Professional Documents
Culture Documents
:Apogee Media
REVOLUTIONARY
PUBLISHING TOOL
Manuel Mataré
MASTER OF DRUPA
Eija Ailasmaa
THE POWER OF PRINT
+
NANOTECHNOLOGY ■ ECOPRINT ■ RELAXING IN DÜSSELDORF
What is :Sublima technology?
:InterFACE was printed with four colours using :Sublima screening technology in 340 lpi.
Content
Hodge, Ilse Joosen, Tim Light,
Johan Suetens, Rudolf Tippner
sæEditors: Olivier Elen, Rod Hayes,
Monika Kissing, Jan-Frans
30
Lemmens, Johannes Maruschzik,
Sophie Matthews-Paul, Yurek
9
Onzia, Greetje Van Halewijck,
Gareth Ward sæFinal editor: Jan De
Düsseldorf by night Raeymaecker sæThanks to: Garry
The gadget of 2004 Muratore, Hans Van Glabbeke,
Susan Wittner
14
Daniël Ost about his book
Design, production and
coordination: sqill, a unit of
Sanoma Magazines Belgium -
Rudy Van Hoey en Anne-Marie
Van Ouytsel, Agfa Graphics.
s Editorial Manager: Chris
Van Gils sæEditorial Accounts:
Anouk Van Hoofstadt,
Joël De Mesmaecker
Dear reader,
This edition of :InterFACE is a special one. In a drupa year it is logical for :InterFACE to adopt the theme of
the mother of all graphic trade fairs. We look back at the past three drupas and examine which products and
technologies came under the spotlight and how over the years Agfa Graphics repeatedly brought innovative
prepress technologies onto the market that allowed our customers to stay ahead of their competitors.
We also talk with the drupa project manager, Manuel Mataré, about developments in the graphic industry
and their impact on the trade fair.
In the second section (present), you read two fascinating testimonials about the unique power of print: the
first through the eyes of the world’s most renowned flower arranger, the Belgian Daniël Ost, for whom
wonderfully illustrated books are a medicine against transience; and the second from Eija Ailasmaa, the
President and CEO of the Finnish magazine publisher Sanoma Magazines, who is absolutely convinced that
print and digital media can continue to exist next to each other.
We then also take a look at the future. You get to know :Apogee Media, Agfa Graphics’ latest software which
integrates content, design, proof printing and input in one environment. You learn about what can be
expected from nanotechnology, including in the graphics world. In view of the omnipresent debates and
discussions on sustainability we take a close look at the life cycle of paper. Finally, we look at the possibilities
that digital large format printing offers now and will offer in the future.
Ronald Marien
Global Marketing Communications Manager Agfa Graphics
Shortcuts
PLATE FACILITY AGFA
GRAPHICS wins
manufacturing
excellence award
In July 2007 Agfa Graphics’ printing plate
factory in Leeds (UK) wins first prize in
a national award competition from the
prestigious Institute of Mechanical Engi-
neers (IMechE) in the UK. The Leeds production plant is honoured for
improving its treatment of waste by 98.5%. Agfa Graphics has found
a method of production that virtually eliminates the amount of acidic waste produced in the making of the printing plates.
IMechE now has around 78,000 members in 120 countries. It represents mechanical engineers involved in a diversity of fields.
Visit www.imeche.org.
Austria’s largest privately-owned publishing company, MEDIAprint, becomes the first user of Agfa
Graphics’ new violet chemistry-free digital plates. The printing plates, which do not contaminate
the printing press and produce exceptionally strong image contrast, work with traditional low-
power, reliable violet diodes. Moreover, they eliminate the high-pH developers commonly used in plate-
making, which is better for the environment, and offer the highest possible levels of consistency. The plate can print run lengths
of 200,000 combined with excellent image quality. MEDIAprint has more than 2000 employees and prints a wide portfolio of
newspapers, including four dailies, one of which has a circulation of over one million.
Thomas Hofinger, Head of the print centre Inzersdorf of the MEDIAprint Zeitungsdruckerei: ‘With the
new chemistry-free printing plate for newspaper production, Agfa Graphics once again underlines its commitment to
strengthen the position of newspaper publishers and printers in their competition with the new digital media.’
4 :InterFACE 37
6 This was ...
1995 – 2000 – 2004
Outstanding moments
from three drupa years
interface special 5
Looking back
in wonder
November 1949. Representatives of the graphic, paper and print industry decide to set up a trade fair for print and
paper. They opt for Düsseldorf as a location. They also have a name for the event: ‘International Trade Fair for Print
and Paper’, or drupa for short in German.
After one month of preparation, the first drupa in It was not just print and paper technology that evolved during
1951 attracted 500 exhibitors and 190,000 visitors these years. The number of trade fair visitors also expanded con-
from around the world. A drupa fair has followed tinuously. Also remarkable is the rising proportion of foreign visi-
every three to five years, with the arrival of photosetting tors: from 20% in 1972 to 55% in 2004.
and lithographic printing important during the 1960s.
