News

-- Graphic Arts Online, 6/2/2008 1:05:00 PM

Packaging and label printer Thung Hua Sinn Group, Thailand bought 32 Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 units (shown) and plus several automated cutting and label systems from POLAR.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong book printer Prosperous Printing has added to its existing arsenal of Komori presses by investing nearly 2.5m Euros on three new machines: the Lithrone LS440, LS540 and LS540 plus coater. The company exports print to the European and US markets.

Shanghai-based Jielong Group, one of the first Chinese printers to be privatized, purchased a 5-color KBA Rapida 162a.

Still, American printers are shopping for technology at drupa. The Government Printing Office deployed a contingent of 17 to the mega trade show. Printing giant RR Donnelley sent a party of four to the event. Press vendor Goss brought 30 customers to drupa, while Heidelberg is hosting a hotel full of customers.

Purchases of note by North American firms:

--Commercial printer Consolidated Graphics Inc., Houston, signed a multimillion dollar agreement with HP to install as many as 36 HP Indigo digital presses – including multiple HP Indigo 7000 Digital Presses – at facilities in the U.S. and the Czech Republic this year.

--Fry Communications purchased a new Kodak Magnus 800Z Quantum Platesetter with an output capacity of 60 eight-up plates per hour; the device will replace two existing platesetters at its 1,200-employee, 1 million-sq.ft five facilities operation in Mechanicsburg, PA.

--Canada’s largest independent book printer, Friesens Corporation, purchased a Presstek 52DI direct imaging offset press.

For more, visit GAM’s drupa channel.