Print Industry News
HP to spend $200 million in water-
based print solutions Prime Data now offering direct mail and
inkjet printing via Print Three locations
HP’s $200 million investment in water-based ink solutions
over 5+ years, will see the development of water-based inks
for printing digitally on corrugated packaging and textiles.
“Investing in water-based solutions that meet market needs
and the increasing sustainability requirements of graphics
customers is expected to propel business growth for HP,”
said Santi Morera, GM and Global Head of Graphics Solutions
at HP. “We’ll be dedicating resources toward continued innov-
ation to accelerate safer, simpler and more sustainable
water-based printing technologies that meet the quality,
performance and economics needed by these markets.” HP
said its water-based inks for corrugated packaging have
already shown leadership
for sensitive applications
such as food packaging.
The announcement builds
on HP’s existing innova-
tions in water-based ink
technology, such as water-
based HP latex inks that
have established “a durable,
safer alternative” for existing
inks used in signage and
displays.
Santi Morera The strategic partnership positions data-driven marketing
solutions provider Prime Data (Aurora, ON) as the most widely
represented direct mail company in Canada. Print Three’s 45
locations across Canada will now offer direct mail and inkjet
printing services to its customers via Prime Data. “No other
Canadian marketing services provider is talking to customers
about direct mail and the benefits of inkjet printing at over 45
locations nationwide,” said Steve Falk, Prime Data President.
“This is another step to bringing successful cross-channel
marketing tools to more organizations.” Andrew Hrywnak,
President of Print Three, added: “I’m excited about the addition
of Prime Data to our group, and in particular working with
Steve Falk, an industry leader in the direct mail space. We’ve
been searching for the
right ally in this space,
finally landing on Prime
Data due to an obvious
alignment in both parties’
dedication to constant
innovation, passion for
emerging technology,
and desire for continuous
expansion.” Prime Data
will continue to operate Andrew Hrywnak (left), President
from its head office in of Print Three, with Steve Falk,
Aurora.
President of Prime Data.
Custom Colour is first Taopix Ai user in North America
Custom Colour Imaging & Publishing of Toronto, a full-service
photo finishing and printing company, has become the first
adopter of Taopix Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology on the
continent. UK-based Taopix is the world’s leading developer
of white-label personalization and photo-commerce software.
Its AI-enabled software allows for the more efficient creation
of photo books and similar multi-image, photo-gift products.
Taopix technology automatically reduces the time and
complexity required to create these books. “We have over
46 years of expertise in the print and publishing sector and
invest continually in the most advanced equipment and
technologies,” said Leo Sciarrino, Custom Colour President.
“The Taopix.ai technology will allow us to simplify the creation
process by intelligently selecting photos and building photo
books and albums in their
order of events – eliminating
the time-consuming process
of doing this manually. The
addition of the Taopix.ai tech-
nology to our existing Taopix
platform opens up a whole
host of opportunities for us
in the future, and we have
no doubt that it’ll give us a
co m p et i t i ve a d v an t a g e,”
Leo Sciarrino
he added.
@graphicarts
Agfa introduces Eclipse process-free printing plate
Calling it the ‘most convenient’, Agfa Graphics’ new Eclipse
process-free printing plate for sheetfed commercial printers
“combines all the benefits of process-free technology with
effortless printing.” Agfa added, “this drop-in is just as easy
to use as a conventional plate. First of all, it keeps the press
as clean as can be. Patented process-free technology supports
the transfer of the plate coating to the first few printed sheets,
instead of to the press as is the case with other process-free
plates.” In addition, said Agfa, Eclipse is the only process-free
plate to provide excellent and stable image contrast, enabling
quick visual image inspection as well as recognition by a
punch-and-bending system. “That way, even after a week of
storage, there’ll be no mix-ups on press, or costly plate
remakes. Eclipse keeps its great contrast even after 24 hours
in office light, which makes an enormous difference compared
to the two hours of other process-
free plates. During this period,
print quality will be fully preserved
in terms of dot gain, toning and
start-up time.” The new plate
features high scratch resistance
and is flexible enough to be used
with conventional or H-UV / LED-
UV inks.
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | November 2019 | 9