Epson Wins 2018 Good Design Awards for Projectors, Printers & Scanners

Epson has won a 2018 Good Design Award for a total of eight designs, including three for projectors, four for printers, and one for a scanner. Good Design Awards are presented annually for designs that benefit and enrich people's lifestyles and society in general. Three representative design-winners are described below along with the judges' comments.



Projector: Used for LightScene EV-100/EV-105
This design is for projectors to be used for lighting or video performances of products or exhibits in shopping centres and museums. To better show off the appeal of the product or exhibit, we focused on a simple design that melts into the surroundings. To achieve a clean design, we removed all the holes and wiring, which customers notice, from the unit sides. The vents, which are necessary in any projector, were hidden in the design as slits with identical patterns on the unit's front and rear. The cylindrical design, made to resemble a spotlight, enables you to install it on the ceiling without ruining the atmosphere.

Judges' comments
These projectors, with their rounded design, are both distinctive and attractive. In a setting like a shopping centre, they look more like track lights than projectors. We liked the thorough simplicity of the form. Projectors often have a functional feel, but these products have an elegant design that leaves a very different, fresh impression.

Printer: Used for PX-S170UT/PX-S170T
These A4-sized monochrome inkjet devices feature a design of unprecedented compactness that was achieved by directly embedding high-capacity ink tanks in the carriage. The all-new ink tank design puts a single slit through a simple and clean exterior. You can intuitively check the ink level or open and close the tank cover. A unique shape was used for the bottle tip and inlet to prevent filling mistakes. Just insert the bottle in a tank-refilling starts and stops automatically - for a quick, easy, spill-free experience. The low cost per print relieves you of worries over cost and allows you to print as much as you need to get the job done.
 
Judges' comments
Spills. Messes. Ink end messages at critical moments. Printer toner and ink cartridge replacements are a source of frustration and stress. These printers squarely address these issues. The ink bottles have a leak-free design and allow one-touch replacements. Equipped with ink tanks, which can use up ink to the very last drop, these printers also relieve users concerns about any ink leftover during refills. These products offer strong support for your everyday printing needs.
 
Scanner: Used for ES-50/ES-55R/DS-70/ES-60W/ES-60WW/ES-60WB/ES-65WR/DS-80W
These are A4-sized sheet-feed scanners. With more companies embracing digital technologies, demand is increasing for mobile scanners that can easily digitalise photos, receipts, and documents of all types, both inside and outside the office. With that in mind, we worked with engineers to improve portability, aiming for the lightest weight and smallest size in the class to bring more customers a satisfying experience. The final products were designed to prevent operating errors during transport and offer outstanding portability, easy use, and simple functionality. They also have an attractive design.
 
Judges' comments
These are evolved versions of the sheet-feed scanner. We gave them high marks for portability: their light weight and small size allow them to fit easily into a carrying bag, with room to spare. The convenient portability of these scanners will make you want to take them with you, increasing your work efficiency and productivity outside the office.
 
Epson designs recognised with 2018 Good Design Awards, and products using the award-winning designs include:
 
·         Projector: LightScene EV-100/EV-105
·         Projector: EB-L610U/EB-L615U
·         Projector: EB-L20000U/EB-L12000Q
·         Inkjet printer:PX-S170UT/PX-S170T
·         Business inkjet printer: PX-M884F/PX-M886FL/PX-S884/PX-M380F/PX-M381FL/PX-S380/PX-S381L/PX-M880FX/PX-S880X
·         Large-format printer: SC-T5150/SC-T5150N/SC-T3150/SC-T3150N
·         Large-format printer:SC-T5450/SC-T3450/SC-T3450N
·         Scanner:ES-50/ES-55R/DS-70/ES-60W/ES-60WW/ES-60WB/ES-65WR/DS-80W
 
About the Good Design Award  
The Good Design Award was established in 1957 as the Good Design Selection System (or G Mark System). Today, it is a leading design evaluation and commendation system and has become world renowned, attracting a large number of entries from companies and groups around the world. Awards are presented annually as a way to promote quality of life and the use of design in solving social issues. The symbol of the award, the G Mark, is widely recognised as a symbol of excellence in design.
 
For more information go to: www.g-mark.org/
 

Pozitive Demonstrate New swissQprint Nyala 3S at Clarke Murphy Print

It was a proud moment for both the teams at Pozitive Sign and Graphic Supplies and Clarke Murphy Print, as they launched the latest in flatbed technology ... the swissQprint Nyala 3S high-speed flatbed printer.

On hand to greet guests and talk about the newest masterpiece from swissQprint were Phil Trumble, Pozitive, Adriano Gut, swissQprint and Benn Murphy, Clarke Murphy Print. 



