fespa world issue 36

Fespa WorldThe Magazine for Digital & Screen Printers JUNE 2004 VOL.14 / NO.36 €15

incorporating European Screen Printer & Digital Imager Translations available at www.fespaworld.com

Textiles witha twist

from the former homeof the UK silk industry

FESPA WORLD 03/04 3

Fespa WorldThe membership magazine of theFederation of European Screenprinting AssociationsVol.14 / No.36June 2004

Published byFESPA Ltd

Editorial officeFESPAAssociation House7a West StreetReigate, Surrey RH2 9BLTel: +44 1737 24 07 88Fax: +44 1737 24 07 70E-mail: [email protected]

PublisherFrazer Chesterman – DirectorTel: +44 1737 24 07 88

AdvertisingMichael Ryan – Sales ManagerTel: +44 1737 22 97 27Fax: +44 1737 24 07 70

EditorVal HirstTel: +44 1623 88 23 98E-mail: [email protected]

Graphic Design Bate Brand Communications8 St Leonard’s Square, WallingfordOxfordshire OX10 0ARTel: +44 1491 835835www.batebrand.com

PrintingThe MANSON Group LtdReynolds House, 8 Porters WoodValley Road Industrial EstateSt Albans, AL3 6PZTel: +44 1727 848 440www.manson-grp.co.uk

NEWS ROUND-UP

4 SUPPLIER NEWSThe latest supplier news includingappointments and installations.

8 WHAT’S NEW INSCREENPRINTING

12 WHAT’S NEW IN DIGITAL PRINTING

18 ASSOCIATION NEWSThe latest association newsincluding FESPA diary dates.

22 FESPA NEWSLETTERFESPA 2005:The countdown starts now!With less than a year to goFESPA 2005 promises to be a very successful exhibition.

SPECIAL FEATURES

28 THE BIG STORYFlat out at DrupaFlatbed made its mark at Drupa.

32 FACE2FACETextiles with a twistVal Hirst goes Face2Face withTrish Belford (Belford Prints Ltd)and Magnus Mighall (R.A. Smart).

36 FOCUS ON… Textiles

40 SHOWCASEOur regular review of some of the latest screen and digital applications.

42 MACTAC REVIEWThe winners of the 2004MACtac Awards competition.

48 SIGN SPOTThe colour revolutionWhen there are alreadythousands of different colouredvinyls to chose from, whywould we need any more?

49 SIGN SPOTSign shortsThe spotlight on three new sign products.

INFORMATION

52 Drying or curing of UV-inksUV Inks are now becoming amore viable option for manyscreenprinters.

56 FESPA ‘contact list’Magazine coupon

AND FINALLY…

58 Fabulous FESPA

OPINION

26 It seems to me…Stewart Partridge of Webconsulting poses the question:"Will there be a New WorldOrder Post DRUPA?"

Editor’s letterAlthough only a small part of Drupa isdevoted to screenprinting, you'll find that thismagazine is awash with references to theshow. This is because Drupa, possibly morethan any other exhibition, traditionally provides the perfect launchpad for new product innovations in all of the different print sectors.This year was no exception and you'll find a review of the show inThe Big Story on page 28. Drupa also features in the Opinion piece,penned by Stewart Partridge on page 26.

This month's Face2Face was a joy to write. Textile printing issomething I knew very little about but Trish Belford and MagnusMighall, the subjects of the feature, took me in hand and broughtme up to speed with all of the basic processes. I found the wholething totally fascinating and in future, will certainly be much moreappreciative of all the time, effort and energy that goes intoproducing even the simplest fabric! Read what they have to say on pages 32-35.

As always, I welcome your feedback on both the items thatappear in this issue and topics that you would like to see covered in the future. Hopefully whilst you are enjoying a long and lazysummer, you'll also find time to share your views, opinions andideas with me!

Val Hirste-mail: [email protected]

Fespa World. Designed by Bate Brand Communications. Printed by The Manson Group Ltd. Editorial photographssupplied courtesy of the companies they feature. The publishers accept no responsibility for any statement madein signed contributions or those reproduced from any other source, nor for claims made in any advertisement.Fespa World is available to individuals who qualify within the terms of a controlled circulation and by subscription.

Cover photograph: Magnus Mighall from R.A.Smart andTrish Belford from Belford Print.

Fespa World

4 FESPA WORLD 06/04

NEWS ROUND-UP – SUPPLIER NEWS

The division's European business

invited customers from 12

European countries to respond to

more than a hundred questions

relating to virtually every aspect

of product quality, performance,

technical support and customer

service, and even asked them to

rate their perceptions of the divi-

sion's reputation.

Comparative results reveal

that since 2001 the division's

European operations have

increased their edge over the

competition in perceived benefit

and overall value. Ratings were

up in the critical areas of product

availability, just-in-time delivery,

technical support and competi-

tive pricing. Coupled with higher

ratings in readiness and ability to

deal with complaints and resolve

problems, the results reflect

greater customer satisfaction with

the division's performance right

across the board.

Commenting on survey

results, Coated Board's European

Managing Director, Nusret

Kilercioglu, said: "Our customers

were satisfied with our overall

performance in 2001, but the

latest results show we have used

lessons learned to increase our

lead over the competition. The

gap has widened in our favour,

and we shall continue to work to

remain number one in customer

satisfaction."

For further information, visit

www.meadwestvaco.com and

www.coatedboard.com

Ratings up across the board

Screenprinting – the complete water-based systemBy Robert Adam and Carol Robertson

This resource book styles itself as, 'the

definitive guide to water-based screenprinting'

and provides clear, step-by-step instructions

and 265 illustrations, describing the methods

and materials that replace traditional toxic

screenprinting systems. The book covers every

stage of the printing process and opens up new

creative possibilities, whatever combination of

methods is being used. All in all, it's a useful

and inspirational read. The book, which is

available in paperback, is published by

Thames & Hudson and costs £18.95.

For further information e-mail:

[email protected]

MeadWestvaco's CoatedBoard division has onceagain achieved recordscores in a recentindependent customersatisfaction survey ofEuropean customers.

BOOK REVIEW

FESPA WORLD 06/04 5

SUPPLIER NEWS

Inca Digital Printers celebrated

its fourth anniversary in style

with Champagne and a birthday

cake during the recent Drupa

exhibition. The company was, in

fact, formed during the Drupa

2000 show, and rapid growth

since then has turned it into one

of the world's leading flatbed

inkjet printer manufacturers,

with a staff of l00 and 100 instal-

lations in 17 countries.

Inca celebrates its 4th anniversary

Man

agin

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irect

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ill B

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urth

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pa.

The latest UK installation of an

Inca Eagle H has gone to screen

printer Polyprint Plastics, who

say that the inkjet flatbed printer

has transformed the company's

workload. The company expect a

turnover this year in excess of

£1m, yet anticipates the Eagle to

generate a further £500,000 of

business during the next 12

months alone.

Like so many traditional screen

printers, Polyprint, who are based

in Nottingham, UK, had experi-

enced a change in demand in the

point-of-purchase sector it serves,

and decided that it had to

augment cylinder and flatbed

screen printing presses with digi-

tal output technology. The

company spent six months

examining the various inkjet

options, and chose the Inca

flatbed largely because it enables

it to print the same job on both

the Eagle and its screen presses

with perfect accuracy. It was also

the only inkjet printer it could

find that offers this level of regis-

tration. In addition, Polyprint

can now print lenticular work

directly on to the lens, an area

many customers are extremely

interested in.

The ability to print directly on

to the substrate, without the

need for films and with virtually

no set up time, means the Inca

printer is cost effective even if

printing just one copy, while it is

possible to print variable data

throughout the run. Polyprint

says it has printed jobs with runs

of more than 200 faster than it

could on its screen presses, while

the Eagle's capability of printing

on substrates that cannot be put

through a screen press means

InstallationsPolyprint flies with the Eagle

Inca

's Ea

gle

prin

ting

Poin

t of

Sal

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ater

ial.

that runs can be significantly

higher than this. Another impor-

tant advantage is the reduction

in wastage compared to screen

printing. The company's Finance

Director, Lisa Garner, comments:

"Previously, if we were printing

100 backlit panels on a screen

press we would allow 50 overs for

wastage, whereas the covering

power and accuracy of the Eagle

means that we would need

perhaps three overs for the same

job printed using inkjet. Also, we

can print to the edge of the

substrate, and a large percentage

of subsequent finishing tasks are

thus eliminated." She concludes:

"The installation went complete-

ly without a hitch and we were

in production a few days after

delivery, creating top quality

work with no hassle whatsoever.

We can even set up the Eagle for

the next job while printing.

Everyone here is delighted."

6 FESPA WORLD 06/04

SUPPLIER NEWS

Appointments

Following the success of its

CORjet digital press Scitex

Vision has announced a new

organisational structure to

address its emerging business in

the Packaging and Rigid Display

markets, with the appointment

of key executives in its various

operating units who will take

responsibility for driving the

Display and Packaging business

and supporting the company's

growing customer base.

Jean-Marc Blum, previously

corporate Vice President

Marketing, has been appointed

Corporate Vice President,

Strategic Business – Packaging

and Textiles. In Scitex Vision

Europe, Ronen Zioni has been

appointed European Sales

Director Packaging and Displays

while in Scitex Vision Asia

Pacific, Martin Wong has

been appointed Packaging

Marketing Director. Finally, Errol

Dorris Sr has been appointed

General Manager, Packaging

Solutions Division, in Scitex

Vision America. In each region,

a team of trained engineers, sales,

and application personnel has been

specifically set-up to support them.

Additionally, there are three, state

of the art demo suites in the USA,

Europe and Israel.

in Hong Kong has been named

exclusive distributor for the

People's Republic of China

(including Hong Kong), Taiwan,

Macau and Vietnam. VUTEk

will also soon announce the

appointment of a second

distributor, who will cover

Southeast Asia, Australia, and

New Zealand. Both will market

VUTEk's full line of products and

provide all service and support

to VUTEk customers.

VUTEk has recently appointed

Kevin Sykes to the position of

Vice President of Worldwide Sales.

Previously the National Sales

Director, North America for

VUTEk, Kevin also rapidly assumed

responsibility for the South

American market too. Prior to

joining VUTEk, he was the Regional

Sales Director for Adobe Systems

both its Southern and Central

Regions based in Atlanta, GA. Kevin

also served as Southeast Regional

Sales Manager for Compaq

Computer Corporation, where he

was ranked as the company's

number one sales person in North

America. He has also held positions

with Eastman Kodak's Business

Imaging Systems Division, and has

been ranked as one of America's

100 Best and Brightest by Dollars

and Sense magazine.

Jean

-Mar

c Bl

um

Sericol has beenawarded the prestigiousQueen's Award forEnterprise in theOutstanding Innovationcategory.This award, which is designed to

recognise companies that have

demonstrated commercial success

through providing innovative

products or services, is Sericol's

fifth since 1988, and relates to

Sericol's work in the develop-

ment of UV curing inkjet tech-

SericolreceivesQueen's

Award forinnovation Matan has launched a new

website to provide clearer

and more concise informa-

tion for its customers and

distributors worldwide.

Visit the company on

www.matanprinters.com

New user-friendlywebsite for Matan

VUTEk is appointing new

distributors to sell and service

VUTEk products in the Asia Pacific

region. As a result of these moves,

VUTEk will also close its Shanghai

facility and transition its operation

and many of its people to the

newly appointed distributors by

the end of June. There are two

additional distributors appointed

to the Asia-Pacific region. Yee Fu

Industrial Group with headquarters

MeadWestvaco Corporation

has named Joan L. Keeney

as the General Director of

WestvacoEastPrint in Moscow,

Russia, which specializes in packag-

ing for beverages, confectionery,

cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals,

tobacco and other luxury and

essential products. She replaces

Virginia R. McLain who returned to

the United States to accept a new

position as Vice-President for

International Policy and Strategy,

Joan Keeney, who holds a Master's

Degree in Engineering from the

University of Southern California,

started her career as a process engi-

neer for Proctor & Gamble where

she held several production and

operations assignments. She later

joined Johnson Controls, running

a plant and a distribution centre

for the company before joining

MeadWestvaco two years ago as

plant manager for MeadWestvaco's

Consumer and Office Products

facility in St. Joseph, Missouri.

nology in digital wide format,

flat bed printing. Previous awards

were presented for excellence in

export, and technological and

environmental achievement.

Commenting on the award,

Ed Carhart, CEO of Sericol

International said, "We are

delighted with this award as it

confirms our leadership in this

comparatively new but fast grow-

ing area of ink technology. The

introduction of our UV inkjet

products is a key element in the

development of our business

worldwide".

8 FESPA WORLD 06/04

NEWS ROUND-UP – WHAT’S NEW IN SCREENPRINTING

SEFAR advise that to ensure

reproducible screenprinting

results are achieved, it is impor-

tant that the screens should

always have the same tension.

Reproducible mesh tension is a

very important factor in multi-

colour halftone printing and also

for the precise printing of areas

and lines. This is guaranteed by

the high resolution of 0.2N/cm

in the measuring range up to

30N/cm and 0.5N/cm between

30 and 60N/cm.

The stretched mesh should

also have the same tension in

both directions (warp and weft).

The Tensocheck 100 clearly

reveals any differences, and the

viewing direction for the display

is identical to the direction of

measurement.

The large display range

(4 - 60N/cm) means that the

Tensocheck 100 can be used for

all tension measurements that

occur in screenprinting. The digi-

tal display is 10mm high, ensur-

ing that the tension values are

easy to read even from a distance

– a feature that is particularly

appreciated when large frames

are being stretched. The instru-

ment is simply switched over to

the relevant setting when the

tension has to be measured in

millimetres.

The measuring principle of the

SEFAR Tensocheck 100 is based

on a weight which always

remains constant, unlike springs

and other components, which is

why the measured values will not

diverge from the actual tension

values even after years of use.

The power supply is provided

by a normal 9V battery, which

can be obtained anywhere. After

three minutes without measure-

ment activity, the device shuts

itself off to conserve battery life.

The measuring system of the

Tensocheck 100 is matched to

DIN 16611 and its accuracy and

reliability can be verified at any

time: a reset (zeroing) plate is

supplied with each instrument so

that the zero point can be veri-

fied or reset by pressing a button.

Regular checking of the instru-

ment's accuracy with the calibra-

tion plate (available as an option)

will guarantee maximum process

reliability. With this plate, users

can verify the instrument's relia-

bility and consistency for them-

selves at any time. Readjustment

in one of Sefar's technology

centres would only be required

if the checked values are out of

tolerance.

To maintain conformance with

the conditions specified for the

ISO 9001 quality system, the cali-

bration plate can be certified by

an accredited measuring authori-

ty. Respective institutions exist in

every country.

Reproducible screen tensionA tension-measuring instrument with a very attractivecost/performance ratio has now been launched on the market by SEFAR in the shape of the microprocessor-controlled SEFAR Tensocheck 100.

FESPA WORLD 06/04 9

WHAT’S NEW IN SCREENPRINTING

Agfa CopyJet and Agfa SelectJet

are clear image-setter style films

with a special receptive coating

to enable imaging from any

inkjet printer, thus producing

quality film separations without

the need for a darkroom, film

processor, chemistry or other

expensive equipment.

Agfa CopyJet is a specially

formatted instant-dry film for

screen and sign print up to A2 in

size. The film's high density

provides for maximum ink

acceptance and it can be used on

many types of desktop inkjet

printers. With CopyJet, film users

can make film separations in-

house giving them full control

over their digital work-flow.

Agfa SelectJet is particularly

suitable for producing colour

separations. The film has a

special ink-receiving layer for

optimum ink coverage and has

been specially developed for the

highest registration accuracy.

SelectJet film is supplied in roll

format for use with almost all

existing large format inkjet plot-

ter/printers. Both films will work

with almost any inkjet printer

currently available on the market

and anything from a desktop

printer to a wide format printer

can be used.

New Agfa Inkjet film forscreenprintersAgfa has announced the launch of two new inkjet films especially for the screen industry.

Sunbeds profit from Autotype UV stabilised filmWhile UV stabilised polyester is usually aimed for outdoor applications, Amkor Electronic Panels of Ede, the Netherlands has turned to Autotype's Autotex for a range of membrane touch switches for sun beds' remote controls.

Established in 1965, Amkor is a

specialist screen printer co-devel-

oping custom made industrial

labels, technical stickers and elec-

tronic panels in a range of indus-

try sectors. Electronic panels

combine the geographical capa-

bilities of screen printing with

functional elements such as LCD

displays, integrated LEDs and

switches with or without metal

domes, all at thicknesses of

around 1mm.

The underside of Autotext

film is coated with a primer

that ensures excellent adhesion

of inks and lacquers. Edie

Wennekes, Sales Engineer at

Amkor observes: "This primer also

enables us to use conductive inks

to screen print circuit elements

and even electroluminescent

displays directly onto the film.

LEDs and metal domes are added

using a pick and place robot.

This material is our first choice

especially when embossing is

required." For most applications

a standard Autotext film is used,

but when high UV stability is

key, Amkor used Autotype

Autotext XE textured polyester

film. Although an indoor

application, sun beds are

emitting a similar amount of

UV-light as the sun. As Wennekes

explains: "To be able to guarantee

the lifetime of a remote control,

we need the long-term high

quality physical properties

Autotex XE can offer."

Recent sun beds, domes, and

sun tunnels projects include top

market brands such as Ultrasun,

Alisun and Palm Beach. Ellen

Kortweg, Marketing Manager at

Amkor adds: "To maintain a

competitive edge our clients

need to continually improve

their products. The attractiveness

and user friendliness are key sell-

ing points in this segment and

our digital printing capabilities

offer that opportunity."

