Global print industry OEM Inkcups (Danvers, MA) has announced the release of three new pad printers. The ICN-120, ICN-200 and 2200-DLI expand the company’s current pad printer portfolio to produce larger images on longer goods with extended stroke capabilities.

Inkcups ICN-200 Pad Printer.
The ICN-120 is a one-colour pad printer that provides increased flexibility with product decorating and labelling due to larger-area image reproduction – with an extended stroke of eight inches for greater printable area reach. Ideal for the apparel, industrial and safety equipment industries, common applications include: hooded sweatshirts (design location of left chest and neck); apparel sleeves; medical items including sharps disposal containers; denim jean pockets; and tall drinkware such as protein shakers and tumblers. The machine’s 120 mm ink-cup size can print an image up to 4.3 inches in diameter. The ICN-120 also offers an optional pad-cleaning device as an add-on.

The new ICN-200 produces large one-colour prints on injection-moulded plastics, industrial parts and appliances. This industrial pad printer is ideal for one-colour logos, graphics and labels on larger parts up to 11.7 inches tall. In addition to printing large graphics, this machine’s plate accommodates multiple images for smaller parts. The ICN-200 utilises a 200 mm ink cup, 11.8-inch pad stroke length and can print an image size of up to 7.48 inches in diameter. Typical applications include: plastic containers (recycle bin); kitchenware (plastic and metal paper towel dispensers); food storage containers; satellite dishes, and appliance panels.

Inkcups 2200-DLI Pad Printer.
Inkcups’ 2200-DLI Pad Printer is ideal for decorating long, hard goods or small two-up items, allowing multiple image print locations on the same part. The 2200-DLI prints one-colour, 2-up on footwear insoles, promotional products and electronics, including Bluetooth speakers. It also enables printing of multiple images on a single part, such as lacrosse or hockey sticks. It has a 90-mm ink cup with a 6-inch pad stroke length, and can print an image of 2.76 x 8.66 inches on parts up to 10.2 inches tall.

All three new pad printers are delivered as a turnkey package that includes the company’s InkcupCare warranty and service coverage. Inkcups also offers multiple pad printing inks, solvents and other consumables and supplies – along with application testing and sample prints on request.

Stephen Penfold recognised for 65 year career in the Australian print industry which included launching Kwik Kopy in Australia

Sydney, 16 August, 2019: Stephen Penfold, Executive Chairman at Kwik Kopy Australia was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 National Print Awards, recognising his invaluable contribution to the print industry over 65 years. 

Penfold has been a key disruptor in the print industry's evolution in Australia, bringing the Kwik Kopy franchise to Australia from the U.S. in 1982 to leverage ‘instant printing’ and more recently branching out into digital, design, wide-format and signage at Kwik Kopy.

With a history dating back to the 1800s, the Penfold family has been a fixture in the printing industry for five generations.




Stephen Penfold would join the family firm of WC Penfold & Co in 1956, following an 18 month cadetship at Sydney printer S.T. Leigh & Co at just 17 years old. 

Stephen would became a major part of the WC Penfold plan to innovate and move with emerging trends within the print industry such as rotogravure flexible packaging and in 1987 instant print. The latter would lead to his most significant contribution; the launch of Kwik Kopy in Australia. The launch of instant print in Australia was a major disruption in the industry at the time, paving the way for print’s future. 

Stephen purchased the Australian franchise rights to the US company on behalf of WC Penfold and opened the first store in 1982. The first Kwik Kopy Centre opened in Sydney’s CBD and was run by Stephen’s sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and Reg Waite. 

When WC Penfold decided to offload its franchise business just a few years later, Stephen seized the opportunity to purchase the business. He left the family business and became the Franchisor for Kwik Kopy Printing in Australia in 1985.

Since that time, Kwik Kopy Australia has emerged as one of the most successful print businesses and franchise groups in the country and has expanded beyond just print to also provide design, wide-format and signage, and other services. 

Continuing his record of innovation in print, Stephen would lead Kwik Kopy into the digital era strategically transitioning the business from offset printing to xerography, then to desktop publishing and colour copying. More recently, Kwik Kopy has emerged as one of the fastest growing businesses in the wide-format and signage space and has also built a software as a service (SAAS) offering, launching Print Speak in 2013. 

Stephen has contributed significantly to the franchise sector, holding positions as Director and Chairman of the Franchise Council of Australia and as a Board Member for the Federal Government Franchise Review Board. In 2003 he was an inaugural inductee to the Australian Franchise Hall of Fame.

Stephen’s commitment to the Penfold family business has continued with his children. More than 150 years after the original Penfold printing business opened on Pitt St, the Penfold family would come full circle with Stephen’s son Matthew Penfold purchasing the Darling Harbour Kwik Kopy franchise in 2016 following a long career at Kwik Kopy Australia including as MD and CEO. Stephen’s children Mark, Annalise and Matthew are shareholders of Kwik Kopy Australia and Annalise has recently joined Stephen and Matthew on the Board of Directors. Four other extended family members are also contributing to the business in operational roles within the company. 

Stephen’s son and owner of Kwik Kopy Darling

Harbour Matthew Penfold with co-owner Genevieve Rechner

Commenting on the Lifetime Achievement Award, Stephen Penfold said, “It is an honour to be recognised for my life’s work in the industry I love. Print continues to be a dynamic and ever evolving industry with an exciting future ahead. I’m proud that Kwik Kopy is making its mark in print now and will continue to do so in the future.” 

“EFI” or the “Company”) today announced the appointment of Jeff Jacobson, a 30-year veteran of the digital imaging and industrial technology sector, as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Jacobson will retain his position as Executive Chairman. Mr. Jacobson succeeds Bill Muir, who is stepping down for personal reasons.
 
