The Angle Awards are published annually by Image Reports Magazine. They are the top ten products launched throughout the year which the editor and her team consider: “The most innovative and likely to make an impact in the wide format sector.”

The Rho 1000 was launched at FESPA Digital as the flagship product in the Rho range of large format UV inkjet printers. It is a continuous UV flatbed printer that is capable of being integrated into existing manufacturing processes. It boasts a maximum output of up to 600 boards per hour (125 x 80 cm/4 x 2.6ft.), without interruption, around the clock, whilst ensuring optimum quality.
The exceptional productivity and output quality are achieved by the further development of Durst’s own Quadro Array printhead technology, together with its highly efficient workflow configuration, which can integrate into existing manufacturing processes (screen and offset printing).
In addition to continuous board printing, the Rho 1000 will print on sheets, heavy boards and roll media up to 250cm wide and 40mm thick, and can be loaded and unloaded using screen printing methods and systems. There are a range of ink options, as with all Durst inkjets, including the addition of light colours (light magenta and light cyan), spot colours, white and selective varnish.  

Pittsfield, Mass., October 22, 2009 – Brilliant Graphics Group/Sampco Co. was recently honored with the Specialty Graphics Imaging Association’s coveted André Schellenberg Golden Image Award for Trade Show Displays and Exhibits, for an innovative brick paver image printed on carpet using a Durst Rho 800 Presto Large-Format UV Inkjet Printer.

This prestigious award is presented to digital printers and recognizes dedication and talent in creating the best of what digital imaging has to offer, according to the SGIA.  The Schellenberg award was presented to Brilliant Graphics Group founder and CEO Michael O. Ryan during the 2009 SGIA Expo, Oct. 7-9 in New Orleans.

“This is a remarkable honor”, Ryan said. “It’s our combination of creative design experience combined with the world’s finest digital imaging technology, such as the Rho 800, that allows us to produce award-winning products – not just for the competitions, but for our every one of our clients every day of the year.”

The winning entry was a carpeted floor talker for the building materials industry.  Brick pavers were captured on a Cruse HD Scanner, color matched and printed on carpet using a Durst Rho 800 Presto large-format, flatbed UV inkjet printer.  Ryan said the end result was a reproduction of the pavers that was printed Color Perfect™ and difficult to distinguish from the original.

This year’s event drew a wide range of innovative imaging products – nearly 450 entries from more than 90 companies around the world.  The event, named after the SGIA’s founding father, André Schellenberg, is a technical competition.  Prints are judged on their level of difficulty and quality of execution.

“All of us at Durst are proud of the role we played in Brilliant Graphics Group’s award, and its recognition as one of the top digital printers in the world in terms of quality and capability,” said Christopher Howard, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Durst U.S.  “We congratulate Michael Ryan and his team, and we look forward to continued success together producing output judged to be world class year after year.”

The Durst Rho 800 Presto is the first large-format digital imaging platform with “continuous board printing” for highest productivity.  Durst’s patented Quadro™ Array print head technology ensures sharp images, crisp text down to 4-point type and exceptional color density.  The Rho 800 Presto also prints on multiple narrow boards across its full 98-inch width on materials up to 2.75 inches thick, at a top speed of 1,200 sf/hr (draft mode).  Compatible with Durst’s heavy-duty roll feed/take-up accessory for roll media up to 80 inches wide and 440 pounds, it prints optional white ink, special-effect varnish, light and spot colors with no loss of speed.  

About Brilliant Graphics Group
Brilliant Graphics Group, a Sampco Company, is a unique large-format solutions provider offering 3D scanning, direct to media printing, photo imaging and digital die cutting.  Whether a single print or thousands, Brilliant Graphics has the capabilities to produce trade show displays and graphics, backlit images, retail displays, window graphics, banners, box prototypes and Giclée prints.  Between its state of the art equipment and creative staff, the company ensures that print jobs are within budget, on time and meet or exceeds its clients’ highest expectations.

Contact:

For more information about Brilliant Graphics Group, its products and services, call (413) 442-4200, or e-mail info@brilliantgraphicsgroup.com.