Amkor's digital Indigo printer

allows them to create full colour

labels and electronic panels that

can differ with each film being

produced. Eddie Wennekes

concluded: "We can add barcodes

to uniquely identify a product,

or print a membrane in multiple

languages or decorations with no

additional cost. This is a great

competitive advantage compared

to traditional screen printing

where each additional colour or

change of screen adds additional

costs."

10 FESPA WORLD 06/04

WHAT’S NEW IN SCREENPRINTING

Flexure resins are based on a

platform technology that uses

a proprietary, energy-curable

acrylic resin chemistry developed

by Ashland. With exposure to

typical commercial UV energy

dosages, optimum cure can be

achieved with little or no

photoinitiator. Additional

benefits include low odour,

reduced amounts of harmful

monomers, and improved depth

of cure. FlexCure products have

been performance tested in a

wide variety of applications

including those within the

graphic and display industries

and offer solutions to the most

challenging obstacles. Superior

adhesion to very low surface

energy materials can be designed

into resin architecture.

Elongation has also been

significantly improved for

selected packaging applications

where storage or temperature

changes have previously caused

shrinkage or other difficulties.

For further information visit

www.ashland.com

Ultra low-odour,high-performance resinsAshland Specialty Chemical has introduced additional classesof flexure self-initiating resins that improve formulatinglatitude, decrease cost and expand current UV opportunities.

Unrivalled screen cleaningsolutions from CHIM 92

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT

First established in 1984,

CHIM 92 specialise in the

supply of chemicals for indus-

trial cleaning in areas such as

petrol stations, car washes, the

food and catering industries

and the screenprinting sector.

Since its formation, it has

designed more than 300 differ-

ent products in its research and

development laboratory in

Lyon, France and has become

an official supplier to one of

the world's biggest petroleum

corporations.

Following an unsolicited

request from a large screen

printing company some years

ago CHIM 92 became aware of

the numerous problems that

screenprinters experience with

regard to screen reclamation

and screen preparation.

Accordingly, in 1998 it set up a

specialised screenprinting

department and carried out a

rigorous analysis of screen

reclamation methods so that it

could offer a better solution to

the problem.

The patented CHIM 92 clean-

ing solutions have been devel-

oped to deal with a wide range of

inks and emulsions and can be

used in all manner of screen

printing applications including

textiles, dye-sublimation, trans-

fers, and those carried out within

the industrial, and point of sale

sectors. Totally biodegradable to

EEC standards, the CHIM 92 solu-

tions are completely free of oil

based solvents and are environ-

mentally and user friendly. Unlike

most other cleaning solutions on

the market the company's patent-

ed 3-in-1 chemistry will wash,

strip and de-grease screens whilst

also eliminating ghost images,

thus greatly reducing the number

of cleaning stages.

CHIM 92 chemicals, together

with its range of automated

screen treatment units helps

companies to cut costs, increase

print efficiency and, at the same

time, comply with ever more

stringent health, safety and envi-

ronmental legislation.

It offers four options in the

modular M range of automated

screen cleaning machines: the

M1, M2, M3 and the flagship

M4. The machines are differenti-

ated by the number of units

they accommodate and all are

designed to effectively remove

ink emulsion, grease and ghost

images in one pass. They handle

screens from 1000mm to

2200mm in height and offer

screen printers many benefits,

from reducing costs and lead

times to maintaining and

improving quality.

CHIM 92 works closely with its

customers in order to satisfy their

individual requirements and its

on site and laboratory testing

allows it to tailor a screen reclaim-

ing solution, that satisfies both

customer and legislative require-

ments to any given specification.

Farid Lakhal, CHIM 92's

International Sales Director

concludes: "All the resulting cost

benefits, quality improvements

and reduced lead times can only

help our customers become even

more competitive, which is essen-

tial for survival in the tough busi-

ness environment of today."

NEWS ROUND-UP – WHAT’S NEW IN DIGITAL PRINTING

SEAL Graphics, a world leader in

image and print finishing solu-

tions, has upgraded the specifica-

tion of its mid-range 62 Pro

mounter/laminator/encapsulator

to incorporate a number of the

new features found on its recent-

ly-launched 'bigger brother', the

wide format SEAL 80 Pro.

At the time of launching the

2m wide 80 Pro late last year,

SEAL stated that some of the

SEAL Graphics enhances62 Pro laminator

advanced features would be

extended to all new models and

the 62 Pro is the first to benefit

from these. The latter now incor-

porates the newly designed feed

table with inbuilt tensioning

rollers and a flip-down image

guide, both of which make load-

ing media a great deal simpler.

Also added are new output slit-

ters to trim the finished products

inline; as well as cooling fans to

aid temperature stability during

the production of long runs and

flip-up pull rollers, which help,

deliver flatter results when the

machine is set to produce encap-

sulated output.

For further information visit:

www.sealgraphics.com

The

feed

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FESPA WORLD 06/04 13

WHAT’S NEW IN DIGITAL PRINTING

VUTEk sets a newprice and performance standardVUTEk has introduced the all-new PressVu UV 200/600 digital inkjet printer.

Starting at only €199,000, the

PressVuUV 200/600 is designed

specifically for all of those graph-

ic providers looking to achieve

high-end image quality and

greater productivity at an afford-

able cost. It is expected that this

addition to the VUTEk range of

PressVu UV digital inkjet flatbed

printers will help to make the

advantages of UV-curing technol-

ogy available to thousands of

print-for-pay providers.

The PressVu UV 200/600 digi-

tal inkjet printer has many

features that are more typically

associated with more expensive

models – like stunning four- and

six-colour, 600dpi capabilities

that deliver photographic colour

reproduction and crisp text

reproduction. Virtually limitless

versatility and industrial-strength

construction allow operators to

print on to a variety of sheet-fed

or roll-to-roll materials around

the clock enabling Press operators

to expand their facilities and

satisfy a wider variety of long-

term outdoor and indoor applica-

tion needs.

The printer uses durable UV-

curing inks that can be applied

directly to both flexible and rigid

substrates, so the time and

expense of finishing steps, such

as mounting and lamination are

eliminated. Changing from roll-

to-roll and rigid materials is a

streamlined operation that can

easily be achieved by a single

operator.

Available in four- and six-colour

models, the PressVu UV 200/600

can print up to 2m (80 inches)

wide at 33m2 per hour (350ft2 per

hour) and print on to rigid mate-

rials up to 45mm (1.75 inches)

thick. It comes complete with a

set of rigid extension tables and

easily accommodates the addition

of others for handling of longer

board sizes. It will be available for

shipping imminently.


www.vutek.com

VUTE

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Agfa introduces next-generation micro porous inkjet mediaAgfa has introduced a new range of micro porous inkjet media for poster, display andsign printing, which is suitable for use with both the newest-generation pigment-basedinks now available from HP, Epson and Canon, and more conventional dye-based inks.

The new AgfaJet media can be

used for both indoor and

outdoor applications, is water-

proof and works equally well

with hot and cold lamination

systems. It also dries instantly

and offers vibrant, long-lasting

colour, excellent colour satura-

tion and a wide colour gamut. In

addition, it can be used with

most of the popular printers

currently on the market.

The range includes UIPP

Universal Instant Dry Photograde

Paper, a universal resin-coated

paper, available in 170 or 250

grs/m2; UFF Universal Front Print

Film for backlit display applications,

and PV Premium Vinyl, which is

self-adhesive. The three new media

are available immediately in various

roll sizes up to 60inches/152cm.


www.agfa.com



This milestone was achieved

within 14 months of

Gandinnovations' launching the

first Jeti grand-format inkjet

printer. The Jeti is offered in two

model sizes, the Jeti 330

(3m/11ft.) and the Jeti 5000®

(5m/16ft.). Both models, which

incorporate the "S-Series" spectra

high performance piezoelectric

jetting assembly technology, are

capable of six colour/600 appar-

ent dpi and are now being sold

and installed globally.

During the Jeti research and

development stage, James

Gandy, President of

Gandinnovations, and his team

of engineers focused on design-

ing a machine from the end

user's perspective. Accordingly,

everything from the software to

the media roll lifter, is manufac-

tured with three essentials in

mind: ease of use, quality output

at real production speed and

complete reliability, attributes

which are reflected in the success

of the machine so far – on aver-

age 16 printers are being sold

every month.


www.gandinnovations.com

Gandinnovations reach new milestoneGandinnovations showcased its 100th machine at the International Sign Association in Orlando recently.

The

Jeti

gran

d-fo

rmat

inkj

et p

rinte

r is

now

sel

ling

at t

he r

ate

of 1

6/m

onth

.

Aslan, the German specialist for

self-adhesive films, now offers a

new rigid PVC-film for pop-up

displays. This non-adhesive and

white matt film is highly opaque

and has a special surface that is

ideal for use with electrostatic, ther-

mal-transfer and all solvent based

printing systems. The Aslan N 22 is

available in 250µm, 300µm,

350µm and 400µm and is sold in

rolls of 50m x 1,23m. Further infor-

mation about the compatibility

with major printers is included in

the Aslan compatibility list on the

company's website.


www.ASLAN-Schwarz.com

Avery Dennison Graphics

Division Europe has introduced

a comprehensive range of textiles

suitable for large-format full-

colour inkjet applications, both

water-based and solvent-based.

Ideal for the production of

banners, flags, murals, curtains,

stage backdrops, and POS

displays, these new substrates are

a valuable addition to the exten-

sive the Avery range of digital

materials.


www.europe.averygraphics.com

Grafityp Self-adhesive Products

recently added a crystal-clear self-

adhesive GEF film to its range of

media designed for wide format

eco-solvent digital inkjet printers.

This new UV-stabilised film, refer-

ence Grafiprint LE5P, which is

offered on a matt white polyester

carrier, is provided with a solvent

based permanent adhesive.


www.Grafityp.com

In brief



Avery MP1 1007 Easy Apply

offers a number of features that

digital printers will appreciate in

terms of both cost and time

saving at application and

improved aesthetics for the print-

ed graphics.

Avery MPI 1007 Easy apply is a

white, conformable, premium

cast vinyl film partnered with the

new Avery Easy Apply technolo-

gy, whose characteristics include

repositionability and a smooth

blemish-free finish to the applied

graphics. Avery Easy apply can

also contribute significantly to

savings in time and cost for

applying large-format fleet graph-

ics – particularly vehicle wraps -

for end users, applicators and

converters. It gives a high-quality

speedy result and also allows for

long-term clean removability of

the graphics without leaving any

ugly marks, patterning or adhe-

sive residue.

Avery's Easy Apply special

adhesive system is based on

minute, hardened ink dots on

the adhesive layer coupled with

micro channels. The ink dots

allow the applicator to simply

slide the printed panels of Avery

Easy apply brand film across the

application substrate until their

ideal positions are achieved prior

to a streamlined application

process. Air bubbles are easily

expelled through the micro-

channels in the adhesive (which

are invisible once the graphic is

applied) and the finished applica-

tion is like a second skin on

smooth surfaces, both contoured

and curved.

Easy Apply lustre facefilm also

offers special features for the digi-

tal printer. It is quick drying –

offering improved performance

over gloss qualities and so can

contribute to enhanced produc-

tivity. The more matt finish

makes for smaller differences in

gloss levels between printed and

unprinted areas of material,

giving a more harmonious print-

ed graphic. The material is suit-

able for use with most popular

solvent inkjet printers currently

on the market and is also avail-

able as Avery MPI-A 1007 Easy

Apply on reverse-wound cores for

the Océ Arizona printer. A gloss

white film, Avery MPI 1005 Easy

Apply is also available.


www.europe.averygraphics.com

Avery 'easy apply' cast film with lustre finishAdding significant possibilities for large-format solvent inkjet print is a newlustre-finish white vinyl from Avery Dennison Graphics Division Europe,which features patent-pending Easy Apply adhesive technology.

According to Frans Craandijk,

Sales and Marketing Director at

Intelicoat, "Ink jet printers with

very high output quality have

become increasingly more

affordable and this is encourag-

ing more and more people

within the fine art industry to

incorporate the technology into

their work. InteliCoat's Magiclée

solutions are helping to extend

the reach of the technology

even further by providing a

comprehensive range of artist-

quality coated media that

enhance the images and bring

them even closer to the very

high standards of the fine art

industry." The new range

includes Magiclée Torino, inkjet

stretch cotton/polyester blend

canvas for dye and pigment

printers and Magiclée Verona,

a textured digital fine art paper

with a traditional matte finish

designed for long term fade

resistant reproduction. Both

products are available in 210g,

250g and 310g versions of fine

art paper and canvas.

The Magiclée Fine Art range

also encompasses Firenzematt,

a presentation paper, Sienna,

an instant dry photobase paper

and MuralPro, a wall covering

substrate for fine art applications.

InteliCoat's fine art products

recently won first place in the

fine art category at the 2003

André Schellenberg Awards

Competition, sponsored by the

Digital Printing and Imaging

Association (DPI). InteliCoat's

winning entry was a reproduc-

tion of a Panorama, based at

Altöttingen in Germany, depict-

ing the Crucifixion.

The Magiclée Fine Art range

is available immediately and

includes 210g, 250g and 310g

versions of both fine art paper

and canvas and is ideally suited

to the specific requirements of

this industry.


www.intelicoat.com

InteliCoat launches fine art mediaInteliCoat Technologies has announced a new range of substrates forfine art reproduction, marketed under InteliCoat's new Magiclée brand.

Inte

liCoa

t's n

ew r

ange

of

subs

trat

es h

elp

s to

giv

e fin

e ar

tre

pro

duct

ions

an

auth

entic

look

.


NEWS ROUND-UP – ASSOCIATION NEWS

The first booklet, which is enti-

tled, 'Requirements of the Digital

Printing Method as it concerns

Specific Screenprinting Use', is

designed to help screenprinters

carry out a full assessment so that

they can ensure that they acquire

the machine which is best suited

to their particular needs. The

booklet illustrates large format

digital printing according to

printing techniques and use and

also provides detailed informa-

tion on many of the most popu-

lar digital printers together with

the results of material tests.

'Physical Pre-Treatment for

Deutsche Institut Druck E.V. and

Section Screen Printing of bvdm

recently carried out a market

survey to determine the volume

of this work and its predicted

growth, in order to clarify the

possible future benefits for screen-

printers. It discovered that many

advertisers now regard this

method of promotion as one of

the most effective available and

that they prefer to use companies

who can offer a complete service

including everything from initial

design to final application. The

results of the survey have now

been summarised in a booklet.

"Fleetmarking – Transport

Advertising – Vehicle Advertising:

Market Volume and Development

Trends". (Booklet, 17 pages, DIN

A4, 2003, Item No. 85754,

German language) is now avail-

able through the Association.

The Swedish Screenprinting

Association held its late April

Spring Meeting in Jonkoping,

the historic Swedish Match town

located at the southern tip of Lake

Vatter. Some 30 Screenprinters

attended and the meeting began

on Friday with a visit to a large

Flexo Corrugated printer. This was

followed with a trip to the well-

known Husqvarna factory, which

was originally famous for making

weapons for the Swedish Army

during the seventeenth century.

The company has subsequently

manufactured motorcycles,

sewing machines and a host of

agricultural and household

equipment. A further planned

visit to a local screenprinter

unfortunately had to be

abandoned due to internal

problems.

Attendees spent Saturday

enjoying a stimulating lecture

program, which included various

sessions devoted to Inks,

Profitability and Working

Environment Issues.

The Association's AGM took

place later that day and the Board

was re-elected for another year.

The meeting also provided

members with an opportunity to

participate in the Association's

regular quarterly business review. It

emerged that most screenprinters

felt that the first quarter of 2004

had been a very positive period as

far as business was concerned, with

70% reporting an improvement in

orders and 60% declaring that they

were enjoying higher levels of

work than previously predicted

and were also receiving a higher

level of enquiries compared to the

same quarter in 2003.

The Association decided to

organise a joint trip to FESPA

2005 and has arranged for the

Autumn meeting to be held at

the end of September.

New publications from GermanScreenprintingAssociationThe German Screenprinting Association has recently published two booklets relating to applications engineering for screenprinting and pad printing.

Market study onfleetmarkingIncreasingly screenprinters are being asked toproduce vehicle liveries that combine advertisingmessages and this rapidly expanding market nowoffers many new business opportunities.

Swedish screenprintersget off to a flying startin 2004

Improvement of Colour

Adherence for Pad Printing'

examines the problem of poor

colour adherence, which often

occurs when marking and deco-

rating plastic material. In order

to achieve the desired quality

the surface of the substrate to be

printed required re-treating to

ensure good ink adhesion. This

booklet describes the functions

and main areas of application

for high frequency corona treat-

ments, low frequency corona pre-

treatments, atmospheric pressure

plasma, flame treatment and sili-

cate treatment.


NEWS ROUND-UP – ASSOCIATION NEWS

"FESPA Vice President Hellmuth Fry

(4th from left) presents a special award

to the board of the Screenprinting

Association of India (SPAI) to mark

the inaugral meeting of the two

associations, which was set up to

explore future mutual co-operation,

Nigel Steffens, General Secretary of

FESPA (4th from right) looks on."

Excitement builds for Sign India 2004

Thousands of screen printers are

eagerly awaiting the sixth Screen

Print India 2004 exhibition,

which will take place at Nehru

Centre, Worli, Mumbai from

20-22 August 2004 and provide

a unique opportunity for interna-

tional companies to promote their

products to this rapidly develop-

ing market. The scope of the 2004

show has been extended to

include materials, equipment

and accessories relating to

Ceramic Printing, Textile/Garment

Printing, Electronic/PCB Printing,

CD Printing, Pad Printing,

POP/Signs, Wide Format Digital

Printing as well as Mini/Baby

Offset Machines. Despite adverse

world economic pressures on the

region during the past, there is

now unprecedented economic

and industrial growth potential

throughout the Asian region

and Indian Subcontinent. Mr.

