Kornit Digital, a worldwide market leader in digital textile printing technology, announced today the acquisition of Custom Gateway, an innovative technology provider of cloud-based software workflow solutions for on-demand production business models.

“I am very pleased to announce the acquisition of Custom Gateway as we augment our market-leading capabilities with their powerful software, which we’ve evaluated thoroughly, including via several strategic customers we share,” said Ronen Samuel, Kornit Digital CEO. “Brands, retailers, suppliers, and fulfillers of all sizes stand to grow considerably through digital transformation, and with Custom Gateway, Kornit will revolutionize on-demand digital textile production with a unique end-to-end solution, giving us a powerful competitive advantage in the market.”

Custom Gateway’s robust and functionality-rich cloud platform is suitable for both B2B and B2C business models and handles all steps of efficient on-demand production. The platform enables content sourcing, creation, content management, and display at the front end. Orders created are captured by a robust order management system and are directed to the appropriate back-end production sites using sophisticated routing algorithms. Once orders proceed to the production floor, they are smartly routed and managed, to allow for efficient on-demand production on a mass scale. The entire process from order creation to shipment is enriched with integrations to existing IT environments, data-driven decisioning, and business intelligence analytics. By seamlessly connecting front end (online or other storefront) to the most suitable back end (on-demand production and logistics operation), the technology enables customers to realize the full efficiency, scalability, and profitability benefits of digitisation.

Supplementing Kornit’s Konnect platform for visibility and control of print operations, Custom Gateway’s platform offers Kornit customers valuable business insights for agility in the face of market dynamics and disruption.

Custom Gateway has over 300 active customers globally, including brand names such as the U.K.’s largest fashion retailer Next, as well as other leading sports, fashion, and content brands.

“We’re excited about bringing these two creative cultures together and know from experience that Kornit and Custom Gateway are built upon a common vision,” said Andrew Talbot, Custom Gateway CEO. “Together, we will provide global brands and fulfillers optimal control of their business, ensuring swift, socially responsible fulfillment, and in a profitable model that produces and ships orders in real time, without excess inventory or labor.”

“On-demand production is overtaking traditional retail models, and the producers who harness all available data will win the marketplace,” said Omer Kulka, Kornit Digital CMO. “We’re excited to welcome Custom Gateway to the Kornit family, a development that will ultimately give end consumers the products and experiences they expect.”

www.kornit.com

We are excited to announce that Rob Mesaros has joined Currie Group in the newly created position of Strategic Executive Advisor. Mesaros joins Currie Group after 15 years with HP, many of which were spent abroad, in various senior executive roles.   

Mesaros says, “Personally, the time has come for my family to return home. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at HP, from meeting many wonderful people to experiencing diverse cultures and business environments. I want to thank all of the HP teams I have been a part of, and the many HP channel partners, for providing me with a platform to learn and grow.”

Most recently Rob served as the Vice President & Head of 3D Printing & Digital Manufacturing for Asia Pacific & Japan, and officially started his new role on the 3rd of August, based at Currie Group’s head office in Melbourne.

Rob will be responsible for reviewing the end to end business operation, with a focus on business planning, and strategic improvement initiatives.  Additionally, Rob will work closely with our staff, key customers and partners to ensure we continue to gear ourselves up for future success. 

“I am excited to be joining Currie Group in a senior advisory role at such an important time for the company and industries evolution.  I have always respected Currie Group’s vision, and most importantly their attention to driving the right customer centric transformation.  The digital transformation of industries is just heating up, and I’m confident that Currie Group coupled with their Vendors will continue to play an important role in driving that transformation.” 

“During his 15-year tenure, Rob made very significant contributions to HP in a variety of roles across the region, including as Managing Director in Australia and New Zealand post HP separation in 2015 till May 2018. We thank Rob for his leadership over many years both here in Australia and abroad and we look forward to working closely together at Currie Group,” said Michael Boyle, Managing Director, HP Australia and New Zealand. 

Currie Group’s Executive Chairman, David Currie welcomes Rob to the team saying, “Currie Group is a long-standing partner with HP and having Rob join the group in the capacity of Strategic Executive Advisor makes sense on many levels. Rob’s experience in running business operations in ANZ and across the region, as well as his deep technical knowledge of the print industry, is complementary to our business model and our future direction. We look forward to working with Rob and all our partners to chart the course for growth and future success.”

 HP Inc. announced today its inkjet production printing solution, PageWide Web Press, has reached a milestone of 500 billion printed pages, as the print platform continues to expand its page capacity driven by global HP print service providers (PSPs).

“PSPs operating HP PageWide Web Presses are finding new success and opportunities for more sophisticated and profitable digital print applications, as well as transferring more pages from offset to digital inkjet technology,” said Carles Farre, vice president and general manager, HP PageWide Press. “They have more than doubled the number of pages they print on HP PageWide Presses since drupa 2016 for a growth rate that is nearly twice that of the market. More than half of these customers have printed over 1 billion pages on their devices.”

HP PageWide Web Press is an inkjet leader, reaching a share of more than 30% of the 8.8 billion page capacity added in high-volume color inkjet page capacity in the first quarter of 2020.1

Growing volume in pages

PSPs are using PageWide Web Press technology to enable high-volume digital inkjet printing of commercial, publishing, transaction and direct mail applications, as momentum continues worldwide. Notable growth success stories include:

Hatteras Printing Inc. based in Michigan, US, is growing volume with its investment in the HP PageWide Web Press T240 HD, delivering high volume and high quality, from lightweight substrates up to cardstocks. “Versatility capabilities of our equipment has been a big part of our growth,” said John Orlando, vice president of sales & marketing, Hatteras Printing Inc. Hatteras produces, mail and electronically delivers unique printed and digital products for the financial, healthcare, marketing and public sectors.