Incidentally, drupa 2004 attracted no fewer than 400,000 inter-
drupa was held in the new Düsseldorf trade fair building for the ested participants and the 2008 edition will probably perform
first time in 1972. This and the following editions through the even better. The question is how it will enter history: as the ‘ink-
1980s were mainly dominated by developments in the area of jet drupa’, the ‘environmentally friendly drupa’, the ‘automation
scanning and electronic retouching. drupa’, or…?
After desktop publishing had also come under the spotlight dur- However, let’s first look back in time at three outstanding drupas
ing later drupas, digitisation made its entry into the world of print- which will still be reasonably fresh in many people’s memories…
ing. It has grown into the dominant topic since then.
6 :InterFACE 37
Drupa
NEW
The PlayStation games console is being
developed by Sony. The design is byy
Ken Kutaragi and emerged from the unsuccess-cess-
ful cooperative venture with Nintendo. One of Sony’ss
goals is to make gaming popular and win a place e
for console gaming in day-to-day life. The PlayStation
n
can be bought in Europe from 29 September 1995.
More than 100,000 consoles are already sold in the
first weekend alone. Today, millions of gamers
enjoy world famous game series such as
Gran Turismo, Resident Evil, Final
Fantasy, etc.
1995
NEW
The Sharp J-SH04 is the first
telephone with a built-in camera.
The device is launched in Japan in
November 2000 and has a 110,000 pixel
CMOS image sensor with a colour
screen for taking digital photos.
Gadgets
After 12,000 telephone calls, 2,000 letters and 15,000 e-mails
from disappointed customers, sports giant Nike puts the Air
Pegasus back into production. The Pegasus had been the most
popular running shoe ever, but was discontinued in 1998 and
replaced by a different model. In 2000 the world of athletics
was able to sleep soundly again, as the legendary sports shoe
DIGITAL DRUPA was back on store shelves. Also sporty and fashionable: Dirk
Bikkembergs launches his sports line Bikkembergs Sport.
Digital printing is the guiding thread of the most glorious,
The silhouette of a footballer appears in the logo.
over the top drupa ever. Heidelberg and Xerox try to steal
a march on each other with gigantic stands where they
present their latest creations. As with any drupa, the more
interesting stuff happens away from the limelight. There are
the beginnings of inkjet printing for more than just labelling Entertainment
magazines and creating print proofs. Agfa has another of
After the Netherlands, Germany is the second country
these innovations with the introduction of :Delano, the first
to start broadcasts of Big Brother, the first genuine real-
tool to manage the interaction between the publisher and
ity programme on television. Psychologists, moral cru-
printer by allowing the customer to approve the pages.
saders and custodians of good taste react with horror to
In the meantime CtP has come a long way. Products like
the ‘scientifically based’ game show developed by John
Agfa’s user-friendly :Galileo can expose both silver halide
de Mol. But the public is wildly enthusiastic. The partic-
plates and the new generation of thermal plates. On the
ipants develop into modest public heroes and plunge
printing press, automation has already evolved in the
into the world of media or fashion. The programme has
direction of open interfaces to take data from the prepress
been produced and broadcast in over 58 countries
area to set up ink ducts on presses. This concept of using
since 2000. Big Brother attracts millions of view-
more production related data and taking this to finishing
ers, mainly in big countries such as Germany, the
and beyond was developed further in what would become
US or Great Britain.
the Job Definition Format.
2000
Drupa
News
In January, two unmanned space vehicles land on
the planet Mars. The robot carts will carry out sci-
entific research and take photographs. The in-
formation is sent to Earth via an antenna. NASA
wants to investigate whether water (and life) are
present on the Red Planet.
NEW
Apple launches the iPod mini, the really
successful mini hard-disk mp3 player, in
January. The compact device is equipped with
a 4 GB hard disk and can be obtained in
five different pastel colours. The iPod mini
is operated with the famous click wheel,
by pushing on the edge of the scroll wheel
itself as a sort of click key. The iPod mini is
replaced by the iPod nano in September of
the following year.
‘There is no better
seismograph than
drupa for record-
ing demands on
the print sector.’
A lot is involved in organising an event. This is certainly the case when a large-scale international
trade fair like drupa is involved. And reason enough for a fascinating conversation with the drupa
project manager, Manuel Mataré.