Prior to joining EFI, Mr. Jacobson served as Chief Executive Officer of Xerox. Mr. Jacobson also served as both President of Xerox's Technology Business and President of Xerox's Global Graphic Communications Operations. Prior to joining Xerox in 2012, Mr. Jacobson was the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Presstek, a leading manufacturer of digital offset printing solutions.
 
Jeff Jacobson said, “I am thrilled to be expanding my role on EFI’s leadership team to identify unique opportunities for innovation across the Company. EFI’s portfolio of best-in-class solutions presents an exciting opportunity to drive further growth in high-quality inkjet and integrated, digital workflows. Together with my experienced and talented colleagues on the EFI team, we will provide the leadership needed to help EFI accelerate the transformation of industries where colourful images matter. I also want to join the EFI team in thanking Bill for his contributions to the Company’s success and wishing him the best in his future endeavours. Bill played a pivotal role in successfully positioning EFI for the next chapter of our evolution, always doing so with integrity and the best interests of customers and employees.”
 
Throughout his career, Mr. Jacobson has displayed an on-going commitment to helping customers improve their productivity and enhance their operations. As CEO of Xerox, he oversaw Xerox’s largest product launch in its more than 100-year-history and led the company through a strategic transformation, delivering best-in-class customer service, and driving innovation, while improving Xerox’s operating margins and cash flow.
 
Before his time at Xerox and Presstek, Mr. Jacobson served as Chief Operating Officer of Eastman Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, where he was responsible for managing operations in Eastman Kodak's Global Graphics operations, which included manufacturing locations throughout North America, Europe, Japan, China, Israel and South Africa. Mr. Jacobson also served for five years as Chief Executive Officer of Kodak Polychrome Graphics, a highly successful joint venture between Sun Chemical and Eastman Kodak.
 
“It has been a privilege to lead EFI through an important chapter in the Company’s history, and I look forward to seeing EFI thrive as it continues to collaborate with customers and partners worldwide,” said Bill Muir. “I have admired Jeff as an expert in the digital imaging space, and I am confident that with his vision and under his leadership, EFI will be able to successfully write the next chapter of innovation and market leadership across the Company’s portfolio of solutions.”

Imagination Graphics, a professional printing company based in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west and Konica Minolta National Specialised Print Awards 2018 winner, is the first NSW customer to invest in the AccurioJet KM-1 from Konica Minolta. 

Imagination Graphics provides graphic design, print, and pre-press services to help customers maximise the value of their promotional material. Imagination Graphics focuses on delivering high quality outcomes for a reasonable price. The company was on a solid growth path and had gone from strength-to-strength over the past three years. This made it the right time to invest in new technology to support that growth, and future growth. 

The AccurioJet KM-1 is a B2+ sheet-fed UV inkjet press that delivers all the quality and versatility of offset printing with the convenience and flexibility of digital printing on any type of stock for projects such as bound books, presentation folders, and packaging. 

Emmanuel Buhagiar, director, Imagination Graphics, said, “This investment was a big step for Imagination Graphics, however, it was the right one. We did our due diligence and had faith that the KM-1 and Konica Minolta, as a trusted partner for more than 10 years, would deliver. 

“Imagination Graphics chose the KM-1 due to its ability to print on a wide variety of stocks, which gives us great versatility in the types of work we can take on, as well as the colour and quality reproduction and ability to match Pantone colours. 

“The KM-1 will open up a whole new market and client base for Imagination Graphics. It will also give us more speed, faster turnaround, the ability to bring work in-house that we have previously had to outsource, and the opportunity to take on short-run projects, which will make us more competitive. For example, using the KM-1, we can print up to 3,000 A2 posters in an hour, all with different designs, which would be far more costly and time-consuming on an offset press. As a customer-focused business, the ability to deliver on time with quality is critical to our success.” 





Adam Todd, industrial print solutions consultant, Konica Minolta, said, “Konica Minolta is excited that Imagination Graphics is the first NSW installation of the game-changing KM-1, and the third in Australia. The KM-1 will open up new markets for Imagination Graphics and let it produce a much wider variety of high-value applications for its customers. We are proud that Imagination Graphics has selected Konica Minolta as its strategic partner for this venture.” 

Emmanuel Buhagiar said, “Imagination Graphics has worked with Konica Minolta for more than 10 years, and every time we have upgraded our equipment we have seen business growth right up to our last investment, which was the AccurioPress C6100 and C1085. We expect the KM-1 to bring the same benefit.” 

This is the first NSW install for the KM-1, the third in Australia, and the 100th globally since its introduction to the market just over two years ago. 

Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and printer cutters worldwide, announced today that owners of VersaUV LEF-20 and LEF-200 printers can now upgrade their devices to the latest functions of the recently launched LEF2-200 for enhanced product reliability, efficiency and output quality.

Motokuni Kishita, Product Manager of Digital Printing Business Division said, "To maximise the value that our LEF-20 and LEF-200 customers can obtain from the LEF2-200’s newest capabilities, we are pleased to offer a Value Up Kit that will give owners three major enhancements for their printers."

According to Kishita, the first benefit is increased reliability. A new Head Refresh Feature removes any ink remaining on the printheads and cleans the surface of the printheads to maintain the health of the printer. An Extension Plate prevents UV light from being reflected under the table to minimise the curing of UV ink on the printhead surface. A new wiper cleaner more efficiently removes extra ink remaining on the wiper that cleans the head surface, enabling the printhead surface to stay in good condition. Should a printhead clog, a new Nozzle Mask function allows you to continue printing while using the remaining printheads.

A second key benefit is the addition of a host of advanced functions to simplify high quality printing jobs. A Start Timer Function completes the setup procedures of printhead cleaning and white ink circulation automatically by your designated start time, so you can begin printing immediately after loading the materials. A positioning jig makes it easy to align items on the print table. When printing data with separate layers, grouping the data in the order of printing can reduce mistakes. In addition, the table can move to the next printing start position without returning to the origin. 

