Durst Group, manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production solutions, has acquired Aleph SrL, a pioneer in sustainable digital solutions for textiles and interior and exterior decorations. With this strategic move, Durst Group further enhances its position in water-based and sustainable printing technologies. For Durst Group, the acquisition also serves as a bridge to Como, Italy, the center for textile design and high-quality applications.

Established in 2000 in Lurate Caccivio (Como), over the last 20 years, Aleph has transitioned from a software house and distributor of textile consumables to an independent manufacturer of innovative machines for digital water-based printing.In 2017, Wise Equity entered Aleph's capital with the Wisequity IV fund, alongside the three historical entrepreneurs Alessandro Manes, Roberto Manes, and Roberto Temperini, to support the progressive internationalization journey, with the goal of positioning itself in special applications in both the textile industry and adjacent sectors such as billboard printing. Today, the company generates over 60% of its revenue abroad in more than 20 countries.

"We are delighted to welcome Aleph into the Durst family," said Christoph Gamper, CEO and co-owner of Durst Group. "Their expertise in sustainable, water-based applications, their software for high-end textiles, and their creative solutions for water-based poster printing align perfectly with our vision of pushing the boundaries of digital printing technology. Together, we will strengthen our market position, expand our product portfolio, and enhance value for our global customers."

In recent years, markets for digital printing technologies with water-based ink applications have experienced rapid growth, driven by increasing demand for environmentally friendly and customizable products. To meet this market trend, not only high-performance printing systems with eco-friendly ink systems are necessary but also extensive process knowledge and integrated software solutions, which both companies aim to combine optimally through this merger.

"Collaborating with Durst Group marks an exciting new chapter for Aleph," said Alessandro Manes, CEO of Aleph SrL. "Our shared passion for technological innovation, the pursuit of excellence, and the commitment to true sustainability define this collaboration. Together, we have the opportunity to make significant advancements in the digital textiles, exterior, and interior decoration sectors."

"We are very proud to have accompanied Aleph during these years of transformation from a distributor to a machinery manufacturer,” says Valentina Franceschini, Senior Partner at Wise Equity. “today among the leaders in sustainable innovation, Aleph has achieved significant goals in terms of organization, product range, and technological development, and we are confident that Durst represents the ideal partner to continue the growth journey."

The strategic acquisition aims to leverage synergies between the two companies by combining Durst Group's global presence and extensive procurement network with Aleph's expertise in sustainable digital solutions – both machines and software – for textiles and decoration. This seamlessly aligns with Durst Group's strategy to diversify its portfolio and meet the evolving needs of its customers across various industries.

Both Durst Group and Aleph are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for their customers, partners, and employees during the integration process.

Due to the popularity of HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric for aqueous printers, HP now introduces HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core (Latex/solvent), made with recycled water bottles* and coating materials for Original HP Latex, solvent, low-solvent, and UV-curable inks. 

HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core (Latex/solvent) has the same remarkable water-based, repositionable adhesive that doesn’t harden over time and can be mounted on indoor and outdoor surfaces without leaving a residue.

“HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core (Latex/solvent) is the ideal solution for a variety of applications and is offered at a comparable price to traditional non-post-consumer recycled products,” says Michelle Oczkowski, BMG Product Manager for HP Large Format Media.

This non-PVC product meets environmental and safety standards, can help to reduce the environmental impact of printing and is certified slip-resistant for floor graphics. It can be contour cut and applied without stretching.

HP Recycled* Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core (Latex/solvent):

• Capture realistic detail for wall murals, floor graphics, signage, and retail displays
• Smooth, matte finish for deep blacks, vivid colors, and high ink saturation
• Contour cut and apply without stretching
• Certified slip-resistant for floor graphics*
• Flame-resistant
• REACH compliant*
• Fast-drying

• Vibrant colours – more achievable than ever with the power of white ink
• Go beyond – with environmental certifications and carton-based cardboard cartridges
• Grow online – HP PrintOS Design & eCommerce unveiled to help PSPs grasp online opportunities  

HP Australia launched the new HP Latex 630 printer series, completing HP’s Latex range and making white ink technology available to Print Service Providers (PSPs) of all sizes. White ink allows users to produce a more impactful range of signage and décor jobs with stunning image quality and colors that jump off the page, creating attention grabbing campaigns for end-customers.

The HP Latex 630-series, as with the rest of HP’s Latex portfolio, allows firms to offer more sustainable printing services: with water-based latex inks that give off negligible chemicals or odors; UL ECOLOGO® and EPEAT® environmental certifications;[[iii]] and carton-based cartridges that reduce plastic by using 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard containers, as well as recycled plastics from HP’s closed-loop process - including post-consumer beverage bottles.[iv]

“The new HP Latex 630-series packs our leading latex features, such as white ink, into a more compact and affordable form factor - allowing even the smallest of print businesses to effortlessly deliver high impact signage and décor applications, boosting margins,” Craig Hardman, ANZ Large Format Country Manager. “Beyond the hardware, we have continued to innovate when it comes to services and solutions, with new cloud-based HP Print OS functionalities giving time-pressed users the ability to process and monitor jobs from virtually anywhere.”

 

The HP Latex 630 family provides a number of options and features, including:

• A choice of four SKUs
  • The HP Latex 630 and HP Latex 630 W – the latter with white ink functionality
  • HP Latex 630 and 630 W Print & Cut – giving customers the option of upgrading to a dual-device solution, with print and cut functionality
• Save time – with automated front-loading system and simple, fast load/unload workflows
• Easy re-prints – with in-printer storage of up to 10GB
• Stunning image quality – with HP Pixel Control Technology and new printhead architecture for sharper small text, all at standard speeds of 14m2 (150ft2) an hour[v]
• Software as standard – SAi RIP solution offered out of the box

 

Win business online and simplify operations

As part of a continued focus on helping PSPs improve productivity and grow their business, HP has also announced HP PrintOS Design & eCommerce – an intuitive web-to-print solution that saves valuable time with simplified print application design capabilities, efficient production paths, and step-by-step guidance on how PSPs can integrate it with an existing e-commerce store.

