2023 PRINTING United Alliance Pinnacle Awards announced

PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, has recently announced the 2023 winners of its popular Pinnacle Awards program.

The Pinnacle Awards are open exclusively to Alliance supplier members and, this year, judges selected 14 Pinnacle Technology Award recipients and an impressive 58 Pinnacle Product Award recipients from an array of product submissions.

The 2023 Pinnacle Technology Award winners are as follows (listed alphabetically by company, with the technology next):

Canon USA, Canon UVgel White Ink: Canon UVgel ink was introduced in 2017 in the Colorado 1640 printer but the series lacked White ink capability until the recent release of the Colorado M-series. All current Colorado models now optionally feature UVgel 460 White ink. UVgel 460 White ink is technically unique in that it is a gel-based, pigmented, high viscosity fluid. By design, it remains in a highly stable gel state at ambient temperatures but transforms to lower viscosity when heated to jetting temperatures in the printhead, then instantly gels again on contact with the media. It is the very nature of Canon UVgel inks that makes UVgel White ink so technically unique.

The superior stability of UVgel White ink makes it easier to use and maintain than other commercially available inks based on water-based latex or eco-solvent technologies.

ColorBase, ColorBase Profile Search: Currently, brand owners’ expectations on color consistency have never been higher, while there are now thousands of different materials to print on and hundreds of different printers to use, all with dozens of different inksets and configurations. ColorBase has been focused on addressing this challenge for two decades through their ICC Profiling services, but the recent launch of ColorBase Profile Search marks a new era in our color management solutions.

ColorBase Profile Search is an easy-to-use search interface for all the profiles they have ever created. The result is the world’s largest publicly available collection of ICC printer profiles for commercial digital printers, containing approximately 1.3 million profiles for more than 3700 materials, 430 printers, and 96 RIPs.

DirectMail2.0, TargetMatch: TargetMatch is the latest bundle of digital technologies from DirectMail2.0 that tracks, enhances, and improves direct mail via an omnichannel marketing approach. For years, their bundled technology platforms have been seamlessly tracking mail and lifting response rates. Now they are upping the ante with a true 1:1 bundled technology platform using multiple mediums. TargetMatch includes 7 technologies that deliver 8 to 16 impressions per mail piece, bringing prospects into the contact margins where conversion takes place: SocialMatch, Mail Tracking, QR Codes, Informed Delivery, Call & Text Tracking, LEADMatch, and Addressable Geo.

Durst Image Technology US LLC (Durst North America), P5 Robotics: Durst Robotics is the ultimate system for the Durst P5 printer series, designed for maximum versatility in an automated, continuous production process and capable of handling different sizes and types of board media.

The P5 Robotics is igniting the next stage of print automation for flexible and continuous production cycles for long run times, taking throughput potential to unprecedented levels. Just like a Durst P5 350 HS D4 delivering high speed throughput – the P5 Robotics keeps up with a machine that delivers high productivity while increasing efficiency, increasing print capacity.

Enfocus, PitStop Library Container: PitStop Library Container is a powerful solution that allows developers to extend their PDF processing capabilities. It offers a comprehensive set of tools and functions for PDF analysis, editing, validation, and automation. By utilizing PitStop Library Container, developers can enhance their applications and workflows, ensuring high-quality output, compliance with industry standards, and improved efficiency in PDF processing. This can be used on-premise as well as in the cloud, accessible through a REST API. PitStop Library Container brings great benefits for web-to-print platform users, OEM solutions, and integrators.

FUJIFILM Graphic Communication Division, J Press FP790: Digital Inkjet Press for Flexible Packaging: In the field of packaging, small lots, more SKUs, a wide variety of products and shorter delivery times are rapidly changing market dynamics.

Achieving both high quality print and adhering to the regulatory requirements of food packaging business, the J Press 7990HS was created to meet these high market demands and enable a more strategic and profitable packaging business.

Global Graphics Software, SmartDFE: Designed for OEMs, SmartDFE is a full software and printhead electronics stack for high-speed, single-pass, roll-fed presses printing fully variable data. It is a collection of innovative and market-proven components that enable an engineering team to get to market quickly whilst giving them the space and capability to add their own value.

SmartDFE brings together the creation of optimized print-ready PDF files, workflow, and job automation to connect with enterprise IT systems, RIPping, screening, optimized image quality and printhead drive electronics. It meets the need for fully variable data, gives complete control of the print workflow, and provides valuable information for QA and inspection, press maintenance, and stock control.