The third critical benefit of the upgrade is improved printing results. "A True Rich Colour preset is now available," Kishita said, "allowing you to produce vibrant colour, neutral greys, smooth gradations and natural skin tones all at the same time. And the standard print mode now incorporates 16-pass as well as conventional 12-pass, leading to smoother output quality."

To schedule an Authorised Roland Technician to perform the upgrade or to find out more, please visit www.rolanddg.com.au/lefvalueup

 David Crowther, the Colour Doctor of Colour Graphic Services has attained G7 Expert status having recently attended the G7 Professional Training course held at Heidelberg USA’s Kennesaw, Georgia headquarters and organised by the Idealliance and hosted by industry colour legend Don Hutcheson.

The G7 course at Heidelberg USA was the 150th course, with 28 attendees. The Idealliance manages and facilitates the G7 Master Facility Qualification that allows Print Service Providers to achieve G7 Master certification, a growing global colour methodology that bridges the legacy differences between European and US pathways to ISO 12467 certification.

G7 is a specification that defines a ‘common appearance’ for printed greys for ALL printing systems, controlling the two important aspects by which we judge monochromatic images, which are Tonality and Grey Balance. This makes it ideal for aligning print appearance across offset, flexo, gravure, wide format, digital inkjet & toner, dye sublimation – any process. As Crowther notes: “I was trained as a scanner operator and we always used to say: get the grey balance right and you will be well on your way to achieving excellent CMYK colour quality.”

G7 Experts are individuals certified and licensed by Idealliance as proven leaders in print production and global standards to align all proof and print applications regardless of process, ink, or substrate. G7 Experts are taught and certified in substantial cost reductions of production, speeding product to market, significant reduction in waste, extraordinary increase in color consistency - no matter the substrate or print medium, and consistently maintain their client’s brand image and print production requirements. G7 colour is now mandated by several of the world’s leading brands.

Don Hutcheson - G7® inventor and David’s trainer - had this to say about David’s recent certification as a G7 Expert: "It was a great pleasure having David Crowther in the recent Idealliance G7 Expert training at Heidelberg, Atlanta. As an expat Kiwi, I’m always happy to get visitors from down-under, even from that little island to the left of NZ! 

During the class, David asked all the right questions and had all the right answers. His extensive knowledge and experience in the printing industry was immediately clear and contributed significantly to the training experience for the other attendees.

The fact that David flew all the way from Australia to Atlanta, just to take the G7 Expert training, indicates how important G7 has become as a world-wide standard. Since its inception in 2005, around 5,000 printers and pre-press houses globally have become “G7 Masters” and the number of un-registered G7 users is in the tens of thousands. 

G7 really does deliver better print consistency across all print technologies - not just offset - with or without additional colour management.  And it does so with less effort and lower costs than legacy TVI calibration.  G7 makes CMYK files more exchangeable across borders and technologies and makes standardized printing easier, cheaper and more accessible to everyone from creation to output.”
Jordan Gorski, Vice President of Global Certification Programs for Idealliance adds:
 “Idealliance certified G7 Experts support, align, and maintain the highest levels of print quality, color management, and process control around the globe for print service providers, OEMs, creatives, brands, and print buyers. G7 Experts like David Crowther support these members of the print and packaging supply chain by giving them the tools critical for their business performance through added efficiencies, profitability, and continually raising the bar for print production quality and consistency across all print technology.”

Crowther explains, “We have been planning this for a number of years now, and it all came to fruition recently, when well-known colour colleague and friend Don Hutcheson hosted the G7 Expert/Professional Training at Heidleberg USA. Don, an expat Kiwi, is the inventor of the G7 specification and method. It was great to learn about G7 from the original source.” 

A G7 Expert can deliver G7 Master certification for printers, publishers and agencies. The IDEAlliance, a global non-profit think tank, focused on innovation, education, certification and integration looks after and manages the G7 programs worldwide.

Crowther says: “We have always highlighted the importance of grey balance with our tireless work in ISO 12647 implementations with print providers all over Australia and New Zealand. High quality consistent CMYK colour reproduction has always been dependent of grey balance, even going back to the days of camera and drum scanner operators.”
 
“The phone has been running hot with inquiries. G7 Expert consulting adds to our key colour quality products: Techkon precision instruments, JUST Normlicht ISO 3664:2009 lighting and viewing systems, Eizo calibrated monitors, ColorLogic CM & ICC systems, Mellow Colour colour reporting and analysis systems and CHROMAtrain CM training. We believe we have the best-in-class colour solutions to suit any print requirements,” concludes Crowther.

Colour Graphics Services will be at PrintEx, Sydney Showgrounds August 13-16, stand I11! For the duration of the show only, and orders placed for Techkon colour measuring instruments will attract a 20% discount. Offer ends at 4pm Friday 16 August.

Konica Minolta Australia is extending its existing partnership with HP to include reselling its wide format printer range, the HP Latex Production Printers and Print and Cut solution up to 1.63 metre roll widths, in the Australian market. 

The HP Latex Production range is capable of printing both indoor and outdoor wide format applications, with a wider application versatility and a higher profit potential. The HP Latex range expands print opportunity beyond vinyls and banners to include films, papers, textiles, canvas, wall papers and more. It offers faster production speed, and eliminates wait times as the prints come out completely dry and ready for finishing. This can save up to 48hrs of wait time before lamination. The range has high levels of scratch resistance, also making this a safer option for operators of the printing equipment. 

Tatjana Ferguson, product marketing manager, industrial print, Konica Minolta, said, “Konica Minolta is pleased to have strengthened its existing relationship with HP as a reseller of its wide format printing equipment. In addition to reselling the HP DesignJet and HP PageWide XL Series, the agreement means we can now offer HP Latex production printing solutions to the Australian market.” 

