FEATURE: We expect an awful lot from our machines. But the bits we often forget are those elements which, if they weren't available, would mean that nothing ever was printed.
FEATURE: Sideways. If indeed PSPs are moving towards wider machines, they are doing it sideways.
FEATURE: Years ago we all knew the difference between a printer and a press, but nowadays the distinction is far from clear.
FEATURE: To my way of thinking, there is a world of difference between a printer, and a press.
FEATURE: Call me cynical, but if a shiny new printer resplendent with bells, whistles and promises appears, I am likely to view it through the eyes of a sceptic.
FEATURE: It's very hard to motivate people to do something they don't want to do, particularly if deep down they really do want to do it.
FEATURE: The year has begun with a raft of new orders in the UK wide-format sector, plus healthy order rates beyond its shores.
FEATURE: We might all associate the use of wide-format digital print with the display sector yet, in reality, ink-jet is moving relentlessly into other areas of production including industrial and three-dimensional developments.
FEATURE: Choice is something we all think we want more of but when it comes to buying stuff, too much choice can be downright stressful.
FEATURE: As we launch ourselves into 2011, how many of us have cast our minds back and looked at what has happened in wide-format during the past decade?
FEATURE: No matter whether or not we think we're out of recession, many display producers say that they're finding that it's nigh on impossible to work to expected pricing levels, never mind address ever increasing production and material costs.
NEWS: A new trade show catering solely for the industrial print technology market is to take place next year, it has been announced.
FEATURE: When you ask customers what they want next, do they really know? This is a key question when manufacturers are asked about how they plan future solutions.
NEWS: Information Management Institute (IMI) will be hosting its eleventh annual Ink Jet Technology Showcase in Chicago, USA on September 5th and 6th.
FEATURE: Visitors can expect to see a comprehensive range of low and mid-range ink-jet machines at this year's drupa. Sophie Matthews-Paul reports.
NEWS: IMI Europe has announced the programme for its 2012 Summer School, this year in Antwerp, Belgium.
FEATURE: In the digital world the ink represents a key part of the technology within the total system.
FEATURE: Sophie Matthews-Paul outlines what to expect this year at FESPA Digital in the first of two previews.
NEWS: The organiser of Digital Print UK is calling for print companies to tell it what they want from the new trade show before its launch.
NEWS: The Information Management Institute (IMI) has announced the speaker programme for its upcoming 21st Annual Ink Jet Printing Conference.
NEWS: Sihl has announced that it has entered the small- and wide-format coated ink-jet media market.
FEATURE: Sophie Matthews-Paul gives her review of the past twelve months in wide-format print and what this may mean for 2012.
FEATURE: Oh, the fuss Christinger Partner has caused in the sedate world of standards development.
FEATURE: Laurel Brunner looks back on a difficult 2011 and predicts the trends for the production print market in 2012.
NEWS: IMI states that there are still some slots available for speakers who wish to present sessions at the 21st Annual Ink Jet Printing Conference, at IMI's Digital Printing World 2012 Conferences.
FEATURE: Machine manufacturers know what their equipment can do and how to explain it to print service providers but explanations and descriptions still aren't filtering down to many end customers.
NEWS: A complete conference binder and CD package from IMI Europe's 19th Annual European Ink Jet Conference 2011 has been made available.
NEWS: Kodak was among the delegates at the recent InterQuest 2011 Digital Book Printing Forum, which concluded that a move to shorter runs is the main growing trend in the European book market.
FEATURE: Sophie Matthews-Paul outlines some of the criteria which are being discussed in digital print circles.
FEATURE: Sophie Matthews-Paul attends IMI's 19th annual European Ink Jet Printing Conference in Lisbon and declares it unmissable.
NEWS: A Ricoh Pro C751 digital printer has been purchased by Nationwide Print, based in Cornwall.
NEWS: Print-head manufacturer Xaar is to sponsor the PrintIT! educational programme for the fourth year.
FEATURE: Industry shows provide tremendous opportunities for housing every manufacturer and supplier under one roof.
NEWS: The Ipex Digital Latin America trade fair will take place in São Paulo, Brazil from October 23rd to 26th 2012, its organiser Informa Exhibitions has confirmed.
NEWS: The programme for the IMI Europe 19th Annual European Ink Jet Conference in November has been almost completed, says the organiser, with the majority of the event's speakers confirmed.
NEWS: Viscom Düsseldorf will feature a revised 'print design!' presentation, which will showcase the uses of digital printing techniques in interior décor environments.
