Media

Sihl AG has developed new media for HP latex ink is designed to reduce the adverse health and environmental impact of printing with solvent inks.

 

The Germany-based company has developed new wet-strength poster papers that can be used with eco-friendlier latex inks and the HP Design-Jet Latex printer series ( L65500, L25500, LX 600 and LX800).

 

The multi-purpose Post-2-Cure Papers (125, 180 and blueback 125) linked to HP's new latex inks and print technology enable digital service providers to produce weather and water resistant prints compatible with results from real solvent inks.

 

"This new technology is an important development landmark for the digital imaging print market. The challenge has been to deliver an alternative technology alongside UV curing—a system which has some question marks—and solvents, which have also had question marks for a long time," said Stefan Bruch, product manager, Sihl. "This really is 'next generation' technology. Our papers, in conjunction with HP print and latex ink expertise now can produce prints that are less damaging to health and the environment but still guarantee high quality and productivity."

 

He added: "Solvents can be harmful, especially if you spend all day in a print room with them. And UV curing inks also present challenges with occasional paper cracking.

 

It is possible to get good print results with solvent ink compatible media but the printed image is not scratch resistant because it is weak on the surface and often not weather resistant. Our established Trisolve range focuses on solvent ink and UV curing inks to provide photo-realistic image quality which is good, but not water resistant. Our latest solution; the Post-2-Cure range, used with the new HP latex film is flexible and far more environmentally friendly.

 

"The solvent in this formulation doesn't evaporate in the same way as traditional solvent inks—and that means you don't breathe it in. The new latex technology avoids many of the disadvantages of solvent inks; the odor, their accumulation in inhaled air and the poor drying property of inks where there is a lack of ventilation and additional heating.

 

The high water content substantially reduces the unpleasant odor of latex inks but the resultant prints compare very favorably with those printed with solvent ink systems in terms of picture quality and durability."

 

Latex printing enables printing on numerous materials and Sihl says its Post-2-Cure papers are optimally suited for both indoor and general outdoor advertising.

 

Added Bruch: "These wet-strength, bright white poster papers are particularly recommended for the billboard sector. This is a great application for small print studios too. If they use a latex machine they can print water resistant finished products but they can also use water ink compatible media or solvent ink compatible media—this means complete versatility from one printer."

Pyramid Display has launched a new channel on You Tube – PyramidDisplayTV.

The new channel is part of a series of initiatives from Pyramid to inform both the sign and display and commercial print market of the many new wide format applications available.

Neil McCarthy, Head of Sales & Marketing for Pyramid explains the thinking behind the new channel “After visiting the recent FESPA exhibition and taking on board the theme of innovation in the market place I felt that there was actually a gap in the communication channel. Something was missing between some great new product applications and getting these through to the everyday producer of wide format and in turn to the end user. Products like MACtac’s GlassMovie, StreetRap, decoart and WallWrap are particularly hard to visualise until you can actually see them being applied and the finished application. We worked with MACtac to produce several videos showing their most innovative products actually being installed then looked at the best way to share these with the market – The answer was You Tube. All our customers have access to the internet and you can even watch the videos in super sharp HD if you like”

PyramidDisplayTV is live at www.youtube.com/pyramiddisplaytv and features 8 of the latest applications from MACtac including how to turn a glass window into a giant TV screen and creating a stunning graphic on a standard brick wall then make it graffiti proof.

 

FUJIFILM North America Corporation is continuing to put its customers 'in control' with a polypropylene wall graphic film that is part of a full selection of Fujifilm wide format UV and solvent roll media from the Graphic Systems Division's comprehensive print solutions portfolio. Ideal for the production of retail graphics, the PVC-free media provides printers with a recyclable backdrop that meets print buyers increasing demands for solutions that are less harmful to the environment.

Fujifilm's polypropylene wall graphic film is proven to outperform PVC-based wall graphics because it doesn't shrink, and offers easy installation and repositioning, using only a mild adhesive to eliminate surface damage when removed. The media was developed to provide optimal whiteness for excellent color and print quality, a characteristic of all the products in Fujifilm's family of wide format media, and includes a heavier liner for improved handling during printing.

"PVC film inherently shrinks and, to overcome this issue, large amounts of aggressive adhesives are required," said Terry Amerine, segment manager, Graphic Systems Division, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. "This makes installation very difficult and can result in damage to the underlying walls. By using polypropylene, shrinkage is no longer a concern and printers can offer their customers a recyclable solution eliminating the problems long associated with removable wall graphic films. As a result, we have seen a tremendous market response to this product."

All of Fujifilm's wide format media undergoes a series of rigorous tests to guarantee optimum performance on print quality, color development, maximum durability and ease-of-use. The media must demonstrate that it is easy to handle, and that it can stand up to the elements, resisting cracking and yellowing.

"Offering our customers wide format media that has met Fujifilm's strict standards of excellence as part of our total solutions package is just one more way we are putting them 'in control'," continued Amerine. "We work diligently to insure that all of our digital components work together and provide proven robust solutions that make our customers more successful."

