DSPA RELAUNCHES AS PRISM (14.05.08)
The Digital and Screen Printing Association (DSPA) has relaunched as Prism and announced new member benefits and initiatives. It has also extended its membership to include all suppliers within the digital, screen and pad printing markets throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

John Keith, Prism business manager, said: "While our industry is among one of the most exciting and innovative in the world, UK business challenges such as overcapacity and response to environmental concerns are seriously impacting their profitability and future success. To address this, Prism is unveiling its new membership package, delivering the tools and knowledge to meet these challenges head-on and enable sustained competitiveness and growth.'"

A Prism Summit entitled ‘Price is not the only differentiator - Value Added Solutions' will take place in the autumn. 2008 will also see a Prism Forum under the banner ‘Take the green advantage'.

W: www.spauk.co.uk

TERIOSTAR AIMED AT COPYSHOPS AND CAD/GIS MARKETS (14.05.08)
Allied Images is distributing the sixth generation LED wide-format Teriostar printers from Seiko I Infotech that it is aiming at copyshops and for CAD, GIS and AEC applications.

There are two models available: the LP-1020L-2R, a network printer with two roll support; and a copier/ scanner/printer with either single roll (LP-1020S-MF-1R) or two roll support (LP-1020L MF-2R). The twin-roll unit is supplied with a monochrome or colour scanner. In addition to the mono imaging features, Teriostar can be used to create colour scans and when configured with an inkjet printer can provide colour copies.

Each model prints at 6.2 A1ppm in page mode (4.8mpm in continuous print mode), at a true optical resolution of 600dpi. They employ user-replaceable process cartridges for maximum operability.

W: www.allied-images.com

SEAL EXTENDS TEXTILE RANGE (14.05.08)
To extend the applications of photo-quality dye-sublimation printers, a new range of textiles suitable for both indoor and outdoor use is available from Seal Graphics. There are five fabrics suitable for printing with solvent-, water- and oil-based dye sub inks.

One textile, which Seal refers to as Mirror Flag, is particularly useful for transparent applications such flags and room or stand dividers. It is a 100 per cent knitted, 110g/m² polyester fabric with good bleed-through qualities.

Poplin Banner is also 100 per cent polyester and is durable and crease-resistant. 3D Banner is stretchable for displays. Double Print is a 280gsm polyester that is satin on one side and matt on the other (both printable). Light Banner is 200gsm and has a greater degree of stretch.

W: www.sealgraphics.com

INDIGO MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE FOR NB COLOUR PRINT (14.05.08)
NB Colour Print is providing an economic short-run digital print service thanks to the installation of a HP Indigo 5500. It also plans to offer a personalisation service in the near future.

The company, which specialises in the production of reports, brochures, leaflets and business cards has now moved some of the work from its B3 offset press to the six-colour Indigo. “We decided to move into digital printing after receiving requests from our customers who wanted short-run work produced quickly,” said managing director Robert Anderson. “We can now offer our customers a cost-effective, short-run service and can even print jobs while the customer waits.”

W: www.hp.com

HILLSIDE TO OFFER INTEGRATED MARKETING VIA WIDE-FORMAT INVESTMENT (14.05.08)
Rochdale-based commercial printer Hillside, has invested in a Roland DG SolJet PRO III XC-540, 54in wide printer and a laminator so it can offer a truly integrated design and print service.

Managing director Peter Moore said: "Print technologies do not exist in isolation. They are complementary because most marketing campaigns require a range of printed products and services. The wide-format Roland DG machine gives us the ability to offer integrated campaigns, which may have an element of conventional offset print, personalised and short-run print from our digital presses, as well as wide-format work. Last year alone, we outsourced around £13,000 worth of posters, so this investment will allow us to keep that turnover in-house and develop additional revenue streams with wide format as we make our client base aware of the opportunity."

W: www.rolanddg.co.uk

WORLD'S FIRST 64'' PRINTER TO FEATURE A MICRO PIEZO TFP PRINTHEAD (14.05.08)
Buyers of the Stylus Pro 11880 will now receive £1000 cash back. The offer which runs until 30th June 2008 reduces the list price to just £8995 + VAT.

