EFI has been able to grow by 12% yearly in the past couple of years. They focus on big growth markets. Packaging,  sign and labelling are the most important markets which they are entering. According to CEO Guy Gecht this is the reason why EFI will not work on sheet printing. The future is fast, unmanned, personalised and diversified.

Gecht does not only recognize the internet of things, but also the image of things; everything can be printed. The big advantage of inkjet is that the head doesn´t touch the material so that anything can be printed. Textile printing is one of the new growth market which will be EFI focus: “print now is everywhere”.
Packaging and label printing are the biggest growth markets, according to Gecht. This market grows faster than the iPhone market (percentage wise). EFI recently acquired US ink manufacturer Rialco. The reason being that the company sees growth in ink, with a future for water-based inks. EFI will show a new kind of ink during drupa.
EFI will also bring a new platform for managing all sorts of printers.

The combination of digital and paper will be the future of direct mail. It is the right moment, the right way to the right reader which will result in a conversation. The company will introduce new software solutions at drupa. Pitney Bowes will introduce its Clarity solution suite. A cloud-based software which collects data from direct mail machines. This is the internet of things at a very high level.

The software will give companies a better insight into problems and advises on solutions.
Pitney Bowes offers printers and mail handling machines for the direct mail industry. The company does not brand itself as a product supplier, but as a solution supplier, including software and digial mail.
According to Pitney Bowes´ Mark Hirz they will also show something else at drupa. A personalised video which can be used interactively on both sides. The results is more clicks and longer view times. The video literally speaks to the client, based on client name and the time and text changes. Hirz: it seems simple, but it isn´t.” It is similar to a conversation with a robot.
The name of this product is Engage One video

More about Pitney Bowes at drupa in the below press release.

Xerox sees the document market as 50 billion printed pages worldwide with only 2 percent of these produced digitally.
Xerox´s theme for drupa is Let the Work Flow in Hall 8B. The company shows inspirational product for various market segments.
Xerox´s future technology focuses on inkjet. They will introduce a sheet inkjet press named Brenva. The second announcement is an inkjet printer named trivor 2400. All products are based on the Impika platform which was acquired by Xerox.

Konica Minolta will show technology which will add value for the customer.

Important items are a simple path to digital and more unmanned printers. According to Konica there is a long way to go, because only 2,7% of packaging, label and textile is digital.
Konica Minolta will have a live band playing at drupa and everything the band needs will be produced at drupa. A case study which lets the music play.

Press release

Canon uses its imaging experience to claim world leadership in production print. Canon currently has a markt share of 60% in industrial inkjet printing. With the acquisition of OCE this market position has been strenghtened and hte company claims to be number 1 in digital print.
Technology itself is not enough. We will need to prove the value of print.
According to Canon print is an intelligent medium which stimulates creativity.
Canon´s campaign #Unleashprint will show the value of print. The campaign is based on three parts, technological innovation, business models and inspiration.
These will also be visible at the drupa stand, with special client events and client´s client events.

Press Release: Canon helps printers of every size and type unleash their business potential at drupa 2016

At drupa 2016 (Messe Düsseldorf, 31 May – 10 June 2016, Hall 8a, Stand B50), Canon will show print businesses the full gamut of its market-leading inkjet and toner based solutions, from small to wide format. The focus of Canon’s drupa presence will be on productive, high quality technologies that meet the evolving expectations of commercial printers and corporate print departments of every size and type.

The highlight for most visitors will be the first opportunity to see Canon’s most recently launched production print systems, including:

• Océ VarioPrint i300 – inkjet sheetfed press – with new features and finishing options (see separate press release)
• imagePRESS C10000VP – digital production press, 100ppm (see separate press release)
• imagePRESS C8000VP – digital production press, 80 ppm (see separate press release
• Océ ColorStream 6000 Chroma – high-speed commercial inkjet system featuring the new Chromera ink set (see separate press release)
• ImageStream 2400 – full-colour inkjet press for standard coated papers (see separate press release)
• ColorWave 910 – high-speed, single-pass colour inkjet printer
• the first European showing of several new wide format printer models

The Canon stand will be arranged to reflect the most prominent applications for visitors, making it easy to locate the solutions of most interest to them:

• commercial print;
• business communications, including transactional and direct mail;
• publishing, including books, magazines and newspapers;
• advertising and creative, including display graphics;
• functional/industrial, including 3D printing;
• packaging;
• photographic products

#UnleashPrint

In every area of the stand, Canon will bring to life its new campaign to ‘#UnleashPrint’. This communicates Canon’s passion for print as a unique and powerful medium, celebrates the value of print and sets out to unlock its still untapped potential. At drupa 2016, visitors will discover how Canon can help them ‘unleash print’ by combining technology innovation with expertise in implementing intelligent new business models that elevate print’s ability to respond to changing customer needs.