GGP Media GmbH, based in Germany, has installed a second HP PageWide Web Press T490 HD. The German company is part of Bertelsmann Printing Group, the leading print service provider in Europe. Annually, GGP produces more than 250 million print products, including bestseller novels, comics and fashion magazines.

“Not only do we benefit from the new press, but our customers do too. Smaller run sizes can be optimized with the printing technology and we are more flexible and able to significantly reduce time-to-market,” said Christof Ludwig, managing director of GGP Media GmbH. The press was added to deliver on steadily growing demand for digitally printed products alongside decreasing sizes of print runs, as well as to supply backlisted titles. The new press includes HP A55 Thermal Inkjet printhead technology, delivering crisp text quality at 305 meters per minute (1000 feet per minute).

ProCo, of the UK, installed its first HP PageWide Web Press T240HD a year ago to provide high volume and high-quality direct mail as its scales production. “As a business, we're all about doing new things for customers. Simply by opening up the power of personalization, with the flexibility and the quality of HP color, we’re able to offer a scale of options for our customers that was not possible to deliver prior. As a result, we’re adding massive value to their business, which is just as critical for us,” said Jon Bailey, CEO ProCo. “Now, you no longer have to choose between volume and quality, and you definitely don’t have to choose between what's possible and what's not possible.”

New capabilities for HP PageWide web presses

To drive additional page growth through an expanded application range, HP PageWide announced earlier this year its next-generation HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD with HP Brilliant Ink. The press is capable of printing on a wider range of coated and uncoated offset papers for high-volume commercial applications.

In addition, HP is now announcing a new partnership with Solimar Systems for high-volume document management. The Solimar Chemistry™ Platform, including ReadyPDF® Prepress Server™, Rubika® and SOLitrack™, supports job onboarding, enhancement, and management and delivery of both print and digital communications, including multi-channel document delivery.

“Through this valuable collaboration, HP customers can now benefit from Solimar’s long-standing technical expertise and market-leading workflow systems,” said Farre. “By integrating Solimar’s solutions, PSPs can fully optimize their workflows, maximize production efficiency and fully utilize the high productivity of their HP technology, ultimately enabling them to be more profitable.”

With presses from 20 inches to 42 inches and a range of production solutions, HP PageWide production inkjet web presses allow PSPs to meet customer needs for high-quality, high-volume printing, as well as reinventing supply chains to help eliminate distribution and inventory costs. Print-to-Order capability for publishing ensures books, magazines and journals are available and printed with the environment in mind.

In direct mail and commercial print, HP customers benefit from advanced automation and variable data tools to deliver creative campaigns that are targeted, relevant and boost ROI, which is becoming even more important as marketing budgets shrink and paper and postage costs rise.

HP Site Flow automates jobs and maximizes efficiency, as well as both Designer and Composer software solutions to give customers the power to create variable data pieces. These pre-press tools allow customers to change text, images, QR codes, versions and finely tune messages to customers.

To discover how HP PageWide Web Press reinvents inkjet production printing, please visit www.hp.com/go/pagewidewebpress.

Roland DG Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and printer cutters, today launched a new solution on the Company’s website designed to assist customers with creating COVID-19 related signage.

With COVID-19 defining much of 2020, social distancing signage can be found everywhere. From retailers, corporate office spaces, restaurants and schools, signage such as decals, posters, and window and floor graphics, are becoming increasingly important to convey the COVID-19 safety, health and hygiene message. 

A new section of the Roland DG Australia website, "Social Distancing Signage Solutions", includes detail on various signage solutions for social distancing, and the Roland DG equipment that can create them. Additionally, a range of free social distancing templates are available for customers to download and use to create their signs. 

"During a time when industries and businesses around the world are suffering, many sign and print companies have found new revenue streams by offering social distancing signage to their customers," said Greg Stone, Product and Marketing Manager at Roland DG Australia. "For those in the print and sign industry who aren’t yet offering this service, or who currently outsource," continues Greg, "there has never been a better opportunity to expand their offering. By providing the tools to create social distancing signage on our website, we hope we can help companies to build their business in both the short and long term." 

To find out more about social distancing sign making solutions, and download the free templates, go to the website.

Ian Cleary, National Sales Manager for Visionary Digital, is proud to announce our partnership with Graphic Art Supplies in Adelaide effective immediately as distribution  partner for all Visionary Digital and Continental Grafix products for South Australia.
 
Graphic Arts Supplies is a locally owned and operated business in South Australia that partners with industry leading suppliers to provide customers the best products and solutions available in the market. The business was reborn 3 years ago after the original owners retired, and their focus since then has been on strengthening and growing the business by specialising and having local in-house experts to assist and support customers.

Michael Clarke and Steve Murphy, directors of Graphic Art Supplies comments “After researching the local market, we continued to notice demand for specialty and high quality offerings across the flooring and wall space but there was limited choice available. We found Visionary Digital have been a market leader for a number of years and ticked the boxes when it comes to their range of specialty and high quality products and through partnering we aim to develop a better market presence for their products in South Australia.”

Graphic Art Supplies will be building on existing client relationships to showcase these specialty and high quality products which strengthen their range of wide format media currently available.

Ian Cleary of Visionary Digital says “Customer satisfaction is a major focus. With increasingly short lead times and requirement for technical support Visionary Digital want to be able to deliver the best service coupled with our market leading products – this means we need the best people to partner with to make this happen. Steve and Michael of Graphic Art Supplies share our passion for customer service – this makes them the perfect partner in South Australia”
 
The priority is to keep stock in Graphic Art Supplies Adelaide warehouse for quick dispatch to better serve the local market as well as give customers the chance to see the products on display in their showroom
 
www.graphicarts.com.au - 08 8363 4466
www.visionarydigital.com.au – 1300 518 050

Heidelberg has agreed to sell off label printing wing Gallus as part of its ongoing strategy to focus on its core sheetfed business.

