The company launches four new UJF Series printers designed for high-quality output and superior productivity

Mimaki the leading manufacturer of inkjet printers and cutting systems, is set to open the door to new high-value, high-quality industrial print applications with the launch of its latest product innovations. The company has today unveiled four new high-speed, high-quality direct-to-object UV LED inkjet printers – the 190% faster(1) UJF-7151plus II and the new UJF-MkII e Series, comprising three advanced, small format solutions.
 
All four additions to the market leading Mimaki portfolio will be commercially available in December 2021 and take industrial print and marking to the next level. The printers feature an array of new capabilities designed to deliver significant quality and performance benefits, enabling users to explore new applications and increase productivity.
 
“We are very excited about these new solutions that have been specifically developed to ensure our customers can increase their competitive edge and boost profitability,” says Brad Creighton, National Marketing Manager at Mimaki Australia. “By expanding and enhancing our UV LED product range at such a crucial time for the industry, we aim to provide industrial printers with the cutting-edge technology needed to grow their businesses. For printers currently operating in other markets, these new solutions represent an opportunity to break into this diverse and successful sector, utilising our most innovative UV printers yet and supported by the industry’s leading manufacturer.”
 
UJF-7151plus II - Combining robust, high-speed production with outstanding image quality
 
Designed for seamless and reliable high-speed production, the UJF-7151plus II is equipped with eight printheads, which enable dual four-colour (CMYK) ink configurations. This, in turn, allows faster print speeds of up to 190% compared to the previous UJF-7151plus model. The new system also breaks new creative boundaries with several features developed to enhance image quality, such as the MFD2 (half-toning) processing functionality to further control dot position. The result of this increased control is sharper edges and finer lines as well as fewer colour irregularities.
 
The UJF-7151plus II’s six-colour configuration includes light cyan and light magenta to enable more accurate colour reproduction and it can achieve 1800dpi image resolution, providing superior definition for high-quality applications. In addition, the new printer’s innovative Colour Gloss functionality adds a glossy finish to hardened colour inks, enabling users to create new, distinguishing textures and details that ensure their products stand out from the crowd even without the use of clear varnish.
 
Load capacity has also been increased to 30kg, making the printer capable of handling high quality print jigs and ideal for accurate printing of heavy media, such as wood, metal, and glass, in industrial print environments.
 
UJF-MkII e Series – Three new small format printers that are big on quality
 
The brand-new series of UJF-MkII e printers sees the introduction of the UJF-3042MkII e, the UJF-6042MkII e and the UJF-3042MkII Ex e to the already comprehensive Mimaki portfolio. The three new models offer cutting-edge image quality and stability for printing onto an extensive variety of soft and hard media, including leather, wood, acrylic, metal, and glass.
 
The UJF-3042MkII e and UJF-3042MkII Ex e feature a print area of 300mm x 420mm, while the UJF-6042MkII e offers a larger print size of 610mm x 420mm. All UJF-MkII e Series printers feature new MFD2 processing for exceptional image quality as well as an improved gap check sensor. This laser sensor detects media placement to prevent printheads from making contact with the material during printing. It can even detect transparent materials for superior accuracy and highly controlled media detection. In addition, the new printers provide improved usability to the operator by adding visual guidance on the 3.45inch full colour display.
 


Cutting-edge, performance enhancing features included in all four new UJF printers
 
The new additions for the UJF printer series all feature MDL (Mimaki Device Language) commands support, which enables automated workpiece transfer. This capability allows users to control the new UJF printers from external production systems and peripheral devices. This enhanced automation not only increases user control and productivity but reduces manual operator intervention to increase efficiencies.

The new models also incorporate RasterLink7 as standard RIP software, supporting one-product-at-a-time printing. With this latest software platform, numbering and variable data printing has never been easier, providing users with significant time and production efficiencies.
 
All new UJF Series UV inks are GREENGUARD GOLD certified and the new range of printers incorporate the proprietary Mimaki Core Technologies, including NCU (Nozzle Check Unit)2, NRS (Nozzle Recovery System)3, and MAPS4 (Mimaki Advanced Pass System4)4 functions enabling stable output of high-quality prints.

For more information about products and services from Mimaki, visit: Mimaki Australia

Fastlane Support is an online tech support tool designed to streamline customer requests, resulting in less paperwork, fewer phone calls and better service.

Prati has officially launched Fastlane Support, an online technical assistance platform designed to improve customer service. As a manufacturer of label converting solutions, Prati made it a priority to enhance its global reach, providing all customers with access to the quickest possible support.

Fastlane Support is an online tech support tool designed to streamline requests for technical assistance. Customers will experience less paperwork, fewer phone calls, more speed, and greater satisfaction, the company says.

"Accessible to all our customers 24/7, the online platform is personalised with a complete list of machines installed for each customer," the company states. "Secure access takes the customer to their own page with machine details and serial numbers. Once the machine is selected, a menu provides an exhaustive list of potential alarms, malfunctions or other issues. The customer chooses the most appropriate one and adds a more detailed description, attaches a photo or videoclip and clicks the send button. It’s as simple as that."

Prati receives the request immediately and, without needing to call back to check basic details, its technical staff start to work on the solution. The customer can track the status online at any time, making it easier to foresee a schedule and envisage reaching a solution.

"As soon as we receive your online request, we get in touch, treating your request according to your ticket registration on the Fastlane Support platform," adds Prati.

There are multiple benefits to this platform. Customers have all their machines' details online in their own personal webpage, and there are just three steps to ask for support and no need of phone calls, written emails or messages. The online platform is open 24/7, regardless the time zone, and the the status report is online Customers will receive Fastlane treatment for each request, as this contributes to everyone’s efficiency.

Amari Visual Solutions are proud to announce its appointment as official HP Channel Partner in the low volume Latex category of equipment and consumables.

