After several weeks of speculation in the general business press about a possible coupling, today Xerox Corp. and Fujifilm Holdings announced a definitive agreement to combine Xerox and their longstanding Fuji Xerox joint venture, creating an $18 billion company. Fujifilm will own a controlling 50.1% of the combined company, marking the end of Xerox as an independent company dating back to its founding (The Haloid Photographic Co.) in Rochester, N.Y., in 1906.

The combined company, which has been approved by both companies’ board of directors, will be named Fuji Xerox and will maintain dual headquarters in Norwalk, Conn., and in Tokyo, with a presence in more than 180 countries. The $6.1 billion acquisition will combine Xerox with the existing, 56-year joint venture (called Fuji Xerox) between the two companies that primarily serves the Asia-Pacific region, of which Fuji owned a majority 75% stake. According to an article in the Financial Times, the deal structure, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, is somewhat unusual in that it “will be carried out in three phases that will effectively allow Fujifilm to retain cash to carry out acquisitions. Using $6.1 billion in bank lending, Fuji Xerox will first buy back the 75% stake in the joint venture from Fujifilm. The Japanese group will then acquire 50.1% of the new shares of Xerox by selling its 75% stake, and Fuji Xerox will ultimately merge with Xerox.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Xerox shareholders will receive a $2.5 billion special cash dividend, or approximately $9.80 per share, funded from the combined company’s balance sheet, and own 49.9% of Fuji Xerox at closing. The combined company will trade on the NYSE under Xerox’s existing ticker symbol, XRX, and the Xerox and Xerox Fujifilm brands will be retained in their respective markets. Upon close of the transaction, current Xerox CEO Jeff Jacobson will serve as CEO of the new Fuji Xerox. Fujifilm Chairman and CEO Shigetaka Komori will serve as chairman of the combined company’s board of directors. The board will include 12 members, seven of whom will be appointed by the Fujifilm board. Five independent directors will be appointed from the Xerox board.

Fujifilm Acquires Xerox: What Really Drove the Deal to Happen?

This consolidation is being driven more by diminished revenue streams and changing market conditions in the office printing sector, more so than in the future outlook for the production printing space.

How much the Fuji/Xerox coupling was also hastened by an activist shareholder group that had been calling for the ouster of Xerox’s “old guard” board and CEO Jacobson may never be fully known. As reported Jan. 22 in Printing Impressions, the first and third largest Xerox shareholders (representing more than 15% of outstanding shares) – Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason, respectively – had announced a partnership to solicit proxies to elect four new individuals to the board of directors at the 2018 annual meeting of Xerox shareholders.

Aside from making several demands, that press release also specifically addressed the rumors of a Fuji/Xerox merger and waged a tirade against Jacobson: “The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Xerox is in talks with Fujifilm regarding an array of potential transactions that may or may not include a change of control of Xerox. We are not predisposed to approve or disapprove of any such transaction, whether with Fuji or any other party. But if Xerox is indeed exploring a transaction with Fuji that may result in a change of control (which to our view would make sense since we, like many others, believe consolidation in this industry is inevitable), then we implore the ‘old guard’ directors – who have historically lacked the intestinal fortitude to challenge and demand accountability from Xerox management – to not do us all the tremendous disservice of allowing Jeff Jacobson to lead the negotiations. He is neither qualified nor capable of successfully running this company, let alone negotiating a major strategic transaction that will do more than save his own job.”

In today’s announcement, Fuji and Xerox pointed out the benefits that they believe the transaction will provide:

• Global leader with combined revenue of approximately $18 billion and nearly $120 billion total addressable opportunity.
• Enhanced scale with presence in over 180 countries and covering key geographies including North America, Japan, Europe, Asia Pacific and China.
• Combined leadership with a strong track record of operational excellence, transformation experience, customer relationships and industry expertise.
• Improved revenue profile and growth trajectory by leveraging the combined expertise, competitive strengths and geographic reach of the two companies.
• World-class innovation capabilities to define the future of innovative print technologies and intelligent work solutions by bringing together two R&D and innovation leaders, along with Fujifilm’s extensive expertise. The new Fuji Xerox will be well-positioned to lead in growing areas such as high-speed inkjet, packaging, industrial print and workplace automation, as well as future development opportunities in artificial intelligence, machine learning, internet of things and augmented reality.
• Strengthened balance sheet and cash flow generation to provide flexibility to support strategic investments in growth and enable increasing capital returns.

10,000 Layoffs Announced at Fuji Xerox Amid Outlook

But, of course, one of the drivers to a consolidation transaction of this magnitude is promise of economies of scale, which results in the elimination of redundancies and, in reality, job layoffs. Just prior to today’s announcement, Fujifilm Holdings revealed it was eliminating 10,000 jobs within Fuji Xerox in conjunction with a lower operating income forecast for fiscal 2018, the bulk of which would likely be in the Asia-Pacific.

