Drupa 2024: A Showcase Of Innovation And Advancements In The Printing Industry Worldwide

After an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024, the world's largest printing trade show, kicked off on 28th of May 2024, showcasing the latest innovations and advancements in the printing industry. It is being held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from May 28 to June 7, 2024. The event brought together over 260,000 visitors from around the world to experience the cutting-edge technologies and solutions on display. 

The 11-day event will feature over 1,800 companies from around the world, showcasing the latest technologies and solutions in the printing industry. 

Drupa Next Age (DNA) 

"We are delighted to welcome the printing world back to Messe Düsseldorf after eight long years," said Sabine Geldermann, Director of Drupa and Portfolio Print Technologies. "The pace of change has increased, and we started exploring the future of printers. You have to decide what your business will be in 4–6 years." 

Joining Hands 

WhatTheyThink, the leading global media organization serving the printing and publishing industries, joined forces with HP to leverage hybrid production processes to create a unique Drupa Daily experience during the show. The company used artificial intelligence analysis to predict the approximate number of copies required each day, based on 2024 registrations and past history, to eliminate the many copies that historically have been left over and discarded at the end of each show day. 

In addition to it, WhatTheyThink collaborated with WhatTheyThink Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems to design and construct display stands where drupa visitors can pick up their copies of the drupa Daily. These sustainable and budget-friendly display stands are constructed of 100% recyclable panels of BEElite honeycomb cardboard core and an external paper layer that will be printed. 

Cannon announced Heidelberg Co-Operation and New Technologies at drupa 2024 

Canon (Hall 8A, Stand B41-1 to B41-8), announced a global sales and service co-operation in inkjet printing with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. The agreement will see the varioPRINT iX3200 B3 sheetfed inkjet press and the newly announced varioPRESS iV7 B2 sheetfed inkjet press integrated into Heidelberg’s commercial print portfolio. The products will be sold via Heidelberg under their own brand and product names. 

Drupa 2024 witnessed a remarkable showcase of new technologies and innovations highlighting the latest advancements in the print industry. Here are some of the notable exhibits: 

Innovative Technologies And Solutions 

Canon Moves Into B2 Inkjet 

Canon launched varioPRESS iV7. A key for competitive inkjet press is productivity. The varioPRESS iV7 has a speed of 8,700 impressions/hour on a B2 sheet or 4,350 sheets duplexed. With a larger sheet that supports 6-up (614 x 675mm/24 x 26.6- in.), the speed drops to 7,200 iph, or 720 A4 ipm (in 6-up). Additionally, the iV7 includes productivity-enhancing features like multiple paper trays and automated quality control. 

Other features position the iV7 equally well for the commercial market. Uncoated paper from 60 to 450 gsm and (standard) coated papers from 75 to 450 gsm are supported, which includes light board. With a 1,200 dpi printing resolution and multi-level drop sizes, the press aims for a high print quality. The varioPRESS iV7 is targeted at high-volume environments. 

Canon showcased its ProStream and ColorStream ranges, high-speed, web-fed inkjet printers that offer unmatched quality and flexibility. The company also demonstrated its PRISMA software for graphics arts, including PRISMAlytics for production dashboard management and PRISMAprepare for document and page-level editing. 

Personalization Of Boxes With RISO 

The Japanese printer and inkjet printhead manufacturer RISO devised a printhead engine that can be easily integrated into packaging and shipping lines. The inkjet unit named Integlide offers two or four color inkjet printing and includes a controller and ink supply. The oil-based inks don’t require drying, which helps to keep the set-up compact.  

In addition to the established downward-facing inkjet heads, RISO offers a version with sideways-facing inkjet heads. This allows for easier integration into conveyor belt systems. Integlide is shown as a technology exhibit and is available for system integrators starting mid-2025. 

Komori-J-Throne 29 

In world debut in the digital printing zone is J-throne 29, a B2 sheetfed UV inkjet digital printing press that joins the Impremia IS29s and Impremia NS40 in Komori’s digital portfolio. With printing speeds of 6,000 sph single-sided and 3,000 sph double-sided, J-throne 29 is scheduled to enter beta installation testing at the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2025. 

