Headed to Drupa? Stop on by for some Texas hospitality.

HP today announced that two of its customers, O’Neil Data Systems, Los Angeles, and CPI Group, Paris, have installed a sixth HP Inkjet Web Press, bringing HP’s total installed base to more than 60 inkjet web presses worldwide.
HP now has Inkjet Web Press customers in 11 countries, including the first installation in Latin America. São Paulo, Brazil-based BMK has installed an HP T350 to extend one of Latin America’s leading transpromotional communications programs.
Since entering the market in 2009, HP has helped many of the world’s leading book, transactional statement and direct mail print service providers (PSPs) improve productivity, reduce costs and offer more-efficient publication and collateral supply chain management. The pace of these customers’ work is accelerating: This week, the collective number of pages produced on HP Inkjet Web Presses since 2009 passed the 10 billion mark. HP customers produced more than 2.5 billion of those pages in HP’s most recent fiscal quarter alone.
“We are helping our PSP customers transform their businesses through profitable new solutions that in turn deliver higher value to their customers,” said Aurelio Maruggi, vice president and general manager, Inkjet High-speed Production Solutions, HP. “The productivity and print quality of our inkjet web presses help PSPs extend the advantages of digital even further into traditional analogue markets.”
New, all-digital production facility
One of O’Neil Data Systems’ new presses, a 42-inch wide HP T400 Color Inkjet Web Press, is the centerpiece of a new digital production facility in Plano, Texas. Joining the T400 at the facility are a newly installed, 22-inch wide HP T200 Color Inkjet Web Press, and a sheet-fed HP Indigo 7500 Digital Press. O’Neil Data Systems highlighted all three of its new HP installations during a grand opening celebration held on March 1.
CPI Group, Europe’s largest book manufacturer, recently installed its sixth press, a 30-inch-wide HP T350 Color Inkjet Web Press at its Antony Rowe facility in Chippenham, UK.
CPI is witnessing many new growth opportunities as a result of its rapid adoption of HP equipment. The company’s proprietary Quantum solutions – a series of integrated CPI book manufacturing lines based on HP Inkjet Web Press technology – recently produced their ten-millionth, digitally printed monochrome book. The company also has expanded opportunities in colour publishing with HP; its newest press is the first HP Inkjet Web Press at CPI to be used for colour printing.
The O’Neil Data Systems and CPI Group installations are part of a continuing expansion of HP Inkjet Web Press technology into new and expanding market applications and regional markets.
A new model for efficiency at Communisis
UK. customer Communisis plc is a leading marketing services provider. The company, which already has HP T300 presses, recently announced its investment in two HP T400 presses for its Liverpool facility.
The first T400 has already been installed and the second will follow in June 2012. The installation triples Communisis’s digital capacity and allows all of its existing transactional production to be migrated onto a digital print platform. Communisis’s relationship with HP also enables a more flexible marketing and transactional communications process, allowing individual print runs and eliminating the need for pre-printed stationery and storage.
“The T400 investment by Communisis is driven by our key transactional customers wishing to access benefits which include greater bill clarity and personalised marketing communication,” said Andy Blundell, chief executive, Communisis. “Building on the success of our earlier T300 deployment at Leeds, this is pioneering technology and our strong relationship with HP has ensured both an effective installation with great support plus a roadmap to ongoing technology upgrades.”
New installations worldwide
Another customer expanding its use of digital printing is King Printing, which has purchased its second HP Inkjet Web Press, an HP T350 model, to pursue growth opportunities in short-run book manufacturing. The new press is currently being installed at King Printing’s Lowell, Mass., headquarters, where the company operates a high-speed inkjet production operation that also includes another HP T350 Color Inkjet Web Press.
“As we continue to expand our services to book publishers, which are transitioning analogue pages to digital pages, the installation of our second T350 will help our customers to continue their pursuit of short-run, on-demand book manufacturing,” said Adi Chinai, managing director, King Printing. “With our inkjet web press capacity, we are able to offer better time-to-market solutions that are progressive and profitable for our customers.”
HP also has continued to expand its business in the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, which represents a significant growth opportunity.
Tokyo-based Kodansha Ltd. – Japan’s leading manga, book and magazine publisher – has signed a sales agreement for an HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press. Kodansha is the first company in Japan to buy an HP Inkjet Web Press. It also is the first publishing company to purchase this technology – a sign of the important role Kodansha sees for digital printing in the publishing value chain.
One of Kodansha’s key bookbinding suppliers will install and operate the publishing company’s new press alongside a newly installed SigmaLine bindery system from Swiss finishing equipment manufacturer Muller Martini.
“We feel very pleased and excited to adopt and introduce an advanced book production system consisting of the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press and the Muller Martini SigmaLine to lead Japan’s publishing industry,” said Kenjiro Umezaki, leader of Kodansha’s Operations division. “The main and decisive reasons Kodansha chose HP’s inkjet digital web press are HP’s high-level inkjet technology and the record of good performance seen with HP web presses in many past installations.
“By introducing this latest book production system,” Umezaki added, “Kodansha will be able to produce required volumes for many kinds of books with quick delivery. We also believe Kodansha will be able to reduce production and storage costs while fully meeting readers’ diverse needs.”
HP recently completed the APJ region’s first HP T400 installation, at Kingsgrove, Australia-based McPherson’s. And, upcoming installations in the region include HP Color Inkjet Web Presses to be installed at Sinjin in South Korea, and at Hucais Group, Dongguan, China.