Zoran Novakovic, country manager, Large Format Production Business, HP Australia, said, ‘HP is excited to extend our partnership with Konica Minolta and expand into the Large Format Production space. We believe the expansion will contribute to growth in our market segments. We look forward to continuing working with Konica Minolta in the future.” 

Konica Minolta offer businesses the complete solution for their printing needs, with ranges including digital presses, wide format, digital B2 inkjet and embellishment systems. The HP Latex range will benefit customers looking to diversify with wide format, and will let them add an addition revenue stream. 

Tatjana Ferguson said, “Konica Minolta offers the complete solution for commercial printers to ensure they will always be printing. The HP Latex range will be serviced by our highly-skilled engineers at Konica Minolta, which means existing customers can rely on the service levels they know and expect and be confident that they are dealing with a trusted team of industry professionals.” 

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. and Konica Minolta® Australia are pleased to announce they will be bringing EFI™ MarketDirect software to the Australian market. The appointment sees Konica Minolta Australia as a partner for sales and distribution of the EFI MarketDirect customer engagement platform in the country. 
 
The platform’s two advanced, cloud-based components, EFI MarketDirect Cross Media and MarketDirect StoreFront, give print and marketing service providers tools to ensure optimum productivity in multi-channel campaign management, web-to-print and online job procurement. The products also simplify the online interaction process between users and the print and marketing campaign clients they serve.
 
MarketDirect Cross Media’s robust customer engagement platform gives users the ability to develop, distribute and track customer communications for loyalty programmes, offers, newsletters, surveys and communications rapidly and with ease. The software includes next-generation technologies to deliver comprehensive cross-media marketing applications for lead generation, new customer acquisition, prospecting and more.
 
The software is available as a standalone application or alongside EFI MarketDirect StoreFront – an award-winning web-to-print solution that gives users more power than ever before to plan, manage and execute complex print and cross-media marketing programmes.
 
“We are pleased with our decision to add EFI’s MarketDirect solutions to our portfolio,” said Grant Thomas, Product Marketing Manager, Konica Minolta Australia. “We are looking forward to demonstrating with our customers how they can build campaigns quickly and efficiently to drive more revenue, as well as compete with larger organisations who rely on more-complex solutions.”
 
“This next-generation customer engagement platform in MarketDirect significantly expands what our customers can provide in marketing and communication services,” said EFI Regional Vice President of Sales Rodd Harrison. “From storyboarding and campaign design to visual automation, this is an elegantly simple tool for businesses looking to drive greater customer loyalty and deliver higher-value services to their client base.”
 
Unlike many other platforms which are digital only, EFI MarketDirect is built to include print along with digital channels, offering customers a higher level of creativity with their campaign design and audience reach. One of the platform’s components enables rapid setup and prototyping of multi-channel marketing campaigns for print, email, web, mobile and social. A powerful image personalisation engine within MarketDirect gives users the power to create and embed highly relevant individualised elements into campaigns to drive greater marketing response.
 




Both EFI MarketDirect Cross Media and MarketDirect StoreFront can be incorporated within broader, end-to-end MIS/ERP business and production workflows from EFI for streamlined, fully integrated efficiencies from job submission through final billing and shipping.
 
The new partnership agreement is an expansion of a longstanding partnership between EFI and Konica Minolta worldwide that includes development and distribution of advanced EFI Fiery® digital front ends and Fiery workflow software for use with Konica Minolta digital production printers and presses.
 
Konica Minolta will be exhibiting EFI MarketDirect on the Konica Minolta stand (#D37) at PrintEx in Sydney, 13-16 August. For more information about advanced print and digital marketing technologies from EFI, visit www.efi.com.

Labelmakers Group is set to acquire the country's biggest linerless labels producer, Le Mac Australia. The transaction is expected to be completed next month.

Labelmakers says the synergies created through this transaction will generate enormous value for our customer base, combining Labelmakers’ extensive range of printed label and packaging solutions with Le Mac’s capabilities across Linerless Labels, shrink sleeves, and tamper evident labels and packaging.

Paul O’Sullivan, CEO of Labelmakers, said, “Le Mac is undeniably the market leader for Linerless Labels in Australia, which are generating significant interest from customers across the labelling arena. Furthermore, its shrink sleeve capability further complements our own leadership position in shrink sleeve labelling. The bringing together of the two businesses makes complete sense in terms of Labelmakers supporting customers in these two growth areas.”

Le Mac was established in 1984, three years before Labelmakers. Le Mac was the first company in Australia to introduce the complete Linerless Labelling System, which effectively eliminates the requirement for a release liner and associated waste, which is environmentally problematic.

The label application system itself also delivers greater line efficiencies to sectors where faster labelling speeds are required, such as the pre-packaged meat sector.

With environmental packaging and operational efficiencies a key focus for brand owners and companies across the value-chain, Labelmakers sees significant growth potential for this innovative labelling solution, and says it is excited to welcome these capabilities into the Labelmakers offering.

Labelmakers says it is is committed to improving environmental outcomes within the sector, with its team working on a number of initiatives including waste minimisation and closed-loop recycling, to deliver on these commitments. Extending its offering to include Linerless Label technology is part of this strategy.

The company says this acquisition will cement Labelmakers as Australasia’s pre-eminent partner for printing and packaging solutions.

Indy Griffiths is, by any measure, an impressive young woman. Not only does she power through her work as graphic designer for Mona Vale company Style Communications, she also runs her own freelance studio and this month, with the support of Visual Connections, she will represent Australia as a ‘Skillaroo’ at the 54th WorldSkills International Championships.

At school, Indy always loved design so there was never much doubt she’d pursue a career in the creative arts. Choosing Graphic Design as her major, she completed her training at Enmore Design Centre TAFE where, as luck would have it, she also came into contact with WorldSkills Australia.

WorldSkills is a social enterprise which fosters skills excellence in vocational, technological and service-oriented careers in Australia, and promotes the importance of those skills to young people, their parents, industry and employers.