With the addition of the market leading HP Latex technology, Amari Visual Solutions further expands its ability to support customers with a more comprehensive offering of products and services. Relates Amari Visual Hardware Manager Dan Yeoman –“Latex ink technology opens up both new and creative applications and market segments including amongst others- vehicle & fleet graphics, reflective and architectural applications. HP’s introduction of white ink in the new 700 & 800 series of printers adds greater versatility, enhanced applications and real point of difference for new HP users”.

Hardware demonstration showrooms are being established over the coming weeks specifically at the companies Dandenong Victoria, Prestons NSW and Hendra QLD locations, with full range of ink and consumables available across the whole network, along with service and support says Dan.

“It is an exciting time in the evolution of Amari Visual Solutions as we build on the great relationships we have with existing vendors such as 3M , Roland DG and General Formulations, making sure we are able to offer our customers everything they require to succeed," added Marketing and Vendor Relations Manager Lee Farrell. "We are driven by our customers requirements and with other new products in the pipeline that are tailored to what they are asking us for, we approach our next phase of development with great enthusiasm and purpose and couldn’t be happier or more privileged to partner with HP."

If you are keen to discuss how HP Latex can benefit your business please free to contact Dan Yeoman directly on 
0448 888 128 or drop Dan an email daniel.yeoman@amarivisual.com.au . 

Otherwise contact your nearest Amari location or speak to your local representative.

***To celebrate Amari Visuals appointment, they are offering no finance repayments until December through HP Finance on all new equipment purchases ***




WWW.AMARIVISUAL.COM.AU 

HP Inc. and its subsidiaries announced fiscal 2021 third quarter net revenue of $15.3 billion, up 7.0% (up 4.1% in constant currency) from the prior-year period.

HP's net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $1.1 billion. HP generated $1 billion of free cash flow in the third quarter.

Third quarter GAAP diluted net EPS was $0.92, up from $0.52 in the prior-year period and above the previously provided outlook of $0.77 to $0.81. Third quarter non-GAAP diluted net EPS was $1.00, up from $0.49 in the prior-year period and above the previously provided outlook of $0.81 to $0.85.

“Strong and sustained demand for our technology drove another quarter of top and bottom-line growth and we more than doubled non-GAAP EPS year over year,” said Enrique Lores, HP president and CEO. “We are performing while we are transforming our business models and service offerings to accelerate growth opportunities across our portfolio. The evolving hybrid world is driving innovation and market expansion for HP and we are well positioned to capitalize on trends in our markets.”

Personal Systems net revenue was $10.4 billion, flat year over year (down 3% in constant currency) with an 8.4% operating margin. Consumer net revenue increased 3% and Commercial net revenue decreased 1%. Total units were flat with Notebooks units up 2% and Desktops units down 7%.

Printing net revenue was $4.9 billion, up 24% year over year (up 22% in constant currency) with a 17.6% operating margin. Total hardware units were down 4% overall, with Consumer units down 8% and Commercial units up 29%. Consumer net revenue was up 15% and Commercial net revenue was up 46%. Supplies net revenue was up 20% (up 19% in constant currency).

As more and more printing moves away from laser-based solutions due to their excessive cost, waste and energy usage, Epson has committed to inkjet solutions powered by its unique PrecisionCore™ technology as the future of printing for home, enterprise, office, large format and industrial applications.



Epson Australia GM marketing, Bruce Bealby explained, “Epson’s inkjet printing technology is increasingly the technology of choice in many areas and most recently in enterprise and office printing environments. As we all know there are always many variations on a theme as far as technology is concerned and inkjet technology is no different. Epson has seen continued and consistent growth in our enterprise and office Heat-Free inkjet solutions powered by our unique PrecisionCore™ technology and have committed to it, globally, as the future of office printing.”
 
The main reasons for this are simple and straightforward. Epson PrecisionCore™ inkjet solutions are scalable and so can be used across the board from entry level office printers right up to industrial large format printers and enterprise office printers.
 
Epson PrecisionCore™ printers use fewer moving parts than traditional laser technology, which makes them inherently more reliable and that is particularly important when printers and copiers are such an important part of time-sensitive business processes. Fewer moving parts also drive down production and service costs.
 
In addition, Epson’s PrecisionCore™ inkjet solutions, high-yield inks and low running costs are particularly relevant and significant in office environments where costs are tightly controlled.
 
Bealby added, “It’s also worth noting that not only can Epson PrecisionCore™ enterprise and office printers provide businesses with a more affordable option for high-speed, high-volume printing but they are also the ideal replacement for toner-based, energy-hungry laser printers.”
 
As far as the environment is concerned Epson’s Heat-Free Technology uses far less – often up to 94% less* – power than comparable laser printers, which benefits the planet and results in lower energy bills for the office. This point is currently being highlighted by Epson and National Geographic in their Global “Turn Down the Heat” campaign.



The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the Earth. As its permafrost ice melts, powerful methane greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, which speeds up global warming in an increasingly destructive cycle. Professor Katey Walter Anthony is an Arctic researcher and National Geographic Explorer, and her work has helped to reveal that Arctic lakes are emitting five times more methane than previously thought.
 
To make copies of maps and data from her field research, Katey uses Epson’s innovative inkjet printers. Not only does their Heat-Free Technology save as much as 94% of the energy used by comparable traditional laser printers, they also don’t require heat to warm up like laser printers, which means even greater energy and cost savings.
 
Katey explains, “The Arctic is literally melting before our eyes, and what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It affects the entire planet. Heat destroys permafrost and when we choose to use heat free technology, we lower our energy consumption which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slows permafrost thaw. The environmental burden from manufacturing and recycling spare parts is also reduced, as Heat-Free Technology uses fewer consumables and parts that need replacing.”
 
As much of the industrialised world strives to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, these innate energy savings brought by Heat-Free technology can greatly reduce the environmental footprint of printing solutions.
 
Bruce Bealby concluded, “The feedback we consistently get from the market is that inkjet technology continues to be the dominant technology in many areas including large format, commercial, and industrial; however, as far as Epson and our customers are concerned it also continues to excel and significantly grow in popularity in the enterprise and office spaces. It is worth acknowledging again that not all inkjet-based technologies are created equal but those that have the right balance between, reliability, efficiency, sustainability and lower cost will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.”

