The Morgana BM4035 can produce portrait-orientation publications from A6 to A4, as well as A4 landscape and large format 297 x 297mm books. It also has the ability to corner and edge staple as standard.

NPC Print founder and CEO Natalie Puttock explained the purchase, saying, ‘We needed to expand the range of formats that we could produce. Most importantly, the ability to produce long sheets, such as A4 landscape products, a format that has become increasingly popular in recent years – jobs that we have had to send out for finishing. The ability of the new BM4035 to produce this format in-house will give us control of that work, as well as saving us money on outwork.

‘Having recently taken the decision to upgrade our digital print device to a new Konica Minolta AccurioPress C4070 engine, the new binder will help us to show off both our print and in-house finishing capabilities to the fullest. The square-back capability of the binder is a feature that we can also promote for higher pagination publications – it gives the impression of a perfect bound book.

‘The binder will initially be manually fed, but as print quantities increase, we know that we can easily add an automated feeder on to the unit for higher productivity.’

The company uses other Morgana products in its post-press section, including a Morgana AutoCreaser and an Intec ColourFlare device for foiling and laminating, purchased through Morgana.

The post NPC Print upgrades Morgana booklet-maker appeared first on Digital Printer.

Sign & Digital UK was one of the first shows to resume its normal schedule after the interruptions of the pandemic years, with a respectable showing in March 2022, and is back this year with increasing confidence as the industry continues to recover from the lockdown periods of interrupted business.

Industry names already confirmed include Roland DG, EFI, eProductivity Software, Epson UK, Morgana, Premier, Hexis UK, Vivid Laminating Technologies and swissQprint. According to organisers Faversham House, there will also be a host of familiar – and maybe not so familiar – exhibitors ready and waiting to welcome visitors from across the sign and large-format digital printing world.

Event director Jenny Matthew says, ‘Last year we had a great show, even though the country was just getting used to the idea of getting out again. However, this year promises to be a no-holds-barred celebration of all that is good and great in the wonderful world of sign-making and large-format digital printing. I have spoken to many people who say that SDUK 2023 will be their first opportunity to see the latest technology and innovation for several years, and they can’t wait.’

In addition to the array of exhibitors on the show floor, there are other features at the show, designed to educate and inform sign-makers of all shapes, sizes and experience levels. One of these is the UK Wrap Battle 2023, hosted by Hexis, will run throughout the show, giving visitors a chance to see the very best practitioners of the vehicle wrapping trade as they demonstrate their skills in a battle of speed and accuracy to claim the title of Best UK Installer 2023.

Meanwhile, the Sign Studio aims to have something for everyone in vinyl signage, from novices to veterans. Running every day, this features live demonstrations and practical workshops hosted by experienced sign-maker Paul Hughes. These sessions will allow visitors to learn more about the basics of vinyl application, vehicle livery, wall coverings and other uses for the material.

‘I will give practical, hands-on demonstrations designed to inform people looking to take their first steps in vinyl application and those wanting to add to and develop their skills. There will even be something for more seasoned pros on the hunt for the latest tips and tricks,’ says Mr Hughes.

Explanations forthcoming

Complementing these are the SDUK Explains Lounge and a brand-new feature, the Sign Surgery, both hosted by the International Sign Association UK (ISA–UK). Throughout the show, there will be daily presentations and panel sessions covering the big issues affecting sign-makers and wide-format print providers. The topics covered in these will include sustainability, overcoming the skills shortage challenge and how to grow your business.

Building on last year’s outing, the Explains Lounge will host a comprehensive programme of presentations designed to engage, inform and inspire. All of the sessions are free to attend and there is no requirement to pre-register.

Event Director Jenny Matthew explains, ‘We have invited experienced experts in their field to explain how to make your sign business more successful. They will look at various important topics, such as when it’s right to outsource or take work in-house, how to win more tenders, and how sign-makers can work together to build their businesses.’

