Vanguard Europe will debut its cutting-edge technology for the corrugated box market with the first public showcase of its VK300D-HVT high-production flatbed LED UV machine at ALL4PACK EMBALLAGE in Paris, from November 4-7 (Stand C141, Hall 5). The VK300D-HVT, featuring its advanced, powerful vacuum table specifically tailored for the corrugated box industry, will be displayed in Vanguard’s redesigned look. With its capability to handle virtually any substrate type and thickness, including wood applications, it will be a major attraction at the show where Fogepack Systèmes will showcase Vanguard’s innovation alongside Zünd Systemtechnik AG, on their stand. Vanguard Europe and Fogepack Systèmes confirmed their exclusive partnership for France three months ago. This will be their first joint appearance at a trade show. The comprehensive agreement with Fogepack Systèmes, covering sales, distribution, service, and consumables, is part of Vanguard Europe’s strategic initiative to further grow its customers' businesses by anticipating and meeting their needs. “We're really looking forward to exhibiting at ALL4PACK EMBALLAGE with Fogepack,” said Yiannis Apostolidis, Business Development Director of Vanguard Europe. “We recognize the significance of ALL4PACK EMBALLAGE and the French market, which presents substantial growth opportunities. This will be our first public showcase of the unique VK300D-HVT machine at a packaging show, where we will also present important technology advancements in service and software solutions.” Roland Alberti, Head of Operations for Fogepack Systèmes, said: “For us and our partners, ALL4PACK EMBALLAGE represents a unique opportunity to develop new and exciting sales opportunities, growing business profitably for our customers. The show will be an important platform to demonstrate the progress we have made in such a short time.”

Analysis of the relevant press data has shown that around 65 percent of all commercial print jobs produced worldwide on a Speedmaster press from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) involve print runs of fewer than 2,000 sheets. However, some 90 percent of the print volume is produced on offset presses. Short or very short runs are produced digitally, while medium-sized and long runs are printed on offset presses. The two technologies therefore exist side by side and complement each other. To handle this kind of order structure efficiently and cost-effectively, print shops combine offset and digital printing. They therefore need hybrid solutions that offer them maximum flexibility and create the conditions that enable them to produce the entire range – from very small to very large print runs – cost-effectively, with as little paper waste as possible, and on time, even when deadlines are very tight. Moreover, these users want a standardized workflow management solution that will enable them to process all orders with the greatest possible degree of automation. In addition to fast and cost-effective production, another key requirement is print results that are identical in color, irrespective of which print technology is used to produce the print job in question. Only then can production deliver the flexibility and performance that are needed to meet ever tighter delivery times. HEIDELBERG supports print shops on a technology-neutral basis across the entire value chain This is precisely where HEIDELBERG comes in, offering its customers a hybrid production environment across all technologies and fully integrated into one workflow with Prinect. “Nowadays, HEIDELBERG is a total solution provider and partner that can supply and integrate all the latest technologies on a technology-neutral basis and in line with customer requirements. We offer the entire spectrum – from toner to inkjet and from offset to flexo printing – all controlled from a common Prinect workflow,” says Dr. David Schmedding, Management Board Member for Technology and Sales at HEIDELBERG. “This is unique in the industry,” he continues. The latest milestone to achieving this is the collaboration between HEIDELBERG and Canon for industrial inkjet printing that was announced at drupa 2024 and has attracted a great deal of interest on the market. With the Jetfire 50 digital printing system that is available now and, in the future, the Jetfire 75, which is currently still in the development phase, HEIDELBERG is offering its commercial customers a digital solution that meets industrial requirements in terms of productivity, flexibility, and quality. Both systems can be integrated into one workflow with Prinect Production Manager, as can the company’s sheetfed offset printing presses. Where necessary, HEIDELBERG also integrates digital printing systems from thirdparty manufacturers into the Prinect technology. Exactly the same rules always apply to the rendering of the print data and to color management, regardless of whether the job is being printed using digital or offset technology. This results in printed products that are identical in terms of color. Greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness with Prinect Touch Free In a hybrid production environment with different presses and printing methods, it is even more important to keep necessary interventions in the production process to an absolute minimum. Each touchpoint comes at a cost in terms of time and resources, and there is an associated risk of error, too. Another issue is that the skills shortage in print shops is becoming even more acute. What’s more, the number of print jobs that need to be produced during a shift is rising, while print runs are getting smaller. Given these conditions and processes, staff are also reaching their physical limits. From an economic 3/5 perspective, they can no longer handle this volume manually, especially since print shops are already experiencing high cost pressures and battling with low profit margins. For print shops to remain profitable, the production process needs to be as automated as possible – from the incoming order all the way through to the end product. The only solution is a workflow that is capable of managing the entire production environment as autonomously as possible. This is why HEIDELBERG developed Prinect Touch Free, which it showcased for the first time at drupa 2024. In conjunction with Prinect Production Manager, Prinect Touch Free autonomously steers print orders through the workflow in a hybrid production environment. Prinect Touch Free automatically selects the most cost-effective production path Supported by AI, the Prinect Touch Free native cloud software calculates all possible layouts autonomously and decides iteratively, on the basis of the complete order backlog, which method (offset or digital printing) represents the more efficient, more costeffective production path that will also meet the delivery deadline. The software analyzes the order backlog and production key performance indicators on an ongoing basis, learns from this, and consequently optimizes the decisions made for future jobs. In a first step, Prinect Touch Free is based on the app modules ‘Pathfinder’, ‘Decision Maker’ with ‘Batch Building’, and ‘Auto Scheduler’. Pathfinder works out all the production paths that are possible with the production technology available in the print shop. It draws up the relevant layouts and calculates the production costs for each possible path. By factoring in costs and the delivery date, Decision Maker decides which of the production paths identified should be selected, and it considers alternatives, too. In the Batch Building module, pending print orders are grouped together to minimize any machine changeovers and paper changes and also to optimize processes in postpress operations. Auto Scheduler is responsible for optimizing the production schedule on an ongoing basis. What’s more, Prinect Touch Free takes account of postpress requirements and possible printing systems from third-party suppliers. It can handle even large order volumes with ease. It factors in the automatic scheduling as well as schedule changes in the event of machine malfunction or staff absence. The color management is adapted automatically for the output device in question, so there is no need for human intervention. With 4/5 Prinect Touch Free, HEIDELBERG also offers users the future prospect of continued profitable print production – with output devices, whether offset or digital, and the workflow management system working hand in hand. Even today, Prinect Production Manager already fulfills key automation functions, ensuring perfect interaction in a hybrid production environment equipped with a Jetfire. Print Media Center in Wiesloch is being revamped as the “Home of Print” As part of its alignment as a total solution provider, HEIDELBERG is revamping its Print Media Center (PMC) at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site and turning it into the “Home of Print”. Offering the biggest exhibition space in the industry – more than 9,000 square meters of it – this Home of Print will give existing and prospective customers the chance to find out about all the latest technologies and solutions from HEIDELBERG for offset, digital, and flexographic printing on a technology-neutral basis. The revamp will be complete by the coming spring. By then at the latest, all the innovations showcased by HEIDELBERG at drupa 2024 for packaging, label, and commercial printing in fully integrated workflows and in customer-specific areas will also be available for live demos in the Home of Print. “In the Home of Print, HEIDELBERG will be showcasing the future of printing. There’s quite simply nowhere else customers can find out as much about the latest technologies for print production and work with our experts to explore and be presented with solutions that are tailored to their precise requirements, ”Schmedding explains.

