As preparations for Fespa, starting 31 May, reach their completion, several vendors and distributors have released new or additional details about what they will be showing at the Berlin event.
In alphabetical order:
Canon will show roll-to-roll and high volume flatbed printing, together with workflow automation. The Colorado 1630 and 1650 UV-gel roll printers will be demonstrated, plus the ‘UVgel wallpaper factory‘ which is based on the Colorado 1650 in conjunction with Fotoba roll handling and cutting systems. The Arizona 135GT flatbed will appear on Farben-Frikell’s stand, near the Canon one, while the Arizona 2830 XTF will be on the Canon stand. For slightly smaller applications where colour quality is at a premium, the 1.1m 10-colour Image Prograf GP-4000 will also appear, along with the TZ-30000 series, which is aimed at CAD and GIS applications.
Cutting systems specialist Elitron will introduce several new tools and modules for work on display media. These include a twin 45° blade tool which makes clean 90° V-cuts cuts in honeycomb materials in a single pass, and starting at any point on the sheet. This will be complemented by a new Digital Multi Degree cutting module, which has a motorised 200mm diameter circular blade and a fixed blade option, allowing cuts at any angle up to 90°. A 3kW milling module with a new automatic tool changer increases productivity on harder media and a new automatic feeding system with automatic centring will complete the display.
eProductivity Software (EPS) will feature its Mid-market Print Suite MIS/ERP and MarketDirect Storefront multi-channel software but will focus specifically on PrintFlow 4D cloud-based scheduling and resource optimisation solution, Auto-Count 4D data collection, iQuote estimating and planning and Metrix job planning and imposition tools.
Epson‘s stand will focus on different applications. For promotional products, two of its desktop dye-sub printers will be shown, including the first A4 model, the SureColor SC-F100, while direct to garment will feature the SureColor SC-F3000 together with a Schulze heat tunnel and heat press as a complete DtG package. High productivity direct to fabric printing will be demonstrated on the Monna Lisa ML-8000, which will be shown printing on cotton. For textile dye sublimation, the SC-F9400H and SC-F10000H will be running yellow and pink fluorescent inks. On the signage side Epson’s water-based resin ink printer, the SureColor SC-R5000L will be printing on wallcoverings, soft signage and fine art. The company’s first flatbed, the SC-V7000, will also get its first public showing. Epson is also partnering with a number of substrates vendors, including Kavalan, whose PVC-free Sunlight Weldable frontlit material will be printed on the stand.
Mutoh has just announced that two product premieres will appear on its stand, celebrating 70 years of the Japanese company’s existence. The 1.6m XpertJet 1682SR Pro is said to be up to 180% faster than the existing 1682SR, but like it can be configured in dual-CMYK or eight-colour modes, including gamut-expanding orange ink in addition to light CMK. A new quick-drying ink set, MS-the 51 Series, is being introduced to complement the printer. The new ink is free of GBL. The second printer introduction is the 127cm XpertJet 1341WR Pro, a dye sublimation machine which complements the wider existing 1642WR Pro. The new printer is also compatible with Mutoh’s DS3-series HC (high colourant) inks which offer reduced consumption and faster drying.
SAi will use the show to launch Flexi 22, a new version of its print-and-cut sign-making software. This introduces the SAi Connect dashboard, a central interface for managing subscriptions, software updates and monitoring production data, all accessible from the main software. Production efficiency is helped by allowing more job modifications to be applied within Flexi Production Manager, eliminating back-tracking and simplifying reprint orders. The software has also gained tools to address DtG and direct to film design and production for T-shirt and textile applications.
Fespa Global Expo 2022 runs from 31 May to 3 June at Messe Berlin. Other exhibitors are previewed here and Digital Printer will present a review of these and other key show announcements in the forthcoming May/June issue; you may register for it here, free of charge if you haven’t already.
