Onyx Graphics, Inc., a leading software solutions provider for the digital inkjet wide-format print industry, announced today that ONYX software is certified for the new HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series. This certification applies to all ONYX RIP and Print Workflow solutions, including ONYX Thrive, ONYX PosterShop, and the newly released ONYX Go subscription, all on the company’s latest version release, ONYX 21.

The HP certification program differentiates software vendors through a comprehensive set of integration, compatibility, and performance standards testing against HP printing technologies. For this latest certification, Onyx Graphics designed the driver to support the vivid color and newly added white-ink capabilities of the HP Latex Printer Series, including sandwich mode printing for under-flood, over-flood, and spot. In addition, the ONYX driver allows for ONYX Quick Set options to automate print production, taking advantage of the speed and agility offered in this new printer series. Combined with ONYX Color and iccMAX v5. profiling, users of the HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series can expect superior and consistent color across their entire print production environment. 

“This latest certification achieved by Onyx Graphics showcases their commitment to providing outstanding support for HP printing technologies.” Said Guyente Sanmartin, General Manager, Large Format Business, HP. “HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series users who choose ONYX software can feel confident in delivering outstanding quality prints to their customers.”

About the HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series

According to HP, the HP Latex Series introduces a range of Latex Large Format print solutions to help Print Service Providers diversity their offerings. The HP Latex 700 and 800 series brings a suite of features that enable PSPs to be more agile, tackle ambitious projects, and take on the highest value work. The new portfolio also delivers fast workflows that help businesses hit deadlines while sharpening their sustainability edge.

onyxgfx.com

Esko, the global developer of integrated hardware and software solutions for the label, packaging and wide format print industries, has launched a new whitepaper – Cloud Freedom – delivering operational efficiency, data security and flexibility for print and packaging suppliers. This latest tool follows the successful launch of the company's Digital Maturity Model program in 2020 designed to help management teams meet the growing need to strategically address business digitisation, automation and connection.

Launching the whitepaper, Jan De Roeck, Marketing Director Industry Relations & Strategy at Esko, explained that across the print and packaging industries, organisations are managing an ever-growing list of competing demands on their operations. “Whether related to cost, efficiency, quality, flexibility or consistency, the challenges faced by today’s prepress and print converters are significant. When these are combined with a lack of available skilled labor and decreasing run lengths, the need for management teams to boost the digitisation, automation and connectivity of their business becomes clear.

“Not only does the cloud address these demands, but it also delivers new freedoms to businesses, both in terms of their operations and processes and also in eradicating IT challenges that might stifle their passion for prepress.”

Jan explained that recent disruptions have underlined the fact that utilising cloud-based technology is not merely a future aspiration for businesses, but an urgent requirement to drive operational agility and resilience. “While the opportunities to drive efficiency, deliver at scale and differentiate have moved businesses across the industry to embrace digitisation, the adoption of cloud-based solutions has been an ongoing theme for some time,” he said. “Now more than ever, we need to use the cloud as a catalyst to help businesses become more resilient and customer focused, as well as enable them to differentiate, build and protect.”

Cloud-based software delivers new freedom for businesses. With information no longer stored in one single location that can be susceptible to loss or corruption, it is accessible by all, regardless of location and ideal for single site operations now utilising employee homeworking or for multi-site organisations. Freedom of data access also brings new flexibility, freeing up people to collaborate and speed up established processes. Removing the need for physical hard drives and on-site servers lowers operational and IT management costs, while cloud technology also offers scalable infrastructure and improved platform availability, ensuring optimal software performance for users.

“The benefits of cloud computing to the packaging industry are endless,” said Jan. “Today is about further helping our customers on their digital transformation journey, enabling them to improve IT management and boost operational flexibility and efficiency. But tomorrow is about data analytics – uncovering insights about their business that enables them to become rapid innovators and truly differentiated to drive business performance.”

Jan De Roeck concluded: “At Esko, we often talk about automation creating islands of success in a sea of waste, if not addressed on an organisation-wide basis. For multi-site packaging suppliers, this is exactly the risk. Moving to cloud-based software and data management to support the digital transformation process overcomes this challenge and is the key to securing competitive advantage in what is today a highly competitive evolving market.”

To download your free copy of the Esko whitepaper, Cloud Freedom - delivering operational efficiency, data security and flexibility for print and packaging suppliers, please visit www.esko.com/en/lp/cloud-freedom/cloud-freedom

French print software developer Caldera has added drivers for the new HP Latex 700 and 800 printers to its award-winning RIP program. CalderaRIP Version 14 can now be used to operate all four of the new HP Latex models, enabling HP users to get the most out of the new technology with drivers they already know and trust. The certification of the new drivers will ensure that Caldera continues to offer continuity and serve customers’ needs in the fast-moving digital print market. Furthermore, as the only RIP solution designed specifically for macOS, it’s ideal for the creative and design communities.

By giving users complete control over the production process from design to finishing, CalderaRIP offers a fully scalable solution that can encompass all the demands of high-volume digital printing environments via one fully-integrated RIP program. The software’s unique client-server architecture allows the distribution of computational power over several workstations with just one software license. As well as driving multiple printers, the RIP can be used to operate numerous Print & Cut peripherals at the same time, optimising productivity across customers’ entire print operation. Reduced media wastage, outstanding colour management, repetition and nesting programs and efficient ink usage are just some of the advanced features that have made CalderaRIP a market leader – and one of the few RIP solutions recommended and certified for use with HP printers.