Voxel8 has been acquired by Kornit Digital, a textile manufacturing company specialising in on-demand textile production, where digital printing is applied to textiles. The Israeli firm has revenues of $179 million and over 400 staff.

Voxel8 was founded as a Harvard spinout from Professor Jennifer Lewis‘ Lab. Initially an electronics 3D printer manufacturer, the company looked to footwear and fabric 3D printing. The firm launched in 2014 and has since received over $12 million in funding, got money from In-Q-tel, changed CEOs, as well as direction, and made items for Hush Puppy and other fashion-related accessories.

“Voxel8’s innovative technologies and talent will help us accelerate the execution of our 4.0 strategy to digitise sustainable, on-demand textile production. With this advanced and proven 3D technology, we will disrupt the business of fashion, empowering completely new creative decorative concepts and never-before-seen functional textile applications, while exploring new lucrative opportunities in the functional apparel and footwear markets,” stated Ronen Samuel, Kornit Digital Chief Executive Officer.

Kornit was already moving towards the 3D printing realm, just recently announcing its MAX technology that can make 3D printed surfaces atop of textiles. So, the tie up seems like it is a logical one that could very well be beneficial to Kornit shareholders.

“Voxel8 offers direct 3D print-on-part capabilities, advanced design software that can be easily integrated with any production floor software workflow, and versatile chemistry enabling on-the-fly formulation of high-performance elastomers to change the material properties of the resulting printed structures by multiple orders of magnitude. This means reflective, high-density, silicone and metallics, as well as compression elements for sports and therapeutics, protection elements like cushioning and impact resistance, and functionality applications like anti-slip, waterproofing, and other qualities combining form and function that are key to Kornit’s vision of digitizing production in every conceivable manner,” said Kobi Mann, Kornit Digital Chief Technology Officer.

“Voxel8’s innovative and sustainable technology—tested by some of the world’s leading global fashion and footwear brands, such as Hush Puppies, which is part of Wolverine Worldwide, enables the digital creation of unique decorative and functional applications, while eliminating time and waste from the manufacturing process. Voxel8 shares Kornit’s vision of transforming the textile industry and couldn’t be more excited to be part of the journey to build the operating system of sustainable fashion on demand,” said Fred von Gottberg, Voxel8’s CEO.

To help ease the burden on small businesses, gig workers and consumers, Epson has launched the new RapidReceipt® RR-600W fast, easy and smart receipt and document scanning solution.



There is no denying how organising and managing financial information can be overwhelming, especially with the sheer amount of receipts, invoices, expenses, and critical paperwork that most small and home offices accumulate. It is very easy for documents to pile up, and the arduous task of manually processing each one can be time-consuming and cumbersome. The result is often data-entry errors and the risk of lost data, ultimately costing businesses valuable time and money.

RapidReceipt is the only solution in the market specifically designed for organising and managing receipts and invoices. Perfect for small business owners, office managers, road warriors, field-based workers, consultants and gig economy workers who often wear multiple hats and are short on time and resources. RapidReceipt with receipt and invoice management software is a simple, cost-effective and time-saving financial management solution.
 
With Epson's leading technology and success in the scanning market, the company focused its expertise on delivering a unique scanning solution to help alleviate their common pain points. Developed with very small and nimble businesses in mind, RapidReceipt is the ultimate organised digital filing cabinet that enables easy financial document management of all types of information with incredible efficiency.
 
The RapidReceipt scanner includes Epson ScanSmart® Accounting Edition software, which converts stacks of unorganised receipts and invoices into actionable digital data. Small business owners and consumers can finally say goodbye to manually entering data because RapidReceipt software accurately extracts and organises data from receipts and invoices, and seamlessly integrates into Excel® spreadsheets or third-party applications such as MYOB®, XERO®, and more. Users can also scan directly to cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive™ and OneDrive.1
 
A well-planned organising system can make financial management much easier, so Epson engineered RapidReceipt scanners with speed, image quality, efficiency, and low cost in mind. The RapidReceipt RR-600W wireless, desktop scanner is built for productivity, capturing both sides of a document in one pass with blazing speeds as fast as 35 ppm/70 ipm.2 
 
It features a robust 100-page Auto Document Feeder accommodating stacks of paper of varying sizes and includes an intuitive 4.3" touchscreen and convenient USB port so users can scan directly to a USB memory drive without a computer.
 
The RR-600W also includes a TWAIN driver for easy integration to most document management software and includes Kofax® Power PDF® for Windows® and PDF Converter for Mac® to allow users to simply create searchable and editable PDFs, at no extra cost.
 
With  NewSoft® Presto! BizCard® software included with the RapidReceipt RR-600W, users can easily scan business cards and manage contact information.
 
Epson scanners deliver amazing image quality and intelligent image adjustments with automatic cropping, blank page deletion, background removal, dirt detection, paper skew correction, and staple protection capabilities so users can scan worry-free.
 
Availability
The Epson RapidReceipt RR-600W desktop scanner is available now for an RRP of AUD$699 from Epson Australia by going to:  https://www.epson.com.au/rapidreceipt/ and from all authorised Epson resellers.
 
1. Internet connection required for some applications.
2. Based on letter-sized scans at 300 dpi in Black-and-White, Grayscale or Colour Mode, using the USB interface.

SureLab D1060 offers fast, high-quality photo printing with flexible production and a reduced total cost of ownership

As demand for small-format photos continues to grow, businesses are looking for a cost-effective way to deliver quality prints quickly and cost effectively. To meet that need, Epson has launched the SureLab® D1060. This new DryLab printer has been built to address a range of customers from wedding and event photography, to retail in-store ad-hoc printing, to back-office print houses.
 