For the second year running, a production roll to roll Durst Rho UV inkjet printer has received one of the most coveted awards that the imaging industry has to offer.  The Rho 500R superwide UV inkjet printer, which made its North American debut at last week’s SGIA trade show in New Orleans, was chosen as the Digital Printing & Imaging Association’s “Product of the Year” in the grand-format roll to roll UV inkjet printer category.

Last year the DPIA’s “Product of the Year” award was presented to Durst for its Rho 320R UV inkjet roll to roll printer during the SGIA trade show in Atlanta. On both occasions Christopher Howard, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Durst U.S., was on hand to receive the awards during brief ceremonies at SGIA.

“All of us at Durst are extremely pleased by the recognition that these honours convey,” Howard said. “Durst’s tradition of excellence, in technology and in meeting the operational requirements of our customers, is clearly demonstrated by the fact that our products are judged to be world class year after year.  It’s very gratifying to see the industry taking notice, and we want to thank SGIA and all the imaging experts who took part in the evaluation.”

Based on a rigorous evaluation process of printer output overseen by a respected independent quality testing organisation, and judged on the SGIA show floor by a team of digital imaging experts commissioned by DPIA, the Rho 500R was judged best in the grand-format UV curable class against all of its major competitors.  Entrants were required to submit a test print produced on the nominated printer.  The image, designed by SGIA, was created specifically to challenge the capabilities of the output device, according to SGIA.

“The Product of the Year award winners highlight the best technologies, consumables and software from the digital imaging community,” said Jeff Burton, SGIA’s Digital Printing Analyst.
    
The Rho 500R offers an unrivalled combination of productivity and quality of print. This is made possible by the latest generation of Durst’s own Quadro® 30D Array printhead technology, which doubles the number of nozzles per colour to 2,048 – the highest in its class. It prints six colours at 600 dpi resolution on the widest variety of roll media at speeds up to 400m² without compromising quality. As well as printing display media such as vinyl banners and mesh for facade cladding up to a width of 5m, it will also print three 1.6m rolls together, for example, of textile for banners or self-adhesive polyester film for backlit application. The built-in sensors and the specially designed media transport system allow for problem-free unattended printing. Furthermore, the extremely low production costs and low ink consumption, thanks to its intelligent dither technology, make the Rho 500R one of the most economical printers ever.

The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association is the one organisation whose sole purpose is to provide graphic imaging professionals with the technical know-how, expert advice and knowledge they need to operate more profitable businesses. For more information about SGIA and the SGIA Convention & Exposition, visit www.sgia.org.

New Orleans, U.S.  October 7, 2009 – Durst today introduced the new Rho 900 Large-Format UV Inkjet Printer – a 98-inch-wide printing platform that combines more efficient automated media handling and “process color additions” with high-speed printing capabilities to deliver far greater productivity and a wider color gamut.

The unveiling took place at the SGIA Expo, under way this week in New Orleans, U.S.  Attendees are being introduced to a high-quality printing platform that simplifies media handling with its automated feeder system, and makes reproduction of even difficult corporate colors possible by printing orange and green or orange and violet process colors – with no special file preparation required.

The new Rho 900 is equipped with Durst’s Quadro® 30D Array print head technology to deliver high speed, improved efficiency and exceptional image quality.  Its media handling incorporates an auto-feed table with belts, sheet feed gate with guides for parallel board printing, and automatic two-point pin registration system to ensure accurate front-to-back registration.

The Rho 900’s process color additions are printed in the same mode as its CMYK process colors.  No special file preparation is necessary.  These additional colors can be printed – even with white ink or light colors – with no loss in output speed.  This enables much smoother color gradients and more even solids at production-level output speeds.

Top speed of the 6-color Rho 900 is up to 216 boards (125x80cm) per hour. The user can incorporate the process color additions with no loss of print speed. “The Rho 900 also can print white, varnish or light colors along with the new additional process colors to expand the possibilities of print jobs and applications”, Michael Lackner, Marketing Manager of Durst said.