http://www.hp.com

The Dahlgren name has been synonymous with offset dampening systems for decades, but it was Harvey’s Delta Dampeners which had a lasting influence on the industry. This unique dampener design replaced conventional systems throughout the world, and the design was sub-licensed to all the major press manufacturers who incorporated that technology into their equipment. Epic is also credited for significant innovations in coating technologies, including being the first company to retrofit an offset printing press with a coater. Epic is now a recognized Xerox Innovation Partner for their development of an in-line coater for the iGen press.

Harvey will be acknowledged for his Visionary achievements on April 25, 2012 at the PIA MidAmerica Graphic Excellence Gala held at the Renaissance Hotel in Dallas, Texas. For over 20 years, printing companies across the region have been credited for their outstanding printing capabilities at this event. In 2012, these same companies will recognize an individual who has made much of their outstanding technical capabilities possible.

Mr. Dahlgren was born in Mobile Alabama in 1926 and served in the U.S. Navy and survived the bombing of the USS Franklin. As with many of his generation, upon leaving the armed forces, he came home to start a family and a career. His career choice was the printing industry where he founded a printing ink supply company as well as a printing company. He later joined his brother Harold at Dahlgren Manufacturing and subsequently founded Epic Products with his wife Mary in 1977. Epic Products is located in Arlington, Texas and Harvey is a resident of Dallas Texas.

Epic Products Launches the WebCoat 350 In-line Coating System Supporting the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press Family

Epic Products International today announced the launch of the WebCoat 350 In-line Coating System supporting the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press family.

Running at press speed, the WebCoat 350 provides in-line simplex or duplex, UV or aqueous coating for the HP T300 or T350 press. By adding coating to the inkjet web output, an offset look and feel is created, providing a perfect addition to direct mail campaigns and other printing applications. According to Epic’s CEO, Max Dahlgren, “Epic is enthusiastic about the WebCoat 350 and the prospect of working with HP to satisfy the coating needs of high speed inkjet customers. For over 30 years, Epic has been providing coating solutions to the printing community and the WebCoat 350 is another milestone.”

“Epic’s WebCoat 350 will offer new capabilities to T300 family customers to achieve the look and feel of offset printing for direct mail and publishing applications,” said Corrina Hall, Strategic Solutions Manager, Inkjet High-speed Production Solutions, HP. “Our customers will benefit from the improved quality, productivity and efficiency that Epic’s coating system provides.”

Epic will be featuring the WebCoat350 at Dscoop 7 (booth #816) and Drupa (Hall 3 Booth F21).
Epic Products International is an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in custom designed anilox coating and Delta dampening systems supporting the digital, sheet fed and web offset printing industry. Epic operates a production facility in Arlington, Texas and for over 30 years has been selling specialty printing equipment around the world.
For additional, information on WebCoat 350 and Epic’s other products, refer to Epic’s website www.epicproducts.com.

The improved performance of the new portfolio helps PSPs extend the advantages of digital even further into traditional analog print markets and produce more high-value personalized or custom materials for their clients. The 10 new systems include:

• Three next-generation 29-inch-format HP Indigo presses capable of producing almost any commercial print job and a much broader range of packaging applications.

