The new press utilizes key components of the JETvarnish 3D Press Series
MGI and Konica Minolta have announced that the inaugural Printing United Exposition in Dallas, Texas from 23–25 October will be the exclusive venue for the international debut of the new JETvarnish 3D One digital embellishment press.
This expansion of MGI’s JETvarnish 3D series of print enhancement technologies offers a full spectrum of 2D/3D spot coating and dimensional textures for commercial and in-plant printers of every size. According to MGI, the cost-effective price point and automatic inkjet head cleaning technology – along with the onboard Image Editor and Job Cost Calculator software programs – create a simple and convenient path for developing new digital finishing applications and diverse new application-based revenue streams.
The new press utilizes key components of the JETvarnish 3D Press Series, including the intelligent and adaptive AIS SmartScanner registration system.
The small operational footprint of the JETvarnish 3D One allows printers, finishers and converters to have an in-house full production and prototyping print embellishment system without screens, dies or plates, according to the company. The patented varnish formula allows both flat 2D Spot UV highlighting and sculptured 3D raised special effects on a wide range of substrates and media (such as paper, synthetics and plastics). Sheet sizes range up to 14 x 29 inches and the 2D/3D effects reach 116 microns in a single pass.
Special MGI substrate management processes allow print treatments to be produced on stocks from 135 to 600 gsm – and on a wide range of printed materials, from offset and digital inks to lamination films and aqueous coatings.
Konica Minolta and MGI will showcase the JETvarnish 3D series of sheet-fed and roll-fed digital special effects presses, which feature 2D/3D UV dimensional textures as standalone finishing hubs for digital, offset, gravure and flexo printed materials. The MGI enhancement presses being demonstrated include: JETvarnish 3D Evolution (29 x 47 inch), JETvarnish 3D Web (17 inch roll width), JETvarnish 3D S (14 x 40 inch), which also feature embossed variable data foiling capabilities, as well as the new JETvarnish 3D One, a simple, compact and affordable version that provides sensory print applications for printers of every size.
2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India
Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and
multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.
The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry.
While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately
their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book
printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.
The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.
Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.
Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.
Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.