According to a press release issued by the two parties, the combination “is expected to deliver at least $1.7 billion in total annual cost savings by 2022, with approximately $1.2 billion of the total cost savings expected to be achieved by 2020. The targeted cost savings represent approximately 10% of the total cost base of the new Fuji Xerox and will drive significant margin expansion over the next four years.

“Of the total $1.7 billion cost savings, $1.25 billion is related to the synergies that will be achieved through the transaction. In addition, the combined company will benefit from a cost reduction program commencing immediately at the existing Fuji Xerox joint venture, which is targeted to generate approximately $450 million of cost savings on an annualized basis. These amounts are incremental to Xerox’s ongoing Strategic Transformation initiatives. The new company expects to incur approximately $1.4 billion in one-time integration and restructuring costs, mainly in the first three years.”

Technology, R&D Advantages of Merger Include Inkjet

From a synergistic standpoint, in today’s press release Fujifilm’s Komori extolled the technology and intellectual property advantages – including inkjet and Artificial Intelligence – that will result.

“Fujifilm and Xerox have fostered an exceptional partnership through our existing Fuji Xerox joint venture, and this transaction is a strategic evolution of our alliance,” said Komori. “The Document Solutions business represents a significant part of Fujifilm’s portfolio, and the creation of the new Fuji Xerox allows us to more directly establish a leadership position in a fast-changing market. We believe Fujifilm’s track record of advancing technology in innovative imaging and information solutions – especially in inkjet, imaging, and AI areas – will be important components of the success of the new Fuji Xerox.”

Xerox’s Jacobson was similarly upbeat: “The proposed combination has compelling industrial logic and will unlock significant growth and productivity opportunities for the combined company … The new Fuji Xerox will be better positioned to compete in today’s environment with truly global scale, increased presence in fast-growing markets, and innovation capabilities to effectively meet our customers’ rapidly-evolving demands. In addition, the combined company’s strong financial profile will enable investments that support continued market leadership, while also providing opportunities for increasing capital returns over time.”

Muller Martini has announced that it has taken over the perfect binding and bookline business from Kolbus. This includes the service and spare parts business for all of Kolbus’ bookbinding systems installed worldwide. Kolbus will set its focus on the packaging and casemaking business, parts manufacturing and the foundry business.

“Structural change has changed the graphic arts industry in recent years and our market has become much smaller and versatile at once,” says Bruno Müller, CEO of Muller Martini. “Customers need innovations on a regular basis, which have to be financed with lower sales quantities. Above all, our customers benefit from the efficiency gains bringing together the bookbinding activities.”

The changes in the market are directly affecting Muller Martini’s customers, which are faced with new business models like digitization. By combining the potentials for success like personnel, know-how, technology and infrastructure of the two companies, Muller Martini can provide the market with innovative solutions in the long term.

“This secures the future of the softcover and hardcover business of both the customers and the two machine manufacturers –  and thus also jobs in the graphic arts industry,” Bruno Müller explains.

Continued Production in Rahden

The bookbinding business of Kolbus is transferred to the new business unit Müller Martini Buchbinde-Systeme GmbH, which will be integrated into the Muller Martini group with all dedicated employees as an independent factory with domicile in Rahden. Kolbus will remain under the direction of CEO Kai Büntemeyer.

With 900 employees, Kolbus will set its focus on the packaging and casemaking business, parts manufacturing and the foundry business. Kai Büntemeyer is convinced that with this step, Kolbus will create good opportunities for a successful future.

“In recent years, the packaging market was growing consistently. We see a good potential and will vigorously expand our current activities in this business. There are also very good perspectives in the segment of component manufacturing for sophisticated mechanical engineering companies including Müller Martini Buchbinde-Systeme GmbH and Kolbus Luxury Packaging.”

Machine Portfolio and Know-how Remains

The know-how of the Kolbus machine portfolio is taken over, backed up and further developed by Muller Martini. The approximately 250 Kolbus employees from the bookbinding department will be taken over by Muller Martini in Rahden at the same employment conditions. The staff in the packaging and casemaker segments will continue to work for Kolbus.

Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices worldwide, today announced its Global SE Awards 2018 competition to be held at its Hamamatsu headquarters from April 23 to 25, 2018 for service engineers (SEs) engaged in the repair and maintenance of Roland DG products.

Following its beginning in 1981, Roland DG established a comprehensive customer services and support capability, now called Roland DG Care, to ensure that its products continue to perform well for many years, thereby increasing customers’ peace of mind and ensuring the smooth operation of their businesses. According to Mr. Takaaki Koshita, general manager of Roland DG Global Technical Services, the goal of the Global SE Awards competition is to recognise SE abilities both regionally and globally and motivate them to raise the standard of Roland DG Care even further. “By providing a series of regional competitions leading up to a final global contest, our goal is to increase the personal pride and motivation of the SEs, as well as to challenge the knowledge and technical skills they have cultivated in their daily work and to encourage them to share their best practices and individual know-how with their peers.”