The new additions to the HP Latex range offer a combination of consistent, high-quality printing on a wide range of substrates with fast turnaround times. With speeds of up to 334 square feet per hour for the Latex 700 and up to 388 square feet per hour for the Latex 800, these printers are also extraordinarily versatile – applications include textile, banners, signage, vehicle wraps, home décor, packaging, transparent vinyl, window and backlit printing. The Latex 700W and 800W have additionally been optimised for white ink, expanding the range of these printers even further. Used in combination with CalderaRIP Version 14 they deliver excellent productivity gains, and promise a fast return on investment.

According to Samin Sarkar, General Manager, Caldera, ‘Once again, Caldera has proved itself a market leader by placing the needs of our customers at the centre of our activities. Our continuing partnership with HP enables us to outpace expectations by extending our offering in line with the latest market developments, delivering consistently high-quality results.’

www.caldera.com

Digital ink manufacturer, NUtec reports a growing UV curable ink portfolio with the addition of its latest Quartz Q50-RTR2 offering.

The Quartz Q50-RTR2 is a low odour, roll-to-roll ink developed for curing with conventional mercury vapour and LED UV lamps. The formulation is suitable for a high-speed printing environment and features a high-density colour gamut for bright, vivid images.

This latest offering from NUtec Digital Ink is designed for compatibility across a broad range of print head types from Fujifilm® Dimatix®, Konica Minolta®, Xaar®, ToshibaTec®, Ricoh® and Seiko® and is packaged in convenient 5 litre bottles.

The Quartz Q50-RTR2 is a cost-effective, roll-to-roll UV-curable ink designed for a large number of self-adhesive and flexible media applications.

“As with all our UV-curable inks, the Quartz Q50-RTR2 is NVC-free and complies to the latest regulatory standards while offering a cost-effective solution for customers looking for a roll-to-roll ink for their high-speed UV printers,” says Neil Green, Sales and Marketing Director, NUtec Digital Ink.

Provided the inks are used in regular applications using suitable substrates, the printed images will last up to 2 years. Like all NUtec products, the Quartz Q50-RTR2 ink is backed by NUtec Digital's Ink Delivery System (IDS) Warranty.

Onyx Graphics, Inc., today announced the introduction of ONYX Go, a new subscription RIP solution that adds to the expansive ONYX portfolio of wide-format digital inkjet software solutions. ONYX Go launches on the heels of ONYX 21, the company’s new version release, and is designed for Print Service Providers who require the latest technology to meet customer needs. ONYX Go is immediately available and offered in two product tiers, ONYX Go Lite and ONYX Go Plus. ONYX Go Plus includes enhanced color management and production tools including ICC Profiling to fine-tune profile output accuracy; Swatch Books 2.0 for color matching; finishing tools such as Bleed and Grommets to save valuable production time; Media Manager and more to help meet the daily challenges faced by today’s print shops.

“ONYX Go brings another product option to our worldwide customer base to help them meet the evolving needs of the wide-format graphics market,” said Kevin Murphy, President and CEO of Onyx Graphics. “It incorporates the features and functionality ONYX users have come to expect for outstanding output quality, neatly packaged in a worry-free, affordable monthly subscription.”

Available with soft-key activation providing near-instant access, ONYX Go is a month-to-month, no-contract, full-featured ONYX RIP solution with up to four Adobe PDF Print Engines (APPE); Job Editor to edit files before printing, unlimited roll-to-roll cutter support for complete Print-and-Cut workflows, and supports up to two printers.

ONYX Go is available now as a monthly subscription through Authorized ONYX Resellers and the new ONYX Web Store. ONYX Go is open to existing ONYX users and other customers through a license subscription.

onyxgfx.com

The HEXIS Group, French manufacturer of adhesives, announce that their PURE ZONE® technology is active in combating the viral load of coronaviruses* including SARS-CoV-2*.

Tests initiated with the French laboratory UB’L3 have revealed the manifest action against the viral loads of the strain responsible for COVID-19*.

As of the date of the UB’L3 laboratory report, i.e. 29 January, 2021, all productions and batch numbers of the product PURE ZONE® 060 B/M will comply with the certification, making it possible to effectively fight against viral loads from SARS-CoV-2* and will be covered by the results of the UB’L3 laboratory report.

PURE ZONE® ANTI-MICROBIAL FILMS PROTECT 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK

A pioneer in the development of anti-microbial films, the films produced by the HEXIS R&D laboratory provide 24-hour continuous preventive protection against bacteria and coronaviruses*.

Intended for the protection of surfaces in direct contact with humans, PURE ZONE® antimicrobial films are the perfect answer to protect sensitive places requiring a high degree of hygiene: medical environment, public transport, school, extracurricular and college environment, coffee bar/hotel/restaurant, stores, establishments open to the public, etc.

THE ANTI-MICROBIAL EFFICIENCY OF SILVER IONS

PURE ZONE® films contain silver ions encapsulated in a glass matrix and distributed evenly throughout the film.

In contact with humidity, these reactive silver ions are activated from the surface layer and will quickly block and inhibit microbes, thus limiting their proliferation between two cleaning and disinfection protocols.

