CHICAGO—Print 09, the largest trade show in North America, is less than three months away. Last week, about 50 editors from 12 countries, including PrintCan, gathered in Chicago to get an exclusive peek at what’s to come in September.

Among the highlights from the show itself is a new packaging print area, a green space focusing on sustainability and the greening of the industry. That’s in addition to recurring features such as a mailing and fulfillment pavilion and a wide-format pavilion.

Print 09 runs September 11 – 16, 2009
For more information or to register, go to print09.com

Highlights of individual exhibitors after the jump

Kodak
The Stream inkjet technology that Kodak has been touting for the past couple of years has a name: Prosper. The first product to come to market is Prosper S10 a 4” monochrome head, already installed in several locations around the world, with speeds of more than 1,000 ft. per minute at 600 x 600 dpi. A press is promised in the first quarter of 2010 aimed initially at the book, newspaper and black and white market, followed by direct mail, catalogues and magazines. By Kodak’s assessment, the tipping point for books in favour of digital is 7,000 copies. That’s the space where Prosper is targeted, and according to the company, it should take billions out of the supply chain costs for publishers.

The NexPress platform will sport new upgrades. The new SE platform includes an intelligent calibration system to enhance consistent image quality; enhanced dry inks and dry ink stations; and upgraded system software. Already installed presses can be upgraded to the new platform.

A key message for Kodak at the show is to help printers in the transition to becoming marketing services providers with a highly efficient and integrated environment. To that end, a slew of workflow software will be prominent, including new versions of web-to-print applications, Prinergy, in Site, a suite of marketing services, and ColorFlow, providing integrated colour management and consistency among all the machines in the shop.


Presstek
Presstek CEO Jeff Jacobson said Presstek continues to refine its three-pronged strategy of expanding globally beyond its main markets of the U.S. and Canada, expanding upmarket to printers in the $5 million to $20 million revenue range and higher, and continuing to deliver integrated solutions. It has hired staff to head up markets in Latin America, China, and India and is gearing up for a push into Asia.

New gear on the show floor may include a new plate—Jacobson hinted that might be the case, as well as the new UV DI 52 press, for which it will be accepting orders. Also coming for the DI 52 is an integrated aqueous spot or flood coater. Orders can be placed at the show, delivery will be in 2010. Another hint of what’s to come: we may see a larger format DI press in the next 12 months.


Ricoh
The Ricoh Pro C900, launched last year and enhanced since then with scanning capability and finishing options, will take centre stage at the booth, where it’s being set up to simulate four production environments. Two digital front ends also will make their debut as well as a series of new monochrome printers.


EFI
Promising a major advance in label presses at Print, EFI also announced it would showcase its Rastek lineup, including the H700 UV hybrid, being introduced at the show, the T660 UV flatbed and the H650 UV hybrid  press. A new T1000 UV flatbed is also being unveiled.

Also new for the show is the EFI Web Control Center, a web-based tool to transfer and distribute jobs while maintaining colour integrity in different locations. The Fiery product portfolio and the Advanced Professional Print Software portfolio, which includes PACE integration, will also be featured at Print.
 

MGI
MGI, a French digital press and finishing equipment manufacturer founded in 1982, is putting three of its models on the show floor, including the new Meteor DP 20, a four-in-one digital press for the photobook market. It prints, laminates, cuts and creases.

Another introduction to the North American market is the Jet Varnish inkjet UV coater. It’s 22” wide, with variable capability, and works, solvent free, at up to 2,500, 20” x 29” sheets per hour. Applications include packaging, book covers, posters, art and PVC cards.

Also on the booth is the DP 60 Pro, introduced in 2008. With a monthly duty cycle of 600,000 impressions, it prints on a wide range of substrates in formats up to 13” x 47”, and according to the company, is competitively priced compared to other digital presses in its category.


Dims
Dims produces a fully integrated MIS system that reaches into every area of a print shop. A much more robust system will be on hand at Print than at previous shows.


Xerox
Xerox says it intends to show the breadth of its equipment and capabilities. Among that will be an iGen4 with a new EX Print Server powered by Fiery technology. The iGen will also feature an automated packaging solution, particularly ideal for the pharmaceutical industry. It’ll handle 18 pt. board and it can print, die cut, coat and score, and apply foil if the job is run through the press a second time.

Several special areas round out the booth, including a consultation area where sessions can be booked with experts on business development, sustainability, or executive strategic planning.

Another area will be devoted to innovations in printing today, including solid-ink and cured-UV inkjet technology, solid-in printing applications, software for three-D visualization and a model of the Concept Colour 220 press, essentially two iGen presses running in line and in tandem.


Henkel
Henke, German producer of adhesives and coatings technologies is lauching MiraFoil at Print 09. MiraFoil is a printable, UV-vurable alternative to foil board laminating and hot foil stamping that can be applied to precise areas at press speeds. It works on paper, board and plastic.


Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta reports that it will have its full assortment of the bizhub product line. A new model, the bizhub Pro 1200/1051 is shipping just before the show. The company also announced a new engine design but was short on details, beyond saying it moves the bizhub line up to production speed productivity. Availability is expected in the first half of next year.

Software at the show will include the debut of Printgroove 1.4, which integrates with Prinergy, Canvas, a new workflow product, and Reflection for Printgroove enabling users to view job status in real time.


Manroland
Manroland is coming to the show with a focus on getting the maximum performance from equipment to enhance the bottom line. Though investment may be down, all printers want to optimize their existing gear, said the company. One example is Auto print, the total automation of a press so that it becomes a push-button operation. Another is Direct drive that enables faster makereadies and short-run capability.


Riso
Riso is launching its third-generation cut-sheet inkjet printers in Chicago, designed to fill the space between colour MFPs and production printers. This consists of five high-speed colour models using peizo drop-on-demand technology, from the ComColor 3010 at 90 pages per minute to the ComColor 9050 at 150 A4 pages per minute. Features include an integrated GDI controller, improved scanning over the HC series, larger output capacity, ability to handle stock up to 210 lb. index and an AR9000 envelope feeder, which the company hopes to show by Print