As well as regional and national championships, Australian competitors – known as Skillaroos – also compete on the global stage through WorldSkills International. This year’s championship will be held in Kazan, Russia, from August 22-27, where an anticipated audience of 250,000 will watch competitors from 66 counties compete for gold, silver and bronze medals and the title of world champion in their skill.

“The regional championships were held at Enmore so my lecturer suggested I compete,” Indy recalls. “Despite having no idea what it was, I agreed and surprised myself by winning by a narrow margin.”

Qualifying for the national championship created a dilemma for the young designer who, by her own admission, lacked confidence at such a young age. 

“It was daunting to be up against the ‘best of the best’ from around Australia but, with the encouragement of my lecturers and work colleagues, I decided to give it a go – and it’s been an amazing confidence builder,” she says.

No wonder. Indy took out the Graphic Design Technology section comfortably, qualifying alongside 14 other young people to represent her country at WorldSkills Kazan 2019. To go, however, she needed both the permission of her employer and industry support. 

For Style Communications’ owner, Shayna Price, it was a no-brainer. “We make a practice of giving young people the chance to develop their skills and gain experience, and then take great pride in then watching them go out and build their careers,” she says. 

“WorldSkills is a fantastic opportunity for Indy to learn, develop her skills and build her confidence – which can only be good both for her and for us.”

Shayna knows the value of on-the-job experience, having learned the ropes herself having taken a job with Style Communications after completing her own apprenticeship…as a chef.
“It was something of a departure,” she laughs, “but I immediately enjoyed the way that we are not just producing products, but really helping solve problems for our customers. I just fell in love with the business – so much so that, when the original family moved on to new challenges, I decided to take over.”

The ensuing years have had their moments – a major flood and a ransomware attack to name just two – but a loyal local clientele from around the Northern Beaches and a team of dedicated and talented people have kept the doors open.

Indy, she says, joined the team almost by chance, after walking in to get a job printed towards the end of her TAFE course. 

“As soon as I opened the files, I thought, ‘This girl really knows her stuff’. We were looking for a designer at the time, so we offered her the job, and she’s been a real asset. Design is so critical to meeting our customers’ requirements, and I’m always astonished by the quality of her work and the speed at which she does it. We are so proud of what she’s achieved with WorldSkills and we’re excited to see how she fares on the international stage.”

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place for Indy when Visual Connections – the premier supplier’s association for the print, graphics and signage industries – agreed to sponsor her to participate in the international competition. 

CEO Peter Harper says the Visual Connections’ long-standing support for WorldSkills Australia is reflective of its commitment to helping young people like Indy gain the skills, knowledge and experience they need to build successful careers in the sector.

“While we often sponsor young print or sign apprentices, nothing is more fundamental to our industry than design,” Peter says. “That’s why we are so delighted to be sponsoring Indy – she’s already an asset to our industry and we’re looking forward to seeing her compete with the Skillaroos in Russia.”

As for Indy, she’s typically downplaying her chances of success in Kazan but, win, lose or draw, there’s one thing she’s certain about – it won’t be her last interaction with WorldSkills.
“It’s been a fantastic experience so, once I’m no longer able to compete, I’d love to give back by being a mentor to other trainees,” she says. “I’ve learned so much from other designers all over the world – and it’s great to be able to bring those skills back to the industry here in Australia.”

Matt Aitken has been named as IVE Group’s CEO after MD Warwick Hay announced his resignation.

Aitken has been the COO at the Australian Securities Exchange listed diversified marketing and printing business since August 2014 and has held a number of key executive roles with the company over the last 20 years.

IVE Group announced the change today with Executive Chairman Geoff Selig thanking Hay for his contribution to the business, particularly through its listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in December 2015.

“I think after five years as the Managing Director of an ASX listed business you have done a lot of heavy lifting and he has looked at some options of where to next,” said Selig.

The change means Hay will leave the IVE Group Board of Directors but will remain employed at IVE until January 31, 2020 and has agreed to a nine month restraint for which he will be paid to ensure a seamless transition as Aitken steps into the group CEO role.

“Warwick has made an outstanding contribution to the growth and evolution of the business during his time as Managing Director. It has been a pleasure to have worked closely with Warwick during this period, in particular through our listing on the ASX back in December 2015. I thank him for his commitment and leadership of the business, and offer on behalf of our board and staff my best wishes for the future,” Selig said.

Hay described his experience at IVE as being very satisfying and commended the business for its solid values, great people and customer focus.

“It has been very satisfying to have worked in a business that has delivered for all key stakeholders since I stepped into the role 5 years ago. It’s been wonderful to lead a business that has solid values, great people, an acute customer service focus, and an ongoing commitment to investment back into the business. I wish Matt all the very best as he leads the business through its next phase,” Hay said.

Of his appointment, Aitken said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to be the CEO of a business that has been the cornerstone of my professional career. I genuinely believe the value proposition we take to market and the dedicated people we have to support this has underpinned the sustainability and success of our business over a very long period. I look forward to continuing to build on the business we have today to ensure our ongoing success moving forward.”

Roland DG Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices, has released a new instalment in its Roland User video series. The latest video features successful clothing solutions business, Signature Clothing Pty Ltd, detailing their experience with a Roland TrueVIS SG-300 printer cutter financed through Roland Rental Plus.

For over 30 years, Managing Directors of Signature Clothing, Denise and Arn Betteridge, have been running their family-owned embroidery business in the NSW Hunter Valley. A passion for creating tailored corporate and promotional clothing solutions has seen their business grow from humble beginnings in domestic embroidery, to recently purchasing a TrueVIS SG-300 printer cutter. Of the printer cutter, Arn said: “What we really like about Roland is the quality of the print, the fact that it’s a very reliable machine and with the VersaWorks software it just integrates perfectly.” 