* HCoV-229E, SARS-CoV-2 Colcov (according to ISO 21702)

Further details on https://www.hexis-graphics.com/en/purezone/

The new version 6.6 of EFI™ Fiery® Command WorkStation® – the print job management interface used across all EFI Fiery platforms connected to digital print devices – delivers a host of productivity and quality enhancements. With its ongoing development of Fiery Command WorkStation, Electronics For Imaging, Inc., is dedicated to continuous improvement, helping users do work faster and manage their digital print operations better across multiple printers and locations. The new Command WorkStation version, to be demonstrated at EFI Engage global online users event, gives customers the power to produce higher quality print with fewer mistakes, while ensuring that their EFI Fiery investments continue to deliver exceptional value.
 
“Since the early 1990s, and across millions of installations, EFI Fiery solutions have improved digital print production through both increased productivity and exceptional colour quality,” said John Henze, vice president, sales and marketing, EFI Fiery. “With this EFI Fiery Command WorkStation release, we continue to deliver on that promise in a big way, from job creation through finishing.”
 
A key enhancement to Fiery Command WorkStation in this release is easy access to EFI IQ™, a suite of standard and optional cloud applications that connect people, processes, and print devices to enable better, data-driven decisions for print businesses. Creating an EFI IQ account is now faster and easier and can be done directly from Fiery Command WorkStation for instant access to production analytics, notification features and more.
 
Operational consistency across multiple devices
 
Early adopters, including the U.K.-based design and print agency Page Visions, are benefitting from the latest releases and ongoing advancements that Fiery Command WorkStation brings to businesses.
 
“The latest features delivered in Fiery Command WorkStation make it more than just a pre-press and press operators’ tool,” said Tom Griffiths, Page Visions’ CEO. “Features such as Auto Reconnect, and the ability to manage our Fiery XF servers too means all Fiery Driven™ printers in the business are always available and can be viewed by all production staff.
 
“The new Advanced Search with version 6.6 means we are able to get very granular with our job filtering and combine parameters such as stock to be used, product type, scheduled start time, customer, and more, creating production efficiencies. The ability to save these searches means operators share the same filters which delivers operational consistency. Plus, the fact that Fiery Command WorkStation’s stability is rock solid is also massive for us.”
 
More productive, centralised job management
 
As the print job management interface for Fiery digital front ends (DFEs), the new Command WorkStation version 6.6 makes printing more productive and powerful. In addition to its new cloud capabilities with EFI IQ for data analysis and metrics, key enhancements in this latest release include:
 
More advanced job search capabilities for finding jobs based on multiple search criteria
 
A new tool – Raster Curve Editor – that enables operators to perform late-stage colour edits to jobs directly from the job properties screen
 
Easier editing of spot colours in Fiery Spot Pro while working within other Fiery Command WorkStation applications
 
Support for the EFI ES-3000 colour measurement Instrument, supporting single-scan measurements in M1 and M2 modes with faster and more accurate readings.
 
Also coming at the end of February is a new feature in EFI Fiery Impose software – a higher-level integration for the Duplo D-618 automatic finishing device, allowing operators to easily set up a custom imposition layout including cut, crease and perforation marks.
 
EFI’s continued investment in Fiery Command WorkStation contributes significantly to the Fiery DFE’s status as the de facto standard for digital print production. This new offering continues EFI’s legacy of improvement and advancement for increased customer capabilities, with greater usability and productivity, faster Fiery installations across the network and increased efficiency for customers worldwide.
 
For more information about the EFI Fiery Command WorkStation and other Fiery solutions and services for better, more-efficient, high-quality digital printing, visit www.efi.com or contact your local EFI representative.

Leading manufacturer, NUtec Digital Ink recently launched their latest UV-curable ink range named Ruby and which is optimised for LED UV lamp curing.

The new Ruby range launches with premium quality, fast curing roll-to-roll UV inks designed for a wide range of flexible applications including self-adhesive media.  The inks perform well in a demanding, high speed printing environment with enhanced scuff and chemical resistance.

Ruby’s superior colour gamut delivers bright, vivid images with good gloss levels. The UV-curable inks are free from N-vinyl caprolactam (NVC), feature improved stretchability, produce low odour, and comply to the latest regulatory standards.

NUtec Technical & Operations Director, Paul Geldenhuys states: “There are many advantages to choosing UV LED over conventional curing which include, among others, wider substrate choices as UV LED offers a cooler cure, lower energy consumption and reduced heat output. In addition, the LED lamps are maintenance free and feature a long service life.”

Geldenhuys adds: “As this technology evolves and matures, ink manufacturers Like NUtec will continue to adapt to meet new demands and to support more applications utilizing UV LED systems and ink.”

nutecdigital.com

Esko has unveiled a host of new and award-winning innovations for its integrated Esko Software 20.1 platform, developed to deliver even more functionality as well as outstanding value to packaging, label and wide format customers.

“As a technology company, we are relentlessly developing solutions to serve our markets and customers better,” said Jan de Roeck, Esko Director of Marketing, Industry Relations & Strategy. “We build long-term relationships with our customers and strive to ensure our solutions remain relevant and innovative, enabling anyone using them in the packaging value chain to benefit from operational efficiency improvements.”