To start proceedings, Phil Trumble welcomed guests before handing over to Benn Murphy who detailed the company’s long association with Pozitive and the swissQprint flatbed printers. Benn said they had purchased their first Impala flatbed printer after seeing an ad in Visual Impact magazine, then decided to take a trip to Visual Impact Brisbane 2012 trade show to see the machine in action, at which point they signed the deal. 

The new Nyala 3S is Clarke Murphy’s 5th swissQprint flatbed printer. They have seen a lot of growth in the wide format sector and know that the performance capabilities of the Nyala 3S are what they need to meet tighter deadlines whilst still being able to deliver exceptional print quality. 

Adriano Gut from swissQprint, came all the way from Switzerland for this very special occasion, and detailed the printer’s incredible performance capabilities. 



The Nyala 3S is a speed machine. Capable of printing up to 370 m² per hour, the printer has been designed specifically for very busy production environments that deal with high volume, fast turnaround work but without sacrificing on print quality. Its highest productivity level is fine for billboards, banners, building warps and similar large-scale promotions designed to be viewed from certain distances. The high-performance Nyala 3S uses a special eight-colour configuration with a ninth channel free for either a white or varnish effect.



Clarke Murphy have had the new Nyala 3S for 10 days now and it has already proven it’s worth as the company has been running the printer close to 24/7 along with their other swissQprint flatbeds. But that’s not where the story ends, their capability is set to expand even further when they take delivery of their 6th machine in 2019, in a move designed to strengthen their digital presence whilst complimenting the company’s successful commercial print operations. 



For more information about the superfast Nayala 3S faltbed printer, please visit www. pozitive.com.au/product/swissqprint-nyala-3s/

Imagination Graphics triumphs as the winner of the 2018 Konica Minolta National Specialised Print Awards!


Well done to Imagination Graphics who won first place as the winner of the 2018 National Specialised Print awards for their entry, 'The Hamptons'. Emmanuel Buhagiar and his team get to go on a trip to Tokyo, Japan, visiting some of the amazing sites and Konika Minolta's amazing CEC.

The National Specialised Print awards were established to celebrate the craft of digital printing on Konica Minolta print systems and this year, the quality of the entries was exceptional. Konika Minolta thanked all of their customers who entered the awards. This year, they received a record, 245 entries, from 57 print companies across Australia. The finalists, and overall winner, were judged on quality, design concept, typography, and colour reproduction, and the quality of work was very impressive across the country.



The winning entry from Imagination Graphics, The Hamptons, is a beautifully saddle stitched booklet that combined a number of creative elements in the design concept including superb Imagery and a combination of die cut and hand-crafted components. Produced on an AccurioPress C6100 with IQ-501 and Splendorgel media, including a long sheet for the cover, the quality of the colour and registration was impeccable.

The awards were hosted by GM Production Print and Industrial Print, Sue Threlfo and attended by the State Finalists, many Sydney customers, industry VIPs, trade media, our Managing Director, Dr David Cooke, and Konica Minolta Directors Shane Blandford and David Procter as well as many of our sales managers, account managers and other support staff.

Learn All About Brush Lettering From The Best

Roland DG’s TrueVIS Printer Cutters Awarded Top Honours from Buyers Lab 

n a comprehensive laboratory evaluation, Roland DG’s TrueVIS VG series wide format printer cutters won two prestigious Buyers Lab awards, including Outstanding Enhanced CMYK Eco Solvent/Latex 54″/64″ Printer (7-Colour) and Outstanding High Production CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54”/64” Printer (Dual CMYK). Keypoint Intelligence’s Buyers Lab (BLI) is the world’s leading independent provider of testing and analysis for the document imaging industry. 

To determine the results, BLI analysts evaluated a variety of inkjets from contenders globally in a number of key performance categories, including Image Quality, Usability and Speed. In earning the Outstanding Enhanced CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54”/64” Printer (7-Colour) award, Roland DG’s TrueVIS VG series (VG-640, VG-540) demonstrated “very high quality output even when printing at the most productive speed settings.”　VG series printer cutters were also cited for producing “the widest gamut of bright, saturated colours, as well as smooth skin tones with very good highlight details and contrast.” In addition, the tests showed that the TrueVIS VG yielded “extremely accurate dimensional stability and colour consistency.”
 
Roland DG’s TrueVIS series printer cutters earned their second BLI Award in the “Outstanding High Production CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54”/64” Printer (Dual CMYK)” category. The BLI analysts reported, “At the high-speed print quality setting, this 64-inch unit excelled at producing bright halftone images with very good details and saturation, as well as neutral grays and smooth skin tones while the highest quality print setting was significantly faster than that of the next fastest device. Pair that with the accurate PANTONE^® colour-matching capabilities, as well as above-average print speeds, and this large-format device will undoubtedly satisfy the strictest quality and colour demands of any print shop.”
 