BOBST, one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries, is delighted to announce the launch of its new Algeria-based subsidiary. Bobst Algiers will bring the company’s solutions and leading customer services closer to the market, particularly for this growing North African packaging and label markets. Customers and partners in Algeria have been invited to attend the inauguration event where they will have the opportunity to share industry vision and discover more about BOBST’s local support and commitment with an extensive cutting-edge portfolio of machines and services. Mohamed Ali Ben Mustapha, General Manager and Service Director Bobst Africa and Middle East, said: “BOBST leads the way in developing pioneering packaging and printing solutions for customers around the world. This new subsidiary in Algiers will enable us to extend our reach and bring our world-class technology and service closer to our valued customers and partners in Algeria and North Africa. We will be better positioned to give customers improved access to the knowledge and expertise that BOBST is renowned for. Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO of Bobst Group said: “Our presence in Algeria will enable us to strengthen our existing customer and partner relationships in a growing region. By introducing this new subsidiary, we are demonstrating our long-term commitment to increase our local presence where our clients need us, meanwhile opening the door to new business opportunities for companies located in the region. Extending into Algeria is an important step for the corrugated, label, folding carton and flexible material industries, which will benefit the entire supply chain.”

Schur Pack Germany has ordered two large-format sheetfed offset presses from the Rapida 145 series (max. sheet format 1,060 × 1,450 mm) from Koenig & Bauer. The two six-colour coater presses are scheduled to start production next year and will lend a significant boost to sustainability and climate protection at the company’s Gallin plant in Northern Germany. With this latest order, Schur Pack Germany has also reaffirmed its decades-long, trust-based partnership with Koenig & Bauer, one of the high points of which was the installation of three new sheetfed offset presses in 2015. Both Rapida 145 presses once again with double-pile deliveries The two new large-format Rapidas can be considered flagship installations in terms of automation and sustainability. Both high-speed presses (production speed up to 18,000 sheets/h) were once again configured with double-pile deliveries and integrated into a fully automatic AGV-based logistics system for substrate transport to and from the presses. Production with a double-pile delivery has already proved highly effective on the previously installed presses. Waste sheets are separated as they arrive at the delivery, so that the main pile contains only good sheets. AGVs then transport this pile fully automatically from the press to the post-press department.  Corporate goal: climate protection and reduced energy consumption During the evaluation phase, Schur Pack Germany had placed particular importance on the aspects of technical innovation, ecology and highly automated integration into the existing production environment. To this end, a comprehensive package of measures to reduce energy consumption is being implemented. These include, among other measures:  •    Incorporation of energy-saving VariDry+ large format dryer systems as a pilot project – presented for the first time at drupa, the new concept promises energy savings of approx. 30% compared to current VariDryBlue IR/hot-air systems  •    Air cabinets with heat exchangers, which likewise achieve considerable energy savings •    Intelligent networking of the presses, peripheral equipment and heating energy generation (wood chip biomass boiler) for maximum energy efficiency and optimum heat distribution •    Full integration of the process heat that was previously discharged unused into the surroundings in order to reduce power requirements •    DC main drives, which are more energy efficient to operate compared to AC drives •    VisuEnergy X for company-wide logging of energy data, including monitoring and reporting, with the aim of increasing energy efficiency and lowering production costs What’s more, the Rapida presses boast numerous features for significantly higher energy efficiency in packaging printing. This starts with established technologies such as inking units that can be disengaged when not in use, highly efficient CleanTronic washing systems, and functions to reduce job changeover waste. These are joined by systems from the QualiTronic family for inline quality inspection, including colour control based on grey balance and PDFCheck. Printshop networking, integrated workflows and digitalisation solutions also contribute to waste savings, production at the highest quality levels and maximum substrate utilisation, and define new standards for sustainable packaging production.  