The relationship between the two companies stretches back more than twenty years. Heidelberg acquired a 30% stake in Gallus in 1999, and took over full ownership of the Switzerland-headquartered label printing specialist six years ago.

That deal resulted in Gallus owner Ferdinand Rüesch becoming Heidelberg’s largest single shareholder at the time, after he accepted Heidelberg shares for a large chunk of the business.

Heidelberg’s share price was €2.57 then, but has since descended to an all-time-low and has been trading at less than €1 since the end of January, falling to €0.48 at one point.

The deal to sell Gallus to Swiss-headquartered Benpac Holding was announced yesterday evening (22 July) after the close of trading.

Benpac is a privately-owned group that has grown through a number of acquisitions. Last year it acquired Muller Martini’s manufacturing facility in Stans, Switzerland, where Benpac is headquartered. The group employs around 3,150 people and is “primarily active in the USA and Asia”.

Former Heidelberg chief technology officer Stephan Plenz, who officially left the press manufacturer on 30 June, joined Benpac Holding’s board of directors on 1 July.

Heidelberg is selling the Gallus business for €120m and expects to make a gain of “mid two-digit million-euro” on the deal, which should be finalised by the end of the year.

One label industry expert commented: “It was a big shock for me, I always thought Gallus was one of the bright parts of Heidelberg. It really seems that they are focusing right down on core business, which is probably what they should be doing in tough times. It looks like a good price.”

Heidelberg will continue to supply the digital printing unit and consumables for the Labelfire digital press.

Chief executive Rainer Hundsdörfer said Heidelberg would still be active in label printing via its sheetfed offset offering.

“We are selling our narrow-web rotary and rotary flexographic printing activities to focus more closely on innovative solutions for the entire printed sheet value chain. We will be retaining our in-house digital expertise and, by collaborating with Benpac on the Gallus Labelfire, we will also be making further progress with the digitization of conventional presses,” he stated.

The deal incorporates related businesses across five sites, employing around 430 staff: Gallus Holding and Gallus Ferd. Rüesch in St Gallen Switzerland, and German operations Gallus Druckmaschinen in Langgöns, Heidelberg Web Carton Converting in Weiden in der Oberpfalz, and Menschick Trockensysteme in Renningen.

The sale is subject to approval and the meeting of certain conditions.

Heidelberg’s CERM narrow web MIS business is not part of the deal, but the disposal of Gallus has raised a question mark over its future within the group if Heidelberg continues to dispose of non-core businesses.

Heidelberg said that Ferdinand Rüesch would remain with the Gallus business and was still the second biggest shareholder of Heidelberg (behind Masterwork Group) and a member of its supervisory board. “He is supporting this transaction,” a spokesman said.

Heidelberg posted a huge net loss of €343m on sales down 5.7% at just under €2.35bn in the year to 31 March, and CFO Marcus Wassenberg said the deal would be “a big help” in improving the group’s financial position.

“Our aim is to ensure the long-term financial stability of Heidelberg, and all the measures since our transformation started in March this year have been geared toward this objective,” he said.

“Selling the Gallus Group is another key part of our realignment and follows on from the successes we have achieved so far during the transformation process. This further major boost to our liquidity and group equity will be a big help, especially during the coronavirus crisis.”

Heidelberg held its AGM today. Shares rose by nearly 7% to €0.68 following the Gallus news.

At the AGM, Hundsdörfer said: “We are pressing ahead with the realignment and making great strides: reducing net financial debt, strengthening equity, streamlining the organisation and focusing on profitable core activities.”

SAKATA INX Group (SAKATA INX Corp., INX International Ink Co. and INX Digital EMEA) and Global Inkjet Systems (GIS) announced today their plans to collaborate on industrial inkjet projects worldwide.

SAKATA INX and GIS will work together on specific projects, leveraging SAKATA INX’s ink expertise and access to large end users and major OEMs, and GIS’s expertise in providing complete workflow solutions for industrial inkjet applications.

SAKATA INX and GIS believe that working closely together at the early stages of large strategic projects will be beneficial to the customer. Both companies have close links with printhead manufacturers, and printhead and ink selection are critical factors during the development phase – particularly for applications such as packaging, which have very demanding print requirements and regulatory conditions.

Debbie Thorp, Business Development Director, GIS said, “At the start of any new project, we discuss whether a suitable ink has been identified for the application and substrate. It is often an afterthought and yet is so critical to the success of a project. So, when SAKATA INX approached GIS last year to discuss a more integrated collaboration on some key projects, we were happy to agree. Together, we can offer a powerful proposition to finding solutions to complex and demanding projects – helping companies transition from analog to digital printing.”

Hiroshi Morita, Senior Executive Officer, General Manager, Digital & Specialty Products Div. SAKATA INX said, “SAKATA INX is uniquely positioned to assist its customers with the right digital inks, consultation and service for a wide variety of applications employing an even wider array of digital printers and substrates. We selected GIS as a key partner to provide complete workflow solutions for industrial digital printing. GIS and SAKATA INX see opportunities to collaborate in several sectors and engage on projects with potential customers.”

drupa, the world's leading trade fair for printing technologies, has decided to reduce the duration of the trade fair from eleven to nine days for 2021. By doing so, it is responding to the wishes of the partner association VDMA (Printing and Paper Technology Trade Association) and many exhibitors to make the trade fair presentation more efficient and to concentrate the volume of visitors in a targeted manner. This is also in reaction to any continuing travel activities and restrictions.