When evaluating “usability,” BLI noted that the VersaWorks Dual RIP software bundled with both the VG-640 and VG-540 provided intuitive operation for diverse tasks such as job tiling and nesting, job queue and ink consumption monitoring, and the ability to readily modify process and PANTONE colours. Also impressing the BLI analysts were other advanced VG series features, including the standard take-up reel for unattended printing, an ink pouch replacement system that reduces overall waste, and remote printer monitoring via iOS and Android devices.
 
In a presentation ceremony at the SGIA Expo in Las Vegas that took place this morning in the booth of Roland DGA, Roland DG’s US-based sales and marketing subsidiary, David Sweetnam, Director of Research and Lab Services for Keypoint Intelligence, congratulated Roland DG and cited how the VG stood out among the competition. “This printer cutter is all about fast turnaround without sacrificing quality, as many of our test images exhibited neutral grays, fine details, and smooth skin tones even at the high-speed print setting. We were also impressed by the VG with 7-colour plus White ink, which produced the largest colour gamut we have tested to date and delivered excellent colour matching in our tests with an average of only 3.45 Delta E00. Both the VG-640 and VG-540 earned very good marks across the board for image quality, speed, and the functionality and user-friendliness of their included Roland VersaWorks Dual RIP software.”

Canon announces new imagePROGRAF-TM series of large-format inkjet printers for the low-mid CAD and poster printing market.

Canon Australia announced today the launch in Australia of 4 models and 4 MFP solutions in the new imagePROGRAF series of large-format inkjet printers. Designed for the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and poster printing markets, we have lavished many of the same features introduced in high-end TX printers for the TM series--new core technologies, fully pigment 5-color LUCIA TD ink, a print head with six integrated 1.07-inch wide tips, and the L-COA PRO image processor.

The TM series takes the acclaimed Canon print-quality and speed into a mid-market offering. Sharp line drawings and vibrant posters are possible even on economical uncoated paper or inkjet plain paper. To expand the potential huge midrange/entry-level user base, the printers are also designed with specifications and performance that encourage deployment by smaller offices and companies.

To increase deployment in smaller offices and open-plan studios, the printers are designed to be more convenient in these environments. TM printers are quieter by up to 60% in comparison to the imagePROGRAF iPF series and compact, with fully front-accessible operations and flush wall installation, making them easier to set up where space is limited. Now that offices are not as noisy, demand for less distracting office equipment is driving a trend towards quieter MFPs, printers, projectors, air conditioners and other equipment. In response to this change in office environments, we have made the TM series quieter and eliminated distracting noises. By maintain a peaceful, comfortable working environment, the printers have a direct impact on work, which is a highly-valued feature of the TM series.

Each of the imagePROGRAF TM models employ newly-developed LUCIA TD 5-colour pigment ink capable of reproducing fine lines and clear text required for printing CAD drawings, even when using plain paper that lacks ink-absorbing layers. For poster print jobs, these models achieve high colouring on plain inkjet paper, enabling the output of vivid, low-cost posters on plain paper, contributing to economical and efficient in-house printing. 

For continuous printing of drawings on A1 landscape plain paper in the fastest mode, the imagePROGRAF TM-300/305 can produce 144 prints per hour, which represents an increase in speed of up to 23% compared to its predecessor, the imagePROGRAF iPF series, thanks to improved print head scanning and reduced time between processing each print.

There is also the option to add one of Global Scanning’s fast, high quality scanners, including the T36/T25 scanner with a user-friendly touchscreen display, to the imagePROGRAF TM series creating the perfect multifunctional office companion.

Alongside these models, Canon will release 4 types of waterproof poster media with adhesive backing that achieves excellent weather resistance, enabling users to create outdoor signage suitable for a variety of scenarios.

The imagePROGRAF TM range consists of the following models:

• Standard 24” and 36” models 
• imagePROGRAF TM-200
• imagePROGRAF TM-205 (includes HDD)
• imagePROGRAF TM-300
• imagePROGRAF TM-305 (includes HDD)
• 24” and 36” MFP Solutions 
• imagePROGRAF TM-200 MFP L24ei
• imagePROGRAF TM-205 MFP T25(with touch-screen scanner)
• imagePROGRAF TM-300 MFP L36ei
• imagePROGRAF TM-305 MFP T36(with touch-screen scanner)

EFI to Premiere the new Pro 32r Wide Format Printer

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. and Nazdar SourceOne are pleased to jointly announce the worldwide premiere of the EFI™ Pro 32r, an entry-level, 126-inch (3.2-meter) wide roll-to-roll LED printer. 


Entry-level roll-to-roll with EFI’s proven LED and UltraDrop Technology 


The new EFI Pro 32r is an economical, production-level roll-to-roll printer that can make users more competitive and profitable. Designed for high-quality print with mid-level production, the Pro 32r prints up to 2,227 square feet (207 square meters) per hour, and features a built-in EFI Fiery digital front end (DFE) with FAST RIP acceleration technology. 