It offers a more compact footprint with reduced noise, lower heat output, as well as a range of new features to suit retail and in-house photo production. It also has a faster print speed and a super-fast one-off print mode for event applications.
 
A new ink system is combined with more flexible networking and an extended print life for those involved with on-demand and back-office print production. Complementing all of this is a new duplex unit that enables automatic double-sided borderless printing for photobook and photo merchandise production. 1



“High-quality, small-format photo printing is more popular than ever. Whether you have a high-end digital camera or the latest smartphone with megapixel imaging capability, there is nothing visceral quite like a tangible printed photo of a treasured moment. People want to put photos in their family albums, on the desk and up on the wall. Moments in time are fleeting and special. There is nothing like having a memento there in front of you as a reminder of what’s truly important,” said Gordon Kerr, Business Marketing Manager, Large Format, Epson Australia, “Epson has always produced great photo printers. The SureLab D1060 is a leap forward in terms of flexibility, productivity and durability. Never before has it been easier or more cost-effective to produce quality photo prints.”
 
The new SureLab D1060 delivers print speeds of up to 460 6”x4” photos per hour.1 It is up to 10 percent faster than the previous generation, and the new 15 second one-off print mode is set to be a boon for photo studios and event work.2
 
Leveraging an enhanced 6-channel MicroPiezo® printhead and vivid UltraChrome® D6r-S dye-based ink technology, the printer can accurately reproduce subtle tones in portrait photos with smooth transitions and crisp, sharp details. When coupled with compatible Epson genuine photo media, prints are water, smudge and fade resistant.3  



For improved productivity, the SureLab D1060 features a high-capacity ink system that uses 250ml bags that are cost-effective to purchase, compact to store, and crushable for reduced waste.
 
For single-sided printing, the machine uses large 65m roll-based media that is available in widths from 3.5”-210mm (A4) in a range of media weights and finishes.
 
The optional duplex tray uses double-sided sheet media, that is available in sizes from A5, up to 210x210mm. Operation is made simple and flexible care of an integrated control panel and bundled Epson OrderController Lite software.4 Flexible USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi interfacing makes connectivity easier while the reduced footprint and heat output makes the machine perfect for kiosk-based operations.5
 
One of the key design features of the SL-D1060 is its reduced Total Cost of Ownership. Not only has it been designed to offer worry-free operation with minimum maintenance, but it features double the print life of its predecessor.1 It comes with a comprehensive ‘heads-and-all’ on-site warranty that can be extended with CoverPlus for up to five years.
 
In Australia the printer will be offered in two configurations: base unit only, or base unit plus duplex. The duplex unit will also be available as an option for those who wish to purchase it later.
 
Additional features include:
 

• New Ink System – UltraChrome D6r-S ink in high-capacity 250ml packs deliver better prints with finer gradation and a wider colour gamut, while reducing cost and waste.
• Flexible Operation – Integrated output tray and waste bin. Integrated LCD panel for direct control, as well as an upgraded driver for desktop management (Windows & Mac OS compatible).  Supports Epson’s new Cloud Solution PORT service for remote monitoring and analysis. This allows access from a web-based interface in the office, from home, and from a mobile device when on the move.
• Reduced Cost – Supplied complete with an ink set, sample media and a copy of Order Controller Lite. Features a 400,000 print life and backed with a comprehensive on-site warranty, with a CoverPlus solution for coverage up to 5 years.
• Flexible Integration – Reduced 80W power consumption, and only 1.2W when in sleep. Connect easily to printer over Wi-Fi®, Ethernet or USB using redesigned printer driver for Windows® and Mac®
• Small Footprint – Compact Simplex size (466 x 374 x 340cm), Duplex size (466 x 438 x 423cm), with a reduced heat output to suit desktop and kiosk operation.
• Versatile Output – Designed to use Epson media that is available in a wide range of roll and single/double-sided sheet configurations, with gloss or luster finishes. Supports production of prints with a border and borderless. Panoramic prints can be produced up to 1000mm long on single-sided roll media. 5
• Built for Reliable Operation – Requires minimum maintenance and features new ink-less nozzle detection and alignment technology. 

 
Pricing and Availability
The SureLab D1060 is expected to be available from November 2021 in Australia. A base printer with 5 year CoverPlus is expected to cost $6,995 (RRP ex GST), while the version with the duplex unit is expected to cost $7,995 (RRP ex GST). The duplex unit will also be available separately for $995 ex GST.  
 
1 When compared to the Epson SureLab D860
2 Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Customers are recommended to view the relevant Epson product page for latest details. Total throughput time for any print depends on various factors including workstation configuration, file size, print resolution, ink coverage and networking. Actual print speeds will vary.
3 Epson does not provide any guarantee or warranty on print durability
4 This printer ships with the ‘Lite’ version of Order Controller. The full version can be ordered separately at additional expense.
5 This printer is designed for use with nominated Epson genuine ink and media consumables only.  Use of alternatives is likely to result in print quality and reliability issues that invalidate warranty and CoverPlus.

LIA NSW held their AGM and are pleased to announce the standing committee.
 
The president Angus Scott thanked the members, Industry and the committee for their continued support. It was noted that even in such challenging times several successful networking, plant visits and graduate of the year nomination processes were possible and well received.
 
The committee are committed to delivering more quality events in the year ahead.  
 
Office Holders:

Angus Scott – President




Peter Munro -  Vice President




Mike Williams – Secretary / Treasurer
 




Committee members:

Warwick Roden




Grant Churchill




Ray Berwick




Mitch Mulligan

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have created a polymer film made from 100% plant protein that requires no chemical additives – and they claim it has comparable functionality to conventional plastics.

Made entirely from plant protein which can be sourced as a by-product of the agriculture industry, the company that is set to commercialise the solution, Xampla, says that the resulting material can be disposed of in nature after use like any natural waste, leaving no pollutants behind. 

Importantly, the company also claims that the material’s functionality is consistent with conventional plastic, but it requires no chemical cross-linking used in many bio-polymers to give them the strength and flexibility of plastic. 

