Normally I use the leader column of Screen Process and Digital Imaging as my own private playground for stirring up contentious issues. Not this month. Instead, I would just like to highlight the fact that this issue includes our Sign UK and Digital Expo preview.

Following a period of consolidation, Robert Horne Sign & Display is unveiling a new business strategy and new products.

Divisional director, Sign & Display, Paul French, said: “Following the amalgamation of three different operating divisions, Robert Horne Sign & Display is now the largest supplier to the sign and display sectors.

Bournemouth-based Kolour Krazy has won Roland DG’s Win a Pro 3 Printer competition. To win the SolJet Pro III XC-540 printer and support package worth over £27, 500, entrants registered on the website, completed a range of questions about the SolJet Pro III printer and answered a tie-break question.

B&P Graphic Systems has been appointed sole UK distributor for Gandinnovations’ Jeti printers. The Jeti series encompasses roll-fed and flat-bed machines, all featuring Spectra print-head technology. The product line includes solvent and UV models.

Colourgen has announced Sun Chemical Screen as a key business partner for the ColorSpan range of UV-curable flatbed inkjet printers. The ColorSpan portfolio includes the 9840uv for widths up to 2.5m and substrates up to 70mm thick.

More recently, ColorSpan announced the 5400uv series of multifunction 54in UV printers for direct imaging on to inexpensive, uncoated materials including rigid display boards to roll-fed media.

A manufacturer of flags and banners has launched its digital division, with the emphasis on manufacturing environmentally friendly products. Look Digital, a sustainable branding company, is a new division of Essex-based company Piggotts, established in 1780.

Last week, Fespa hosted its first ever Directors Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. It brought together 100 managing directors from a selection of the world’s leading printers. The aim of the two-day event was to discuss issues potentially affecting the future of our industry including increasing globalization, increased consumer sophistication and changing trends in consumer buying.

The James McNaughton Group is producing its printed matter in conjunction with the Carbon Neutral Company. The first two items are new swatches for recycled products and uncoated stocks.

Experts at the UK's first Centre for Industrial Collaboration in Digital Print have won two prestigious awards for innovation. Digital Print CIC, based at the University of Leeds' Department of Colour and Polymer Chemistry, created a printable ink version of a revolutionary material, which is now being used by NASA.

Self-adhesive vinyl manufacturer, Hexis, has invested E400,000 in a high temperature incinerator which operates as a thermal oxidiser at temperatures between 800°C and 1,000°C. This eliminates waste rejections of VOC, mostly solvents, used in the production process.

The waste burns at 99.6 per cent, with only water, steam and small quantities of carbon dioxide released to atmosphere. At the same time, heat generated is used to stabilise the factory temperature, resulting in a more homogeneous product.

The Stationers’ Hall provided the venue for the PrintIT! 2007 awards ceremony, which saw students Sarah Kitching and Emily Webzell of Keswick School, Cumbria awarded ‘Overall Winners’, plus an expenses paid trip to the Windward Islands to visit a Fairtrade banana plantation

It is well recognised that the screen, sign and traditional print markets are very adept at embracing new technologies and consistently looking for creative solutions that complement existing product offerings to help enhance their business models.

If we are not careful we will be crushed by the mountain of paperwork created in the name of Health and safety. Certification, risk assessments, acres of legislation, awards, initiatives. So what is all this for? by Peter Kiddell

The theme of Digital Expo 2007 (1 to 3 May, NEC, Birmingham) is how to make digital technology work harder for you. Whether you have already invested, are looking to install digital equipment for the first time or simply have technical questions to ask, a visit offers the opportunity to quiz experts and see kit in action

Visitors to the Robert Horne Sign & Display stand at Digital Expo/Sign UK 2007 will be able enjoy a ‘five in one’ experience, as this year several of the company’s partners (namely ESKO, SignLab, Alcan and HP) are all located nearby, providing signmakers with a unique opportunity to view a variety of products at close hand

Stocks Sewing Machines has introduces the new Janome MB-4, a four-needle single-head embroidery machine. Designed for easy operation this small, lightweight (20.5kg) machine suits start-up embroiders and sample users.

Dibond digital has been developed to provide optimum results with flatbed digital printing. The material features a stove enamelled surface designed for excellent ink adhesion, resulting in accurate and durable imaging.

Designed to offer large-format, 104in wide, high quality 720 by 720dpi durable graphics, Hewlett Packard will be showing the new UV mild solvent Designjet 10000, with a production speed of 30m2/h.

The Vutek QS2000 is the latest direct to substrate printer offered by Robert Horne Sign and Display. This UV-curing, super-wide format printer is said to create quality output at up to 70m2/h, with six-colour printing capability and an optional seventh colour that presents new opportunities using white ink.

Live demonstrations hosted by Litho Inkjet Display and Print are set to showcase Mutoh's patented intelligent interweaving technology, utilising ValueJet equipment to illustrate the technique. Results are said to provide increased accuracy and consistency of dot size as well as improved dot release during printing.

Updated software solutions in the form of TharsternSQL v3 (T3) will provide the central theme for Tharstern's exhibition presence. Set to replace TharsternSQL v2, this SQL-based package incorporates new functionality, such as bill of materials and warehousing, to meet the challenges of today’s printing industry.