Every zone of the Canon stand will feature exceptional creative print applications, with the aim of inspiring visitors to extend their product portfolio and push the boundaries of print. As part of its customer journey, Canon will also show visitors how they can increase print’s effectiveness though integration with digital platforms to deliver seamless multichannel communications that simplify customer experiences, stimulate response and make print as measurable as any other tool in the communications mix.

Canon experts will be on hand throughout drupa to talk to PSPs about their development plans and aspirations, offering practical guidance and insight through such successful tools as the Canon Business & Innovation Scan and Essential Business Builder Program.

Jeppe Frandsen, Executive Vice President of Industrial & Production Solutions, Canon Europe comments: “Every print service provider, regardless of their size, business profile or applications focus, should come and talk to Canon at drupa about how we can help them to grow their business. We are a market leader in both inkjet and toner technologies addressing the whole spectrum of print applications, with an extensive international customer base representing all types of print business.”

“The high-performance end-to-end solutions we will showcase are the result of our sustained R&D commitment, shaped by the insights we gain from our deep engagement with our customer community. This combination of leading technology, expertise and continuous dialogue with customers means we are uniquely placed to help print service providers implement customer-centric digital business models that unleash the full potential of their business.”

The company will introduce the new series Jetpress inkjet sheet printer, also available with UV curing. Separately Fuijifilm will show a wide portfolio of hardware for large format printers especially for the sign industry. Its topmodel is Onset. New is a hybrid printer named Uvistar Hybrid which can print on both fleible as well as inflexible material. Roll to roll or as flatbed.
The new UV LED Inkjet press for packaging is also new.
Fuijifilm will be in various areas of drupa, with their own stand in Hall 8a, as well as in Hall 1 together with Heidelberg to accentuate their cooperation.

Fujifilm outlines its largest presence at drupa 2016 

under the slogan “Value from Innovation”

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) today announces that it will occupy a 2,020 m2 booth in Hall 8b at drupa 2016 (Dusseldorf, Germany, May 31st – June 10th, alongside a smaller booth in Hall 1 to support the company’s Heidelberg partnership, which in combination, represents the company’s largest drupa presence to date. Under the slogan “Value from Innovation”, the company will be showcasing technologies and solutions that add value to print operations in the commercial, wide format and packaging market sectors.

A key element to Fujifilm’s presence in both locations will be the company’s industry-leading inkjet technologies, summarised and showcased under a new brand name “FUJIFILM Inkjet Technology”. Fujifilm’s inkjet capability combines the very best UV & water-based ink technologies and production facilities, leading piezo-electric printhead design and manufacturing, and world-class software and systems integration expertise. At drupa, Fujifilm will be showcasing how these technologies are being used to further the penetration and of inkjet printing in the commercial, wide format, packaging and industrial markets, opening up opportunities for print service providers to expand their businesses.

In Hall 1, Fujifilm will be showcasing how the latest generation of its modular SAMBA™ printheads, unique VersaDrop™ jetting and RAPIC anti-coagulation technologies, together with the company’s software, systems integration and ink development expertise, have been combined to form the “print engine“ at the heart of Heidelberg’s new B1 industrial inkjet press.

In Hall 8b, Fujifilm’s main presence at drupa 2016, the company will be showcasing how these inkjet technologies can contribute to the expansion and development of new printing applications and opportunities. Of equal importance however, will be Fujifilm’s traditional technologies and solutions which are designed to optimise existing print processes, in particular offset and flexo print production. At drupa, Fujifilm will be focusing on demonstrating how its recently launched “SUPERIA” and “FLENEX” solutions can optimise production, help printers improve their profitability and ultimately provide the foundation for a strong print business.

Fujifilm’s stand in Hall 8b is divided into five different zones for different types of printing application. The details of each zone are given below:

Commercial Printing Zone

Centre stage in the commercial printing zone will be the Jet Press 720S, with Fujifilm showcasing how this press is transforming print businesses all around the world, and why it will continue to lead the market in B2 inkjet digital printing. Featuring a number of new enhancements, the press will be operating in a true production environment, with visitors able to see the competitive benefits that can be gained using this press, which remains the only proven, reliable and fully commercially available B2 inkjet production press.

At the heart of this zone will be Fujifilm’s XMF Workflow. This leading workflow solution has gained worldwide acclaim for its native PDF architecture, its ability to efficiently manage digital and offset print production, and for its unrivalled speed and flexibility. At drupa 2016, Fujifilm will be demonstrating how the ability of XMF and the workflow’s Controller Module can integrate with post-press devices and MIS systems respectively to optimise production processes.