Arn and Denise chose to manage the finance for their printer cutter through Roland Rental Plus, the latest offering from Roland DG’s dedicated finance program, Roland Rental. With no upfront investment and fixed price scheduled servicing bundled into the one monthly repayment, Arn believes Roland Rental Plus has made purchasing their equipment and maintaining it, so simple: “For one monthly payment we get not only the machine and what it’s capable of, but we [also] get 6 monthly scheduled servicing.”

Along with the quality and reliability from the Roland TrueVIS SG-300, finance through Roland Rental Plus has helped Arn and Denise become more productive and efficient so that they can focus on growing their business and doing what they do best. “After 30 years in business we can tell you there is a lot of challenges to face and financing shouldn’t be one of them,” says Arn. “Our experience with Roland Rental Plus has given us peace of mind. We can rest easy and I can’t recommend them thoroughly enough.”

To read the full user story and view the video, click here.

The Mosaica Group, a national distributor supporting dye sublimation and wide format print processes with equipment, consumables and services, announced a partnership with Gravograph, part of the Gravotech Group, a worldwide leader of innovative engraving, cutting and marking solutions for CNC rotary milling/engraving machines and laser systems. As a top distributor for Mimaki who recently partnered with Gravotech, the partnership allows The Mosaica Group to distribute Gravotech’s products including rotary and laser engravers as well as engraving materials throughout the U.S.

This partnership will expand The Mosaica Group’s portfolio of offering equipment that is able to create braille signage along with integrating the Gravograph product line with the Mimaki portfolio of printing systems.

The Gravograph IS400 is one of Gravotech’s top-selling rotary engraving machine designed for a wide range of applications including trophies and plaques, small signage, desk plates, ADA signage, identification of industrial parts and light machining. A variety of jigs and holding devices are available for the IS400. The IS400 offers the ability to create braille signage seamlessly.

Its design offers complete access to the object being engraved with the ability to preview the item with the built-in laser beam, ensuring the engraving is accurate and precise before it’s permanently engraved. Save time and increase production by using the Point & Shoot feature to easily determine the engraving area of any object – no rulers needed.

“I’m excited to be able to offer the Gravograph product line to our clients,” said Randy Peters, President and CEO, The Mosaica Group. “As our clients look at ways to enhance their capabilities, we can make bundle or package recommendations that offer significant savings for investing in both Mimaki equipment and the Gravograph product line.”

Craig Heckenberg has been promoted and become the new Managing Director of Epson Australia and New Zealand as well-known industry veteran and stalwart Bruno Turcato retires from the role after 16 years as Managing Director.

In a stellar career with the company spanning 30 years, Bruno Turcato initially joined Epson Australia as financial controller before being promoted to GM and eventually the first non-Japanese MD of any Epson subsidiary in 2003.
 
Turcato oversaw Epson Australia’s move from making dot matrix printers and PCs to highly successful inkjet printers and projectors. The company now occupies several dominant positions in multiple market categories including selling over 70% of all projectors in Australia. He leaves the company at the end of September 2019 after completing various projects and customer visits.
 
Craig Heckenberg has risen through the ranks over 19 years with the company to most recently become GM of Epson Australia. Epson has had incredible growth under his stewardship including lifting commercial print revenue by over 450% and printer sales by over 170%. He also worked closely with his team to establish Epson Australia as the number one brand in high brightness projectors, successfully launched new businesses including Document Solutions, Industrial Label, Sign and Textile and has created and grown significant new business partnerships for the company.
 
Heckenberg will be responsible for Epson’s entire product portfolio of printers, scanners, projectors, commercial and industrial products for the A/NZ region. He also heads up the leadership team devising and setting the company’s overall strategy, policy, planning and business management goals.
 
Heckenberg said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bruno on his amazing 30 year career at Epson. His leadership and presence will be sorely missed by the entire Epson family and we wish him all the very best in retirement.”
 
Heckenberg went on to say, “I am humble and extremely grateful to be given such a wonderful opportunity to lead an amazing organisation which has the best people, products and technologies. I love what Epson stands for and its vision to ‘make the world a better place’, and I am very excited about the company’s future. I am particularly looking forward to creating a new era for Epson in the A/NZ region. My goal is to make Epson an indispensable company for our customers and society by continuing to raise our standards of excellence in all areas of the business.”

Following Flexographic Technical Assocation (FTA) and European Flexographic Industry Association (EFIA) technical innovation awards, Esko Print Control Wizard has again received recognition scooping a 2019 InterTech Technology Award from Printing Industries of America.

Developed by Esko to respond to a call from the flexographic printing industry to simplify the implementation of screens and dot gain curves in the reprographics process, Print Control Wizard software offers the sector a standardized approach to screen and curve creation. Designed to improve the flexo plate making process and flexographic print quality via Crystal Screens, Print Control Wizard takes process parameters like ink, printing press, substrate and aniloxes into consideration for screen and curve creation. Print Control Wizard outputs a set of Crystal Screens and curves used for plate exposing on a CDI Crystal XPS, resulting in the most optimal flexo print quality. 

Print_Control_Wizard_FinalRobert Bruce, RIP and Screening Product Manager, said: “We are deeply honored to receive this recognition for Print Control Wizard, which has been received so well by our customers and the industry. Printing Industries of America is renowned for its commitment to advancing the graphic arts industry so to be recognized for our efforts in developing our Print Control Wizard technology to boost flexo print quality and simplify the flexo platemaking process, makes our job worthwhile.”

The InterTech Technology Awards programme has been operating since 1978 and honors the development of technologies predicated to have a major impact on the graphic communications and related industries. More than 80% of technologies that receive an award experience commercial success in the marketplace.

To find out more about Esko Print Control Wizard software, please visit here. 

EFI today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition by an affiliate of Siris for approximately $1.7 billion.
 
In connection with the closing of the transaction, the Company, which will continue to operate as Electronics For Imaging (EFI), will be wholly owned by an affiliate of Siris, and EFI’s common shares will be delisted from the NASDAQ exchange.
 