The printer, which is available from EFI and Nazdar, uses four colours plus optional white ink and 7-picoliter EFI UltraDrop™ Technology for high-end imaging. Its proven, “cool cure” LED imaging technology drives down operating costs with less energy use and waste while delivering superior results on an extended range of supported substrates. A host of value-added options are available as well, including slitters, automatic blockout printing, manual backlit printing, an iPhone® printer management application and a software productivity pack featuring enhanced tools to reduce media waste. 

Fujifilm to unveil new CTP system and new Elara 5 workflow features at IFRA World Publishing Expo 2018

Fujifilm today announces that in Hall 21a, Stand E.01, at the IFRA World Publishing Expo 2018 it will introduce two new solutions to its newspaper portfolio, both reinforcing the company's commitment to making newspaper production more profitable as part of its Superia initiative.

Superia has seen considerable success in the commercial print market since its introduction, with its simple aim of reducing the resources used in offset printing in the form of materials, labour, water, energy and waste.  Fujifilm has now applied these ideals to newspaper production, with a particular focus on improving automation and reducing material usage and waste.

Fujifilm will therefore be showcasing two new modules as part of its Elara 5 Workflow, Elara Production Planner and Elara PDF, and will also unveil a new addition to its Luxel VMAX range, the Luxel VMAX 600, shown at Ifra in concept form and set to be the fastest CTP device on the market.

Elara Production Planner 
Elara Production Planner is a unique new workflow tool that allows Elara users to plan newspaper editions based upon press configurations that can be created from inside the Elara 5 system. Software-to-press interfaces are often extremely expensive (sometimes the interface costs even more than the entire workflow software) but such expensive systems are no longer needed. Elara Production Planner takes care of press configuration and template setup directly, from which the workflow gets all the information it needs. It also automates the process of page pairing, press cylinder correction and plate-stacking and sorting.

Elara PDF 
Elara PDF is a new tool (available for all major platforms: Windows, Apple Mac and Linux) that can check, repair and normalise PDF files before production. Many newspaper printers get PDF files from external parties and these can have a range of specific issues that need to be addressed, such as RGB format images, thin lines, incorrect versions, missing fonts, low resolution images or overprinted text. Elara PDF finds and fixes these issues where possible and notifies the user via the user interface or by email. This versatile system also offers pre-flighting, picture enhancement, ink-saving, PDF flattening, anti-aliasing and more. A version that includes the high speed and comprehensive Elara Rip is also available.

Luxel VMAX 600 CTP
Having introduced an innovative trolley-based pallet loading option for its Luxel VMAX 400 CTP at last year's IFRA exhibition, Fujifilm this year is demonstrating its leadership in newspaper systems by showcasing how even greater levels of speed and efficiency could be achieved with the technology showcase of the Luxel VMAX 600, set to be the fastest CTP device available. Thanks to its cutting-edge laser technology and optimal plate-loading functionality, it can operate at unrivalled speeds.

Whilst punch bender manufacturers and processors still struggle to keep up with these types of speeds, the Luxel VMAX 600 showcases what is possible in terms of raw plate imaging speeds.  Fujifilm will therefore be reviewing customer interest with a view to introducing it as a commercial system at a later date.

Ricoh Debuts Flatbed, Latex Printers


RICOH USA is debuting both a pair of roll-to-roll latex printers and a wide-format flatbed printer targeted at the sign, graphics and décor markets.

The two latex printers — the RICOH Pro L5130 and L5160 — will print up to 473.6 sqft/hr in outdoor standard mode and 270 sqft/hr in indoor standard mode, using curing technology that leaves output ready for finishing as soon as it comes off the printer. Boasting automated maintenance features and a durable design, the printers leverage Ricoh’s GREENGUARD-certified latex inks and industry-leading printheads.

The RICOH Pro TF6250 flatbed printer can print on substrates up to 4.3 inches thick at up to 1,391 sqft/hr. It has true flatbed architecture, with a moving carriage and gantry over a 98.8-by-51.5-inch bed.

“In wide-format, the difference between an application that stands out and one that does not often comes down to the inks that deliver the highest quality with adherence to a wide variety of substrates,” said John Fulena, VP Commercial & Industrial Printing Business Group, Ricoh USA, Inc. “With the RICOH Pro TF6250, we developed a technology platform that can handle the wide range of applications our customers’ customers are seeking.”

The TF6250 uses ink sets available specifically for improved high adhesion to difficult and uncoated media. LED technology keeps power consumption down and cures at lower temperatures, allowing for use of thinner substrates without the risk of melting or warping them. Additional ink sets, including one focused on high colour gamuts for sign and graphic applications, are also available.