The Stylus Pro 11880 is the first 64" large format printer from Epson. Featuring Epson's most advanced technology yet, the Stylus Pro 11880 combines unsurpassed flexibility, image quality and exceptional speed with a low cost of ownership. It is ideal for a broad range of applications including fine art, photography and proofing.

The Stylus Pro 11880 includes Epson's Micro Piezo Thin-Film Print head to ensure superior performance and superior durability. Ejecting approximately 40,000 droplets of ink per second, it offers high-speed printing.

With exclusive Epson UltraChrome K3 Vivid Magenta ink set, the Stylus Pro 11880 offers excellent quality, detail and tonal graduation. It includes 9 high capacity ink cartridges with dedicated channels for both photo and matte black inks, status LEDs for each cartridge and Auto-Ink Droplet Technology making the Stylus Pro 11880 ideal for unattended printing.

The Stylus Pro 11880 features switchable spindles and an auto take-up reel which makes it ideal for busy production environments. With a roll paper rest for easy loading, the Stylus Pro 11880 supports media up to 1.5mm thick, including glossy, matte, fine art and plain paper, matte board, and cut-sheet stock.

Epson ahs also announced that it has won the prestigious EDP award 2008 for the ‘Best Photographic Printer of the Year’ for its Stylus Pro 11880. EDP is the first association of digital graphic press publishers to acknowledge the value of the industry’s innovation for the professional graphic arts market. Also this month the Stylus Pro 11880 has been named the TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) ‘Best large format printer in Europe 2008’.

W: www.epson.co.uk

ROLAND ACADEMY INTER-SCHOOL CHALLENGE (01.05.08)
Illustrating its commitment to education and developing the next generation of graphic arts professionals, Roland DG (UK) has recognised the winners of the inaugural Roland Academy Inter-School Challenge, a design competition for schools in the Walsall area. Pupils were asked to design eye-catching graphics inspired by the theme "the regeneration of Walsall." A design submitted by a team of two schoolchildren aged 13 and 14 from Barr Beacon Language College was judged to be the best in its use of colour, image and clarity of message.

The winners, Kirsty Ryan and Stacey Taylor, from Barr Beacon Language College were presented with digital cameras and a framed copy of their desig by Roland DG (UK) Product Manager 3D and Engraving, Peter Kettle, at a ceremony held on the company's stand at the Sign and Digital UK exhibition at Birmingham's NEC. The winning design will now be produced in large format and adorn banners on the perimeter of the construction site of the New Walsall College that's currently being built. The winning entry will also be reproduced and framed for display at Barr Beacon Language College. In total, more than 60 pupils from six schools in the Walsall area, including Palfrey Girls School and Joseph Leckie Community Technology College, submitted entries.

The entries were judged by a panel comprised of representatives from the organisations supporting the initiative: Walsall College, The Roland Academy, Walsall Education Business Partnership, and Roland DG (UK). The teams prepared their designs at school before attending a half-day practical session at the Roland Academy, where they amended their entries using professional software, prepared them for printing in the VersaWorks RIP, and outputted them on a Roland DG large format printer. Pupils and their teachers were also given a tour of the Roland Academy, giving them the opportunity to learn more about wide format technologies and applications.

Barr Beacon Language College, Senior Teacher, Claire Emery, said: "I am extremely proud of our students' professional attitude throughout this competition, and have to say that this demonstrates the positive and enthusiastic way they approach a challenge."

Roland DG (UK) Managing Director, Jerry Davies, said: "We were pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the entries. Many were produced using the latest software packages and wouldn't look out of place in a professional design agency. Roland DG is committed to supporting education and encouraging talent into the industry. I hope that the Roland Academy Inter-School Challenge has also given schoolchildren a chance to experience what a career in graphic arts can offer."

The Roland Academy is the largest, industry-accredited sign, engraving and large format education facility in Europe and operates from Walsall College. It runs a range of courses, which have been developed by independent industry professionals. These include programmes on digital printing, engraving, RIPs and Adobe software packages.

