Dainippon Screen continues its transformation from a purely prepress and CtP manufacturer into an integrated digital press and workflow supplier.
The first month of 2011 has seen no less than five major announcements from Screen.
Australian Managing Director Akira Hayakawa notes: “While CtP systems and related workflows for both Offset and Flexographic printing continue to be of vital importance, Screen recognises that the majority of growth is in the digital press area where we already enjoy the highest number of high volume web installations. The announcement this week of another Truepress Jet 520 sale to Leaderform in Italy has started the year well and we are hoping for more Australia-New Zealand orders in the near future.”
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| The Screen Truepress Jet 2500UV |
Leaderform is one of Italy’s leading marketing services and business communication firms and is already eyeing the short-run book and newspaper market to add to its client services. GMC variable data software was installed at the front-end, so Transpromo opportunities in full colour are also a reality.
Hayakawa continues: “On a local level, since showing the Screen Truepress Jet 520 at Printworks in Sydney last September, we have been working on several projects and have performed many trials for customers. We will reinforce this success by showing the Truepress 520 at PrintEx in May, alongside our flatbed/roll UV large format solution, the Truepress Jet 2500UV.
Other January announcements from Screen include the sale of a Tuepress Jet 2500UV flatbed machine to Norwich, UK firm BD&H, whose Director James Fox praised the quality, white ink and up to 7-layer capabilities of his new press. “It offers us everything we need in one machine and prints everything we throw at it – roll to roll and flatbed, all at great quality,” he says.
The fourth Screen announcement is that it will participate in the February Hunkeler Innovation Days in Lucerne, Switzerland, by showing the new flagship Truepress Jet 520ZZ web press at full operational speed of 220 metres-per-minute. Finishing is proving to be the key to successful web-fed digital printing and Hunkeler has carved out a market-leading position with its annual Innovation Days – really like a trade exhibition focusing solely on high-volume digital.
“Hunkeler is a valued partner of Screen,” says Hayakawa, “and we have Hunkeler unwind and rewind units installed on our showroom Truepress Jet520. Several Australian customers have indicated they will attend the Innovation Days from February 14-17, and they will see the 520ZZ for the first time, printing a mixture of educational books, with coloured text, photographs, illustrations and tinted panels as well as examples of transpromo and direct mail applications. The workflow will be the new Equios, which is ready for PDF/VT – variable transaction – when it is commercialised later this year. Also at this event, the first commercial sale of a 520ZZ will be announced.”
The fifth announcement is that, just prior to the Hunkeler Innovation Days, Screen UK will cooperate with Konica Minolta, Morgana finishing systems and Time Harvest MIS systems at MK2011, billed as a ‘High-Octane digital print experience.’ The February 2-4 event in Milton Keynes north of London, will feature the full array of Screen digital printing solutions in both digital web and wide format. Konica Minolta will show cut-sheet presses including the new bizhub Press C8000 while Morgana will show various folders, binders and coaters. MK2011’s ‘High Octane’ theme is amplified by the presence of an Aston Martin DBS and one lucky visitor will win a $1,500 fast driving instruction day in it at a nearby testing track.
With all this happening so early in 2011 and Sydney’s PrintEx with Visual Impact in May – it looks like a watershed year for Dainippon Screen both locally and internationally.
Dainippon Screen
www.Screenaust.com.au
