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Helios Unveils Game-Changing Print & Finishing Technologies…

Helios Business Systems LLC marked a major milestone in its growth journey with the successful launch of its newest flagship machine – the INFINITI VJET6042CW Spot UV & Embellishment Printer – at an exclusive product launch and open house held at the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai. The event drew close to 100 guests from across the UAE’s printing and advertising industry, with representatives from over 60 companies in attendance. Live demonstrations and product showcases captivated industry professionals and affirmed Helios’ expanding role as a technology-driven solutions provider in the region. At the heart of the event was the INFINITI VJET6042CW, a cutting-edge Spot UV printer. The machine delivers premium embellishment, making it ideal for both digital and offset print houses looking to add high-value tactile finishes like spot varnish, 3D texture, and cold foil effects. Alongside the Infiniti launch, Helios also premiered its latest finishing solutions, headlined by the SAGA ASF420 Auto Sheet Feed Digital Cutting Machine. Equipped with 4 versatile tools, this system supports half-cut, full-cut, creasing, and perforation on a wide range of media—offering production flexibility for packaging, labeling, and prototyping needs. In addition to the spotlight on the cutting-edge Infiniti VJET 6042, Helios is proud to showcase its expanding portfolio of advanced UV printing and finishing solutions, engineered for performance, precision, and creativity. At the forefront of this expansion are the all-new Alpha 6090 Magic and Alpha 4060 UV printers—versatile machines that set a new benchmark in flatbed printing. These models stand out by offering metallic foiling capabilities on both direct UV prints and UV DTF film, delivering enhanced visual effects and premium finishes. With an industry-leading direct print height of up to 30 cm, they are ideal for businesses working with varied substrates and 3D objects. Helios’ comprehensive UV printer lineup also includes the Alpha UV 1.8m Hybrid Printer for flexible roll-to-roll and rigid printing, the compact Alpha UV3060, and the high-performance Alpha UV2513 flatbed printer—designed to meet the demands of both small-scale businesses and large-format industrial printing. Complementing the UV range, Helios also offers its powerful Magnus series of digital cutting systems, built for heavy-duty precision cutting up to 30 mm thickness. These machines are equipped with a wide array of tool heads to handle diverse materials across signage, packaging, and display applications. Helios continues to empower its customers with cutting-edge technology and tailored solutions, redefining what’s possible in digital printing, cutting, and engraving. “This launch marks the beginning of a new era for Helios,” said a spokesperson from the company. “With the Infiniti Spot UV system and a suite of advanced cutting technologies, we are bringing in a next generation of print enhancement and finishing solutions tailored for today’s evolving market needs. Helios reaffirmed its commitment to innovation by announcing that this event was just the first in a series of product introductions planned for the year. The company is poised to continue expanding its footprint with smart, scalable, and accessible machinery for the print and packaging sectors in the Middle East.