Madhukumar Doshi, President

of the Screen Printer's Association

of India (SPAI), the national apex

body of the Industry, which is

supporting the show, says: "We are

heading towards a future where

modern communication methods

are rendering geographic distance

irrelevant and, at the same time,

screenprinting is rapidly advanc-

ing. We now have recourse to all

sorts of innovative products to

help us enhance the value of our

output, many of which will be on

display at the show."

A biennial event, Screen Print

India 2004 is also being actively

supported by various regional and

state level associations, technical

institutes and colleges and will be

inaugurated by Michael Robertson

of the SGIA (USA) who says: "SGIA

is looking forward to participating

in this event. The speciality imag-

ing community is growing rapidly

in India and we are pleased to

have the opportunity to take an

active role in this important show."

A number of ancillary events

and activities have been designed

to coincide with the exhibition.

These include the Screen Print

India 2004 Awards for Excellence

in Screen Printing, a national level

competition for the screen print

industry and all of the winning

entries will be on display at the

exhibition. Visitors will also have

the opportunity to purchase

Screen Print India Buyers' Guide

(2004 Edition), which provides

reliable details about the industry,

during the show.

Screen Print India 2004 will be

fully supported by a comprehen-

sive marketing campaign directed

at both national and internation-

al companies.

For further information and

the latest show updates, visit

www.adityaexpo.com

Spanish book a hitA book detailing both the technical and practicalaspects of screenprinting published by The SpanishScreen and Digital Printing Association has receivedwidespread praise from the Association's members.

Produced with the help of spon-

sors, the publication is the first of

its kind to be written especially

for Spanish screenprinters and

covers topics that are of interest

to screenprinters of all denomi-

nations. They include the theory

of the screenprinting process and

the possible areas of application,

together with practical informa-

tion about the preparation of

screens, the correct selection of

inks, pad printing techniques

and materials.

To acquire a copy of this publi-

cation which is entitled, 'A

Technical and Practical Guide

to the Screenprinting Process'

contact the Association on Tel:

++ 34 91 307 74 44, E-mail:

[email protected] or visit

www.asibnet.org

New user friendly websiteThe Spanish Screen and Digital Printing Associationhas recently redesigned its website to make it moreuser friendly and also to reflect the new image ofthe Association.

As well as the revamped home

pages, the site also includes a

new 'members only' area, which

facilitates access to various tech-

nical publications and all sorts

of other relevant information.

It also boasts nine easily navi-

gable areas which cover the

Association's activities, its affilia-

tions with various professional

journals and FESPA, plus a diary

of events, a resources directory

and an 'online shop' for the

Association's various publica-

tions. In addition it offers a

special 'Employment Market'

for associate companies to post

their latest vacancies.

Visit the new site at

www.asibnet.org


NEWS ROUND-UP – DIARY DATES

Diary dates for 2004 If you would like your event to feature on this page,please send full information via e-mail to Val Hirst at:[email protected]

Image Expo15th-17th JulyHordern Pavilion at Fox Studios,Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaThe premier exhibition for screenprinting, digital imaging,signmaking and associatedindustries in the Pacific region.Organiser: Cygnet Exhibitions:Tel: 61 8 (08) 9322 1168, Fax: 61 8 (08) 9321 2602e-mail: [email protected]

Screen Print India 200420th-22nd AugustNehru Centre, Worli, MumbaiIndia's 6th International Exhibitionon Screen Printing Equipment,Materials and Accessories.Organisers: Aditya Exposition (P) Ltd.Tel: ++(022) 2614 8345Fax: ++(022) 2614 9984e-mail: [email protected]@hotmail.com

Visual Communication Europe15th-17th SeptemberParc des Expositions, Porte deVersailles, ParisThe European sign show returns toParis this year.Organiser: Reed ExhibitionsTel: 1 33 (0) 1 47 56 24 82E-mail: [email protected]

ASGA15th-18th SeptemberBeijing, ChinaThe major annual screenprintingevent in AsiaOrganiser: Chinese Screenprinting andGraphics AssociationTel: +86 10 8404 3402 64001990Fax: +86 10 6403 4996e-mail: [email protected]

Photokina World of Imaging28th September - 3rd OctoberKoelnmesse, Cologne, GermanyA biennial exhibition dedicated tophotographic and digital imaging inall its many variations.Organizer: Koelnmesse GmbHTel: +49 221 821-2497Fax: +49 221 821-3413e-mail: [email protected]

Screenprinting ForumBudapest 20041st-2nd OctoberHeadquarters of the HungarianChamber of Commerce and Industry,Wszent Laszlo ter 16, Budapest,Hungary.Organiser: Hungarian Screen PrintingAssociationTel: ++36 28 516-615Fax: ++36 28 516-616e-mail: [email protected]

SGIA6th-9th OctoberMinneapolis Convention Centre,Minneapolis, MinnesotaThe annual US Screen and DigitalImaging exhibition.Organiser: Speciality GraphicImaging AssociationTel: 001 703 385 1335Fax: 001 703 385 1339e-mail: [email protected]

Sign Spain - VisualCommunication7th-9th OctoberFeria de Madrid, IFEMA PavillionNo. 4, Madrid, SpainThe 17th Edition of Spain'scomprehensive visualcommunication show.Organiser: Reed Exhibitions Iberia,S.A.Tel: +34 93 452 07 22Fax: +34 93 45249 13e-mail: [email protected]

K20th-27th October 2004Dusseldorf Fairgrounds, Germany.The international exhibition forPlastics and Rubber.Oganiser: Messe Düsseldorf GmbHTel: +49 (0)211 45 60 01Fax: +49 (0)211 45 60-668 e-mail: [email protected]

Pro Sign 200421st-23rd October 2004Frankfurt Fairgrounds, GermanyThe German sign and digital printingshow.Organiser: Reed ExhibitionsDeutschland GmbHTel: + 0211 / 90 191 - 197e-mail: [email protected] www.prosign.de

Sign Italia, Seriprint, Gravo-Incisoria Visual Communication20044th-6th NovemberFiera Milano, Milan, ItalyArguably the biggest and best of all ofthe European sign related shows.Organiser: Brigitte Hunt - ReedExhibitions Italia S.r.l.Tel: ++39 0744 400544Fax: ++39 0744 403708e-mail: [email protected]

Glasstec 20049th-13th November 2004Düsseldorf, Fairgrounds GermanyThe International show for glass.Organiser: Messe Dusseldorf GmbHTel: +49 (0)211 / 4560-01Fax: +49 (0)211 / 4560-668www.messe-duesseldorf.de

FESPA 200531st May-4th June 2005Munich, GermanyThe world's largest event forscreenprinting and digital imaging.Oganiser: FespaTel: 01737 24 07 88e-mail: [email protected]

With over 75% of total floor

space already sold and 225

exhibitors signed up, the 2005

show is expected to break all

previous records. In March,

FESPA opened a fourth hall espe-

cially for companies operating in

the area of textile decoration and

the FESPA sales team has already

sold 60% of the available stand

space, with companies such as

MHM, M&R, B&C and TAS all

taking large stands. Sales

Manager, Michael Ryan confirms

that he is delighted with the

interest shown so far. He says:

"After listening to both exhibitors

and visitors from the specialised

sector of garment decoration, we

recognised that there was a real

opportunity here for FESPA.

Garment decoration has tradi-

tionally been one of the primary

screenprinting applications and

is the sector where many visitors

originally learn their trade. As

soon as FESPA made the decision

to open another hall, we imme-

diately knew that it was the ideal

location for all our garment relat-

ed exhibitors."

By locating textiles in the new

hall (A2), FESPA is effectively able

to provide a dedicated hall (A1)

for decorative and industrial

applications, including printing

onto glass and ceramics, whilst

the remaining two halls (B1 and

B2), will comprise general screen

exhibitors and technologies,

together with digital imaging.

This zoning of halls will help

visitors to plan their visit to this

global exhibition more effectively.

Pre registrationSince FESPA's online registra-

tion system was launched in

February, visitor registrations

have been received from more

than 62 different countries! This

is a tremendous response, espe-

cially since the show is still a

year away. Karen Bentley,

Marketing and Operations

Manager comments:

"I am very pleased with the

take up of this online registration

system. The large number of

registrations received so far is

a very encouraging sign and

certainly reflects the show's glob-

al reach." She adds that all regis-

trants will receive a FREE visitor

entrance pass, together with

regular updates on the event. You

can register on the FESPA website

in English, German, French or

Spanish, simply by visiting

www.fespa2005.com

Get the best from the showAlthough enjoyable, visiting

exhibitions can also be a tiring

experience, so to make your visit

to FESPA 2005 easier and more

worthwhile, follow the top

tips below:

Plan your visit: use the website

to research which exhibitors you

want to see and schedule meet-

ings to suit your requirements.

Research seminar programme:

look at the seminar timetable

and plan your meetings around

the sessions you wish to attend.

Network: arrange to meet up

with colleagues from across

the industry.

Book accommodation and

travel early: As the show gets

closer, accommodation and travel

options get smaller; use FESPA's

online booking service.

Use the catalogue: mark off the

location of the exhibitors you

wish to see on the floor plans.

After the exhibition review the

information you have received

and use it to your advantage.

Finally, don't forget to take

plenty of business cards and most

importantly of all, wear comfort-

able shoes!

Hotel accommodation in MunichGiven the continued growth and

recognition of FESPA as a truly

international event, it is advis-

able to book your accommoda-

tion as early as possible in order

to avoid disappointment. Maritz

Travel, Germany, are FESPA's offi-

cial handlers for hotel reserva-

tions and offer accommodation

at a wide selection of hotels.

Rooms can be reserved through

Maritz by visiting the the FESPA

2005 web site

www.fespa2005.com

Exhibitor workshopsIn order to help exhibitors get

the maximum return on their

investment in FESPA 2005, FESPA

ran two exhibitor workshops, the

first of which took place on 9th

June at the Munich Trade Fair

Centre, swiftly followed by

another at the ExCel Exhibition

Centre, London on 30th June.

Both workshops were well

FESPA 2005The countdown starts now!With less than a year to go until the largest international event for the screen printing and digital imaging industry begins, FESPA 2005promises to be a very successful exhibition.


NEWS ROUND-UP – FESPA NEWSLETTER

TM

Corporate sponsor

Platinum sponsors

Noch ein Jahr vor der Messe und 75% der verfügbarenAusstellungsfläche ist schon verkauft.(225 Aussteller). Die vierte Hallewurde im März eröffnet. Diezusätzliche Stellfläche wird dazudienen, die wachsende Zahl an Textildruckausstellernunterzubringen.FESPA2005hat schonBesucherregistrierungen aus 64verschiedenen Ländern bekommen.Registrieren Sie sich auf deutsch online, besuchen Siejetztwww.fespa2005.com. Im JuniorganisierteFESPAzwei Workshops,um Ihre Aussteller dabei zu helfen,eine erfolgreiche Messe zu haben.Ratschläge über Marketing, Logistik,den Katalog und wie man am bestenausstellen sollte, wurde gegeben. Siekönnen kostenlosen Seminare aufderFESPA2005besuchen, wenn Sie einSeminar organisieren möchten oderfalls Sie ein Thema vorschlagenmöchten, schicken Sie ein [email protected] Sie den ganzen Artikel an www.fespaworld.com/27.1

Avec encore une année avantl'ouverture de l'exposition, on aalloué 75% de l'espace totale, 225exposants. En mars nous avonsouvert le 4ème hall, qui est cibléprincipalement sur des exposants del'industrie textile. Pour le salon de laFESPA 2005 nous avons déjà reçu desinscriptions des visiteurs venant de 64 pays différents. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant en français sur:www.fespa2005.com! En juin on aorganisé 2 séminaires, pour aider nosexposants à s'apprêter effectivementau salon. Nous avons donné auxexposants des conseils sur des sujetscomme: le marketing pré-salon,comment exposer effectivement et le catalogue du salon. Il y aura desséminaires gratuits au salon de laFESPA 2005. Si vous voudriezorganiser un séminaire ou si vousavez des suggestions pour des sujetsde discussion, veuillez envoyer unemail à [email protected] tout l'article en français surwww.fespaworld.com/27.2

A un año vista de la feria, el 75%del espacio total ha sido vendido con225 expositores. El 4° Pabellón abiertoen marzo se ha enfocado a los expositores textiles. FESPA 2005ha recibido ya inscripciones de 64países diferentes. ¡Para registrarse yaen inglés, alemán, francés o españolvisitar www.fespa2005.com! Seorganizaron 2 talleres en Junio, para ayudar a los expositores a quetengan éxito durante la feria. Sedieron consejos sobre el marketingpre-feria, operaciones, como exponerde manera efectiva y el catálogo Fespa2005. Los seminarios serán gratuitosen FESPA 2005. Si está interesado en organizar un seminario o darsugerencias sobre temas contactar con [email protected]. Paraleer el artículo completo en españolver www.fespaworld.comPara leer el artículo completo en español ver www.fespaworld.com/27.3

a Frazer Chesterman,

Exhibition Director.


FESPA NEWSLETTER

In our view, five days at

FESPA shouldprovide the

same value as awhole year's

worth of general marketing

activity.

“”

a


attended and both contracted

and potential exhibitors listened

to lively and informative presen-

tations covering topics as diverse

as: 'How to exhibit effectively';

'The power of exhibitions'; 'How

to increase the number of visitors

to your stand'; 'How to experi-

ence stress-free build-up and

break-down' and, most impor-

tantly, 'How to successfully

record and follow up leads'. They

also provided advice on general

sales, marketing and public rela-

tions issues.

Commenting on the work-

shops, Exhibition Director,

Frazer Chesterman says: "Quite

simply, we wanted to help our

exhibitors multiply the value of

participating at FESPA 2005. In

our view, five days at FESPA

should provide the same value

as a whole year's worth of

general marketing activity."

For a FREE copy of these

presentations please email:

[email protected]

Ten top tips for exhibiting1 Set objectives: Decide why

you are exhibiting and what

you want to achieve.

a The Munich Exhibition Centre.

b See over 350 exhibitors from all over

the world under one roof.

c The Fespa Team at Sign UK.

From left to right: Karen Bentley,

Jonathan Wake (AD Communications),

Nigel Steffens, Sarah Gladstone,

Frazer Chesterman, Michael Ryan,

Ruth Fahie.

2 Stand design: Make sure your

stand follows your objectives,

be creative, bold and profes-

sional - be noticed!

3 Operations manual: Order all

services and products you

require by the deadlines given.

4 PR and Marketing: Send invita-

tions to your customers and

offer incentives for them to

visit your stand. Advertise your

presence at the show. Have a

good story for the press.

5 Train your staff: Do this

before the exhibition and

make sure they know what

the objectives are and what

message they need to give out

to visitors.

6 Appoint a stand manager:One person should take over-

all management of the stand

and ensure that your objec-

tives are achieved.

7 Book your travel and accommodation: The

earlier, the better!

8 Lead handling: Categorise

your leads for follow up and

devise an effective lead

capture system.

9 On the stand: Listen to your

visitor, smile, make eye

contact, and sell the benefits

not the features.

10 Follow up the leads: Contact

all the visitors to your stand

and effectively manage this

new database. Continue to

follow up these leads.

FREE seminarsFESPA 2005 will boast two

theatres on the exhibition floor,

which will run a series of semi-

nars and workshops aimed at

educating visitors on the latest

issues and developments in

screen and digital printing. If

you have any suggestions for

hot topics you would like to see

discussed, or if you are interested

in hosting a session yourself

please email:

[email protected]

FESPA 2005 promotions The FESPA 2005 team has been

very active in both exhibiting at

and visiting other industry

shows. At the end of March

FESPA had a stand at the SIGN

UK show, which helped to

increase awareness about FESPA

2005 and also facilitated space

sales. In April, Michael Ryan,

attended the ISA Expo in

Orlando, where he was able to

make good contacts with

Chinese and American compa-

nies. In May, the entire team

attended DRUPA, a very tiring

but ultimately rewarding experi-

ence, which enabled it to have

some extremely useful meetings

with existing and potential

exhibitors as well as the world's

trade press. Further such trips are

planned for the autumn period

and full details will appear in the

next issue of Fespa World.

Coming next:In the September issue of Fespa

World there will be news on

FESPA's VIP programme, FESPA

2005 awards and a review of the

FESPA Fest. There will also be

information on FESPA going east

and building relationships with

the SPAI.

If you have any comments or

questions please contact

Karen Bentley on Tel: +44

1737 240788 or email

[email protected].

Register now for your FREE

visitor entry badge at

www.fespa2005.com

a b

c


OPINION

The Germans certainly

‘put the boat out’ for me

at DRUPA – quite literally,

in fact. Unavailability of

reasonably priced hotel

rooms forced me to stay

on a cruiser on the Rhine,

actually a pleasant experi-

ence and only a 15

minute walk from the

Düsseldorf Messe.

There is no doubt what-

ever that DRUPA 2004 was

a great show. Whilst atten-

dance figures were not up

on 2000, this was because

of the fall-off in attendance

of domestic German visi-

tors. Perhaps smaller

German printers were put

off by the €30 daily entry

fee, and yet others impact-

ed by the relatively slow

growth in the German

economy. However, foreign

visitorship, especially from

Asia and Eastern Europe,

was considerably up,

emphasizing DRUPA's role

as the major global print

show. As ever, screenprint-

ing did not feature very

highly on the DRUPA

agenda, although digital

printing certainly did.

