Developments at Graph Expo and the development of printing technologies

The Graph Expo in Chicago for 2011 points to some interesting developments in inkjet stationary printers and the ongoing improvements in printing technologies, products and services. Among the many highlights of the Graph Expo for North America are:

Heidelberg and Ricoh will soon launch their distribution deal, and the offset manufacturer will distribute the Pro C901 Arts edition digital press.

Xerox, which has many offices throughout North America, including Mississauga, unveiled a new inkjet press of interest to printers- the CiPress. The CiPress is a waterless twin engine press with duplexing, so that it can print matte coated stocks and uncoated stocks without pre-coating the sheet on which it prints.

A new partnership between Memjet and Xante will help put Mamjet’s super-fast inkjet heads in many small print shops across the continent. A new device called the Excelagraphix 4200 is a small-format, 42 inch stationary printer that can print an impressive foot per second. The new device is designed to give smaller print shops a chance to compete with larger ones.

Israel-based Scodix displayed some impressive technology designed for the North American printing market. Its inkjet press applies raised coating to simulate embossing. The inkjet produces 1,200 A3 sheets per hour and retails for about $400,000 US.

The first introductions and installations of the Manroland Roland 700 HiPrint high speed is a 40” press that can run 18,000 sheets per hour. Manroland’s alliance with Oce will soon produce a new digital platform for newspapers, although further details are pending.