"Since we are currently assuming that fewer visitors from overseas will be able to travel to drupa 2021, we consider a reduction from eleven to nine days to be sensible in order to direct visitor flows more efficiently. At the same time, the duration of nine days ensures that running machines can still be shown, which is a unique selling point of drupa," explains drupa President Claus Bolza-Schünemann.

Despite some corona-related cancellations, the current booking status remains at a high level with over 1,500 exhibitors and a net hall space of more than 140,000 sqm. This once again underlines the industry's confidence in the international appeal of the event and the need for face-to-face meetings, acquisition of new customers or live presentation of running machines still exists. "Many of our customers also see it as their own responsibility to strengthen the industry and provide important impulses personally on site," says drupa Director Sabine Geldermann.

In order to guarantee a professional and safe trade fair as usual, drupa not only adapted the general conditions but also relies on a hygiene and infection protection concept that is continuously adapted to the latest corona protection regulations and official requirements. Sabine Geldermann points out: "The character of drupa in 2021, due to the pandemic and hygiene regulations, will certainly be different from what we are used to, but it will continue to make a very important contribution to the economic recovery.”
Additional information on Messe Düsseldorf's hygiene and infection protection concept can be found at www.drupa.com.

Under new MD Craig Heckenberg’s stewardship during these recent challenging times, Epson has made serious moves to strengthen and expand its business in Australia. The latest of these is the launch of Epson Australia’s new Premium Partner Program, designed specifically to offer significant benefits to current partners, attract new partners and critically, to create business and growth opportunities for all members.

He added, “Our new Premium Partner Program is something we see that will be at the core of our business moving forward. The principles that underpin the program are simple – we are building serious, long-term relationships with all of our partners. As a result, each partner will achieve a status tier within the program and the appropriate rewards that come with that status. At the end of the day our Premium Partner Program creates opportunities for Epson and our partners to mutually grow our businesses.”
 
As a business-building exercise, special attention has been given to the structure and rewards that come with being a part of the new Premium Partner Program.
 
Most notably are the sales, marketing and financial benefits which include marketing support that is commensurate with their status tier and invitations to Epson events both locally and overseas.




 
Heckenberg continued, “At Epson we believe in nurturing our key partnerships with the ethos being, if our partners’ businesses grow, we grow with them. That’s the true essence of a partnership and indeed of our partner program. The benefit of the new Premium Partner Program is that the opportunity to join and be part of it is now open to all partners and potential partners across all areas of our business, including in our ultra-growth area of B2B enterprise solutions.”
 
As a member of Epson’s new Premium Partner Program the tangible benefits are many and varied.
 
There are financial incentives including special project support that enable partners to win more business.
 
The further sales benefits include access to dedicated Epson sales and pre-sales support, access to exclusive promotions, access to and generous discounts on demonstration equipment and premium sales lead referrals.
 
Marketing benefits include shared marketing funds, access to in-depth product and sales training material, complimentary Epson merchandise, access to the comprehensive Channel Epson website, being highlighted on the where-to-buy listing on Epson’s main website and eligibility to participate in key Epson events.
 
Then there’s service and support. As a member of the new Premium Partner Program companies have direct access to a dedicated technical support team with bespoke service and support training programs, service manuals, spare parts and service tools.
 
The Premium Partner Program is an initiative that Craig Heckenberg is not only proud of but one he truly believes will work to significantly grow Epson Australia’s business and the businesses of its valued partners.
 
He concluded, “We now have a Premium Partner Program that truly has something to offer to all of our partners. Epson is expanding. Our product portfolio is growing. We now have more products and more solutions in more market areas and segments than ever before. The Premium Partner Program is our way of sharing the investment we make in our business every day with our partners so they can grow their business with us in the very best way possible – as a partnership.”
 
Epson’s new Premium Partner Program has three status tiers, Epson Premium Partner, Premium Partner Program Gold and Premium Partner Program Platinum.
 
To sign up for or get more information on Epson Australia’s new Premium Partner Program go to: https://www.epson.com.au/partner-program/

The Epson International Pano Awards is dedicated to the craft and art of panoramic photography and is the world’s largest competition devoted to the genre. It’s also a competition that with Epson’s help has grown larger every year and the 2020 awards are no exception.





Curator David Evans explained, “This year’s number of entries, compared to last year, in the first few weeks alone have risen by over 50% and we're so thrilled that the photographic community is getting behind the awards to this degree. I have to say that a major reason for this success is Epson’s continued support and the amazing prizes they supply for the winners.”
 
The 2020 competition is open to all professional and amateur photographers and aside from a $10,000 cash prize, Epson have also provided prizes that include an Epson SureColor P7070 printer, an Epson SureColor P5070 printer and an Epson EB-1781W ultra-slim projector.
 
Epson GM marketing Bruce Bealby said, “Epson is delighted that we are able to support this creative and meaningful outlet that so many wonderful photographers are embracing in these challenging times. Epson has a long, rich and successful history in the photographic industry. We also enjoy close relationships with photographers of all levels from aspiring to amateur to professional, many of whom choose to print and project their images on Epson products. Hence the prizes we are offering The Pano Awards this year.”





The Epson SureColor-P7070 is a 24" (610mm) large format printer and the SureColor P5070 is a 17" (432mm) large format printer both of which are designed for premium photo, fine art, proofing and packaging design. They support a wide range of standard and specialist media in roll and sheet formats and feature a PrecisionCore® Thin Film (TFP) head with Variable Sized Droplet Technology™ that enables the output of images in high resolution with superior fidelity and tonal gradation.
 