The Global SE Awards 2018 is the third global contest to be held, following the second event in 2015. For the upcoming competition, participants’ maintenance skills will be tested in two categories: inkjet printers, which represents Roland DG’s core product line, and 3D devices, which includes digital dental milling machines that are rapidly growing in popularity. Local competitions are being held throughout the Americas, European/Middle Eastern/African, and Asian regions from November of 2017 to February of 2018, with 778 Roland DG Care Certified Service Engineers* participating, making it the highest participation rate so far. SEs will be selected to represent each region based on their performance in the local competitions which, in addition to knowledge and skill level, also measured the quality of their daily activities and how proactive they were with sharing their know-how with peers. The 28 selected finalists will put their skills and knowledge of maintenance services to the test in both hands-on and written exams to determine the champion in each category.

“SEs work closely in the field with customers around the world,” Koshita said, “and they are the key to achieving Roland DG’s long-held mission of maintaining and enhancing customer confidence by providing high-quality service and support. With business becoming increasingly competitive, customer service and support have never been so important, and we are working to create brand differentiation and provide peace of mind for our customers.”

“For 2018,” Koshita continued, “we increased the product range covered in the upcoming competition because we want to provide the same excellent service to all our customers using our extensive product lineup. We developed an online platform that allows SEs around the world to regularly share their service and support knowledge as members of a global team. The Global SE Awards competition gives SEs selected from each region the opportunity to share their knowledge and know-how with one another. As the leading SEs in their respective regions, we hope that this will serve as a way to raise the level of service quality globally.”

Global SE Awards 2018 Competition Overview

Event dates: April 23 to 25, 2018
Venue: Roland DG Corporation headquarters
Schedule:
Day 1: April 23
Opening ceremony
Mission 1 (written exam)
Day 2: April 24
Mission 2 (hands-on exam)
Day 3: April 25
Award ceremony

As the new year begins, so too does a new era for Océ, with the company’s Oceania operation going to market directly as of January 1, 2018.

Craig Nethercott, who was appointed Managing Director of Océ Oceania mid last year, says the newly carved-out entity is now fully operational with national team set to support the company’s customer base with a renewed passion and expertise, backed by deep industry experience and the stability that comes with being a Canon company.

“This change in our go-to-market strategy will allow us to engage more closely with our customers and place a greater focus on the specialised professional print market,” Nethercott said today.

“Oceania is a unique region which is strategically important for us. This change makes us more responsive and agile, and better able to help our customers become more efficient and prosperous, not only through investment in the right new technologies, but by providing enhanced service and support, and a direct channel back to Océ R&D through our consultative approach.”

Over the past 140 years, Océ has built a reputation for innovation, quality and engineering excellence which today is arguably without equal in the digital print and imaging space. In 2009, the company was acquired by Canon, in a move which Nethercott says has been enormously positive.

“By marrying the renowned Océ passion and ingenuity with Canon’s deeper resource base, we have been able to really push ahead with our innovation agenda and deliver a range of industry-leading products to the market,” he says.

Océ will be taking over the marketing, distribution and service for the Océ branded wide format and production inkjet range from Canon, including the ColorStream/ProStream continuous feed inkjet series, the ColorWave series high-speed wide-format family, the VarioPrint i300/i200 series sheet-fed inkjet systems, the Arizona 6100 flatbed series and the flagship Colorado 1640 64” roll-to-roll printer, the first to feature Océ’s revolutionary UVgel technology, launched in 2017.

“Australia and New Zealand have embraced these technologies, possibly because the smaller market size here means that businesses simply have to be more flexible and innovative,” Nethercott says. “We are constantly inspired by the way our customers push the boundaries of their Océ technology, and remain committed to supporting them with product evolution and revolution. Our ANZ clientele is now just one step removed from our R&D centre, so their questions, issues and feedback can and will have a direct impact on the future directions of Océ’s digital print solutions.”

Service, too, is a key, he says. “While the first sale may be due to the skill of the sales staff, subsequent sales unquestionably rest on the quality of service and support. That’s an adage we’ve really taken to heart, investing in our own team of factory-trained specialists, many of whom have more than 20 years’ experience with Océ equipment, rather than using contractors. That means our clients can rely on us for the advice, support and assistance they need to keep their businesses productive and profitable.”

Now, after a short break over Christmas, it’s down to work for the newly-badged Océ team, and Nethercott says they’re focused, revitalised and positive about the future.

“There’s a real passion and energy within Océ that I’ve rarely found replicated elsewhere, and it’s certainly evident in the team here,” he comments, “I think our customers will really notice that as they connect more closely to the company and its unique DNA.”