10 :InterFACE 37
Interview
the only trade fair in the world where you can see a production
(OWæDOæYOUæMANAGEæTOæSTAYæAWAREæOFæWHATæISæHAPPENINGæINæ flow on the latest equipment in action, with assistance from ex-
THEæSECTORæBETWEENæTWOæDRUPAæEDITIONS perts. Thus, for us it also means making contacts, exchanging
Manuel Mataré: ‘We listen in the market, travel a lot to vis- theoretical and practical knowledge and learning new things. In
it events, other trade fairs or congresses, and detect the latest fact, there is now a framework programme with several mod-
trends across the world with the help of our scouts. Our goal is ules, which the drupa visitor can combine personally. ‘Highlight
to give the most complete overview possible. Because, in any Tours’, guided tours on developments in ten specific print fields,
case, drupa is the outstanding meeting point and is the only gen- are also organised.’
uine large trade fair in this sector. We show exactly what is ‘fash-
ionable’ in the sector, from prepress to printing to finishing and $ÔSSELDORFæBECOMESæ@DRUPAæCITYæDURINGæTHEæTRADEæFAIRæ(OWæ
marketing. Of course, to be up-to-date you have to meet people DOæYOUæINTENDæTOæMAKEæTHISæVISIBLEæFORæVISITORS
and develop contacts. However, the most important thing is – to Manuel Mataré: ‘Apart from expanding and improving the
be able to listen effectively.’ trade fair site infrastructure, the focus of our efforts is on ser-
vice. Ultimately, Düsseldorf becomes the home port for two
$RUPAæEMPHASISESæTHEæSTRONGæCOMPETITIVEæPOSITIONæOFæPRINTæ weeks for approximately 400,000 visitors, more than 1800 com-
$OESæTHISæREmECTæTHEæREALITY panies and their 30,000 stand employees, and 3,500 journalists
Manuel Mataré: ‘drupa adopts a clear position: we are and from around the world. This is why we already began to devel-
remain a print and media trade fair and do not want to become a op a network many years ago with retailers, hotels, restaurants
second Cebit (editor: the world’s biggest home/office IT and tele- and taxi firms, for example. We want to be a good host. Exhib-
communications solutions trade fair). IT only acts as the required
infrastructure – and also frequently as a particle accelerator. Ul-
timately, however, the printed item in whatever form still holds
centre stage. The tangible aspect, emotional feel and value of a
printed item offer a substantial competitive advantage over elec-
‘What the Olympic Games are
tronic media – for example with point-of-sale applications, brand for sports people, drupa is
communication or personalised mail shots and large-format ad-
vertising panels. Moreover, digital printing and online communi-
for the print media sector.’
cation are opening up new growth markets.’
:InterFACE 37 11
Shortcuts
Agfa Graphics scores with
:DOTRIX INKJET PRESS
Noteworthy (New York) has been a manufacturer
of custom printed promotional bags, presentation
folders, notepads, coloring books and other pro-
motional products since the mid 1950’s. Recently,
Noteworthy acquired :Dotrix, Agfa Graphics’ wide-web, high-speed and
cost-effective inkjet press.
:AZURA
reduces water consumption 94%
This is the percentage of graphic arts professionals in
Generally, water is a the USA that work on print projects as part of their
big problem in Aus- jobs. This figure can be found in the 45th Annual Print
tralia, and most gov- Design Survey, conducted by Graphic Design USA ma-
ernment departments gazine and sponsored by Agfa Graphics.
are providing big in- This result is up from 92 percent last year and is, sur-
centives to save wa- prisingly, actually the highest figure in five years. Print
ter. St. George Graph- was followed, in order, by web design, point-of-pur-
ics, an Agfa Graphics chase, package design, and broadcast graphics.
customer in Sydney, in- Asked for the kinds of print projects that they had been
troduced the chemis- working on in the past year, creative firms men-
try-free printing plate :Azura. The consequences soon made tioned brochures/collateral, sales promotion,
themselves known: a ‘water audit’ revealed that the biggest direct mail, print advertising and letterheads/
consumers of water in the plant were… the tea and coffee identity respectively.
making facilities for the staff.
The :Avalon N 8-up uses a new-generation imaging head featuring 1024 beams that is based on
GLV (Grating Light Valve) technology, a technology that Agfa Graphics introduced in 2002; it is
used in thousands of CtP system applications worldwide. The VLF version currently has three
available engines, the :Avalon N16, N24 and N36.
The entire :Avalon N range is fully compatible with Agfa Graphics’ :Apogee workflow and with its range of thermal digital plates
and processors including the chemistry-free :Azura, low-chemistry :Amigo and no-bake, long-run :Energy Elite plates.
12 :InterFACE 37
14 Flower artist
Daniël Ost
‘Physical hardship is the price
I pay to take the life of the
most beautiful creatures that exist.’
Daniël Ost is a star in both the United States and with new varieties of flowers. But he still feels like ‘a child who
Asia. He is more famous than anywhere else in the continues to play’.
world in Japan, his second home. This is mainly
due to the affinity between his work and Japanese Daniël Ost’s floral arrangements appeal to everyone’s imagina-
flower arrangements, whose influences have been tion. They reveal a remarkable sensitivity to the shape, colour and
absorbed in a symbiotic way. structure of both the flowers and the object in which they are de-
But his countrymen also idolise him. He was al- signed and built. He is keen on seasons, which form the guiding
ready receiving commissions from the Belgian Royal Family bare- thread in his work. He does not find the fact that his flower art is
ly a few years after opening his shop in Sint-Niklaas in 1985. transitory a problem. ‘Everyone is transitory, but I have two med-
icines against transience: my gardens and my books.’