Brixen, Italy – Durst, a leading manufacturer of industrial strength digital printing equipment for the wide format graphics, photographic and ceramic tile markets announces the immediate availability of the new Tau 150 digital UV Inkjet Label Printing Press and the new Rotoworx™ 330 family of Finishing Systems.

Durst will present an end-to-end solution for the label printing industry at the upcoming LabelExpo 2009 (Hall 9, booth 9H75) where the full product range will be showcased. The end-to-end solution includes pre-press workflow software, a high speed liquid UV ink label press with variable data printing capability and a matching die-cutting and lamination unit, dedicated to the special requirements of short-run label production market.

Through significant improvements in productivity, reliability and cost of ownership, the new Tau 150 and Rotoworx™ 330 products push the profitable threshold run length for digital label production beyond present industry standard.  A run length of 40.000 labels is now a realistic benchmark for cost-effective digital label printing.

The Tau 150 covers web widths from 10 cm (4”) to a maximum 16,5 cm (6,5”) and utilizes liquid ink technology. The system reaches an industry leading throughput speed of close to 50 m/min. (~160 ft./min.), resulting in substantially improved return on investment for the label printer.

Building on its multi-generation product offerings in the photographic market segment, Durst’s Tau 150 delivers an apparent resolution in excess of 1000 dpi – utilizing state-of-the art grayscale inkjet print head technology from Xaar. The result is vivid, near-photographic images, sharp texts clearly legible to font sizes as small as 3 point, smooth gradients (vignettes) and homogenous solid colors. The Tau 150 delivers repeatable image quality from the first to the last label and from run to run at the push of a button.

Durst’s proprietary UV Inkjet Technology features CMYK ink colors - plus White as an additional configuration option. A broad range of standard substrates are supported without the need for expensive and time-consuming pre-treatment and post-treatment. Lamination is not required from an image durability point of view but is offered as an option in the Rotoworx™ 330.
Lower production costs are achieved thanks to affordable ink-only cost models – users pay for the ink they use – nothing more, nothing less. It is simple and easy – and in line with conventional industry practices. High performance Tau inks are available directly from Durst in 5 liter containers with an easy and secure ink refill system. The Tau inks have been specially formulated to provide the broad color gamut demanded by the quality conscious label industry.

Durst’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Piock, commented: “As with all Durst products, the “industrial strength” Tau 150 is a highly reliable press designed for continuous production. This is a very exciting development for Durst and for the label industry. We have gained significant customer confidence in other markets as a supplier of highly reliable and highly productive imaging systems with outstanding image quality. Our product positioning in the label-industry will mirror this track-record”.

The Tau 150 is delivered with industry-leading pre-press software powered by EskoArtwork, with built-in RIP, substrate calibration and color management. The optional Variable Data Printing (VDP) module offers full label-to-label variability.
Completing the end-to-end solution, the Rotoworx™ 330, an economic, stand-alone, modular semi-rotary die-cutting and lamination system will also be launched. 
The Rotoworx™ 330 range is designed to make short-run label conversion and finishing more profitable. It is complete with product unwind, semi-rotary die-cut, lamination, matrix rewind and two product rewind modules. It has a web-width of 33cm (13”) and is available in a standard version – the 330 with a speed of up to 25m/min. (~80 ft./min.) and a high-speed version – the 330HS with a speed of up to 50m/min (~160 ft./min.). The system features a field-proven web transport based on Durst’s patented ISO tensioning technology with high registration accuracy of +/- 180 microns and a min/max repeat size of 20.3cm (8”) and 40.6cm (16”).
“The new product offerings from Durst mark our entry into this industry”, Dr. Piock said. “However, Durst is a 70 year old family owned company and throughout our history we have shown a strong and continued commitment to our customers. This is only the beginning of what we have in-store for the label industry.”  
 