Updates and new features in Esko Software 20.1 include: 

WebCenter 20.0 – the latest feature-packed version of the web-based packaging management solution, now incorporates an improved user experience and WebCenter Tasks Plugin. Digital transformation can only be successful if the solution is fully adapted to the user’s requirements, and with the addition of a social-media style dashboard and new connectors for Adobe Creative Suite applications, WebCenter does just that.

ArtiosCAD 20.0.1 – the leading packaging structural design tool simplifies designing of multi-part and multi-material packages using Resizable Canvas Design templates.

ArtPro+ 20.1 Plate Cut – a new automated feature that finds the optimal individual cutting path for each separation, reducing preparation time for flexo plate mounting by up to 30 minutes.

ArtPro+ 20.1 Trapping – a new, InterTech Award-winning aesthetic trapping algorithm which closes mis-register gaps and accommodates individual exceptions, making trapping jobs up to 70 per cent faster.

Print Control Wizard for Corrugated – a version of the award-winning software specifically designed for the corrugated market, delivering quicker plate production, improved graphic performance and reduced costs.

AVT AutoSet – an integration between Esko Automation Engine and AVT’s press inspection system, reducing setup time of the inspection system to almost zero.

“As we continue to navigate the fallout from the global pandemic, the ability to digitise, automate and connect will be crucial to businesses,” said Jan. “The latest software updates not only deliver greater accuracy, efficiency and consistency across a design and print workflow, but are integral tools for converters taking the next steps along their own digital transformation journey.”

For more information about Esko software solutions, please visit the Esko Innovation Hub at innovation.esko.com

Screen, manufacturer of the Truepress Jet series of digital presses, and colour experts CGS Oris, have developed a new technology that will save time, lead to better quality printing, and meet the growing need for independent colour management solutions.

The new CxF3 (Colour Exchange Format) spot colour-matching solution - available for the CGS Oris CxF Toolbox - is a response to market demands for software that can guarantee colour consistency and enhance efficiencies for new and existing customers. 

Spot colour printing is recognised as one of the best methods to capture and transmit all of the detail in colours. Unlike conventional ICC profiles, CxF data includes the spectral information of the spot colour, including halftones and transmittance. This allows for more accurate colour calculations and an optimal basis for the precise reproduction of a colour at any time.

However, generating CxF data can be a lengthy process, as it requires charts to be printed and measured for all printing conditions as well as target values to be set. Printing methods have expanded with the uptake of digital printers and hybrid solutions. This has led to a need for independent colour management solutions that can guarantee consistent colour reproduction – even when switching from a conventional printing press to a digital output. 

Screen Australia Managing Director Peter Scott says: “Screen and CGS Oris have co-operated for a while on various aspects of colour management. This new CxF spot colour initiative is a great boost for the label and packaging industry in particular, as spot colours are often a contentious issue between brand owners and print service providers. Mixing and applying special colours is time-consuming and expensive, now 100% accurate spot colours can be generated for our L350UV SAI label and packaging presses, quickly, easily and without high-level colour management knowledge.”

Perfect colours, easily achieved

To meet these market demands, Screen and Germany-based CGS-Oris, developed a technology that predicts halftones from limited colorimetric data by using a proprietary algorithm. This automatically generates complete CxF data, saving significant amounts of time. This has made it easier for new users to adopt CxF, as well as improving efficiencies for existing users. 

More companies can now benefit from CxF’s many advantages. These include a more holistic representation of a colour, the best fundamentals for reproducing colours on different printing presses, and flexible and independent colour management, regardless of the operator’s skills.The new technology is available from Screen for the CGS Oris CxF Toolbox - the software solution used to capture, store and edit CxF data, in a fast, reliable and safe way. 

The set-up is simple, with the user needing only to present output colour charts under certain printing conditions and put the colour measurement data into the CxF Toolbox. Once the set-up is ready, the system is able to automatically generate CxF data of particular spot colours or entire libraries, without requiring any colour expertise. The generated CxF data can easily be embedded in PDF files to be used for a pre-press process.

The Cloud does the work

The CxF Toolbox is seamlessly connected to the CGS Oris Color Cloud, the cloud solution provided by CGS Oris to communicate all stored CxF data to the entire supply chain. It guarantees authorised users around the world access to complete and up-to-date colour data - at any time. Even large amounts of a brand’s CxF data can be organised and communicated with the CxF Toolbox and the Color Cloud, including brand owners with collections of more than 200 brands. 

Additionally, the Color Cloud can be used with the entire CGS Oris Software Suite, like Press Matcher, X Gamutetc, and can be connected to other workflows, including Screen’s Equios, and DFEs that work with CxF data. Screen’s newly - developed UV inkjet printer for labels,Truepress Jet L350UV SAI, processes PDFs with embedded CxF data, and is able to separate them into up to six colours of CMYK + OB. In combination with CGS Oris’s multi-colour separation technology, Screen’s inkjet technology enables the accurate reproduction of spot colours, even without the use of special colour inks. 

www.screenaust.com.au 

New software delivers triple benefits for corrugated converters

Corrugated converters and their flexo plate suppliers can now enjoy the triple benefits of quicker plate production, improved graphic performance and reduced costs as Esko releases the latest version of its award-winning Print Control Wizard software to extend the tool with screening optimised for the post print corrugated market.

