HP has introduced HP SitePrint, a robotic solution designed to improve productivity in the construction industry. The solution aims to address the challenges of low productivity and human resourcing in the sector. HP SitePrint is an end-to-end suite of technologies that automates the site layout process, offering ground-breaking performance and accuracy. It consists of a rugged and autonomous robotic device, cloud tools for job submission and management, a touch screen tablet for remote control, and a portfolio of inks for different surfaces and environmental conditions. The robotic device is designed to operate in the conditions of a construction site and is highly transportable. It can print lines and complex objects with pinpoint accuracy and repeatability. The solution also enables the printing of text, bringing additional data from the digital model to the construction site and improving communication between professionals. Source: MEPrinter

swissQprint launched the Nyala UV flatbed printer in May 2012. Exactly eleven years later, the Swiss manufacturer has now sold its 1000th unit of this successful model. The swissQprint production team celebrated a special printer at company headquarters in Switzerland: the thousandth Nyala machine, due to be finished and delivered in June. The 3.2-metre-wide flatbed printer has been a success story ever since its launch eleven years ago. This printer enjoys a large following around the globe. In the European market, it has been the best-selling model in its category for eight consecutive years. Source: Largeformatreview.com

The Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) Free Zone has signed contracts with more than 10 Arab and international institutions and publishing houses from Algeria, Egypt, and Sweden, to open branches in the city, with the aim of expanding its business from Sharjah in the regional book market. The agreement will also help workers in the publishing and creative industries to benefit from SPC’s integrated facilities and services in printing, warehousing, shipping, distribution, logistics, and marketing. The SPC Free Zone held a series of meetings with over 50 Arab and international publishing houses looking to transfer their business to Sharjah. During the session, they reviewed the mission and vision of SPC, the opportunities offered, promotion options, and access to new markets around the world. Source: MEPrinter

Heavy-duty just got a whole new meaning, when in fact it is the latest grit-rolling cutting plotter, Graphtec FC9000 series. Customers can experience unrivaled cutting precision with the Graphtec FC9000. From intricate designs to small text, this cutter delivers accurate and clean cuts every time, ensuring your projects look flawless. With unmatched speed and power it can boost your productivity with the increased cutting speed and cutting force of the FC9000 series. Cut through thick and tough materials effortlessly, saving time and effort. Extended Cutting Length also eliminates the need to frequent repositioning. The FC9000's extended cutting length provides the flexibility to work with larger media and longer roll materials, streamlining the workflow. Customers can also maximize their efficiency with the FC9000's dual-tool configuration capability. Load two different tools simultaneously, reducing tool change time and increasing productivity. FC9000 series simplifies your cutting process with the intuitive control panel of the FC9000. One can access functions and settings easily, thanks to the user-friendly interface and informative LCD screen. Source: ADS Advertising

The Middle East paper industry has evolved over the years and is now one of the world’s fastest growing markets. Though the COVID-19 pandemic brought in disruptions and bottlenecks in production with unprecedented challenges for paper manufacturers across the world, it also helped mushroom new opportunities in paper packaging and paper disposables, further fueled by an e-commerce boom. Post-COVID, the GCC paper industry saw new expansions and investments, surging in excess of $1.6 billion in almost the last two years. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have a major share of these investments in greenfield projects as well as in expansion of existing production facilities to cater to the growing consumer demand for paper products, particularly in hygiene and packaging. The growth of investments in the Middle East paper industry also comes in the backdrop of the Ukraine war which is a major cause of concern for Europe with serious implications on the energy-intensive paper industry. Source: MEPrinter

Mutoh Europe nv, EMEA subsidiary of the Japan-based wide-format digital printer manufacturer, has announced that its ground-breaking hazard-free, non-gBL MS51 sign and display inks for its XpertJet PRO printer range, have obtained VOC (volatile organic compounds) emission attestation for leading standards organizations in Europe and globally. Mutoh’s MS51 Sign and Display inks were independently tested by Normec Product Testing for VOC and odour emissions in relation to legal compliance, green building rating and other leading certification programs for building products. The MS51 inks achieved full compliance with AgBB in Germany, Belgian Royal Decree 8 May 2014 legislation, M1 certification in Finland, DICL in Denmark, Polish legislation, LEED in the US and BREEAM in Norway, the Netherlands, UK and international. Thanks to these positive results for the key regulations and protocols related to VOC and odour emissions, Mutoh can give peace of mind to its users that MS51 inks are safe for use in all kinds of indoor decoration applications, including the most sensitive ones, such as hospitals and schools. Source: PrintWeekMENA