My lasting impression

from DRUPA, other than

to wear more comfortable

shoes next time, was the

maturing of digital print-

ing as a serious printing

and imaging technology.

Since the millennium

event, a series of major

acquisitions have trans-

formed the structure of

the industry.

With its purchase

of Indigo, HP has now

emerged as a serious

provider of digital offset

printing solutions, to

complement its laser

printer, plotter and wide

format printer businesses.

Other companies such as

Kodak, FujiFilm and Agfa

have also undergone

major change. The

onward march of the digi-

tal camera has impacted

sales of consumable

photoproducts (films,

papers and chemicals),

and we have seen in

printing a growing pres-

ence of the photo giants

such as FujiFilm ($23

billion), Kodak (>$12

billion) and Agfa.

This is evidenced

by Kodak's publicly-

announced strategy to

migrate much of its busi-

ness into digital imaging

and printing, demonstrat-

ed by its 2002 acquisition

of Encad, followed more

recently by that of Scitex

Digital Printing (now

Kodak Versamark) and the

purchase of Heidelberg's

50% stake in NexPress

Solutions. Meanwhile,

Agfa has acquired Dotrix,

the former digital print

division of Barco

Graphics, and recently

announced an alliance in

flatbed inkjet with screen

machinery manufacturer

Thieme. FujiFilm has

progressed by a mixture

of acquisition and strong

organic growth in digital

pre-press, whilst defend-

ing its domestic Japanese

photo business using

creative and effective

strategies. Where these

go, will the PMAI follow?

These large photograph-

ic corporations, were orig-

inally fringe players in

pre-press for the printing

industry, fighting against

other corporations of the

size and calibre of HP,

Epson, 3M and Xerox.

Now they are capable of

revolutionising the whole

structure of the global

printing and imaging

industry, of which screen

printing is a relatively

minor part. As it happens,

we do not even have to

wait for these corpora-

tions to integrate their

newly adopted daughter

companies and get their

act together, as the indus-

try change is happening

now, from the printers

and end-users up. The

identity of the end-users –

the screen printers, profes-

sional photolabs, sign

shops, reprographics

houses, even quick print-

ers and newer digital

printers - is changing and

evolving as we watch.

This is actually a serious

challenge for FESPA and

its component associa-

tions, and even the FESPA

Show. Will production

wide format graphics –

formerly the domain

It seems to me...In this issue, Stewart Partridge of Web consulting poses the question:"Will there be a new world order post DRUPA?"

“


OPINION

mainly of the graphics

screen printer, and the

major lynchpin of FESPA,

be an area that the SPA's

and FESPA can claim for

their own? Probably not.

The competition will

mainly come from

DRUPA, the sign shows

such as ISA and Sign

Europe, photo events such

as Photokina and PMA,

and the struggling upstart

digital tradeshows.

FESPA and its member

associations appreciate the

need for redefining their

core business in terms

of the applications they

serve, and in this respect

are going through the

same processes as their

own members. At the

same time, consolidation

in the printing and imag-

ing industry is happening

at an end-user level, and

this is squeezing the fund-

ing base of all those print

trade associations based

in developed economies.

Everyone needs to recruit

new members.

How the ‘old screen

industry allies’ – the

”Over to YouDo you agree with Stewart

Partridge or think that he

has got it totally wrong?

Whatever your views we

want to hear them.

Please address your

thoughts on this or

indeed, any other

industry related topic

to:

Val Hirst

Editor, Fespa

Association House,

7a West Street, Reigate,

Surrey, Great Britain

RH2 9BL

or e-mail to

[email protected]

screen printing manufac-

turers, FESPA, the SPA's

and the screen printers –

redefine their businesses

can have a major effect

on the way in which the

industry develops.

So I would like to pose

the question for FESPA: in

terms of applications and

technologies, what's IN,

and what's OUT?

FESPA's position, both

as an umbrella trade

organisation and a

specialist exhibition

organiser, will be tested

by many competitors over

coming years. And despite

the obvious success of its

revitalised management

in wooing many new

exhibitors to FESPA 2005,

the real challenges to

FESPA and its allies are

only just beginning.

Web Consulting is a glob-

al consultancy and research

group for the sign, screen

and digital printing indus-

tries, with offices in

Abingdon, UK, Orlando,

USA and Shanghai, China.

Typical projects for Web

include conducting market

research and industry analy-

sis globally, assisting manu-

facturers with strategic and

marketing projects, and

undertaking due diligence

work for mergers and acqui-

sitions. In addition, the

Company will be issuing

over 14 new industry survey

reports in 2004.


THE BIG STORY

If anyone was still harbouring any doubts as to thefuture of wide format digital inkjet flat-bed printers,they should have certainly have been laid to restfollowing this year's showing at Drupa. All of themain players were fielding either new or enhancedmodels and it was plain for anyone to see that thistechnology is now well and truly established. Thereis also no doubt that any initial early teething prob-lems have now been resolved and that anyone think-ing of investing in any of the machines reviewedhere should be able to proceed with confidence.However, as with all previous generations of digitalprinters, the trick is matching the machine to itsintended usage, so, as always, the crucial questionshave to be: "What do I need this machine for?"followed swiftly by "How much do I want to spend?"

Although it would be easy to break the bank, it isinteresting to observe that NUR, VUTEk and Durst areall now offering more affordable options, whilst themore cautious might want to investigate the efficacyof the smaller machines from Zund, Océ and Mimaki.

Mimaki's new UJF-605C flat bed printer is not awide format machine since it offers a print area ofjust 600 x 500mm. However it uses UV curable inkto print on to rigid substrates up to 5cm thick at a dpi of between 2400 x 1200 and boasts sevencolours, including white, which can either be usedas a spot or background colour. Mimaki suggest thatthis printer is ideal for printing membrane switchpanels or, alternatively, for producing samples.

Océ's T220 is now available in both solvent andUV versions, the latter of which was introduced atOcé's recent Open House in Germany. Both modelscan accommodate substrates up to 5.08cm and offera print width of 1.6m and lengths of up to 3m. TheT220 prints at up to 16m2 per hour, which althoughnot blistering, is perfectly respectable.

Océ has also introduced another budgetconscious machine in its Arizona 60UV, a versatilesix-colour machine that is designed to print on toboth rigid and flexible substrates. This machine cantackle materials up to 1cm in thickness and printsat up to 5.1m2 per hour with a maximum size of152mm x 243cm. The 60UV has portable rollertables at both front and back, which can easily beremoved when printing on flexible substrates. It

provides another option for the many Arizona fanswho have expanded their businesses on the back ofthe original Arizona solvent inkjet printer.

Zund's UVjet 215C flat bed printer used Sericol'sUV curable inks and offered improved handling andan optional rear loading table when it was upgradedlast year. It is designed to print on to a wide array ofdifferent rigid substrates and has always been afavourite with those seeking a budget priced flat bedmachine. It can accommodate materials up to 4cmthick and 2150mm wide of any length. Now theUVjet 215-Plus offers an increased speed and uses sixcolours to output on to both rigid and roll-to-rollmaterials. Zund's newest flat-bed machine, UVjet XYcan be used to produce the ever-increasing numberof lenticular applications, printing on substrates upto 3cm thick and 2450mm wide at up to 720dpi.

Finally, Zund has also introduced the UVjet 250Combi which provides users with a choice of fouror six colours, together with an optional white inkand the ability to output on to both rigid substratesup to l0cm thick and flexible substrates.

Meanwhile, VUTEk is now offering a mid pricedversion of its PressVu UV 200/600 flat bed printerwhich comes in at under E200,000, yet offers manyof the features of the more expensive machineswithin the PressVu series. It is available with bothfour and six colour options and offers both roll-to-roll and sheet fed capabilities, printing on tosubstrates with a maximum thickness of 4.45cm at33m2 per hour. This machine complements Vutek'stwo more established models, the Press UV 180/600and the 180/360.

Inca chose Drupa to show its two new digitalinkjet flatbed printers, the Columbia Turbo and theSpyder 150, which are distributed by Sericol. Bothprinters feature new UV curing inkjet ink systems.

Since the launch of the Columbia in 2003, Incaand Sericol have collaborated further to producethe faster Columbia Turbo, which achieves speedsof up to more than 160m2 an hour. Designed toproduce large volume graphic displays and POPmaterial, the Columbia Turbo can accommodatesubstrates up to 4cm thick and up to 40kg inweight, offering resolutions of up to l,000dpi. And,according to Sericol's Digital Marketing Manager,

This is not, as you might imagine, a description of the exhibitors at the endof a gruelling 14 day exhibition, but relates instead to the number of flatbeddigital printers that were on show at Drupa this year.

Val Hirst reports

FLAT OUT at Drupa

a Mimaki's new UJF-605C flat bed printer. Zusammenfassung "Big Story"Auf der diesjährigen "drupa" inDüsseldorf konnte man einenbeträchtlichen Zuwachs an auf demMarkt verfügbaren großformatigendigitalen Inkjet- Flachbettdruck-maschinen beobachten. Alle bekan-nten Hersteller boten neue oder weit-erentwickelte Maschinen an und trat-en so in einen Marktbereich ein, denseinerzeit die Firma Lüscher erstmalserschloss.

Die in erster Linie für den Druckauf starren Substraten ausgelegtenFlachbettmaschinen, obwohl vieleMaschinen zur Erhöhung derenEinsatzflexibilität auch alsRollenmaschinen angeboten werden,verwenden im allgemeinen UV-Farben, bei welchen die mit derTrocknungszeit verbundenenProbleme von Lösemittelfarben nichtmehr bestehen. In diesem Artikelbehandeln wir die verschiedenenOptionen, wie sie von VUTek, NUR,Sericol/Inka, Durst. 3M, Lüscher undGandinnovations angeboten werden,als auch die erschwinglicherenMaschinen von Zund, Oce undMimaki, und heben ihre speziellenMerkmale und ihre Eignung fürbesondere Einsatzmöglichkeitenhervor.Lesen Sie den ganzen Artikel an www.fespaworld.com/27.1

Cette année, à la Drupa, il y eu un accroissement incontestable dunombres des presses jet d'encre à plat,tous les joueurs officiels offrant leurversion nouvelle ou améliorée, avecen plus la première apparition deLüscher sur ce marché.

Dans la mesure où elles ont été au départ créées pour imprimer surdes supports rigides, encore que denombreuses machines offrent despossibilités d'impression en bobine àbobine pour encore plus de souplesse,les presses à plat travaillentgénéralement en encres UV quisuppriment les problèmes des tempsde séchage (et la pollution) qui sontun élément incontournable desencres à solvants. Dans cet article,nous examinons les différentesoptions offertes par VuTek, NUR,Sericol/Inca, Durst, 3M, Lüscher et Gandinnovations, aussi bien que des machines plus abordablescomme celles de Zund, Océ etMimaki en mettant en lumière leurscaractéristiques principales et leuradaptation à des applicationsspéciales.Lisez tout l'article en français surwww.fespaworld.com/27.2

Este año en Drupa, hubo unnotable incremento en el número de impresoras digitales inkjet planas de gran formato, con todo el mercadode fabricantes ofreciendo máquinasnuevas o renovadas y la aparición de Luscher por primera vez.

Partiendo de que las máquinas de formato plano están diseñadaspara imprimir sobre soportes rígidos,aunque muchas impresoras tambiénofrecen la opción añadida delformato cilíndrico, generalmenteutilizan tintas UV que resuelven los problemas relacionados con eltiempo de secado característicos de las tintas solventes. En este artículo se examinan las diferentes opcionesque ofrecen VUTek, NUR,Sericol/Inca, Durst, 3M, Luscher y Gandinnovations, así como lasmáquinas más razonables de Zund,Océ y Mimaki, destacando suscaracterísticas propias y suadaptabilidad para aplicacionesespecíficas.Para leer el artículo completo en español ver www.fespaworld.com/27.3


THE BIG STORY

a


THE BIG STORY

Tudor Morgan, it can also help to extend theeconomic digital print run up to around 400 – a level that combines nicely with screen printing.

The Spyder 150 is an affordable, compact printerthat delivers near photographic quality at speed.With a small footprint and a 1.5 x 1m bed, theSpyder is designed for specialist screen printers,repro houses and firms turning out high qualityPOP displays, exhibition graphics, backlit andlenticular prints. It uses new head technology and a new ink system, which together offer high quality,edge-to-edge print on virtually any substrate up to30mm thick. Because the ink drop size is small andaccurate, it is ideal for direct to media 3D andlenticular printing which it prints at 24m2 an hour.These two new machines, along with Inca's Eagle H,an updated version of its original Eagle 44, whichcan handle materials up to 40mm thick and offerresolution up to l,000dpi, will shortly be comple-mented by another new launch in the form of theFastjet. This machine, which Inca is developing asthe result of a partnership with Sun Chemical willprint onto substrates up to 1,200mm wide and7mm thick and is expected to be of special interestto companies specializing in packaging.

Of course, Scitex Vision's CORjet is already aimedat the packaging sector and this machine, which is water-based and prints with either four or sixcolours using eco-friendly inks also developed byScitex Vision, outputs at up to 150 m2 per hour. Itcan cope with sheets up to 160 x 320cm and thick-nesses of up to 1cm. Scitex also offer the VEEjet aUV machine that is designed to print on to rigidmaterials of up to 2 x 3m in size and thicknesses upto 4cm with output speeds of up to 36m2 per hour.Because the substrate does not move during theprinting process – rather the print heads travel thelength of the substrate – it responds equally well to

both fragile and heavy materials, producing print ofa consistently high quality.

Drupa also saw the launch of NUR's new TempoL, is another UV machine which has been priced toappeal to budget conscious customers who like thelook of the original Tempo machine but aren't yetconfident enough to make the bigger investmentthat it demands. The Tempo L borrows many of the refinements of the original Tempo, but offersfour colour printing instead of eight. However,customers do have the option to upgrade as andwhen they are ready.

Durst's Rho 205, which we covered in some depthin the last issue, was further upgraded at Drupa tothe Durst 205-16. This enhanced offering features 16 heads over the original eight and thus effectivelydoubles the overall productivity of the machinewhilst maintaining the same level of output quality.More interesting was the introduction of Durst's Rho160W Plus, which has the ability to print white inkon to a wide range of rigid and flexible materials.

The Rho 160W Plus is the latest version of therecently introduced Rho 160 Plus, which itself is an upgrade of the highly successful Rho 160. Thewhite ink feature allows users to create a whitebackground, ideal for coloured and clear media.Several different user selectable white ink printoptions include, underprinting white areas, fillingwhite areas or details, printing white as a spotcolour, producing cleaner backgrounds on colouredmedia, and creating greater contrast in images. TheRho 160 Plus also offers many new features over itspredecessor, which include a revolutionary printhead layout that facilitates faster printing speedswithout sacrificing image quality. There are fourprinting modes, offering real high speed printingup to approximately 80m2 per hour.

Last but by no means least is Lüscher's entry intothe large format digital printing sector, with theJetPrint, a UV ink-jet printer which is mounted ona unique fixed vacuum table and employs Spectrapiezo print heads, with 1024 jets per colour. Usingfour, six or eight (or two x four) future-orientedSunJet UV curing inks, JetPrint prints virtually anyrigid or flexible substrate up to 80mm thick or evennumerous small formats simultaneously, whilstachieving a true resolution of 400 x 400dpi and aspeed of up to 100m2 an hour (with eight colours).

Plenty here then for everyone to choose fromand with manufacturers continuing to refine andhone their offerings, as they receive customer feedback, it is safe to assume that the flatbed marketwill continue to gather momentum for the foresee-able future.

a Inca exhibiting at Sign Italia.

a


FACE2FACE

If you have ever owned a garment from VivienneWestward or Jasper Conran, worn one of Georginavon Etzdorf's sumptuous signature scarves, orcovered a sofa in a colourful Liberty print, thechances are that the fabric will have come fromBelford Print.

First established in London in 1985, the companymarked a collaboration between Ron Smart, ownerof R.A. Smart, a supplier of traditional screenprint-ing equipment and materials and Patricia 'Trish'Belford, a textile designer, who, on her own admis-sion, "prefers the practical side of fabric production."Originally created to fill a gap in the market for veryhigh quality, short run bespoke textile printing,Belford Prints soon became the darling of all of theleading British fashion designers as well as themanufacturers of the most coveted furnishingfabrics. Trish Belford, who now presides over afactory that employs 24 people, remembers the earlydays when she was the company's sole employee.She explains: "As a supplier of screenprinting equip-ment, Ron realised that there was no UK companythat specialised in short run textiles and so designersand manufacturers who wanted something originalhad to source printers in Europe. We started off in asmall way - just me working in a disused railwayarch – the only place we could find that was bigenough to accommodate the 20m printing table!"

However, after five years of successful trading itbecame clear that a move was necessary to enableBelford Prints to keep up with the growing demand ithad been responsible for creating. Cheshire was theobvious choice for the new headquarters, since R.A.

Smart, which had gradually expanded its repertoire toinclude all sorts of screen related equipment, had alsooutgrown its original Macclesfield premises and wasplanning to move into a brand new factory unit innearby Bollington. It seemed only sensible then, thatBelford Prints should occupy a neighbouring unit onthe same industrial estate so that the two companiescould take full advantage of the cross fertilisation thattheir complementary activities provided.

