25 product launches at Fespa which dare to print differently - The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column
Fespa from 8 to 12 May at the Messe Hamburg, saw manufacturers like Agfa, Canon, EFI, Fujifilm, HP and Ricoh triumph. More than 700 exhibitors across nine halls, showcased the best of screen print, digital wide-format and textile printing.
Other than Indians at the show, the good news from Fespa Awards was: Classic Stripes from India winning the "Functional Printing" Awards. This is a fantastic achievement for the Vasai-based firm which won from more than 100 shortlisted award entries.
13 May 2017 | 10478 Views | By Noel D'Cunha
3M unveiled the 3M Print Wrap Film IJ180mC (initial tack, fine-tuned slideability and easier liner release) and the 3M Envision Wrap Film, a film with sustainability advantages.
3M stall
Aeoon Technologies launched its new Titan flatbed series which can be used to print on materials including leathers, woods, plastics, glass or metals. Titan Multi, Titan Multi Duo, Titan Maxi and Titan Maxi Duo are the four versions of the system.
Agfa launched an LED version of its Jeti Tauro H2500. The 2.5m-wide roll-to-roll hybrid UV printer features continuous and automated feeding, and can print on flexible and rigid media, including corrugated board.
Agfa stall
Arjowiggins launched its new DigiPeel HD heat transfer paper for digital and screen applications.
Armor launched a new dye-sublimation ink. This is a boon for flag printers who can print directly without the need to wash post-print. Its ARSub D701 ink works with Epson printheads, and does not bleed after calendering.
Canon launched the 1.64m-wide format printer Colorado, the first to feature Canon's UVGel technology.
Durst showcased upgraded versions of the UV-based Rho P10 250 HS Plus and Rho 512R Plus printers and the water-based Rho WT 250 and Rhotex 325. In addition, Durst is showcasing the Rho WT 250 flatbed printer which can print on plastics such as polypropylene. The machine can also be used to print on paper media and corrugated boards. Additionally, the Rhotex 325 3.2m-wide eco-friendly printer, which replaces the Rhotex 322 in Durst’s portfolio, saw its debut at Fespa.
EFI launched the 1.8m-wide Reggiani Renoir Flexy. The kit is equipped with the manufacturer’s patented Dynaplast transfer system, which allows it to print onto a variety of substrates at more than 400sqm/hour.
EFI also launched the entry-level Pro 16H LED hybrid printer, which has an embedded Fiery frontend.
EFI launched the Nozomi which is a 1.8x3m bed and can prints single-pass in up to seven colours, and has a top speed of 75 linear m/min. It handles board from 0.4mm up to the full range of corrugated flutes, including triple wall. It uses EFI’s cool-cure LED technology.
Epson showed off the 10-colour SureColor SC-S80600 and four-colour SureColor SC-S60600. On the textile side, the SureColor SC-F6200, SC-F7200 and SC-F9200 at Fespa. It was a statement of intent for its sign and display models and the textile models.
Epson stall
Fujifilm launched the B1PE7 (B1 print engine, seven picolitre printhead). The 200sph, 960dpi modular printer is manufactured by Inca, and uses print technology from the manufacturer’s Onset and Spyder models, which is combined with Fujifilm printheads and inks.
Fujifilm stall
Gandy Digital has launched the Kre8tor, a new 3.2m-wide hybrid UV flatbed and roll-to-roll machine at Fespa.
HP launched two mid-range Latex printers. These are: the 1.37m-wide Latex 315 Print and Cut and the 1.6m-wide Latex 335 Print and Cut.
HP stall
HP, also, showed off enhancements to its PageWide printers plus an automated feeder for the HP Scitex 17000.
HP launched a flexible media loading kit for its flagship HP Scitex 17000 industrial flatbed. Also, HP demonstrated an expanded HP PrintOS, it’s cloud-based operating system originally developed for Indigo machines, which is now compatible with the Latex and Scitex machines.
Inca showcased a prototype of the 1.6m-wide single-pass inkjet web press running at a development facility. The 305m/min press is a prototype for the 2.8m-wide model the Cambridge manufacturer will supply to BHS. This is because of the partnership between BHS Corrugated Maschinen and Inca's owner Screen for the production of an inline corrugated printing solution.
Mactac launched its new self-healing vehicle wrapping films. Mactac also launched the MacBlock film for window graphics, a high opacity range intended for double-sided graphics. Also, there were two new additions to its architectural segment of films, DecoLeather and DecoVeneziano.