Panel beating

Daily panel sessions bring a range of industry experts together to discuss the big issues affecting the signage industry. On Tuesday 28 March, a group of experts from BPIF and POPAI will examine the danger of ‘sustainability satigue’. They will discuss how to reinvigorate the market to keep sustainability in focus and benefit themselves, their customers and the planet.

Wednesday’s panel session (29 March) will be hosted by Women in Sign-Making, focusing on the role of men in supporting women in sign-making. On Thursday 30 March, the panel will examine the skills shortage affecting sign-makers up and down the country. They will discuss the pain points for the sign industry, and highlight the key actions companies can take to overcome them.

Successful surgery

A new feature for 2023, the Sign Surgery will take place alongside the Explains Lounge and will be an informal environment where visitors can put questions to ISA-UK directors. Craig Brown, CEO of the ISA UK, says, ‘The Sign Surgery will be a vibrant and welcoming place where visitors come to discuss the issues and challenges most important to them. ISA members with decades of experience in all areas of sign-making will be available throughout the show to answer questions and discuss real business issues. We have seen and lived it all in signage as a group, and this is a rare opportunity to share this knowledge with fellow sign-makers.’

Ms Matthew concludes, ‘The Explains Lounge will be based in the heart of the show and we have put together a schedule that should have something of interest and value for everyone attending the show. Whether you are a small start-up looking to gain vital knowledge and advice from experienced industry experts, or a more seasoned professional wanting to keep up to speed with the latest developments, we have something for you on the Explains Lounge.’

Exhibitor highlights

Materials from Drytac for the large-format print and signage applications will appear on a variety of stand across Hall 2 at the NEC, where they will feature in product demonstrations from Epson, Roland DG, Soyang Europe and Mimaki distributor Hybrid Services. Experts from Drytac will also be in attendance to answer any questions.

Workflow and MIS specialist eProductivity Software (EPS) eProductivity Software is promising an exclusive first look at what it touts as ‘a revolutionary new mobile app that will change the way you approach installations, invoicing and delivery’. The rest of the company’s Productivity Suites and other modular solutions will be in action, with opportunities to speak with experts, about improving workflow, increasing efficiency, or expanding capabilities. Specific technology areas covered by EPS include web-to-print, imposition and print MIS/ERP solutions, backed by live demonstrations and hands-on experiences, plus expert consultations and advice.

Visitors to Mimaki distributor Hybrid Services’ stand will be able to view the new direct-to-film (DtF) TxF 150-75 printer that also made its debut appearance at Printwear & Promotion Live in late February. The Mimaki DTF works on cotton, polyester and polyester blended materials, and the print can be applied to both light and dark coloured fabrics. DtF offers a simpler workflow compared to other garment printing methods, and the inks are Oeko-Tex Eco Passport certified.

Also present on Hybrid’s stand will be the dye sublimation TS330-1600 and the other models in the 330 series of printers, the solvent print-only JV330-160 and its integrated solvent printer/cutter sibling, the CJV330. All three models share a common 1.6m platform, claiming high performance and productivity, coupled with ease of use. On the flatbed UV side, printers at opposite ends of the size spectrum will also be on show, with the A2/A3 format UJF Series displayed alongside the JFX200-2513EX 8 x 4-ft model. Both offer direct to substrate printing on a wide range of materials and items.

Morgana and Intec are partnering to exhibit a full range of die-cutting solutions. This includes the AeroDieCut, which uses existing wood and steel dies for cutting, creasing, perforating, embossing and debossing. For a full digital approach, the highly automated new ColorCut SC6000 is said to provide an ideal entry point. Flatbed die-cutting options from the Intec stable include the creasing and cutting dual-tooled flatbed ColorCut FB775 and ColorCut FB9000 Pro models, which deliver high performance and ‘unparalleled’ media control via creasing forces of up to 1.5kg and a cutting force of up to 1.2kg. Morgana’s top-of-the-range Valiani Integra is suitable for working with thicker substrates and targeted the world of signage and packaging.

