Drupa news: Are You Ready to ‘Touch the Future?

From RTA Digital

With mere weeks until the 2016 edition of the mega drupa printing trade fair in Europe, the wait is nearly over. On May 31st the visitors will begin their pilgrimage to Dusseldorf, Germany, prepared to “Touch the Future” of the printing industry. The big show has moved to a three-year cycle and been shortened to 11 days from 14, but still some 300,000 attendees are expected to crowd the halls and beer gardens. And what will they see? One highlight will be the drupa innovation park (dip), which features six themed sections. 130 companies – from publishers and partners to trade associations – have joined dip.
It has been said that new press technologies buoy the printing industry, and there are plenty of new models to see at drupa 2016. No fewer than five new Indigo models and three new Pagewide web presses from HP.

HP has unveiled its portfolio of Drupa product launches, which includes six new Indigos and three new PageWide Web Presses.
At a media event in Israel last week the company revealed the next generation of its sheetfed B2 Indigo platform and a flagship oversize B1 Indigo.
The commercial sheetfed Indigo 10000, along with the other series four presses, the web-fed Indigo 20000 for flexible packaging and the carton Indigo 30000, were all premiered at Drupa 2012. Since then around 300 series four presses, primarily the 10000, have been installed across 38 countries.
However, at this year’s show HP will launch the Indigo 12000, which will ultimately replace the 10000.

Esko to present new platemaking system at drupa
Under its ‘Packaging Simplified’ banner, Esko will be introducing its next generation of platemaking equipment at drupa, with two new products developed for streamlining flexo plate production.
The Esko XPS Crystal 5080 is a new standalone UV LED exposure unit that performs main and back exposure simultaneously. This can be connected with a new imager, the CDI Crystal 5080, which uses LAMS ablation laser and high resolution optics. The CDI has a glass plate table, which is used to transfer plates onto the imaging drum and to transport it after imaging to the XPS device.
Together the two create the Esko CDI Crystal 5080 XPS fully integrated and automated workflow, which the company says reduces the time needed to produce a press-ready plate by almost 70%. The new exposure unit can also work as a complement to already installed CDI.

Esko, X-Rite Pantone, Enfocus and MediaBeacon Form ‘Inspiration Zones’ at drupa 2016
At drupa, Esko will be showcasing a wide range of innovations together with sister company X-Rite Pantone and subsidiaries Enfocus and MediaBeacon. drupa takes place May 31 to June 10, 2016 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The companies will be located in Hall 8b, stand A23.
Stand Overview The main part of the 900-square-meter stand will consist of six Inspiration Zones that will take visitors through each step of a typical packaging production workflow. Each zone features solutions and key innovations from exhibiting companies.

Esko Offers Line of Cutting, Creasing and Milling Tables at drupa 2016
Esko has introduced a fully enhanced digital finishing offering. The Kongsberg line of cutting, creasing and milling tables is presented in a new and simplified platform choice, complete with a collection of fully integrated software solutions.
Kongsberg X20 with operator station

Reinventing Your Possibilities
HP Indigo – Latin America PreDrupa 2016
In order to celebrate its new and innovative portfolio, HP organized the HP Indigo – PreDrupa Latin America event, which was also called “Reinventing Your Possibilities”. It took place in two different hotels, Hotel Real Intercontinental, in Guatemala, on May 3rd, 2016 and Hotel JW Marriott, in Santo Domingo, on May10th in the same year.

The influx of visitors in both cities was really gratifying. People were very interested in learning about the new brands the portfolio had to offer them. That interest made them participate and have an idea of how this technology will improve the Graphic Industry and how HP is going to take over the market