Japanese multinational Kyocera Corporation has launched FOREARTH, its new inkjet textile printer that aims to eliminate virtually all water usage from fabric printing, and printing-related water pollution that has been an issue faced by the textile and apparel industries worldwide. Compared to traditional analog printing systems that consume large amounts of water, especially in washing and steaming processes, and waste water pollution due to fabric printing, Kyocera’s aptly-named FOREARTH combines patented inkjet, ink, and printing equipment technology to contribute to solving these environmental problems. FOREARTH is an All-in-One printing system that uses new proprietary pigment ink, pre-treatment liquid, and finishing agent, which are constantly discharged in the same sequence from the inkjet head. This system eliminates the pre- and post-processes required for conventional dye printing and dramatically reduces water consumption of textile printing by 99%. According to Kyocera, the new process uses only 0.02 litres of water per kilo of fabric as compared to 153 litres per kilo used in traditional dye-based textile printing process. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions are also reduced as it does not need large-scale equipment used for pre- and post-treatment processes of textile printing. Source: MEPrinter

Launched by ADS Advertising, one of SGI’s long standing exhibitors, these machines allow you to create DIYprojects with incredible precision. From cutting out fabric patterns, to creating custom stickers, the Silhouette Cameo is the modern maker's best friend The Silhouette Cameo® Pro provides a 24-inch cutting path and provides all of the same features as the Cameo 4 model. It uses a blade to cut over 100 materials, including paper, cardstock, vinyl, and fabric up to 24 inches wide. The Cameo has the ability to register and cut printed materials and is PixScan™ compatible. To learn more about the product please visit the website www.adsmarketplace.store or send a message at adsadver@emirates.net.ae. Source: ADS Advertising

With over 15 years of success in the field of industrial garment printing, electronics and electrical equipment company Brother is entering a new market with its WF1-L640 latex wide-format printer. The printer is designed for a large range of applications such as banners, drawings, window graphics, storefront signage, trade show graphics, vehicle wraps, and outdoor advertising. Additionally, interior decorations like wallpaper, floor applications, or paintings can be ideally implemented with the new printer. Taking advantage of the latest print head technology and ink chemistry, Brother has developed an eco-friendly ink with GREENGUARD Gold certification. The latex ink developed for the WF1-L640 in combination with the company’s print heads achieves a high colour depth and an excellent print result. The piezo print heads guarantee high quality and high-resolution prints of up to 1200 dpi. The Brother WF1 wide-format printer is a user-friendly, high production machine that ensures a good workflow. The printer also comes with professional production RIP software. Brother is a regular SGI Dubai exhibitor. Source: MEPrinter

ACTEGA, a manufacturer of specialty coatings, inks, adhesives, sealants, and compounds with a focus on the packaging and print industry, has announced a $5 million investment in its New Jersey facility. The investment will fund numerous developments across the site, including the transition to automated production processes and plans to increase production capacity and storage space. With this significant investment and focus on boosting its market share in both packaging and print, ACTEGA is ideally positioned to succeed in the highly competitive North American market. Source: PrintWeekMENA

As all items from Sineo Packaging are made using recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials, restaurants can play an important role in reducing landfills and having eco-consciousness at the forefront of their business by opting for supplies from the Deliveroo packaging web store. All items available through the store are tested for heat retention, toughness, and stability to avoid incidents such as cold food and spillage, and coupled with a hassle-free and quick delivery service, enhances customer satisfaction. Source: MEPrinter