Both printers use Epson’s latest UltraChrome® HDX all-pigment aqueous ink for accurate colour with an enhanced gamut, Dmax and image durability. The printers also use a 10 colour ink configuration with two levels of black, a choice of a third black or alternative Violet ink for outstanding colour and black and white prints with up to 99% PANTONE® coverage.





Its ultra-slim design, radiant widescreen performance and easy wireless connectivity make the Epson EB-1781W the ultimate choice in portable projectors. It delivers value, convenience and performance and easily delivers brilliant content from any widescreen notebook with native WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution. Couple that with 3200 lumens colour and white light output and the results are truly amazing.

David Evans concluded, “Epson's photo and fine art printers have long set the standard for colour and black and white image reproduction. Whether you are producing commercial photo prints, wedding albums, school photos or gallery-ready artwork, Epson has an excellent printing solution for you. The printers and projector that Epson are giving our winners as prizes this year are perfectly suited to printing panoramic photographs and as everyone knows, a fantastic panoramic photograph can only be truly appreciated if it is printed on a high quality printer or projected on a high quality projector.”
 
Early bird entries for The Pano awards are open now. To enter go to: https://thepanoawards.com/enter-2020-awards/

Now you can order engraving materials on the go – click and collect or deliver to you Australia-wide.

After offering a large variety of engraving materials to existing laser customers, Alfex Laser has opened its engraving materials shop to all of Australia.

Alfex Laser, a division of Alfex CNC Australia, announces today the launch of Alfex Laser Engraving Materials. Alfex Laser has Australia’s largest range of laser systems for cutting, marking and engraving.

Their wide range of laser engraving materials, once only available exclusively to Alfex Laser customers, will now be available Australia-wide through the easy to use online store. In addition to acrylics, engineered plastics, bamboo and hardwood, Alfex Laser has extended their range to include laserable plywoods – an increasingly popular material for laser users.

Alfex Laser’s range of quality acrylics suitable for laser cutting and laser engraving includes highly pigmented pastels, acrylic mirror and acrylic glitters. Acrylic is available in a 3mm thickness, suitable for most retail use such as signage, cake toppers, gifts, toys and more.

Gemini Duets engineered engraving plastics are well known for their high-quality substrates, are now available at competitive prices exclusively through Alfex Laser. The highly sought after Red on White Laser XT is the only red engraving substrate that doesn’t run onto the white bottom layer, leaving a clean definition between the colours.

The Duets product range includes Duets Contours, Duets Rotary, Duets Laser Indoor, Duets Laser XT, Duets Tactiles and Duets XT Reverse. These high quality engraving substrates are key materials for the signage, trophy and awards industry.

New to the online store is a growing range of high-grade laserable plywood. Currently available in 3mm and 2.5mm thickness, the laserable plywood range is the ideal material for cake toppers, key tags, invitations, jewellery, plaques, signage and much more. 

Alfex Laser provides a custom service to tailor the sheet size for the bed size of your laser cutting machine. Purchase full sheets or quarter sheets and have them cut in advance, reducing wastage and offcuts.

For those new to laser cutting, Alfex Laser is offering new Laser Starter Pack. Packs include the most popular laser engraving and laser cutting products, acrylics, engraving plastics, hardwoods, plywoods and accessories ideal for those wanting to try a variety of products without purchasing large sheets or quantities.

To celebrate the launch, Alfex Laser is offering 10% off all first orders placed online. Use code online10 in the checkout. Code expires 11:59pm, Friday July 10th 2020.

Shop now by visiting www.shop.alfexlaser.com.au

“It is with great excitement that we announce the official launch of Alfex Laser Engraving Materials,” said Jordan Buhagiar, Laser Division Manager. “Customers have been testing the store behind the scenes over the last few months with great feedback. Taking our engraving materials business online has allowed us to expediate the fulfilment process and reduce overheads - the savings of which we have passed onto our customers with lower prices and flat rate shipping.” 

With over 1,400 installations worldwide in high volume environments such as data centres, print service providers and specialised commercial printers, Canon’s ColorStream series has been recognised by customers across the globe as a productive and reliable solution for printing large volumes of a diverse range of mail, publishing and commercial applications.

A key consideration for many commercial printers when looking to invest in digital inkjet technology is the level of quality that a digital print solution can offer compared with existing devices.
Richard Vaughan, General Manager of Perth Based business services provider, Zipform Digital, highlighted why quality was a deciding factor when the company invested in the ColorStream.

“Zipform invested in full colour inkjet technology way back in 2005 with Kodak. In 2012 we tested the market with all the inkjet web providers and selected the Colorstream technology. Our decision was based on a number of factors but the most contributing influence in our decision was trust, and we felt that Canon Production Printing could deliver on what they promised” said Mr Vaughan. “Over 7 years later I can confirm it was the right decision. Implementation was high risk as it was rip out and replace. The Canon Production Printing team was professional and experienced in this, it was a smooth transition with no interruption to our critical essential mail services.

“The Print Engines have been bullet proof over these years and in particular the print head technology has proven to be highly available, stable and consistent. The print quality was ahead of its game in 2012 and today still provides us the quality that our customers expect in 2020.”

Canon Production Printing Australia boasts that with the ColorStream 6000, customers can be assured of 94% uptime. Operators no longer have to intervene during production, so staff have additional time to focus on exploring new market opportunities and growing the business.

Richard Vaughan goes on to comment “We have been able to migrate 100% of our essential mail production to the Colorstream, reducing the requirement for toner based print engines. Due to its considerable ability to print large volume work, we have been successful in migrating very high volume jobs that were previously a mix of commercial print and variable overprint, particularly for government work. We also gang up small volume work to run after each other, it truly is a very flexible technology.”