• Three updated models of the current HP Indigo portfolio with higher speeds in Enhanced Productivity Mode (EPM).

• Three higher-speed HP Inkjet Web Press models featuring advanced ink and printhead technology.

* A new HP high-speed imprinting solution for adding monochrome or full-color content to preprinted offset materials.

New offerings also include:

• A white ink kit, automatic loader and HP SmartStream Production Analyzer monitoring solution for HP Scitex industrial presses.

• A range of new HP SmartStream workflow and finishing solutions, HP Hiflex management information systems (MIS) and web-to-print solutions, and an expanded services organization.

• New media for the HP Inkjet Web Press systems, including the first coated glossy paper with ColorPRO technology available from Appleton Coated.

• New HP Indigo preferred media partner agreements with Sappi, Avery Dennison, Mitsubishi and ArjoWiggins Graphics.

HP will display the new solutions May 3-16 at drupa 2012 in Düsseldorf, Germany, where HP will be the largest digital printing exhibitor and will have the second-largest booth at the show.

At drupa 2008, HP introduced a revolutionary color inkjet web press, a new series of HP Indigo presses and the industry’s first latex inks for wide-format printers. Widespread market acceptance of those solutions has driven the graphics transformation and strong growth of high-value digital pages.

Worldwide, HP now has installed more than 60 HP Inkjet Web Presses, more than 6,000 HP Indigo presses and more than 10,000 HP Latex systems. HP also has invested more than $1 billion in research and development of new graphics solutions.

“With the extraordinary scope and scale of today’s announcements, we are fueling an unstoppable industry transformation from analog to digital printing,” said Christopher Morgan, senior vice president, Graphics Solutions Business, HP. “Our new digital solutions strike at the core of the printing market and are able to meet the toughest requirements of world-class brands, publishers and print service providers.“

New, larger format for HP Indigo presses 
Three new larger-format HP Indigo models allow PSPs to expand into applications not previously addressable by digital printing, as well as to print more productively and economically for increased profitability.

• The HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press is a 29″/75-cm sheet-fed press that prints at speeds of 3,450 sheets per hour in full color, and up to 4,600 sheets per hour in EPM. It combines HP Indigo offset-matching print quality with up to seven-color printing and duplex and substrate flexibility.

• The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press is a continuous-feed press designed for flexible packaging, capable of gravure-quality printing on films as thin as 10 microns with a printing frame of 29×43″/73.6 x110 cm and in-line priming unit for industry-leading substrate flexibility.

• The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press is a sheetfed press designed for folding cartons, supporting substrates up to 24 points/600 microns and an in-line priming unit.

Industry’s fastest digital sheetfed press
The new model of the flagship HP Indigo 7600 Digital Press has a top speed of 160 pages per minute (ppm) in EPM – a 33 percent increase over the previous top speed, making it the fastest two-page digital sheet-fed press available on the market.

Other key innovations include automated detection of print defects in real time, special on-press effects for high-value applications such as raised print and textured effects that simulate embossing, and light black ink for improved monochrome photo images.

Other new HP Indigo commercial presses include:

• The HP Indigo 5600, an enhanced version of the HP Indigo 5500 with a higher top speed of 90 ppm in EPM, a one-shot mode for printing on synthetic substrates, and greater application range to generate higher revenues with lower total cost.

• The HP Indigo W7250, with 33 percent higher speeds – up to 320 ppm in EPM and 960 ppm in monochrome.

The HP Indigo 7600 press, in beta testing at six sites worldwide, will be commercially available at drupa. The HP Indigo 5600 is available immediately, and the HP Indigo W7250 will be available at drupa. Most new features will be upgradable from existing HP Indigo models to protect customers’ investments.
MIS, workflow and finishing solutions

New solutions for in-line and near-line finishing automation include dedicated finishing equipment for the HP Indigo 10000 from solution partners Horizon and MBO.

New workflow solutions include HP SmartStream Production Center for managing large job volumes through comprehensive production processes, as well as updated versions of HP SmartStream Production Pro DFE and HP SmartStream Director.

Increasing its offering of more than 3,000 certified media types for HP Indigo presses, HP has added four HP Indigo preferred media partner agreements with Sappi, Avery Dennison, Mitsubishi and ArjoWiggins Graphics, extending customer choice and the ability to create differentiated applications.