Océ Australia is headquartered at Unipark 195 on Wellington Road at Clayton in Melbourne, with offices around Australia and a network of dealers across New Zealand. The company can be contacted on +61 1300 363 440 or via the website www.oce.com.au

Two companies – the Felix Schoeller Group and DATAPLOT GmbH – have agreed a strategic partnership that combines the strengths of the two partners. With immediate effect, Felix Schoeller Digital Media’s STYLine® brand – digitally printable non-woven wallpaper – will be marketed in 40 countries throughout Europe by DATAPLOT and its sales network. Conversely, the Felix Schoeller Group will take care of the development and production side of things, and manufacture both partners’ non-woven wallpapers that have been specially developed for digital printing. Customers can now choose between two strong brands: DATAPLOT’s EMBLEM based on Felix Schoeller brand and Felix Schoeller Digital Media’s STYLine®. Both brands have been certified by HP Latex and Xeikon, which guarantees their outstanding quality of conversion on those systems.

Fast service in 40 countries guaranteed

“We are very pleased about the collaboration with DATAPLOT. It will enable us to offer our customers even better service around all aspects of our STYLine®-wallpaper. DATAPLOT has a high degree of expertise in slitting and marketing digitally printable non-woven wallpapers. And their direct contact to specialist retailers and the advertising and printing industry in over 40 countries is another advantage we will benefit from,” says Florian vom Bruch, General Manager at Felix Schoeller Digital Media. As well selling the products, DATAPLOT will also be responsible for slitting and logistics. DATAPLOT will also ensure that customers receive competent support in all aspects of converting the products. Schoeller will provide the necessary product quality and expertise. “Felix Schoeller Digital Media offers the very highest quality products, from development through to production. This expertise is an excellent fit for EMBLEM. That is why we see this partnership as the ideal way of complementing our competencies and ensuring that we continue to offer our distributors and partners nothing less than the very best quality,” says Karsten Werther, CEO of DATAPLOT GmbH. Standard rolls are available in widths of 75 cm and 155 cm and, with run lengths of 55 to 75 m, they are optimally suited to the needs of the market. Special widths and lengths are also available on request. Customers who would like to see the quality of these non-woven products for themselves are welcome to request sample rolls at info@dataplot.de or get in touch with their key contact partners at Felix Schoeller Digital Media.

You will not have to wait long to find out more: Felix Schoeller and DATAPLOT experts will be at Heimtextil 2018 (09.-12.01.2018 in Frankfurt), working together to answer any questions you may have about digital printable non-woven wallpaper. The Felix Schoeller Group will be showcasing its STYLine® wallpaper in all its different facets at Stand F51, Hall 3.1.

Karsten Werther (l.) and Florian vom Bruch (r.) seal the partnership deal in Osnabrück.

Kmart Australia is marketing an in-store personalised labelling experience for Christmas shoppers in more than 200 stores around the country, using desktop printers powered by HP technology to personalise jars of popular spread brands for holiday gift-giving.

Vegemite “Name your jar” and personalised Nutella products are now offered by Kmart exclusively for in-store purchases, in a move to attract shoppers to stores amid a rise in online shopping.

Kmart purchased more than 200 Afinia Label desktop label printers from Rawson Print Co. to launch in-store label printing campaigns. The chain is planning to expand personalised promotions to additional brands and holidays. The fast and high-quality HP Thermal Inkjet technology delivered by HP Specialty Printing Systems solutions offers brands the flexibility and freedom to deliver personalised labels on-demand, anywhere they need them.

“As brands continue to look for ways to connect with their audiences, we are seeing a growing trend of mass personalised packaging, including desktop label printing campaigns in stores,” said Jason Beckley, Business Development Manager, Indigo, HP South Pacific. “HP is powering the trend with flexible and affordable in-store printing solutions that make it possible to offer an individual, memorable experience for its customers.”

The Kmart campaign is another example of the growing trend of personalised print on packaging. The ground breaking Share a Coke campaign printed on HP Indigo digital presses was also launched in Australia. 

The Afinia Label L301 Industrial Colour Label Printer opens the door to seasonal product labelling, and private labelling products for customers, delivering vivid colour in 4800 x 1200 optimised dpi.

The printer is based on the HP OEM Scanning Imager 850, an affordable print mechanism offering a small footprint, excellent print speed, and ease of use with snap-in, snap-out insertion and removal of ink cartridges.

www8.hp.com/au/en/home.html

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. has announced commercial availability of its newest launched printer, the EFI Pro 24f.

First exhibited at the recent SGIA Expo, it is the only dedicated flatbed wide-format printer featuring EFI’s proven LED and variable drop greyscale head technologies. It provides precision imaging, fine detail and outstanding image quality for a broad range of applications.

U.S. customer Superior Signs & Engraving in Wichita, Kansas, is the very first user for the printer. The printer’s premium quality imaging capabilities, with white ink included, and the high versatility and productivity of EFI’s “cool cure” LED technology, have vastly improved throughput and quality at the company.

Twice the output, higher quality and exceptional versatility

“We were completely blown away once the printer was up and running,” said Superior Signs & Engraving Co-owner Adam Stiles. “The 24f produces vibrant colours and has great print speed. In fact, we have doubled our output on flatbed work with this new printer. Plus, the printer’s white ink produces a very opaque, bright white colour, which has increased our quality of print. Overall we would recommend this printer 100%.”