Meanwhile, the RICOH Pro L5130 and L5160 latex printers can support 2- and 3-inch roll cores up to 122 lbs. and media up to 64 inches wide. High ink opacity and adhesion enable the production of crisp, clear prints for a variety of applications on substrates that range from wall coverings to window graphics to backlit day/night signage.

Roland DG Announces New VersaWorks 6 RIP Software for Enhanced Efficiency and Performance

Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and 3D devices worldwide, today announced the release of VersaWorks 6 RIP and print management software for inkjet printers and printer cutters.

VersaWorks includes a broad range of functions to streamline the entire printing process by generating high-quality print data that optimises the features of the printer, ink and media being used. “Our new VersaWorks 6 comes with an extensive range of features that makes the printing process more accurate and reliable for users, while also building upon the superb core functionality and ease of use of the previous popular VersaWorks software,” explains Yohei Shinomura, manager of Digital Printing Product Management.
 
VersaWorks 6 provides 64-bit native support to maximise performance from the latest 64-bit operating systems and to improve the processing capability of complicated data including complex vectors and multiple layers with ease and precision. It also provides support for processing PDF files natively to render transparencies, drop shadows and other special effects the way they are intended to look in the design, eliminating the hassle of reworking data.
 
Shinomura said the user interface has been redesigned consistent with the latest design trends for a high level of visibility, with more intuitive visual icons to enhance usability. An easy-to-use colour matching function ensures consistent colour between multiple printers of the same model, providing accurate colour control when using more than one printer for volume production or jobs involving large, combined graphics. Users now have up to five separate queues with unlimited saved settings available for each queue to suit specific customer requirements and media, as well as to immediately reload past job settings for recurring jobs.
 
VersaWorks 6 will be bundled with the following Roland DG inkjet printer and printer cutter models beginning in November 2018 and is also available immediately on the website below as a free upgrade for users with the following models.
 
Eco-Solvent Printers and Printer Cutters
BN-20
EJ-640
RF-640
SG-540/300
SP-540i/300i
VG-640/540
VS-640i/540i/300i
XR-640
UV Printers and Printer Cutters
LEC-540/330
LEF-12/12i
LEF-300/200/20
LEJ-640
Dye Sublimation Printer
RT-640*
* Please note: Those using ErgoSoft Roland Edition are excluded from the upgrade.
 
Website: www.rolanddg.com.au/products/software/versaworks-6

SCREEN GP announces NIR Near Infrared Dryer for its 520HD Inkjet Web 

Delivers higher print speeds on coated litho stocks, expands lightweight paper capabilities, fine-tunes drying performance across all substrates used for commercial-grade digital inkjet print.

Sydney, October 16th 2018 - SCREEN’s flagship, high-volume production inkjet web press has made another leap toward becoming the preferred technology for printers looking for offset-quality on standard stocks, using inkjet technology.

Peter Scott, managing director of Screen GP Australia, says: “When we introduced the 520HD press a little over two years ago, the market was surprised by its offset-like image quality. It was the first time high speed inkjet demonstrated the capability for effectively printing jobs that approached offset quality. Development has been on-going since that time, with the SC inks being the most significant advancement.”

He continues: “Drying and curing is always an issue with high-volume inkjet, there’s a lot of water to get rid of and now, with the new Near Infrared (NIR) Dryer, we can achieve what no other digital inkjet press does. NIR technology dramatically advances productivity for work demanding high image quality and expands print applications for high speed inkjet across a broad landscape of products.”

The new SCREEN NIR Dryer technology, built into the existing press frame of the 520 HD, extends drying performance for both lightweight uncoated stocks and heavier weight, coated litho substrates. The result is an expanded range of applications and even higher productivity on difficult to dry substrates.

Drying on the 520HD is now 3-tiered: heat dissipation, hot air assist, and new infrared. This integrated solution achieves a drying balance along the entire paper path tuned specifically to the characteristics of the paper, reducing or eliminating the cockling often associated with traditional inkjet ink drying methods. 

Intelligent drying
Operators create substrate profiles with embedded drying protocols at different print resolutions and ink limits. These profiles are managed seamlessly by Screen’s proprietary Equios front end software, providing intelligent drying balance for each specific stock helping achieve the highest quality, best speeds and desired ink coverages.

Scott adds: “All new Screen Truepress Jet 520HD machines may be optionally equipped at the factory with the NIR dryer. Screen branded 520HD units currently in the field can be upgraded with the new dryer at the machine site. It’s a major move forward in making production web inkjet a viable alternative to offset – with all of the benefits of no plates, short runs, variable data, offset stocks and streamlined digital workflow.”

www.screenaust.com.au 

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has named four continental winning vehicle graphics installers in the “Wrap Like A King” Challenge. 

