ABF, a.s. on the basis of negotiations with partner trade associations and a survey among exhibitors and visitors has agreed that the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair will switch to a two-year cycle.

The next REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair will therefore be held on 13 – 15 May 2025 at PVA EXPO PRAHA Letňany, then in the spring of 2027, 2029, etc.

You will be able to see news from the world of polygraphy, which will be presented this year at the DRUPA trade fair, next year at the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair.

The date of the event in 2025 provides us with sufficient time to prepare novelties, redefine new goals and strategy in line with the dynamic development of the market. We are preparing to extend the trade fair with novelties and focus on AI, photo/video and multimedia technology, 3D printing, etc.

Choose the events you want to attend this year and save the dates! There are plenty to choose from. Thank you for your visits last year. Thanks to you, we are the largest and most successful modern fairground in the Czech Republic. You can also download the 2024 calendar of events as a PDF file HERE.

The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY 2024 trade fair is fast approaching. Until November 30, you can register to participate in the trade fair at the best prices. If you hesitate, take a look at the photo gallery, where you will find photo documentation of the trade fair from 2017. The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair is worth it!

Date: 13 - 15 May 2025

Venue: PVA EXPO PRAHA

OPENING HOURS:

13 May – 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.

14 May – 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.

15 May – 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

Important dates

The first closing deadline at preferential prices for the lease of the exhibition area November 30, 2024
The second closing deadline at preferential prices for the lease of the exhibition area January 31, 2025

APPLICATION FORM

COMPLETE EXPOSITION

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REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY (pozitiv)

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GPS: 50.1288544N, 14.5121967E
 

Professionals from the fields of advertising, printing, packaging and innovative technologies will gather on the 25^th to 27^th April at the 28^th edition of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair. Also this year, expositions full of novelties will be presented to the professional public for three days with a showcase of new technologies, products and final applications from the field of advertising, media, printing and packaging. An accompanying program will be prepared with lectures, workshops and the announcement of competition results.

Visitors will learn what drives the advertising production industry, signmaking, polygraphy, POP/POS, gift items and other related services at the PVA EXPO PRAGUE exhibition center. The event follows on from the successful previous year in spring 2022, which was attended by almost 150 exhibitors. Almost 10,000 people came to learn about modern procedures at the largest meeting of professionals from the fields of advertising and print services, marketing, media and packaging. Also this year, the most important producers and suppliers from the Czech Republic and abroad will present themselves in Letňany.

Preparations for the 28^th edition of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair are under way. Take advantage of of early bird rates which are valid until the end of this year. The application forms can be found here.

The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair is a unique event of its kind, where professionals from the advertising industry meet. Last year, 147 companies exhibited and 9,873 visitors visited the fair. Become a part of the trade fair!

This year’s edition of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair focused on advertising, printing, packaging and innovative technologies enjoyed great public interest. Almost ten thousand people came to the PVA EXPO PRAGUE Exhibition Centre in Letňany to visit this event. Both Czech and foreign companies, manufacturers, suppliers in the field of advertising presented their innovations, and there was also a rich programme for professionals or car wrapping demonstrations. The official cars of the trade fair event were FORD automobiles.

The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair is a traditional and unique event of its kind in the Czech Republic and this year it offered products and news from 147 exhibitors from eight countries across the continents. Altogether 9,873 visitors came to see the innovative, efficient and creative products and technologies located in the Exhibition Centre halls on an area of 8,200 m2. What highlights were on display?

For this year’s trade fair, CANON prepared solutions which drew the attention of professional print providers as well as interior decorators. It was possible to see the Canon Colorado 1650 roll-to-roll printer, which forms the heart of the digital wallpaper printing solution. The purpose was to present the strengths of Canon's UVgel Wallpaper Factory technology, which are the endless possibilities for wallpaper personalisation and customisation. Flatbed printers were represented by the Canon Arizona 1380 GT printer. One of the long-term leaders in multifunction, digital and production equipment sales is Konica Minolta, whose products were presented in Hall 2. The main attraction of its stand this year was the flagship AccurioJet KM-1e with HD, which the exhibitors enlarged to oversize dimensions.