High performance and maximum automation Schur Pack continues to play a pioneering role in the industry when it comes to digitalisation: alongside the Rapida apps for press control and inventory management, which have already been used intensively for a number of years and will now also be used for the two new Rapida 145 presses, the company is, for the first time, adopting navigated printing (AutoGuide).  This system gives printers and helpers recommendations for action in plain text via the console wallscreen, or as short voice messages. Along with this information for the press crews, the system also features a special notification panel for the supervisor’s office and for the company’s maintenance employees. Schur Pack can look forward to significant added value in two respects: firstly, the two new presses incorporate many new automation tools, and secondly, the installations will implement new (industry) standards in terms of climate protection, sustainability and energy efficiency.   Schur Pack Germany met up with Koenig & Bauer at the drupa trade fair to pay tribute to the results of a project that has been more than two years in the making – with the two partners also pledging to work together to define further new benchmarks in future.   

  Drytac, the leading international manufacturer of self-adhesive materials for the large-format print and signage markets, is delighted to announce the global availability of Paper Fleece Smooth. The product has proved hugely successful since initially launching in the UK earlier this year and will be made available to customers in other regions worldwide from October 24th 2024. This printable non-woven paper fleece wallcovering is PVC-free, making it an effective, environmentally friendly solution for interior décor work in settings such as homes, retail stores, hotels and offices. Its photorealistic print quality produces sharp, detailed graphics with quick drying times and is ideal for creating stunning, vivid designs. Its dimensional stability allows for double-cut seams versus the traditional overlapping required with PVC materials. This makes installation faster, neater, and reduces material waste, while ensuring a flawless finish. Compatible with eco-solvent, latex, and UV printers, Paper Fleece Smooth has a smooth satin finish and a repositionable, permanent adhesive backed by an air egress release paper, allowing for bubble-free application and repositioning. The media is supplied with fire ratings in North America including ASTM E84 – Class 2 or Class B and CAN/ULC-S102. “With demand rising for more environmentally friendly solutions across the print industry, Paper Fleece Smooth is the ideal solution for those print companies producing beautiful interior design applications,” said Dennis Leblanc, Senior Business Development Manager for North America at Drytac.

The leading global manufacturer of surface treatment technology, Vetaphone, will be exhibiting its corona technology at Labelexpo India 2024.  The event, which takes place in New Delhi on 14th-17th November, is expected to attract visitors from more than 50 countries across Asia to see more than 250 stands at the Expo Centre & Mart in Great Noida. Vetaphone, which is represented in India by Weldon Celloplast (Hall 10 Stand E8), will have corona treaters in working demonstration on the UV Graphic Technologies stand (A18), and on the Domino stand (A22) where it is mounted on a digital press fitted with a UV Graphics flexo unit. Speaking for Vetaphone, Area Sales Manager for Asia Pacific Holger Selenka commented: “The Indian sub-continent, with its annual growth rate in label printing of around 10%, is a key area for Vetaphone in strategic terms and we are looking forward welcoming our existing users and meeting new customers along with our friends and colleagues on the Weldon Celloplast stand.”

ECO3 has acquired UK company Direct-to-Plate (DtP) Ltd., a well-established service and support provider to the UK printing industry. The deal that was signed last week will strengthen ECO3’s service network in the UK. Commenting on the acquisition, ECO3’s Global Head of Sales & Service, Frederik Dehing said: “Providing excellent services has always been an integral part of the total prepress solutions we bring to market. Customers around the globe trust on ECO3 for the support of their consumables, equipment and software. This acquisition enforces our organization and ensures that our newspaper, commercial and packaging customers in the UK remain assured of the best possible after sales support available.” Eddie Williams, Head of Sales Europe, added: “We are bringing on board a team of highly experienced and professional engineers, providing 24/7 services to a broad range of equipment and software solutions. Their know-how will enable us to expand our reach and continue to provide the best services to our customers“. With immediate effect, the former DtP team will be integrated into ECO3 UK head office in Derbyshire. Customers of the former DtP company will continue to receive support and have access to spare parts supplied by former DtP. The terms of the acquisition have not been made public.