Research, which has been published in the Nature Communications scientific journal, reportedly shows how scientists were able to naturally assemble plant proteins so that the final structure was very similar to spider silk. The researchers say that this “breakthrough” is the first time these structures have been seen in a material that derives from plant protein. 

Xampla hopes that the technology, which utilises a process involving acetic acid, water, ultrasonication, and heat, can replace single-use plastics including flexible packaging films, sachets, microcapsules found in home and personal care products, and carrier bags. 

The scientists behind this innovation were inspired by spiders’ silk, which is weight-for-weight stronger than steel but has weak molecular bonds, meaning it can break down easily.  They sought to understand the building blocks of this natural phenomenon, with the aim of creating a material with the same molecular properties.

Professor Tuomas Knowles, who led the research, said: “One of the key breakthroughs is that we can supply this product on a large scale, and it can replace plastic in very specific applications. We have proved it’s possible to solve the single-use plastics problem.”

Dr. Marc Rodriguez Garcia, Xampla’s head of research, added: “It’s amazing to realise that a discovery you make in a lab can have a big impact on solving a global problem. That’s essentially why we are doing this – we really love the science, but we also wanted to do something meaningful about solving the overwhelming problem of plastic waste.”

Esko has announced the launch of a free downloadable e-book, ‘Trends in the Beverage Packaging Industry: Ingredients for Success’, which outlines key industry trends and the tools brands can adopt to capitalize on them for commercial success.

The global market for alcoholic beverages amounted to over 1.49 trillion US dollars in 2020 and is expected to grow to 2.2 trillion USD by 2025, according to Statista. Changing consumer habits during the pandemic have led to a plethora of new behavioral trends, which equates to a host of opportunities for brands hoping to capture new market share in the sector.

“Almost a third of consumers would like to continue working from home and coupled this, over half of consumers are actively looking for tips on personal health and wellbeing. In catering to this, brands can expand into whole new categories. For example, alcoholic flavoured water known as Hard Seltzer,” says, Matthew Haws vice president global marketing at Esko Brand Solutions.

“When creating whole new product lines with multiple SKUs, smart brands are using digital tools to help streamline the journey and make the transition from ideation to new product launch pain-free. With digital asset management (DAM) tools like MediaBeacon, external assets can be approved and made available to marketing teams to ensure promotion is extremely agile.

The latest free resource from the Esko team covers market trends and offers deeper insight into categories such as spirits and cocktails. Packaging trends are also on the agenda with a look at digital tools for success.

As brands and retailers strive to keep ahead of the competition, technologies such as MediaBeacon and web-based collaborative workflow management system, WebCenter, help them to cut to the chase quicker by streamlining packaging design projects and taking away common stumbling blocks that slow the process down.

“The beverage industry is extremely competitive in terms of packaging design. Speed to market with new and different designs is paramount to influencing the purchasing decision ahead of rival brands. Teams that have control of their assets through digitalization are much more likely to turn concepts into actual product ranges quickly – and more cost-effectively.”

Download the Esko Trends in the Beverage Packaging Industry: Ingredients for Success e-book no

GJS today announced it has secured the first Australia sale of the new Brother GTXpro Bulk garment printer with Sydney-based printing business T-Shirt Magic. It will use the printer to increase production volume while simultaneously increasing its eco-friendliness thanks to the capabilities of the printer.

Andrew Sprason and Lily Yang, the husband-and-wife owners of T-Shirt Magic took ownership of their first Brother garment printer back in 2011, and since then they have moved through all subsequent Brother DTG models including the GT-3 series, and the GTX, having multiple units of each.

T-Shirt Magic is one of Australia’s premier DTG printers. Founded in 1998, T-Shirt Magic designs, prints, and supplies garments to clubs, businesses, corporations, and charities.

The investment in the new Brother GTXpro Bulk will allow T-Shirt Magic to scale its production capabilities as the business continues to grow, while also allowing faster production. The GTXpro Bulk will also increase cost efficiency for the business, thanks to the new bulk ink delivery system.

“The Brother GTXpro Bulk will allow us to offer even better quality and faster turnarounds, and at a lower cost for bulk printing,” said Sprason.

The purchase and install of the Brother GTXpro Bulk will also allow for improved production reliability.

“With our other Brother GTX printers, the addition of the Bulk means that we will always be able to fulfil customer orders. If for some reason one of the GTX’s is unavailable or requires maintenance or servicing, we will still have two others as redundancy,” Sprason added.

Continuing Brother's legacy of creating industrial-grade garment printers, the GTXpro Bulk features a proprietary bulk-feed system for its specially formulated inks. Meticulous attention to every detail means that every component is up to the rigours and demands of high-production garment decoration.

The bolder, brighter Innobella Textile Inks are water-based pigment inks and are ECO PASSPORT by OKEO-TEX certified and CPSIA compliant. The bulk packaging uses less plastic thanks to the new reusable tanks so there is less waste and less impact on the environment.

GJS

Epson has launched two new heat-free, cartridge-free premium EcoTank Photo models for creative enthusiasts. Perfect for keen amateur photographers, the wireless, multi-function EcoTank Photo ET-8500 and ET-8550 use 6 colour Epson Claria ET Premium inks, can print up to 2,300 high-quality photos or 6,700 pages in black and white or 6,200 pages in colour with one set of ink bottles1 at incredibly low running costs.
 
As these printers feature Epson’s patented Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology, you can now enjoy consistent high-speed photo printing, with greatly reduced energy consumption and less need for replacement parts, helping to save time, money and the planet too.

Both new printers come with the new 6 colour Epson Claria ET Premium ink set to produce high-quality, long-lasting, borderless photos of up to A4 size with the ET-8500 and to A3+ with the ET-8550. The photo black and new photo grey ink makes it easy to achieve detailed, high-contrast black and white photos with beautiful toning, while the pigment black ink ensures sharp text when printing double-sided documents on plain paper. This makes these printers a fantastic choice for every task in your home.



