EVENT SPOTLIGHT: PEAK PERFORMANCE PRINT As it celebrates its 90th year in business, Fujifilm has demonstrated the latest developments in its inkjet, toner, software, and print bar technologies. Over 100 members of the press and Fujifilm partners gathered at the Print Experience Centre in Ratingen on Tuesday 30th January to see the latest from the manufacturer. The day began with a series of briefings starting with a welcome and digital business overview from Taku Ueno, senior vice president of FUJIFILM Graphic Communications Europe. Acknowledging the company’s 90th anniversary, Ueno expressed his gratitude to all past and current customers, partners, and employees for their support throughout the company’s long history. Ueno explained that despite facing a number of challenges since FUJIFILM was founded in 1934, the business has succeeded by “utilising the power and diversity of Fujifilm technologies.” In September 2022 at Fujifilm’s previous Peak Performance Print event, the company set out its goal to lead the transformation to digital. Since this event, the manufacturer has launched a number of new technologies for the commercial print and packaging markets. The most notable, according to Ueno, was the JetPress FP790 digital press for flexible packaging. Beta Site Success Northampton-based Eco Flexibles was revealed as the now signed off beta site for this press with the move to digital flexible packaging production a huge leap for the company. Founded by Matt Francklow and Simon Buswell, Eco Flexibles was set up a few years ago with a desire to be a disruptor in the market for flexible packaging. Sustainability is at the heart of the company and the owners made the decision around seven years ago to remove all the solvents from platemaking and the company has been making water wash plates for over 12 years now. “Our first foray with Fujifilm was two years ago when we engaged with the manufacturer about the Flenex flexo plates which are 100% water washable due to sustainability, but also quality. Really, that’s been the mainstay of our business since then,” explains Francklow. Following a tour with Fujifilm to promote the Flenex plates, Eco Flexibles was approached to become the beta testing site for the new JetPress FP790 which Francklow describes as “the route we wanted to go down”. Reflecting on the move to digital press production, Francklow says: “It was a complete sea change. We’d never been manufacturers before so it wasn’t just a case of dropping a press into an existing factory. We had to buy a new factory, refurbish the factory, buy ancillary equipment as well. So it’s been a big journey.” Eco Flexibles was the beta site for six months where the company tested the machine and “put it through its paces”. FUJIFILM PREVIEWS LATEST INNOVATIONS IN RATINGEN 52 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2024 - Issue 347 In its third Peak Performance Print event, Fujifilm has celebrated its 90th year and demonstrated a range of its latest innovations including new toner technology Our first foray with Fujifilm was two years ago when we engaged with them about the Flenex flexo plates which are 100% water washable due to sustainability, but also quality. Really, that’s been the mainstay of our business since then ▲ Taku Ueno, senior vice president of FUJIFILM Graphic Communications Europe welcomed attendees
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