Mactac stall
Mimaki launched the 3DUJ-P the “world’s first full-colour modelling machine” which offers up to 10 million colours.
Mimaki stall
Mutoh launched the ValueJet 626UF, an A2-size six-colour (CMYK plus white and varnish) direct-to-object LED-UV printer. The printer is good for short-run personalisation of gifts and gadgets, packaging prototypes, awards, speciality or industrial items, labels, decals and signs.
Kornit launched its new high-volume direct-to-garment printer, the Kornit Avalanche Hexa R. Kornit also launched the latest in its Storm series of direct-to-garment (DTG) printers, the Storm Duo.
Kornit stall
Ricoh launched two new direct-to-garment (DTG) printers which included the Ricoh Ri 3000 and Ri 6000. Both machines are based on the Anajet mPower series, but with a number of enhancements.
Sakurai launched a screen press - MS110-DDS - with high-resolution printing on very thin plastic material and other expensive substrates. The press is capable of producing from 200 to 2,000 pieces per hour.
Sun Chemical showed its Eco Pro system which supplements Sun's Streamline range of aftermarket inks. The Eco pouches sit in a cradle above the printer, reducing the likelihood of spillages or of air bubbles entering the ink. Sun also launched its new Streamline ESL 3 solvent-based ink.
Zünd added a laser module for its G3 series, the LM 100W (for cutting and sealing of polyester fabrics up to 2mm).
Zund stall
The Fespa Highlights
Fespa Awards with more than 100 shortlisted award entries; where Classic Stripes from India bags the "Functional Printing" Awards
Fespa Wrap Masters competition which tested contestants’ skills by challenging them to wrap a Formula 4S speed boat which will be used by the Racing Team in the World Formula 4 UIM Powerboat 2017 Championship
Free seminar programmes, conferences and knowledge sessions
The European Sign Expo was dedicated to the signage and visual communications industry
The Printeriors 2017 looked at multiple applications and possibilities of bringing print to life
Classic Stripes wins functional printing gold at Fespa 2017
Mumbai-based Classic Stripes, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automotive graphics, added another stripe to its already impressive list of honours after it received the gold medal in the Functional Printing category at Fespa 2017 Awards. The awards were announced during Fespa’s annual gala dinner, which took place at the Grand Elysée hotel in Hamburg on 10 May.
Medals in gold, silver and bronze were handed out in 14 different application category. The biggest winner of the night was Switzerland’s Atelier fuer Siebdruck Lorenz Boegli, which received six gongs.
Classic Stripes won the gold medal in the functional printing category for the sample the company produced for Panasonic Econavi air compressor.
A regular winner at Fespa for its expertise in screen printing, Classic Stripes Private Limited (CSPL), established in 1987, has a production capacity of over 15 million automotive graphic sets per annum. Today, the company has a significant market share in the Indian automotive OEM printing industry. CSPL is a global player with presence in the UK, USA and the Middle East.
The company offers premium imaging solutions with diversified printing and has a strong presence in the different verticals. These include OEM graphics for the auto industry; large/small format graphics, dashboard trims and other car accessories for the retail aftermarket; fleet graphics for wrapping corporate fleets; large/small format graphics and domed labels for global markets and polycarbonate fascia for the domestic consumer durables industry.
Founded in 1962, Fespa is a global federation of 37 member associations for the screen printing, digital printing and textile printing community. Its dual aim is to promote screen printing and digital imaging and to share knowledge about screen and digital printing with its members across the world.
The 2017 Fespa Awards attracted entries from across 37 countries. This year’s winning pieces included innovative entries across all categories — 3D printed shoes and more than 30 t-shirt entries. The special effect (31 submitted) and point of purchase products - paper and board (26 submitted) categories proved to be the most popular among entrants.
The Best in Show Award went to Atelier fuer Siebdruck Lorenz Boegli, Switzerland, for its entry in the Special Effect category, ‘Le Monde des Effects’. This entry – a newspaper which combined a variety of different screen printing techniques – was universally considered the most outstanding example of innovation, grabbing the attention of every judge across the 14 categories.
This year, the Awards were judged at the Fespa’s new offices in Dorking by an independent panel of industry experts. With such a broad selection of high-quality entries to preside over this year, the judging process wasn’t easy. Graeme Richardson Locke, sales and operations director at Vektor, who served as a judge, said, “As so many submissions were of such a high quality, it made for a very difficult job for the judging panel to differentiate on technical execution alone. Fortunately, with a range of criteria to be scored, we managed in all cases to reach a consensus without too much argument.”