HP also now offers HP Hiflex cloud-based software solutions, including MIS and Web-to-print solutions, as a result of its recent acquisition of Hiflex. HP Hiflex solutions address most application areas, including commercial printing, sign and display, publishing, and direct mail.

New HP Inkjet Web Press models
The new high-speed HP T410 and T360 Inkjet Web Press systems offer increased print speeds of up to 800 feet per minute in monochrome – up to 25 percent faster than previous models – while continuing to offer color print speeds of up to 600 fpm. To achieve this improved performance, the presses feature new advanced inkjet printhead technology and nanotechnology pigment inks that can support higher speeds with no compromise in image quality.

The HP T230 Inkjet Web Press incorporates the new printheads and inks to increase print speed up to 400 feet per minute for both color and monochrome, with full color density for maximum quality.

These improvements will help PSPs reach new markets and increase profitability for high-volume applications such as book publishing, direct marketing and transpromotional mail, where the HP Inkjet Web Press portfolio already has led a shift to digital printing. HP Inkjet Web Presses have produced a cumulative total of more than 10 billion pages since the first system was installed in 2009.

The HP T360 and HP T410 are expected to be available this fall as new systems or as upgrades from the HP T350 and HP T400, respectively. The HP T230, expected to be available by the end of 2012, also will be offered as an upgrade from the HP T200 press.

Solution partners also introduced new media for the HP Inkjet Web Press models, such as Utopia Inkjet gloss media from Appleton Coated for direct mail and publishing applications. ColorPRO papers will now include inkjet coated papers from Sappi and Appleton Coated, designed to deliver superior print quality with the HP Inkjet Web Press.

Expanding the portfolio of HP finishing solutions, Muller Martini – a global leader in print finishing systems based in Switzerland – will demonstrate a new 42-inch SigmaLine inline digital book production system at drupa, featuring increased operating speed to match the higher speed of the new HP Inkjet Web Press models.

Solution partners also introduced new in-line finishing solutions such as the first aqueous and UV coater for the HP T300 series from Epic Products International, the DocuVision® 8600 Web Inspection System from Videk Inc. and the Chameleon DP 42 dynamic perforation system from EMT International. Other new 42-inch in-line solutions include a zero-speed splicer and turret rewinder from MEGTEC Systems, Inc. and the RFDi Web Moisturizer from WEKO.

HP Print Module Solutions
HP Print Module Solutions provide an economical, module-based system for adding color images, graphics and variable data to preprinted documents for more effective communication.

Available in color and monochrome, HP Print Module Solutions print up to 800 fpm and include complete workflow solutions for easy integration with existing equipment. By imprinting custom or variable content on direct mail or transactional statements such as credit card bills, customers can increase response rates for marketing campaigns. A new stitching feature extends the printing area for additional flexibility and scalability.

HP Print Module Solutions are expected to be available to order starting May 1.

New options for HP Scitex wide-format presses
New options to improve versatility and productivity of HP Scitex wide-format presses include a white ink kit and an automatic loader for the HP Scitex FB7500 and FB7600 Industrial Presses, and a new version of HP SmartStream Production Analyzer for automatic monitoring of HP Scitex industrial wide-format presses.

The HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit(1) and Hostert Automatic Loader expand HP’s solutions for its highest-volume flatbed printers with the option to add high-opacity white inks or stack-to-stack operation. HP SmartStream Production Analyzer is the only complete data analysis and operations monitoring software available for large-format PSPs.

Expanded PSP Services organization
HP also has expanded its global PSP Services organization, providing a wide portfolio of service and support programs to address mission-critical needs and help PSPs operate more efficiently.

Through HP PSP Services, HP offers customer support onsite and via advanced remote support tools as well as numerous web-based and face-to-face training courses, and a series of value-added services to reduce operation costs, address application opportunities, maximize system up-time, and improve workflow and color management.

More information is available at www.hp.com/go/HPPredrupa12, www.hp.com/go/drupa

About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems.

Companies Mentioned:

Mr. Hirayama, a 24-year veteran of the printing equipment industry, will serve as President of Epic EK Corp., supporting Epic’s existing Japanese customer base and forging new relations with printers across Japan. Tecknik Corp. of Yokohama will serve as Epic’s service representatives. According to Ms. Barnes, “Epic is enthusiastic about working with Epic EK Corp. and Tecknik Corp. Our newly forged partnership has revitalized Epic’s commitment to Japanese market.”

