June 13, 2005—The 2005 AIIM/On Demand Conference and Exposition in Philadelphia, May 17–19, focused on incorporating digital into the print shop, increasing the solutions a shop can offer to clients, and ensuring that the ROI is successful and positive.

One example of digital technology at work was the partnership among Weyerhauser, Océ North America, Lasermax Roll Systems, MBO America Corp., and Muller Martini Corp. The group combined their expertise to create the “Books for Kids” program, which produced 10,000 books on the show floor to be donated to local schools. The novels printed this year included “The War of the Worlds,” “The Odyssey,” and “Frankenstein.”

The exhibition spanned a 50x70' space and walked visitors through the entire process, from blank paper to finished read. The books themselves were printed on Weyerhaeuser’s Lynx Digital Opaque paper on Océ’s VarioStream 9210 continuous-feed production system. The Lasermax Roll Systems LX500 series cutters were used to trim everything to size before being fed into an MBO America B21 folder, where it was turned into a 12-page signature. The SigmaBinder from Muller Martini wrapped things up, binding them into the finished product.

Though most of the products demonstrated on the show floor were existing ones, there were a few new releases on display to help kick-start the digital transition. We looked at some of them in last week’s “Software” products session, and this week’s “Creative Connection” column taps into a few good ones, too. Here are several other technological innovations unveiled at the show.

Meet the Presses
One new digital press was Xerox Corp.’s DocuColor 7000. At 70 pages-per-minute (ppm), the machine is positioned to serve those new to the digital color market, or those looking to increase digital productivity. It falls in the middle of the DocuColor line, which includes machines that run from 45 to 110 ppm.

The press handles a variety of paper sizes and types for use in print-on-demand or personalized marketing pieces. It features a 2400x2400-dpi resolution and has three different server options for integration into any shop.

“The DocuColor 7000 and the depth of Xerox’s entire digital color portfolio let us serve a range of customers and stay with them as their business and print volume grows,” said Quincy Allen, president, Xerox Production Systems Group. “Xerox’s digital color family offers customers the right technology and the right workflow for both their budget and job requirements.”

Konica Minolta got into the act as well, previewing its new monochrome production device—the bizhub PRO 920. At 92 ppm, the bizhub PRO 920 will feature tri-fold and bi-fold capabilities. In addition, Konica Minolta’s bizhub PRO 1050 will feature a preview of Rochester Software Associates’ solutions—M.I.S. Print and RDOPrint—for converting data and file formats into PostScript.

Additionally, Konica Minolta unveiled two new image controller options for the bizhub PRO C500—the IC-301 Image Controller and MicroPress ProSeries 7. Based on Creo technology, the IC-301 delivers document printing capabilities, workflow and color management tools, and variable-data support. The MicroPress ProSeries 7 Production Print Workflow Solution, based on EFI technology, offers PrintStation Manager capabilities; on-screen color management tools; TrueEdit, TrueColor, and TrueImage functionality; three hardware configuration options; and a media catalog for the bizhub PRO C500.

On a Larger Scale
Canon U.S.A. Inc. announced the imagePrograf W6400 and W8400 pigment ink large-format printers. Both address an expanded spectrum of large-format output environments and requirements, including corporate, print-for-pay, and photo retail operations, as well as photography and the fine art markets.

The imagePrograf W8400 (44") and imagePrograf W6400 (24") feature a four-picoliter inkjet droplet size plus an enhanced ink formulation, including matte black for high-speed and image quality at an affordable price.

Backing It Up
Finally, Duplo USA featured its line of modular digital print finishing solutions, including its new Duplo Muller system for high-volume continuous and cut sheet applications.

The system is designed to be connected inline or off-line to continuous roll/form printers, a Duplo System 5000 bookletmaker, or folding/inserting system.