This new version of the software uses all critical print parameters and variables – imaging resolution, exposure settings, plate, substrate, anilox, press type and inks – to simplify the flexo platemaking process for post print corrugated packaging production. Print Control Wizard standardises the generation of microcells in the highlight areas of the plate.

“Operators utilise an intuitive wizard-style user interface that unlocks powerful functionality to quickly and easily create premium flexo plates,” said Robert Bruce, RIP & Screening Product Manager with Esko. “The Corrugated Crystal Screens address the problems associated with recycled board liners, giving corrugated post print converters the opportunity to improve print quality or if print quality is not a goal, reduce ink costs. The screens can be imaged using our latest CDI Optics 100 technology, allowing plates to be made at 10m2 per/hr. Utilising the Crystal XPS brings a new level of plate quality and consistency for the corrugated market,” he said. “This is obviously a win for both trade shops and corrugated post print converters.”

Esko, the global supplier of integrated hardware and software solutions for the print and packaging sectors, developed Print Control Wizard in response to industry calls to simplify the implementation of screens and dot gain curves.

“Our goal was to provide flexographic experts with the tools to standardise and simplify screen and curve creation, enabling them to achieve the best quality results without additional steps and checks being added to the process,” said Robert. “After Print Control Wizard was honoured with a number of top industry awards, we have been working tirelessly to develop the new enhancements, and we are delighted to now release this new version for the corrugated market as we continue supporting the work of print and packaging specialists across the industry.”

Boosting customers’ print consistency and performance

A beta testing partner of Esko, Contact Originators Group in Dukinfield, Manchester, UK, is renowned for its innovative approach to packaging origination, graphics management and flexographic plate production. Operating across the UK and Europe, the company was the first flexo platemaking company in the UK to have gained Esko HD Flexo accreditation in the corrugated industry.

“Corrugated is a highly competitive and technically challenging print sector,” said Nick Mitchell, General Manager at Contact Originators. “With lower grammage and recycled materials coming onto the market today to drive down costs, we need to be constantly seeking new ways to boost our customers’ print consistency and performance.”

“Our job is to ensure our customers’ presses run as smoothly as possible with maximum graphic impact,” said Nick. “This is where Print Control Wizard steps in.”

Esko Print Control Wizard reduces press stops for plate cleaning and make ready times, boosting overall equipment efficiency. It also enables printers to move to fixed palette printing due to the consistency the software brings on platemaking.

Les Jones, Print Innovation Manager at Contact Originators, added: “What we’ve seen with Print Control Wizard is that plates are now more consistent, and we can produce them more quickly, which is great for a busy prepress environment like ours. However, it’s the benefits to our printer customers - and their customers, the brands - that really makes the software stand out.”

“We are seeing more colour density for less ink laydown on low grammage substrate, while printers are reporting they are achieving improved final print results in less time, with associated improvements in material and ink waste - a real bonus in today’s cost and sustainability focused industry.”

“We estimate that Print Control Wizard is enabling our customers to save up to 20% on ink formulation too,” added Les. “Working in partnership with them, we are seeing more precision on each job enabling less rework or waste, and using Print Control Wizard they can print solids, tone and test work from a single plate. In real terms, this means they’re making savings on the number of plates used, as well as reducing set up times and ink consumption.”

Originally released in 2019, Print Control Wizard has been honoured with a number of top industry awards, including the Label Industry Global Awards ‘Award for Innovation’, and Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) and European Flexographic Industry Association (EFIA) Technical Innovation awards.

Available from November 23rd 2020, anyone wishing to learn more about Print Control Wizard 20.1 for corrugated can do so by visiting the new Esko Innovation Hub (www.innovation.esko.com), designed to provide users with a unique insight to the Esko Software 20 portfolio of innovations in a virtual environment. Users can navigate around the latest integrated hardware and software solutions from Esko, in their own time, accessing insights and technical information, as well as learn new ways to boost business productivity, efficiency and profitability.

The results of a series of lab experiments demonstrate why Xaar’s TF Technology ink recirculation, invented more than a decade ago, still sets the benchmark for industrial inkjet recirculation techniques today to deliver a wider window of operation for users.

Presented in Xaar’s new white paper subtitled ‘What goes around, comes around’, the research compares Xaar’s TF Technology ink recirculation with alternative ink recirculation techniques used by most other printhead manufacturers.

Whilst ink recirculation is now commonplace, the white paper clearly shows that all technologies are not equal. A printhead’s architecture determines how well ink recirculation is implemented and therefore influences the degree to which the method delivers benefits across today’s wide range of printing and jetting applications.

TF Technology is a key building block in Xaar’s recently announced ImagineX bulk platform which will power the next 30 years of innovation in inkjet capabilities and printhead launches.

Together with the unique Hybrid Side Shooter printhead architecture, Xaar’s TF Technology enables ink or other fluids to flow directly past the back of the nozzle during drop ejection at very high flow rates.

This ensures the nozzles are continuously primed, keeping the printhead operational and the nozzles firing and – with the ink in constant motion – prevents sedimentation and nozzle blocking, particularly in heavily pigmented inks. Any air bubbles and unwanted particles in the ink are also carried away, improving reliability, even in the harshest industrial environment.

With TF Technology, jetting is significantly more reliable compared to alternative ‘roof mode architecture’ design printheads whose convoluted ink flow paths means that recirculation is close to, but not at the back of the nozzle.