"We spend a lot of time listening to print providers about what they need to grow, and one key area was evolving their e-commerce capabilities and better connecting the front and back-ends of their business," added Craig Hardman. “HP Print OS Design & eCommerce is our response, giving PSPs a quick and easy way to enhance their online shop, as well as new ways to process orders and automate jobs.”

The Design & eCommerce solution will be made available in select countries within HP’s PrintOS suite to subscribers of the HP Professional Print Service Plan (PPSP) ‘Plus’ tier, making the PPSP offering more appealing to small and medium sized PSPs. HP’s Professional Print Service Plans are designed to enable business agility, maximize uptime, and to provide learning opportunities and support.

For further information about HP Print OS Design & eCommerce and HP Professional Print Service Plans, please visit the website here. 

Availability

The HP Latex 630, HP Latex 630 W, HP Latex 630 Print & Cut Plus, and HP Latex 630 W Print & Cut Plus are expected to be available from September 19th, 2023, in major markets globally.

The HP Print OS Design & eCommerce solution is expected to be available from November in the UK, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. For further information, please contact a local sales representative.

For further information about HP Print OS Design & eCommerce and HP Professional Print Service Plans, please visit the website here.

Durst Group has today unveiled full details of a new innovative technology that utilizes computer vision and artificial intelligence to take high quality label production to another level. On its stand C45 in Hall 7 at Labelexpo in Brussels, Belgium, the manufacturer of digital printing and production technologies is demonstrating the Durst Hawk Eye system that is designed to assist operators and automate the print quality. In addition, it significantly reduces set-up time and waste, resulting in enhanced efficiency and a more competitive total cost of ownership (TCO) for the Tau RSC platform printers.

 

Durst Hawk Eye includes a scanner system, workstation and touch screen monitor. It corrects print mistakes, such as missing nozzles, inline and in real time. In the rare event of a printhead nozzle malfunctioning, in-built artificial intelligence (AI) systems automatically detect and localise any problems without any speed reduction. Neighbouring nozzles then compensate with larger drops to ensure that outstanding print quality is maintained. Operators do not need to complete any set-up and there is no need to print a special test pattern.

 

Other announcements by Durst at Labelexpo include important ink developments. It is expanding the Tau RSC ink portfolio with the new Tau RSC LED inks. The new ink set, available in CMYK, with optional orange, violet, green and white, is increasing the attractiveness of the Tau RSC press portfolio. By significantly reducing the energy consumption during the operation and by eliminating frequent UV bulb and reflector changes, the overall TCO of the Tau RSC presses becomes even more attractive. The new Tau RSC LED ink combines the excellent print quality and performance of the existing Tau RSC UV ink with Durst Group’s roadmap towards a more sustainable printing industry. It provides reduced energy consumption and a reduction in consumable cost and maintenance time. This results in economic benefits for customers and a reduced ecological footprint. The vivid inks create a huge color space allowing to precisely reproduce important brand colours.

 

Durst has also unveiled the new Tau RSC UV Ink 3 high speed UV inks, formulated without the need for TPO photoinitiator.

 

Durst’s software label ecosystem also features prominently on the Durst stand. Tau printers are equipped with Durst Workflow Label, prepress and production software, and Durst Analytics, the analytics and monitoring tool, to make the printer a production unit from day one. All Durst software solutions are modular and can be easily managed through a web-based user interface. A browser based VDP editor for creating and managing variable data is available in the workflow.

 

The show also provides the platform for Durst Group to show live running of the Tau 510 RSCi single pass press, which is equipped with new automation features. The press on its stand is equipped with the powerful double white feature, allowing excellent opacity white ink printing at 80m/min.

“Our team of experts are on hand at Labelexpo to provide personalised demonstrations, answer questions and discuss how our solutions can revolutionize customers’ printing operations,” said Martin Leitner, Product Manager of Durst Group. “The Durst Hawk Eye is a game-changer for the digital printing industry. This technology will greatly increase productivity and efficiency, but, more importantly, it will reduce waste and the carbon footprint of our customers. We are thrilled to introduce this innovative solution to the market and provide exclusive information during Labelexpo.”

Grant Thornton has released its 2023 Manufacturing Benchmarking Report, analysing the financial data from 100 Australian mid-sized manufacturers and tracking their performance during FY23 to provide a unique view of the Australian Manufacturing sector.

The Report has revealed positive trends in 2023, with a 6.7 per cent year-on-year average sales growth. This is attributable to increased capital expenditure and investing into emerging technologies, particularly for businesses with revenue over $100m whose scale has supported ongoing growth and success. 

“While Australia’s manufacturing sector is still navigating disruption and will be for some time, opportunities for growth and development are on the horizon,” said Michael Climpson, National Head of Manufacturing at Grant Thornton. 

“While this is positive, there is still much work to be done and the Government’s continued support in the sector with initiatives such as the National Reconstruction Fund, R&D Tax incentive, and state-driven programs will continue to empower mid-sized manufacturers to deliver on growth ambitions and strengthen our domestic capabilities,” continued Michael Climpson. 

According to the data, the financial impact of the initial COVID-19 outbreak has been fully recovered in the sector, highlighting that we’re witnessing the first emerging results of both government investment in sovereign manufacturing, the resilience of the industry and a willingness to do things differently. 

The data shows an increase in all market sizes, with the greatest increase in the $40m-$100m category, which was the manufacturing category impacted the most by COVID-19. 

Like other industries, inflation is easing but remains at elevated levels, suggesting ongoing high sales growth for 2023/2024 could be expected. 

However, headwinds including rising costs, inflationary pressures, and disruptions in supply chains have impacted cash flows, mainly for manufacturers with a turnover under $40m. To manage this, the Report highlights affected manufacturers have turned to new and emerging technologies and invested in sustainability measures to remain profitable. 