About Durst Phototechnik AG
Durst Phototechnik AG is a leading manufacturer of professional digital imaging systems for graphic, pre-press, signage, commercial / retail display, packaging, industrial, and photographic applications.  Headquartered in Brixen, Italy, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Brixen and Lienz, Austria; has major offices in the U.S., France, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Mexico; and partners with exclusive agents in 120 countries.  Durst’s solid reputation for quality, precision, innovation and reliability spans more than 70 years.
 
About Durst Canada Inc.
Durst Canada Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of finishing products for the narrow-web printing industry including rotary and semi-rotary die-cutting, varnishing/coating and lamination. The Rotoworx™ family of products is built around Durst’s patented ISO-tensioning technology and offers industry-leading registration accuracy and flexibility. For further information please visit www.durstcanada.com

The new Durst Rho 500R is a 5m roll-to-roll UV inkjet printer which combines an output of 400m² with uncompromised 600 dpi 6-colour print quality. The print speed and exceptional print quality are thanks to its sophisticated mechanical engineering and further enhancement of the Durst Quadro 30D Array technology.

The Rho 500R is designed for printing a wide variety of large format display items such as 5m wide vinyl banners and mesh for facade cladding. It will also print three 1.6m rolls together, for example, of textile for banners or self-adhesive polyester film for backlit application. The high precision of the carriage system, the linear motor drive technology and the enhanced Quadro Array technology with 2048 nozzles per colour, achieve optimum print quality with high productivity. While the built-in sensors and the specially designed media transport system allow for problem-free unattended printing, the extremely low production costs and low ink consumption, thanks to its intelligent dither technology, make the Rho 500R one of the most economical printers ever.

The software developed with customers around the world lets the user set support-specific parameters for all printing jobs and memorize them for duplicates.

The precision and build quality of the Rho 500R is second to none, which helps to ensure the highest quality print and industrial production reliability. The segmented shaft is incremented using laser technology, designed not to sag and is constructed out of a special aluminium alloy. High-precision transmission is by linear motor and the Push-Media advancement technology is powered by winding rollers and pairs of tension rollers with different surface roughness. The highly sophisticated Quadro 30D Array, with double the density of nozzles, has nozzle-regulated ink temperature, and there is Point Drop Setting technology.

The completely VOC-free UV Rho Roll Ink, accredited with the Nordic Swan certification, meets the most stringent environmental requirements. As with all Rho systems, Durst offers with the Rho 500R the highest reliability, the capability of 24/7 production and best service support in the market.

The world’s first continuous industrial UV flatbed printer now provides even faster print output: the new Rho 800 HS (High Speed) increases production by 80%. Other innovative developments, particularly the revolutionary Quadro Array technology along with outstanding workflow, have set a new standard in high-speed production.

The combination of a compact, robust industrial design with the facility for the continuous, uninterrupted printing of any number of boards means that the Rho 800 HS provides a previously unattainable level of production efficiency and quality in industrial printing.

The Rho 800 HS has twice the number of inkjet nozzles, i.e. 2048 nozzles per colour, almost doubling its production output over the standard Rho 800 Presto to a maximum of 216 boards per hour (125 x 80cm / 4x2.6 ft.). It will also print light colours without loss of speed.

The new version of the Rho 800 includes all the productivity and quality benefits associated with the award winning Rho 800 Presto, including a mechanism for continuous board feeding and mechanical front stops to allow for parallel printing of boards. The front stops also help to provide perfect print registration on long boards. It prints up to a maximum width of 250cm (8ft) by any length, and with Durst providing the highest reliability in the market, users can rely on 24/7 production.

The new Rho 800 HS will help users realise increased levels of profit as a result of the faster and more cost-effective completion of print orders and, with its ability to print on the widest range of media, helps to provide the capacity to develop new business opportunities.

The new Rho 1000 is a continuous UV printer and unique, in that it can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes. This is now Durst’s top model and guarantees an impressive maximum output of up to 600 boards per hour (125 x 80 cm/4 x 2.6ft.), without interruption, around the clock, while ensuring optimum quality.

The two decisive factors behind this achievement are the further development of the revolutionary Quadro Array printhead technology together with Durst’s efficient workflow configuration which can integrate into existing manufacturing processes (screen and offset printing).