“Xaar’s TF Technology ink recirculation completely revolutionised inkjet printing and has become an essential feature for a wide range of industrial inkjet applications,” said Angus Condie, Director of Technology at Xaar and one of the authors of the white paper.

Launched by Xaar in 2007 with the introduction of the Xaar 1001 printhead XF Technology has since opened up exciting new applications such as glass printing with frit inks, high opacity white pigment ink printing for labels, and heavily loaded conductive inks for printed electronics - transforming the digital inkjet industry and becoming an industry requirement for effective and reliable inkjet printing.

“Our research proves that ink recirculation solutions vary due to their architectural design, yielding vastly different results. Xaar’s TF Technology still greatly outperforms its rivals and continues to set the benchmark for ink recirculation today, delivering the widest window of operation within inkjet printing,” concluded Condie.

The complete white paper can be downloaded from Xaar’s website.

Esko has today (29 October) unveiled a host of new and award-winning innovations for its integrated Esko Software 20.1 platform, together with new hardware solutions, developed to deliver even more functionality as well as outstanding value to packaging, label and wide format customers.

“As a technology company, we are relentlessly developing solutions to serve our markets and customers better,” said Jan de Roeck, Esko Director of Marketing, Industry Relations & Strategy. “We build long-term relationships with our customers and strive to ensure our solutions remain relevant and innovative, enabling anyone using them in the packaging value chain to benefit from operational efficiency improvements.”

Speaking at a launch event streamed live from the Esko Innovation Hub – the always-on virtual environment that gives users the opportunity to explore the portfolio of latest Esko innovations – Jan navigated to innovation hotspots where he detailed the newest functions and features in the Esko Software 20.1 release, as well as the latest hardware developments from the company.

Updates and new features in Esko Software 20.1 include: 

• WebCenter 20.0 – the latest feature-packed version of the web-based packaging management solution, now incorporates an improved user experience and WebCenter Tasks Plugin. Digital transformation can only be successful if the solution is fully adapted to the user’s requirements, and with the addition of a social-media style dashboard and new connectors for Adobe Creative Suite applications, WebCenter does just that.

• ArtiosCAD 20.0.1 – the leading packaging structural design tool simplifies designing of multi-part and multi-material packages using Resizable Canvas Design templates

• ArtPro+ 20.1 Plate Cut – a new automated feature that finds the optimal individual cutting path for each separation, reducing preparation time for flexo plate mounting by up to 30 minutes

• ArtPro+ 20.1 Trapping – a new, InterTech Award-winning aesthetic trapping algorithm which closes misregister gaps and accommodates individual exceptions, making trapping jobs up to 70 per cent faster

• Print Control Wizard for Corrugated – a version of the award-winning software specifically designed for the corrugated market, delivering quicker plate production, improved graphic performance and reduced costs

• AVT AutoSet – an integration between Esko Automation Engine and AVT’s press inspection system, reducing setup time of the inspection system to almost zero

Alongside updating Esko Software 20, Esko revealed hardware innovations including:

• Kongsberg VariAngle tool - an innovative new tool for the Kongsberg range of digital finishing equipment that enables cutting at any angle from 0o and 60o at high speed, delivering total freedom in the design of 3D creative displays

• Crystal XPS 4260 – the newest member of the family of Crystal UV LED exposure units for digital flexo plate making, available for the first time in this plate size

“Digitizing the process by which packaging is made is already key to delivering long-term business success,” said Jan. “But as we now move into whatever ‘new normal’ emerges from the global coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the importance of improving operational processes, lowering costs and delivering client loyalty are more vital than ever.


“In the wake of the pandemic, we wanted to double down on enabling businesses to continue their journey of digital transformation to meet head-on the challenges we face today. With the November release, we are delivering a greater range of functions that streamline processes and improve productivity for customers.”


“Our innovations serve to illustrate our commitment to customers, ensuring they enjoy a greater user experience and improved efficiency,” said Jan. “For example, ArtPro+ 20.1 now features the innovative Esko trapper, which recently received the InterTechTM Award for Innovation. It ensures prepress operators achieve a consistent, aesthetic trapping result with the correct distance, direction or color. Similarly, with the latest version of our packaging management solution, WebCenter 20.0, we are making prepress processes considerably faster while delivering a 25 per cent increase in performance.


“As we continue to navigate the fallout from the global pandemic, the ability to digitize, automate and connect will be crucial to businesses,” said Jan. “The latest software updates not only deliver greater accuracy, efficiency and consistency across a design and print workflow, but are integral tools for converters taking the next steps along their own digital transformation journey.”


For more information about Esko software solutions, please visit the Esko Innovation Hub at innovation.esko.com.

TAKE HEAT EASY® (THE) TECHNOLOGY, DESIGNED TO MAKE INSTALLATION EASIER AND FASTER

The TAKE HEAT EASY® technology is the result of a combination of a solvent based adhesive and a micro-structured liner developed by our R&D team. This innovation has been specially designed to reduce the initial tack and immediate adhesion, thus making the installation of the vinyl more convenient with an optimal adhesive bonding process.
In 2018 we combined this technology for the first time with a THE190EVO cast PVC film, and, in view of its success, it made sense to now use it on a high-end polymeric PVC film.