Helios Unveils Game-Changing Print & Finishing Technologies…

Gulf Print & Pack Saudi Arabia featured over 150 leading exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, China, Bahrain, Jordan, India, and Germany. Ayman Aly, B2B Marketing Director at Canon Middle East talks to PrintWeek MENA about Canon's participation in the event. Could you elaborate on Canon's strategic vision for the printing industry? Certainly. Canon is deeply invested in the digital printing industry, a commitment that was prominently showcased at the Drupa exhibition. We are directing significant resources into various lineups to cater to an array of applications. A key focus area for us is packaging due to its growing demand and the notable shift from analog to digital. In addition, we are investing heavily in commercial printing with our B2 and B3 production inkjet machines designed for high-volume output. Furthermore, we support other domains such as decor and publishing, offering a comprehensive range from inkjet to toner to cutsheet continuous feed. As we look towards 2026, Canon has ambitious plans to introduce new technologies, even venturing into domains like packaging where we haven't previously explored. It's clear that Canon envisions a bright future in this industry, and we believe our commitment will bring about transformative changes in the landscape of digital printing. Could you elaborate on Canon's next-generation printing solutions for sectors such as interior decor, publishing, packaging, and commercial printing? Absolutely. For commercial printing, we offer a broad spectrum of solutions. This ranges from light production machines designed for small volumes to high-volume B2 press cutsheets, which are set to significantly impact both packaging and commercial printing. In terms of continuous feed, we cater to the publishing sector with our uncoated ColorStream series for book printing. We also have a coated option, the ProStream, which is currently used in the King Fahd Quran complex to print approximately 4 million copies of the Holy Quran annually. As for packaging, we're developing a variety of solutions. Our corrugated machine, which was presented as a concept at Drupa, will be launched soon. We're also focusing on the growing label industry with our LabelStream, set to launch in 2026. Additionally, we're showcasing the Colorado Packaging factory at our stand, demonstrating short runs for low-volume or premium packaging. In the decor sector, we've always been proactive. We now have the Colorado and Arizona lines that can print on various materials like glass, wood, metal, and wallpaper. One of our successful customers in Dubai is using our technology creatively in this domain. For publishing, apart from Quran printing, we offer an uncoated solution for inkjet like the ColorStream series and a range of black and white options. We even provide cutsheet inkjet solutions for high-volume publishers like Tenaui. So, we offer comprehensive solutions catering to everything from very small quantities to large volumes of books. Could you elaborate on Canon's dedication to Saudi Vision 2030 and the investments made in the region? Our commitment is clearly demonstrated through our substantial presence at this exhibition. Our significant investment in a large-scale stand underscores our dedication to the region. Another testament to our commitment is our direct operation in Saudi Arabia, which we established in 2018. This strategic move has greatly facilitated our ability to sell complex solutions such as production Inkjet. We're proud to say that our comprehensive portfolio, including the highly successful production Inkjet, has been fully implemented in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, our regional Customer Experience Center, located in Riyadh, serves as a hub for events and training sessions for our partners and customers. In essence, Riyadh is evolving into a pivotal hub for us, enabling us to support the region more effectively and promote our innovative technologies and solutions. Could you share the strategy Canon has in place to further expand its footprint in the Saudi Arabian market? Absolutely. Our strategy primarily revolves around investing in high-quality personnel across all aspects of our business. Last year, we launched the Canon Printing Consultant Program. This is essentially a comprehensive training program designed for our salespeople, culminating in a diploma in printing. The training modules were delivered by both Canon and non-Canon experts, including some sessions at Riyadh Polytechnic Institute to understand analog printing among other things. We also had many of our partners, such as EFI, participate in this program. The trainees were educated not only on sales skills but also on the technology itself. The goal is to enable them to utilize the technology we have on display here flawlessly. This positions them as consultants rather than just salespeople, aiding customers in understanding how to best use our technology. Additionally, we place great emphasis on delivering top-notch service to our customers. Our aim is to ensure maximum uptime, help customers extract the best quality from our technology, and guide them on maximizing their return on investment. Lastly, staying connected with our customers through exhibitions and events is vital. It provides us with opportunities to explain how we can support them and how they can optimally utilize our technology. Could you share your experience at the Gulf Print and Pack 2025? The experience has been truly amazing. What sets this exhibition apart from others is that it's not just Canon showcasing its offerings. It's great to see the entire industry represented here, from printing and finishing to even paper selling. This comprehensive representation provides customers with a complete experience. Having everyone under one roof creates a dynamic energy and presents customers with diverse options, which ultimately benefits the industry. Even on the first day, typically quieter at exhibitions, we had good footfall and engaging discussions with customers. We exceeded our expectations by making sales close to $2 million, which was an excellent achievement. When we participate in exhibitions in Riyadh, we never worry about the return on investment. That's why we are always committed to being present at such events. Is there anything else you'd like to add or emphasize? I would like to reiterate our commitment and ambition for growth. Since 2018, we have seen significant growth in our market share. For instance, last year, our share in the toner cutsheet machines market in Saudi Arabia was over 70%, which is a remarkable achievement. We also have plans to expand further into the wide format or large format sector, particularly in signage and flatbed. This is another major focus area for us. As the business grows, so does our team in Saudi Arabia. We continue to invest and develop the market here, reinforcing our commitment to the region.

