Ipex: Five days to go...

Ipex will be one of the first international print-centric events to combine an exhibition with a comprehensive content programme - striking an exciting balance between the latest technologies and education that promises to galvanise any print business.

"Ipex is primed and ready to help print emphatically stake its place in the modern communications mix," explains Trevor Crawford, event director, Ipex 2014. He further added, "We're confident that we have come up with the right formula for an event that will benefit exhibitors and visitors alike. There is a plethora of new and innovative technology, knowledge and inspiration at every turn, and the invaluable opportunity to network and engage with the print community."

Running across six days, Ipex will provide visitors the latest global technologies and solutions from hundreds of international companies representing the entire print production workflow. Visitors will not only see new product and technology launches that can produce quality print applications from concept to end product, but also the knowledge with which to maximise their impact.

Over 170 leading industry experts from forward-thinking global brands and companies will be speaking across the World Print Summit, Masterclasses and Cross Media Production seminar programmes to help visitors build a blueprint for success now and in the future. These will address future trends and strategies, business growth and production efficiency for SME printers and the implementation of communication strategies across multiple platforms, respectively.

The following are some of the major exhibitors at Ipex along with some of the machines that they will display.

Pre-press
Ipex will see workflows, MIS, web-to-print applications in the pre-press segment. Fujifilm with its latest version of XMF remote online job submission and approval system and workflow will ensure high-pagination publications review using fast scrolling mode, and variable data and productivity enhancements.

EFI will showcase its products like PrintSmith Vision, Pace, and Monarch; digital player Konica Minolta has also moved into this area, and will include PrintGroove, a workflow which features a range of modules for web-to-print, job submission and pre-flighting.

Press
Digital will be the star at the show. Domino will try to impress with its range of digital inkjet printers while EFI will continue the trend of having samples and data rather than the actual equipment while showcasing the abilities of its super-wide, wide-format, label and ceramic inkjet presses and inks.

Epson will show off its SurePress and SureColor press, while Fujifilm will exhibit the JetPress 720 B2 sheetfed press and 540 W web press a well as the Graphium digital label press. Konica Minolta will expect the newly developed KM-1 B2 cut-sheet inkjet press to be popular among the packaging printers. Screen will demo its Trupress Jet520 and Jet 350UV presses.

In the conventional offset space, Komori will bring its Lithrone G-540, five-colour with coater at the Eco Zone and demonstrate the green efficiency of Komori’s H-UV drying technology.

Post-Press
Post-press is expected to step into the unknown, with smaller suppliers demonstrating their flexibility to meet the changing demands of the print world.

Atlas Machinery will showcase Megabound, the Indian manufacturer’s hard-case bookbinding equipment for short-runs and digital market place.

Duplo, represented by TechNova in India, is using Ipex as a launchpad for its latest multi-finishing device. MGI will showcase its entire line of digital printing and finishing solutions while Scodix will launch the Ultra machine, for the first time in UK. As it did at Drupa, Scodix will be running thousands of samples daily and also offsite visits to a local user who is running the S75. Scodix is represented by Monotech in India.