“This acquisition marks a new, exciting path forward in EFI’s 30-year history as a digital imaging technology leader,” said EFI CEO, Bill Muir. “With Siris’ partnership, we will look to create new opportunities for our customers, partners, and EFI employees worldwide. We are looking forward to working with Siris to write the next chapter of innovation across our growing portfolio of solutions.”
 
Jeff Jacobson, Siris Executive Partner and EFI Executive Chairman, added, “EFI’s portfolio of best-in-class solutions presents an exciting opportunity to drive further growth in high-quality inkjet and integrated, digital workflows. I look forward to working closely with management and know Siris is committed to providing the guidance and support needed to help EFI continue accelerating the transformation of industries where colourful images matter.”
 
The transaction, which was initially announced on April 15, 2019, was approved in a shareholder vote on July 15, 2019 in which 72.2% of EFI’s outstanding shares and 99.7% of voted shares were voted in favour of the transaction.

www.efi.com

The report "Large Format Printer Market by Offering (Printers, RIP software, Services), Printing Technology (Inkjet, Laser), Ink Type (Aqueous, Solvent, UV Cured, Latex, Dye Sublimation), Print Width, Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2025", was worth USD 8.7 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 11.4 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 4% from 2019 to 2025.

The growing demand for large format printers for home furnishing & decor and vehicle wrap applications, the increasing demand for large format printing from the in-plant market, and the availability of large format printers in different prices and varieties are creating huge growth opportunities for the players in the large format printer market. The growth of the large format printer market can also be attributed to the increasing demand for large format printing in the textile, advertising, and packaging industries; rising adoption of UV-curable inks in outdoor advertising, CAD, and technical printing applications; and growing importance of digital document production in commercial printing applications.

Market for large format printer hardware expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period

Large format printers are computer-controlled printing devices that support print roll width ranging from 18 inch to 100 inch. Printers that support print roll width of over 100 inch are considered as super-wide or grand format printers. Large format printers are used for various applications, including printing banners, posters, trade show graphics, wallpaper, vehicle image wraps, architectural drawings, construction plans, and backdrops for theatrical and media sets. Manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Canon, provide a variety of large format printers, such as large format printers-color (used in color printing applications that do not strictly require a high print quality), large format printers-black & white (used for black and white printing requirements), and large format printers-graphics (used for indoor and outdoor display graphic applications, such as advertising, banners and posters, billboards, and wall frontage displays, on various paper and plastic materials).

Ink-based (inkjet) printing technology expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period

One of the major reasons for the higher market for inkjet printers is the increasing use of inkjet large format printers for technical and CAD printing. Traditionally, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry preferred laser printers as these printers used lesser colours and ensured higher printing speed than inkjet printers. However, with time, inkjet printer manufacturers have started providing faster inkjet printers with reduced running costs for large format printing, which has led to the widespread adoption of inkjet printers in this industry.

The market for solvent ink-based large format printers accounted for the largest share in 2018

Solvent ink is comparatively cheaper than UV-curable and water-based inks; this ink enable printing on various surfaces, including corrugated boards, paper, flexible packaging materials, metal foils, and plastic materials. This ink is flexible, waterproof, durable, and therefore, does not require special over-coatings. It contains pigments rather than dyes, unlike aqueous ink, which contains water. Solvent ink is suitable for applications such as vehicle graphics, banners, and billboards. Solvent ink-based printers are economical compared with aqueous ink-based and UV-cured ink-based printers. These printers enable printing on flexible, vinyl substrates and are largely used in vehicle graphics, banners, and billboards applications.

Market for the large format printers with a print width ranging from 24” to 36” is expected to hold the largest share during the forecast period

These printers are mostly used in custom-apparel and CAD applications. Printers with a print width ranging from 24” to 36” can print pages in quick succession compared with other printers and are good for low-volume environments. These printers have technological features, including inbuilt RAM & storage and web connectivity, along with Wi-Fi certification. Top tier manufacturers such as HP, Roland, Epson, and Canon produce and provides a significant number these printers in the market.

The market for signage applications expected to hold a major share of the large format printer market in 2019

Wide varieties and different uses of indoor and outdoor signage, such as warning signs on highways and roads, large corporate emblems, promotional signage, and window displays, contribute to the growth of the large format printer market for signage applications. Signage prints are carried out using wide format printers; the demand for signage applications is expected to grow during the forecast period, thereby driving the demand for large format printers.

The report profiles key players including Hewlett-Packard (HP) (US), Canon (Japan), Epson (Japan), Mimaki Engineering (Japan), Roland (US), Ricoh (Japan), Durst Phototechnik (Italy), Xerox (US), and Konica Minolta (Japan).

In their words Resolution Imaging has been “home to digital with a difference” since 1996. The company offers enhanced utility and environmentally responsible retail display solutions and with decades of experience backing them up. Recently the company had a requirement for a high quality large format digital signage printing solution. After a comprehensive assessment process they chose the Epson SureColor S80600.
 
Resolution Imaging director Darren Watkins explained, “We will bend over backwards to get the job done. Our team integrates extensive graphic arts experience, high adaptability and a genuine sense of fun. The new signage printer had to match all of those qualities and deliver more. So, after a successful trip to Tokyo Sign and having a good look at all of the Japanese solvent printers on their home turf, coming back and buying the Epson S80600 was an easy decision as it stood head and shoulders over the competition.”
 
The SureColor Solvent 80600 is designed to and enables Resolution Imaging to produce durable high-quality signage quickly, easily and at minimum cost. It suits their variable workflow environment with low to medium production volumes. To add flexibility it can be used with a wide range of media including paper, canvas, film and vinyl.
 
Resolution Imaging acquired the S80600 complete with software that ensures it can easily take care of their high-value high-impact applications including large format photo imaging, indoor POS and signage, back-lit displays, window decorations, wallpapers, surface finishes and décor.