Within the framework of this year’s trade fair, COMIMPEX PRINT showcased an effective solution for low-cost and fast textile printing with the help of polyester film (DTF). The automated thermal transfer printing line simplifies the printing of T-shirts and garments, features low operating costs and is suitable for medium and small product series. The main attraction of the IGEPA stand was the Epson SC-V7000 UV flatbed printer and all the different materials on which this printer is able to print.

Printing as well as promotional textiles

In Hall 2, where the stands of companies doing business in the field of printing and signmaking were installed, there were also such companies as SPANDEX, KONICA MINOLTA, BITCON, KOMFI, PAPYRUS and Slovakia-based NANOTEC. In addition, the printing section included also presentations provided by Papyrus, AWC MORAVA, PROFISIGN plus, Electron, Narran, COMAC, Tepede, OKI Europe and other well-known companies.

In the section of companies offering promotional textiles, there were products of Malfini, Alpitrek, New Wawe, Cotton Classic, Kapatex and others. Products of specialists in POP, POS and packaging materials were presented as well, such as Nedbal Trading, Brother Sewing Technology, Stick, Brand Gifts, Colop, Modico Graphics, Grapp, SDI Gifts or Paketo.one, which focuses on the production of floor and counter stands, boxes and special packaging made of cardboard materials and corrugated cardboard. Visitors could find laser engraving, cutting or CNC machines at the stands of Uhal Trade, FIT Eurazio, 4cut, První hanácká BOW or HaWe systems. The trade fair included also a special section “3DEXPO”, where stands of ten exhibitors presenting 3D printers and the latest trends in 3D technologies were situated.

Tailor-made programme for professionals

The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair included a rich accompanying programme as well. The story of the production of the book entitled “Skútr ve městě” (Scooter in the City) was presented to the public, and visitors could attend a series of lectures focused on the topic “Times are changing. How is polygraphy changing?”. Within the framework of this block of lectures it was possible to listen to such speakers as Marian Hains from VELDAN or Petr Breburda from Igepa CZ, and Tibor Nagy, Sales Director of Koenig & Bauer for the Czech and Slovak Republics, and Martin Bělík from DataLine joined the moderated discussion about printing and marketing trends.

Canon’s printing experts presented practical information and tips. Those interested could see a demonstration of the Canon Wallpaper Factory solution using Canon’s patented UV gel technology for digital printing of interior decorations and wallpapers. Five installations in Czech interiors were presented. These installations inspire the possibilities which digital technology offers to anyone interested in using it for small-run wallpaper printing series with original designs.

Within the framework of the trade fair programme, an award was granted to the Calendar of the Year 2022 and lectures by GRAFIE CZ were held, focusing on the topics of print data automation, MIS/ERP for printing production and modern W2P for printers. There was also an announcement presenting results of the competition for the best signmaking implementation of 2021 “Rainbow Ray”. A special CAR WRAPPING programme was also held continuously throughout the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair, which showed tips, tricks, advice and bonding presentations including material demonstrations implemented by the hands of industry experts and specialists.

As of March 14, 2022, no extraordinary measures against coronavirus applicable to trade fairs and other events at the exhibition center are in the force. The obligation to wear respirators in enclosed spaces was thus abolished.

With this step, trade fairs and other events held at the exhibition center return to the position what we knew them before the pandemic. We are delighted with the growing interest of exhibitors and visitors as well in this season's events and we believe that this trend will continue successfully.

Although the formal inspections have disappeared, the PVA EXPO PRAGUE exhibition center remains a safe place, where we pay attention to increased hygiene and safety standards of all participants. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events!

Important change !! From February 10, trade fairs are open without proving coronavirus infectivity. Visitors and exhibitors can attend trade fairs without testing for Covid-19, proof of vaccination or immunity from illness.This step means much greater comfort for both our visitors and exhibitors. At the same time, we believe that this is a signal announcing the approaching end of the coronavirus pandemic, which we are all looking forward to.

 Even without certificate checks, our trade fairs remain a safe place where we pay attention to increased hygiene, disinfection or keeping distance among participants. We are looking forward to seeing you at the trade fair, which will already take place in an improved atmosphere, will be of greater interest to visitors and exhibitors.

Dear Exhibitors, Business Partners and Visitors,

We would like to inform you about the postponement of the 27^th edition of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY 2021 trade fair to May 2022.

The current development of the global SARS - CoV-2 pandemic and the related measures ordered by the government do not currently allow organization of mass events, including trade fairs.