They are: 
● North America - “Mission Flyer 2.0” by MetroWrapz of Hollywood, Florida
● Europe - “Barnfind 66” by Funkeefish of Tendring, Great Britain
● North Asia - “Tank Ray” by WrapStyle Korea of Gimpo-si, Kyeonggi-do, South Korea
● Australia and New Zealand - “Barn Find 24/7” by Fingerprint Signs of Launceston, Australia

The four Continent Wrap Kings showed their prowess with Avery Dennison® Supreme Wrapping™ Film, the Conform Chrome™ Series and MPI 1105™ Supercast Digital film. They will each receive a four-night stay in Las Vegas for the 2018 SEMA Show, where the “King of the Wrap World” will be announced. The US$3,200 prize pack for each continent winner also includes personalized Wrap Like a King swag, US$500 in gift vouchers, a Race Ramp product and a variety of promotional and marketing tools for the winner’s wrap shop.

Jeff Losch, Marketing Director, Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions said:  “We’re one step away from a new global wrap king, and each of the remaining entries is a strong representation of what this challenge is all about. Our team cannot wait to see the winners in Las Vegas, because each one has accomplished something remarkable.”

Josh Nielsen of Fingerprint Signs, said: "Wrap Like A King has been a great experience and opportunity for my and the team at Fingerprint Signs. We didn’t expect to become the continental winner for ANZ but it has made us feel so much better about our work. I have always been inspired by the wrap work done all over the world which pushed me to follow my dream in becoming a wrap designer and installer. I never thought I would get this far with my work and it’s a great feeling to know that my work is not only enjoyed by the locals in Tasmania by now all over the world." 

The 2018 Challenge judges include Justin Pate, co-owner of The Wrap Institute; Myles Kovacs, president and co-founder of DUB® Magazine; Jun Kinoshita, sales manager of Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions Japan; Mark Richardson, director of Elite Wraps and Vehicle Graphics; Alain Carcat, technical sales support for Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions Europe; Molly Waters, senior technical specialist for Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions North America; Peter Wright, technical marketing manager for Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions Asia Pacific; and Marco Kimme, founding member and chairman of the German Wrapping Association.

The eight professional judges evaluated the submissions based on the following criteria: visual transformation (difference between the before and after pictures submitted), quality and skill level of installation, overall public look and appeal and uniqueness of the design.
“Visual effects are impressive, but those that are executed with consistency across a wrap take it to another level,” said Molly Waters, senior technical specialist, Avery Dennison. “We were excited to compare awe-inspiring effects and textures from wraps in each continent, and at the end of the day, these four winners impressed us the most.”

The four Continent Wrap Kings will receive a four-night stay in Las Vegas for the 2018 SEMA Show, where the “King of the Wrap World” will be announced. The US$3,200 prize pack for each continent winner also includes personalized Wrap Like a King swag, US$500 in gift vouchers, a Race Ramp product and a variety of promotional and marketing tools for the winner’s wrap shop.

The 2018 King of the Wrap World grand prize winner will be announced on Wednesday, October 31 in Booth 12659 at the SEMA Show. The King of the Wrap World extended prize package is valued at almost US$5,000, with additional gift vouchers and exposure via the Avery Dennison website and web advertisements.

Please see the press release for the full announcement. I've attached the image of all 4 Continent winners for your reference. 
More information about "Wrap Like A King" Challenge is available at http://wraplikeaking.averydennison.com/ 

HP INTRODUCES WIDE TABLETOP PRINT ENGINE FOR DIRECT-TO-PACKAGE PRINTING

HP Inc. has announced a new wide tabletop print engine for OEMs to design on-demand specialty packaging solutions.

The HP OEM Fixed Imager 1000 by HP Specialty Printing Systems (SPS) enables convenient in-plant or print service provider printing on a wide range of applications including gift and shopping bags, personalised gift boxes, shipping packaging, cartons, and envelopes. The highly versatile HP F1-1000 print engine introduces a 297.18 mm (11.7 inch) wide print swath, offering a large image area for colour printing on variable lengths of media. 

“This wider print engine can deliver more elaborate on-demand color packaging and commercial printing applications for short-run, personalized direct to package printing. Brand owners can differentiate their packaging, shopping bags, envelopes to make their products stand out with color and personal messages,” said Annette Friskopp, general manager, HP Specialty Printing Systems, HP Inc.  “HP opens extensive opportunities for OEM partners with a range of inkjet printing capabilities to meet fast-paced market needs.”

Konica Minolta has received two prestigious Buyers Laboratory (BLI) awards, recognising excellent performance in Buyers Lab rigorous product field tests. 
  
