Show Preview | INFO*FLEX 2013
- Published: April 04, 2013, By Claudia Hine
FTA offers a "Gold Mine of Solutions" at its 2013 Forum in San Diego, CA.
The Flexographic Technical Assn. (FTA), Bohemia, NY, will hold its annual forum, “Right Here, Right Now,” on April 28–May 1 at the Marriott Marquis & Marina in San Diego, CA. Events will include educational conferences, the Phoenix Challenge College Competition, JP Buckley Golf Tournament, and FTA’s annual banquet and Excellence in Flexography awards program.
In conjunction with the forum is the two-day INFO*FLEX exhibition, which will be held April 29-30 at the San Diego Convention Center. Exhibit hours are 1:30–5:30 p.m. on both days.
Jay Kaible, FTA’s director of membership and business development, says, “INFO*FLEX 2013 represents the most comprehensive gathering of press manufacturers in North America. It offers attendees a one-stop venue to gather information and source new technology in all sectors of the printing and converting industry. Additionally, this year is especially exciting as FTA commemorates its 55th anniversary. We will celebrate this milestone with a variety of raffles and a social networking reception that will take place on Monday, right after INFO*FLEX.”
FTA reports 1,700 attendees will be on hand, representing the tag and label; narrow, mid, and wide web; combination; digital segments of the converting industry. Attendees will see a show that has grown 15% larger than its predecessor, including 30 new press/digital manufacturers.
Exhibitors include AGFA Pitman, Allen Datagraph Systems, Aquaflex, Bobst, Comexi North America, DCM Group, Domino Amjet, Durst Image Technology, Eastman Kodak Co., EFI, Epson America, Gallus Inc., KYMC America, Mark Andy, Mimaki USA Corp., MPS America, Muller Martini Corp., Nilpeter, North American Cerutti, Océ Technologies, Omet, Paper Converting Machine Co., Retroflex, Roland DGA, Soma Engineering, TRESU Group, Uteco North America, Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp., and Xeikon America.
Color-Logic, West Chester, OH (Booth 112), will demonstrate its latest graphic design software, which adds dramatic dimension and special effects to labels, flexible packaging, and cartons without expensive postpress processes such as foil stamping. Graphic designers and prepress personnel no longer need to produce white masks when working with metallic substrates and white ink.
Domino, Gurnee, IL (Booth 132) offers printing technologies including the K600i high-speed digital black plate UV inkjet that prints 600 dpi variable data up to 246 fpm on a wide range of uncoated and coated sheet or web materials for labels, tags, tickets, forms, security products, and more. The Bitjet+ is a solvent-based inkjet for printing on high-speed webs, folder/gluer, packaging, and wrapping. Prints on all materials and media types at speeds to 1800 fpm with a print height of 2 in. Printhead mounts in any orientation. The N600i is a high-speed CMYK digital UV inkjet label press printing at speeds to 246 fpm at 600 dpi. Print width to 13.11 in. Change SKUs, colors, designs, or print jobs on the fly.
Durst, Rochester, NY (Booth 719), will highlight the Durst Tau 330 UV inkjet digital label press, said to be the world's first UV inkjet digital imager to print on a 13-in. web. Designed for short- and medium runs covering widths from 6.5–13 in. and printing at speeds to 157 fpm with precise image reproduction. Production capacity can reach 10,225 sq ft/hr. Also available in 8-in. wide version. Also presenting details on the first solvent-free silver UV ink to replace the use of foil in a range of metallic label and decorative packaging applications. Allows users to lay down in one pass a "digital foil" that meets demands of metallic label applications.
Epson, Long Beach, CA (Booth 124), will demonstrate the SurePress L-4033AW, designed to print high quality, short run labels efficiently and profitably. The press is an easy-to-operate seven-color press with white ink that prints on a variety of standard label substrates as well as on clear and metallic substrates. Features MicroPiezo inkjet technology with variable-size droplets as small as three picoliters to deliver smooth gradations, remarkable color quality, and sharp detail for easy bar code readability plus crisp small type and line work.
Flexo Concepts, Plymouth, MA (Booth 306), will introduce TruPoint Orange doctor blade technology that is said to join innovations in polymer materials with advancements in tip design. The result is a long-life blade that can deliver the metering ability of steel with the safety benefits of a non-metallic blade in a wide variety of flexographic printing applications. Also showing the DuraPoint blade, a next-generation UHMW with 30% longer blade life in corrugated applications. Information available on MicroClean dry media anilox cleaning equipment.
Harper Corp. of America, Charlotte, NC (Booth 406/408), will showcase its Phantom QD ink proofing system as well as the new HEX division, which comprises plate sleeves and bridge sleeves that are manufactured in accordance with OEM specifications and feature notable characteristics such as a patent-pending replacement notch system. Also showing the HIVE (high imaging volume engravings) anilox roll series that includes the XLT, said to be the most consistent and highest quality engraving pattern in the industry.
ICE USA, Burlington, MA (Booth 126), the International Converting Expo, will exhibit at the show and will be the Elite Golf Tournament Sponsor of the J.P. Buckley Golf Tournament for the fourth year in a row.
Kodak, Rochester, NY (Booth 601) will feature information on the new KODAK FLEXCEL NX WIDE-C Imager, the latest developments with the KODAK SPOTLESS Flexographic Solution, and the KODAK FLEXCEL Direct System. Visitors will learn about best-in-class prepress workflow automation with KODAK PRINERGY POWERPACK Software and talk with specialists about the full packaging portfolio, including color proofing and KODAK Security Solutions.
Recognition Systems Inc., New York, NY (Booth 920), will showcase the complete Dotworks Apollo Computer-to-Film solution. Designed to meet the expansive production needs of today's flexo printer, RSI integrated its Dotworks direct negative 4 and 5 mil films with the open architecture Apollo RIP software; an inkjet printer/plotter; and all the tools needed for a professional digital workflow.
Siegwerk/Environmental Inks (Booth 235) has expanded UV ink manufacturing and offers a Center for Printing Excellence. Also showing its NC 536 high speed ink technology.
Sun Chemical, Northlake, IL (Booth 225), which offers a range of solutions for flexo printed packaging, will display SunGraphics high-definition plate technology, SunSpectro Sunsharp inks for high speed printing, and SunVisto Advantage water-based inks.
tesa tape, Charlotte, NC (Booth 428), will introduce its next-generation tesa Softprint Secure Family of plate mounting tape equipped with an advanced adhesive system. It has been specifically developed to secure plate edges across long runs with no edge lift, no adhesion problems, reliable holding power, and clean removal.
Xeikon, Itasca, IL (Booth 730), offers the Xeikon 3000 Series of five digital label press models ranging from entry level to higher capacity. Also offers the ThermoFlexX line of high quality digital imagers for flexographic platemaking based on open and modular digital workflow solutions.
For a complete list of exhibitors, click here.