For these reasons, we´ve stopped the preparations for the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY 2021 trade fair and set a new date for the event, namely from 3 to 5 May 2022, again at the PVA EXPO PRAHA.

We believe that it will finally be possible to organize the trade fair without major restrictions in the expected scope and attendance in this new date.

Thank you for your support and comprehension.

The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair team

27^th edition of the trade fair for advertising, printing, packaging and innovative technologies REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY will be held on 11 -13 May 2021. This trade fair with a long tradition plans to present the latest trends, production processes and modern solutions in the filed of signmaking, printing, POP/POS, packaging technologies, promotional gifts, as well as 3D printers.

We look forward to all exhibitors and visitors! Not only for them, but also for fans of this industry, we are preparing a professional accompanying program for each day of the trade fair.

Should the trade fair be moved to an alternative date due to the current development of the coronavirus epidemic and related measures, we will inform all interested parties in the first week of April.

On behalf of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY team, Jana Nosálová, Trade Fair Director

Dear Exhibitors,

preparations for the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY 2021 trade fair are under way. Take advantage of the early bird rates which are valid until 31 October 2020. You can find the application form here. Alternatively, please contact the trade fair manager who will help you.

Dear business partners,

owing to the extraordinary measure given by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, has been banned organization of all public and private events as well, with participation by more than 100 persons being in force since the 10 March 2020. According to this restriction we proposed to postpone date of this trade fair for autumn month October 2020.

After careful consideration and on the basis of the communication with key partners and exhibitors we came to the joint opinion that the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair will be held in 2021. The main reason for this key decision is supported by our effort for sustaining of this branche compactness, high level and prestige established during the time of this trade fair existence as well.

Next edition of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair is scheduled on 11 – 13 May 2021. Place of this trade fair PVA EXPO PRAHA is changeless.

Relevant managers of this trade fair will contact you in the next few days in order to discuss further steps and conditions of liabilities settlement associated with your participation in the trade fair.

Many thanks for your understanding, we are looking forward to joint preparation of this trade fair, which will be held in the ordinary spring time.

Dear Business Partners,

With regards to the extraordinary measures of the Government and the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, the preparations for the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair have been suspended. We are trying to find a new date, the assumption is autumn 2020.

We kindly ask you for your patience.

Thank you for your comprehension.

Team of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY trade fair

(Part 1)

Digitalisation is changing the world, and protection of the environment affects all sectors. And manufacturers of printing equipment will also have to ask the question in what direction to set out in the years to come. The year 2020 is bringing a lot of challenges. What are the main five trends inevitably affecting the printing sector? We are introducing these trends briefly and gradually in two teasers intended (not only) for exhibitors and visitors of the best-known Czech trade fair for printing, advertising and packaging, known as Reklama Polygraf Obaly.

Wider portfolio of multifunction printers

The support of platforms for storage and distribution of documents in cloud as well as local corporate systems is more important than ever before. According to the MPS 2019 study made by the Quocirca company, more than 80 % of the firms using Managed Print Services consider modern smart functions to be very important. According to the results, 76 % of companies further realise that digitalisation of paper processes will play a key role for business by 2025. That is why consumers logically require further extension of the range of services which still does not match their needs. The trend set up by the development of smart phones, tablets and TV sets full of applications has gradually moved also towards the printing sector. “Thanks to smart printers it is possible to work with digital documents on one click without switching on a computer, which saves both time and money. Some printers of Xerox include already pre-installed applications as well as business tools for applications which we can prepare for clients on a tailor-made basis,” describes the latest development Ondřej Vltavský, Product Manager of Xerox.

Environmental sustainability

Various issues concerning the environment have become one of the main topics in many sectors, and the printing sector is not an exception. The pressure of consumers is so intense that an environment-friendly approach is basically a necessity for manufacturers of printing equipment. This involves the use of recycled paper, planting of new trees for each felled one. These are just some of the possibilities of new development that the company may follow.

As it is already clear from the name of the event (Reklama Polygraf Obaly) and as verified by the long-term tradition – colourfulness and printing quality demonstrated by using the state-of-the art technologies are directly reflected in all the halls of the trade fair, whether on posters, packages, displays or advertising objects. Printing is carried out by using both CMYK process and spot colours. And just, as far as spot colours are concerned, an important role is played by sample collections. Of course, the offer of the exhibitors usually includes both material and printing sample collections so that everyone can find their favourites there.