While quality and speed were key considerations for Superior Signs & Engraving, Stiles and his team also benefit from the printer’s ability to accurately and consistently handle a broad range of substrates. “The features that are a nice upgrade for us besides the colour quality and speed are the button activated media guides and the media float button,” Stiles explained. “When positioning heavier medias such as 6-mm Dibond and ¼-inch acrylic, the float allows us to easily position the material without having to worry about sliding it, especially on double-sided prints.

“The built-in EFI Fiery proServer with FASTRIP,” he added, “makes RIPing files extremely easy and fast, which helps with our overall output.”

A high-value addition to EFI’s extensive inkjet portfolio

The printer is the newest addition to EFI’s growing wide-format portfolio, a dedicated flatbed device perfect for applications requiring discerning image quality and absolute dot placement accuracy. A highly strategic choice for signage, photographic backlit displays, art reproductions, membrane switches, graphic overlays, lenticular prints and other specialty applications, this printer’s 1.2 x 2.4 metre flatbed architecture features a multi-zoned vacuum system that eliminates masking while ensuring accurate registration for multiple over-prints or panels. EFI’s “cool cure” LED technology ensures low power consumption, minimal waste and compatibility with thinner and heat-sensitive substrates.

The printer’s built-in EFI Fiery proServer Core digital front end gives users the power of faster job processing, along with a host of colour management and production options for a complete, turnkey solution.

Demos and print samples from the new printer are available at EFI’s European and U.S. inkjet demo centres in Brussels and Meredith, New Hampshire. For more information on the EFI Pro 24f, visit www.efi.com.

The 2017 F1 US Grand Prix saw Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport secure their 75th victory and, as a result, seal their fourth consecutive FIA Formula One™ World Constructors’ Championship. Completed in remarkable style with three races to go in the 2017 Championship, this marked their third championship title in partnership with Epson.

One week later in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton was able to hold off the competition and secure his fourth world title, his third with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team.

The challenge of the 2017 season was magnified by the FIA rule changes coming into the new season. They had the objective of speeding up the cars but also of shaking up the competitive order. The win of this fourth World Championship is testament to the team’s hard work and dedication to repeatedly deliver top-class performance. During the season, this unrivalled performance on track has seen Lewis Hamilton take the record for the most number of pole positions, beating Michael Schumacher’s previous record of 68.

This constant pursuit for the highest level of performance represents a shared value with Epson, which is committed to creating value that exceeds its customers’ expectations through continual innovation.

Since the partnership began in 2015, over 130 Epson products have been integrated into team operations at the HQ in Brackley, United Kingdom, and at the 20 Formula OneTM tracks worldwide, showcasing Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsports’ belief in Epson products to deliver when speed and reliability are crucial.

Epson’s extensive range of products enables it to equip Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport with products specific to their requirements. For example, its SureColor T-Series printers allow high-precision CAD drawings at Brackley, whereas its WorkForce Pro printers allow high-speed and reliable printing in potentially challenging conditions trackside.

The 2017 season has also seen the team reach new boundaries off-track with the Mercedes-AMG F1 M08 EQ Power+ Power Unit achieving a conversion efficiency of more than 50% during dyno testing in Brixworth. This milestone again reflects the shared vision of these two world-renowned brands to develop a more sustainable society. Trackside, Epson support the team with multiple WorkForce Pro RIPS printers which are 95% more energy efficient than laser printers* and free up valuable power for other vital equipment from a sometimes limited power supply.

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport said: “I am so proud of what has been achieved: winning across a rule change, something has never been done before in the sport, and doing it because every team member has dug deeper to find performance, been even more diligent on reliability and this has come together in the most special way. ”

Ian Cameron, General Manager of Brand and Communications at Epson said: ‘We are delighted to be celebrating our third consecutive World Championship with the team. It’s testimony to both Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport’s and Epson’s constant desire to continually achieve ground-breaking innovation and performance on and off the track.’

Full details of the Epson and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team can be found on the image below.

Fuji Xerox is launching a new toner-based digital press, the six-colour Iridesse Production Press (Iridesse), offering speeds of 120ppm with substrates up to 400gsm, with print resolution of 2,400dpi.

The company says the new high speed Iridesse offers printers new levels of flexibility and versatility, and will enable them to increase their product range to the market.

Iridesse is able to print specialty colours including metallic with a single pass, by housing up to two additional specialty dry inks of gold, silver, clear and white.

Quentin Sandery, national manager, Production Solutions Business Group, Fuji Xerox Australia, says, “It is about personalisation for end users. Businesses should be able to align their collateral in accordance with their brand. With the Iridesse Production Press, collateral colours can be matched to brands or personalised, with colours patterned, mixed, enhanced to provide more than printed communications. It all ties into the notion of creating that bespoke feeling amongst end users.

“To the commercial printer who wants to focus on producing jobs more efficiently and effectively, this is the ultimate press to do it.