Epson Australia MD, Craig Heckenberg, said, “These printers are great news for photographers, creative enthusiasts and the environment. They are our first heat-free, multi-function, EcoTank Photo printers to feature 6 colour Claria ET Premium Ink for delivering high quality photos, arts and crafts on a wide range of media. The low running costs and flexible convenience of cartridge-free printing make it ideal for everyday document printing the whole family can enjoy. The fact that they are heat-free means they use far less power than laser printers and are far better for the planet as a result.”



Amateur photographers and creative hobbyists will appreciate the highly flexible media handling capabilities of the two new printers. With five paper feeds there is no end to the creative projects these printers can deliver. Not only can you print directly onto suitable CDs and DVDs, you can also store photo size and A4 paper in the two front trays ensuring your printer is always loaded and ready to go. The rear tray allows you to print on media such as craft papers and card, even up to A3+ size with the ET-8550. Finally, the rear straight pass paper feed means you can print on cardstock and other speciality media up to 1.3 mm thick.

These new premium EcoTank Photoprinters join Epson’s award-winning line up of cartridge-free refillable ink tank printers which this year saw global sales reach 50 million units. They deliver ultra-low cost per page thanks to the EcoTank's innovative cartridge-free filling system with easy-to-use, mess-free bottles.
 
The ET-8500 and ET-8550 allow you to print thousands of high-quality photos and documents with one set of included ink bottles1 - equivalent to about 185 individual cartridges2 - and these prints can last up to 300 years when stored in an album³.




The ET-8500 and ET-8550 also enable printing from SD cards and USB flash drives through the large 4.3” colour touchscreen. With full Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and Ethernet connectivity, integrating either of these printers with your existing home set-up is simple and straightforward.

The EcoTank ET-8500 and ET-8550 are available immediately from www.epson.com.au with an RRP of $999.00 and $1149.00 respectively.
 
For more on EcoTank printers go to: www.epson.com.au/v2/ecotank/
 
For more on Epson’s Heat-Free Technology go to: www.epson.com.au/heat-free-technology/
 
ET-8500 KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS 
· Cartridge-Free Printing – print 1000’s of pages straight out of the box!1
· Includes enough ink equivalent to approximately 185 individual cartridges2
· Exclusive Auto-Stop Ink Bottles – uniquely keyed for easy filling of each colour
· 6-Colour Claria Inks – for printing high-quality documents and photos up to A4
· Versatile Paper Handling – dedicated photo and paper trays
· Easy PC-Free Printing – with built-in USB and memory card slots5
· Large, Easy-to-Read 4.3" Colour Touchscreen – simple setup and navigation
· Complete Wireless Solution – easily print from iPad®, iPhone®, Android™ tablets and smartphones4; includes Wi-Fi Direct®6 and Ethernet
 
ET-8550 KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS 
· Cartridge-Free Printing – print 1000’s of pages straight out of the box!1
· Includes enough ink equivalent to approximately 185 individual cartridges2
· Exclusive Auto-Stop Ink Bottles – uniquely keyed for easy filling of each colour
· 6-Colour Claria Inks – for printing high-quality documents and photos up to A3
· Borderless printing – up to A3
· Versatile Paper Handling – dedicated paper and photo trays
· Easy PC-Free Printing – with built-in USB and memory card slots5
· Large, Easy-to-Read 4.3" Colour touchscreen – simple setup and navigation
· Complete Wireless Solution – easily print from iPad®, iPhone®, Android™ tablets and smartphones4; includes Wi-Fi Direct®6 and Ethernet

Epson is expanding its EcoTank® Pro line of cartridge-free printing solutions to include models designed for high-productivity home offices. The EcoTank Pro ET-5150 and EcoTank Pro ET-5170 provide home offices and small businesses with a more affordable EcoTank Pro option for high-speed, high-volume cartridge-free printing. The ideal replacement for messy, expensive and heat-producing laser printers.





KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
· Heat-Free Technology uses far less power than laser printers.
· Cartridge Free Printing – Print 1000’s of pages straight out of the box1!
· Extremely Low Cost Per Page – Less than two cents per page with replacement ink bottles2.  
· Low-cost replacement ink bottles from $24.99 – and easily refillable ink tank with replacement ink bottle.
· Fast First Page out Time - in only 7 seconds3.
· Easy Wireless – easily print from iPad®, iPhone®, Android™ tablets and smartphones®4 includes Wi-Fi Direct®5.
· Do More - 35-Sheet Auto Document Feeder (ADF); auto 2-sided print.
· Easy Touch-and-Swipe Setup and Navigation — large 2.4" colour touchscreen.
· Bonus One Year Warranty – upon registration within 12 months6.




EcoTank Pro ET-5150
 
The EcoTank Pro Series allows users to save up to 90 percent with low-cost replacement ink bottles vs. standard capacity black and XL capacity colour laser toner cartridges, equivalent to about 2 cents per colour ISO page versus 27 cents with standard-capacity colour laser toner cartridges. 





EcoTank Pro ET-5150 ink tanks
 
The EcoTank Pro ET-5150, powered by PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology, offers revolutionary cartridge-free printing with easy-to-fill, supersized ink tanks. It includes thousands of pages of ink in the box1. That’s an incredible amount of ink — enough to print up to 5,200 colour pages1. Plus, it features auto-stop ink bottles with each colour uniquely keyed for easy filling of each tank. The ET-5170 also offers a high-capacity 250-sheet paper tray, fax, 2.4" colour touchscreen, 35-sheet ADF, fast auto 2-sided printing, no warmup time, first page first printing and convenient wired and wireless networking.
 
Epson Australia MD Craig Heckenberg said, “The way we live and work has truly changed, and not just in the short-term. As people adapt to this new reality, it's important to have technology tools that not only ease the transition, but enable productivity, efficiency and help generate revenue. EcoTank Pro printers ensure small office, home office and business professionals can take full advantage of the benefits cartridge-free printers provide. They are also much better for the environment than laser printers.”
 