KODAK PROSPER ULTRA 520 Press 

Kodak Prosper Ultra 520  

Kodak presented its KODAK PROSPER ULTRA 520 Press, which cranks out 200 LPI of set quality work at 500 feet per minute, allowing for reduced overhead, increased revenue, and boosted profitability. 

Techkon 

Techkon, a global leader in the printing industry, unveiled its latest innovations and solutions designed to revolutionise the print and media landscape. They featured a diverse range of solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of the print industry, including: 

Next-generation colour management solutions: Techkon unveiled its latest colour management solutions ExPresso 5 and Chroma QA 5 designed to streamline production workflows, enhance colour accuracy, and optimise print quality across a wide range of applications. 

Innovative measuring technologies: Visitors had the opportunity to explore Techkon's innovative measuring technologies, including SpectroDens, SpectroDrive and SpectroVision. 

Digital Embellishment And Finishing 

Harris & Bruno 

Harris & Bruno is traditionally known for their high-quality flood coating anilox technology. This year, they unveiled the ZRX Sheet Fed Digital Embellishment Machine. Their new technology marries their analog coating expertise with digital embellishment to address the industry’s existing gaps. The machine integrates the well-regarded H&B Chamber-Anilox System with advanced digital inkjet technology. 

The ZRX model, set to operate in both B2 and B1 format versions, is designed to embellish directly onto uncoated media without the need for lamination, a significant leap as this has been the Achilles heel of the digital embellishment industry. This not only broadens the range of printable substrates but also opens new special effects that have not yet been seen in the industry. 

MGI Digital Technology 

MGI Digital Technology showcased its latest innovations in digital finishing with JETvarnish 3D Web 400. It is MGI‘s second-generation roll-to-roll press. In a single pass, it enables 100% digital application of spot UV varnish AND hot foil stamping, flat or embossed, with or without variable data. 

MIG’s JETvarnish3D Web 400 

Optionally equipped with a flexo unit and a semi-rotary die-cutter, it combines the best of digital and conventional technologies, offering converters and printers a simple-to-use, reliable solution for top-quality finishing. 

Scodix 

Scodix also demonstrated its SHD (Smart High Definition) technology for high-definition digital embellishment with the launch of the Scodix Ultra 2500 SHD and Scodix Ultra 6500 SHD presses at Drupa 2024. These presses introduce Scodix’s Smart High Definition (SHD) technology and the new Multilayer Enhancement (MLE) technology, opening up new dimensions in print embellishment. 

MLE technology, in particular, offers interesting embellishment possibilities on uncoated papers, highlighting Scodix’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. The ability to apply multiple layers in a single pass allows for the creation of sophisticated effects, from braille to crystal finishes, on a wider range of substrates than before. 

Hybrid Offset And Digital Printing 

Heidelberg 

Heidelberg highlights its latest sheetfed offset technologies at hall 1, where commercial/publication printers can see integrated Prinect workflow software driving multiple devices. 

Speedmaster XL 106 model will become the new standard for offset production that requires frequent job changes—at maximum speeds up to 21,000 sheets per hour (16% higher than 18,000 sph)! This machine has the capacity to produce 100 million sheets annually.  

The SM XL 106 features end-to-end automation from plate imaging to plate feeding. The combination of Plate-to-Unit and Prinect on the front end can produce 18 to 20 jobs per hour on a 450-sheet run. In addition, the new generation of CutStar reelsheeter facilitates automated processing of thin substrates (thickness range: 0.2mm to 0.6mm). It is supplemented by collaborative robotics in postpress with StackStar C, making high-volume output more efficient and economical than ever before. 

Fujifilm 

Fujifilm also showcased its hybrid offset and digital printing technology, which allows for high-quality prints with minimal waste. This technology is particularly useful for printers looking to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining high production levels.