NEWS: Fujifilm has announced the development of a new wide-format UV-curable ink-jet printer, the Acuity LED 1600.
NEWS: Inca Digital has doubled the manufacturing volume of its flagship series of UV-curable flat-bed wide-format digital printers, Onset.
FEATURE: So the news on the street is that another new print exhibition has been launched in the UK.
FEATURE: Sophie Matthews-Paul looks at how digital processes have brought value to the promotional goods sector.
FEATURE: Generating new business ideas needs far more than flashes of fleeting brilliance when everyone is in the land of nod.
FEATURE: Sophie Matthews-Paul visits Fribourg, where the Virtu range of wide-format printers is now in permanent residence.
NEWS: IMI's fourth annual Digital Printing Presses – Road Map to 2020 Conference, taking place in Florida, USA later this month, will feature recaps of important announcements made earlier in the year.
FEATURE: Another FESPA Digital in Hamburg has now closed its doors. So what did people think of the show?
NEWS: Agfa Graphics has finalised its first sale of its new :M-Press Leopard printer, to German screen-print house Dambach Print+Service, at the FESPA Digital exhibition in Hamburg.
NEWS: Today (Friday May 27th) at FESPA Digital in Hamburg, Output's digital ink-jet guru Sophie Matthews-Paul and publisher James Matthews-Paul will engage in a public conversation looking at the wide-format ink-jet industry.
FEATURE: Consolidation – that's the word I'd use to describe this year's FESPA Digital, and the atmosphere throughout has been alive and buzzing.
NEWS: IMI Europe is encouraging attendees of its upcoming Ink Jet Technology Showcase 2011 to 'think of it as an ink-jet supermarket'.
NEWS: It has been announced that trade supplier Spandex will be the sole UK distributor for Durst's new UV ink-jet printer, the Omega 1.
NEWS: EFI has announced a new addition to its superwide-format VUTEk digital ink-jet printer range, which incorporates 'cool cure' LED technology.
NEWS: Agfa Graphics has announced it has sold its :M-Press Tiger digital screen press to luxury retail POP provider Nutis Press, which will install the machine at its new plant.
OPINION: In my last entry, I described how metrics such as a fully-loaded sheet prices can help PSPs recognise their real costs and make decisions with more confidence in these numbers.
NEWS: Printing ink manufacturer Sun Chemical says it will showcase its offerings suitable for digital ink-jet printing, including its Streamline range at the upcoming FESPA Digital trade fair, showing a 'strengthened focus' on the market.
NEWS: Inca Digital Printers has announced it has extended its Inca Onset wide-format UV flat-bed ink-jet printer range with the new Inca Onset S40.
NEWS: IMI Europe has commented on its plans for the IMI Ink Jet Technology Showcase 2011, taking place on June 8th and 9th, stating that those using, manufacturing or designing ink-jet should 'come for inspiration' from industry speakers.
FEATURE: One of the catchwords which keeps cropping up in the wide-format sector is 'industrial' print. What does this word really mean in the context of wide-format ink-jet production?
NEWS: HP has made two executive appointments aimed at driving a conversion from analogue to digital printing.
NEWS: The Information Management Institute (IMI) has announced it is to hold a conference on digital manufacturing – including ink-jet printing – in Florida in June.
NEWS: Wide-format reseller CWE Solutions states it will showcase 'a stunning range of digital print technology' at the Sign and Digital UK exhibition in April, including a new six-colour printer from Seiko, the ColorPainter W64S.
NEWS: Mimaki will release a new high-production, 2.6m-wide addition to its wide-format printer range in April, its UK and Ireland distributor Hybrid has announced.
OPINION: HP Scitex and some of its competitors have been very good at marketing the promise of digital high-volume machines.
FEATURE: Sometimes I find it a little hard to believe that white ink has only been with us for a few years.
NEWS: HP has released details on digital printing company Gardners's project for a DIY store chain, for which it produced 63,000 signs in one month using HP SmartStream Designer.
NEWS: Inca Digital has announced the production speed of its wide-format, flat-bed printer, the Inca Onset S20, has been increased to 310sq m/hr or 62 full beds per hour.
NEWS: Xaar says leading manufacturers have chosen its ink-jet technology to digitally print onto ceramic tiles, and are exhibiting their kit at the Tecnargilla show.
FEATURE: The use of print in fine art is nothing new.
NEWS: IMI Europe has released details on its 'Ink Jet Academy' course, focusing on the Practice of Ink Jet Technology.