The BN-20D desktop printer marks Roland DG’s entry into the direct-to-fabric sector

Premier will be showcasing products from its extensive range of display graphic media including key brands such as Contra Vision, Neschen, Ultraboard, Ritrama and Plexiglas. The company’s team of experts will be on hand to deliver product information, demonstrations and advice on how to transform spaces with memorable, innovative retail displays and graphics.  There will also be live competitions running throughout the course of each of the three days, with some prizes up for grabs and one or two special guest appearances.

PrintiQ will be returning to the show with an increased stand presence and more demonstrators following its success at last year’s event. The MIS developer will bring its latest software, which delivers business intelligence information and builds a managed workflow solution that allows users to see accurately where they are making or losing money and provides data to underpin actions. Among the various modules to be shown are Quote Intelligence, Payment Gateways, Shipping Manager, plus rich API interfaces that connect and drive online systems to create a complete automated ordering and tracking service from ‘quote to delivery’.

A range of wide-format print solutions will be shown by QPS, including a Colorjet Verve 2513 UV flatbed printer running throughout the three-day event, using Nazdar inks., which will also be featured in their own right. QPS will also be able to discuss how DuPont Artistri textile inks, for which is a distributor, will work with ‘almost any’ printer and are suitable for multiple textile applications including apparel, fashion accessories, interior design, exterior flags and signage, soft furnishings, active wear, garment decoration and direct-to-garment printing.

Roland DG will show the new TrueVis models announced in January 2023, including its first resin printer, the AP-640 and the MG & LG series of UV print-and-cut machines. Alongside these newest machines, the VG3-640 and SG3-540/300 printer/cutters will be displayed. Roland hasn’t confirmed but it seems highly likely that the company’s baby DtF printer, the BN-20D, which was shown at Printwear & Promotion Live, will also feature.

Soyang Europe and Josero will demonstrate hardware from manufacturing partners Fujifilm, Jetrix and Mimaki, as well as display an applications wall with products created using its own wide- and super-wide format digitally printable materials. The latter will include non-PVC banner materials, textiles, wallcovering and décor media, plus self-adhesive floor coverings.

Another returning exhibitor from 2022 is SwissQprint, which will be running live demonstrations of the high quality Nyala 4 flatbed UV printer, along with the roll-fed Karibu. Information about other models, including the Kudu, the most recently introduced high-end UV flatbed model capable of over 300sqm/hr output and with 10 configurable colour channels, will also be available. Specialist applications including neon inks, texture printing and 3D effects will be shown in addition.

Show stalwart Trotec will be back too, with a range of product demonstrations, including the biggest of its large-format laser cutters, the SP3000. With laser power options up to 400W, a 3210 x 2210mm working area and a host of productivity features, the PS3000 is designed for demanding production environments and enables an optimised workflow that complements the print process. In addition, Trotec will give live demonstrations of the Speedy 400 Flexx and Q500 laser engraver and cutter systems, which both offer high-quality laser finishing for printed products. The company’s range of sheet materials, including engravable laminates, wood and acrylic, will also be on display.

Vivid Laminating Technologies will be showcasing all its major product ranges: the VeloBlade Nexus range of wide-format digital die-cutters, the Matrix systems for lamination, foiling and special effects, and the Easymount systems for wide-format lamination. Vivid staff will also demonstrate the company’s Zip Core packaging software, which is has been designed to optimise packaging design from start to finish, and the VeloTaper fully-automated flatbed taping system, a patented innovation designed and developed in-house by Vivid in the UK.

The post Sign & Digital UK preview appeared first on Digital Printer.

The MPS XL Multi-Purpose Stacker provides a simple docking/ undocking system to ease the transportation of printed work, while the motorised Stacking Table lifts and manages heavy paper stacks. The unit attaches to the Xerox Production Ready Finisher Plus that is currently available for the Xerox Iridesse Versant 4100 and Versant 280 toner presses. Sheets fed into the MPS XL can easily be moved to another finishing device, for example the Morgana AutoCut Pro from Plockmatic. 

A particular benefit of the new stacker is claimed to be in long sheet applications: conventional stackers typically only handle a small number of ‘long’ SRA3+ sheets up to 1200mm. The MPS XL supports ‘true production’ quantities and allows for thicker paper stock up to 400gsm.