The AP-CODE lot and date coder is a great accessory for the label application process, adding the feature of printing dates, lot codes, and text directly onto glass, metals, plastics, and even laminated labels. As announced by German international OEM and solution provider for specialty printing systems, DTM Print, this date coder, manufactured by US-based Primera Technology, Inc., is compact, affordable, and easy to use. It is designed to work seamlessly with the AP-series label applicators, including new and existing installed units. With no tools required, AP-CODE installs quickly to the AP360e and AP362e label applicators. It doesn’t need a separate power supply and includes a full-colour touchscreen to enter data and configure date and lot codes. The print fields are free-format and can include letters, numbers, and many symbols. Formats can be stored for later use to speed up production. Source: MEPrinter

Chrysels Digital Advertising has purchased its UV Gel printer Canon Océ Colorado1650 from Heliozid Océ. The printer was installed in April. This is their third machine from the same supplier Heliozid Océ. Babu Radhakrishnan and Samuel Thomas of Chrysels Digital Advertising were happy with the performance and services from Heliozid Océ. They said, “we invested in Canon Oce Colorado 1650 one year ago. Canon is well known brand for its quality and Océ is known brand for its reliability. The Colorado1650 is from both families, so it has Quality and speed also with low ink consumption. We have been dealing with Heliozid Océ since 2015, we have a number of their printers. We feel they are real professionals at work. After COVID, demand has been picking up. So as per the market trends, we did the investment in the Océ Colorado 1650. “The Océ Colorado prints at high speed with high quality and 4 colors. Additionally, prints do not require lamination. This printer will cover almost all the applications and requires less human intervention. Océ Colorado 1650 was within our budget. And, Heliozid Océ engineers were very professional and experienced, the installation and training took only two days, our team started printing jobs immediately. Source: PrintWeek MENA

Egypt’s Export Council for Printing, Packaging, Books, Literary and Artistic Works has announced that eight companies will be part of a trade mission touring Morocco from 15 to 19 May 2023, as part of its plan to promote the sector’s products abroad. The Export Council’s Executive Director Sara Ibrahim revealed in a statement that Egypt’s exports of packaging and paper products achieved a growth of 30% during 2022, at $56.4 million, as against $43.3 million in the year-earlier period, confirming that Morocco is one of the most important markets in the Arab region that must be focused on in the coming period. She emphasized that Egypt’s presence in the Moroccan market and creation of prospects for joint cooperation are within the council’s plans. The mission also aims to find opportunities to exchange visions and experiences with specialists from both sides in order to stimulate trade and export in the printing and packaging sector. Source: MEPrinter

Mexican large-format printing company Sïcksè places a high value on sustainability and quality in their business strategy. Looking for a compatible inkjet supplier, they landed on Agfa. The relationship has since proven to be a tight and fruitful one. Comercializadora Sïcksè has more than 10 years of experience in the printing industry. The company has grown significantly in recent years and currently has 60 employees. Sïcksè’s sister company Green Rollam produces sustainable materials for printing. A few years ago, Sïcksè started looking for a printing equipment supplier that could help them expand their business and that shared their business values and philosophy of caring for the environment. Agfa’s UV LED technology and its patented, GREENGUARD Gold-certified, eco-friendly inks answered their requirements. Source: LargeformatReview.com

Konica Minolta was honored with Oman's Most Trusted Brand Award in the “Office Equipment” category. Mohsin Haider Darwish (MHD)- Infrastructure, Technology, Industrial & Consumer Solutions (ITICS) complements the brand’s vision in Oman by remaining steadfast in delivering quality products and services. “We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our esteemed customers who have placed their utmost trust in our products and services and voted for Konica Minolta in the survey”, stated Mohsin Talal Al Bahrani. Konica Minolta’s journey started 150 years ago, with a vision to see and do things differently. Konica Minolta Business Solutions Middle East, based in Dubai DMCC, United Arab Emirates, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan. Source: Printweek MENA

German investment firm AURELIUS Group has completed the long-planned sale of Agfa-Gevaert Group’s Offset Solutions division. The Belgian manufacturer had agreed to sell the division to AURELIUS in a 92 million euro deal nearly eight months ago. AURELIUS officially closed the acquisition of Agfa Offset Solutions on 4 April 2023. Under the share purchase agreement, Agfa will continue to provide certain consumables including films, and services to its former division. For AURELIUS, the takeover gives them roughly 20% of the global market share and market leaders in Europe and Latin America. Under its new ownership Offset Solutions is also poised to rebrand, with its new name expected to be revealed later. Source: MEPrinter