During the 90s, Belford Prints gained a reputationfor being able to accommodate even the mostesoteric of requests and became especially skilled inthe production of the devoré velvet that was one ofthe defining fashion statements of the decade.During this period the company's profits soared,but by 1999 devoré had rather had its day and inany case, many foreign printers had also got togrips with the complexities involved in producingthis luxurious fabric. Belford Prints needed to findanother unique and lucrative area in which it couldexcel, but although the commissions it undertookcontinued to test its resources to the limit and alsoprovided the sort of challenges it relished, as Trishbluntly asserts: "We didn't make an awful lot ofmoney." She says: "Paradoxically we became thevictims of our own success. We had earnedourselves a name for being able to come up withthe goods no matter how fanciful the concept ordifficult the fabric. But although we were running24 hour shifts and working hard all of the time,practically everything we did was fiddly and labourintensive and, as a result, not that profitable."

A major rethink was needed, which lead toBelford Prints swapping the capricious World offemale fashion for the more conservative andpredictable area of menswear and also devotingmore production time to the growing requirementfor unusual furnishing fabrics. Trish continues:"Nowadays we are printing a lot of the fabric used in men's tailoring, which provides us with a steadyinflux of work that is much more manageable." Infact Belford Print now numbers companies such asGieves and Hawkes, the upmarket mens' tailoramongst its current clients. That is not to say

Textiles with a twistOnce upon a time, Macclesfield was the home of the UK silk industry. But although silk production has longsince ceased and most of the former silk mills have now been converted into desirable homes or swishoffices, the Cheshire town hasn't entirely lost its connections with the textile Industry. Belford Prints Ltd.is one of the very few British companies to produce short run textiles to order, whilst its sister company,R.A. Smart, sells both traditional screenprinting equipment and the latest digital technology.Val Hirst goes Face2Face with Trish Belford and Magnus Mighall to find out more.

Paradoxically we became the victims of our own success. We had earned

ourselves a name for being able to come upwith the goods no matter how fanciful

the concept or difficult the fabric.“ ”

Belford Prints und R.A. Smartsind Schwesterngesellschaften, diejeweils kurzfristige und maßgeschnei-derte Textildrucke produzieren,welche innerhalb des Modensektorsund dem Bereich der Heimtextilieneingesetzt werden. Zusätzlich liefernsie sowohl „traditionelle" Siebdruck-als auch Digitaldruckausstattungenfür den Textildruck. Beide Firmenerklären, dass der Digitaldruck es denDesignern ermöglicht, ihreOriginalkonzepte auf Weisen zu real-isieren, wie das zuvor unmöglichgewesen wäre. Aber sie betonen auch,dass Siebdruck immer noch derkosteneffizienteste Weg sei, Stoffeund Gewebe zu bedrucken und dassdie besten Ergebnisse oft dann erre-icht werden, wenn die zwei Prozessezusammen verwendet werden, umeinander zu ergänzen.

Belford Prints produziert derzeitDrucke, die für Herrenbekleidung undHeimtextilien eingesetzt werden. R.A.Smart war einer der ersten britischenUnternehmen die sich eine „MimakiTX1" Textildruckmaschineanschafften, ist nun Wiederverkäufervon Mimaki- Produkten für denTextildruck und verkauft diese inganz Großbritannien. Lesen Sie den ganzen Artikel an www.fespaworld.com/27.1

Belford Prints et R.A. Smart sontdeux entreprises sœurs qui

fabriquent en petite quantité del'impression textile pour la mode et lamaison et fournissent deséquipements pour la sérigraphie et lenumérique. Ces entreprisesexpliquent que l'impressionnumérique a permis aux créateurs deréaliser leurs concepts originaux cequi était autrefois impossible, maistous deux insistent sur le fait que lasérigraphie reste le moyen le meilleurmarché d'imprimer des tissus et queles meilleurs résultats sont souventatteints quand les deux procédés sontutilisés en tandem en se complétant.

Belford Prints produit desimprimés pour la mode masculine etl'habitat. P.A. Smart a été une despremières entreprises britanniques àacheter une imprimante pour textileMimaki TX1 et elle est ensuitedevenue un revendeur des produitsMimaki aux imprimeurs textilesbritanniques. Lisez tout l'article à www.fespaworld.com/27.2

Belford Prints y R.A. Smart soncompañías hermanas que realizan,respectivamente, impresión textil amedida en tiradas cortas para su usoen los sectores de moda y textil hogary suministro de equipos de impresiónen serigrafía tradicional y digital.Estas compañías nos explican que la impresión digital ha permitido alos diseñadores realizar conceptosoriginales en formas que anteshabrían sido imposibles, pero insistenque la serigrafía es todavía la formade impresión más eficiente en costesy que los mejores resultados sealcanzan a menudo cuando los dos procesos son utilizadosconjuntamente como complementouno del otro.

Los trabajos impresos queactualmente produce Belford Prints se utilizan en moda hombre y textilhogar. R.A: Smart fue una de lasprimeras compañías en adquirir unaimpresora textil Mimaki TX1 y hallegado a ser un distribuidor deproductos Mimaki para impresorestextiles de todo el Reino Unido.Lea este artículo adentro porcompleto en www.fespaworld.com/27.3


FACE2FACE

Left: Magnus Mighall from

R.A. Smart

Right: Trish Belford from

Belford Prints Ltd


however, that the company's collective expertise isbeing wasted. A quick stroll around the factoryreveals that along with the sober dark fabricsdestined for suit linings and the jauntily discreetpatterns that will be made into ties, there are stilllots of more obviously eyecatching designs passingthrough the various printing, steaming and washingprocesses. Many of these will eventually find theirway into the fabulous houses that frequently featurein the glossy home and interior magazines.

Remarking on the hundreds of multi-huedsamples that cover every available surface of Trish'soffice, Magnus Mighall, who has worked for R.A.Smart for the last 17 years, attributes this gloriousexplosion of colour to the advent of digital technol-ogy. He says: "When we had to rely on screenprint-ing there was a limit to the number of differenttones and shades that could be used in one design,but now thanks to digital printing there are norestrictions at all." Trish agrees saying: "Oftendesigners create a design which couldn't have beenprinted six or seven years ago – now they simplytake it for granted that they can have anything thatthey want and, by and large, they can!"

R.A. Smart are now resellers for Hybrid, the exclu-sive UK distributor for Mimaki printers and wereone of the first companies to acquire Mimaki's origi-nal inkjet textile printer, the Textile Jet TX1600,when it was introduced some six years ago.Especially designed for printing directly on to fabric,the TX1600 was superseded by the faster TX2-1600model some three years later and the range has nowbeen further complemented with the introduction

of the TX3 which was launched last year at ITMA.Magnus explains that, as is the case with other

industry areas, once companies adopt digital tech-nology and grow to appreciate the advantages itcan offer them, they are keen to trade up to a newand faster model as soon as it becomes available.However, textile printing throws up extra chal-lenges. He says: "Unlike paper and other flexiblesubstrates, cloth is not necessarily always of atotally uniform quality and any slight imperfectionsin the weave can play havoc with the smooth oper-ation of the printer and the final effect. Therefore,textile printers seldom offer quite the same plugand play facilities as the latest generation of print-ers designed for the graphics industry. For example,the TX3 is not necessarily any speedier than itspredecessors but it does feature a much moresophisticated belt system which minimises anyproblems with the smooth flow of the fabricthrough the machine. It also achieves the samehigh quality at a lower print resolution, which inturn promotes faster throughput overall." Trish addsthat although in theory it should be possible tosimply set the printer and walk away, this seldomhappens in real life. "You have to be on hand incase the fabric gets jammed or anything else goeswrong," she says, visibly palling at the thought ofruining several metres of exquisitely expensive silkor cashmere due to a printing glitch.

Initially inkjet textile printers were most oftenused for sampling but increasingly, they are beingused to produce an entire fabric run. Trish thoughlikes to harness both old and new technology in


FACE2FACE

tandem. "Screen printing is still the best and mostcost effective method for producing a large quantityof a simple one or two colour print," she saysfirmly. Other designs feature both screen-printedand digitally printed elements with Trish using herskill as a designer and expertise as a printer toadvise clients which method will produce thedesired result at an affordable price.

Magnus feels that soon the balance will tip a littlefurther in the direction of digital printing. Assomeone who has witnessed the growth of digitalmethods and seen R.A. Smart's core business movefrom a ratio of one third digital to two thirds tradi-tional a mere three years ago, to two thirds digital toone third traditional today, he is preparing to up theante. He confides that R.A. Smart is preparing to takedelivery of the brand new Monna Lisa printer fromthe Italian manufacturer Robustelli. This heavy-dutyinkjet machine, which is to the textile industry whatthe superwide format inkjet machines are to thegraphics industry, features tried and tested piezo-inkjet technology and uses Epson printheads. Themachine is the result of a collaboration betweenRobustelli, Epson and For Tex SRl who specialise inthe production of dyes and who are producing a newrange of Genesta inks specially designed for use withthe Monna Lisa. These three companies have takenheed of the wish lists of the many textile manufac-turers who inhabit the Como area of Italy and whobetween them produce the majority of fabrics usedby all of the leading design houses and couturiers.

"The Robustelli machine will print at up to a blis-tering 118m2 per hour compared to the 22m2 thatcan be achieved with the TX3, so someone with acool quarter of a million euros to invest can reallystart stepping up a gear or two." Magnus says withenthusiasm. Trish too welcomes the opportunity tore-define the term 'short run'. At present it's feasibleto produce up to l000m of fabric digitally, and sheis looking forward to being able to treble that quan-tity within the same time span.

However in textile terms, fast is a relative term.Although the actual printing time might havebecome faster, the process is still a slow and labori-ous one. A walk around the Belford factory revealsthat digital methods aside, the textiles still need tobe pre-coated and, after printing, they have to besteamed so that the dyes will adhere properly andfinally, washed. Unlike the graphics industry, textileprinting is not an area, where people can dip in andout at will. "The initial investment is a much higherone although we can provide smaller versions of

the traditional steamers and washers if the companyconcerned are only going to operate on a smallerscale." says Magnus.

Over at the R.A. Smart factory it quickly becomesobvious that company has retained its ability toproduce traditional materials as well as all of thelatest innovations such as digital printers and heatpresses for use with dye sublimation. Remarking onthe latter, Magnus observes that this is another areathat has benefitted from a digital approach. "Whenyou look at the scope for personalisation it's quiteremarkable," he says. "Just look at the current cropof football strips all of which feature multi- colouredlogos as well as the more prosaic team names andnumbers. None of that would have been possiblewithout the digital method of dye sublimation."

As well as dealing with textile printers of alldenominations, R.A. Smart has also made some-thing of a specialty of supplying equipment tocolleges and universities, who provide a sizeablechunk of the company's business. As Magnusexplains: "It's very important that the next genera-tion of textile designers are up to speed with thetechnology and know how to use it." The companyalso operates its own bureau service, using itsdemonstration machines to either supplement aclient's own in-house capacity or to provide 'test-runs' for those who are considering investing in a machine. This and the close links with BelfordPrints means that Magnus is uniquely placed toappreciate how equipment needs to operate in aneveryday working environment and which newinnovations would be most useful for the industry.He confirms that R.A. Smart customers get thebenefit of the company's hard-won expertise. "Whena customer first acquires a new digital printer, there'san awful lot of hand-holding and we try to guidethem through all of the possible problems theymight encounter. Then as resellers, we are also in aposition to provide useful feedback to the distribu-tors and manufacturers who in turn can use it toenhance future models." He feels though that thenext advancements will concern dye developmentrather than machine modification. "There is a realneed for a machine that can deliver white dye," hesays, acknowledging that this is something that isonly just happening with the graphic sector. "Thatwould really help to open up a lot of differentmarkets since at the moment it is only possible to print on to a dark fabric using discharge inks. It would also be nice to think that a dye that doesaway with the necessity for pre-coating, yet stilldelivers the same vibrant colour gamut, isn't very faraway. These two developments would certainly openup all sorts of new markets, although when I lookback there are already many new applications in adozen different sectors that wouldn't have been possi-ble without the advent of digital imaging. In anotherten years time, I'm sure that textile printers will bedoing all sorts of things that we can't even conceiveof now." And whatever they are Belford Prints andR.A. Smart are sure to be leading the way!

It's very important that the nextgeneration of textile designers are

up to speed with the technologyand know how to use it. “ ”


FOCUS ON textilesFirst established in Spain more than 40 yearsago, C.M. Pannon, S.L. is a manufacturer ofscreenprinting equipment who prides itselfon using its years of hard won experience tohelp its customers select the best productsfor their specific areas of application. Thecompany is particularly involved in theproduction of equipment used in the textileprinting sector and offers a range of bothmanual and automatic linear and carrouselmachines, as well as drying tunnels and silk-screen printing accessories. Its machines areexported worldwide to customers in coun-tries such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico,Portugal, Italy and Bangladesh, all of whomappreciate the fact that C.M. Pannon offer afull service that includes installation, train-ing and after sales support.

When asked to describe a typical Pannoncustomer, Managing Director DomingoPannon responds that there is no such thing.He says: “Our customers include the smallestfamily run screenprinting company who

specialise in garment personalisation to thelargest textile companies who provide fabricsfor all of the leading fashion houses. In thesame way, we supply equipment that is suit-able for printing anything from short runpromotional goods to textiles that will beused for haute couture.” He adds that thecompany has its own in-house technicaldevelopment department that is dedicated tocontinually improving quality and keepingC.M Pannon at the forefront of manufacture.

Although he acknowledges the growth andincreasing popularity of digital printing tech-nology in the textile sector, DomingoPannon feels that it will have to progress along way before it truly rivals screenprinting.He explains: “It’s true that digital printing isdeveloping in leaps and bounds, but screen-printing still offers many more possibilitiesfor inspiration and creativity than digitalmethods yet provide. For example, visit anyshopping centre and see all of the differentdesigns that have been achieved using screen-

printing – you’ll find glitter effects, spangling,flocking, foam, vintage, tri-dimensional, etc.Add to this the fact that you can take a singleT-shirt and use several different kinds of inkwhich combine to produce many differenttextures and decorative effects. I don’t believethat this level of variety and originality ispossible with digital printing methods”

He adds that at present at least the desirefor ethnically inspired fashion is working inscreenprintings' favour, but maintains thateven when tastes change, screenprinting willstill allow for more original innovation. Heconcludes: “Our customers use different inkformulations to print on everything fromcotton, nylon, polyester, lycra, non-wovenfabrics, paper and PVC and the finished prod-ucts include T-shirts, caps, bags, trousers,paper for transfer. And happily the moreinventive they become the more the demandgrows. I think that screenprinting will remainthe process of choice for most companies inthe textile sector for many years to come.”

Gábor Poos and his wife first establishedSzitaGrafix Kft in 1990 and although nowa-days the company has expanded its area ofoperation to include pad-printing andprinting on to both flexible and rigidsubstrates, it started off more modestly. AsGábor explains, SzitaGrafix Kft was original-ly formed to print T-shirts. He says: “Wemade a very limited investment at first, butvery quickly the demand grew and soon wewere able to extend our repertoire some-what and move into other areas such astransferring images on to hats, umbrellas,bags and so on.”

Nowadays the company, which operatesfrom a 200m2 factory, boasts 12 employeesand despite its frugal start, has invested a lotof money in equipment. Gábor resumes:“We recently bought a 7-colour automaticscreenprinting machine which will help tofacilitate further growth.” He adds that thecompany’s latest venture is printing on to

CDs and DVDs using a machine that it hasdeveloped itself, but despite all of theseenhancements, Gabor declares that textileprinting remains his ‘first love’.

He goes on to explain that quality isalways given a high priority which is proba-bly why SzitaGrafix Kft was rewarded withthe first prize in the Textile Section of acompetition run by the Hungarian ScreenPrinting Association.

He says: “I am looking forward to thefuture, primarily because I feel thatHungary’s acceptance into the EEC will helpto boost the economy at home and alsoenable us to service clients in other areas ofEurope. I also am looking forward to enjoy-ing a more regular workload and am antici-pating a move into larger premises in orderto cope with any extra demand.”

According to Gabor, textile printing willdevelop in three different ways: he foreseesthat there will be an increasing demand for

high quality hand made printing which willrun in tandem with the greater automationof the process. He says: “Whilst all of theadvances in equipment are helping to makethe screen process, quicker, easier and there-fore cheaper, I think there will always be anequal need for really original hand-crafteditems and some companies, particularlythose operating in the luxury goods marketwill be prepared to pay the extra premiumthat this kind of work deserves.” He alsorecognises that the advances in digital print-ing techniques will also leave their mark. Hecontinues: “Already digital printers are facili-tating greater creativity and permitting theproduction of complex designs that simplywouldn’t have been possible before. I expectthis trend to continue but at the same time, Idon’t think this will be to the detriment ofscreen printing. Rather we will be combiningboth conventional and new methods toproduce something really unique.”

A perfect pairingDomingo Pannon, Managing Director of a Spanish screenprinting equipment manufacturer, believes that when it comes to textile printing screen is the best method.

Hungarian rhapsody Hungarian screenprinter Gábor Poos of SzitaGrafix Kft,explains why textile printing will always remain his first love.


FOCUS ON TEXTILES

Based in Vincenza, Northern Italy, Siser s.p.A specialises in the manufacture of materials suitable for thermo transfer on to textiles and is recognised as one of the leading companies within this field.

The worldwide name forthermo transfer onto textile

First established in l970, when it inventedan original CAD-CUT material, Siser isresponsible for helping to create the latesttrends in leisure and sports personalisationand now sports such as basketball, volley-ball, athletics and football, are all benefit-ting from the company's products.