** Research methodology of the Grant Thornton 2022 Manufacturing Benchmarking Report 

Grant Thornton used a sample of 100 Australian mid-sized manufacturers to create the 2022 Manufacturing Benchmarking Report. The data is largely extracted from audited financial statements, the majority being Grant Thornton clients. The analysis can include an element of judgement applied, including normalising out of the averages any major outliers. For the purposes of this report, mid-sized manufacturers generally have an annual turnover of $20 million - $600 million. 

For further details on the findings please see our media release attached and click here to access the 2023 Manufacturing Benchmarking Report.

Well respected Adelaide based Graphic Arts Supplies will represent Mutoh products in SA and the NT.

Graphic Arts Supplies Sales Director Steve Murphy commented. “We recently spent 2 days with the Mutoh Australia team learning their product range. Over those days it became apparent that our two businesses share the same values with a customer focussed attitude and quality in all points of customer contact. We look forward to representing the extensive range of Mutoh’s Japanese made printers and cutters in SA and the NT.”

Russell Cavenagh, Mutoh Australia Managing director agrees. “Japanese companies play the long game. With Mutoh’s 70 years of manufacturing experience, what matters to us is delivering an exceptional customer experience through reliability, quality, and value. With the appointment of Graphic Arts Supplies, we know our customers, both old and new, can now experience those same values”.

For more information, please contact Mutoh Australia on 02-9437 1366 or sales@mutoh-au.com or Graphic Arts Supplies on 1300 939 854 or sa@graphicarts.com.au

Hasler Cutting Systems have launched a groundbreaking development for large format cutting operations, introducing the world's first 5-meter wide digital flatbed XY cutter, equipped with the latest Optiscout software, delivering unparalleled quality, versatility, and affordability.

Hasler's commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions with exceptional value has led to the creation of 15 different table configurations, including the remarkable 5-meter wide cutting table, setting a new industry standard. Unlike any other offering on the market, our product combines European craftsmanship, state-of-the-art technology, and affordability, making it the perfect digital cutting solution for a wide range of industries.

Key Highlights of the Hasler Digital Flatbed Cutters:

Optiscout Software: The industry standard Optiscout software empowers users with advanced capabilities for precision cutting, ensuring optimal results for a diverse range of materials and applications.

Competitive Pricing: Hasler's 5-meter wide cutting table and other flatbed XY digital cutters are available at the highest quality and lowest cost on the market.

Experienced Team: Hasler's team of large format digital cutting table specialists boasts over 50 years of combined experience, ready to assist your company in optimizing production operations.

Versatile Tool Options: Hasler tables offers a complete selection of tool options, from routing to knife cutting to crease and kiss-cut tools, ensuring a tailored solution for your specific cutting needs.

Transparent Pricing: Hasler's upfront pricing and table configurator provide clear and straightforward price information, allowing you to make informed decisions without the need for negotiations.

Customisation:

Choose from fifteen distinct configurations based on five standard cutting table widths, or personalize the length with table extensions. Add features like roll-off/sheet fed systems, full conveyors, and various tool heads and up to 5kW router and accessories to meet your unique cutting demands.

Exceptional Warranty Package:

Every Hasler table is backed by an industry-leading 2-year full warranty, giving our customers peace of mind and confidence in their investment. In addition to a 5-year limited warranty that includes remote technical support, and a 10% discount on consumables and labor costs.

"Hasler is committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in large format cutting technology while maintaining affordability," said Melody Thompson, Sales & Marketing Manager for North America at Hasler Solutions USA. "The new 5-meter wide digital flatbed cutter with Optiscout software is perfectly paired to any 5-meter wide format printer on the market today, and represents the culmination of Hasler’s dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction. Hasler cutting tables are built for 24/7 production. Whether you are a small, medium, or large business, Hasler has the solution you need to enhance your cutting capabilities, increase productivity, and drive success."

LIA Victoria has achieved a major coup, announcing that its next Technical Event on the evening of 12 October will be held at one of the most tightly-guarded print sites in Australia, Note Printing Australia in Craigieburn.

The high-security plant, which produces bank notes for Australia and a host of other countries, as well as passports and certificates for births, deaths and marriages, is opening its doors to LIA Members for a tour and presentation. 

Tickets to the event are expected to be highly sought-after, with LIA Members entitled to attend completely free of charge, and those yet to join being asked to contribute just $30 for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Numbers will be strictly limited, so those interested are encouraged to enquire or reserve your place without delay by contacting Jenny Berry at vic@lia.com.au. 

It’s just the latest move by the state chapter of LIA, which continues to grow from strength to strength since it relaunched post-COVID. 

Since 2022, it has held a regular program of events including technical evenings at Southern Impact, Fujifilm Business Innovation and Ball & Doggett, conducted the industry’s Graduate of the Year program with one of the State finalists taking out national honours, and has participated in PacPrint in Melbourne last year and Visual Impact Sydney earlier in 2023.

Robert Black, President of LIA Victoria, says it’s been an exciting time for the association’s committee – but now, they are calling for ‘all people in print’ to show their support by renewing their membership.

“We have been very fortunate to have received seed funding to reestablish LIA Victoria after a pandemic-induced hiatus,” Black says, “but to be sustainable into the future, we need the people of the print and wider graphic communications sector to show their support by joining as members and, if possible, by considering sponsoring our activities.

“Membership to the association is very cost-effective at just $45 per annum for individuals and $120 for companies, and the funds raised through memberships and sponsorships will be invested back into the industry to provide these technical and networking events, and to support the leaders of the future.”

Those interested in joining LIA Victoria should fill out the LIA Membership form here and return to vic@lia.com.au or to find out more about membership and sponsorship opportunities, download a full Membership & Sponsorship Brochure here 

New AutoSet Digital reduces waste and delivers efficiency gains for digital label printers

Esko has today (11 September) launched a new complete print inspection solution for digitally printed label production, delivering unparalleled quality control to reduce waste and boost efficiency. 

