Keypoint Intelligence Announces Inaugural BLI Outstanding Innovation Awards in Production Print

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Keypoint Intelligence, the world's leading independent evaluator of document imaging and smart workplace business products, today announced the recipients of the inaugural Buyers Lab (BLI) Outstanding Innovation awards in Production Print to recognize advancements in production printing hardware, software, and services.

"In the face of a challenging year for our industry, developers and engineers continued to deliver innovative products—and with in-person tradeshows having been cancelled or put on hold, we felt it was even more imperative to showcase these accomplishments," said Aaron Hale, Group Director & Chief Analyst at Keypoint Intelligence. "The winners of our Outstanding Innovation awards feature technologies that improve output quality, enhance productivity, deliver workflow efficiencies, impact sustainability, and advance their product segments in meaningful ways."

To determine the winners, Keypoint Intelligence's expert production printing analysts—who among them have dozens of years' experience evaluating production-print products and analyzing market trends—judged the entries on three key metrics: how groundbreaking or unique the product or innovation is, its likely impact on the market segment it addresses, and the expected timeline for availability in the market.

The winners of the BLI 2021 Outstanding Innovation awards in Production Print are*:

CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING

Canon Arizona 2300 Series
Available in two sizes, this flatbed series introduces game-changing FLOW technology: an airflow technique combined with a zone-less, multi-origin table layout that allows for less masking, easy job switching, and versatile, accurate, and productive multi-board or double-sided printing.

Canon ProStream 1800
An impressive evolution for its class, the ProStream 1800 delivers image-quality enhancements, support for a large variety of substrates (including offset coated stock), and improved productivity.

Canon varioPRINT iX Series
The Canon varioPRINT iX series enters the world of cut-sheet inkjet commercial applications with 1200x1200-dpi resolution, an additional "nozzle uniformity control" to ensure consistent color output, support for coated and uncoated offset media (up to 350gsm), and more.

CLOUDLAB SALES & MANAGEMENT GMBH

CloudLab printQ 3D Packaging Design
This unique software package democratizes the packaging design process. Its templates and workflow tools demystify the process, empowering non-designers to create eye-catching output.

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY

KODAK PROSPER Plus Imprinting System
This technology extends analog print quality to hybrid, high-value applications thanks to resolution of up to 600x900 dpi, drop sizes down to 9.8 picoliters, user-selectable ink drop momentum adjustments, precise drop uniformity, and more.

KODAK PROSPER QD Packaging Inks and Film Optimizer Agent
A potential game-changer for the high-speed inkjet segment, this innovation claims rapid drying and curing along with exceptional durability and bond strength for flexible applications.

KODAK PROSPER ULTRA 520 Press
Powered by the company's new ULTRASTREAM technology, this press delivers an improved top resolution of 600x1800 dpi and claims impressive print speeds on all paper grades (including glossy papers with high ink coverage). Another highlight: eco-friendly water-based KODAK nanoparticulate pigment CMYK inks for lower operating costs.

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY/UTECO CONVERTING S.P.A.

Uteco Sapphire EVO M Press with Eastman Kodak STREAM Technology
Uteco Sapphire EVO W Press with Eastman Kodak ULTRASTREAM Technology
The first high-speed production inkjet presses for packaging using eco-friendly water-based inks, these offerings create high-quality imagery on substrates ranging from paper to film. Uteco engineers combined their expertise with an innovative implementation of Kodak's STREAM and ULTRASTREAM continuous inkjet technology and inks.

GLOBAL GRAPHICS SOFTWARE LTD.

Global Graphics Software Direct Software Platform
This solution addresses the growing challenge of keeping high-speed digital presses running at rated speeds by sending data directly to the printhead drive electronics.

HIGHCON SYSTEMS LTD.

Highcon Systems Beam 2C
The first to introduce digital cutting and creasing into production-volume corrugated packaging, Highcon raises the bar again with a finisher that delivers non-crush digital laser cutting with exceptional cut-out capabilities and its patented DART (digital adhesive rule technology) system.

HP INC.

HP Auto Alert Agent 2.0 for Indigo 15K Digital Press
This new in-line quality detection system saves production time while ensuring the correct files are printed without print defects. A combination of machine-learning AI and operator feedback teaches the system to identify, classify, and analyze print defects in order to correct errors on the fly.

HP Indigo 100K Digital Press
The fastest B2-size printer on the market (rated at 4,500 B2 sheets per hour), this all-new platform promises enhanced productivity, groundbreaking automation, and new feeding reliability.

HP Indigo V12 Digital Press
Based on the new HP Indigo LEPX print architecture, this press aims to offer digital label production at speeds comparable to analog presses along with high print quality and support for the widest range of applications in digital label printing.

SOLIMAR SYSTEMS, INC.

Solimar Systems ReadyPDF Prepress Server
This solution delivers a cost-effective way to ensure the digital front ends of high-speed digital presses can process data to maintain optimal press speeds. It delivers an up to a 15% reduction in PDF file size along with automated PDF inspection and correction.

TONEJET LTD.

Tonejet Cyclone
This solution uniquely addresses the booming customized/personalized marketing segment with a system that prints directly onto beverage cans—at a lower cost than traditional decorating methods. Cans produced on the Tonejet Cyclone are 100% recyclable, so there are huge environmental benefits compared to add-on labels or shrink sleeves.

XEROX CORPORATION

Xerox Adaptive CMYK+ Kits
This solution brings specialty printing to the next level, offering self-contained swappable multi-toner kits that can add vivid toner in white, gold, silver, and clear as well as fluorescent cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

*Not all products are sold in all regions.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE WINNERS, PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE!

ABOUT KEYPOINT INTELLIGENCE
For almost 60 years, clients in the digital imaging industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and extensive market research to drive their product and sales success. Keypoint Intelligence has been recognized as the industry's most trusted resource for unbiased information, analysis, and awards due to decades of analyst experience. Customers have harnessed this mission-critical knowledge for strategic decision-making, daily sales enablement, and operational excellence—improving business goals and increasing bottom lines. With a central focus on clients, Keypoint Intelligence continues to evolve as the industry changes by expanding offerings and updating methods, while intimately understanding and serving manufacturers', channels', and their customers' transformation in the digital printing and imaging sector.

ABOUT BUYERS LAB OUTSTANDING INNOVATION AWARDS
Outstanding Innovation awards acknowledge newly introduced or publicly announced products, capabilities, or technologies that Keypoint Intelligence analysts believe will advance a product category or move the industry forward in a meaningful way.

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