On PacPrint’s biggest stand, Currie Group has placed a focus on applications with a mix of innovation and collaboration for its industry showcase.
The company has focused its 600 square metre stand on applications, highlighting the capabilities of its diverse range of solutions. It has partnered with Little Bang Brewing to show a multitude of applications using print from HP Indigo, EFI for wide format printing and Horizon finishing.
Mark Daws, director labels and packaging ANZ, pointed out that everything printed on the stand would be used not thrown away. Alongside and Marcus Robinson, service manager ANZ, he took the press cohort on a tour of the stand.
HP Indigo
First stop was with Anthony ‘AJ’ Jackson, national sales manager ANZ, who shared some of his knowledge on the HP Indigo Digital Presses on the stand.
The migration from analogue to digital has accelerated with the HP Indigo 100K Digital Press, the flagship B2 press that prints at speeds of up to 6000 sheets per hour in full CMYK.
Jackson said, “Since it launched globally, over a hundred have been sold. The machine has really been taken into the market for a variety of reasons: it is beautifully reliable and easy to operate; it is easy to maintain; and the technology is well and truly proven – that is the 100K. This is the latest iteration, the Series 5. With its five input sources, it is a machine that can make a lot of money and help customers get jobs with faster turnarounds and variable data opportunities.
Next up, the HP Indigo 7K Digital Press. He said, “This is really the Swiss Army pocket-knife of printers. It can take stocks of up to 550 microns thick and a variety of specialty substrates, including magnets. It prints using a series of specialty inks which combine to create deep and broad colour. Right now, it is running silver electro inks, so you get these beautiful premium colours.
“It is a seven-colour press. One of the benefits of this technology is that it runs the Indichrome Plus which is the orange, the violet and the green electro inks, and this gives up to 97 per cent of Pantone colours – we can hit with this Indichrome technology. It handles virtually any substartes and you can print on almost anything. The bottom line is this tehnology has really proven itself since 2008.”
Daws explained the workings of the HP Indigo 6K Digital Press. He said, “This is the latest model iteration in the 6000 series of presses: the 6K Digital Press. It is a seven-colour machine also delivers up to 97 per cent of the Pantone spectrum. A few new key inks for us include the new premium high opacity white ink, which you can use for print sleeve applications, and we are showing the silver inks as well. Another key new feature is a powerful RIP, five times faster than the previous model.
Finishing with Horizon
The company has an impressive finishing showcase.
Bernie Robinson, managing director Currie Group, covered the new Horizon technology at PacPrint, including the new Horizon iCE BQ-500 perfect binder. He said, “This model can produce 1000 perfectly bound and trimmed books an hour. It took over from the BQ-480 and before that the BQ-460 and BQ-440 so it has been around for a long time.
“The main change is the technology. The word iCE means it goes to the cloud and this software can tell you when it was last serviced or when something is looking like it needs attention. It is a variable machine so it can handle anything from 1mm up to 60mm.
“You can use EVA or PUR glue technology and it is easy to swap between them.”
He also showed new Horizon rotary die cutter, the RD N-4055. He said, “This uses a magnetic plate to assist in the die cutting process for anything from presentation folders to business cards.”
Currie Group also ran the Horizon BQ-270V, smaller than the BQ-500. He explained, “The V describes it as a variable so every second book can be of a different thickness. You just put it in there and the system automatically adjusts the scores. So, it is just a ‘drop and play’ device.
“It connects to the new HT-300 single knife trimmer unit to produce about 350 books an hour while the three-knife trimmer can do 1000 books an hour.
Wide Format with EFI
The company ran the EFI 30h hybrid wide format printer at the show, the first time it has showcased sign and display.
Paul Whitehead, business unit manager Sign & Display Currie Group, said “This is the first time we have shown the Pro 30h in Australia and New Zealand. It is finally here, and the nice thing is we have already sold four units which is great news.”
With 10 wide format units from EFI are already in the ANZ market, Currie Group has hit the ground running. Whitehead said, “This really speaks to the premium service and support that Currie Group is renowned for.
“What we’ve done at this event is the entire stand in terms of graphics has been produced on EFI UV gear which is really exciting. Everything here is an application showcase.”
Virtual connection
Also on the stand, the new virtual reality servicing option for Currie Group customers that enables them to connect via a virtual reality headset.