W: www.rolanddg.co.uk

INX ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO OWN A MAJORITY INTEREST IN MEGAINK DIGITAL A.S. (01.05.08)
Sakata Inx worldwide operations today announced an agreement with the ownership group of Czech Republic based, Megaink Digital a.s., taking a majority interest in Megaink Digital a.s. The company will offer customers a broad spectrum of digital ink products and services for wide and super-wide format printing as a member of INX Digital, the digital arm of INX International Ink Co.

"We are delighted to join forces with an established, European-based leader in digital ink systems," said INX International President and CEO Rick Clendenning. "Megaink Digital will strengthen our ability to service digital printing operations world-wide - particularly in rapidly growing areas such as Eastern Europe, as well as the Americas, and in Africa and the Middle East where Mega Digital has established a strong presence in just six years since the company was founded."

Andrej Keblusek, Managing Director of Megaink Digital said, "This joint venture with INX International will be very beneficial to our rapidly expanding customer base - not only with additional distribution and support, but with added product development and related resources available through Sakata Inx."

"Digital users have been highly receptive to our superior-quality products which are specially designed for virtually all OEM printers," Avi Bukai, Director of Business Development added. "We anticipate even more rapid development of new products to meet emerging marketplace needs."

Clendenning noted: "Megaink Digital's recent introduction of environmentally friendly BioMG inks - renewable resource-based inks - signifies further compatibility with our own 'green' product development and sustainability initiatives. Responsible environmental stewardship has been part of the culture of both our organizations, and it will continue to play an increased role moving forward."

Megaink Digital a.s., based in the Czech Republic, is a world leader in developing and manufacturing of solvent and renewable resource based (BioMG) inks for wide and super-wide format digital printing. Established in 2002, Megaink Digital has secured strong positions in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, as well as in the Americas.

W: www.megaink.com

PrintIT! AWARDS CEREMONY CONCLUDES ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR (01.05.08)
In conjunction with Polestar, the Stationers' Hall once again provided the venue for the PrintIT! 2008 awards ceremony, which marked the third year of the successful educational initiative. The event saw student Alex Robertson of Bispham High School & Arts College, Blackpool awarded 'Overall Winner of PrintIT! 2007/8', as well as an expenses paid educational trip of a lifetime to St Lucia to see the benefits of Fairtrade. The ceremony was once again given a celebrity boost by guest speaker, BBC Six O'clock news presenter and patron of The Fairtrade Foundation, George Alagiah OBE.

The overall winning entry of PrintIT! 2007/8 was selected from the eight category winners in a competition that registered more than 23,000 participating students from over 570 schools. Comments Martyn Elmy, Chairman of PrintIT!, "Alex's entry stood out because the design was innovative and had the greatest immediate visual impact of all the designs that were considered. There was strong brand identity and the item was also able to convey a message about Fairtrade. The design concept was also cleverly extended through a range of other promotional display items."

As well as taking the top prize in the 2007/8 PrintIT! campaign, Alex Robertson also scooped the category award for 'Best Table Talker', a printed table-top display which conveys a promotional message.

"It is a befitting salute to the strength of our industry that we can all unite to encourage and support our joint ambition of attracting young people into print, through the efforts of PrintIT!", continued Terry Watts, Chief Executive, Proskills UK and one of the final judges. "The fact that PrintIT! continues to enjoy enormous success is thanks to the unwavering and charitable support of the UK print industry and I take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment during year three of the programme."

Once again, the Fairtrade Foundation provided the theme of the 2007/8 PrintIT! competition which challenged participating schools to create a comprehensive 'print-centric' campaign to support the promotion of Fairtrade products in a typical café. As last year, the curriculum-mapped competition was extended to Year 10 students (aged 15-16) in their first year of their Product Design GCSE as well as for GCSE Graphic Products students. The aim of the project was to introduce students to the unique and stimulating appeal of print as an absorbing and rewarding career.