Avery Dennison Corporation announces the promotion of Steve Flannery to Senior Vice President and General Manager EMENA of the newly formed Materials Group. He replaces Hassan H. Rmaile, who was promoted to president, Materials Group worldwide. The Materials Group brings the company’s Label and Graphics Materials (LGM) business and its Industrial and Healthcare Materials (IHM) together under one group, which comprises Label and Packaging Materials, Graphic Solutions, Reflective Solutions, Hanita, Performance Polymers, Avery Dennison Medical and Performance Tapes. The group of materials science businesses is organized in a cohesive framework to ensure a full range of innovative solutions and support is available to customers. Flannery’s appointment comes after 22 years with Avery Dennison, over 20 of which he served in the company’s U.S. operations. He has extensive industry knowledge and a proven track record, with experience spanning innovation, sales, marketing, operations, and leadership in the company’s Industrial and Healthcare Materials, Label and Graphic Materials North America, Performance Polymers Adhesives and Apparel Solutions businesses. Source: Largeformat Review

With advancements in digital printing, Mimaki’s latest UV curable inks offer car wrappers a revolutionary new way to upgrade your ride. Car wrapping has become more creative and experimental than ever before. Today’s current trends see vivid new textures, bright colours, and bold patterns adorning vehicles all over the world, which look to remain popular for years to come. However, the business of car wrapping is not new, on the contrary, it has been around since the 1920s. For many years tailor-made paint jobs, while cost prohibitive for most, ruled the market for vehicle customization. People were able to give their vehicles a full makeover with designs of their own choosing, and subtle, and not-so-subtle effects or colours. These were often unobtainable from the original dealer, meaning that the customized vehicle was truly one of a kind. Think back to John Lennon’s famous 1969 Rolls Royce Phantom, painted with a flower power design, befitting the time, which was categorically refused by Rolls Royce when initially requested by the Beatles star. With bespoke designs now a common sight across film and TV, vehicle customisation has hit new heights of popularity, and personalising your vehicle is deemed a status symbol by many. Source: Printweek MENA

SGI Dubai is a platform that brings players within the large inks and substrates. From across the world. Over the last decade, the adoption of digital printing has accelerated, and this technology is even becoming a popular option for the future of industrial-scale printing. However, the best type of ink to use in this sector is still debated, and the decision depends largely on the factors you consider. As with any recurring investment, inks are an important factor to look at when investing in a printer or press, especially for large-scale operations. Not only do the recurring costs add up, but so do the CO2 emissions. In order to maximize profits and keep CO2 emissions low, it is important for the printer to create added value, be versatile in its applications and for the ink to be good value to begin with. So, considering UV-LED and Latex printers, which is a more beneficial investment? Visit SGI Dubai to know more. Source: PrintweekMENA

Labels are a crucial part of any packaging. They have a strong impact on the purchasing process of consumers by drawing attention to a product. In addition, labels contain plenty of information that can influence consumers to buy a product or look for an alternative. When buying a product, consumers also take into account how sustainable the product packaging and the used label are. Hence the question is, is plastic better than paper or vice versa? There is no general answer to this question. It is important though that the same materials are used for a packaging, for example a PET label on a PET bottle with a PET cap or a paper label on a cardboard box. Unlike composite packaging, mono-packaging can be recycled as a whole and without the consumer having to manually separate the different materials that composite packaging are made of. If that doesn’t happen in advance, the only way to recycle is by thermal recycling, or waste incineration. Source: MEPrinter

Roland DG Corporation has introduced the new DGXPRESS printer brand, “emphasizing superior productivity at an economical price.” The first in the series are two new UV wide format printers, the UG-642 and UG-641, designed for outdoor and indoor applications including signs and banners, window graphics, backlit panels, POP, labels, and decals. The UG series includes two wide-format inkjet printers that use UV ink, "which is growing in popularity in the sign and graphics and digital printing markets," said a Roland DG press release from its global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan. "The UG-642 features dual staggered print heads and an output speed of up to 31.9 m2/h (720 x 600 dpi). It is ideal for customers who need to produce large-sized output in a short period of time. The UG-641 is also priced comfortably for those who want to expand the scope of their business, or for those who wish to start a new print business. Source: MEPrinter