With AutoSet Digital, Esko has introduced an end-to-end solution that automates AVT print inspection of digitally printed labels from prepress through to on-press and finishing. 

“The labels market is in a period of considerable change,” said Guy Yogev, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Esko. “Volume-wise, there has been around a 15% growth in digital label printing and around 40-to-50% of all label presses sold today are digital or hybrid, so it’s clear the market is growing significantly. 

“But in this volatile market, the overall macro-economic climate of crisis and economic recession is driving increased pressure on margins, forcing label converters to look for ways to improve operational efficiencies and reduce waste,” said Guy. “Businesses are looking for ways to reduce the volumes of material they use, which means reducing defects, over-runs and waste, all while dealing with the added pressure of on-time deliveries and quality expectations. Operators might sometimes still be able to visually identify errors on presses running at 30m per minute, but as speeds increase, so does the risk of error. With digital presses getting faster, now is not the time to be loose with quality. The cost implications of such errors can be huge, which is why we have created a complete end-to-end automation solution based on connectivity between prepress to production and all the way to finishing. 

“Historically, many businesses have been put off investing in print inspection on digital lines because of perceived product limitations,” said Guy. “For example, an inspection system needs to be set up for every run, and digital printers will typically have multiple SKUs in the printed roll and in many cases the design and job can change on the fly with no press stop. With inspection you might have had to stop and reset the system for each SKU, which created a real-time barrier with integrating inspection. But now, AutoSet Digital takes information for each SKU from Esko Automation Engine and relays it directly to the print inspection system.” 

AutoSet Digital is now covering all of the digital workflow - whether the inspection is done on the digital printing press, on a hybrid press or on a digital finishing line.

The innovative inspection workflow for digitally printed labels combines the accuracy and speed of the AVT Helios 100% print inspection systems with the automation of AVT AutoSet Digital, empowering operators to automatically upload and switch between jobs, enabling the AVT WorkFlow Link to record, scan and edit multiple jobs on the same roll. “The system on the press records defects, and after production the physical roll is uploaded to the finisher together with the virtual roll,” explained Guy. “This virtual roll includes the recorded defects mapped on the entire roll and either the operator or a dedicated QC editor can review and edit the virtual roll. Once edited, the mapped virtual roll will automatically signal the rewinder/doctor machine where the physical roll should stop at the identified point to remove the defect. 

“It could be a single label due to an isolated defect, or an entire segment if there has been an issue,” said Guy. “Either way, the operator can immediately clean up the roll and rectify the error, it also brings operator efficiencies, freeing up their time to work on other value-adding tasks during a run.” 

Guy explained that AutoSet Digital brings these same efficiency and productivity benefits to hybrid presses and digital finishing lines. “Our 100% inspection platforms can be installed at any production workflow with AutoSet Digital, providing complete hands-free inspection setup and continuous non-stop inspection when job and job design changes. 

“With the Digital Workflow, unique barcodes are used to identify the job automatically,” he said. “When these barcodes are identified between jobs (‘lead-in/lead-out’ area), or within the print job design, they automatically set up the inspection parameters for the job that has already been created in prepress. That way, jobs can now be printed or finished with no manual setup and no production stop or slow down,” he said. “The system automatically loads up inspection parameters between jobs, keeping the line running and saving the business time and money, while ensuring accuracy and reducing waste.” 

Entirely automated workflow 

One of France’s leading label producers, AG3M has been using Esko AVT print inspection systems since 2020. As a member of the Esko pre-release community, the company was among the first to integrate AutoSet Digital into its prepress and production. 

Sylvain Marchal, Président Directeur Général AG3M, said that one of the main benefits of the new system is that the company now has direct control over the print quality for multiple runs. “We can check as many as ten files simultaneously,” he said. “We can immediately link to the master PDF and view the inspection report which tells us if the job ran ok or not. The counter on the digital press tells us that we have printed a sufficient number of labels to move the job to the rewinder. 

“Having such an entirely automated workflow has been a major development,” he said. “Before we integrated the print inspection system with the production floor, errors would lead to a bad print run and cause regular press stoppages or even, in the worst cases, a return of the artwork to prepress. 

“Today, with this digital inspection workflow, there is inline Delta E colour measurement which ensures us a stable print run from start to finish. We have increased production by about 30%, reduced paper waste, unnecessary reprints, lost time, and machine stoppages. Now we ended up with 99.9% of all faulty prints being removed from the rolls supplied to the customer,” he said. 

Guy Yogev said the speed and scale of results experienced by AG3M are common amongst users of AutoSet for Digital. “We have created a true end-to-end solution for print inspection for digital labels print inspection, and we are delighted to be making it available to customers,” he said. 

For more on AutoSet for Digital and the complete range of Esko AVT print inspection solutions, visit www.esko.com/en/products/print-inspection

at Labelexpo Europe, Brussels, Fujifilm launches LuXtreme, a new LED UV curing system that allows any traditional flexographic press to be converted to LED UV curing, resulting in enhanced label production on a narrow web press.

LuXtreme offers high speeds of up to 200m/min, along with better substrate stability, resulting in enhanced productivity for printers. Additionally, the system offers 30-50% higher radiant intensity than competitive LED curing systems, up to 25W/cm².

The system uses 30-60% fewer LED lamps to achieve the same radiant intensity as other comparable systems. This results in better registration and less material distortion. improving the overall quality of printed materials. The energy savings this offers compared to conventional UV systems, as well as competitive LED curing systems, are significant, with both material usage and waste also significantly reduced, enhancing overall productivity and making the system a highly sustainable mercury-free solution.

Due to the reductions in power required for the LED UV lamps, cost savings can be made across the production process. Additionally, the lower maintenance, downtime and make-ready times required to support the system also lead to a lower number of replacement parts required over its lifecycle, and lower associated labour costs.