THE200EVO, IDEAL FOR LARGE-FORMAT SURFACES

Ease of repositioning, print quality and optimal durability are all assets that will allow our customers to express their creativity with unlimited possibilities and installers to use it conveniently on flat or slightly curved surfaces, for 2D wrapping projects (buses, lorries, fleet vehicles etc.) and large-format signage.

Thibault Veuibllet, Business Development Manager Automotive, comments: “With its excellent sliding properties on the substrate, THE200EVO is an ideal solution, especially when an installer needs to quickly and accurately position two printed widths. It is amazingly easy to find the perfect alignment for a design.”

V850B, A NEW POLYMERIC LAMINATE SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE200EVO

Always at the forefront of innovation, HEXIS have developed and are now launching the V850B laminate with a thickness of 50 μm. “Combined with the printable THE200EVO film, our customers will be able to obtain and appreciate a particularly flexible complex”, confirms Ian Parsonson, Australia Managing Director.

THE200EVO & V850B, A PRINTABLE COMPLEX MADE IN FRANCE

Caroline MATEU, Chairman of the Board of Directors at HEXIS is proud to report: “Our research laboratory and our industrial team have combined their respective strengths and skills to complete the design and manufacturing process of these two new products in the most successful way.

[...] In the year 2020, despite the current health issues, HEXIS continue their race for technological innovation with the launch of the new self-healing X technology for our vehicle body protection films (BODYFENCEX) and the antimicrobial PURE ZONE® technology for surface protection.”

Further details are available at: https://www.hexis-graphics.com/au/the200evo/

Drytac has announced the global launch of Protac AMP Film with Microban antimicrobial technology, a new product designed to help protect surfaces from microbes that can cause premature product degradation.

When bacteria contaminate a surface such as a door or touchpad - as a result of human contact, environmental conditions or simply lack of cleaning - they can multiply very quickly. Similarly, fungi and mould can proliferate on a surface. Regular cleaning with an effective detergent will remove these microorganisms, Drytac's Protac AMP Film can help maintain cleanliness in between cleaning. It offers reliable protection from the growth of stain and odour causing bacteria and mould.

This 150μ (6 mil) self-adhesive polyester surface protection film incorporates Microban technology at the manufacturing stage so it becomes part of the material's intrinsic physical structure at a molecular level - it will not wash off or wear away. Microban reservoirs in the film disrupt the microbes' cell walls, inhibiting their growth. The film provides protection 24 hours a day for up to 15 years, and is durable to withstand regular cleaning.

Protac AMP Film is ideal for protecting doors, keypads, counters, tables and any other flat surfaces. It is transparent with a hard top coat and provides scratch and chemical resistance for up to 15 years. Every batch of Protac AMP is tested for antimicrobial performance providing the utmost confidence and peace of mind for any application.

"Our new Protac AMP antimicrobial Film with Microban technology delivers protection in one easy-to-use product," says Shaun Holdom, Global Product Manager, Drytac. "It is prepared with Drytac's innovative adhesive, so users can simply apply the film to the surface and leave it to do its job: helping reduce growth of microbes on the surface for many years."

"Protac AMP Film has already been used on drinks machines, tray tables on aircraft, and in healthcare facilities and schools, with literally hundreds of other potential applications. This product can help maintain the highest standards of cleanliness."

For further information, please visit www.drytac.com. 

Thanks to GMG ColorProof GO’s browser-based user interface, users can manage and run proof jobs from almost any device. The focus is set: With the new release, GMG appeals especially to professional users who are looking for maximum flexibility control and increased productivity. Multiple proof locations are a typical scenario, as well as mobile working and the trend towards working from home reinforce the relevance of GMG ColorProof GO.

Besides the new flexibility, GMG ColorProof GO scores high with its intuitive user interface. To start a job, you simply drag and drop the file into the appropriate drop zone – that’s it. With GMG ColorProof GO, all connected proof systems are conveniently controlled and managed via a web browser. Even a device recalibration can be done remotely from any workstation or your smartphone. The mere possibility of being able to check the status of a proof job remotely is reassuring for users and provides process control.

The flexibility of GMG ColorProof GO also makes sense in a company with only one location. Every workstation, whether Mac or PC, can now be used to run and manage proof jobs. No need for an operator to walk to the proofing room where traditionally the proof workstation and the proofer would be found. New users can be added to the GMG ColorProof GO network via email and their roles can be assigned individually. This type of flexibility saves a lot of time and increases productivity. GMG solutions are designed to cope in a busy production environment. If several users want to access the same proofing system simultaneously, GMG ColorProof GO will comfortably and reliably handle the workload.

www.gmgcolor.com

Inkcups has announced the release of the brightest white ink available on the UV inkjet market: Vivid White.

The newest addition to Inkcups’ highly regarded S1 UV Ink Series, Vivid White reproduces the brightest whites available in the industry. Based on decades of experience and after thorough and rigorous testing, Inkcups created a formula for the ideal ink that can print a vivid white on dark substrates. Vivid White can also act as an opaque white background for multi-coloured graphics to enhance the colours of artwork and make them appear more vibrant. This benefit ensures color matching is consistent across all products – the more opaque white will allow the true colours to show on dark substrates.

