Future Links April 22nd 2015
Here are our daily links with the most important news from the printing industry. Today they feature Polaroid’s mobile printer, MakerBot’s print-on-demand button, a new way to print with multiple viscoelastic inks, LumeJet and Imaging Solution’s partnership, a 500 million USD contract for Quad/Graphics, a royal award for Pulse Roll Label Products, measureable recycling success, and a case study showing the benefits of color certification.
Polaroid launches mobile printer
Polaroid has introduced its new printer Zip, an instant mobile printer the size of a smartphone that can wirelessly print photos in less than one minute. The printer uses ZINK paper and dye crystals that are activated while printing, doing away with ink and toner for a seamless printing experience.
More at Hypebeast
MakerBot offers print-on-demand
MakerBot is partnering with 3D Hubs to offer its customers the opportunity to print designs directly from its 3D design library Thingiverse. The printing option will first be available for selected designers but will be rolled out throughout the site later this year.
More at The Verge
New method allows 3D printing with multiple inks
Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering have described a method that allows printing with multiple viscoelastic inks from a single print head. The ability to print multiple viscoelastic inks from a single extruder with sharp transition zones could prove fruitful in for a variety of medical and electronic printing applications.
More at 3D Print
LumeJet and Imaging Solutions form partnership
LumeJet, the UK based ultra-high quality print technology developer, and the Swiss photobook printing and finishing manufacturer, Imaging Solutions AG (ISAG), join forces in a strategic partnership. They will offer a bundled package of the LumeJet S200 printer with the ISAG fastBook10CF bookbinder.
More at Graphic Repro Online
Quad/Graphics is awarded 500 million USD contract
Quad/Graphics will continue to be the primary printer for Hearst Magazines through 2020 under a new agreement valued at more than $500 million. Quad produces 20 of Hearst’s 21 U.S. magazine titles, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, O, The Oprah Magazine, Popular Mechanics and Car and Driver, as well as inserts and custom print products.
More at Ink World Magazine
Pulse Roll Label Products wins Queen’s award
Narrow web ink and varnish manufacturer Pulse Roll Label Products has received royal recognition. The company won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise – the UK’s highest accolade for business success.
More at Labels & Labeling
Recycling and weight reduction result in reduced waste
The efforts have been going on for years but now it is possible to show the impacts of recycling and lower packaging weight on municipal waste. Statistics indicate that the percentage of containers in municipal waste in the U.S. grew less than proportionally during the past 20 years.
More at Packaging Digest
Case study: Color certification translates into solid savings
An Australian printer has dramatically cut down on reprints and ink costs and is bringing in more business by getting the latest color certification. Peter Martin, owner of Lotsa Print in Port Douglas, says reprints are down 75 per cent and ink costs 15 per cent since he achieved the ISO 12647 certification in August.
More at ProPrint