The working environment for operators is also improved, with many undesirable factors eliminated or reduced, including heat from conventional UV and air cooled LED lamps, ambient noise and odours.

The system offers up to 50,000 hours LED life and up to a 720mm lamp length, scalable in 24mm steps. An LED adaptor allows easy integration on to existing mountings.

Manuel Schrutt, Head of Packaging, Fujifilm EMEA comments: “We are excited to be bringing such an innovative and unique solution, alongside other innovations such as LED IFDC inks, to the labelling market. Sustainability is at the forefront of our processes and product development, and this launch demonstrates our commitment to providing high quality solutions that are beneficial for the environment, while providing customers with improved efficiency and productivity and a pleasant work environment. Labelexpo provides the ideal opportunity to launch this to the market and we look forward to showcasing the product to existing and potential customers.”

Roland DG Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and printer cutters is pleased to announce major moves to bolster its service and support offering to its customers in Western Australia, today.

After extensive training at Roland DG's Head Office, Stephen Jones has been appointed to the position of Service Technician, Western Australia. Stephen’s appointment signifies the first direct employee Roland DG has posted in WA and reflects the company’s growing focus on serving customers through its Roland DG Care initiatives in the state.

Stephen brings with him a raft of skills and experience servicing customers in Western Australia through previous roles and a background in offset printing and electro-mechanics. His skills include colour monitoring, troubleshooting, planning and resourcing for equipment maintenance, which guarantee Stephen will be highly effective during his visits with customers.

Further bolstering the company’s focus in the Western Australia market, Roland DG has also nominated a new service agent 'All Things Digital' in the medical/dental sector to support, service and strengthen relationships with DGSHAPE dental customers.

"Stephen’s resourcefulness, experience and enthusiasm for helping customers, aligns perfectly with the company," says Roland DG Australia Service Manager, Brett Humphreys. "We are excited to welcome Stephen to the Roland DG family, and look forward to the value he will add to our service and support offerings under the Roland DG Care umbrella".

Brett further noted "Having a company like 'All Things Digital' come on board to bolster our service to dental customers demonstrates our commitment in the Western Australia market and the importance our company places in the region."

Roland DG Managing Director John Wall commented further saying that "through this investment of human resources, strategic focus and customer support we will enhance our service offering to dealers and customers in Western Australia to align with the industry-leading customer service we provide in other states."

For more information on Roland DG Care and to contact the Service and Support Team, visit www.rolanddg.com.au/support.

Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters worldwide, today announced the addition of the BN2-20 and BN2-20A desktop inkjet printer/cutters to its VersaSTUDIO product lineup.

"Since our founding in 1981, we have been providing digital solutions that enable anyone to easily do what could only be achieved previously by people with special skills and experience," said Tony Miller, President of Roland DG’s Global Sales and Marketing Division. "Today, our compact, easy-to-use, and affordable desktop products are marketed under the brand name VersaSTUDIO and include a broad range of popular desktop solutions, such as inkjet printers, cutters, engravers, metal printers, and foil transfer laser decorators." 

The new BN2 series offers a choice of two powerful eco-solvent desktop devices that use the same high-definition print heads, eco-solvent inks, and cutting technology as our wide-format printers for outstanding print quality and precision contour cutting. In addition to their compact size, printing speed for the new BN2 series is approximately 4 times greater than previous models, allowing users to produce a wide variety of high-value-added items, from original T-shirts, posters, stickers and labels, to displays; quickly and easily from their workspace. 

According to Miller, the BN2 series was designed to offer excellent usability, even for novices, who can begin producing professional print quality items straight from set-up. This simplicity extends from installation to usability through multi-colour LED lights which indicate printer status at a glance. 

The included Utility software supports intuitive operation through easy-to-understand icons for quick access to menu items, while the functional bundled software can be used for everything from design creation to output. Also, the innovative Frontal Access Structure allows media setup and maintenance to be performed from the front of the printer for a more efficient use of space. 

Incorporating the Roland DG Connect App, which virtually connects the BN2 series printer production and creative output, users get an in-depth view of their printer’s operating status to keep their device/s running at optimum print performance. 

Customers can choose from two models, the CMYK plus White 5-colour BN2-20 and the CMYK 4-colour BN2-20A. Each model includes design and output software and comprehensive manufacturer’s warranties as standard, which present an attractive value proposition for first-time users. 

"Since the first model was introduced, over 25,000 units of the BN Series have been sold worldwide, with broad applications including start-ups, shifting out-sourced production in-house, and educational settings" Miller said. "With further advances in productivity and usability, the BN2 series opens the door to greater creativity and business success for even more people. We will continue to expand our VersaSTUDIO series lineup to meet the creative needs of desktop professionals around the world." 

Learn more about the new VersaSTUDIO BN2 Series desktop printer/cutters at www.rolanddg.com.au/products/printers/versastudio-bn2-series-printer-cutter.

The Summa S Class 3 is a state-of-the-art device designed for professional users who demand top performance in their cutting applications and want to explore new opportunities.

At the heart of the S Class 3 is its unique True Tangential Cutting Technology, ensuring top-notch performance. The addition of the all-new OPOS Camera with onboard image processing provides ultra-fast mark recognition and processing, making print&cut workflows smoother and more efficient. The performance head is the most advanced in the vinyl cutter series and can now automatically switch between cutting and creasing, perfect for short-run packaging jobs, and setting a new standard in the industry.

High-Precision & Unrivalled Performance

The S Class 2, a proven performer, has been on the market for ten years. It is not only unmatched (still!) by its competition, it is also very much valued by its customers. "For the S Class 3, we kept the good and proven. And while they may look similar under the hood at first sight, a lot has been upgraded. The latest electronics made it possible to achieve faster responsiveness, better data processing, and more precise motor control, resulting in a smoother, faster, and more reliable result.", says Randi Kerkaert, product manager.