Ost has been fascinated by flowers since his childhood. When
he was three, his grandfather was barely able to rescue him
from drowning in a cesspool where he ended up while plucking To the extreme
wild flowers. At the start of his career, he occasionally went cut-
ting flowers secretly in the Sint-Niklaas municipal park, while his Depending on the project, Daniël Ost occasionally involves up to
wife acted as a lookout. He now designs and creates sculptures 500 staff in designing, organising and installing events togeth-
14 :InterFACE 37
Portrait
© Daniël Ost
/STæHASæWONæPRIZESæCOUNTLESSæTIMESæWITHæHISæmOWERæAR-
RANGINGæ.ONETHELESSæHEæCALLSæCONTESTSæMACHISMOæ
ANDæ INVARIABLYæ REFUSESæ TOæ SITæ INæ Aæ JURYæ@(OWæ CANæ
ARTæBEæEVALUATEDæAFTERæALLæBEAUTYæISæDIFFERENTæFORæ
EVERYONEæ 'IVEæ YOUNGæ PEOPLEæ Aæ BUDGETæ ANDæ LETæ
THEæVIEWERæENJOY
‘Everyone is transitory, but I have two medicines
against transience: my gardens and my books.’
© Daniël Ost
Portrait
Transparant illustrates
the power of print ENTHUSIASTICæ ABOUTæ HISæ LATESTæ BOOK æ Aæ PEARLæ THATæ DOESæ FULLæ
JUSTICEæTOæHISæCREATIONSæ@)æHAVEæMADEæTHEæWRONGæBOOKSæFORæ
$ANIÕLæ/STSæSEVENTHæPHOTOGRAPHICæBOOK Transparant æAP- YEARSæ)æHAVEæSEENæTHEæDIFFERENCEæMYSELFæTHEæPRINTæQUALITYæ
PEAREDæ RECENTLYæ7ITHæ THISæ BOOKæ HEæ ISæ CELEBRATINGæ MOREæ OFæ MYæ MOSTæ RECENTæ BOOKæ ISæ Aæ THOUSANDæ TIMESæ BETTERæ -Yæ
THANæ TWOæ DECADESæ OFæ ANæ ENVELOPINGæ MARRIAGEæ OFæ HISæ ARTæ CUSTOMERS æWHOæAREæNONETHELESSæACCUSTOMEDæTOæTHIS æAREæ
WITHæGLASSæARTæ!FTERæ/STæHADæSEENæTHEæSUPERIORæQUALITYæTHATæ ALSOæAMAZED
COULDæBEæACHIEVEDæWITHæ!GFAæ'RAPHICSæPRINTINGæTECHNOLOGY æ
HEæINSISTEDæTHATæITæBEæUSEDæFORæHISæLATESTæBOOK
Agfa Graphics innovation
4HEæ EXTREMEæ DETAILSæ INæ THEæ MATERIAL æ THEæ SPECIALæ COLOURSæ
ANDæ THEæ DEEPæ SHADOWæ SECTIONSæ PROMPTEDæ Aæ SPECIALæ AP- TransparantæWASæCREATEDæWITHæTHEæHELPæOFæ!GFAæ'RAPHICSæ
PROACHæ TOæ THEæ PICTURESæ4HEYæ WEREæ SCANNEDæ WITHæ Aæ MUCHæ :SublimaæRASTERæTECHNOLOGYæINææLINESæPERæINCH æWITHæAæ
HIGHERæ RESOLUTIONæ THANæ USUAL æ SOæ THATæ THEæ PICTURESæ COULDæ THERMALæ :Avalonæ PLATESETTERæ ANDæ :Thermostaræ 0æ
BEæREPRODUCEDæINæMUCHæGREATERæDETAILæANDæADDITIONALæCO- PRINTINGæPLATESæ:SherpaProofæWASæUSEDæFORæTHEæIM-
LOURæ GRADATIONSæ COULDæ BEæ REPRODUCEDæ /STæ ISæ EXTREMELYæ POSITIONæANDæTOæMAKEæTHEæCONTRACTæPROOFS
er with him. Ost creates tailored flower fantasies for his clients. exhausting from time to time, but Ost also has his own philos-
He is not interested in trends. He finds the structure more im- ophy about this: ‘physical hardship is the price that I pay to take
portant in everything that he does: ‘I am a collector of things that the life of the most beautiful creatures that exist.’
tell something about life.’
Surprising one more time
Nothing is too much for the flower arrangement artist when it
comes to realising his creations. ‘When our king had his sixti- Among other things, Daniël Ost hopes to be able to organise an
eth birthday, I quickly ordered 6,000 extra ferns behind the back exhibition in his native Belgium, as he has done several times in
of the budget controller. I have never regretted it. I have already Japan, with an infinite feel for details and in sublime locations.
travelled over 1,000 kilometres to gather specific flowers. At a
Japanese market I waited four hours per day for a week until Daniël Ost also dreams of realising one more project within two
I was able to buy two orchids that were actually reserved for years. He has gained his inspiration for this from the mother of
someone else.’ all gardens in Persia. ‘I want to dumbfound everyone again one
more time. My latest work will show a totally different Ost.’