“Production teams can now get colours that would previously take hours to achieve and they do not need to worry about finishes or sheet sizes. This machine will do it all. It has the potential to change the core of the print provider’s operations and how they look at their business. 

“With current market pressures to be in a constant state of innovation, we have released a solution that will ensure print providers are able to either accelerate their operations or advance their service offering.”

The newly launched print engine enables CMYK dry ink layers to be processed on top of the special dry ink layer. An overlay of another specialty dry ink can be processed on top of CMYK dry ink layers, a feature made available with another Fuji Xerox digital printer, the Color 1000i Press.

Fuji Xerox says, “While conventional offset printing requires mixing silver ink to make metallic ink, this new product allows for simultaneous printing of several metallic colours during a single printing process.”

The standard colour library contains Pantone+Metallic and Pantone+Premium Metallic, which are swatches of metallic colours commonly used in the printing industry. With these colour swatches, the operator can reproduce colours similar to Pantone metallic colours on printing materials by designating the colour codes.

Fuji Xerox says, “Going forward, white dry ink will also be added to the specialty dry ink lineup to accommodate printing on dark coloured or other specialty papers. Compared to printers using only conventional CMYK dry inks, adopting special dry inks expands the range of expression, which adds value for effective marketing activities.”

Finishing options include Fuji Xerox’s Finisher D6 with Booklet Maker, Crease/Two-sided Trimmer D2, and SquareFold Trimmer D1, which can be connected to the Iridesse press, allowing for automatic production of professional booklets and folded leaflets.

The company says the finishing options expand the possible printing applications by enabling to produce complex folded leaflets including accordion-fold and gatefold.

“CMYK dry inks are made of High Definition EA Dry Ink (HD EA Dry Ink)—one of the world’s smallest particle size toners. The HD EA Dry Ink fuses quickly at low temperature and is evenly fused onto the paper by through our marking technology that achieves even transferring of six layer of dry inks.

“Against the backdrop of rapidly diversifying consumers’ needs, the printing industry is adjusting its use of printing techniques. Instead of just relying on conventional offset printing, which performs well for high-volume jobs, more businesses are choosing on-demand printing, which is shorter in turnaround time and prints the necessary number of copies for catalogs, manuals, and advertising materials.

“While offset printing involves significant time and cost for making plates, adjusting colours and proofreading, digital printing can process jobs with less time and cost and add value to printed materials. Enhancing the value of print products with the use of their capital equipment, such as digital printers, is critical for printing companies to grow their businesses.”

Epson’s WorkForce ET-4750 inkjet printer and PaperLab A-8000 dry-process*1 office papermaking system have been selected to join the list of the Good Design Best 100 with PaperLab also taking out the Good Design Gold Award (METI Minister Award).

The Gold award is presented to the design judged by the Good Design Award Judging Committee to be particularly outstanding among the Good Design Best 100, which are selected from all 2017 Good Design Award recipients (4,495 entries). The winner is selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of criteria including the design’s potential as a solution for social issues, future applicability, and level of completion.

Kazuhirosearch & Development Division, involved in the development of the PaperLab A-8000 says, “It i 2 office papermaking system that enables the processing and creation of paper locally, in the amount you need and when you need it. Epson is committed to promoting a zero-waste society.”

Good Design Awards celebrate designs that benefit and enrich our lives and society. In 2017 Epson won Good Design Awards for a total of seven products, including two projectors, four printers, and the office papermaking system, but only the most notable or significant designs make it to the Best 100 list.

Designs that made it into the Best 100 will be displayed at Good Design Exhibition 2017 (“G Exhibition”), held from 1-5 November at various sites in Tokyo. The Best 100 are also eligible for the Good Design Grand Award, Good Design Gold Award, and Good Design Special Awards. Winners of these awards were announced on 1 November 2017.

Manabu Kawahara, general manager for design in Epson’s Printing Solutions Operations Division, says, “Our customers have praised our high-capacity ink tank printers because they can print as much as they need to without worrying about the cost. We paid meticulous attention to the appearance and usability of the WorkForce ET-4750 inkjet printer. As the next generation of ink tank printer, this printer offers more than just great value. It is compact, stylish, easy to use, and greatly reduces the frustration people feel when they run out of ink. We will continue to use printing to improve the quality of people’s life and work, and will develop printer designs for products that exceed customer expectations.”

This A4 inkjet multifunction printer features large ink tanks, and boasts high productivity and cost efficiency. The ink tanks and ink bottles are designed to make refills clean and quick, and the printer is intuitive and easy to navigate. The tank is in the front, which improves accessibility and makes it easier for you to check the ink level. Simply insert the ink bottle, and the mechanism automatically refills the tank to its full capacity. The tank juts out from the printer, showing its impressive capacity, and the simple, round shape of the casing expresses a robust durability that fits perfectly into any living space.