Watkins continued, “The Epson S80600 ticked all of the boxes, quality print with a wide colour gamut, an output speed that suited our needs and an ease of use that we still talk about every day.”
 
The SC-S80600 also incorporates Epson's latest PrecisionCore printhead and UltraChrome Eco-Solvent ink technology. It produces prints that are brighter and glossier than ever before with a wider colour gamut.
 
Watkins added, “I have to stress that the gamut in particular is a real plus with Pantone colours being reproduced with ease. Our S80600 is also coupled with an Onyx RIP to aid us in maintaining high standards of quality reproduction.”
 
For Darren Watkins and the team at Resolution Imaging their new Epson SureColor S80600 has not only added value to the company but also efficiency as it produces quality product, using lower pass rates and less ink, with a simpler configuration, easier operation and faster job completion. Prints also dry more quickly to enable same-day job turnaround and the printer itself requires minimum maintenance.
 
Watkins concluded, The majority of work going through the Epson 80600 is on self-adhesive vinyl and the fast drying inks have also proved invaluable when trying to meet the tight deadlines everyone in the industry faces on a daily basis. Put simply this is an excellent, high quality, high speed, highly efficient large format signage printer with no equal.”

Roland DG Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices, today announced the launch of a new customer support offering, Roland DG Engage.

A dedicated installation and training service for customers across Australia, Roland DG Engage delivers knowledge and expertise direct from the manufacturer through fully trained and certified Roland DG installation and software training specialists to enhance the customer experience from the day they receive their device, throughout its lifecycle.

“More than just selling you a piece of equipment, Roland DG Engage connects customers directly with Roland DG, giving them the tools and skills to get the most out of their equipment” said Greg Stone, Product and Marketing Manager at Roland DG Australia. “Installation and training is nothing new, but what Roland DG Engage does is formalise these crucial elements through a dedicated team. This new offering assures customers of a certain level of experience and expertise, something Roland DG prides itself on through other successful industry programs such as Roland Academy and RolandClinic.”

Engaging with this new service is easy! Customers looking to take advantage of Roland DG Engage can simply request it through their authorised Roland DG dealer, or directly with Roland DG Australia. Roland DG Engage personnel will project manage the complete installation and training, allowing the customer to focus on their business knowing they are in expert hands to maximise their Roland DG experience. 

Find out more about this unique offering from Roland DG by visiting stand A28 at the upcoming Printex trade show in Sydney, August 13-16. Or go to the Roland DG Engage page on the website: www.rolanddg.com.au/engage.

EFI and Memjet® have established a new partnership, bringing ultra-fast, high-quality EFI™ Fiery® digital front ends (DFEs) to the growing portfolio of Memjet DuraLink™ digital inkjet production solutions. EFI’s development of Fiery DFE solutions for printers featuring DuraLink technology means Memjet OEM customers will have access to one of the world’s most successful and reliable print servers for production-class digital colour printing.
 
“We have installed a Fiery DFE to drive a 7-colour digital press in Memjet’s headquarters demo centre, and both our team and our partners are impressed with the way the Fiery DFE enables superior colour and image control. It also offers customers advanced job management and the ability to produce versioned and variable print runs at engine-rated speed,” said Eric Owen, General Manager of Commercial Press for Memjet. “Fiery technology, combined with DuraLink’s speed, image quality and reliability, bring tremendous added value to Memjet’s DuraLink partners.”
 
Top-of-the-line, integrated DFE technologies for digital print production
 
EFI is offering Fiery DFEs for digital printing presses that incorporate DuraLink printheads. The new solution being developed for DuraLink devices captures the advantages of EFI’s most advanced digital production software platform, Fiery FS350 Pro, to deliver the best capabilities in areas print customers care about most: colour and imaging, productivity, management tools and connectivity.
 
Users will be able to meet demanding customer requirements for brand colours and extended-gamut applications featuring extended ink sets. Plus, the Fiery DFEs for Memjet DuraLink presses will give users the power to make on-the-fly corrections and late-stage colour edits at the DFE for uninterrupted production.
 
The DFEs will also include EFI Fiery Colour Profiler Suite software, which provides some of the most advanced colour management tools available for profile creation, inspection, editing and colour quality assurance. Fiery Colour Profiler Suite also features G7® System Certification for fast, accurate re-calibration, correct tonality and grey balance, and higher saturated colours.
 
The Fiery XB hardware configuration for the new DFEs is a scalable architecture that keeps engines running at rated speeds to meet demanding production requirements. Fiery XB consumes all variable-data formats and languages, including PDF and PDF/VT and, for high-volume transactional print applications, it complies with native intelligent printer data stream (IPDS) workflows and is certified IS/3 compliant.
 
Users will also have the advantage of using the proven, leading EFI Fiery Command WorkStation® interface – print management software that provides continuity across all Fiery Driven™ digital equipment, including cut-sheet and continuous-feed devices and wide- and superwide-format display graphics printers. The new Fiery DFEs will also give DuraLink device users expanded workflow management efficiencies through automated, bi-directional communication and integration with EFI’s market-leading MIS/ERP and web-to-print products.
 
Fiery technology: more growth opportunities for Memjet customers
 
“We are pleased to be working with Memjet to give its DuraLink OEM partners a new competitive advantage with the Fiery DFEs’ proven strengths in driving high-value personalisation, boosting productivity and providing superior colour quality,” said John Henze, vice president, sales and marketing, EFI Fiery. “This partnership will bring our most-advanced technologies to an even broader base of print service providers, packaging companies and industrial manufacturers that see the tremendous opportunity for growth in high-end digital colour print.”
 
For more information about Memjet and its DuraLink modular digital inkjet systems, visit www.memjet.com. For more information about digital production printing using EFI Fiery DFEs, visit www.efi.com.