Customers have also commented on the ease-of-use of the printer, reducing manual intervention and increasing production efficiencies. This was a key reason for investing in the ColorStream for Melbourne based printer, ABCorp. Troy Croft, Plant Manager, ABCorp, explains, “The ease of use and high uptime availability of the Colorstream 3900 units ensure consistently high productivity levels. The units are extremely reliable and have very little day to day maintenance requirements ensuring production time is maximised and operator input limited.”

Since its introduction in 2011, Canon Production Printing have built on a decade of experience with the highly productive series, comprising the ColorStream 3000, 3000Z and 6000 series. Canon Production Printing estimate printing volumes of over 300 billion A4 pages across the globe, producing a mix of printed output such as bank statements, direct mailings, pharmaceutical leaflets and books.
The system has proved to be particularly popular in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Australia and the USA, and over 40% of customers have installed more than one device, with one German customer having 18 towers across three production sites.

Craig Nethercott, Managing Director, Canon Production Printing Oceania, comments, “Since launching the ColorStream series, we’ve listened closely to the feedback of our customers and have continuously evolved the product series based on their needs. We are therefore encouraged to see that market demand for the ColorSteam series, now in its third generation, continues to be extremely positive.
“When we introduced the first printer in the range, it revolutionised digital inkjet technology and we’re proud to have remained the global market leader. By maintaining a close dialogue with our customers, we are able to ensure that we are meeting their requirements, with the highest reliability, productivity and quality.

“Each ColorStream can be tailored to a buyer’s needs – from speed and colour to custom inks and tailored inline finishing integration. There are so many optional upgrades to customise the ColorStream to specific customer requirements. We guarantee every buyer gets the right solution suited for their business needs to help them achieve growth.”

Explore Uncharted Colours with the TrueVIS VF2-640 Printer 

Roland DG is excited to announce the launch of the first print-only model in the TrueVIS Series, the TrueVIS VF2-640 Printer. The VF2-640 includes a host of functions from the award-winning TrueVIS VG2 Series printer cutters, delivering the highest print quality available for durable graphics. 

The VF2-640 can produce colours that were previously unchartered with the addition of a new TR2 Green ink, that when combined with vibrant Orange ink, results in stunning printed graphics.





TR2 Green Ink Adds Unprecedented Colours to VG2 Series Printer Cutters

TR2 ink is now available in Green to further increase colour gamut for VG2 Series printer cutters as well as the new VF2-640 printer. To maximise the effect of the new inks, a new Multi-Process Color Function has been developed to enable using Orange and Green inks as process colours for richer visual expression. 

Please Note: TR2-GR can only be configured on new VG2-540/640 units and cannot be added to existing installations.

Alon was responsible for the worldwide HP Indigo business, including its labels, flexible packaging, folding carton and commercial portfolio. He had been with HP for 25 years and has led the company’s Indigo division since 2004. 

Haim Levit has been appointed as HP Indigo general manager effective immediately. Levit brings more than 25 years of print experience to the role, most recently leading worldwide go-to-market for HP’s industrial graphics organisation. 

‘We are grateful to Alon for all he has done to make Indigo the market leader in digital printing and we will benefit from his many contributions to our business for years to come,’ HP said in a statement.

In Levit’s more than 25 years with HP Indigo, he has performed a wide spectrum of leadership roles ranging from global procurement management, NA supplies business management and NA business director, vice president and general manager for HP's Americas Indigo and PageWide Web Press, before assuming his current role leading WW GTM for the Graphics Industrial organisation. Levitt is married with three children. He currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, and will relocate to Israel over the summer. 

Visual Impact Magazine wishes Alon all the best in his future endeavours. 

Epson has launched a real breakthrough in professional printing technology with the introduction of the A3+ SureColor® P706 and A2+ SureColor P906 desktop photo printers. Replacing the award-winning SureColor P600 and SureColor P800, these new printers draw from over 20 years of experience to incorporate the same large format printing technology used by the world’s leading photographers into a sleek, compact design, allowing for the creation of exhibition quality prints from the convenience of the desktop.
 
With the introduction of the SureColor P706 and SureColor P906, a new generation of photographers will experience a real breakthrough in printing technology which truly redefines not only the photographic print but also the printing workflow.

The new SureColor P706 and SureColor P906 are the smallest professional A3+ and A2+ printers in their class, with a 30 percent size reduction from Epson’s previous generation printers and are designed for use in photography, graphic design, fine art, and illustration businesses.

The printers tout a new 10-channel MicroPiezo®- printhead to increase productivity, with dedicated channels for both Photo and Matte Black ink types and with no ink switching necessary. Featuring new UltraChrome® PRO10 pigment ink* with Violet, the SureColor P706 and SureColor P906 deliver an extremely wide colour gamut and support Advanced Black and White Mode to create unparalleled, professional black and white photographs.

Epson’s new printers and inks are undergoing comprehensive ten-factor testing at the Wilhelm Imaging Research, the world’s leading independent print permanence testing laboratory, with a range of papers and canvas and with both colour and B&W prints made using Epson’s Advanced Black and White Mode. The results for the Epson 10-color UltraChrome PRO10 pigment inks in the new SureColor P706 and SureColor P906 are stunning museum quality prints with very impressive WIR Display Permanence ratings.

For the first time, users can easily print directly from iOS® devices2 to the SureColor P706 and SureColor P906 in a colour managed workflow. Using an updated mobile version of Epson Print Layout software, full support and colour management tools are provided for iPhone and iPad printing. These printers also feature a new print driver mode – Carbon Black – which dramatically increases Dmax by up to 5 percent, for best-in-class black density and reduced bronzing and gloss differential on glossy papers.