In addition to its polypropylene wall graphic film, Fujifilm's Graphic Systems Division offers a full line of branded wide format media, including banner material, paper products, canvas, wall graphics, backlit film, perforated adhesive and non-adhesive window film and floor graphic materials.

The Graphic Systems Division of FUJIFILM North America Corporation is a total solutions provider who delivers solutions for workflow, process control, remote monitoring, color standardization, pressroom products, CTP, proofing, digital printing, wide format and more. Fujifilm also manufactures and distributes Sericol inks and is a leader in the development of UV inks for the screen printing, narrow web, and large format digital printing industries.

 

 

Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products division has developed an enhanced  ‘second generation’ range of self-adhesive cast vinyls for wide-format digital print:   Avery MPI 1005 Supercast films.   The company’s ongoing commitment to continuous product enhancement has resulted in a range of products which outperforms its predecessors in terms of print consistency and surface smoothness.

All-round performance

Replacing the established Avery MPI 1005 products, the new Avery MPI 1005 Supercast films are, like their predecessors, supported by the Avery Graphics ICS Performance Guarantee.    As well as the standard Avery MPI Supercast 1005, the new range also includes Avery MPI Supercast Easy Apply RS.   Time-saving Avery Easy Apply RS technology enables graphics application teams to quickly and easily apply and reposition graphics without any unsightly wrinkles or air bubbles.

Fine print results

ICC profiles for the new products are available via the Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products Division website, ensuring that converters can achieve the desired results on various printing platforms.

The products are being phased in from May onwards, and further details and samples are available from Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products sales representatives.

Signmakers and other graphics converters, graphics applicators, and designers can now expand their knowledge of their craft – online, in their own time, at their own computers.  The Avery Graphics Academy at www.academy.averygraphics.com is a new initiative from Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products Division that broadens its professional service platform for the self-adhesive graphics industry.

‘How to’ videos and theory modules

The Avery Graphics Academy offers training courses aimed at showing how to achieve the best possible results with self-adhesive graphics of all kinds.   It includes a series of ‘how-to’ videos as well as theory study modules.    Topics covered include material selection for specific tasks; substrate preparation and cleaning;  application techniques (including vehicle wrapping);  and maintenance of applied graphics.   Each module incorporates a test in which students’ knowledge of the topic is assessed, and a ‘passed’ or ‘failed’ result registered.

Register online

Live now in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and with additional languages to follow, the Avery Graphics Academy provides everyone involved in the self-adhesive graphics industry with valuable practical insights.

Register at the Avery Graphics Academy at www.academy.averygraphics.com, or for further information about Avery Graphics professional products and services, visit the Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products website, www.europe.averygraphics.com

Brand new solutions for POS, shop window and wallpaper applications

Fujifilm today announces the launch of three new self-adhesive additions to its euromedia range of flexible media for large format printing: WonderTack Ghost, a clear PET media, which adheres to smooth, flat surfaces without the use of adhesive; RigiTack, a matt white semi-rigid PVC for use on smooth or structured surfaces, and SmoothWall Sticky, the first self-adhesive wallpaper on the market.

These cost-effective, innovative solutions will be shown in action on the Fujifilm stand at FESPA 2010 (Hall B1 Stand 220) as part of the ‘euromedia experience’. This interactive area is equipped with a full-size work-bench and a ‘test-drive’ wall, allowing visitors to get hands-on with dozens of types of print media and their various applications.

WonderTack Ghost

WonderTacK Ghost is a clear PET media, which adheres to smooth, flat surfaces without the use of adhesive, making it perfect for use on shop windows.  Like its sister product, WonderTack, this environmentally friendly solution is very quick to print, and its ability to stick without adhesive is down to the unique, micro-porous suckers on the adhering side. This lack of adhesive gives it its ‘green’ characteristics, as well as making it reusable on multiple occasions. For example, POS graphics printed on WonderTack can be applied even by inexperienced users as it is easily repositionable and reusable.

RigiTack

A self-adhesive, matt white semi-rigid PVC (360 micron), RigiTack is the new euromedia solution for applications on smooth or structured surfaces.   It is suitable for all for many different indoor surfaces, and works especially well on difficult surfaces such as fabric, banner and structured walls, making it perfect for POS applications.  Available for solvent and water-based systems, RigiTack is repositionable and can be re-applied several times.

SmoothWall Sticky

The first self-adhesive wallpaper in the market, SmoothWall Sticky is a smooth PVC- free, genuine 190g fleece wallpaper.  It is easy to apply and fire retardant in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1 (B1), as well as being easy to remove after use, with no shrinkage.

“We are delighted to be launching these three new products at FESPA 2010,” says Keith Harley, head of marketing, wide format, Fujifilm Europe, “We pride ourselves on creating new end use applications and are confident that these new solutions will do just that.  We look forward to talking to visitors at the show and gauging their reaction to these fantastic, innovative new products.”

For more information on the euromedia range, please visit: www.euromedia.eu.com