Commenting on behalf of Plockmatic, Jakob Ekeberg, vice president of product, said, ‘The market is evolving towards new digital applications that require longer sheets, so print room operators need a solution that will allow them to stack, handle, and transport them. The MPS XL makes printing and transporting long sheets as easy as standard size sheets. The product offers a unique combination of features – stacking, lifting, and transporting – in a single product that cannot be found elsewhere.’

The MPS XL unit is available through Xerox.

The post Plockmatic adds stacker for Xerox presses appeared first on Digital Printer.

EPS’s omni-channel marketing software MarketDirect Cross Media, featured by UK distributor Transeo Media, will allow artwork to be personalised for printing by ASL Group on its stand via a Ricoh cut-sheet toner press, with files supplied and managed by an EFI Fiery Controller. Paper and board stocks supplied by Antalis will be used, with cutting and creasing carried out on Morgana equipment.Pre-registrations will be available from 1 September and the complete workflow will be showcased at The Print Show.

John Morley, global channel director, EPS, stated, ‘Partnerships are key to success and working closely with these fantastic industry brands has been pivotal to the success this project. Although similar has been done in the past, nothing like this has been attempted live at a show. From a full pre-event personalised targeted marketing campaign, web-2-pack order acquisition, personalised print then finished into a beautiful gift for lucky Print Show visitors. We are excited to show what our technology can do, especially when integrated into an industry ecosystem and collaboration with excellent industry partners.’

Digital Printer’s preview of the The Print Show is available online here.

The post Have a G&T on EPS appeared first on Digital Printer.

The company, which has a Xerox Versant 80 and Ricoh Pro C9100 in addition to two Ryobi litho presses, was carrying out a lot of creasing and perforating work on Thomson platen machines, but as co-director Jamie Richardson explained, ‘It takes quite a bit of skill and time to make-ready those machines. A lot of the jobs we do are small runs, like sock bands and swing tags, for example, so make-ready was taking longer than the time to actually produce the work.’

Investigations into automated creasing alternatives with three suppliers quickly led to the Morgana AutoCreaser. ‘We knew the Morgana team, as we have a few other Morgana machines on-site, so then, because of our location, we needed to find the best service solution as well as the best price. Although pricing was pretty close between them all, CLC offered an on-site demo, so in the end we went with them,’ said Mr Richardson.

While the platen machines aren’t redundant, the rapid set-up and automation capabilities of the Morgana unit means that a large amount of work has now been transferred to it.

‘The AutoCreaser Pro XL can be loaded with up to 200mm of stock, meaning we can set the job up, check it is correct, then walk away and let the machine do its thing. Being a small team, we need that level of automation so that we can keep our production output high. We also liked the capacity to store a large number of job pre-sets in the on-screen menu, meaning that complex jobs that come back to us frequently can be set-up with just the touch of a button,’ added Mr Richardson

‘The machine has done a lot of varied tasks. It perforates our raffle tickets, creases menus, order of service sheets, greeting cards, sock bands, swing tickets, and many more. The biggest plus, of course, is the make-ready time between jobs – it’s just so quick and simple. The machine runs every day, doing a variety of different jobs, and has definitely helped us increase our productivity.’

The post Richardson adds AutoCreaser to speed throughput appeared first on Digital Printer.

The company operates digital and litho equipment, with the Morgana machine being used alongside the former technology. Morgana describes it as ‘perfect for the binding of high pagination or heavier stock publications,’ though the company stresses it is equally at home with smaller formats. It also enables users to print onto the spine, giving an appearance similar to that of perfect-bound books.

Gary Pople, Pelican’s head of digital services, commented, ‘One of our major clients has added a number of sites to its expanding business. As a result, the number of publications that they are ordering has grown significantly. This has meant that we had to decide how we were going to best solve the increase of work in the post-press area of our digital workflow.

‘We had started to review our digital finishing capabilities prior to the pandemic, as we had been shuttling work from our digital production factory over to our litho building on the other side of Aylesbury. That then often meant interrupting a longer run on our Muller Martini stitching line in order to produce a short run job. Higher pagination work might have involved sending the work out to a trade finisher for perfect binding.’