In the same way, its customers can alsotake full advantage of the profit potentialin this lucrative and rapidly growingmarket. Custom lettering and logos can beapplied in minutes onto T-shirts, jackets,bags and all sorts of other ancillary sportsitems, and, because the process is now soquick and convenient, there are fewrestrictions as to minimum size of order orturnaround time. In fact most companiesare able to offer a next day deliveryservice.

Siser predict that in future there will bean even wider selection of materials tochoose from, including thinner fabrics, an expanded colour gamut and lots ofeyecatching special effects as personalisedclothing follows the ever-changing dictatesof fashion. Currently its products are suit-able for use with plotter cut applications,die-cutting, digital printing, and screen-printing and can be used on cotton, poly-ester, poly cotton blends, lycra, wovennylons, knitted nylons, nylon mesh andall light silicon treated textiles. It currentlystocks a variety of 23 different products inup to 20 different colours. They include:

Videoflex and Videoflex PUThese materials are suitable for plotter cut,sport specific applications, due to theirhigh opacity and matt finish. Videoflex PUis a PVC free material that features a thinlayer (about 100 Micron thick only) whichis best suited for multi-layer decorations.Sublistop This newly introduced material wasdesigned to provide embellishments onpolyester textiles dyed with the tradition-ally difficult red and blue sublimationinks, and eliminate the possibility ofbleed-through. Sublistop features a thinlayer and offers superior colour fastnessduring washing. It is particularly suitablefor use in conjunction with football shirts. Videoflex PerforatedThis is another new material that is espe-cially suitable for large decorative motifssince it allows the fabric to 'breathe' evenafter heat application on to the garment.Perforations are available in differentshapes, for example as circles, stars, etc.thus further enhancing the overall decora-tive effect. Videoflex FASHIONThis special plotter-cut material can beused for any decoration requiring a fash-ionable glitter or transparent effect and isavailable in gold and silver glitters and anew 'Glossy Paint' effect.High Q Flock™A new and innovative flock material made

of a special high quality fibre, High Qflock offers outstanding colour brillianceand wash fast performance in any plotter-cut application.Thermoreflex and Thermoreflex 2000This is a highly reflective product designedfor plotter cut applications and manufac-tured through glass micro ball technology.Both products are compliant with theEN471 European safety standard whilstThermoreflex 2000 features special washingresistance even at temperatures up to 90°.Colorprint / Colorprint ExtraAn improved medium for digitally printedhigh-resolution images and logos, thisproduct has been designed to accommo-date different printing processes. It hasbeen certified by Roland for use on its eco-solvent Versacamm SP 300 printer and itssolvent inkjet Soljet II machines. It canalso be used on thermal transfer printerssuch as the Gerber Edge II and Roland'sPC60 and PC600 printers. Colorprint Extrais most suitable for use on lightly silicontreated garments.

Finally Siser recommends the TS-ONEHeat Seal Press, a professional press thatprovides trouble free application for allSiser materials and which is very popularwith customers who appreciate both itspatented design and its easily operated'swing' opening.For any further information visitwww.siser.it


SHOWCASE

Clegg Media of Brisbane, Australia, used its PressVu UV to print 106 individualgraphics, totalling 640m2 and ranging insize from 60cm x 1.2m to 6.44 x 5.05m,for The Arbour Lane Shopping Center, inRobina Town Center, Queensland. Thegraphics included a wide variety ofdirectional signs, advertising banners and billboards and even wallpaper!

The PressVu also enabled Clegg to printthe Arbour lane logo directly on to pillarsof Satin ice polycarbonate with a texturedfinish – previously this could only havebeen achieved with the use of clear self-adhesive vinyl. Other graphics wereprinted on to backlit flex face vinyl,frontlit and backlit self-adhesive vinylwhich were used to produce banners and

billboards around the centre. Each graphiccarried advertising images, with the frontand backlit self-adhesive vinyl graphicsbeing mounted onto steel and acrylic.Clegg also produced and installedwallpaper between the ground and firstfloors of the shopping centre and printedbillboards for the entrance of ArbourLane's cinema.

Meanwhile on the other side of the World,The Store Décor Company of Rowlett,

Texas, used its PressVu UV180/600 EC to print graphics for Lowe's, a leading US grocery chain based throughout theUnited States. Responsible for transform-ing seemingly unexciting grocery storesinto fun, themed shops, Store Décordesigned, printed and installed this

Three companies from different sides of the globehave recently both used the Vutek PressVu UV flatbed printer to provide imaginative graphics for theretail environment.

Showcase a


SHOWCASE


a & b Clegg media used its PressVu UV to print

on to a wide variety of different substrates to

provide colourful displays throughout the

shopping centre.

c & d Group 360 Display printed in-store graphics

required to match existing in-store signage

printed on offset litho and silkscreen presses.

e & f Store Décor produced colourful Hispanic

themed graphics for Lowes grocery chain.

Hispanic themed signage for a store inAnthony,Texas. Designed to enhance thestore's appearance, the graphics featuredvibrantly coloured signage, Mexicanreplica tiles, awnings and life-size Mariachisingers. The awnings, which were printedon to PVC that was heated and bent intoshape, ranged in size from 1.2m in heightto 6.1m in length. The striking Hispanicstyle tiles were designed and printed onsheets measuring 1.2 x 2.4m and attachedto the walls with silicone, whilst theMariachi singers, were printed directlyonto one-inch gator foam, cut out andthen placed in the balcony over theproduce department. Designed to appealto a range of ages, each 'singer' wasportrayed as a different animal, holding a musical instrument and dressed in a

Mariachi costume. Following the successof the Hispanic themed store, Store Décorhas recently printed 'oil ranch' themedgraphics for another Lowe's grocery storein West Odessa, Texas.

Another VUTEk devotee, Group 360

Display of Missouri, USA, used its VUTEkUltraVu 3360 SC to print in-store graphicsfor a nationally recognized specialtyretailer. Promoting a new 'wellbeing'theme, the retailer's graphics were requiredto match existing in-store signage printedon offset litho and silkscreen presses. Ashort deadline meant that the retailerneeded high quality print produced veryquickly, so traditional printing methodswere not an option, but despite productiondifferences between the new and the

existing graphics, the visual effect wasseamless. The new images were digitallyprinted onto self-adhesive vinyl, and thenbacked onto 12pt cardstock. The UltraVu3360 SC was calibrated to match theprevious screenprinted graphics, ensuringcolour print and consistency between all applications.

Measuring a total of 18,529m2, thegraphics, which were pure white and paleblue in colour and designed to reflect thecalming benefits of the retailer's productrange, were printed on multiple panelsmeasuring 3.124m2. These were thencombined to create graphics in twodifferent sizes – 2.8 x 2.6m and 1.4 x 1.3m.In one area, nine individual panels wereplaced on a large board above a counter, to create the image of a lady sleeping.

c

b

d

e

f

SIGN SPOT

Like many manufacturers, who sellthrough a distributor network, MACtaccan only guess at the many different waysin which its products are being used. TheMACtac Awards competition then, doessomething positive to redress this balanceand enables the company to receive someimportant feedback whilst also honouringthe most original and imaginative uses ofMACtac materials. When the competitionwas first established in 1998, the judgingpanel, which comprised the editors of signand screen magazines throughout Europe,together with industry guru Michel Caza,gathered together in a Barcelona hotel toconsider the 120 or so entries that hadbeen submitted.

MACtac offer a wide range of self-adhe-sive films, including those suitable for usein conjunction with screenprinting andmost recently, digital printing technolo-gies, and the entries reflected these differ-ent uses. As the competition gatheredmomentum over the next six years, it wasinteresting to note that, although, unsur-prisingly, the number of digitally producedentries increased, there were also verymany entries which combined cut vinylwith a screen or digitally printed elementto achieve unusual and innovative effects.The competition has also served to high-light how the boundaries, which separatethe different graphic disciplines are gradu-ally disintegrating. Nowadays it is evidentthat many companies who would havepreviously described their main activity assignmaking or screenprinting are graduallybecoming general graphic providers, whocan use their skills and resources to

provide a wide variety of different work.This year the judging took place in Prague

and the regular jury of magazine editors waspresided over by Ricardo Rodriguez Delgado,President of FESPA, who remarked: "Thedisplay of entries provided a unique presen-tation of achievements from both a graphicsand application point of view. It is evidentthat the industry is increasingly exploitingthe advanced technology that is now avail-able and that design studios are thinkingcreatively in sign industry terms".

He added: "It was also very interesting tosee the representation of virtually every westand east European country and the extentto which the sign and display industries areassuming a major communications role".

Opening the European adjudicationsession, Max Linder, MACtac MarketingDirector Europe, said: "As a leader withinthe self-adhesive graphics market, MACtacacknowledges responsibility for taking thewhole industry forward. In addition tosetting and maintaining the highest stan-dards of film quality, we also stronglypromote the value of self-adhesive graph-ics versus other media, amongst communi-cations professionals. Our aim is to helpour customers generate additional busi-ness. This is the philosophy behind theMACtac Awards program".

He continued: "The high quality stan-dards of the projects submitted ensures thecontinued success of the program and willhelp us promote new, creative and ingen-ious ways of getting attention. This year,the extension of our European Awardsprogram around the globe will furthercontribute to the cross-fertilization of ideas

Winning waysWhen vinyl manufacturer MACtac first launched its biennialEuropean Awards competition six years ago, it attracted 120 entries. However, this year more than 800 companiescompeted throughout Europe and the competition has beenextended worldwide. Val Hirst reports.


a European winner –

Interior Category.

b Regional winner –

France, 1st prize.

c European winner –

Technical Category.

d Regional winner –

Germany, 1st prize.

a

c

d

b

a


SIGN SPOT

amongst sign experts and creative design-ers worldwide".

All the winning, second and thirdplaced entrants stand to gain highlyadvantageous new business exposure frominclusion in the "MACtac WorldwideAwards – 2004" prize book, which will alsoinclude Special "MACtac mentions" and allcommended entries. Three prize books willbe published, one for each territory. InEurope, the prize books are distributed tomore than 3000 of the largest commercialand public companies as well as to all ofthe leading advertising agencies anddesign studios. The prize books will beavailable from MACtac subsidiaries fromJune onward. In addition, the Europeanwinners in each of the four categories willwin a weekend trip for two people in NewYork, including air fare and accommoda-tion, whilst participants gaining first posi-tion in the eight geographic areas will wina weekend trip for two people to eitherPrague, Lisbon or Vienna.

European winnersEuropean winner – Technical Category:"Seasons' Greetings", BelgiumSign Maker M@kom, BelgiumEnd-User ING BankDistributor GPGAdvertising Agency Magic MonkeyProducts IMAGin JT 5829 RThe European prize for the "TechnicalCategory" has been attributed to MakomBelgique for the outstanding decoration ofthe ING façade building in Antwerp,created by Magic Monkey, the advertisingagency specialized in wide format graph-

ics. The 200 windows and window framesof the building required 350m2 digitalprinted film, two applicators and 20 hoursof work under adverse winter conditions.Perfect overlap was essential to create therequired effect. The high gloss IMAGinfilm allowed the exact rendering of the"metallic effect" of the stars versus thebackground colour. Giant spotlights withrotating colour filters further enhanced the"glittery" effect of the image, transformingthe 2-dimensional visual into a 3-dimen-sional object suspended in the night.

European winner – Interior Category: "The swatchfloor", SpainSign Maker Ades Ripollet, SpainEnd-User CasadecorDistributor Polynorma, SAProduct IMAGin JT 5000,

Permacolor PF 6400 The European winner for the "InteriorCategory" is Ades Ripollet for the originaland colourful transposition of the tradi-tional "swatchbook" into a "swatchfloor"for the promotion of a new range of paint,in Barcelona. The bright and vivid coloursof the 200m2 floor and stairs wereachieved with high gloss IMAGin film.Superior film resistance was obtained withthe use of a Permacolor film as a protec-tive layer.

European winner – Exterior Category:"Formula 1 in the city", BelgiumSign Maker Craset s.a., BelgiumEnd-User ToyotaDistributor GPGAdvertising Agency Event Business

Products IMAGin JT 5915 P oneway vision film andMACscreen 8129 R

The jury awarded the European "ExteriorCategory" prize to Creaset S.A. for thisawesome, high impact visual that deco-rates the front of the Toyota buildinglocated in a strategic avenue of Brussels. Atotal of 1800m2 of films was necessary tocover the facade. Composed of MACscreenfilm and one-way vision film for windowscoverage, the Formula 1 car on the build-ing draws the attention of the heavy trafficto and from the airport.

European winner – Fleet Category: "All Green", U.K.Sign Maker Sign Language, U.K.End-User Black Cab Advertising Distributor AndersonsProducts MACmark 9900 and

8300 PROSign Language received the European "FleetCategory" prize for the outstanding graphictreatment created for the promotion of"Green Park", an ecological industrialestate. The concept is particularly remark-able for its transformation of objects into"all green" visuals and the way they weredisplayed on cars. Their "clever" applicationusing the curves of the car even when partsof the images are missing contributes to adynamic graphic effect. To make eachelement of the graphic stand out, a multitechnique approach has been selected. Thecab has been first covered with white vinyl.Then visuals were printed and overlaid onthe white vinyl before plotter cut letterswere finally added.


a Regional winner – East Europe, 1st prize.

b Regional winner – Iberia, 1st prize.

c Regional winner – Benelux, 1st prize.

d Regional winner – United Kingdom, 1st prize.

e European winner – Exterior Category.

f Regional winner – Scandinavia, 1st prize.

g European winner – Fleet Category.

h Regional winner – Mediterranean, 1st prize.

f

c

b

d

e

h

g


SIGN SPOT

Regional winners – Benelux1st prizeAlmost real image of supermarket shelves in a foodproducts fair.Sign Maker Numeris Printing s.a., BelgiumEnd-User Supermarket Louis DelhaizeDistributor GPGAdvertising Agency Carr & AssocisProducts MACscreen 8129

2nd prizeBrightness and subtlety for a day and night van decor.Sign Maker Boss Design, The NetherlandsEnd-User Boss Design, The NetherlandsDistributor Multifoil b.v.Products MACmark 9800 PRO and

MACmark 5700 reflective film

3rd prizeGetting attention with 10 decorated unusual objectsfor the promotion of a construction site.Sign Maker Blomsma XL Colorprinting, The

NetherlandsEnd-User Woning bedrijf, AmsterdamAdvertising Agency t Idee! Communicatieprojecten BVProducts MACscreen Promotional 29 R

Regional winners – East Europe1st prizeCreative graphic effect for a bicycle manufacturer van.Sign Maker Pramustgalvis, Uab, LithuaniaEnd-User Baltic Vairas, AbDistributor Sesoma, UabProducts MACfleet 6569-00 and

IMAGin JT 5529 P

2nd prizeDelicate and complex glass decor for 10 windows inmotor museum in Latvia.Sign Maker Auto Dizains, LatviaEnd-User Sia MOORADistributor Sesoma, UabProducts MACmark Glass Decor

3rd prizeHigh impact visual for the total decoration of a tram & bus.Sign Maker Comp Deco, HungaryEnd-User Auto Media KftDistributor Polinoor KftProducts IMAGin JT 5829 R

Regional winners – France1st prizeSuccessful product branding on van by using digitalimages plus gold marking film.Sign Maker Publicit Franois, FranceEnd-User Coeur de Lion, Messageries

LaitiresProducts MACmark 9879-00, 9899-00,

IMAGin JT 5929 P

2nd prizeAmazing wooden car to promote wood floor covering.Sign Maker Frouin Publicit, FranceEnd-User Wood ConceptDistributor DIS Nantes/Cotonnire LyonnaiseProducts MACmark 9800, MACfleet

6529-00 IMAGin JT 5915 P one way vision film

3rd prizeAttractive decoration of a retail/shop/café in the Paris underground.Sign Maker En Apparence, FranceEnd-User Relay H ImplantationDistributor K Plastic

Products IMAGin JT 5928 P, Permacolor PG 7075

Regional winners – Germany1st prizeAstonishing and "almost real" 17m long floor graphicsfeaturing a 13th Century road at Middle Age exhibition.Sign Maker Fotostudio Henke, GermanyEnd-User Historische Museum im MarstallProducts IMAGin JT 1828 R,

Permacolor PF 6300

2nd prizeOptical illusion to promote sign maker services: a car decorates a van.Sign Maker Salmeri, GermanyEnd-User SalmeriDistributor Brunner GmbHProducts MACmark 9800 PRO

3rd prizeSuccessful "see through" impression for visual promoting seat manufacturer products.Sign Maker G. Werbetechnik & Design,

GermanyEnd-User DE-AutosahlereiDistributor G. Werbetechnik & DesignProducts MACmark 9800 PRO,

IMAGin JT 5529 P

Regional winners – Iberia1st prizeImpressive 369m2 decoration of underground stationin Barcelona.Sign Maker Soluciones Pirez Sl, SpainEnd-User Metro di BarcelonaDistributor Legon PlasAdvertising Agency Magic Touch IberiaProducts MACmark 8929-00

2nd prizeOff the wind with an eye catching and dynamicpromotion for mobile phones.Sign Maker Integral de Imagen Corporativa,

SpainEnd-User Siemens, s.a. Distributor Legon Plas, s.l.Products MACfleet 6529-00, 6559-12,

6589-00

3rd prize720m2 vinyl for wall and ceiling decor at Barcelona airport.Sign Maker Soluciones Pirez Sl, SpainEnd-User Barcelona AirportDistributor Legon Plas, s.l.Advertising Agency Magic Touch IberiaProducts MACmark 8929-00

Regional winners – Mediterraneancountries1st prizeAttractive and bright colours for shop window displayin Milan.Sign Maker Nuova Graforel Snc, ItalyEnd-User NadineDistributor IMAS GraficaProducts MACmark 8400 and 8900 PRO