Like all S1 UV Ink series colours, Vivid White has exceptional adhesion capabilities and meets the same rigorous adhesion and compliance standards as others in the product range. One exceptional attribute is that Vivid White is a pour-over for printers using the company’s S1 ink, which eliminates the need for customers to flush their machines when switching to this white ink. It can also be used in other printers where improved white opacity is needed.

Vivid White is ideally suited for a variety of substrates including stainless steel, coated metals, plastic and more. It can also print on a wide selection of flat and cylindrical objects. Applications include drinkware, injection moulded housings, promotional items, electronics and more.

“For high-quality graphics, a bright white makes all the difference. We have been working for a few years to find the ideal pigment combination to provide the brilliant white opacity in combination with easy jettability. Our new Vivid White really makes a visible difference and after extensive testing we believe it is the brightest white in the market,” said Ben Adner, CEO of Inkcups.

The ink is fully compatible with the wide range of Inkcups digital printers.

Vivid White digital ink is engineered and manufactured in the U.S. and available for order now.

www.inkcups.com

UK manufacturer Kernow Coatings has launched the first floor graphic material which has been tested and certified for dry toner.

Designed with applications such as social distancing graphics in mind, the new dry toner range is made from Kernow’s textured ultra-tough Sharkskin material and has a R10 Anti Slip Rating.  The product has been designed for quick and easy print jobs on laser printers and is simple to apply and remove.

Bosy Colak, Sales and Marketing Director, commented “Due to the popularity of KernowJet FloorSharK for latex and solvent printing, we’ve now introduced FloorSharK for Dry Toner, which brings with it all of the benefits of the original FloorSharK product.  This unique floor graphic solution is perfect for indoor environments including retail outlets and supermarkets, airports and travels hubs and event and conference centres.  It’s made of ultra-tough polyester, is scratch and water resistant, and resilient to pallet trucks and heeled shoes.

Unlike many products on the market, FloorSharK has been rigorously tested and certified for slip resistance and to fire rating BFL-s1, making it a superior product when it comes to safety. 

We’re delighted to have this product readily available along with samples for customers to try”.

For more information get in touch with Kernow through www.kernowcoatings.com

SAKATA INX Corp. has introduced BSR-Bio, a new environmentally friendly UV inkjet ink for corrugated packaging applications. The new sustainable ink option is formulated with 20-30% plant-derived materials, allowing brand owners and printers to benefit from reduced regulatory risk and measurable, reportable CO2 savings.

BSR-Bio is an advancement of the original BSR formulation that has enjoyed much success in North America on Barberán Jetmaster digital printers. The Jetmaster manufactured by Barberán S.A. was developed to bring inkjet advantages to the market for not only corrugated boxes, but point-of-purchase display as well. It is available together with SAKATA INX BSR and BSR-Bio digital ink solutions globally.

SAKATA’s proprietary advanced technology for Nano-pigment dispersion enables their inkjet inks to have high performance jetting properties at very fast print speed, with high reliability for inkjet print heads. BSR-Bio consists of standard CMYK colours with Orange + Green or Orange + Violet as an option when wider colour gamut is required. It is extremely low odour and has high durability and good flexibility to reduce cracking problems.

Barberán S.A. has manufactured numerous types of inkjet printers in the market to bring valuable solutions for short-run, on-demand printing. Now they are expanding its digital printing possibility with the BSR-Bio UV ink, which is intended for environmental sustainability.

Eladio Lerga, who is responsible for the Jetmaster, commented, “We have been a good partner with SAKATA INX for years and have made successful projects together. Corrugated packaging is one of the most suitable applications for the circular economy concept, and I am excited about the environmental impact BSR-Bio brings to the market.”

Yoshiaki Ueno, Director – CTO, SAKATA INX, said, “BSR-Bio is a marketable product formulated based on SAKATA INX core technologies and long-term experience with a wide variety of materials. The market needs for sustainable product solutions will continue to grow based on societal needs to protect the planet and develop a circular economy. BSR-Bio is a strategic product for a circular economy as is part of our Botanical ink® product line. It meets many environmental requirements including waste and greenhouse gas reductions.

www.inxinternational.com

Fisher Textiles announces the launch of DisenfectexTM printable

fabric enhanced by HeiQ V-block in collaboration with HeiQ. Marketed as HeiQ Viroblock in other countries, HeiQ V-block is an antiviral textile technology for industrial use, specially engineered to work against enveloped viruses, such as influenza viruses and human coronaviruses. Treated fabrics submitted by HeiQ have been tested by the Doherty Institute in Australia to be effective against 99.99% of SARS-CoV-2.

DisenfectexTM fabrics treated with HeiQ V-block are resistant to microbes and HeiQ V-block inhibits the growth of bacteria on the fabric. The line consists of a face mask fabric, soft knit fabric, sheer fabric and suede fabric available in roll widths 57 inches to 125 inches wide for transfer and direct dye sublimation printing. 

DisenfectexTM fabrics have many uses for personal protective equipment (PPE) including face masks and gaiters, sanitation stations, counter-top barriers, desk dividers, table and booth dividers, table throws, room dividers and pop-up screens for retail stores, pharmacies, restaurants, hotels, banks, museums, casinos, professional services, business offices and healthcare facilities. When used in SEG systems as protective barriers, DisenfectexTM fabrics aid in social distancing requirements and act as an acoustic insulator to absorb sound and background noise. All DisenfectexTM fabrics are reusable and washable up to 30 gentle washes.