There are many colour sample collections where every colour is described with a number as a mathematical model. Just in a random way – Ral, Ninja, Color, Poster and of course the best known one for printing experts: Pantone (X Rite), which is available even in several basic as well as enhanced implementations (spot colours for various substrates, spot and combined colours, composed colours etc.).

Pantone is the ground

The basic sample collection which is known to everybody dealing with printing activities consists of 1114 colours on both coated and non-coated substrate. These colours are mixed with the help of 15 basic colours (14 colours + transparent white). Besides material sample collections, it is possible to use also advanced digital applications (e.g. Pantone Live) for the right colour management.

Smart application from Spandex

It is a well-known fact that sample collections do not represent just the pre-press systems intended for colour management, but also material systems and many other ones. The highly requested modern sample collection tools include also works with smart applications. One of them is offered also by the Spandex company to its clients. The Spandex ColorBox application is intended especially for the signmaking area, and Spandex provides it to its customers free of charge for downloading. Thanks to this approach it is possible for clients to have thousands of colours in the mobile application, from sample collections of favourite brands in the signmaking area – ORAFOL, 3M, Avery Dennison and ImagePerfect.

Konica Minolta belongs among regular exhibitors at the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair. This company is at the same time, whether from the viewpoint of its original exposition or thanks to its sophisticated programme, one of those exhibitors which cannot be overlooked in any case. With similar success it presents its range of products and services also at other national and international events as well as competitions. At the end of last year, it enriched the series of its awards also with the prize known as “The IT Product of the Year”.

Konica Minolta is perceived as a progressive supplier of office, printing, production as well as finishing technologies. It belongs also among developers of various platforms, the newest ones of them include e.g. the Workplace Hub consisting of a number of tools serving for improvement of administration of the Client’s IT systems. Thanks to cooperation with other strong partners in the sector it is able to design the most advanced server technologies in combination with top-level security systems.

IT Product of the Year 2019

The fact that Konica Minolta is a notion not only in the field of printing but also in the field of IT technologies was appreciated at the end of November also within the framework of the competition known as “IT Product of the Year”, which is organised by the edition board of Computerworld. The aim is to highlight the products featuring the characteristics which markedly differ them from competitors’ products of the same category. This may involve both generally innovative product concepts and individual functional upgrades, markedly simplified control or – for example – an exceptionally advantageous price.

Comprehensive and safe IT systems with the help of the Workplace Hub

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Czech was awarded a prestigious prize in the category of comprehensive information systems for its proposal of the Corporate IT Infrastructure for 1m2, during which just the Workplace Hub platform was used with great success.

Christmas holidays should not be a season full of stress, but conversely, they should be a period of calm and comfort. They are associated also with Christmas gifts which are again connected with packages and packing. These are one of the topics which are followed up also by the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair every year. Regardless of the fact that trade fair preparations are fully underway, let us try to think about Christmas packages a little bit on our web site too.

While still not so long ago most consumers tended to prefer their own and personal ways of packaging in Christmas paper to “specialised” professional packaging services, now it is already possible to observe, according to various surveys, even in this area a slight shift towards original professional packaging from various professional services, which are provided either directly by shops or are offered from stands near the shops. But moreover, in any way, besides this external package, an important role is played also by the actual gift package, often even adapted to the Christmas atmosphere.

Paper and cardboard packages play an active role

Although the package design is connected with a number of materials, it is true that the most frequent variants are packages made of paper materials, most often in the form of a cardboard box. At Christmas time, many products are packed not only in classical packages of flat or corrugated cardboard, but it is clear that especially at this time consumers highly appreciate added value of combination cardboards.

Metal packages and etuis are perceived more as premium items

Among very popular packages it is necessary to mention also slightly more expensive metal packages at which their users appreciate also their practical importance in the form of their subsequent secondary use, when they can be used also for storage of other things in the household. A regular boom can be observed in the packaging of jewels – current etuis have not only an aesthetic function supported thanks to their internal (often textile) fixation, but also their lids are often decorated with origami, beads etc. Among very original solutions it is necessary to mention the internal system of etui fixation with an added value, e.g. folding structures in which the gift recipients can find their present. This means packaging with a story because stories are inherently associated with Christmas as well.