Epic Products International is an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in custom designed anilox coating and Delta dampening systems supporting the digital, sheet fed and web offset printing industry. Epic operates a production facility in Arlington, Texas and for over 30 years has by selling their specialty printing equipment around the world.

Mike Barisonek, Epic’s VP of Sales & Marketing was a featured presenter discussing the Challenges of Ink-Water Balance, an excellent opportunity for Epic to showcase our products. He also had a chance to meet face-to-face with long-time customers and meet many potential customers. Listening to the outstanding keynote addresses given by local producers and touring a Crown facility, brought things into even better prospective. The region offers significant potential, the economies are growing and three-piece cans remain a very viable packaging option!

Mike taking in some local sights

Last week I was a content contributor, introducing Epic Delta Dampeners and Epic Anilox coating systems, at the Paperboard Packaging Seminar held at the Sonoco Institute at Clemson University. The two day intensive training covered the details of paperboard and printing processes for the new or newly remapped packaging professional. Even with 25 years in the business, there was much to learn and think about and interesting people to meet.  Considering the cost of paperboard, it’s even more important to reduce make readies and get to sellable color fast! Sustainability is on everyone’s mind; paper is a renewable resource unlike other forms of packaging. Fast growing trees are farmed for the purpose of creating packaging and all the by products are used in various ways that would surprise you.

Contact Dan Malenke at www.PKGPRO4u.com to improve your team’s knowledge of Paperboard Packaging.

The series consisted of four different can designs that contained a wide range of colors: three depicting the United States’ air, sea and land forces and one combined graphic, titled ‘Honor,’ showcasing all five branches of the military, including the Coast Guard. The “Sea/Navy” can, combining blues and greens, won the “Best of Category” award in the aerosol class, while the “Honor” design, containing a wide range of blue shades, was singled out among all the entries for the event’s top prize: 2011 Grand Award.

Crown’s winning aerosol cans are the result of close collaboration with the WD-40 Company and its design agency. Crown worked with the concept designs early in the development process to more efficiently evaluate how each image would appear when actually on the printing press. This step proved invaluable, as it allowed the graphics teams to make adjustments to accommodate the complex colors, including WD-40’s signature blue. Crown’s graphic experts provided color correction and blending support and also ensured that common design elements across the four graphics, such as the military stars, all retained the same level of intensity.

Crown also conceived a “jumbled” printing strategy that placed all four designs on a single printing plate to ensure that designs would be pre-mixed on the pallets being shipped to contract fillers around the United States. The typical printing process for aerosol cans calls for a single graphic design to be printed on a flat sheet of metal, which ultimately would have required a labor intensive hand sorting process to achieve the same mix.

“Just having been able to participate in this project was an honor for Crown, as it pays tribute to members of our Armed Services around the world. It also makes being recognized by IMDA for the work on this project especially meaningfull,” said Brad Dahlgren, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, CROWN Aerosol Packaging North America. “It’s a testament to the skill of our graphics team in Aurora, Illinois, and demonstrates the powerful results that can come from working in close partnership with our customers.”

Participants for the IMDA’s “Excellence in Quality” awards are judged by an impartial committee of graphic arts professionals. Entries are assessed based on the quality of printing, degree of difficulty, appearance of coating finishes, registration and degree of technical expertise required for each piece. ]]> http://epicproducts.com/2011/10/epics-delta-dampening-helps-crown-win-best-in-show/feed/ 0 http://epicproducts.com/2011/09/thank-you-for-visiting-us-in-chicago/ http://epicproducts.com/2011/09/thank-you-for-visiting-us-in-chicago/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:03:55 +0000 Lizzy http://epicproducts.com/?p=1307 We were like nomads in our booths at the Graph Expo 2011 trade show. We came from all corners of the world to see the latest and catch up personally with our customers and of course to make new customers. I’m still writing thank you note and I received this photo today from a team of print equipment distributors from Denmark. If you want personal customer care and printing expertise in Denmark do connect with Henriette Moller at printech. +45 2535 4101. I was impressed and you know that’s not easy to do! Wink.-Lizzy