He also had to be brought to his hotel room after working for
three days and nights without interruption. So his work is really
:InterFACE 37 17
EIJA AILASMAA
sæ4ITLEæCEO Sanoma Magazinesæsæ#AREERæ33 years
sæ$ATEæANDæPLACEæOFæBIRTHæ12 September 1950, Rovaniemi
sæ-OTTOæ“It’s important to have fun!”
&ORæYEARSæWEæHAVEæBEENæHEARINGæTHATæPRINTæ ties for personalising our magazines, although this does not yet
ISæDEAD æORæISæATæLEASTæWASTINGæAWAYæ$OæYOUæ apply to titles with a large print run. For example, we can offer
AGREE advertisers tailored solutions, such as inserts that are intended
Eija Ailasmaa: ‘You just have to look around to for a specific public, via selective binding. Technological progress
know this is nonsense. The publishing business is now also allows us to include holograms in our magazines or ink
still growing, also in terms of net sales. New titles that only becomes visible above a certain temperature. The use
are constantly being added and people are reading of different types of paper in the same magazine can also help to
more printed newspapers than 10 years ago. OK, increase the attention value and to stimulate the reader’s senses
many of these are free. But this only means that the publishing or to surprise him or her. All of these technical developments of-
models are changing, not that printed media are condemned to fer us as magazine publishers a wide range of possibilities, with-
death.’ out threatening our efficiency and budgets. But it is obvious that
the quality of our magazines and their content remain the most
4ECHNICALæPRINTINGæPROCESSESæHAVEæEVOLVEDæEXTREMELYæRAPID- important factors. This will always be the case and luckily so!’
LYæINæTHEæPASTæDECADEæ7HATæR EVOLUTIONSæCANæWEæSTILLæEXPECTæ
INæTHEæCOMINGæYEARS .EWSPAPERæANDæMAGAZINEæSALESæHAVEæBEENæUNDERæPRESSUREæ
Eija Ailasmaa: ‘The general quality of printed media has im- FORæSOMEæTIMEæ$OæYOUæTHINKæTHATæREADERSæWILLæREMAINæLOYALæ
proved incredibly. That in my opinion is the biggest revolution. TOæPRINTEDæMEDIA
At the same time we are printing more efficiently and many Eija Ailasmaa: ‘Each time a new media format appears,
more specialist options exist. Thanks to the introduction of new the prophets of doom are ready to announce that the exist-
printing presses, high quality print is available at extremely cost- ing media are finished. But TV did not replace radio. Similar-
efficient prices. We also have an increasing number of possibili- ly digital media will not mean the end of printed media. I don’t
18 :InterFACE 37
Interview
deny, however, that they will have a serious impact. We are feel- !REæYOUæSAYINGæTHATæTHEæDIGITALæMEDIAæHAVEæNOæVALUE
ing this already: business models are changing and we as pub- Eija Ailasmaa: ‘Not at all. Of course, the digital media have
lishers must fight harder to be relevant for our readers. But ul- their own strengths. Users can search for things actively and in a
timately you will see that print and digital media will continue targeted way on the Internet. A multiplicity of information is avail-
to exist alongside each other. Both forms of media have spe- able with a few mouse clicks, something that most magazines
cific characteristics that ensure their relevance and continued cannot offer. But in contrast, the content our magazines offer has
existence.’ been written and approved by our journalists with the greatest
care, and therefore is more reliable.’
3UCHæAS
Eija Ailasmaa: ‘The unique feature of printed media is that
you can read it wherever and whenever you want. After all, peo-
ple don’t want to be shackled to the Internet 24 hours per day ‘The general quality of
throughout the year! On the contrary, there is an ever greater
need to kick back and relax. This is why nothing will ever replace printed media has
the pleasure of reading lazily on your sofa, in bed or in an aero- improved incredibly.’
plane. And you can only tear out pages with printed items you
want to keep from your favourite magazine. You can make notes
on it. You can also fold it; it will not break! And when you are fin-
ished, you simply hand it on or throw it away, because it is not ex- 4HEæCONCLUSION
pensive. The glossy sheen of nicely created pages is also unique Eija Ailasmaa: ‘I am convinced that print and digital media
and very attractive. A magazine is also a fast medium: you open can be a good marriage, where both partners complement each
it up, and the information is available to be taken in quickly or to other and live together happily. This is why we, Sanoma Mag-
be read quietly.’ azines, believe in the power of our magazines more than ever
and at the same time continue to develop our digital media plat-
-OREæOFæTHAT forms.’
Eija Ailasmaa: ‘A freshly printed magazine also smells so won-
derful! Moreover, you can add inserts, so that users can test prod-
ucts themselves immediately: samples of perfumes and creams,
but also bouillon cubes and tea bags. In Romania, we recently
even published a magazine containing a glass bottle of perfume!