IMAGin JT films, Permacolor PP2011 and PG 7285

2nd prizeWall and roof decoration for the 12m access gallery of the Chibicart exhibition.Sign Maker Grafix, ItalyEnd-User Fiera di MilanoDistributor IMAS Grafica

Products MACmark 9889-00, IMAGin JT5929, IMAGin LF 3699

3rd prizeBiennale di Venezia – decoration of 16 pipes used asaccess corridors.Sign Maker Eurostands, ItalyEnd-User Biennale di VeneziaDistributor SidecAdvertising Agency Studio ArcheaProducts MACmark 8900 PRO

Regional winners – Scandinavia1st prizeHigh impact achieved with cut-by-hand vinyl for van decoration.Sign Maker ABM Reklame, NorwayEnd-User Eik senhetDistributor Basberg PapirProducts MACmark 9800 PRO

Highly CommendedVinyl goes offshore. 500m2 of vinyl were applied onaluminium sides of a boat.Sign Maker ORCA Maritime, NorwayEnd-User Stena CarismaDistributor MACtacProducts MACmark offshore vinyl

Regional winners – United Kingdom1st prizeJoyful hospital entrance decor combines coloured andtransparent films and features the 4 seasons.Sign Maker Vinylize, U.K.End-User John Radcliffe Hospital, OxfordDistributor AndersonsDesigner Judy FooteProducts MACmark 9700 PRO, 8400 and

Glass decor

2nd prizeArtistic and complex design for shop window.Sign Maker Onward Display Ltd., U.K.End-User LEVISDistributor AndersonsDesigner Art StudentProducts MACmark 8948-04,

MACmark 8400

3rd prizeDynamic crowd movement for visual in EMI building foyer.Sign Maker Jupiter, U.K.End-User EMIDistributor AndersonsProducts MACmark 8959-01 For more information, please contact: Nadine Quetin Strategy InternationalCommunications Tel : ++32 (0)2 679 00 30 Fax: ++32 (0)2 679 00 49 E-mail: [email protected]

Max Linder MACtac Europe Tel: ++32 (0) 67 34 62 11 Fax: ++32 (0) 67 33 05 74 E-mail: [email protected]


SIGN SPOT

The colourrevolution

When there are already thousands ofdifferent coloured vinyls to chose from,

why would we need any more? In a boldnew move, Avery Dennison is extending

its Pantone colour matching service.Val Hirst investigates

a,b,c & d These arresting images promote

the vast choice of Pantone matched colours

now available from Avery.a


From this month onwards, UK signmakersworking with corporate clients will nolonger have put up with a 'good enough'colour match. In future, it will be possiblefor them to specify a precise Pantone refer-ence and ensure complete conformity.This follows the announcement that AveryDennison Graphics Division Europe hasjoined forces with Pantone Inc in a uniquelicensing agreement, which Avery claims,is designed to bring more clarity andconsistency to colour specification acrossthe whole spectrum of print and graphics.

Commenting on this innovation, whichis initially being launched in the UK, butwill gradually be extended across the rest ofEurope this autumn, Evert-Jan VriesCommunications Manager Europe forAvery Dennison Graphics Division, explainsthat it follows an initial 'trial run'. He says:"Pantone has set colour standards since the60s and every designer has his or her ownPantone reference book which theyconstantly refer to for ideas and inspiration.Accordingly, when we offered a limitedplatform of the most popular Pantoneshades, we received such an enthusiasticresponse that we decided to expand thesystem to cover more than a l000 differentcolours in the 2004 Pantone System. Now,for the first time, signmakers will be able tomatch corporate colours precisely, thus

ensuring that signs are perfectly consistentwith all the other elements of an overallcorporate identity program."

He adds: "Nowadays so much work goesinto brand development and colour playssuch a major part in the recognitionprocess. In fact, it is often the definingelement, more so than the actual logo style,which is why it is so important to maintaincomplete conformity across the board."

Avery has chosen to combine thePantone Matching System with its flagship900 Series film. This premium quality filmworks well across the broad spectrum ofapplications and is particularly suitable foruse in conjunction with vehicle liveriessince it is highly conformable and cancover even the most challenging combina-tion of contours without any problem. TheAvery Series 900 is also the material that ismost frequently specified for use inconjunction with major corporate identityprograms since its high gloss finish helpsto provide the perfect finishing touch toany high profile signing. Signmakers willbe able to order the Pantone colour speci-fied by their customer, simply by quotingthe Pantone reference, for custom manu-facture in the Avery Graphics clean-roomcast films plant in Alphen aan den Rijn, inthe Netherlands. But despite what amountsto a bespoke manufacturing process, the

minimum order quantity is for a single roll(1.23 x50m) with a delivery period of justthree weeks following receipt of order. Fororders of l0 rolls or more, the cost differen-tial between the Pantone matched vinyland standard colours is negligible.

However, according to Evert-Jan Vries,cost won't be the first consideration forcompanies who use this service. He confi-dently asserts: "Primarily, sign buyers andspecifiers will be looking for quality andwill be happy to pay what ever extra itcosts in order to maintain the integrity oftheir brand."

At first glance this development wouldseem to be most relevant to companieswho are involved with major resigningprograms, particularly those that spreadacross several continents. However, Averyanticipates that once news of the PantoneMatching Service spreads, sign buyers ofall denominations will increasingly specifyits use. Evert-Jan de Vries concludes: "Wefeel that once people know that a precisematch is within their grasp they won't becontent to settle for second best, andhappily, because they will be able to ordera comparatively modest minimum quanti-ty, they won't have to".For further information, visit the AveryGraphics Division Europe website at:www.europe.averygraphics.com

b

c d


SIGN SPOT

Brett Martin Ltd has developed a new 'green'substrate, which is especially suitable for signand display work. Foamulux Xtra is a l0mmthick foam PVC sheet featuring a black coreof recycled material, which accounts for over80% of the sheet structure, with a co-extrud-ed 'virgin' white Foamalux foam PVC outerskin on both faces. Its high content of recy-cled material helps users comply withcompany and/or ethical demands to adopt asustainable approach by using recycled andrecyclable products, which is increasingly anissue with municipal organisations and largecorporations. However, Foamalux Xtra iscompetitively priced against the more tradi-tional material options.

It also provides a hard surface, which isideal for all types of sign and display appli-cations, coupled with a reduced weightand can be etched, engraved, routed andprocessed in the same way and to thesame standard as traditional foam PVC.Foamalux Xtra also offers the perfectsurface for the precise reproduction ofeven the most challenging graphics,whether they are produced in vinyl, ink orby photographic methods. The material isavailable in 10mm x 3050mm x 1560mmsheet from Brett Martin's internationalnetwork of distributors.For further information visitwww.bretmartin.com

As part of an ongoing commitment toproduct innovation in the intermediatemarket where high quality is set alongsidegenuine affordability, 3M has now intro-duced 3M Scotchcal Series 20 specificallyfor use on piezo inkjet printers. Apart fromcarrying the powerful Scotchcal brand andall that means in terms of quality and reli-ability, this latest 3M film product canmatch and invariably beat similarly target-ed alternatives from other major manufac-turers on both price and performance.

Available in three formats (white glossy,white matt and transparent) to accommo-date different interior and exterior graph-ics solutions requirements, the calenderedmonomeric films incorporate a pressure-sensitive removable adhesive that willprovide both outstanding adhesion andeasy removability when applied to flatsurfaces commonly encountered in thesign and graphics industry. Additionally,

the opaque film versions in the range havea grey pigmented adhesive to impart asuperior 'no show-through' quality.

Designed for cost-effective, short-term(up to two years) quality graphics, 3MScotchcal Series 20 can provide the ideallow-cost solution for multiple signing andgraphics applications. Typically, theseinclude promotional fleet graphics, publictransport advertising, general signing anddisplays (including backlit signs andwindow graphics), exhibition panels andpoint-of-sale product displays.

3M Scotchcal Series 20 supports all of the major inkjet printer platforms and inpre-launch tests has demonstrated its capa-bilities in terms of image brilliance and reli-ability. Printer profiles have been producedto allow optimum print conditions to beset for the Series 20 materials.For further information visit:www.3m.com/uk/graphicsolutions

Aslan, the manufacturer of speciality self-adhesive films has added a new metal-effectfilm to its Aslan CA 23 range. Available in amatt, copper-brushed effect, this polyesterfilm has a copper colour on both sides andis therefore also suitable for interior use onglass. With an outdoor durability of at leasttwo years, this film can be used for a widerange of different applications. Aslan has

also introduced a new series of metalisedpolyester films: the Aslan CA 24 range. Thisseries consists of highly glossy metal filmsin a variety of different colours and designsto facilitate the production of highly origi-nal signs and graphics. The CA 24 rangealso offers a two year outdoor durability.For further information visit:www.ASLAN-Schwarz.com

New metal-effect films from Aslan

Brett Martin turns green!

Short-term graphics at an affordable price

a 3M Scotchcal Series 20 building application.

b 3M Scotchcal Series 20 window application.

a

b

Sign Shorts


INFORMATION

Basic Information regarding UVinks and their curingThe most commonly used ink types forgraphic screen printing still are 1-compo-nent solvent based inks. These inks dryphysically by evaporation of solvents.

UV-inks on the other hand "dry" by achemical curing reaction initiated by UV-radiation. Basically there are two types ofreaction, radical and cationic reaction.Apart from a few rare exceptions theradical version is mainly used for screenapplications.Components of UV inks (prior to curing):Oligomerbinder, main component, highly viscous,contains active groups for cross linkage.MonomerUsed as "thinner" (substitute), low viscosi-ty, reacts with the oligomer during thecuring process.PhotoinitiatorUV-sensitive component; under UV radia-tion polymerisation is initiated by itsdecomposition into radicals.PigmentsAdditives

Radical Curing Reaction:Under UV-radiation so-called free radicalsform by degradation of the photo initiator.These initiate polymerisation between thedouble bonds of the oligomers andmonomers. In that respect it is importantthat an adequate amount of UVenergy willinitiate a sufficient amount of photoinitia-tors to form radicals. For optimal polymeri-

sation the UV-radiation has to penetratethe complete ink film to the substrate.

The curing reaction depends on manyinfluencing factors:1. Binder base of the inks:

Oligomers, and above all monomersshow quite different reactions inreference to their cross-Iinking speeddepending on their raw material base.There are quite reactive products (e.g.inks for paper, thermoplastics, plastics),however there are also systems with a much slower reaction by factor 5-10 (inks for duroplastics, coatedsurfaces metals).

2. Pigmentation of inks:UV light can penetrate non-pigmentedvarnishes without any major loss. Thuspractically the whole amount of energyemitted by the UV radiator is availablefor curing.

Pigmented inks exhibit a certainabsorption ability towards UV-radiation,which depends on the type of pigmentand the amount contained in theformulation. So pigments inhibit the polymerisation to some extent.Therefore pigmented inks require moreUV energy than non-pigmented inks inorder to cure. Under most unfavourableconditions, e.g. very high ink deposit,polymerisation may therefore beinsufficient.

3. UV-radiators:Depending on the composition of thespectrum of the UV lamp there aredifferent effects on the curing process.

The usual "conventional" high pressuremercury radiators used for graphicscreen printing show a more or lesseven energy distribution covering thewhole UV-spectrum.

The flash discharge lamps used for theso-called flash cure on the other handhave more UV-A radiation. Inks forthese lamps have to contain specialphoto initiators which react to this UVspectrum.

4. Efficiency of the UV-radiators:The efficiency of a UV-radiator is givenin W/cm e.g. 80 W/cm, 120 W/cm. Thisvalue refers to the efficiency suppliedand serves as an indication regardingthe efficiency of the UV-drier. Howeverthese values do not refer to the actualenergy amount emitted to the substrateor the ink film.

Discharge of the UV-energy of theradiator decreases with life time to alarge extent. Thus uncontrolled workingmethods will result in adhesion prob-lems sooner or later.

5. Construction of the UV-Iamp reflector: For optimal use of the energy ofUVIight discharged by the UV-radiatorsthe UV-tunnel is surrounded half-wayby a reflector in order to reflect the lightemitted towards the top down to theprint. The quality of the reflector(mirror-plated, chromium-plated,Aluminium polished, mat Aluminium)and construction (focussed, semi-focussed, defocussed) has a significantinfluence on the quality of curing.

Drying or curing of UV-inksUV Inks are now becoming a more viable option for many screenprinters. J Bauer and the TDS Committee of ESMA provide some good advice on the possible test methods for drying and curing.


INFORMATION

For reasons of heat emission distribu-tion of the UV-radiator (prevention ofthe burning glass effect), defocussing orsemi-focussing reflectors are often tocure temperature sensitive substrates.However highly pigmented darkcolours, especially those with a lowreactivity may then show inferior curingquality. In that case focussing reflectorsare required.

6. Substrate colour:White substrates re-reflect a big portionof the UV-radiation emitted through theink film. Therefore the ink reacts andthus cures faster. Transparent substratesdo not reflect the UV-Iight. lt will beabsorbed by the dark colour of the drier.The missing reflected share of light hasto be compensated by a higher radiationemitted by the lamp. Dark substratesshow similar properties.

Evaluation of ink curing andindicators for insufficient curingDrying of air drying solvent based inks isusually evaluated as follows:1. Stacking/blocking resistance:

Printed sheets do not block undersignificant load.

2. Finger nail test: Ink cannot be scratchedoff the substrate (under the precondi-tion that the ink is basically suitable for the substrate).

3. Cross-hatch testing: (under the pre-condition that the ink is basicallysuitable for the substrate).

However residues of solvents contained in the ink cannot be determined by theabove testing methods. These have to befound by analytical methods. The mostsimple method is a weighing process ofthe printed specimen by oven curing.Basically UV-inks can be tested for sufficient curing by the same methods.

However, the following has to be takeninto consideration:1. Stacking/Blocking resistance:

Printed sheets do not block, even undersignificant load. Instead of insufficientcuring the reason for blocking of UVink in the rack may also be a thermo-plastic effect. The ink is sufficientlycured, however, when stacking it is stilltoo “soft” due to too much heat absorp-tion and will therefore stick. This espe-cially happens with very elastic inks,above all if there is no cooling periodfor the prints (mere UV-drier with lowcooling efficiency, UV-unit is installed at the end of a circulation drier).“Thumb test”:A quick testing method is the “thumbtest”. The printed, cured ink is pressedwith the thumb with high pressure.Also with high pressure the thumb tip istumed several times (approx. 90 – 120°)

on the spot. lf the pressure point willthen look mat, or if there was any abra-sion curing has been insufficient.

2. Finger nail test:(under the pre-condition that the ink isbasically suitable for the substrate). Thepolymerisation of the UV ink in the inkfilm takes place from the top (facing thelamp) to the bottom. Insufficientlycured UV-inks show a rigid surface,however they are still soft inside. Thus the finger nail test will result in a “smearing” scratching off after thefinger nail has penetrated the film.

lf, however the scratch test results inrigid, dry splitting off from the substratethere is probably an adhesion problemand rarely over-curing. Flaking due toover-curing can be excluded with thinthermoplastics as they would deformdue to strong heat influence before theover-curing reaction of the ink.

3. Adhesion on substrate by cross-hatch testing:(under the pre-condition that the ink isbasically suitable for the substrate). Thistest is a common method to determinebasic suitability of the ink for thesubstrate. If the ink is insufficientlycured there is a “smeary” scratch off ofink at the bottom of the ink layer pulledaway with the tape. Ink residuesremaining on the printed matter by


INFORMATION

splitting of the ink layer with the tapemay show the same property.

4. Chemical tests:Evaluation methods used for solventbased inks or other chemical substancescannot be used. Depending on theirtype UV-inks show different reactions in reference to chemical resistances.

Even if an adequate testing solution isavailable there may be significant falsifi-cations. Insufficiently cured UV-inksmay show rigid surfaces, however theirunderlayer is still soft and un-cured. Thesurface will be resistant to the testingsolution and thus show a positive result,which is wrong.

5. Other MethodsThere are no other testing methods theprinter can carry out.

Control of degree of curing witha UV-dosage meterThis measuring device, commonly knownas a UV-integrator and mostly formed asflat disc or plate contains a sensor, adaptedto measuring of UV-radiation. When goingthrough the UV-radiators the device willmeasure the whole energy hitting thesurface in milli-joule per cm2. This is indirect proportion to the belt speed of the drier (J=W x s) and the number of UV-radiators.

The best possible curing parameter of an ink, differentiated according to inktype, colour- shade, possibly additives andfabric used are determined empirically.Then measurement will be carried outwith the UV-integrator in the curing unit to be used. The value(s) determined(mJ/cm2) is (are) the essential values forthe future productions. When starting anorder the UV-drier is adjusted to the corre-sponding measurement value and testprints are made. As described adhesion,scratch, crosshatch and thumb tests arecarried out. Usually the results should bepositive, production can start.

Attention:Measurement devices from differentmanufacturers can show deviations up to a factor of 2, sometimes even more.Measurement values under the sameconditions can be quite different. Evendevices of the same make and manufactur-er may show deviations of up to 50%.These devices can only be used individual-ly for safe quality control with the meas-urement values determined as describedabove. Measurement values cannot beused for other devices. In that respectthere is a requirement for standardisation!