Buyers Laboratory is a division of Keypoint Intelligence. Its PRO awards are held annually. The 2019 PRO awards honoured Konica Minolta in two divisions: the Konica Minolta AccurioPress 6136 with Internal Image Controller was recognised as the most outstanding light/mid-volume production device; and the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C3080 Series with EFI 417 Controller was awarded outstanding light production colour device. 

PRO awards go to the best performers in Buyers Lab’s production field tests, during which tens of thousands of pages are printed. Productivity is tested with both coated and uncoated media in a wide range of weights and sizes, using various finishing options to simulate a mix of job scenarios. Buyers Lab technicians also evaluate paper-handling capabilities, many facets of ease of use, and image quality. 

David Sweetnam, director of EMEA/Asia Research & Lab Services, Keypoint Intelligence, said, “The Konica Minolta AccurioPress C3080 delivers a wide range of production print capabilities to growing CRD and commercial pay-for-print organisations. Chief among these advancements is the system’s unique ability to check and adjust front to back registration and colour consistency in real time without operator intervention, and without impacting productivity. And the flexibility an operator has to choose the frequency in which these self-checks and adjustments will be run ensures high-level, consistent quality, day in and day out.” 

George Mikolay, associate director of Copiers/Production, Keypoint Intelligence, said, “The Konica Minolta AccurioPress 6136 series promises to be a true workhorse in both in-house CRDs and commercial pay-for-print establishments. AccurioPro Print Manager provides job management control by simply logging into the IP address of the embedded Konica Minolta controller. In addition, the system’s Scheduler allows for optimum resource planning, while class-leading media input and output capacities, and a wide range of in-line finishing tasks, allow for a diverse, high-volume workload with minimal downtime on a routine basis.” 

Grant Thomas, product marketing manager, Konica Minolta, said, “To be recognised by an independent third party is significant for Konica Minolta in demonstrating its reliability, handling and capability to customers and prospects. Particularly, when approaching new customers, these types of awards hold great weight in supporting the feedback we already receive from our existing customers, on a global scale.” 

Roland DG Australia Announces “Discover Roland, Explore Africa” Contest 

The prize winner of Roland DG’s global “Discover Roland, Explore Africa” contest will hit the jackpot with an all-expenses paid, luxury African sight-seeing safari for two, including airfares, accommodation, meals and guided tours. The global contest, that will run between 10th October to 14th December 2018, is designed to encourage customers to get a hands-on product demonstration of Roland inkjet technology.

“Our best-selling eco-solvent, UV and dye sublimation inkjet printers and printer cutters are unequalled for their quality, performance and reliability,” Greg Stone, Roland DG Australia Product and Marketing Manager said. “We believe that it makes sense to offer the trip of a lifetime to those with Australia who are road testing the best products available on the market.”
 
To participate, entrants must live in Australia and do the following 3 steps: 1) Book a demo with Roland DG or with an authorised dealer via the contest website. 2) Following the demo, each entrant will be emailed a unique contest code. 3) Entrants finalise their entry via the website by entering their contest code, and writing a short 285 character (about 50 words) or less description on the contest entry form stating what they discovered about the Roland device. All entries will be judged based on creativity, passion and uniqueness, with one Grand Prize winner from all global entrants selected to receive the deluxe African safari for two. There will also be a local prize of $500.
 
Greg Stone said that the 11-day tour will include stays at three South African parks known for their wide variety of wildlife. “The winning couple will have an excellent opportunity to observe hundreds of birds and exotic animals in their habitat, including the “big five” of lions, leopards, African elephants, cape buffalo and both black and white rhinos.”  
 
Among the 2019 tour highlights are stays in a variety of luxury accommodation, both night and daytime game drives with a ranger and tracker, and all meals, including a high tea. Airfares from several major cities are included.*
 
To learn more about the “Discover Roland, Explore Africa” contest, including eligible products, terms and conditions request a Roland product demonstration and enter, visit www.rolanddg.com.au/discover. For additional information on Roland DG and the complete Roland product line up, visit www.rolanddg.com.au.

Konica Minolta 2018 National Specialised Print Awards finalists announced from record 246 entries         

Konica Minolta has announced the finalists for its 2018 National Specialised Print Awards (NSPA), which celebrate exceptional craftsmanship in digital printing with the help of a Konica Minolta digital press system. A record number of entries for this year’s awards makes them Konica Minolta’s most popular yet. 

Following the awards’ success in 2016 and 2017, this year, Konica Minolta extended the awards categories to acknowledge a diverse range of digital print and imaging entries. The team has reviewed the highest number of entries to date, with 246 entries in one of five categories: Digital Flat Sheet; Digital Print Bound Books; Digital Brochures and Booklets; Digital Label Print; and Digital Embellishment. 