Adds Terry Watts, "Today's ceremony typifies what can be achieved through a fusion of inspiration, hard work and creative skill. We hope that by inspiring those pupils who have taken part in the PrintIT! initiative, some of them might join our industry in the future. Having a talented, youthful and vibrant workforce is vital to keeping our industry competitive, and judging by what we have once again seen from PrintIT! entries, it is evident that creative flair, enthusiasm and talent are in abundance within our schools." were presented with individual prizes of a digital camera, as well as a valuable print-related prize for the winning schools. The students and teacher named overall winners of PrintIT! 2008 were also presented with an educational trip of a lifetime to St Lucia, where they will visit farmers on the island in order to see the benefits of Fairtrade; a major printing plant and also have lunch with the High Commissioner and attend various TV & radio interviews.

Category Winners:
Best Poster:
Stephen Partington - Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Lancashire
Best Table Talker:
Alex Robertson - Bispham High School & Arts College, Blackpool, Lancashire
Best 'Free' Design:
Billy Joe Poole - Sandwich Technology School, Sandwich, Kent
Best Use of Brand across the Range:
Sarah Edmondson, Katie-Louise Wire, Amy Pearson - Keswick School, Keswick, Cumbria
Best Understanding of Printing Techniques:
Beth Goddard - Nottingham High School For Girls, Nottinghamshire
Best Use of Materials:
Daniel Carter - Altrincham College of Arts, Altrincham, Cheshire
Best Overall Presentation:
Jack O'Brien, Adam Spivey, Alex Walsham - George Farmer Technology College, Spalding, Lincolnshire

Best Understanding of Environmental Concerns
Stacey Barry - Aylesbury High School, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

2007/8 Special awards
Best Industry Twinner
The Print Room, Bracknell, Berkshire

Best Teacher
Daniel Currigan, Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston, Surrey

Best Overall School Effort
Beauchamp College

Best PrintIT! Student
Karen Sanders, Queen Elizabeth's Community College, Crediton, Devon

W: www.printit.org.uk

GET A WORKMATE WITH ECRM (01.05.08)
Building on WorkMates, the automated PDF based entry-level workflow solution for small to midsized commercial printers launched by ECRM last year, the company has now released the RipMate module upgraded to version 8.0 of the Harlequin Plus Server Rip. This makes driving any ECRM imaging device fast and simple, through an easy-to-use user interface. At Drupa, ECRM will also introduce WorkMates 3.0, an entry-level digital prepress workflow solution.

The RipMate v8.0 enhancements include: PDFRaster output of variable page sizes; support for PDF 1.7 and PDF /X-4 compliance; support for MS XPS 1.0; and will run with Macintosh OSX 10.5 and Vista operating systems.

WorkMates 3.0, with its new GUI, will allow users to either view all or selected workflows. Users can choose to drop jobs into automatic flows for complete automation, or manual flows to create custom impositions to selected output devices. WorkMates 3.0 is a client server package offering users both Macintosh and PC clients with unlimited client connections. In addition, WorkMates 3.0 includes the latest Harlequin Rip release version 8.0 which offers PDF Raster output and increased performance from multi-threaded CPUs.

W: www.ecrm.com

EPSON ENTERS NEW MARKETS WITH INKJET LAUNCHES (01.05.08)
Epson hopes to move into new commercial print sectors with the demonstration at Drupa of a new product using its with a MicroPiezo TFP (Thin Film Piezo) printhead and by showing applications developed with its partners such as remote proofing, textile printing and inkjet CTP. These will be shown alongside Epson's more traditional large-format offerings, including the new Stylus Pro GS6000, a 64in-wide printer with an eight-colour ink set, debuting at Sign and Digital UK.

The Stylus Pro GS6000 has a resolution up to 1440 x 1440 dpi and production speeds of up to 25m²/hour using Epson's variable-sized ink droplet and MicroWeave half-toning technologies to deliver fast-drying, scratch-resistant prints that are water and UV resistant for up to 1.5 years without lamination.

The Stylus Pro GS6000 will be supported by the major Rip vendors and will cost £29,995 (ex VAT), including auto-take-up-reel to support heavy rolls up to 30kg, a maintenance and starter-kit.

Visit hall 5, stand A01 or www.epson.co.uk