Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A.

Time to Go Green With Your Plate Production?
May 1, 2008

ONE OF THE smartest things an in-plant can do to reduce production time and environmental impact is to go computer-to-plate (CTP), eliminating the entire film imaging and developing stage and all of the toxic waste issues involved. The quality, speed and efficiency improvements of CTP make it an excellent business decision for almost any shop. Many have already done just that, and are now ready for the next step up: low-process/chemistry-free or no-process plates. Going green has been a big story in the print business for the past decade, and chemistry-free plates are the next wave. “Non-process plate technology will improve to meet

Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A. Welcomes Masahiro Ota as President and CEO
April 28, 2008

VALHALLA, NY—April 28, 2008—Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A., Inc. announced today that Masahiro Ota is the company’s new president and chief executive officer. Ota replaces Hiro Tada, who has taken a new position as president and chief executive officer with Fujifilm’s Medical Imaging Division. “Fujifilm is well-positioned to face this challenging market, thanks not only to our ability to produce quality, reliable plates and prepress equipment, but also our ability to integrate new technologies - such as digital printing and wide format imaging - into our customers’ operations,” said Ota. “I’m looking forward to the taking on the challenges of this new position and working

IPG Prepress Guide: Proofing Systems
April 1, 2008

Eastman Kodak Kodak Approval NX thermal halftone proofer supports specialty, corporate and brand colors, including metallics. The system can control density, dot gain and print on actual printing stocks. Matchprint Virtual for InSite proofing software enables SWOP-certified soft proofing on calibrated monitors with consistent and accurate color. PressProof extends monitor proofing to the pressroom utilizing qualified LCD monitors. The Veris ink-jet proofer uses Multi Drop Array technology for true 1,500x1,500 dpi addressability. Color consistency assured by 4D calibration and quality-controlled consumables. ICC compliant. Matchprint Ink-Jet proofing marries drop-on-demand (DOD) imaging with the same software as Veris for color accuracy, enhanced image smoothness, quick calibration

Fujifilm Incorporates Wide-format Ink-jet Unit into Fujifilm U.S.A.
March 20, 2008

VALHALLA, NY—March 20, 2008—Fujifilm U.S.A., Inc. today announced that the Wide Format Ink-jet business unit of Fujifilm Hunt Chemicals U.S.A., Inc. will become part of Fujifilm U.S.A.’s Imaging Division as of April 1, 2008. Moving forward, retailers and professional labs will benefit from the convenience of a single point of order for all imaging hardware and supplies, including wide format ink-jet products. “Many of our customers are currently expanding their Frontier solutions to generate revenue from a wide range of products beyond traditional 4”x 6” prints,” said John Placko, senior product manager, Wide Format Inkjet Products, Imaging Division, Fujifilm U.S.A. “Today’s announcement

Two Months Till Drupa
March 1, 2008

THIS WILL be the ink-jet Drupa. No, it will be the green Drupa. Or, maybe the print buyer Drupa. Actually, it will be big enough to be all three, and much more. In case you’re new to the business, Drupa is the largest trade show in the graphic arts industry. Held every four years in Düsseldorf, Germany, it will boast more than 1,800 exhibitors and cover more than 1.8 million square feet of exhibit space in nearly 20 halls when it kicks off on May 29. Putting a label on Drupa is one way to make it more digestible. Another is for

Creative Financing Brings CTP to Riverside
February 1, 2008

Getting money for new equipment is not easy for any in-plant, but community college in-plants in California have a particularly difficult time, thanks to the state’s continuing budget problems. “There is very little capital budget money,” remarks Rich Finner, associate professor, Graphics Technology at the Riverside Community College. “In education, it is particularly difficult to stay abreast with technology.” So when Finner’s in-plant wanted to upgrade to computer-to-plate (CTP) technology, the seven-employee District Printing & Graphics Center had to get creative. First, the Graphics Technology department applied for a $35,000 Vocational and Technical Education Act (VTEA) grant. VTEA funds are distributed by the state

Exhibitor Registration at Drupa 2008 Reflects Industry Developments
January 22, 2008

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—01/22/08—Four months before the start of drupa 2008, print media trade fair, the exhibitor registration reflects the international market situation and industry developments. Consequently, the leading technology producing nations will be the most strongly represented countries at drupa 2008: Germany (745,100 sq. ft.), Italy (148,200 sq. ft.), the U.S. (142,600 sq. ft.), Switzerland (130,500 sq. ft.), Netherlands (99,100 sq. ft.), Japan (89,200 sq. ft.), the UK (80,000 sq. ft.), Belgium (70,800 sq. ft.) and Spain (68,600 sq. ft.). Exhibit space booked by emerging industrial countries such as China and India has increased considerably: by 300% for China (84,700 sq. ft.) and 60% for

Emerging Print Technologies
December 1, 2007

ANY ATTEMPT to predict the course of technological development amounts to an educated guess at best. (After all, experts once said that Adobe Photoshop and the Mac would never be acceptable for professional graphic arts applications.) That said, there’s a buzz in the air about three technological developments: printed electronics, security printing and lenticular. Each is still a work in process to a degree, so the exact size and nature of their market potential is yet to be determined. The term “printed electronics” (printing of conductive inks) is being applied to such a range of processes and applications that it’s hard to make

Martha Stewart to Receive the Prestigious Franklin Award On September 18th
August 7, 2007

NEW YORK CITY—August 7, 2007—Printing Industries Alliance, formerly known as the Printing and Imaging Association of New York State, has announced that internationally known lifestyle communicator Martha Stewart has been named the recipient of the 2007 Franklin Award, which recognizes the achievements of outstanding leaders and communicators. The award will be presented during the Association’s Franklin Event on Tuesday evening, September 18, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City. A New Host This is the first time the Franklin Event will be hosted by the Printing Industries Alliance. “We are happy to have this opportunity to host the Franklin Event which has been

InterTech Technology Awards Announced
July 27, 2007

Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) announced the recipients of the 2007 InterTech Technology Awards. A recurring theme with 2007 InterTech nominations was green printing, and numerous submissions contained solutions to minimize the environmental impact of printing. Great strides in technology were also demonstrated in the form of innovative press design, touchless workflow systems to automate production steps, anti-fraud measures, and new materials and systems that increase productivity. The InterTech Technology Award recipients this year were: • :Energy Elite Dual Layer “No Bake” Plate. AGFA Graphics N.V. • Kodak Traceless System. Eastman Kodak • EIS UV Printing Blanket Refurbishment. Enviro Image