Mr Pople first came across the SquareBack 224, which can handle stocks ranging from 60 to 400gsm, at a Morgana open house event toward the end of 2021. He explained, ‘The machine seemed to deliver everything we needed – the combination of the four processes of stitching, folding, spine forming, and trimming in one unit, with the option to produce SquareBack books of up to 10mm thick.’

With the machine now up and running in Aylesbury, the team at Pelican have been impressed with how simple it is to use. Mr Pople continued, ‘It’s very easy to set up the machine – and that’s essential when you are dealing with short-run work. We can be in production in five minutes – something that might have taken half-an-hour on the more complicated Muller Martini equipment. Typically, we might only be producing 50 or 100 books, so those runs can be produced in just 10 or 15 minutes.

‘We run a variety of publication sizes as well, and A6 sized work goes through the machine just as easily as the more regular A5 or A4 products.’

The post Pelican Print invests in Morgana bookletmaker   appeared first on Digital Printer.

The company, which moved into new premises earlier this year, has revamped its arsenal over recent months, installing an Easycoat Gluing System, purchased from Vivid Laminating Technologies, an Oki Pro A3 White Toner printer from Amaya UK, a Sawgrass SG1000 A3 printer it received via The Magic Touch and a Ricoh C5300s with Fiery RIP, purchased through X-Pres OnDemand. It also already runs a Canny P50 Automatic Strapping Machine and an Aerocut Prime, both supplied by Morgana.

Managing director Peter Haddad explained the most recent installation. ‘We were spending a fair bit on outsourcing lamination,’ he said. ‘It made good business sense to keep that money in-house, and bring control of job back into our own hands. Because of the investment in the Ricoh press last year, we’ve been able to bring a lot more production in-house and bringing laminating back here was the obvious next step.

‘We had a small Chinese manufactured machine most recently that we were using for very urgent jobs, but that was a very manual process, and the unit was also difficult to use. It got the job done for the very short run work, but the quality does isn’t even close to that from the Morgana unit.’

The Laminator Pro 450 is a high-pile automatic feed laminator featuring an integrated compressor and pneumatic system for high quality print lamination up to 450mm working width. It can achieve speeds of up to 1875 of SRA3 sheets per hour and is marketed as ‘ideal for the on-demand printer.’

Commenting on why he opted for the machine, the MD added, ‘We bought our AeroCut Prime from Morgana just before Christmas. It was ordered and delivered within a week. I was so impressed by Morgana and their focus on what the client needs, as well as their ability to assist us so speedily. I can just trust those guys.

‘I was impressed by the fact that they didn’t want to sell me something that I didn’t need, such as an higher spec version of the Prime. I felt that I could really trust them and that they cared about my business – their representative used to be a litho printer. We then bought a Canny P50 bander from Morgana following the Prime purchase. It made good business sense to go back to Morgana for this latest purchase.

‘I did look at other laminating products, just to confirm my selection. There was one with a separate feeding unit – but that gave me doubts because I have seen disconnected systems fail badly. It made sense to stick with Morgana as our finishing machine provider. They gave a fantastic demo of the product, and that gave me a lot of confidence in the purchase.’

The post Apprintable adds another Morgana machine appeared first on Digital Printer.

Described as ‘traditional meets digital’, the AeroDieCut uses conventional wood-and-steel cutting or creasing formes with a patented system of moving rollers to apply the necessary pressure. It suits short-to-medium run work, handles paper sheets up to 365 x 515mm (maximum finished size 310 x 485mm) at up to 1000sph and accepts cutting formes up to 350 x 550mm with die-boards up to 18mm thick and cutting rule height between 23.3 and 23.8mm.

The unit can perform step-and-repeat work, using the same forme up to five times per sheet and with its fully enclosed design is said by Morgana to be safer than conventional platen die-cutters. A Tri-suction feeder should ensure consistent paper feeding, with double-sheet detection and cut-mark sensing to compensate for image shift on the printed sheets. Control is via a 4-in touch screen with 100 job memories available for repeat work. For longer runs there is an optional separator unit for deflecting cut waste into a bin; an optional conveyor delivery table also makes the collecting process more efficient at volume.