In addition to continuous board printing, the Rho 1000 provides optimum material flexibility, being able to print on sheets, heavy boards and roll media. There is minimum set-up time, requiring no “masking”, and it can be loaded and unloaded using screen printing methods and systems. Outstanding reliability provides 24/7 production.

A major benefit to users is that customer print orders can be completed in one go using the widest range of media.

Fast cleaning combined with long cleaning and maintenance intervals, together with reliable service and in-house technical training, also help to achieve the fast and cost-effective completion of print orders.

Durst has a wealth of experience in develo¬ping and manufacturing industrial scale large format inkjet printers for advertising display, packaging and industrial applications. The Rho 1000 is the latest development and represents the flagship of the Durst Rho family.

For the second time in as many years, the 98”-wide Durst Rho 800 Presto Large-Format Flatbed UV Inkjet Printer has been chosen the Top Flatbed Printer by readers of Wide-Format Imaging magazine.  In addition, Wide-Format Imaging’s readers chose Durst’s environmentally friendly, VOC-free, low-odor UV inks as the best the industry offers.

Editor Denise Gustavson said that at the end of 2008 and start of 2009, she asked her readers to cast ballots “for those revolutionary products that have caused the most ‘buzz’ in the industry, and have been a valuable asset to their businesses over the last year.”  The purpose of the Top Products awards, she added, is to “salute those supplies who have designed and brought these products to the market.”  The awards were presented today at the ISA Sign Expo trade show.

“We’re very pleased to receive this endorsement from the ‘judges’ who matter most – savvy members of the commercial imaging industry who rely on or are familiar with our production UV inkjet printing solutions,” said Christopher Howard, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Durst U.S.  “And we’d like to thank everyone at Wide-Format Imaging for sponsoring what is becoming a much-anticipated event in our industry.”

Rho 800 Presto
The Rho 800 Presto, also voted Top Flatbed Printer for 2008 by the readers of Wide-Format Imaging magazine, features continuous board printing for unprecedented productivity. Materials are registered at the leading edge using mechanical front stops.  The transport system positions the next series of boards against the first, ensuring continuous printing without interruption.

Durst’s flagship flatbed UV inkjet printer can print on multiple narrow boards across its full 98-inch width, on materials up to 2.75 inches thick, at a top speed of 1,200 sf/hr.  In productive two-pass mode, the Rho 800 Presto delivers exceptional image quality at 624 square feet per hour.  The Rho 800 Presto also is compatible with Durst’s roll feed / take-up accessory – designed for long runs and fast media changes.  It is handles oversized rolls of up to 440 pounds (200kg), a diameter of up to 12 inches (30cm) and a width of up to 80 inches (200cm).

Durst ‘Green’ UV Inks
Durst, the first inkjet printing equipment manufacturer to offer different ink sets for its various printers, successfully combines environmentally friendly, VOC-free, low-odor properties with the highest performance characteristics available, the company said.  Its highly regarded Rho Roll Ink, developed for direct-to-media printing onto practically any substrate, surface or media imaginable, has excellent adhesion, flexibility, durability, weather-resistance and color density, plus an exceptionally wide color gamut.

Durst’s Rho Rigid Board Ink is formulated specifically for those imaging professionals who primarily print on boards and other rigid surfaces, and therefore don’t need all the characteristics available with the Rho Roll Ink.  It is a more economical alternative that provides excellent adhesion on acrylics and polycarbonates with no need for primers.  Rho Rigid Board Ink is a good choice for virtually any board or rigid surface.  With a typical three-year life expectancy, it is highly durable and weather-resistant.

Durst’s Rho Paper/Board Ink is the most economical member of the company’s family of inks.  It is formulated for roll or rigid media with a paper or PVC surface.  The durability characteristics of this ink set make it best for shorter-term outdoor displays and medium-term indoor displays.  It has a wide color gamut to deliver excellent initial image quality.