 

Judges’ comments

Multifunction A4 inkjet printers with high-capacity ink tanks sharply dispelled users’ dissatisfaction with ink. Epson adopted high-capacity ink tank designs to address the routine out-of-ink issue and the issue of expensive ink cartridges. The ink tanks are positioned in the front of the printers. The shape and colour of the ink tank unit are unobtrusive, and the unit blends well with the rest of the printer. The tanks are easy to fill, and you can tell at a glance how much ink remains. The design is both beautiful and functional. In addition, the design of the ink bottle spout and ink tank inlet are unique for each colour to prevent misfilling. No compromises were made with the design of the ink bottles. An auto-stop mechanism prevents ink from leaking when a bottle is removed from the tank, even when the nozzle is pointing downward, so there are no spills. We also appreciated the exquisitely designed adjustable control panel, the printer’s soft curves, and the smooth, clean appearance.

 

The PaperLab A-8000 is the first*2 office papermaking system to employ a dry process to securely destroy used documents and produce new sheets of paper. Epson’s dry fibre technology enables paper to be produced without the huge volumes of water that ordinary papermaking requires. Since no plumbing is needed, the PaperLab can be installed in a back office or anywhere else with available space to upcycle used paper. The PaperLab is changing office operations by increasing information security, producing paper of various weights and sizes, and reducing users’ environmental impacts.

 

Judges’ comments

There is a lot of discussion about the use of paperless processes. The PaperLab is a truly outstanding solution as one answer to the question about future paper use. The fact that you can recycle used paper right in the office and thus increase information security is particularly praiseworthy.

 Other Epson products recognised with 2017 Good Design Awards

• EB-1795F projector

• EB-L1000 projector series

• Workforce WF-3720/4720/4740 business inkjet printers

• WorkForce Enterprise WF-C20590/C17590 A3 colour multifunction inkjet printers

 Good Design Awards

The Good Design Award is a comprehensive design-promotion system that picks good design out of a variety of unfolding phenomena. It is hosted by the Japan Institute for Design Promotion, a public interest incorporated foundation. It’s precursor, the Good Design Selection System (or G Mark System), was founded in 1957 by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (the current Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), and has been engaged in this work for about 60 years.

For more information on PaperLab A-8000 go to: http://global.epson.com/innovation/paperlab/

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions announced that Lei’d Low by Exotic Graphix is named the Australia and New Zealand Regional Wrap King in the “Wrap Like a King” Challenge featuring Avery Dennison® Supreme Wrapping™ Films, Conform Chrome and digital Supercast vinyl wrap films.

“Congratulations to Nick and his team for this win,” said Jordan Leach, business manager, Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, Australia & New Zealand. “Their planning, creativity and installation techniques are testament of the dedication to their craft, impressing the panel of international judges.”

As Regional Winner for Australia and New Zealand, Exotic Graphix is automatically awarded as the Continent Wrap King, and will be judged alongside other continental winners for the ultimate “King of the Wrap World” title at the 2017 SEMA Show, October 31 – November 3, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 2017 Challenge judges include Justin Pate, co-owner of The Wrap Institute; Molly Waters, senior technical specialist, Avery Dennison; Myles Kovacs, co-founder of DUB Magazine; Peter Wright, technical marketing manager, Avery Dennison; Jun Kinoshita, sales manager, Avery Dennison; Stefan Ude, owner of Ude FolierungsKonzepte; Anders Prates, co-owner of WTP Dekor; and Jurriaan de Vries, technical services and support manager, Avery Dennison.

The eight professional judges evaluated the 159 total submissions based on the following criteria: visual transformation (difference between the before and after pictures submitted), quality and skill level of installation, overall public look and appeal and uniqueness of the design.

Prize pack for Continent Wrap King is valued close to US$3,200 and consists of a Continent Wrap King trophy, personalized Wrap Like A King swag, US$500 in gift vouchers, a 67” Race Ramp, a large banner stand display, passes to the SEMA show, and a variety of promotional and marketing tools for the winner’s wrap shop.

Wrap installers can learn more about Supreme Wrapping Film, digital Supercast films, official rules, judges and prize information via www.wraplikeaking.com

MELBOURNE, Australia, November 2, 2017 – Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions announced today that Lei’d Low by Nick Caminiti, car wrap installer at Exotic Graphix from Australia, was named the King of the Wrap World in the “Wrap Like a King” Challenge at the 2017 SEMA Show, Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Winning a second Wrap Like a King title in a row is an incredible feeling, and we’re truly honoured to accept the title of King of the Wrap World from Avery Dennison,” said Caminiti. “We knew the field would be gunning for the Exotic Graphix team after our success last year, but we put in the work and came out on top against a really accomplished field.”

Caminiti used Avery Dennison® Supreme Wrapping™ Film Diamond Silver and MPI 1105 with DOL 6460 overlaminate to complete his entry in the Challenge. Lei’d Low is a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle with a Hawaiian surf theme. It features three-dimensional, embossed wood effects created with vinyl film, as well as a fully templated vinyl wrap that replicates a 1960’s-inspired paint job. Other points of interest include a wrapped steering wheel, a holographic visor and custom offset wheels.