Reliable & Versatile Cutting

Nowadays, vinyl cutting is probably not the hottest topic in the Sign & Display industry. "The long lifetime of every Summa vinyl cutter allows sign shops to avoid the need for further investments in vinyl cutting equipment. On the other hand, having a premium cutting plotter available on the work floor remains essential and critical for many businesses", states Christof Van Driessche, CCO at Summa. "A reliable cutting plotter is much appreciated even in an industrial environment. With the introduction of the S Class 3, we aim to provide new opportunities for sign shops to expand their current vinyl cutting businesses and explore new territories, like cardboard cutting and creasing."

The S Class 3 will be available in our partners' showrooms as of September 2023. Check out all the details of this amazing product, including the barcode workflow with enhanced roll-up system, its Performance Head and the all-new OPOS Camera.

Currie Group and Canon Production Printing Australia have announced a new partnership which will see the well-known supplier add the Canon Arizona and Colorado M-Series printer ranges to its growing portfolio of solutions for the commercial print, and sign and display print sectors.

The announcement, made this morning, expands Canon Production Printing’s reach in the market to keep up with demand for the popular printers, while ideally complementing Currie Group’s existing range of products for these sectors.

Rob Mesaros, CEO of Currie Group, says the new partnership is just the latest step in the company’s ongoing process of modernisation, as it continues to grow and meet customer needs with new solutions that help drive success in evolving market sectors. 

“Currie Group has a long history of transformation which has kept us one step ahead of market trends, and we’ve continued to transition in recent times based on the same principles which have served the company so well over more than 70 years – agility and an appetite for pragmatic risk taking, based on strong market knowledge and careful planning,” Mesaros says.

“Channel partnerships with Tier 1 OEMs have been a cornerstone of our strategy, and we are delighted to announce this new partnership with Canon Production Printing, who are such a well-respected market leader, and to add these innovative technologies to our sign and display product portfolio.”

Craig Nethercott, Managing Director, Canon Production Printing Oceania, says “Currie Group is a recognised leader across the print industry and we are excited to welcome them onboard as our latest strategic partner in the region.’’ 

“This new partnership is aimed at supporting our growth ambitions within the large-format graphics sector by expanding our reach in the market.”

“The award-winning Canon Arizona flatbed and Colorado M-Series product ranges have been hugely successful in both global and local markets. The innovative technology incorporated into the Canon Large Format Graphics product portfolio will enable Currie Group to offer a diverse range of application possibilities to their customers.”

Paul Whitehead, Business Unit Manager – Sign & Display for Currie Group, says his company is in a unique position in the market, with strong reach not only into the large format sign and display sector, but also into general commercial print. The new additions to the company’s product range, he says, will benefit both.

“Market demand across both those sectors is constantly evolving, with diversification driving new applications for print service providers of all kinds. With the addition of the Canon Production Printing products to our portfolio, we are now well-placed to meet all those requirements,” he points out.

“The new Colorado M-series opens up the 1.6m space for roll-to-roll applications, providing segment leading productivity thanks to its market-leading UVgel technology, and the award-winning Arizona family which is the most sold range of mid-volume UV flatbed printers – fills another gap in our portfolio by providing us with dedicated solutions for rigid media.” 

“Combining this with our existing portfolio now gives us the broadest, most complete portfolio of large format solutions for the production and industrial space in the market – backed, of course, by the expertise from both the Canon team and our own product specialists, and our extensive national service and support network.”

Both printer ranges will be available to order from Currie Group with immediate effect, confirms Josh Konrad, GM Customer Support Services, Canon Production Printing Oceania.

“The onboarding of Currie Group as a partner has commenced, given the existing skills and experience of both service and support organisations, the learning curve is expected to be minimal and will see Currie Group operational quickly,” he says. 

“We are looking forward to supporting them as they continue to grow in the Large Format Graphics market.”

While improving access for these market-leading products is the ultimate purpose of the partnership, the fundamentals behind the match actually goes deeper, with both organisations noting that they share the same philosophy and principles when it comes to delivering exceptional service to customers.

“Both Currie Group and Canon Production Printing have enviable relationships with our customers, based on product innovation and excellence, and a real commitment to strong services support. That shared ethos and approach provides a strong foundation for our partnership going forward,” Mesaros says.

“This partnership with Canon Production Printing adds value to both our businesses, and should give our customers even greater confidence in the ability of our people, and our products, to help them drive success as the market continues to evolve.”

Global printing industry leader Inkcups announces the global launch of the XJET Switch, a groundbreaking digital printer for direct-to-bag and hard goods applications.

This state-of-the-art addition to the esteemed XJET line is the first UV flatbed printing machine formulated with high-quality bag decoration in mind. As the ‘Switch’ title indicates, the new machine boasts flexible capabilities for both pliable and hard goods, manual load and automated load and index - either 180 or 90 degrees if some pretreatment is required.

The XJET Switch sets a new standard in swift and high-quality UV flatbed printing, producing high-quality, full CMYKWW (highly opaque white) images directly onto a variety of bags and hard goods. Its exceptional capabilities make it an ideal solution for decorating reusable bags made from a wide range of materials and colors, and it is capable of handling even the most challenging substrates such as clear and thin bags.

XJET Switch Feature Overview

• Decorates reusable bags, totes, and hard goods
• Full CMYK + two Highly Opaque Whites
• Four rotating platens: two on each side, customizable
• Continuous printing design for loading and unloading while the machine is printing
• Instant UV light curing capability with two 16W adjustable lamps
• Automatic purging, wiping, and caping stations
• Accommodates parts up to 240 mm (9.45”) in height
• CE Certified
• Automation-ready

The four rotating platens of the XJET Switch are a standard feature that optimizes print productivity with two setups simultaneously. Additionally, the system provides customization options that allow for the configuration of platens to meet specific customer requirements. For instance, it is feasible to have three-up, four-up, or more within the printable area. Additionally, the industrial design allows for integrated pre-treatment.

