The HPG printing and graphics team has been blogging about the 2011 Graph Expo held in Chicago in September.
We’re fans of the Expo because it allows our team to see what’s new in the rapidly evolving printing world. We are always on the lookout for new ideas and ways to keep optimizing our workflow. The show provides printing value and ways to save time and money.
“A tsunami of innovation” is what Don, our Continual Improvement Manager, called the show. Here is what he noted about the progress in digital printing presses:
“Most of the mainstream digital press marketers were showing presses with integrated inline stackers, inserters, booklet makers, staple stitchers, punches, perfect binding, and/or three-knife trimming units. More than ever before, it was clearly shown how many high quality print products can now be created instantly in the digital pressroom.
The old offset print world seemed dazed by these new streamlined production methods that must cause us to rethink traditional departmental silos of machines. Flow for many print products can now be realized with customer web ordering and payment to finished personalized product in less than a few minutes with available digitally automated print and binding systems and just a few semi-skilled operator/feeders.
After speaking with many long-time attendees and exhibitors, it was clear what many were thinking, ‘I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.’”
Digital printing is indeed developing so rapidly, it takes shows like the Graph Expo to stay on top of what’s new.