This is impossible over the Internet, but is all possible with print.’
:InterFACE 37 19
Shortcuts
Environmentally friendly :AZURA TS plate up to 50%
faster
With :Azura, Agfa Graphics has set the standard in chemistry-free printing plates. More than 2000 users all
over the world are already enjoying the benefits of this plate. The new generation environmentally friendly
:Azura TS thermal CtP plate system offers higher throughput - in some cases as much as 50%, amount-
ing to as many as 100,000 impressions - and sharper contrast, which makes visual inspections much
easier for users.
Synaps’ fast drying time also allows for the quick turnaround that printers strive
for. As the new synthetic paper can be used with standard inks, it can be used
on all offset printing presses, as well as UV inkjet printers. Synaps is available in
a wide range of weights suitable for a wide variety of applications that have high
demands on material robustness, or where the distinct nature of Synaps is val-
ued. It can even be used in harsh outdoor environments since it is also resistant
to water, tearing, and UV light.
:DOTRIX MODULAR
industrial inkjet press for flexible packaging
The :Dotrix Modular press accommodates the needs of the flexible packaging market. The :Dotrix
Modular is now the first digital press that can handle the media mix with sufficient adhesion that
this market requires. Moreover, the :Dotrix Modular’s ability to print thin layers provides the look
and feel the flexible packaging market demands.
The :Dotrix Modular is among the most productive industrial full-colour UV inkjet presses available
today. Its versatile engines print on many types of substrates, including the most common flexible
packaging materials such as paper, multiwall, PE, PP, BOPP and PET, as well as folding cardboard
and label materials such as heat-sensitive, pressure-sensitive and in-mould labels. This media mix
makes the :Dotrix press a unique solution for the flexible packaging market segment.
20 :InterFACE 37
22 Nanotechnology
Amazing microscopic
finesse
24 :Apogee Media
Integrated set of flexible
publishing tools
26 Ecoprint
No more chemicals
The name nanotechnology is derived from the plication of structures, instruments and systems by controlling
Greek word ‘nanos’, which means a dwarf. A very the form and dimensions at the nanometre scale. This was the
small dwarf, in this case. Because one nanome- encyclopaedic explanation – now to practice.
tre is one billionth of a metre, one millionth of a
millimetre, and one thousandth of a micrometre. Thinking small
Albert Einstein dealt with the subject in his doc-
toral thesis, in which among other things he wrote In the past decades, scientists have developed and refined the
that he had calculated the scale of a sugar molecule: one ‘nano- possibility of ‘seeing’ individual atoms and molecules on the sur-
metre’ was his conclusion. face of materials and, for example, taking photographs of these.
Today, they can even move atoms and molecules at the nano
Nano science is research on phenomena and processing of ma- scale. Incidentally, this expertise is increasingly used in daily life.
terials at atomic, molecular and macro-molecular scale. Nano-
technology is understood as the design, manufacturing and ap-
22 :InterFACE 37
Nanotechnology
:InterFACE 37 23
Integrated
production
from start to finish
‘With :Apogee Media, Agfa Graphics managed Virtual Paper was developed
to develop a unique production platform for in 2006 by Tree Technolo-
gies, a leader in IT, Web 2.0
publishers. The way content management is
and interactive media in Can-
integrated with layout and output for print ada. Virtual Paper software
is innovative to say the least. In addition, the makes it possible for paper
architecture, based on industry standards, is content editors to transform
designed to easily link to other output formats their publications into an on-
line magazines or web bro-
such as our web applications.’
chures and to publish them
Jean Lesage - CEO Virtual Paper, Canada at low costs.
24 :InterFACE 37
:Apogee Suite
automation
Agfa Graphics continuously anticipates the rapidly changing needs of the print and publishing
sectors, without evading the most difficult questions. This can also be seen in the launch of
:Apogee Suite, a set of production tools which integrates all the content, proofing, output,
connectivity and other elements into one working environment.
content managers, designers, pre- increases the efficiency of the collabo- products, furniture and con-
ration with my print service provider.’ struction fittings, tools, and
press and production managers stock keeping and picking
need to work in an environment Dries Verdonck - Product
systems.
long on time-consuming manual Manager Würth, Belgium
intervention.
:InterFACE 37 25
1. Trees in the forest absorb CO2.
6. Recycling
80% of magazines can be recycled seven times.
5. Printing
In the past, printing works stored their ink in drums. Today they opt for environmentally friendly solutions with
less residual ink, such as pump silos or large ink capsules. The use of natural inks based on vegetable oils
is also increasing.
Lacquered paper is robust, water-resistant and attractive. But it contains polyethylene and is difficult to recy-
cle. This is why most paper companies now opt for a waterproof coating. This does not contain any plastic, is
biologically degradable and can be easily repulped or composted.
Operating printing presses demands a lot of energy. Solar panels are extremely
suitable for this: 1,200 photovoltaic cells produce 180,000 kWh of ‘green’ elec-
tricity annually. This reduces annual CO² emissions by over 150 tonnes.