Helios Unveils Game-Changing Print & Finishing Technologies at Infini…

How to implement automation in printing operations

It is becoming necessary in printing operations to automate as much as possible to gain efficiencies. But before you begin your planning processes, look at your current state to ensure that you understand how works happen today. Kodak, a global technology company focused on print and advanced materials and chemicals, explains the vital role of automation in printing operations and how to do it properly. Read on. Single system of record that reliably gathers data from business and production systems If you have that system of record, you are in the perfect state to take on end-to-end automation. If you have multiple points of data collection that have never been integrated, there is still a path to automation. Still, your planning may take longer to accommodate identifying the required data and the processes that use them. Standard processes for order taking, job specification, and order management When there are standard processes, planning for automation can leverage them to speed implementation. When the procedures to take orders are different for every sales channel, it is hard to standardize order intake. When the process of capturing job specifications varies by sales team member and orders are managed without a strategic view into machine usage and job deadlines, some work will be required before automating and making those processes more efficient. How many spreadsheets are used to track jobs, components, or processes? Every business has some ad hoc processes tracked on spreadsheets, whiteboards, and notepads to keep mission-critical items front of mind. There is nothing wrong with them, but when they become the sole source of truth about a job or a process, they add risk to production. Some organisations justify using spreadsheets by putting them onto shared-access servers so that all authorized constituents can easily access them. It sounds like a great idea, but over time you may find that copies are sitting on individual desktops, and the shared copy is no longer the reliable source of information. Knowing what you have as you plan for automation will help you size the effort. Moving to that automated environment creates a single system of record that is reliable and can be integrated into adjacent business and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Planning for automation You could find some processes that appear easy to automate, add some new tools, and call that your automation plan, but there is a better path. It starts with knowing what is possible. New options in cloud-based workflows bring the same powerful options to smaller shops as the largest shops enjoy. With minimal investments and immediate implementation, shops with a single digital press can build an efficient workflow that will scale using the same technology as a mid-size shop with a mix of offset and digital devices. And these modern cloud-based production workflow solutions can help in any segment, whether the work you produce is graphically-rich static content or uses data-driven processes to execute variable content targeted to a specific recipient. Today’s automated production workflows are built to integrate MIS and ERP tools, Web-to-Print solutions, and e-commerce options. This approach should be high on your list as you consider automation options because it brings a robust IT infrastructure to the table. Automating individual processes glued together with manual interventions isn’t the accomplishment that brings the most benefit. Considering automation requires a dive into every action involved, from the point of estimation and sale to the final delivery to the customer. Planning is the active event designed to identify the touchpoints and the best approach to reviewing each step, the people involved, and the current tools used. Start by articulating your strategic goals for 2022. You may be looking to expand into a new industry or print segments. Your current workload may require more capacity. You may want to acquire more capabilities, either through buying more equipment, optimising workflows, or buying a company. As you consider your strategic plan, itemize the candidate processes for automation to move you toward those goals. Don’t be surprised if you identify current manual processes as critical roadblocks. Strategic goals are long-term and inform the way the business runs. There will be some work to do to build the bridge from strategy to implementation, and that is where tactical planning becomes essential. Tactical goals are more than solving today’s bottleneck. They work within the strategy to consider implementing new software and processes while keeping production moving. Think of it as changing the tires on a car while it’s in motion. There will be practical concerns as current processes are replaced by automation, including how and when to move off tools that are no longer providing value. Tactics should support the strategic goals and solve the business' specific challenges without adding more hurdles to creating an automated environment. Build the strategic plan for automation to consider the practical implication of automating the current processes, including goals for gaining buy-in from the team members in each department, who may be asked to change how they do their jobs or change positions to accommodate the planned process modifications. Look for onramps to the fully automated business environment for every element in the tactical plan that enables lower cost and higher margins. A part of tactical planning includes your approach to daily operations. To create an efficient environment in 2022, consider a standalone Operational Plan to document the expectations for each department, interface points between departments, and the key performance metrics that will help everyone stay on the strategic course. Automation does not eliminate the need to understand the production touchpoints. The best practice is to document what should happen if you lose access to the automation, too. The last step in planning for automation is to build the appropriate contingency plans. Cloud-based automated workflows protect you from onsite server disruptions and mitigate much of the risk associated with onsite installations when paired with a disciplined backup strategy. What to do next If you plan to automate your print workflow in 2022, look for scalable and easy platforms to integrate with your core business systems. Ensure that your chosen technology partner lets you automate each task within prepress and production and then map those automated tasks together to ensure that each type of job takes the correct journey through each process. Learn your options, and then create a plan that works for you.

