter for output up to 14.1´´ wide. Stingray 52 handles four-up imposed pages or poster images up to 20½´´.

Punch Graphix Americas basysprint offers a two-up model (see related story on p.52).

Among the new products that Screen (USA) will showcase at Graph Expo are the PlateRite 6600 series, a new type of platesetter providing increased flexibility in plate format support. The entry-level PlateRite 6600E has a 32-channel imaging head and produces 18 plates per hour.

In addition to firms mention above, this report will cover limited highlight points for companies with comprehensive offerings across the premedia field—Heidelberg, EFI, Kodak and Enovation Graphics.

Heidelberg will show its Prinect Meta-Dimension, a RIP and workflow solution said to enhance the productivity of PDF workflows. Prinect MetaDimension makes files smaller and easier to manage. Stability is improved and the speed is unrivaled. Heidelberg launched a new Saphira Thermoplate printing plate designed especially for use with its Suprasetter line of computer-to-plate (CTP) devices. The robust, negative-working, offset aluminum plate represents the third generation of Heidelberg's existing thermal plate family, joining the Saphira Thermoplate PL and Saphira Chemfree (chemistry-free) thermal plates

Kodak has launched two major software- integration initiatives—Unified Workflow and Color Workflow—and will present the pair as technology demonstrations next month (Booth No. 400). Each will represent the state of Kodak Graphic Communications Groups' integration of the host of software applications and print platforms that it accumulated in the course of acquiring KPG, Creo, Encad, Versamark and NexPress since 2004.

“We don't have all the pieces together,” says James Langley, Graphic Communications Group president, “but we moved one step closer with Unified Workflow,” referring to the program that links everything from business management to platesetters and press equipment.

The other program—Color WorkFlow—is designed to provide consistent color across the workflow, proofing, imaging and printing platforms—eletrophotographic, high-speed inkjet, and direct imaging offset—that Kodak now offers. Products currently enabled include Prepare software, the Prinergy workflow system, NexPress 2100 and 2500 digital presses and the Veris digital proofer.

Kodak will also show a technology demonstration of its Web-to-Unified Print application beta at Graph Expo. The Unified Workflow system will link to the Kodak Enterprise Management System (EMS), expected in the second half of 2007.

The Presstek (Booth No. 3822) 52DI makes its North American debut at Graph Expo, offering the opportunity to capitalize on the short-run color growth market. The digital-imaging press features up to 300 lpi, FM screening, up to 10,000-sph operating speed and 10 minute makeready, including plate imaging and coming up to color within about 20 sheets.

Also, Presstek's Vector TX52 chemistry-free CTP system, with Freedom plates, provides small-format printers with an affordable metal platemaking solution. After imaging, Freedom plates are automatically cleaned with water in the Vector's integrated plate washer and exit the system ready for mounting on press. These plates are ideally suited for high-quality, short-run printing with run lengths up to 25,000.

EFI's (Booth No. 4212) range of offerings on reflects the firm's expansion in recent years, and will include: print management solutions, Fiery RIPs, Fiery controllers for Sharp and Konica printers, embedded Fiery controllers, Web-to-print solutions and DirectSmile Collaborate for variable data work.

Xitron (Booth No. 4650), the prepress industry's leading independent developer and integrator of Raster Image Processors, RIP management software and workflow solutions, will feature the Navigator GPS and Xenith Workflow solutions.

Xerox (Booth No. 1217) has enhanced six software tools within its FreeFlow Digital Workflow Collection, an integrated set of software that streamlines the way print providers handle print jobs.

CGS Publishing Technologies International (Booth No. 4835) will show its comprehensive color workflow. ORIS provides a complete range of color services, using a unified approach to all types of color output. Its Soft Proof has no “per-click” charges and integrates with hard copy and remote proofing via ORIS Color Tuner. Color verification of proofs, monitors and press sheets will be on display. CGS will also announce new technology development and sales partnerships.

Printable Technologies (Booth No. 4641) will feature its FusionPro 3.2, a powerful VDP capability for HP Indigo users.

Press-sense Ltd. (Booth No. 5427), with 700 installations worldwide over the past five years, will make its Graph Expo debut in 2006, featuring its iWay Prime v3.0 BusinessFlow software solution—said to be the power behind Océ's PRISMAweb and Xerox's FreeFlow workflow systems.

The company's offerings also will be demonstrated by Xerox (Booth No. 1217) and Océ (Booth No. 1263), as well as by HP (Booth No. 646). Also, Press-sense Omnium will be exhibited for the first time in North America.

Xpedx (Booth No. 3812) will spotlight new advances in soft proofing and discuss SuiteShop, the web portal that offers Pantone, Gmund and other premium papers, as well as self-paced online training in all top graphics programs. Also, understanding JDF language will be addressed.

Objective Advantage and Saepio Technologies (Booth No. 5256) will partner to demonstrate OASymbio Virtual In-line solution and the Agilis Marketing Suite working together to create an end-to-end workflow.

Hiflex (Booth No. 5424) will demonstrate its Print MIS system, which covers all functional areas—from estimating through postpress and shipping.

www.gasc.org and graphexpo.com