08.01.15
Printing Industries of America (PIA) released more information about the 10 technologies recently selected to receive a 2015 InterTech Technology Award. The recipient technologies are listed below alphabetically by company:
• Océ VarioPrint i300 – Canon U.S.A., Inc.: The Océ VarioPrint i300 is a color sheetfed inkjet press. It can cost effectively run both monochrome and color jobs up to a B3 format at a top speed of 294 letter images per minute. The judges singled out the Océ VarioPrint i300 as a technology that can open up inkjet to the cut sheet market.
• ORIS CxF – CGS Publishing Technologies International LLC: ORIS CxF is one of the first commercial implementations of the ISO standard that established the Color Data Exchange Format (CxF/X) for spot color characterization data. Judges praised its standards-based and non-proprietary nature as well as its ability to communicate color precisely between multiple graphic service providers.
• EFI DirectSmile Cross Media – Electronics for Imaging, Inc.: EFI DirectSmile Cross Media is a fully featured solution that automates the process of executing cross-media campaigns, including sending out mass and individually triggered emails and messages, pushing messages to social media, personalizing print communications and tracking results. One judge commented, “For years printers have been removed from marketing campaign conversations. DirectSmile credentials them in a way that goes beyond the trade and repositions them as valuable partners.”
• Automation Engine Connect – Esko: Automation Engine Connect allows all order information – for example, pricing, quantities, production‐related info and costing – to move to and from systems through the Esko interface. One judge commented, “Esko’s solution lowers the IT hurdle to make different systems communicate with Automation Engine.”
• Prinect Media Manager – Heidelberg: Heidelberg’s Prinect Media Manager is a browser-based, multi-channel media publishing tool that merges content creation, project management, databasing, and e-commerce.
• Highcon Euclid Digital Finishing Technology – Highcon Systems Ltd.: Highcon’s Digital Finishing Technology brings the advantages of digital technology to creasing and cutting papers, labels, folding cartons, and microflute. Creasing is carried out by Highcon’s Digital Adhesive Rule Technology (DART).
• KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses – Kodak: The KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses use Kodak’s continuous inkjet technology to produce high quality commercial print products at speeds up to 1,000 feet per minute. New driers, interstation drying and nano-technology ink let the presses overcome a key inkjet limitation—the ability to print glossy and other coated stock with heavy coverage at fast speeds. One judge summed up the panel’s reaction, “The speed and quality are impressive, and the coated samples really got our attention.”
• NX advantage, KODAK FLEXCEL NX System – Kodak: The NX advantage feature set for the KODAK FLEXCEL NX System comprises a set of new advanced imaging and screening features that enable flexo printers to print more opaque whites, enhance overprints and reverse print, achieve better spot color printing, and deliver smooth highlight transitions.
• MGI iFOIL – MGI Digital Technology: The MGI iFOIL is an in-line complement to the company’s JETvarnish 3D UV spot coater (a previous InterTech Award recipient). With an innovative digital process, iFOIL makes embossing and hot foiling easy, requiring no plates, no dies and no makeready. The iFOIL can utilize many different types of available market foils in a variety of colors, metallic tones, reflective patterns, and holographic effects.
• X-Rite eXact with Scan Option – X-Rite: The handheld X-Rite eXact spectrophotometer with Scan Option enables printers and packaging converters to control, manage and communicate color across the entire color workflow.
• Océ VarioPrint i300 – Canon U.S.A., Inc.: The Océ VarioPrint i300 is a color sheetfed inkjet press. It can cost effectively run both monochrome and color jobs up to a B3 format at a top speed of 294 letter images per minute. The judges singled out the Océ VarioPrint i300 as a technology that can open up inkjet to the cut sheet market.
• ORIS CxF – CGS Publishing Technologies International LLC: ORIS CxF is one of the first commercial implementations of the ISO standard that established the Color Data Exchange Format (CxF/X) for spot color characterization data. Judges praised its standards-based and non-proprietary nature as well as its ability to communicate color precisely between multiple graphic service providers.
• EFI DirectSmile Cross Media – Electronics for Imaging, Inc.: EFI DirectSmile Cross Media is a fully featured solution that automates the process of executing cross-media campaigns, including sending out mass and individually triggered emails and messages, pushing messages to social media, personalizing print communications and tracking results. One judge commented, “For years printers have been removed from marketing campaign conversations. DirectSmile credentials them in a way that goes beyond the trade and repositions them as valuable partners.”
• Automation Engine Connect – Esko: Automation Engine Connect allows all order information – for example, pricing, quantities, production‐related info and costing – to move to and from systems through the Esko interface. One judge commented, “Esko’s solution lowers the IT hurdle to make different systems communicate with Automation Engine.”
• Prinect Media Manager – Heidelberg: Heidelberg’s Prinect Media Manager is a browser-based, multi-channel media publishing tool that merges content creation, project management, databasing, and e-commerce.
• Highcon Euclid Digital Finishing Technology – Highcon Systems Ltd.: Highcon’s Digital Finishing Technology brings the advantages of digital technology to creasing and cutting papers, labels, folding cartons, and microflute. Creasing is carried out by Highcon’s Digital Adhesive Rule Technology (DART).
• KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses – Kodak: The KODAK PROSPER 6000 Presses use Kodak’s continuous inkjet technology to produce high quality commercial print products at speeds up to 1,000 feet per minute. New driers, interstation drying and nano-technology ink let the presses overcome a key inkjet limitation—the ability to print glossy and other coated stock with heavy coverage at fast speeds. One judge summed up the panel’s reaction, “The speed and quality are impressive, and the coated samples really got our attention.”
• NX advantage, KODAK FLEXCEL NX System – Kodak: The NX advantage feature set for the KODAK FLEXCEL NX System comprises a set of new advanced imaging and screening features that enable flexo printers to print more opaque whites, enhance overprints and reverse print, achieve better spot color printing, and deliver smooth highlight transitions.
• MGI iFOIL – MGI Digital Technology: The MGI iFOIL is an in-line complement to the company’s JETvarnish 3D UV spot coater (a previous InterTech Award recipient). With an innovative digital process, iFOIL makes embossing and hot foiling easy, requiring no plates, no dies and no makeready. The iFOIL can utilize many different types of available market foils in a variety of colors, metallic tones, reflective patterns, and holographic effects.
• X-Rite eXact with Scan Option – X-Rite: The handheld X-Rite eXact spectrophotometer with Scan Option enables printers and packaging converters to control, manage and communicate color across the entire color workflow.