The new EcoTank Pro ET-5150 and EcoTank Pro ET-5170 augment the existing line of EcoTank Pro models, providing a compact, entry-level, affordable solution to users that require high-volume printing.
 
Pricing, Availability and Support
The EcoTank Pro ET-5150 (RRP $639.00) and EcoTank Pro ET-5170 (RRP$649.00) are now available now at www.epson.com.au and all good Epson retailers and resellers.

Roland DG Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices, today announced a plan to assist QLD and NSW customers whose business has been affected by the current mice plague. 

Roland DG would like to extend its best wishes to those who have been affected by the mouse plague that is ravaging regional parts of NSW and QLD. There have been a number of instances reported of mice chewing on electrical cables and customers wishing to have their Roland DG equipment checked by a technician to ensure it is ok and safe to use.

Damage to Roland DG equipment by mice and other rodents, can occur when they hide in areas that contain electrical wiring. Mice have an instinct to chew anything to keep their teeth from growing and can end up chewing on a range of materials, including cabling/wire, glass, plastic, rubber, wood, aluminium, rock and even cement. 

If you do have issues with rodents in and around your workplace, ensure that you visually check your cabling prior to turning your Roland DG machine on. If you suspect that a rodent has entered your machinery or caused damage to the wiring, please contact the Support Team prior to operating your equipment.

Roland DG would like to help affected customers to get their businesses back up and running. As such, the Roland DG Care team will schedule service runs in the affected regions and will not charge call-out fees to review and inspect any Roland DG equipment that has been damaged as a direct result of the plague. The technicians can provide condition reports for any insurance claim requirements and for equipment requiring repair service work.
If you have any questions, require further detail, or wish to register for these service runs, please phone Roland DG on 1800 500 119, fill in a website booking form or email service@rolanddg.com and one of our staff will assist you. 

Digital inkjet roll-to-roll UV LED printers from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. continue to deliver innovations for superwide-format graphics production printing, and they have now achieved an important certification for the quality and durability of prints used for décor applications. EFI roll-to-roll UV LED printers have earned a Type II certification for wallcoverings based on The Wallcovering Association W-101 and ASTM F793 standards.

Wallcoverings submitted to gain the certification were printed and tested on the 20 oz. DreamScape line of wallcovering base material from Rockaway, N.J-based Roysons. The Type II certification is an indicator for quality, safety and durability of wallcoverings and, unlike other Type II certifications for digital inkjet printers, EFI’s new certification covers wallcoverings produced without lamination or coating.

“These certifications should assure print service providers that the product they can produce meets all of the critical regulatory aspects of a true commercial wallcovering,” said Roy Ritchie, Jr., president of DreamScape. “In addition, EFI customers who print on DreamScape base wallcoverings can enjoy increased efficiency and productivity, since they do not require the additional step of coating or lamination to reach this level of durability. DreamScape has worked closely with EFI for several years and it is easy to recommend their advanced and versatile roll-to-roll machines.”

EFI’s new Type II certification applies to EFI’s extensive portfolio of UV LED roll-to-roll printers – including the EFI Pro 32r+, and VUTEk 3r+/5r+, D3r/D5r, and new Q3r/Q5r printers. The wallcoverings were tested for durability and tear resistance; scrubbability and washability; colour fastness; Class A fire retardancy and safety; and more.

Along with the Type II certification, EFI roll-to-roll digital UV LED printers also received the Class A fire rating according to The Wallcovering Association’s evaluation and ASTM E84.

“There has been a rise in popularity for wallcoverings and interior décor applications these last years, which for us is an exciting trend as we offer a wide range of products for that growing market with our roll-to-roll UV LED printers,” said Hanan Yosefi, vice president, EFI Inkjet Israel. “This certification proves once again EFI’s approach to delivering the best to the market – giving its customers the ability to produce a wide range of challenging applications with the highest print quality at the lowest cost of production.”

The Type II designation and existing UL GREENGUARD Gold certifications for select inks make EFI roll-to-roll solutions ideal for wallcoverings, décor and other indoor applications. These certifications complement each other and provide a complete picture of certification covering the performance, safety and durability of indoor applications.

EFI offers a wide range of roll-to-roll printers, available for customers at the lower-, mid- and higher-volume end of the signage and display graphics market. EFI roll-to-roll printers can deliver up to nine colors, feature a true resolution of up to 1,200 dots per inch and EFI UltraDrop™ Technology with native 7-picoliter printheads with multi-drop addressability for high-definition image quality with outstanding smoothness in shadows, gradients and transitions, as well as precise and sharp size text. The line-up of EFI roll-to-roll printers covers a broad range of production needs, with the most productive solution in the portfolio, the EFI VUTEk Q5r, capable of printing up to 7,233 square feet (672 square meters) per hour.

The roll-to-roll printers’ UV LED curing ensures not only cost savings, but also a more environmentally friendly printing solution, consuming less energy and enabling the use of thinner, lower cost substrates. The printers also feature EFI’s “Power Tool” options for advanced productivity and capabilities, including in-line quality inspection, in-line slitting and cutting, roll and tape collection, auto-calibration, automated backlit printing, automated blockout printing and much more.

efi.com

Konica Minolta is proud to announce it has received a Buyers Lab (BLI) 2021 PRO Award from Keypoint Intelligence, the world’s leading independent evaluator of document imaging hardware, software, and services. 

Granted annually, these awards acknowledge the products that gave the best performances in production field testing over the previous year. Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C14000 took top honours in the Outstanding High-Volume CMYK Production Device High-Volume Category and was identified as a trailblazer in the digital production marketplace. 

David Sweetnam, director of EMEA/Asia Research & Lab Services, Keypoint Intelligence, said, “Konica Minolta’s innovative IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimiser has impressed us since its launch, allowing for quick, best practice colour setup and media-registration profiling, with inline checking and adjustment tolerances controllable by the operator. This technology helped the device deliver an outstanding performance over our production-length tests where, over 67,000 clicks, the device never drifted above DeltaE00 3.4, nor did it exhibit an image-registration shift of more than 0.3 mm.” 