Cycle from
the forest to printed
26 :InterFACE 37
Ecoprint
paper
health.
:InterFACE 37 27
Wide-format digital
inkjet continues to gain
worldwide market share
Thanks to digital options, printing methods which were little more than a dream during the 1990s
have now become daily reality, with the combination of quality and speed being easy to achieve
without compromise. Wide-format inkjet production is now used universally by sign makers and
screen printers as well as print service providers.
© Sophie Matthews-Paul
28 :InterFACE 37
Trends digital printing
The wide-format digital printing sector is, and they also carry environmental disadvantages in
will continue to be, limited to an extent by the terms of VOCs and emissions. Digital printing is
suitability of available print-head technologies
to handle extensions to the standard range of Forecasts show that it will be UV-curable ink
growing
ink types and extras, such as white and var- technology which will continue to gain market The 45th Annual Print Design Survey,
nish. Nonetheless, developments are certain share worldwide. The ability to print direct to conducted by Graphic Design USA
to continue with research and development rigid and flexible materials is becoming an es- magazine and sponsored by Agfa
in machines, inks and materials being carried sential service offered by display producers of Graphics, documents that creative
across to different industries as well as within all sizes. Environmental considerations, along firms are embracing digital printing as
the graphic arts and display segments. with good durability, are also increasingly re- color and image quality has improved,
sponsible for growing investments in this type as designers become educated about
Fast and flexible of machine. specific advantages of the technol-
ogy, and as the service has become
The flexibility of wide-format is demonstrat- The market for textile printers has grown dur- more accessible. Use of digital print-
ed in the vast range of applications which can ing the past year with applications extending be- ing continues at a record level:
now be produced economically, ranging from yond sampling into the production of flags, ban- up 5% from a record-breaking
posters and signs, banners, billboards, vehicle ners, furnishings and soft signs. Dye sublima- figure last year.
wraps and liveries through to building wraps. tion is complemented by options available for
The advantage of digital print has always been printing direct to fabrics with acid, reactive and
its suitability for one-offs and low volumes disperse dyes that are now enhancing capabil-
with minimal make-ready. However, with high ities beyond polyester based materials and en-
speeds and versatility both on offer with digi- abling durable output onto natural fibres.
tal machines, the break-point between inkjet
and screen-printing remains variable. Similarly, Despite a feared economic slow-down, the next
the demand for streamlined and automatic fin- twelve months will see all areas of wide-for-
Sophie Matthews-Paul is an independent consultant concentrating on wide-format digital print and its use in industry today. She is also
ishing processes, such as contour cutting and mat inkjet continue to grow. Increasingly,
creasing, has been fine-tuned to accommodate print providers need to extend the ser-
the rate of output of the printer and, thus, avoid vices they offer their clients. Investing
bottlenecks. sensibly in the most suitable type of
ink technology will help many of these
Wide-format digital print has unlocked creativi- businesses survive in an increasingly
a contributor to several specialist magazines worldwide and an associate consultant and analyst for InfoTrends.
ty throughout the production chain but it is not competitive market.
a technology which necessarily is driven by
high prices in terms of investment. This indus-
try segment provides the means with which
anyone, from photographers and fine artists, TAKING DIGITAL PRINTING TO GREATER
through sign-makers, print service providers HEIGHTS
and screen- and offset printers, can incorporate
the ability to output just-in-time jobs. At drupa, Agfa Graphics debuted the new- The addition of the XLS, Mv and M4f to the
est additions to its family of highly reliable :Anapurna family, which includes the L, XL,
and cost-efficient inkjet printers: XL2 and M models, gives Agfa Graphics one
UV inks gain the upper s The :Anapurna XLS (up to 250 cm) is of the world’s widest ranges of wide-format
hand designed to eliminate the need for users to UV printing engines in the professional ink-
compromise between speed and quality as jet marketplace today, and a clear leadership
The first to come to market, the main manufac- it is specially designed to provide photo- position in inkjet technology. The industrial
turers of aqueous-based printers, are continuing graphic quality at high production speeds. inkjet line addresses nearly every possible
to release systems offering a greater choice of s The :Anapurna Mv (up to 160 cm) will segment-specific need in the digital press
widths and high quality output. This proves that offer the image quality of the popular marketplace. The entire :Anapurna family
this market sector is still thriving for displays as :Anapurna M, but can additionally add a delivers exceptional results for indoor and
well as photography and fine art applications. spot of flood varnish to further improve outdoor applications, both on uncoated rigid
printed materials’ cosmetic appearance. media, such as corrugated boards, rigid
Printing platforms which use eco-, low- and full- s The :Anapurna M4f (up to 160 cm) plastics, exhibition panels, stage graphics
solvent formulations have the advantage of be- also has the same robust design as the and advertising panels, and on roll media
ing suitable for use on a broad range of coated :Anapurna M. It has four CMYK printheads such as film, vinyl and paper, canvas and
and uncoated materials. They are complement- and is positioned as a rigid printer only banners. All :Anapurna printers use Agfa-
ed by their excellent colour vivacity and accu- with roll-to-roll as an option. The M4f is made UV-curable ink.
racy, and the fact that the inks themselves are the entry level UV-ink printer of Agfa’s
relatively inexpensive. However, they cannot :Anapurna range.
be used satisfactorily on rigid materials, and
:InterFACE 37 29
After work
Time-off in
Düsseldorf
‘Düsseldorf is very beautiful’, the city’s most famous son, the poet Heinrich Heine, once
said. But is there also something to do in the evening hours? We went to find out for you.
