Page 13 - Print21 July-August 2022

Leading Article
Close call
A good close second to ‘best in show,’ in my estimation, is the Fujifilm evoria Press PC1120. If ever a toner press could close the gap with the best in lithographic printing, this six-colour, 120 ppm is the one. First time on show in Australia it arrives at
the same time as Chris Lynch, managing director, Fujifilm usiness Innovation
(the rebadged Fuji Xerox business). The genial Scot was appointed to the position 18 months ago but couldn’t get into the country until a few weeks before the show. A long-term Xerox employee he tells me he’s hit the ground running, being familiar not only with the products but also the culture.
The Revoria produced the only piece of print I took home with me from the show. A stunning promotional book for an imaginary Tasmanian resort, it is an illuminating collection of printing techniques on speciality stocks supplied by Ball & Doggett. Among its pages are prints with gold dry
ink on Colorplan racing green stock, various CMYK prints with clear, gold and silver
dry ink, again on different stocks including translucent i-tone black, gold and clear. It really is a master class in digital printing.
The same could be said for the HP Indigo presses on the Currie stand, which again was the largest in the show. Easily one of the most populous spaces, there were constant demos from the widest range of digital machines in the industry, including the fi st showing of the marque’s flagship HP Indigo 100k, easily the most productive digital engine around.
Making its debut was the addition of the
EFI brand of wide format engines under the professional eye of Paul Whitehead. The industry veteran tells me the brand is going gangbusters since it was taken under the Currie Group’s
Print21’s multi-media team at PacPrint: (l-r) Patrick Howard, Marni Groves, Colleen Bate, Wayne Robinson and Lindy Hughson on the stand
wing 18 months ago. He maintains that with most brands promoting a comparable level of technology, the crucial difference is that buyers are sold on the reputation of Currie Group and the depth of service it provides across the region.
Rob Mesaros, the new Currie CEO would surely have backed him up. I was looking forward to meeting him, but he picked up Covid and had to miss the show. The ageless David Currie, executive chairman, stepped up in his stead and was eagerly sought after by all and sundry.
Offset non-presence
Most printing, up to 70 per cent, is still produced on off et presses, yet none of Heidelberg, Komori, KBA, nor Mitsubishi had a presence at the show. The manroland Goss stand was there, showing some samples of press consumables. Manned by the redoubtable John Ostler, who was deep in customer conversation as I passed by.
This alpable absence is the elephant in the printing room: no-one expects them
to bring heavy metal to the show, but I’m reliably told Heidelberg sold 11 presses last year, which is not a bad scorecard. (To be fair, Heidelberg is now celebrating 50 years as the main supporter of the LIA Graduates, according to new president Mel Ireland, so its heart is still in the right place.) But the rest are noted by their absence.
Mind you, there were other absentees even among the digital brands. Ricoh
notable among them, as was Durst. As for the rest, the show was split
between wide format suppliers and print utilities such as finishin , box making, paper/substrate merchants and software.
As Marnie and I buzzed around the show handing out certificates and corporate ‘bling’ it was wonderful to meet so many friendly faces after so long. Too many to name, of course, but I was glad to see you all there and to shake so many hands.
Peter Harper, CEO of Visual Connections and the long-term power behind PacPrint and PrintEx, was an enigmatic presence moving thorugh the aisles. While this PacPrint may not have been as large or as well attended as previous shows, that it attracted as many exhibitors and visitors
as it did, is a great success. Whether it will prove to be Harper’s swan song as he once predicted, is unclear. He told me the board
is keen for him to continue, even as he spends half the year on the Gold Coast. The appointment of a professional event manager is a sine qua non for him to even contemplate taking up the role next time around.
I can only wish him the best of luck whatever he decides, and offer my congratulations on what proved to be a grand PacPrint.
Patrick Howard
— Editor-at-large
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Print21 JULY/AUGUST 2022 13
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