admin in News July 22, 2022

Estimable estimators

If they were lucky, the human estimators had an adding machine or desktop calculator to help with the figures. A busy medium-sized printer might have 10 or more full time estimators. Finding and keeping that many specialised estimators could be tricky, as the work was exacting but hardly exciting. Computers were an obvious solution, but the knowledge of how to program for such specialised calculations wasn’t. One of the first UK companies to crack it was what was to become Imprint Business Systems, which is still going strong after 42 years. Today its customers in print and packaging run into the hundreds and many of them have used Imprint systems for at least 25 years. Like most of the early MIS developers, Imprint grew out of the needs of a particular print company, which then used the experience gained to sell to a wider circle or printing and packaging companies. The late 1970s and early 1980s saw a lot of computer estimating start-ups, often with printing company roots. Some of Imprint’s original UK competitors from 40-odd years ago have also survived and prospered independently, such as Optimus (originally Optichrome Computer Systems Ltd, or OCSL), DDS (Accura) and Tharstern, while others were taken over by the ever-expanding EFI empire (such as Prism, Radius, Shuttleworth and Technique). A few others have either merged, or closed, or both. Imprint itself was founded in 1978 by Glennys Bourne and Jonathan Richards. Originally the pair had worked together at the art book printer Shenval Press in Harlow. Richards was general manager, later a director of Shenval, but had learned programming skills at college. Bourne went on to run the nearby Caterpillar Press. Bourne says that the reason for writing the original computer estimating program was a shortage of the trained human variety. “You could not get estimators for love nor money,” she says. So the first estimating program was written to suit the needs of Shenval Press and Caterpillar Press. Bourne saw the potential for Imprint beyond the needs of Shenval and Caterpillar, so the latter was sold to concentrate on the new business. “The Imprint name describes the company well and has stood us well over the years,” says Richards. “As for why the name was chosen, it just seemed a good fit at the time.” Both are still very much involved today. Bourne is CEO, while Jonathan Richards says he’s “allowed to be chairman on high days and holidays”. However, time marches on and their children Will Richards and Nick Bourne have also joined Imprint – the latter now being MD. Today Imprint is based in High Easter, in the countryside between Chelmsford and Bishop’s Stortford, handily close to the M11 and Stansted airport. It employs 16 people in an often overlapping mix of management, programming and customer services roles.

admin in News July 22, 2022

Agfa Avinci CX3200

Avinci CX3200 is 3.2 m wide dye sub textile printer capable of printing on polyester-based textiles What is it? Agfa’s Avinci CX3200 is a highly reliable and convenient soft signage printer that can print directly to fabrics and onto transfer paper. It uses an off-line calendar unit to ensure perfect fixation. Agfa’s dedicated dye sublimation roll-to-roll printer will enable you to create vibrant, high-quality prints on polyester-based fabrics up to 3.2 m wide, including a broad range of in- and outdoor soft signage applications, as well as interior decoration. The Avinci CX3200 boasts a rich color gamut and delivers deep black, perfect solids, accurate spot color mapping and smooth tonal rendering that is particularly noticeable in skin tones. The Avinci inks are characterised by their flexibility, image longevity and outdoor resistance. They offer stable jetting performance and deliver the same high-quality results, batch after batch. An off-line calender unit fixes the color deeply into the structure of the polyester-based fabrics while evaporating the carrier fluid. When was it launched at what are the target markets? It was launched on June 22, 2021, and aimed at soft signage industry, sports wear, fashion industry and home décor. Avinic CX3200 is a 3.2 m wide Dye Sub Textile printer capable of printing on polyester based textiles. Does it replace an earlier product? It replaces the earlier model of DX3200. The Avinci CX3200 is driven by Agfa’s Asanti wide-format workflow software. Color accuracy is provided by the easy-to-use color management. Using their Calibrated Print Mode feature, new media can be calibrated and profiled in less than 15 minutes, after which the new profiles can be used to guarantee print quality. Asanti controls and automates the entire printing process from file intake to finishing, maximising productivity. Its comprehensive integration of file handling, color management and preflighting guarantees smooth and error-free jobs. The web-based Asanti Production Dashboard offers a view on your running production. It summarizes the jobs produced and reports on quantity printed, media usage, ink volumes enabling you to control your production and to manage your print shop optimally. What is the USP? It allows you to print directly on textiles and capable of print on transfer paper media as well. Single person media loading and low inks consumptions are another features. High productivity and a robust design for reliable printing at all times, vibrant prints and a wide color gamut; fine detail rendering; extensive applications scope; low ink consumption; convenient operations and a fast changeover between jobs are another features. Avinci produces good results with a minimum of jetted ink. This low ink consumption is based on Agfa’s renowned Thin Ink Layer technology: a smart combination of particular ink characteristics and our Asanti workflow software algorithms that tune the ink quantities perfectly to the required image quality mode. What training and support are available? Full in house training and support available from Agfa UAE and Belgium. Complete and integrated solution are available for printer, inks, workflow software, worldwide service and applications support. How productive is it? It prints at speed of 250 Sqm per hr on express mode. Being able to print directly to fabric is easy and ideal for fast handling and for special applications such as flags, where print-though is needed. Transfer paper allows for super sharp prints, eliminates any set-off, and limits media waste to a minimum. In addition, it extends the application scope to sportswear and fashion garments, as well as home décor prints on non-coated polyester fabrics. What does it cost? How is it sold? The recommended retail price (RRP) is approximately $220k stand alone printer and requires a separate calendaring unit. How many are in use? Currently, the latest CX3200 are around 11 units around the world. Specifications 3.2m Dye sublimation Printer Kyocera print heads 4 colour printer CYMK Direct to garment capable to print on transfer paper Max speed of 250 sqm Stand alone printer Resolution up to 600 x 1800 dpi Media types: Polyester-based fabrics, or transfer paper used to create banners, indoor wall graphics, shop decoration, outdoor advertising, light boxes, trade show displays, flags and high polyester-based blends “Agfa Avinci CX3200 was launched in June 2021.”