The entries have now been considered by expert judges at a state level. Konica Minolta’s 2018 National Specialised Print Awards finalists for this year are:

• NSW - Imagination Graphics, The Hamptons
• VIC - Revolution Print, XTM Performance Wire Bound Catalogue
• QLD - Tennyson Group, TAS perfect Bound book
• SA - Whoyou Creative, Presentation Pack
• WA - Tako Print Solutions, Success Board 2019
• ACT -Elect Printing, Via Lusso Booklet.

Congratulations to the monthly prize draw winner of Graphic Art Mart’s “Work Hard, Play Hard” Trade Promotion.

In September Graphic Art Mart announced the “Work Hard / Play Hard” Trade Promotion in conjunction with Avery Dennison and Mactac.

Entry into the competition is easy, customers simply spend $50.00 (exclusive of GST) or more on Avery Dennison or Mactac products in a single invoice to go into the draw.

There are some fantastic prizes on offer:

• First Prize – Choose between a Nissan Navara RX 4X4 Dual Cab Pick Up or 1 x Harley Davidson motorcycle to the value of $35,000.00 RRP
• Second Prize – 1 x Flight Centre travel voucher to the value of $5,000.00 RRP
• Third Prize – 1 x RedBalloon gift voucher to the value of $2,500.00 RRP

BALL AEROSOL PACKAGING LAUNCHES EYERIS®

Aluminium aerosol customers traditionally have shied away from photo-realistic packaging designs because the graphics do not translate well to conventional offset printing. To overcome this limitation, Ball Aerosol Packaging is launching the highly anticipated Eyeris®, a proprietary high-definition printing technique.

For customers craving detailed graphics to bring products to life, Eyeris® printing is the solution to providing photo-realistic quality can designs without digital printing. This ground-breaking HD imagery spans 360 degrees of the can, creating premium product differentiation that engages consumers and elevates brands.

As the personal care industry continues moving toward more natural products, Eyeris® provides customers with the opportunity for the packaging to reflect this shift. Detailed life-like imagery, such as leaves, flowers and landscapes, can be printed on cans, allowing brands to stand out in today’s competitive retail market.

Jason Galley, Director of Global Innovation & Business Development for Ball Aerosol Packaging, comments: “We know the market is clamoring for inventive solutions to create standout packaging. There is such buzz in the industry for digital printing, and Eyeris® provides the perfect alternative to achieve similar results on aerosol cans. This unique technology will transform our customers’ ability to harness the increasing power of imagery and story-telling, truly representing the next generation of aluminum aerosol printing.”

EFI Appoints Bill Muir as New CEO

EFI announced that its Board of Directors has named William (Bill) D. Muir as its new Chief Executive Officer. Muir was most recently the Chief Operating Officer of Jabil, a product solutions company. His appointment is effective October 15, 2018, when he will also join the Board of Directors. 
 
Muir succeeds Guy Gecht, who informed the Board he intended to step down as CEO upon the appointment of his successor, as the Company announced on July 30, 2018. Gecht will remain a member of the Board of Directors and will be an advisor to the CEO. 
 
“Bill is going to take EFI to the next level,” said Gecht. “At Jabil his experience and track record included scaling multi-billion dollar businesses, driving execution and setting the firm’s strategic direction. This background uniquely prepares him to be the next CEO of EFI. I look forward to watching him lead EFI and helping him in any way he chooses as the Company continues to lead the digital transformation of industries globally where colorful images matter.”
 
Gill Cogan, Chairman of EFI’s Board, noted, “In conducting a comprehensive search for the next CEO, the Board had the opportunity to speak with many highly skilled, strong leaders. Bill was our first choice, as his experience in managing a global manufacturing organization, track record in execution and leadership style most closely matched the characteristics we sought to successfully lead EFI in its next stage of growth, building on the legacy that Guy established over the last 20 years. I would like to once again convey the Board’s gratitude to Guy for his outstanding leadership, overseeing the transformation of EFI and driving the Company’s rapid growth to over $1 billion in annual revenues.”
 
“I am honored and humbled to join the EFI team,” said Muir. “I have developed a deep admiration for the culture of courageous innovation, technical leadership and customer care, and I look forward to leading our exceptional team as we work tirelessly to delight our customers and create shareholder value.”
 
Muir has spent the past 25 years helping innovative, leading brands bring exceptional products to the marketplace, including launching Jabil’s Blue Sky Innovation Center. He has a deep background in complex engineering and manufacturing honed over progressive leadership roles at Jabil, a $22 billion product solutions company with more than 100 facilities and 170,000 employees across the globe. Most recently, Bill served as Chief Operating Officer. 
 
Before that, he served as CEO, Global Manufacturing Services, which at the time was a $14 billion division of the company, and as President of Jabil Asia, where under his leadership the business tripled in less than four years. Muir holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Florida.
 
Muir will join EFI’s third quarter earnings call, which is scheduled to take place after market close on October 29, 2018.