Products from the K.Opaljet range will be displayed by Kentmere Photographics, including the latest addition, K.Opaljet WbW. These products, which are extruded in one layer to give high quality flatness and surface, use DuPont Teijin polyester film, which is white both sides with a thin black light stop layer.

Caldera will be launching TotalColor at Digital Expo, a solution for colour management and on the mark digital colour output. The solution includes the Barbieri electronic Spectro LFP, a colour measuring device for linearisation and profiling of large format and flatbed output devices.

Billed as a complete production solution including printer, computer, software, ink, installation, training and service and support, DuPont will be highlighting its Cromaprint 22UV digital printing system.

Throughout Digital Expo, Roland DG will be running live demonstrations of both the Advanced Jet AJ-1000 and SolJet Pro III printing systems.

Two models from the RollsRoller flatbed laminator range will take centre stage on the William Smith stand at Sign UK 2007. The 540 and 280, both with illuminated tables, will be presented during the show, with fully interactive demonstrations running throughout.

The latest large format RIP offerings from ColorGATE, Onyx, and Mimaki will be shown by Granthams. Stand highlights will include the new Mimaki JV5 high speed solvent systems, which is available in 54 and 60in widths offering print speeds of up to 40m2/h.

Visitors to the NCS/Durst stand will be treated to a series of demonstrations illustrating how Photoshop 2D files can be converted to 3D. The company will highlight effects such as animation, flip and 3D all on one print using the Durst flatbed and HumanEyes technology, rather than lenses.

Aimed at the wide- and super-wide-format arena for sign-makers, digital bureaux, photolabs and screen-printers, B&P Lightbrigade will be demonstrating its latest brainchild Webtrack, a dedicated management package designed to keep users abreast of sales, job progressing and management of day-to-day production.

Users of digital image transfer have the ability to target customers with personalised samples such as work wear, high-viz garments, point of sale, signage and promotional products. Recent innovations include a patented process for producing full colour transfers for dark garments without weeding.

TTF will be demonstrating a new Fiab travelling head welding machine designed for finishing banners and building wraps printed on PVC, mesh or coated fabrics.

Building on the existing K series format, Pacer Systems is set to showcase a revised and updated version of its CNC equipment for routing and engraving.

The new design features a heavier, more robust frame and table thought to achieve a better cut edge quality, plus more features as standard, including a high flow zoned vacuum bed for optimum vacuum hold down. Ball screw drives also help improve accuracy for detailed engraving including precision inlay work.

Plex Display’s new ‘Additions’ supplement showcases new products or range extensions, all on show at Sign UK. The company states the Plex Advantage is the best total display system package available, at the price.

Centre stage on the Spandex stand is the Gerber Solara UV2, designed to provide an affordable flatbed and roll-fed UV inkjet printer. Features include six-colour CMYK plus violet and green for brilliant results. The machine can prints up to 200 450mm x 610mm signs per day. The Gerber Solara UV2 suits rigid substrates textiles, flag and banner material.

Already recognised as a manufacturer of traditional engraving equipment and materials, Gravograph is now establishing itself in the laser engraving field. As such, it will be showing a selection of laser systems at Sign UK, including the introductory level LS100. The full range includes a variety of sizes, powers and features built to the same standards as Gravograph’s traditional machines.

Visitors to the Océ stand will see the Arizona 250 GT, a flatbed and roll-to-roll UV cure inkjet printer said to offer near-photographic quality and high productivity.

Demonstrating its commitment to the sign, display and POP market, packaging pre-production specialist, Esko, will showcase the Kongsberg i-XL24 finishing table with integrated i-cut vision control system and i-script workflow.

SMI Technology will be showcasing its newly developed media for the roll up and pop up display markets, available in 150 micron and 300 micron formats respectively.

Tecna Display is set to unveil its t3extra, described as a versatile display system for creating bespoke structures.

UV cure technology will take centre stage on Colourgen's stand, where visitors can see models from the ColorSpan 5400uv series of flatbed inkjet printers. The family consists of four 1,200dpi models targeted at small to medium-sized sign and print shops. Benefits are said to combine the print quality of a water-based thermal inkjet printer with the outdoor durability of a solvent printer and the media versatility and cost savings of a UV-curable inkjet printer.

Leopold Professional Imaging will be highlighting Fotoba's new line of TJOL x-y trimmers, designed for use with the HP-Scitex TurboJet 8300 and 8500 printers. Both the solvent and UV printers can also be supplied with a transport and alignment table designed to increase production and facilitate an output of 400m2 per hour.

Flex-Europa will be launching two new outdoor solvent printers designed to offer good value.

Talk about substrates and there’s plenty to choose from. This can make it hard to find the right substrate for the job. However, choice is good because ultimately you can find a perfect fit for your application. Here we review some new substrates to add to your portfolio by Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

Specialising in poster and fine art reproduction, Derbyshire-based Matlock Media believes its choice of ITL Digital Chrome inks has helped it win major contracts including the London Science Museum and National Rail Museum.

The story begins when ITL approached Matlock Media to test its Digital Chrome inks. Managing director, Peter Dell, explained: “The Digital Chrome Inks have a very simple changeover, so moving to ITL inks was easier than I had imagined.

With two Sakurai cylinder presses and four Siasprint machines, Kenton Instore is wedded to the screen process. Screen Process and Digital Imaging visited Kenton’s Birmingham facility to explore the benefits of its newly installed CST computer-to-screen system