Aug. 2, 2022

Epson – SureColor SC V7000 Flatbed Printer

Epson's first UV large format printer offers exceptional image quality, Shihab Zubair What is it? The SureColor SC-V7000 is Epson's first UV large format printer, offering exceptional image quality. The V7000 is ideal for printing eye-catching retail and outdoor signage, window displays, hoarding panels, packaging, promotional goods, and décor products. It includes Epson’s Micro Piezo printhead with ten newly developed original inks, for accurate colour reproduction for spot and corporate colours. It allows businesses the flexibility to print on a range of media up to 80mm thick including acrylics, polycarbonates, PVC, glass, aluminium, metal, polyester, foam board, styrene, wood and stone. The printhead layout enables simultaneous high-speed printing and, with the 4-zone vacuum system, it offers real flexibility for production environments. When was it launched at what are the target markets? The Epson SureColor SC-V7000 was launched in April 2021 within the Middle East region, building on the success of Epson’s award-winning range of SureColor S Series signage printers. The V7000 allows sign and display makers to expand their portfolio of products, to deliver high quality, fast and reliable results on a variety of different media. Does it replace an earlier product? The SureColor SC-V7000 proudly marks Epson’s entry into the UV flatbed signage print market. As Epson’s first UV large format printer, it provides unique features to differentiate and enhance our offering to the signage market. Every feature of the Epson SureColor SC-V7000 has been designed with the customer in mind. This is a robust and affordable UV LED flatbed signage printer capable of fast and quality printing on a wide range of media – any type of surface, despite the size, thickness, or weight. This is in addition to Epson’s successful product solutions such as the Epson SureColor SC Series of eco-solvent and resin ink printers. For instance, for environmentally friendly organisations, Epson’s SureColor SC-R5010 Series has the capacity to include a resin ink solution, offering print service providers and creative design agencies the ability to produce a wide range of signage in a more sustainable way, without compromising on the results. For a larger ink capacity, Epson offers the SureColor SC-R5010L. What is the USP? The Epson SureColor SC-V7000 provides exceptional image quality, productivity, usability, and safety. With the unique Epson Micro Piezo printhead, the printer has ten newly developed original inks and 3-layer high-speed printing. It helps print with ease and safety with automatic measurement of media thickness, a multi-zone vacuum, and a printhead crash prevent function, Epson Edge Print, proximity sensors. What training and support is available? Epson manufactures all the components for the SureColor SC-V7000, including printheads, inks and software, in order to reach the consistent quality levels that our customers expect. The Epson Cloud Solution PORT is a cloud-based system from where you will be able to monitor equipment across several sites, or several printers across one site, from the production floor or remotely, and assist the control of production. This enables efficient production planning, increased uptime and enhanced support. Epson Production Monitor is part of the Epson Cloud Solution PORT suite of apps and allows you to examine the production status in real-time. If an issue occurs, it can be corrected efficiently with minimal disruption to the print run. How productive is it? The SureColor SC-V7000 enables businesses to print at high speed with a maximum print area of 2.5 metres by 1.25 metres. The printhead layout enables simultaneous high-speed printing, with white ink and varnish, without losing productivity. What does it cost? How is it sold? The recommended retail price (RRP) is around AED 330,563 (US $90,000) and it is sold through authorised partners in the Middle East. How many are in use? Currently two printers have been installed in the UAE, and we are scheduled to install a few more in December and further into 2022. Specifications UltraChrome UV 10-colour inkset Printing resolution of 720 x 1,440 DPI Outstanding print quality High-speed simultaneous printing even when using white, colour and varnish Printheads, ink, firmware and software with an ink tank capacity of 1,000 ml Price from AED 330,563 “Epson SureColor SC-V7000 was launched in April 2021.”

Aug. 2, 2022

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