This industrial printer is specifically designed for a 3-shift production setup, enabling rapid prints with exceptional quality. It incorporates cutting-edge functionalities including automated purging, wiping, and caping stations, white recirculating system, servo control indexer, two 16-watt adjustable UV lamps, and numerous additional features that contribute to swift production while ensuring high-resolution images for a premium finished product.

Paired with the highly flexible XFLEXX UV Ink series, the XJET Switch highlights its versatility by decorating an extensive range of reusable bags, eliminating the risk of cracking or distorting as the bag naturally moves with use. Furthermore, among the ink series, the Vivid White ink stands out, delivering a brighter and more opaque white, rivaling the printed white achieved through competing processes.

Benjamin Adner, CEO, remarks, “The XJET Switch made its trade show debut at PRINTING United in 2022, and we were thrilled to witness its immediate success. This direct-to-bag printer generated a tremendous amount of excitement among our customers, who have been eagerly seeking a consistent and sustainable way to decorate reusable bags. This innovative machine serves as the perfect solution to their needs, for tote bags and beyond, and we hope to exceed their expectations.

We enthusiastically anticipate the creative possibilities that our customers will bring to life with the XJET Switch.”

Kornit has achieved a significant industry milestone today. The industry experts at Printing United Alliance have just awarded the Pinnacle Product Award for "Best Technology" to the Atlas MAX POLY solution.

This highly respected industry award singles out those technologies predicted to have a significant impact on the world of digital textiles - now and in the future. Kornit's solution was recognised as being an industry-first direct-to-garment system delivering superior quality digital decoration for vibrant, colourful design on polyester and poly-blended apparel.

When Kornit first announced the Atlas MAX POLY at our Fashion Week Tel Aviv last year, the intent was to help brands and producers capitalize on demand for fashionable, unique sportswear and apparel - combining polyester and poly-blends with vivid designs across a range of colors. The belief was the Atlas MAX POLY had the potential to transform the professional and recreational sport apparel and teamwear markets, currently limited by limitations in mass customisation of polyester.

Today's Pinnacle Product award recognised the Atlas MAX POLY as an industry-first direct-to-garment solution delivering superior quality digital decoration for vibrant, colorful design on polyester and poly-blended apparel. Printing United Alliance also noted the solution is a true "game-changer" in on-demand, sustainable digital production, set to have a dramatic impact on the industry.Kornit will exclusively be showcasing the Atlas MAX POLY at Printing United Expo in October, booth C1322.

To celebrate the launch of its magazine, ‘Possible’, Australia’s leading printing and marketing service provider, Kwik Kopy Australia, held an event on 31 August 2023, at Green Moustache in North Sydney. Hosted by Kwik Kopy Australia’s CEO, Sonia Shwabsky, 22 entrepreneurs, business owners and media from all walks of life gathered to network and engage in the launch. 

Teaming up with Engage Media, Kwik Kopy proudly presented the "Possible Magazine" - a powerful testament to the wonders achieved when human passion meets innovation and tenacity. In an era saturated with digital and AI-driven content, Kwik Kopy champions the tactile magic of print. The magazine is established on the belief that the physical touch of a story leaves an indelible mark and ensures inspirational narratives resonate more deeply with its readers.

“Having worked in the marketing of businesses for many years, it has always been my dream to bring high-quality, beautiful content to life in the physical form of print. Each issue will serve as a beacon of inspiration, shining a light on those trailblazing entrepreneurs and creative geniuses who turn their groundbreaking ideas into reality,” said Sonia Shwabsky, CEO of Kwik Kopy Australia, in her opening speech. 

The first issue of Possible sees focus on Sendle Founder, James Chin Moody, who took on the outlandish mission of challenging a government-owned postal service. It also highlights other stories of creatives, including Jordy Wilson, an influencer and content creator, who spoke at the event. 

The launch gathered entrepreneur attendees including Liam Gostencnik, Co-Founder of Bae Juice, Thomas and Anabelle Burns, Co-Founders of Femme Organic, and TikToker and small-business owner, Ebony May. 

“Kwik Kopy stands firm in our belief that creativity has the power to reshape our world. And with ‘Possible’, we offer a stage for those pioneering individuals who, with their work, are indeed reshaping our collective future. To every entrepreneur, marketer, designer, and anyone who appreciates creativity's profound power: ‘Possible’ is your narrative… We trust that ‘Possible’ will resonate with your own stories of innovation and perseverance,” Shwabsky continued. 

To download a FREE copy of the Possible magazine, please visit kwikkopy.com.au/possible-magazine.

MUTOH, an industry leader in wide format printers has been honoured by PRINTING United Alliance for the 12th year in a row for product excellence and quality. Having received four new Pinnacle Product Awards, 2023 is a very exciting year for MUTOH. The Pinnacle Product Awards recognize products that improve or advance the printing industry with exceptional contributions to quality, capability, and productivity. Entries are evaluated by a highly qualified panel of judges from across the printing industry in more than 58 categories including analogue, digital, output, and non-output.

 MUTOH is proud to have won four awards in the following output categories this year:

• ValueJet-1638UH Mark II – UV/Latex Hybrid (under US$100K)
• XpertJet-661UF 19”x23” UV-LED Printer – Tabletop Flatbed (Industrial/Small Item Decoration)
• XpertJet- 1642WR Pro – RTR Dye Sublimation on Textile (under US$50K)
• XpertJet-1462UF – UV/Latex Flatbed (under US$70K)

MUTOH America recently launched the XpertJet 1462UF at the beginning of this month, (Australian release in September) following its debut of this cutting-edge UV-LED Flatbed at ISA earlier this year. This printer builds upon the success of the XpertJet 661UF model, taking its capabilities to new heights. Boasting an expansive table dimension of 1420mm x 700mm, the XpertJet 1462UF commands attention within the industry. Whether you’re exploring innovative ventures such as ADA-compliant braille, awards, or home decor, or seeking to enhance your existing UV printing capabilities, the XpertJet 1462UF stands out as the ultimate solution.