SmartDFE supports Industry 4.0 telematics, where information from devices can be received by and stored on remote objects over a network and offers integration with Management Information Systems.

Heidelberg USA, Plate to Unit: The Plate to Unit system is a fully automated printing plate logistics system.

Integrated in intelligent software environment Prinect, the Plate to Unit system performs stand alone and as part of a fully automated process in the commercial offset production. The system is an addition to our XL106-8 color machine series, available with new machines and as a retrofit for machines built 2020 and later.

HP Inc., HP PageWide Advantage 2200: The HP PageWide Advantage 2200 is the next-generation platform of presses from HP PageWide Web that builds on over 15 years of experience and innovation from the T200, T300 and T400 series platforms.

The PageWide Advantage platform incorporates a revolutionary single arch and paper path that reduces the overall length and height of the system compared to the T200 series, can handle paper thicknesses from 40gsm to 300gsm (27 pound to 14 point), and supports speeds of up to 800 feet per minute in monochrome and 500 feet per minute in color. The platform is modular and configurable with 1, 2, or 3 new High Efficiency Drying (HED) modules that can reduce total energy consumption per page (kWh per page) by up to 60% compared to the T200 series.

Inkcups, The XJET Switch decorating Reusable Bags: The XJET Switch is a direct-to-bag printer that enables printing of high-quality CMYKWW images on a variety of bag materials and colors. Additional applications for the XJET Switch include soft coolers, totes, and more. With 4 platens, the XJET Switch prints two 10” x 10” images on two products simultaneously allowing the operator time to load and unload the other two platens.

Benefits of UV printing on reusable bags and tote bags includes time savings and efficiency. Simply print the selected artwork directly onto the substrate and utilize the UV light to cure the artwork after printing, eliminating extra steps of drying or additional machines.

Kornit Digital, Kornit Atlas MAX POLY: Kornit Atlas MAX POLY is an industry-first direct-to-garment (DTG) solution delivering superior-quality digital decoration for vibrant, colorful design on polyester and poly-blended apparel. Atlas MAX POLY incorporates Kornit’s field-proven MAX technology for high-quality premium decoration, process automation, and smart autonomous quality control. With Kornit’s XDi decorative applications, Atlas MAX Poly enables endless designs and creativity on polyester, and empowers new styles for multiple effects and unlimited combinations such as emulating threadless embroidery, high-density vinyl, screen transfer emulations, and 3D effects.

The solution is compatible with mesh and plain fabrics, including brushed polyester, while maintaining durability and breathability.

PlanProphet Inc., PlanProphet: PlanProphet is a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and marketing automation engine, designed specifically for the printing and graphics industry. Our software connects live to your print estimating platform to deliver breakthrough analytics while automating critical everyday tasks. PlanProphet ensures more effective communication between your team and customers while tracking every interaction. It also works on autopilot, helping you welcome clients, upsell, continuously stay in touch with them, follow up on quotes and proofs, and more. PlanProphet is fully integrated with various print-MIS such as Print Reach Printer’s Plan, EFI PrintSmith Vision, Enterprise Print Management Solutions (EPMS), PressWise, and CoreBridge.

Prism Inks, Inc., Sublimation to Film – STF: Dye sublimation has been used for years in the printing market to create products on polyester and polyester blends. This technology is composed of a specialized dye sublimation ink, unique coating on film, and a custom powder that allows the use of this combination of materials to create images that can be transferred to cotton products. First using an inkjet printer using Prism Dye Sublimation inks a customer prints on a specialized film which then has a polymeric powder applied to the wet printed surface. Once the powder has been applied it is heated to melt the powder and dry the ink. Once melted and dried this film can be stored and transferred at a later time or day. To transfer to a cotton fabric or product, the film is pressed using a heat press at 392 F for six seconds, followed by a secondary post press at the same time and temperature. For larger production runs a tandem powder applicator in series with an oven can be added and produce printed images roll to roll. The color is more vibrant, the crock test is superior to DTG and the washability is comparable.

Racami, Alchem-e: The Alchem-e platform revolutionizes the printing world and is used by some of the largest top 10 printers in the US and the smallest too.

Alchem-e helps print companies and organizations that produce hardcopy and electronic communications to do it better. It makes the tools you have work together and provides people information and control to do their jobs better.

Alchem-e combines the capability to glue business systems together, orchestrate data processing and physical tasks, report on the activity, and provide people with dashboards that help them to do their jobs better.

With its automated setup processes and advanced workflow management system, Alchem-e accelerates productivity, enhances data security, and equips teams with the tools and insights needed to excel in their roles.