HAVING A DRINK
sæ)Næ#AFEæDELæ3OL you can let the stress melt away with a drink and a
wonderful view of the Rhine. The UFO-shaped building will remind you
of a science fiction film from the 1950s. The atmosphere is so convivial
that your hotel bed can wait just a little longer.
Cafe del Sol, Niederkasseler Deich 285, Düsseldorf, 0172-507 39 24.
13 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 6.39 km
sæ#OCKTAILæENTHUSIASTSæGATHERæINæ"ARæ!LEXANDRA æWHEREæTHEæBOTTLESæSTANDæ
in long rows against the large mirror. Try the ‘Black Velvet’, a cocktail with
DELICIOUS CUISINE 'UINNESSæANDæCHAMPAGNE æINæPARTICULARæ!æHIGH QUALITY æCREATIVEæBAR
Bar Alexandra, Merowingerstraße 18, Düsseldorf, 0211-31 33 66.
sæ"ENKAY is an elegant Japanese restaurant and a stop- 18 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 9.02 km
ping point for many business people. The sushi, which sæ,UNAæ.EGRA mainly attracts the over 30s set. It is a nice, somewhat
Mick Jagger has tried, is of the very best quality. Of dark bar, where people like to try several drinks. If you have taken just
course, the menu includes other mouth-watering classics ONEæTOOæMANY æSOMEæTAPASæORæ!SIANæSNACKSæWILLæENSUREæTHATæYOUælNDæTHEæ
such as miso soup, tempura, shellfish and typical Japa- way back to your hotel without difficulty.
nese desserts. Luna Negra, Oberkasseler Straße 100, Düsseldorf, 0211-529 28 31.
Benkay, Immermannstraße 41, Düsseldorf, 0211-834 26 20 16 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 7.04 km
13 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 6.05 km sæ)Næ#IGARWORLD, you can enjoy the best cigars in heavy leather arm-
sæ4HEæSMALLæ,OCANDAæ-INAæ"AR is fitted out in modern style. When the CHAIRSæ!æGIGANTICæTEMPLEæOFæTOBACCOæFORæREALæFANS
weather is nice it is lovely to stay on its terrace, which is completely cut Cigarworld, Burghofstraße 28, Düsseldorf, 0211-157 63 10.
off from the traffic. Both Italian cuisine and home-style dishes emerge 18 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 8.33 km
from the kitchen: from squid carpaccio to linguine with orange sauce to
wolf fish with crunchy vegetables: every dish here is equally appetising.
The wine list offers great bottles at democratic prices. QUICK SHOPPING
Locanda Mina Bar, Talstraße 2a, Düsseldorf, 0211-994 595 91.
15 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 7.26 km Forgotten something? Promised a gift? Düsseldorf is a fashionable city
sæ!NYONEæWHOæLIKESæ'REEKæCUISINEæABSOLUTELYæMUSTæVISITæ!SKITIS Every- so everything can be arranged. You will find flagship stores alongside
thing is possible here from a business meeting to a family party. Do LUXURYæSHOPSæONæCHICæ+NIGSALLEEæ)FæITæISæRAINING æYOUæCANæALWAYSæVISITæAæ
not think of getting copious dishes of gyros and tzaziki - you eat re- shopping centre such as + GALERIE æWITHææINTERNATIONALæANDæEXCLU-
lNEDæ'REEKæFOODæHEREæVINEæLEAVESæSTUFFEDæWITHæOLIVES æALMONDæMOUSSE æ sive brands. Everything is under one roof: accessories, fashion, leath-
couscous salad with paprika and mint as a starter, grilled prime steak or er goods, beauty, sports articles and decorations...You are sure to find
squid risotto as a main course. Highly recommended! what you fancy here!
Askitis, Herderstraße 73, Düsseldorf, 0211-602 07 13. Kö-galerie, Königsallee 60E, Düsseldorf, 0211-862 07 60
15 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 6.56 km 14 minutes from the trade fair by taxi, 6.22 km
30 :InterFACE 37
340 lpi :Sublima
Today, another sports car bearing this name is on the starting grid.
It is born of powerful ideas with which Audi has written motoring history.
Combined fuel consumption (l/100 km) : 13,6 - 14,6 / CO2 emissions (g/km): 325-349.
Shown model with equipment’s. Environmental information (RD 19/03/2004) : www.audi.be