Determination of content ofresidue monomers (non poly-merised) in UV-inksAs already mentioned, when curing an inkthe splitting of the double bonds of mole-cule structures of the monomers andoligomers will result in a polymerisation/cross linkage between both substances. Network complexes are the result of this filmformation. Depending on the properties ofthe UV-ink these net works show a coarseor fine mesh and various properties, e.g.very flexible/soft:, very rigid/brittle orextremely chemical resistant.1. Degree of cross linkage:

A UV-ink is considered to be cured, e.g.optimally cross linked, if it fulfils theproperties described in the requirementprofile. Basically these are the criteriaregarding adhesion, scratch resistance,tape resistance, stackability, in individ-ual cases especially high mechanical orchemical resistance. This optimal crosslinkage however, does not present a real100% cross linkage of the double bonds.UV-inks reach their best possible crosslinkage at approx. 70-90% average.

The remaining 10-30% of non-splitdouble bonds cannot form any furtherbonds as due to the very high density ofthe 70-90% network there is no furtherroom left. These non-cross linked mole-cules are closed in the network andcannot evaporate.SafetyAn optimally cross-Iinked ink can beconsidered as completely cured anddoes not present any risk in reference to irritants.Special cases in reference to consumer protection:Food and partially toys and health articlesare problematic applications of UV-inks.

One cannot exclude with absolutecertainty that non-crosslinked ornonlinked components of the cured UV-ink migrate from the UV-ink film tothe surface or penetrate into foods, e.g.butter, grease etc. and thus present apotential health risk to human beings.

For that reason UV inks are not usedfor print likely to come in direct contactwith food.

In border cases, such as medicine andtoys, the possible interactions of UV-prints with certain substances is testedin time-consuming analysis processes.

2. Measurement of degree of cross linkageActual measurement of degree of crosslinkage of a cured UV-ink can only becarried out by scientific analyticalmethods. Literature available mentions

the following processes:IR spectroscopy: Measurement of concentration of double bonds.Temperature sequence measurement:Temperature emission during polymerisation.Discolouration reaction: Colouration of non-cross linkable components with potassium permanganate (tetraoxomanganate).IR Spectroscopy:With this method, especially the FTIR-spectroscopy (real time Fourier trans-form-IR spectroscopy) the reactionamount of the printing ink is measuredafter UV-radiation. This is a comparingprocess, i.e. printing ink is measuredbefore exposure and after UV-curing.Based on the different peak curves(decrease of the C=C double bonds) the degree of cross linkage can be determined.Temperature sequence measurement:This measurement method has beendescribed in connection with the topicink curing with flash discharge lamps.Measurement of conventional UV-radiators may not be possible, as there isa significant temperature increase of UV-radiators during the radiation process.

During the curing process heat isemitted from the polymerising ink(exothermic reaction). First this processmeasures the low temperature of the inklayer from a blind specimen (non crosslinkable ink without photoinitiator).Then temperature development of across linkable ink is measured. The heatemitted during the polymerisation willrise above the level of mere heat emis-sion of the flash lights. Following anumber of flashes the temperature curvewill not increase any further. This indi-cates optimal cross linkage and furtherreaction heat is not emitted.

The process described in relevantliterature is based on measurementscarried out with high layer thicknesses(2mm) and non-pigmented varnishes:Suitability for usual screen ink layerthicknesses is questionable.Discolouration:With this process non cross-linked ink components become visible bydiscolouration reaction using potassiumpermanganate (tetraoxomanganate).The reduction of the potassium perman-ganate by reaction of chemicals withthe non-cross linked ink componentsresults in manganese dioxide. Thestronger its colouration the lower thecross linkage and vice versa.


INFORMATION

This method is only suitable for non-pigmented varnishes. Evaluation factorsregarding colour scale of the browncolouration have to be determinedempirically for each varnish type.Residue monomers:Residue monomers are non-cross linkedmonomers of an insufficiently curedUV-ink, which can exit from the inklayer due to insufficient cross-Iinkage/film formation and present an activeirritation potential or quality problem.Measurement of residue monomers:Insufficient cross linkage (just like thedegree of cross linkage) can be recog-nised indirectly by adhesion, scratch,cross-hatch and strain tests. Directmeasurement of residual monomers onthe other hand can only be carried outby scientific analytical methods.

This is possible e.g. by substanceanalysis with the gas chromatograph.Using this device first the non cross-Iinked reactive component of an ink aredissolved individually using a suitablesolvent. Each solution will then beanalysed with the gas chromatograph. A characteristic peak line appears foreach reactive raw material (on a time

axis). Then a potentially insufficientlycross-Iinked ink film will be placed in asolvent. No linked reactive componentsfrom the insufficiently cross-Iinked filmwill then elute into the solution, whichwill now be analysed. A comparison ofthis peak curve with the curves of non-cross linked raw materials will result indetermination of residual monomers.

SummaryVarious evaluation methods used to deter-mine sufficient or insufficient curing ofUV-inks have been described. In additionto suitable, manual, albeit, insecuremethods, there are quite some demandingscientific, analytical methods. There is nointermediate solution for screen printers,i.e. to-date there is no simple, cost efficientand exact evaluation method. Accordingto many discussion with chemists andmembers of the technical committee ofFOGRA there is no solution at present.

In our opinion the only way is the two-way-concept:The method for daily work:manual – quick – easy – cost-efficient –however, too inaccurate for some applications.

The method to exclude (if required) anyunsafe inks:scientific – time-consuming – complex –expensive – accurate.

Recommended reading:Georg Bolte: "Den Nachteilen geht dieLuft aus", UV-Trocknung mitSauerstoffreduzierung Druck & Medien-Magazin 5/ 2001 (Disadvantages disappear– UV drying with oxygen reduction)

Georg Meichsner / Klaus Vogg "MehrAufmerksamkeit für einen Strahlertyp:Die UV-Blitzlampe" Untersuchungen zurLackhärtung (more attention for a radiatortype: the UV flash radiator, examinationsabout ink curing)

Andrea Prager-Duschke / Reiner Mehnert"UV-härtende, lösemittelfreieTiefdruckfarben" (UV-curing, solvent basedgravure inks)

Fa. Fusion UV-Systems Inc., Maryland-USA "Fascination UV"


INFORMATION

FESPA ‘contact list’The following list of Telephone, Fax and E-mail numbers will

help you when you need to contact a colleague in FESPA.

FESPA board Telephone Fax E-mail

Ricardo Rodriguez Delgado – President 34 914 85 28 70 34 916 71 02 73 [email protected]

Michel Caza – Past President 33 1 34 30 87 78 33 1 34 30 87 79 [email protected]

Hellmuth Frey – Vice President 49 408 50 40 21 49 408 537 18 12 [email protected]

Lascelle Barrow 44 207 537 42 00 44 207 531 12 77 [email protected]

Gyorgy Kovacs 36 28 51 66 15 36 28 51 66 16 [email protected]

Anders Nilsson 46 493 130 40 46 493 121 20 [email protected]

Enrico Steijn 31 79 343 5353 31 79 343 5354 [email protected]

Kurt Sperisen – International Ambassador 41 19 10 51 50 41 19 10 38 66 [email protected]

Nigel Steffens – General Secretary 44 1737 22 53 21 44 1737 24 07 70 [email protected]

Frazer Chesterman – Exhibition Director 44 1737 22 97 26 44 1737 24 07 70 [email protected]

Val Hirst – FESPA Magazine Editor 44 1623 88 23 98 44 1159 81 81 99 [email protected]

ESMA board

Rudi Röller – ESMA Chairman 49 62 22 57 80 49 62 22 57 82 00 [email protected]

David Parker 44 12 35 77 11 11 44 12 35 77 11 96 [email protected]

Pedro Rodriguez 34 944 02 27 47 34 944 71 11 82 [email protected]

Eckhard Napp – TDS Ctee Chairman 49 21 53 71 901 49 21 53 71 917 [email protected]

Sem Seaborne – HSEP Ctee. Chairman 44 12 35 77 11 11 44 12 35 77 11 96 [email protected]

Heinz Brocker – IA Ctee. Chairman 41 71 24 28 686 41 71 24 28 989 [email protected]

Bryan Collings – General Secretary 44 12 27 28 25 73 44 12 27 28 25 74 [email protected]

Ralph Roschlau 49 71 41 69 11 26 49 71 41 69 11 03 [email protected]

Daniele de Rosa – EPP Ctee. Chairman 39 03 19 711 39 03 19 33 392 [email protected]

Bob Watson – Digital Ctee. Chairman 44 1843 87 21 10 44 1843 87 21 26 [email protected]

FESPA secretariat

Mandy Goldfinch – PA to Nigel Steffens 44 1737 22 97 23 44 1737 24 07 70 [email protected]

Michael Ryan – Sales Manager, FESPA 2005 44 1737 22 97 27 44 1737 24 07 70 [email protected]

Karen Bentley – Operations and Marketing 44 1737 22 97 25 44 1737 24 07 70 [email protected] FESPA 2005

Ken Chan – Accounts Department 44 1737 22 97 24 44 1737 24 07 70 [email protected]

Secretaries of FESPA national associations Telephone Fax E-mail / Website

Franz Kimberger Austria 43 15 12 66 09 43 15 13 28 26 19 [email protected]

www.druckundmedientechnik.or.at

Isabelle Lefebvre Belgium 32 25 12 36 38 32 25 13 56 76 [email protected] / www.febelgra.be

Eugeny Ivanov Bulgaria 35 96 082 39 48 35 96 082 39 48 [email protected]

Mirjana Bjelan Croatia 38 51 45 52 327 38 51 45 52 327 [email protected]

Vladimir Havel Czech Republic 420 487 71 27 12 420 487 72 63 55 [email protected]

Finn Obbekaer Denmark 45 63 12 70 00 45 63 12 70 80 [email protected] / www.ga.dk

Regina Aas Finland 35 89 71 72 99 35 89 73 84 52 [email protected]

François Faurien France 33 1 47 20 33 46 33 1 49 52 01 47 [email protected] / www.gpsfr.org

Torben Thorn Germany 49 611 80 31 15 49 611 80 31 17 [email protected] / www.bvdm-online.de

Kimon Papas Greece 30 210 52 39 41 6 30 210 52 48 23 7 [email protected]

Janos Buranyi Hungary 36 28 51 66 15 36 28 51 66 16 [email protected]

Giuseppe Scozzi Italy 39 06 44 18 82 71 39 06 44 24 95 15 [email protected]


INFORMATION

Marius Gort Netherlands 31 20 5 43 56 78 31 20 5 43 55 35 [email protected] / www.zso.nl

Jon Halvorsen Norway 47 33 07 15 30 47 33 07 15 31 [email protected] / www.serigrafer.org

Wojciech Kwinta Poland 48 12 29 60 385 48 12 65 60 132 [email protected] / www.ssp.com.pl

José Carragosela Portugal 35 12 18 49 10 20 35 12 18 43 87 39 [email protected]

Marius Codirla Romania 40 722 28 21 22 40 264 59 71 39 [email protected] / www.arsitd.homestead.com

Artem Nadirashvili Russia 7 09 53 65 38 96 7 09 52 32 18 66 [email protected] / www.rspa.ru

Dusan Golubovic Serbia and Montenegro 38 11 63 21 23 49 38 11 13 61 50 23 [email protected]

Ludovit Bartos Slovakia 42 1 32 74 43 589 42 132 74 30 434 [email protected] / www.sietotlacouyzvaz.sk

Mateja Skrl Slovenia 38 65 36 66 010 38 65 36 66 022 [email protected]

Pablo Serrano Cobos Spain 34 91 307 74 44 34 91 307 76 08 [email protected] / www.asibnet.org

Else-Britt Lindeborg Sweden 46 87 62 68 17 46 86 11 08 28 [email protected]

www.screentryck.org

Walter Trösch Switzerland 41 71 38 58 81 7 41 71 38 58 84 3 [email protected] / www.vss-apss.ch

Ibrahim Demirseren Turkey 90 21 22 22 83 30 90 21 22 21 69 46 [email protected] / www.ared.org.tr

Michael Turner United Kingdom 44 1737 24 07 92 44 1737 24 07 70 [email protected] / www.spauk.co.uk

Other associations

Mike Robertson SGIA 1 70 33 8513 35 1 70 32 73 04 56 [email protected]

Magazine coupon forordering Fespa WorldAll members of FESPA receive this magazine every three monthsfree. If you are not a FESPA member and wish to order a copy, theannual subscription for four copies, including postage, is €63.00.

Please complete the following order form to ensure your copyfor the future. The magazine is published in English with selectedsummaries in German, French and Spanish. Full translations areavailable on www.fespaworld.com to members and subscribers.

I enclose my cheque for €63.00 payable to FESPA for issues 37,38, 39 and 40.

Future issuesIssue 37 September 2004, Issue 38 December 2004, Issue 39 March 2004

(Block capitals please)

Name

Company

Address

Tel:

Fax:

Photocopy this sheet and send by post or Fax to:M. Goldfinch, FESPA, 7a West Street, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9BL, UK, Tel: +44 1737 240788 Fax: +44 1737 240770


AND FINALLY…

Fabulous FESPAIn our Opinion piece on page 26, Stewart Partridgeposes the questions, "What's in and What's Out?"in relation to the FESPA 2005 exhibition.Here, Frazer Chesterman, FESPA's ExhibitionDirector, explains what he and his team are doingto ensure that FESPA remains a key global eventrather than just another exhibition.

"One of the questions that I am

asked most frequently with rela-

tion to the next FESPA show is

whether screenprinting is in

decline. Whilst I would certainly

agree that as a technology,

screenprinting is more wide-

spread in certain geographical

regions than others I have to say

that its presence throughout the

graphic, textile and industrial

sectors is still pretty extensive.

Eastern Europe, Brazil and China

are all places where screenprint-

ing is thriving and you only have

to look at the phenomenal size of

the whole 'Bollywood' film indus-

try in India to see that it relies

upon a terrific amount of screen

printed signage and poster

displays, plus the full gamut of

promotional goods, to appreciate

that it is being used to its fullest

extent. Further, reel to reel

screenprinting is also the applica-

tion of choice behind 95% of all

printed textiles worldwide, so it

is premature to talk about it as if

it were a process teetering on the

brink of oblivion.

As an organisation FESPA

remains dedicated to the promo-

tion of screenprinting and is

continuing to develop solid rela-

tionships through trade organisa-

tions, associations and federa-

tions throughout the world, in

particular in regions where screen

printing is still growing, such as

those named above. We have an

ongoing initiative to develop and

improve the core technology in

these markets, while in Europe,

where the technology is more

established, we are working to

ensure that the level of quality

is maintained. At the same time,

we feel its imperative to promote

a spirit of learning to ensure that

the right educational means are

provided to promote screenprint-

ing as a technology. Our 'Mini-

FESPA' programme is a medium

that we use to answer market

demands for information, tech-

nology and training and this is

soon to be expanded upon when

our FESPA Technical Academy

is established.

However, no one, FESPA least

of all, can dispute the growth of

digital printing. But most graphic

professionals feel that rather than

reducing the size and importance

of the screen market, the two

technologies are actually comple-

mentary to one another and give

service providers extra versatility

and an additional means to fulfil

specific applications dependent

upon the precise requirements of

the client. The recent announce-

ment by Agfa and Thieme to

jointly develop a flatbed digital

press for screen printing applica-

tions reinforces this approach and

dispels any myth that one tech-

nology is superior to the other.

So although FESPA 2005 will

obviously reflect the increasing

popularity of digital printing,

visitors will be treated to more

than just the latest in digital

hardware alone. Only around

a third of the exhibitors will be

digitally orientated and FESPA

will continue to champion both

the screen process and a number

of other allied technologies, such

as pad-printing.

In addition FESPA 2005 will

also include a number of new

and innovative technical applica-

tions which use both screen and

digital printing - applications like

glass, ceramics, and electronics

to name but a few. At the same

time, it has expanded to address

areas where there was no previ-

ous requirement for printing –

I am thinking now in terms of

items such as mobile phones and

DVD's. In fact, we plan to split

the show up into dedicated

villages, which represent the

different industry sectors so that

the respective exhibitors are

located in the right place to

attract the right type of traffic to

their stands. As an example, we

will be allocating almost a whole

hall to a Textile Village next year,

reflecting the continuing impor-

tance of this particular sector.

This approach also assists visitors,

since it will allow them to plan

their visit more effectively.

I think that visitors will also

notice how the 'whole workflow

picture' is more represented as

printers strive to enhance the

overall efficiency of their opera-

tions. As such, the event will not

just comprise exhibitors from the

hardware side, but also those

representing such divergent areas

as prepress and finishing as well

as all the stages that take place

in between.

Other new features will include

a series of lunchtime educational

debates with key industry spokes-

people, as well as conference

sessions and showcase theatres

focussing on the different niche

sectors. We also intend to offer

a VIP programme and plan to

provide exhibitor/product news

via a show daily. Meanwhile,

Visitors will be able to keep them-

selves up to date with all of these

innovations and more by regular-

ly visiting our revamped website.

This time around, exhibitors

are also receiving increased

support. Because the venue of

the show is constantly changing,

all exhibitors are effectively new

exhibitors each time and we

are doing everything we can to

ensure that their exhibiting expe-

rience is as hassle-free and

productive as possible.

A year out from the show itself

I am delighted to report that

FESPA 2005 is already 60% sold

and that sales are actually up by

50% when compared to the same

period before the 2002 event. It

would be both stupid and

complacent to dismiss all of the

other established and new shows

that compete either directly or

peripherally, and I appreciate

that will have to continue to

evolve and effectively re-invent

the show each time if it is to

remain both viable and relevant.

But in spite of this, I remain

totally confident that FESPA will

retain its reputation and contin-

ue to be regarded as a premier

global event, not just by those

active within the screen sector,

but also by graphic professionals

of all denominations.

fespa world issue 36

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