The atmosphere before Christmas is supported by a number of activities directly connected with Christmas holidays. Some activities concern packaging experts and advertising industries as well. Advent calendars have always belonged among very popular items. It is, however, true that we have registered a strong development since the times when these articles were unified flat calendars with perforated windows containing a concealed piece of chocolate.

Advent calendars of these days do not represent just a popular type of a sweet gift for children, many of them surprise us with their sophisticated structure, original graphics as well as with an untraditional product inside. Let us go and get inspired, in the pre-Christmas period, by advent calendars which can be suitable B2B presents too.

Rule number one: Surprise

The product itself should be a nice surprise for the recipient. Advent calendars are closely related with chocolate squares, and that is why producers of B2B advent calendars focus (in spite of the fact that chocolate frequently appears in this area too, as it is just simply associated with Christmas) on another type of products quite often – e.g. tea, small bottles (chocolate, with alcoholic or soft drinks), but they are often not afraid of trying even fully untraditional matters, such as socks, perfumes, toys etc. And different types of products require different kinds of packages as well.

Rule number two: Joy of unpacking

A sophisticated type of packaging plays an important role in connection with B2B gifts too. By the way, it can be ensured also from the original flat rectangular structure, whether by means of interesting graphics or just by using different types of window perforations. Nevertheless, if an advent calendar is intended for products with a large volume, it is necessary to prepare a tailor-made structure for it. Among very nice items it is possible to mention various packages for advent calendars in the style of buildings, barrels or Christmas trees.

The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair visitors can get familiar with the digital structural effect-making varnishing system “Scodix” thanks to the DataLine Technology company, which represents Scodix on our market, and at the same time it belongs among the most frequently visited exhibitors at the PVA Prague Exhibition Centre in Letňany. Scodix is coming with another innovation this year, in the form of an offer of the W2P workflow.

W2P (Web-to-Print) is a solution for the online communication of a client ordering the printing service with a manufacturer of printed matters through the web browser. The communication includes all, from graphic design processing and calculation, to determination of a possible delivery term and automatic sending of information concerning a dispatched order, including the presupposed delivery time.

Scodix Studio W2P presents its range of services

In connection especially with the e-commerce segment, the importance of the W2P communication is growing. It was this year’s summer when Scodix, a leading world provider of digital finishing services, announced the launch of the SW news in the form of Scodix Studio W2P. The new workflow in the form with Scodix Studio W2P can be integrated, without any problems into all main existing web-to-print work procedures, thanks to which digital finishing becomes an online matter even for the most demanding tasks in the web-to-print area.

Simplicity means an increase in quality and performance

The sets of designs with the marked effect-making finishing are sent to SW Scodix Studio W2P, which processes data automatically, and after their processing they are sent for printing to Scodix Ultra. The SW service increases not only the possibilities of the use, but at the same time it increases also productivity of the Scodix Ultra Digital Enhancement Presses equipment and therefore also of the entire work procedure. The MIS (Management Information System) integration is also made possible thanks to advanced solutions of Scodix Studio W2P.

Almost every manufacturer of carboard products or signmaking systems knows Kongsberg cutting plotters, at least by the brand. Plotters are known through their high quality, variability and performance. A non-negligible advantage is that their production takes place in our country in Brno. At the end of summer, the ESKO company, which is a manufacturer of the plotters, presented several innovations.

The newest offered cutting table is currently Kongsberg C Edge, which is ideal for both the area of signmaking and for sampling and production of packages of corrugated board. The cutting board features not only reliability and high robustness, which is able to absorb undesirable shocks in connection with a high-quality structure very well, but also a high production speed with regard to the materials processed.

Excellent cut in production speed

While maintaining high quality standards, the plotter offers its users also an increase in productivity at a cutting speed of up to 75 m/min in combination with acceleration of up to 1G. The Kongsberg C Edge plotters can still be gradually improved. With the growth of your company, Kongsberg C Edge develops as well and can be easily upgraded in terms of both speed and acceleration.