The SureColor P706 can accommodate both roll and cut sheet media, and the SureColor P906 accommodates cut sheet media and an optional fully enclosed roll media adapter supports both 2-inch and 3-inch rolls and roll printing up to -18m long. Additional features include a 4.3-inch customisable touchscreen, upgraded wireless connectivity including 5GHz and an interior LED light to watch the progress of a print. 




 
More about the SureColor P706 and SureColor P906 desktop photo printers

Designed to help photographers reproduce every detail of their creative vision, the new SureColor P706 and SureColor P906 incorporate a range of features to produce exhibition quality prints from the convenience of a desktop:
 
• Outstanding image quality and colour — All-new UltraChrome PRO10 Ink with Violet produces a wide colour gamut for vibrant and rich colours
• No Photo and Matte Black ink switching — Dedicated channels for both black ink types with no switching needed
• New 10-channel MicroPiezo printhead — Consistently delivers prints with outstanding speed, consistency and accuracy; supports variable size droplet technology as small as 1.5-picoliters for remarkable output quality
• Easy printing from smart devices — Print colour-managed files directly from an iOS device2 with an easy-to-use interface
• New Carbon Black Driver technology — All-new Carbon Black Driver mode dramatically increases Dmax for best-in-class black density on glossy papers
• Professional media handling — Accommodates rolls3 and sheet media up to 1.5 mm thick of Epson Professional and Signature Worthy® as well as third-party media
• Easy to use — Features 4.3-inch customisable touchscreen, wireless connectivity and interior LED light
• Compact design — 30 percent smaller than the previous generation
• Industry-leading print permanence — UltraChrome PRO10 ink is expected to create prints that last up to 200 years for colour and 400 years for black-and-white1 
 
Pricing and availability


The SureColor P706 (RRP $1,295 including GST) and SureColor P906 (RRP $1,995 including GST)) will be available from July onwards on www.epson.com.au and through Epson Authorised Resellers across Australia.
 
Picture credits
Epson’s new A3+ SureColor® P706 and A2+ SureColor P906 desktop photo printers
 
Follow Epson on social media:
Facebook: @EpsonAustralia
Twitter: @EpsonAust
Instagram: @EpsonAust

Landa Digital Printing, today announced the appointment of Arik Gordon as Chief Executive Officer. 

Landa Digital Printing (LDP), which was spun out of Landa Labs a decade ago, currently employs approximately 550 people, and has begun to penetrate the market with its innovative, game-changing Nanographic Printing presses around the globe.

Arik Gordon joins LDP after a successful and significant 18 years at Orbotech. In the past two years, he served as Executive VP of Strategy and Growth at Orbotech, and was responsible for defining and leading the company's future technological growth strategy and its expansion into new markets. He held several executive management positions in the Company’s operations in Asia Pacific, and upon returning to Israel in 2013, was appointed President of Orbotech's PCB (Printed Circuit Board) division. Prior to joining Orbotech, Gordon worked for Scitex Europe for four years.

"During his years at Orbotech, I had the privilege of working closely with Arik. I value him as a leader with a broad technological background, who has demonstrated deep business understanding and strategic thinking in every position he has held. Arik has the professional and interpersonal capabilities needed to lead our highly skilled and dedicated team, as we realize our unique and significant business opportunities, and establish Landa Digital Printing as a leader in the world printing market", said Asher Levy, Active Chairman of Landa Digital Printing.

"In 2019, Landa Digital Printing installed its first Nanographic Printing presses at customer sites around the world and received very positive reinforcement that our products are about to change the printing industry. In 2020, despite the global coronavirus pandemic, we expect to see additional installations worldwide, as demand for our products continues to be robust. We firmly believe that Arik is the right person to lead the company to global success," added Asher Levy.

Upon his appointment as CEO of LDP, Arik Gordon said: "I am delighted and excited to join Landa Digital Printing. Landa has a special and rare combination of groundbreaking technology, revolutionary products, first-rate professionals, and, not least, the potential to lead the trillion-dollar printing industry. As CEO, I accept the mission of leading Landa's talented team in Israel and worldwide to realize the significant opportunity ahead of us."

www.landanano.com 

Sun Chemical and its parent company, DIC Corporation, have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Sensient Imaging Technologies and certain other assets related to the production of inks. The transaction is expected to be finalised in the second quarter of 2020.

The strategic investment in Sensient Imaging Technologies, a supplier of digital inks, will allow Sun Chemical and DIC to expand its inkjet ink capabilities and expertise using complementary technologies that will further strengthen the highest standards of services and solutions to its customers and distributor partners, the company says. Inkjet is a strategic segment for Sun Chemical and DIC, and the investment in Sensient Imaging Technologies will demonstrate Sun Chemical and DIC’s commitment in the digital segment.

“We’re excited for the opportunities this acquisition presents not only for Sun Chemical but the future of digital inks,” says Mehran Yazdani, president of Sun Chemical Advanced Materials. “Sensient Imaging Technologies’ portfolio and expertise in the industry, combined with our extensive background in industrial inkjet ink solutions, will enhance our combined customer support. Our customers rely on digital print’s agile supply chain and production flexibility, so they will value this acquisition because it will drive future innovation and expansion.”

Sun Chemical says it is dedicated to reinforcing Sensient Imaging Technologies’ reputation within the digital space and is committed to a customer-focused transition.

DIVERSIFY YOUR LASER BUSINESS

WE HAVE 22+ PROJECT IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOU DURING COVID-19 (INCLUDING TUTORIALS & ARTWORK FILES)

The last couple of months have been uncertain times, to say the least — priorities are shifting daily as a global health emergency is being dealt with on a global scale. Businesses big and small have been forced to act fast in response: to help others suffering through the crisis while attempting to stay on solid ground financially.
Whilst it seems that as country we have now flattened the curve – we should expect that the economic consequences will last a bit longer… business will not return to what it was for some time. The great thing about laser cutters and laser engravers is their versatility. 