Caracol, an Italian additive manufacturing (AM) company specializing in large format platforms, announced that it has closed its Series A financing round, in which it attracted €10.6 million (about $11.34 million) in new investments. Along with continued development of Caracol’s flagship Heron AM system, the funds will go towards Caracol’s international expansion, centered around two new corporate offices in North America and the Middle East. Officially launched in September, 2022, the Heron AM leverages the combination of a robotic arm system produced by leading German robotics manufacturer KUKA, and a patented extrusion head for 3D printing composites. This sort of process has rapidly gained traction with customers in heavy industry, amid the general process of AM’s increasing deployment for production of larger and larger parts. With realistic potential for growth on the near-term horizon, then, Caracol also plans to use its latest investments to triple its workforce, currently totaling about 40 employees, by the end of 2024. Source: 3DPrint.com

The global digital signage market size was valued at US$ 21.9 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 42.54 billion by 2030, poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2022 to 2030. this market is growing because more and more people want to advertise their products and services online to get the attention of their target audience. Also, the demand for 4K digital sign displays with software and a media player built in is growing because they offer customers an affordable Ultra HD digital signage solution. This is also likely to make people want to buy. Some of the things that are expected to drive product demand are the creation of new products like home monitoring systems, leak detector systems, and so on, and the creation of complicated financial products like forex cards that need short, informative ads. SOURCE: Contrive Datum Insights Pvt Ltd.

Allun Silk Screen printing has purchased its first Mimaki sublimation printer from Heliozid Océ; the printer was installed in January and has performed well, printing more than 1,000 sqm in its first month. Allun General Manager M Aziz was pleased with the performance, and this is what he had to say during our meeting. He explains, “we have invested in the Mimaki TS 100 sublimation printer in early January 2023. Mimaki is a leading Japanese brand known all over the world for its excellent quality and productivity. The Heliozid Océ sales account manager approached us as we wanted to expand into the sublimation printing market. The Heliozid account manager understood our requirements and offered us the Mimaki TS100-1600 which matched our requirements. We were impressed with the quality of the printer. More importantly it was important to purchase from a supplier with good support and strong service team. This is the reason we went for Heliozid Oce, the newly appointed Mimaki partner. SOURCE: PrintWeek MENA

Egypt’s Export Council of Printing, Packaging, Paper, Literary and Artistic Works has announced that the sector’s exports increased 8% to $1.063 billion in 2022 as against $987.8 million in the year-earlier period. The council’s report revealed that the packaging sector’s exports rose by 4% to $624.75 million in 2022 as against $601.63 million in the year-earlier period. While corrugated cardboard exports totaled $46.81 million in 2022, a rise by 8%, as compared to $43.15 million in 2021, folding carton exports grew by a robust 126% to $30.15 million in 2022, as compared to $13.35 million in the year-earlier period. The flexible packaging sector’s exports dipped 3% to $348 million in 2022, as compared to $358.68 million in 2021. Plastic packaging exports were up by 4% to $132.60 million, as against $127.1 million. SOURCE: MEPrinter

3DPRINTUK, a leading provider of polymer Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) 3D printing processes for manufacturing, announced that it is continuing its growth trajectory in 2023. The company closed out 2022 with the news of its ISO 9001 accreditation, a significant milestone. As 2023 gets underway, the company is maintaining its steady growth trajectory as it moves forward with its internal investment plans. To kick off this expansion, 3DPRINTUK has expanding its array of 3D printers to augment its production capacity and streamline delivery schedules for its customers. In January, the company added a third HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) machine, which increases capacity with this technology by 50%. Additionally, the company has added to its equipment by purchasing a new EOS Formiga Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machine, bringing the total number of EOS SLS machines at its London facility to 13. SOURCE: 3DPRINTINGINDUSTRY.COM