Durst will launch three brand new printer systems at FESPA Digital

Durst will present three very exciting new products at FESPA Digital on stand D20. All are large format, UV curing, inkjet machines which feature new, innovation technology; two are new generation, high speed flatbeds and one is a superwide roll to roll machine.
All three models are designed to offer Durst customers a competitive edge during these difficult economic times.  

Now, more than ever, a digital printer needs a machine that he can not only depend upon but one that will also help him to preserve existing and compete for new markets. Durst machines are designed to make a customer’s business more profitable. They achieve this by providing the highest levels of productivity, thanks to the unique “Continuous Flow” printing process, and reliability; whilst an innovative approach helps to create new business opportunities. Durst machines are exceptionally flexible, they print on the widest range of media and their upgradability allows them to “grow” with a business.
Add to that an output quality only achieved from 70 years of developing the finest imaging machines and a service commitment second to none, and you have the recipe for business success – we call it The Durst Business Safety Belt.

Originally launched at Drupa 2008, the Rho 700 Corrugated UV inkjet printer is now available in a fully automated workflow configuration. A new feeder/stacker system allows the automated digital printing of corrugated boards (e.g. E, B, C, CE, BB) up to 2.0 m width and 1.6 m length. Durst customers have already reported 30% increase in overall productivity by installing this device. This remarkable gain in productivity is only achieved by the elimination of interruptions during the production process.
The reliable transport of corrugated boards, during the printing process, is guaranteed by special manual adjustable edge holders and an extra strong vacuum. It is therefore ideally suited for printing high quality POP Displays and sample packaging whilst the rugged construction is designed for 24/7 industrial production. It is also able to be upgraded with additional printing features such as Durst’s world leading white ink printing, selective varnish and spot or light colours.

Durst created the World’s first dedicated UV flatbed inkjet for printing onto corrugated board and fully understands the market sector that demands high productivity, reliability and the finest print quality.
To learn more about profitable digital printing onto corrugated board visit the Durst Booth No. 415 at the FEFCO Technical Seminar, Berlin 6th-8th May 2009.

Durst has developped together with partners special un- and upwinders for Jumbo rolls up to rol diameters of 110 cm (43“) and up to 750 kg (per roll) to be used in conjunction with the roll to roll inkjet-printers Rho 160R/Rho350/351R and Rho 320R. As to customer’s wish systems are available for one or two rolls. Three of these winding units have been delivered and are satisfactorily in use for months in The Netherlands (wallpaper printing) and Germany (polyester film printing).

The winding and unwinding speed can be adjusted accordingly to the printing modes of the Rho between 0,9-1,6 m/min (35,3”–62,8”/min); they guarantee a teleskop-free winding , have 76 mm (approx 3”) pneumatic steel cores and a walkway between winder/unwinder and printing unit for inspection. The winders/unwinders are separately supplied with electricity, their sensoric system(tension control, stop etc.) is coupled to that of the Rho whose software is adapted for this function.
According to the Durst concept realized in their Rho–R-t-R inkjet printers rolls of different diameter (in case of dual rolls) can be printed with different images.
The Jumbo roll device allows continuos, unattended printing for
6-8 hours in an industrial environment.

Since 1921 Molander & Son AB has established a position as one of the market leading companies within imaging technology in Scandinavia. Recently, the company has been running as two separate businesses: Molanders FotoGrafiska, focused on professional photography and archive systems and Molander Sign & Display, focused on equipment and supplies for large format printing.

Molander & Son AB has had a close working relationship with Durst since 1967 and has contributed in establishing Durst as market leader within the photographic market as well as in industrial inkjet printing.
 
With almost 40 Durst Rho UV inkjet systems installed, Molanders and Durst have a clear leading position in professional large format printing production in Sweden and Norway. In order to continue, strengthen and expand this position in this region, the Durst Phototechnik Group has acquired the Sign & Display division within Molander & Son AB.  The company will be a part of The Durst Group and Hans Molander has been appointed Managing Director and co-owner.

The company will continue to trade as Molander Sign & Display AB and remain focused on marketing high quality equipment and supplies for large format printing in Sweden, Norway and Finland.