If you own a laser machine,  the applications are endless. If you can think of it and design it, you can make it with a laser system.

We’ve put together a list of application ideas that can be made using a laser system that are in demand as the world lives in and recovers from COVID-19.

FOR ALL LINKS, PLEASE CLICK HERE

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• PPE is in high demand all over the world. Whilst there is medical-grade PPE that requires TGA approval, non-medical grade PPE is also in high demand.
• Fabric face masks Make your own following this tutorial or this one
• Protective face shields We’ve found some great tutorials and design files here and here and here
• Face mask adjusters Healthcare providers are asking for face mask adjusters because the straps of their face masks have been rubbing against the backs of their ears. Tutorial & artwork available here.
• Isolation gowns There are many types, here is a free pattern you can use
• Acrylic sneeze guards 6 ideas here
• PPE signs To remind and enforce use of PPE
• More information on PPE regulations can  be found on the Australian Government website here and here.

SIGNAGE

• Signage is more important than ever to keep the public safe. Existing businesses will benefit from communicating COVID-19 safety measures to both staff and customers.
• “Wait Here” signage at the front door
• Social distancing marking for register queues
• Outdoor A-Frame signage for restaurants and cafes “Yes we are open for takeaway!”
• Only X customers in the store at one time
• Contactless payments only please
• Wash / sanitise your hands
• Learn how to make signage with your laser machine by following this tutorial.

PERSONALISED GIFTS

Many people are celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, baby arrivals, anniversaries and more in isolation at home. Family and friends who cannot visit their loved ones are looking for thoughtful gifts that can be delivered directly to the receiver.  Some personalised gifts ideas that can be sold online:
 

• Bookmarks – from paper or wood
• Baby notices – check out our customer CMC Gold’s creative range for inspiration
• Cutting boards – can be personalised with family recipes
• Jewellery – tutorial here and more creative examples here
• Photo engraving – learn how to prepare photos for engraving
• Laser cut artwork – check our customer United Make‘s incredible designs for inspiration here

GAMES & TOYS

• Indoor Activities are on the rise as families stay home and seek something to do.
• Model making – fantastic template library here
• Puzzles – get inspired by our tutorial here and these children puzzles
• Learn from home products including these early education puzzles
• STEM Education project ideas – such as this gear assembly project
• Our laser systems are extremely versatile, allowing you to laser cut, laser mark or laser engrave a wide range of materials. Whilst many of these ideas are general, success comes from zoning into a specific niche.

We hope you’re inspired by these ideas and allow your creativity to flow and your business succeed even during these strange times.

Epson has announced that it will apply and use its patented Dry Fibre technology, the same technology it uses within its unique PaperLab A-8000 system, to now start producing face masks for its employees.

The masks that Epson will now manufacture respond to growing demand for face masks for protection against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
 
Epson’s PaperLab A-8000 in-office dry paper making system, is a dry-process* technology that enables the processing and creation of paper on-site, in the amount you need and when you need it. In the case of the new masks, they will be made not from used paper but from functional fibres and will be manufactured at two of Epson’s production plants. This in turn will eliminate the need for Epson to outsource purchasing masks for its employees.





As well as manufacturing the masks in-house for its employees, Epson will also donate 100,000 masks to local authorities and medical institutions where needs for personal protective equipment (PPE) have been expanding. The company will also donate 5,600 face shields to the same organisations.
 
Epson does not plan to sell the masks it manufactures commercially.
 
Epson often makes significant and regular contributions to realising a sustainable society and has made a commitment to ongoing efforts that realise the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
 
For more information on PaperLab and Dry Fibre technology go to:
https://global.epson.com/innovation/paperlab/

Whilst other businesses are experiencing severe downturns and staff layoffs due to the devastating impact of COVID-19, OMG!, an Australian signage-and-everything-related company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Port Melbourne sign company, Adherettes.


Established in 2013 by entrepreneur and CEO Joey Bacic, OMG! started as a builder of premium facade signage in Australia, drawing an already impressive list of clients including Lend Lease, Scentre Group/Westfield, Accor Hotels, Dior and Cartier. 


“Specialising in the execution of branded environments, national rollouts, architectural wayfinding, environmental and digital installations, OMG! knows how to turn computer renders into an experiential reality for our clients,” says Mr Bacic.


“I’ve long respected and admired the enormous breadth of expertise Adherettes accumulated over the past 40 years and I look forward to integrating their skillsets into OMG! This acquisition refines even further what we do best, allowing us to further extend our premium offering to the out-of-home advertising and public art arenas.” 


The unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 has been a disruptive game changer for most industries, especially out of home, but Mr Bacic believes being able to leverage Adherettes’ outstanding detailed drawing and engineering capabilities, their R&D and high-quality reputation, will create new job opportunities across the country. 


“We are fortunate to be one of the few industries permitted to keep working in the COVID-19 environment, and OMG! is determined to play our part in ensuring the construction sector continues to thrive,” says Mr Bacic.


“Through our staff and network of suppliers, hundreds of families are on this journey with us and are keen to keep things moving. We expect to keep employing people to fulfil our growing work demands locally and internationally.” 


This latest deal is just the start of OMG!’s ambitions, with big plans for the company over the next year seeing OMG! expand into Singapore and along the San Andreas fault line (i.e. San Francisco down to California).  


“We have the grit and determination to outwork anyone, as demonstrated by the fact that the majority of our business has been won by tender, or come through word of mouth and referral,” continued Mr Bacic. “I am exceptionally proud of the partnerships our team has been able to secure and look forward to contributing to our clients’ ongoing success.”