Fujifilm will also be showcasing its new resource-saving SUPERIA solution for offset printing. SUPERIA combines all the company’s pre-press and pressroom expertise in a solution which optimises resources across the offset print process, giving printers the opportunity to reduce materials, labour, water, energy and their environmental impact to help make their businesses more efficient and ultimately improve profitability.

Wide Format Printing Zone

Within this zone are a wide range of leading solutions for wide and super-wide format print production. At the high volume end of the scale, Fujifilm will be showcasing a new Onset X Series printer for the first time in Europe.  The Onset X represents the latest evolution in Inca Digital’s advanced “scalable architecture” concept, and the productivity achieved with a choice of Fujifilm’s Dimatix printheads and Uvijet inks allow this industrial printer to be used for a diverse range of production requirements. In addition, it‘s 14-channel capability provides incredible versatility and allows the printer to be upgraded in the field to meet changing business needs.

Also being showcased at drupa will be the new Uvistar Hybrid 320. This is a 3.2m, combination flatbed and roll printer, capable of producing high quality output at speeds of up to 195 square metres an hour. Utilising Fujifilm’s Dimatix Q-Class printheads and Uvijet UV inks, the Uvistar Hybrid 320 prints full greyscale output at an exceptional quality level and delivers a wide gamut of vibrant colours. The press is available in an eight-channel configuration with CMYK, Lc, Lm, Lk and Orange ink channels.

Leading the mid-range portfolio will be Fujifilm’s Acuity F flatbed printer which is a dedicated flatbed production printer delivering high quality print at up to 155 square meters per hour, and is available in six or seven channel versions.

Finally Fujifilm’s highly successful roll-fed inkjet printer, the Acuity LED 1600 II, will be showcased. This printer uses proprietary Fujifilm Dimatix printheads and Uvijet inks to achieve wide colour gamut reproduction and smooth tonal gradations, while demonstrating a class-leading productivity of 33 square metres per hour in the high speed mode.

Also on show in the wide format zone will be application examples produced using Fujifilm’s unique Uvijet KV inks suitable for thermoforming applications.

Package Printing Zone

Over the last few years, Fujifilm has been applying both its traditional and new inkjet technologies to the field of package printing, with drupa 2016 representing a key milestone in the development of these solutions. At drupa 2016, the company will therefore be showcasing two solutions – a water-based flexo printing plate and a new LED-UV inkjet digital press for the flexible package printing market.

Fujifilm will be showcasing its new advanced water-washable flexo plate, FLENEX FW, in the Package Printing Zone and will be demonstrating how label and flexible packaging converters can benefit from this high quality and low cost-in-use flexo plate. Thanks to advanced photopolymer technologies, FLENEX FW guarantees reduced dot gain and better ink transfer for cleaner and brighter print results, and can reduce platemaking times to less than 40 minutes.

This zone will also feature a new, next generation LED-UV inkjet press suitable for flexible packaging applications. This new press is ideally suited for printing on the underside of flexible packaging, and is powered by proprietary new Fujifilm image forming technology called “EUCON” (Enhanced Under Coating and Nitrogen purging technology).

Fujifilm’s new LED-UV inkjet press for flexible packaging applications continues the company’s core philosophy of offering high performance, high quality digital print solutions, and thanks to a reliable media handling system can deliver productivity of up to 50 metres per minute using the five standard CMYKW ink colours. In addition, as this new press uses an LED-UV curing and drying system, the amount of heat applied to the substrate is minimised, reducing power consumption and enabling the press to be used with a wide range of flexible substrates.

FUJIFILM Inkjet Technology Zone

As a core part of Fujifilm’s presence at drupa 2016, this zone, situated at the centre of the booth, will demonstrate how the company’s cutting-edge UV & water-based ink technologies, leading piezo-electric printheads and world-class software and systems integration expertise, showcased under a new brand name “FUJIFILM Inkjet Technology”, are being used to deliver today’s inkjet printing solutions and create the printing applications of the future. The potential to expand the application of inkjet technologies and digital printing to different substrates and potential new business fields is significant and will be highlighted in this zone.

Print Applications Zone

This zone will showcase a variety of innovative and creative printed materials produced using Fujifilm’s diverse solutions. In a tie-up with Japanese brand owners operating their businesses in the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship and hospitality, Fujifilm will exhibit print samples from each company using a wide range of printing methods, including next-generation digital inkjet presses, wide-format printers, and more traditional offset and flexo printing systems. The zone will highlight the premium quality and productivity that can be produced using Fujifilm solutions.

Fujifilm invites printers to visit stand A25 in Hall 8b to see how the company’s innovations can add value to their businesses.