Is it possible to use the Kongsberg plotters for simulation of cut-outs as well? Yes, it is…

Another innovation from ESKO Kongsberg is the Dual Heavy Duty unit. Thanks to this news, operators need not intervene manually in the exchange of tools anymore. Conversely, the working head switches over and uses the right tool automatically during the work process, whereby it significantly increases the production effectiveness. Dual Heavy Duty provides better quality of bends (especially in case of complicated grooving systems at multilayer cardboards) as well as on items with a high content of recycled materials.

In combination with the Esko CorruSpeed tool, the technology can cut and perforate corrugated board in the quality of a conventional cut-out in a full speed of the machine up to 100 m/min, which is currently the best solution for small to medium-size production orders of digital cut-out at products made of corrugated board, including displays and other POS production.

The trend of the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair, which was registered by many visitors as well as exhibitors, is the continually increasing segment of printing or digital technologies. It would, however, be a great mistake to think that POLYGRAF is the main pacesetter among all the three parts of one of the best-known trade fairs on the Czech market. The fact is that also another piece of knowledge collected from the responses of both visitors and exhibitors of this year’s edition is rather surprising …

The area of printing, especially digital printing, cannot be perceived, already for quite a long time, only in terms of technologies or (on the other hand) mercantile criteria or printed periodicals. Digital printing brings many challenges and especially a great potential. The REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair presented technologies addressing both producers and suppliers of the packaging as well as advertising segments. And even this fact is another proof that it was a right decision to merge the advertising world with the packaging sphere at the trade fair. Besides, packages also bear advertising, whether visible or invisible, subliminal message, which means that the link among all the three segments is really strong.

Targeted advertising campaign brings the required clientele to the Exhibition Centre

The trade fair for printing, packaging and advertising is, by the way, interconnected also in promotional activities carried out before the event. Within the framework of targeted advertising campaigns of the trade fair promotion it is necessary to mention dozens of PR contributions, advertisements, as well as outdoor advertising. In order to increase the number of professional visitors and therefore also to foster the potential clientele of exhibitors, the organisers present various billboards and megaboards in frequented places every year.

The Internet-based advertising is successful as well

On the one hand, there is an interconnection with printed specialised periodicals, and on the other hand – the regularly issued Newsletter is distributed in a targeted way and electronic form to thousands of addresses. The organisers ensure the e-direct service which is successful at present too. Almost 15,000 visitors were invited to the trade fair in an electronic form. The Newsletter was followed up by the PPC campaign working with several types of banners which appeared almost on one hundred web sites. The targeted online campaign within the framework of the Internet-based advertising area on Facebook, Google, Seznam was not missing either. The promotion of the trade fair in foreign countries is a matter-of-course too.

REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY 2023

REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY 2022

REKLAMA OBALY 2019

REKLAMA POLYGRAF 2018

REKLAMA POLYGRAF 2017

The Xerox company belongs among traditional exhibitors at the REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY Trade Fair. As far as last year is concerned, the PVA Exhibition Centre in Prague Letňany was selected even by the Xerox company for the European premiere of its unique Xerox Iridesse technology. Since its introduction to the market, this machine has been attracting an authorised interest all over the world and it has achieved a number of appraisals as well. The latest one was obtained in the second half of this year’s May from the European Digital Press Association.

Xerox Iridesse is the only digital printing machine which is able to print, with a high precision, up to six colours in the only through-pass with a capability of improving the output by decorative metallic, transparent and white inks. This approach means that digital printers have more possibilities in the field of the actual design and facilitate printing of attractive press applications even in small volumes.

The highest award right in three categories

The Iridesse production machine was selected and appraised by the EDP on Wednesday, 15 May 2019, within the framework of the largest European exhibition focused on specialised printing, i.e. FESPA Global Print Expo in Munich, for the success in three categories – costs, effectiveness and quality.

Successful case study

One of the first clients who were testing Iridesse was the London-based company “IPW1”. The successful testing was followed by installation of the Iridesse printers all over Europe, including leading British commercial providers of printing services, i.e. Hickling & Squires and Hobs Repro, Italy-based Furlan Grafica, Spanish Adaequo and ByPrint Madrid, Swiss ILG Druck and Printsalon operating in Benelux.

The Iridesse production machine provides designers and digital providers of printing services with capabilities of differing among individual offers and extending business activities with the help of multiple functions, better quality and major flexibility at lower expenses.