Another key technology innovation noted by Keypoint Intelligence that separates the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C14000 from its peers is the new TU-510 Versatile Trimmer Unit. This inline, four-edge trimmer and creaser allows full-bleed finishing support for banners, booklets, direct mail, and a dedicated business card cutting option. 

Sue Threlfo, general manager, production and industrial print, Konica Minolta Australia, said, “Konica Minolta is pleased have made such a successful entry into the high-volume toner printing segment with the C14000 Series, which has now been affirmed by this honour from Keypoint Intelligence. The IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimiser option is a key differentiator in the market and helps our customers take colour consistency and registration accuracy to the next level.”   

The C14000 Series has won multiple awards since its launch in late 2019, including the “Good Design Award 2020” from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, the “Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021”, and most recently, the iF DESIGN AWARD 2021 from the Hannover-based iF International Forum Design GmbH, the world’s oldest independent design forum. In addition, earlier this year, both the AccurioPress C14000 and C12000 achieved two Idealliance® certifications: the Digital Electrophotographic Press Certification; and ISO/PAS 15339 System Certification. 

Mutoh Australia is pleased to announce they have appointed Perth based Tek Cad and Cam Systems to sell and support Mutoh printers across Western Australia. 

Mutoh Australia managing director Russell Cavenagh comments. “We are delighted to have partnered with an organisation like Tek Cad. We have been looking for the right partner to service our growing WA customer base and TekCad provides that unique blend of a strong customer focus, technical background and market knowledge that made them an ideal fit with our own key business goals and philosophies”.

Tek Cad partner Tim Loader commented, “Mutoh manufactures a broad range of award-winning printers that are an ideal fit for our business and client base. We have long been impressed with the quality and reliability of their Japanese manufacturing and we were particularly impressed with their new XpertJet range so we’re very happy to have forged this partnership”.

Tek Cad and Cam Systems location at 2 Commerce St, Malaga, Perth.
Mutoh Australia www.mutoh-au.com 02-9437 1366
Tek Cad and Cam Systems www.tekcad.com.au 08-9248 1322

To learn more about all of Mutoh’s award winners and other products visits www.mutoh-au.com 

Massivit 3D Printing Technologies, will unveil the industrial-grade Massivit 5000 at the AMUG 2021 Conference in Orlando, FL (May 2nd-6th, 2021) as well as at two live Webinars showcasing the new capabilities, features, and applications. 

The Massivit 5000 will enable manufacturers and service providers across a range of industries to expedite their lead times for manufacturing large parts, prototypes, and tooling by up to 30 times the production speed of existing technologies.

To book a live demonstration of the Massivit 5000 at AMUG 2021 (2nd-6th May), please click here.

Based on the company’s unique, patented Gel Dispensing Printing (GDP) technology – already adopted across 40 countries for fast, cost-effective production of large parts – the new Massivit 5000 introduces to the market new resolutions, materials, and automation capabilities that address industry 4.0 needs, enabling production of large-scale parts within hours instead of weeks. 

A new printing material, DIMENGEL 110, now available with the Massivit 5000, facilitates high-definition printing and greater fidelity to CAD designs. Two new resolutions enable print optimization according to layer thickness and speed requirements. The Massivit 5000 offers a Dual Material System that allows operators to print simultaneously with a different material on each head. New software automation features also allow operators to improve workflow efficiencies and enable easy monitoring and operations.

This latest addition to the Massivit 3D portfolio of large-scale 3D printers facilitates complex, large parts up to 145cm x 111cm x 180cm (57” x 44” x 70”) that instantly cure during the printing process, enabling ready-made parts straight off the printer without the need for post-processing and with almost no required support structures. 

During two launch Webinars, attendees will experience a virtual, live tour of the Massivit 5000 and will see a broad range of applications available across the automotive, marine, rail, and scenic fabrication sectors.

Konica Minolta has received a Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021 for its flagship AccurioPress C14000 Series of production presses from a record number of entries. 

Launched in October 2019, the award-winning presses, which also include the AccurioPress C12000, are supporting Konica Minolta’s mission to help its customers transform. Konica Minolta is doing this by predicting potential trends and challenges and creating solutions that address these. 

An international jury remarked on the outstanding design of the AccurioPress C14000 Series. The AccurioPress C14000 prints at 140 pages per minute (ppm) in A4 and is 40 per cent faster than any other toner-based machine from Konica Minolta. The AccurioPress C12000 provides the same high print quality and a similarly fast speed of 120 ppm. 

The AccurioPress C14000 Series also offers the new TU-510 versatile trimmer unit for advanced operational efficiency. The TU-510 is a truly unique inline, four-edge trimmer and creaser that allows full bleed finishing support for banners, booklets, direct mail, and a dedicated business card cutting option. In addition, the AccurioPress C14000 Series is equipped with the Intelligent Quality Optimiser (IQ-501) as standard, which can also improve labour efficiency by as much as 30 per cent. 

Professor Dr Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot, said, “Never before in the 60-year history of our design competition have so many companies and design studios faced the professional judgement of our international jury as this year. Products from 60 countries reached us, and their design quality and degree of innovation were evaluated in a process lasting several days. The fact that Konica Minolta claimed its place in a strong field speaks for the excellent quality of its products. The international jury only awards this sought-after seal of quality to products that feature an outstanding design.” 

Sue Threlfo, general manager, production and industrial print, Konica Minolta, said, “The AccurioPress C14000 really is a game-changer for the industry. It provides value for commercial printers in high-volume environments where deadlines are tight, quality is key, and efficiencies are needed. Konica Minolta is proud to have received this global award, which recognises its commitment to setting new standards in product design, while incorporating automation technology that boosts quality, reliability, and productivity. We look forward to helping our Australian customers leverage the benefits afforded by the C14000.” 

For more information visit: konicaminolta.com.au/home