MUTOH has always taken great pride in the design and manufacturing of it’s made-in-Japan quality products and top-notch service. MUTOH is committed to constant innovation and leading advancements in technology.

“We’re extremely proud to have received four more Pinnacle Product Awards from PRINTING United Alliance for the 2023 year. These awards highlight our diverse contributions across various output technology categories. The transformative potential of the XpertJet 1462UF remains a steadfast assurance, empowering users to amplify profitability, broaden application horizons, and unlock novel market avenues.” – Brian Phipps, G.M and President of MUTOH America Inc.

Mutoh Australia M.D. Russell Cavenagh commented, “Being awarded 4 more Pinnacle Product Awards is further testimony to the innovation, value, and outstanding Japanese quality of Mutoh printers”.

To learn more about MUTOH’s award-winning line of products, visit www.mutoh.com.au or contact via sales@mutoh-au.com or 02-9437 1366

Roland DG, the world's leading provider of digital printing solutions, showcased its ‘50 Shades of Ginger’ colour index at this year’s Redhead Days Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands on Friday 25th - Sunday 27th August 2023.

The event, the largest redhead festival in the world, saw thousands of people gathered in the city centre of Tilburg to celebrate the beauty of red hair.

Roland DG hosted the event’s first ever ‘red’ carpet experience for festival attendees to snap a picture with their perfect hair match against its ‘50 Shades of Red’ photo wall. Using TrueVIS colour printing technology, the brand created 50 unique shades of vibrant reds and oranges to create the colour chart, displaying the vast spectrum of red hair. During the festival, Roland DG’s TrueVIS technology printed the brightest, most vivid and accurate colours - even notoriously tricky reds and oranges.

Moreover, the brand designed and printed an array of large-format signage for this year’s event including decorating the entrance areas of Spoorkpark, visitor tents and its famous tourist attraction, The Kempentoren. Visitors saw Roland DG’s large format printing in action in the brand’s dedicated tent on-site, using its latest TrueVIS MG-300 UV solution, alongside receiving free printed merchandise on each day of the festival.

René van der Weijde, Head of Sales Benelux at Roland DG states: “We’re delighted with the successful launch of TrueVIS colour at this year’s Redhead Days Festival, particularly in showcasing beautiful shades of red and orange. It was fantastic to see hard work pay off for a special cause and to witness so many redheads celebrate their individuality together!”

Madelon Thijs, Marketing Manager at DIMIX commented: “It was such a privilege to partner with Roland DG at this year’s festival in Tilburg. The team thoroughly enjoyed joining forces with local suppliers, as we worked together to showcase the beauty of red hair shades through the TrueVIS print and cut range.”

Bart Rouwenhorst, Founder of the Redhead Days Festival said: “As predicted, this year’s Redhead Days Festival was a phenomenal event for everyone involved! It was a joy to come alongside Roland DG, lead sponsors of the event, and witness the power of using technology for good. Redheads came from all around the world, many of which found their unique shade of red for the first time, through Roland’s ‘50 Shades of Ginger’ campaign. It was a pleasure to see that the event was enjoyed by all, especially the redheads at the centre of this amazing initiative!”

In an unprecedented move to showcase its TrueVIS colour technology, Roland DG launched a “Redhead Revolution'' earlier this year on World Redhead Day (26th May 2023), via its ‘50 Shades of Ginger’ campaign. No one understands the nuance of red and orange shades better than redheads and the term 'ginger’ simply isn't broad enough to capture the diversity of red hair, which was why the ‘50 Shades of Ginger’ campaign was born, helping redheads to finally find their perfect shade.

Building on the innovative technology of the NOVAFOIL 106, BOBST launches a new version of the hot foil stamper, dedicated to the application of holograms. Featuring a completely redesigned hologram application system, the NOVAFOIL 106 H gives converters maximum flexibility and efficiency for hot stamping transfer with holograms.

Only two years ago, the NOVAFOIL 106 was introduced. It was the first inline hot film stamping machine from BOBST offering an advanced cross-foiling option, increasing its efficiency and versatility. It also offered a new level of embellishment quality with its redesigned platen section - ensuring longer dwell time, stable platen temperature and higher pressure. Reliability, coupled with cost-efficient foil use and great flexibility, is also the basis for the new version of this compact and productive machine.

Being conscious of the particular needs of hologram application, BOBST wanted to provide an option for converters who specialise in this area of hot transfer. The result is a new system with individual hologram modules, which can be mounted on rails on the NOVAFOIL 106. With up to 2 rails and 5 modules each, 10 hologram reels of maximum 100 mm width can now convert jobs which previously required two runs, in one single pass. To guarantee the zero-fault quality customers expect, the NOVAFOIL 106 H has been equipped with a register for every reel to ensure perfect application precision. The film advance is controlled via an electronic system and advance shafts with pressure rollers ensure perfect film tension. The modules can be positioned rapidly, and the hologram reels can be introduced within seconds. What is more, the modules can be directly plugged into one of two connecting boxes on each side of the machine. This “plug and play” system ensures quick and hassle-free changeovers.

To cut down setup times even further, BOBST has also introduced the Digital Makeready Tool (DMT). Inspired by the Digital Inspection Table (DIT) quality control solution, the pdf of any embellishment job can be sent to the DMT, where the digital layout is projected directly onto the honeycomb chase. This projection indicates precisely where the dies have to be positioned, eliminating lengthy setup checks. The DMT shortens setups and increases accuracy to ensure impeccable stamping register quality, which in turn reduces the number of waste sheets.

Everything has been considered to make sure owners of a NOVAFOIL 106 H can expect flexible use, short setups, and maximum precision for premium brand protection with hologram application. At the same time, BOBST pushes digital and connected production efficiency by continually integrating new innovations which path the way to the transformation of the packaging world.

To find out more about BOBST and its products designed for the folding carton sector, please visit www.Bobst.com