Successful business meetings are implemented at the trade fair every year not only by suppliers of digital technologies, but also by the segment of processing technologies. It is possible to find really a large number of these firms at the PVA Exhibition Centre in Letňany and it is not possible to classify them all into several subgroups only. Great attention has been paid this year (without limitation) to the exhibitors of cutting plotters, milling machines, CNC or laser systems.

Many exhibitors presenting these technologies have been taking part in the trade fair on a regular basis for many years, and some of them even have permanent locations of their stands. Among traditional trade fair participants, it is necessary to mention also the well-known Olomouc-based supplier “HAWE Systems”, which regularly presents solutions for both packaging specialists and the advertising sector. An advantage of cutting plotters (Aristo) as well as advanced CNC cutting and milling systems (MultiCAM) is not only their very good performance and long lifetime, but also the open architecture enabling cooperation with all industrial CAD/CAM standards.

European print-to-cut premiere at the Prague Exhibition Centre

Besides the above-mentioned technologies, Hawe offers also a solution for laser cutting (Eurolaser) or plasma cutting, as well as waterjet cutting (MultiCam). A wide offer of all these processing technologies was offered at the trade fair also by other suppliers, whether in the form of live demonstrations of technologies or presentations of finished products. It was also possible to admire a presentation of the “regular star” in the field of cutting plotters for packaging experts, from the Kongsberg company (at the Exhibition Centre presented by Macron Systems, the technology supplier).

A pleasant fact was formed of a number of premieres, not only in the field of digital press, but also from the area of processing, even at a European scale. Appropriate attention was paid to the presentation of Gerber MCT cutter. In this case the matter concerns a single print-to-cut system with complete integration of various work procedures. The technology supplier, i.e. the Spandex company, even chose the Prague Exhibition Centre for its European premiere.

Quite a large European premiere in terms of both performance and dimensions

Gerber MCT Cutter is a universal digital device which is intended not only for cutting, but also for milling and finalisation with a number of integrated work procedures. The progressive plotter type with a robust steel structure can be used for both sheets and rolls, and can be applied to both firm and flexible materials as well. Besides its stability, the technology will attract attention also in terms of its size. It is possible to supply the plotter system, in a bespoke mode, in a number of dimensions, the lowest ones being 1.6 x1.6m, but on a standard basis it is possible to offer such dimensions as up to 3.2 x 6. 4 m! The technology is controlled with the help of the highly intuitive TigerVision Gerber MCT interface, and common import CAD or graphic formats do not mean any problem for it. The system is compatible with a number of RIP SW products and printers as well.

With development of digital technologies, it is currently almost impossible to imagine a manufacturer of packaging materials, advertising agency or signmaking area without any “digital technology”. New capital expenditures are implemented or at least prepared not only by the existing or conversely beginning users, but a current trend is represented also by classical large producers of conventional technologies, who use digital printing technologies as an attractive alternative for extension of their business opportunities.

In no case is a decision about the purchase of a digital machine an easy task, and even though one can often read in the press that the most decisive factor is the price of the technology, this cliché has been obsolete for a long time. The current digital technologies offer a wide range of possibilities which are exactly tailored to the client. Of course, the wide offer can often be even less synoptic and more time demanding in terms of orientation.

REKLAMA POLYGRAF OBALY and digital technologies have been interconnected for a number of years

Both manufacturers and their current as well as potential clients have been assessing the attendance of the three Prague spring trade fairs very positively from the viewpoint of information and contacts. The current polygraphy has a wide offer in the area of digital press, whether in the form of variability of materials, formats as well as products. Digital press is a highly heterogeneous matter not only in terms of variable technologies or designs of machines, but of course also as far as the purchase price is concerned. Here, it is, however, especially true that a low purchase price may not mean by far the least expensive deal with regard to later operational costs, servicing etc.

A unique digital trend is CMYK++ and advanced refinement

The current quality of digital press is able to compete, without any problems, with conventional printing technologies even at an industrial scale. The largest trends include multicolour digital machines with a colour gamut as large as possible. In particular, in the field of advertising and consumer packages with added value, a great benefit is advanced refinement, especially in the form of structural effect coating. By the way, it was possible to see also these trends at the stands of the exhibitors, including the best-known companies – DataLine Technology (representing HP Indigo, Scodix, Highcon etc.), Konica Minolta, Mimaki, Oki, Bitcon, Xerox and many others.