A panel of international industry judges chose the King of the Wrap World, as well as Regional Wrap Kings and the first-ever Continent Wrap Kings from North America, Europe, North Asia and Australia and New Zealand. The 2017 Challenge judges include Justin Pate, Molly Waters, Myles Kovacs, Peter Wright, Jun Kinoshita, Stefan Ude, Anders Prates and Jurriaan de Vries.

“All of the region and continent winning wraps in 2017 took extraordinary skill, so the ultimate king had to be decided by a very slim margin,” said Peter Wright, Wrap Like a King judge and technical marketing manager, Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, Australia/New Zealand. “The craftsmanship that we saw from the entirety of this year’s field was the most impressive yet, and our expectations will only continue to grow with the number of talented installers there are across the world.”

The judges evaluated 159 total submissions from 19 countries around the world based on the criteria of visual transformation (difference between the before and after pictures submitted), quality and skill level of installation, overall public look and appeal and uniqueness of the design.

Caminiti’s King of the Wrap World prize package includes a three-night stay in Las Vegas to attend the SEMA show, a 67” Race Ramp and Wrap Like a King swag. In addition, he will receive a US$1,000 cash prize, a King of the Wrap World trophy and almost US$1,000 worth of marketing support from Avery Dennison, including Facebook® ads, exposure on the Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions website and a print ad in a trade show publication.

All of the 2017 Wrap Like a King entries can be found on www.wraplikeaking.com. Wrap installers can learn more about Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping Film™ or digital supercast films via graphicsap.averydennison.com. Wrap Like a King official rules, judges and prize information are also posted at www.wraplikeaking.com. Check out the video in our AMAZING PROJECTS section

www.wraplikeaking.com/au

With the launch of the Accurio Press C6100 series, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia introduces two new presses for the mid to high-volume production print market. These print systems have been developed to deliver reliable efficient operation, while producing consistent image and colour quality, which is demanded by print professionals.

As a successor of the flagship bizhub PRESS C1100_C1085 series, the brand-new Accurio Press C6100 series combines the high-quality and performance of the previous models with additional capabilities, all designed to increase customer print and profitability.

Intelligent Quality Optimiser (IQ-501)

In addition to these two new models, Konica Minolta is introducing the new IQ-501, which embodies a fully-automated, closed-loop quality management system that results in superior colour consistency and accurate front-to-back registration. This new combination yields a comprehensive, automated process management system that delivers the precise colour and image quality print customers demand, yet with one-touch ease-of-use yields higher productivity and can assist in dramatically reducing set up time and labour costs.

Expanded media and print capabilities

The Accurio Press C6100 series delivers support on a large range of media types and weights, from 52 up to 400gsm at a maximum rated speed of 100ipm. In addition, envelope print functionality is now available with the advanced envelope fuser. Long sheet capability will be available in early 2018 enabling the printing of duplex long sheet up to 762mm and simplex up to 1200mm long, ideal for producing book covers and folded collateral, creating new opportunities professional print and graphic communications providers.  

Both systems are available with a paper feed unit that includes the newly designed colour dual scanner which is capable of running at scan speeds of up to 240 ipm, and is equipped with a double-feed detection kit to avoid scanning two sheets at once, avoiding incomplete scanned document files.

Grant Thomas, Product Marketing Manager at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia, said, “With the expansion of value-added features and high-level improvements, the new Accurio PRESS C6100 series is efficient and versatile, while providing high-quality print and reliability to surpass our customers’ expectations.

“IQ-501 overcomes some of the biggest pain points in digital print production such as time-consuming front-to-back registration, extensive colour set-up and complex paper set-up operations with leading technologies that simplify the process.

“The new series also delivers a top-class monthly duty cycle with high yield parts and consumables. Collectively, these innovations have been combined into Konica Minolta’s fastest and most efficient and automated colour press to date.”

Don’t miss your opportunity to attend one of our Reveal Launch Sessions, over the coming weeks in one of our state branches.

Click here for more information.

Roland DG Australia, a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices, has today announced the launch of a brand new corporate website designed to optimise the overall experience for visitors.

The new website has been redesigned as part of a global project that aims to achieve a consistent “Roland DG brand” for all Roland websites around the world. With a modern interface that is more visually appealing, content-rich and mobile-friendly, the site has been streamlined to improve navigation, allowing visitors to find what they’re looking for more quickly and easily.

“We’re excited about the launch of our new website,” said Greg Stone, Product and Marketing Manager at Roland DG Australia. “With a few clicks, you can discover a wealth of useful and interactive content in the form of tips, blog articles, videos, case studies, and so much more. The site displays product and company information in a more user-friendly way, making the overall user experience a more positive one.”

To take a look at the new website, and gain some inspiration from the Blog and Gallery, go to: www.rolanddg.com.au

Graphic Art Mart has released their updated October 2018 catalogue. This comprehensive guide is jam packed with the latest product releases, updates and pricing across over 250 pages. Click here to go straight to the guide.