Ray Hillhouse, vice-president offline business at Morgana, said. ‘This unique new product offers print shops an ideal entry-point to the highly lucrative die-cutting process. Work that was previously sent to a third-party supplier can now be produced in-house cost-effectively. However, the AeroDieCut offers more to users than just straightforward cutting and creasing. Adding such capabilities as embossing can help a printer to offer something that little bit extra – making an invitation, or even a business card, really stand out and get noticed. The price advantage provided by using a one-up forme in a step-and-repeat mode gives the printer additional margin that could otherwise be lost to the die maker.’

Morgana also notes that since die-making is a well-established and mature business, those needing to source dies externally should be able to achieve competitive prices.

The post Morgana brings die-cutting into the 21st century appeared first on Digital Printer.

This year’s edition of The Print Show will take place across 20 – 22 September at the NEC in Birmingham. Ray Hillhouse, vice president of sales and marketing for the Plockmatic Group Offline Business Unit, parent company of Morgana, said that the event offers his company the perfect opportunity to connect with existing and potential customers. ‘We will hope to meet as many of our existing customers and industry prospects as we can during the event,’ Mr Hillhouse explained. ‘It will be a delight to see so many industry friends in one place – and haven’t we missed such occasions! It will be exciting to see what new developments and enhancements will be exhibited.

‘Morgana has enjoyed success at all the previous Print Show events, so we had no hesitation in signing up for what will be the only national industry event this calendar year. We look forward to welcoming even more print companies along to the NEC and being part of another successful show.’

The VP went on to say that visitors to Morgana’s stand will be able to cast their eyes over a wide-range of the firm’s solutions. Referring specifically to the DigiFold Pro XL, he said, ‘We’ve been delighted at the reception already given to the long-sheet development of this popular creasing, folding and perforating unit. The cross-perforation capability has also been welcomed by a great many.

‘At this early stage I would anticipate automation will be a key word for many exhibits at the show. As companies have had to muddle their way through the various lockdowns, many have sadly had to shed staff members, so any finishing functions that can be further automated will be welcomed I am quite sure.

‘The Print Show will once again be the place for the UK industry to gather – it will be a delight to once again meet with both old friends and make new ones.’

The post Morgana signs up to The Print Show appeared first on Digital Printer.

The decision to make the investments came after a surge in demand for its products over the winter and the company has now welcomed an Easycoat Gluing System, purchased from Vivid Laminating Technologies, an Oki Pro A3 White Toner printer from Amaya UK, a Canny P50 Automatic Strapping Machine it acquired from Morgana and a Sawgrass SG1000 A3 printer it received via The Magic Touch.

The new machines, which have set Apprintable back £11,000, will join a Ricoh C5300s with Fiery RIP, purchased through X-Pres OnDemand, and an Aerocut Prime supplied by Morgana, on which the firm recently spent around £50,000. 

Managing director Peter Haddad explained, ‘The investment opens up new lanes of opportunities for us in printing and production as well as helping us achieve our sustainability goals. The Easycoat gluing machine allows us to create thick multi-layered business cards as well as luxury business cards, something our previous processes were not capable of.

‘The Oki white ink toner printer is something I’ve always wanted to add to our capabilities. It allows us to print on more merchandise that our previous setup couldn’t produce in-house, helping to streamline our production processes and reducing the wait time and minimum order quantities for clients.

‘Combining the Automatic strapping machine alongside the Aerocut Prime we previously acquired, we can now offer specific banded quantities with our products, something we have been asked for many times and had to previously count by hand and heat-shrink. Finally the Sawgrass SG1000 A3 Printer opens up more lines and opportunities for us in printing products that we couldn’t previously support in-house, including printing on hi-vis material, mouse mats and mug printing.’

=

The post Apprintable shells out on new technology appeared first on Digital Printer.