Eyes Wide Open: Agfa Graphics invites printers to Leeds showcase

Print Solutions

Agfa Graphics has announced the opening of registrations for a technology showcase at its Leeds showroom. Taking place from 18 to 20 October, Eyes Wide Open will demonstrate how the company’s recent advances in wide format hardware and software can provide visionary businesses with the tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive print environment.

A variety of references from the theme of eyes, seeing and vision will be printed on site, featuring the multi-layer under and over printing capabilities for which the Agfa Anapurna and Jeti ranges are renowned. Delegates from sign and graphics, commercial print and packaging businesses will be shown this and other features of the Jeti Mira RTR flatbed with roll to roll option, as well as posing questions to Agfa and other industry professionals during a daily questions and answers, and benefitting from a wealth of event exclusive price offers that will only be available to attendees.

Print houses of all descriptions are encouraged to use the hashtag #agfaeyes on Twitter or LinkedIn, promoting any of their printed work but especially pieces that refer to the event theme, with incentives on offer for the most eye catching. Whether printed or photographed, Agfa aims to promote industry conversation via social media and interactivity between brands and businesses. Also, the first 20 companies to register to attend the event will receive a personalised wine opening set courtesy of Agfa Graphics, available to pick up on the day.

Expert staff will be on hand at Eyes Wide Open to outline the benefits of the Jeti Mira and explain how it can be used in conjunction with its Asanti Production and StoreFront software suites. Understanding the balance of visually arresting imagery and business productivity, Agfa will show the Jeti Mira, a true flatbed sporting an optional roll to roll unit for varied production situations. Designed to offer an impressive print quality in combination with excellent productivity, it prints in six colours plus white, with the option of adding varnish or primer, at speeds of up to 227m2 per hour. In addition to its multi-layer printing to build special effects or industrial elements, Agfa’s ‘Print and Prepare’ technology boosts productivity by allowing one side of the table to be loaded as the other prints. The Jeti Mira has a moving gantry for optimal reliability and flexibility and will be demonstrated in full production mode using its optional roll to roll system.

At the same time, the company will showcase its Asanti Production workflow software, specified for sign and display businesses, and Asanti StoreFront. Asanti Production can be used to automate and streamline the print production process, incorporating a powerful preflighting function which vastly reduces time between file delivery and printing. StoreFront is a cloud based web to print system that allows printers to create their own web to print stores online. It integrates fully with the production environment and allows shoppers to customise their print orders quickly and without human interaction. Both work in conjunction with PrintSphere, Agfa’s cloud storage facility dedicated to the needs of print companies.

Building on the social and interactivity theme, Agfa Graphics has invited James Matthews-Paul, industry editor, to host a live Twitter and Periscope questions and answers session every lunchtime. Amongst other topics, he will be in discussion with Leeds based sign and graphics specialists Digital Plus, exploring how the company has used its Anapurna and Jeti machines to create new business verticals. Personnel from the company will attend to talk through aspects of their relationship with Agfa, including service and support, and technology developments.

According to Steve Collins, marketing and channel manager, Agfa UK and Ireland: ‘Eyes Wide Open is a great opportunity for us to show our customers the enormous versatility that can be achieved by combining the Jeti Mira with benefits of using the Asanti Production, Asanti StoreFront and PrintSphere modules. Our customers will get the chance to see the technology in action, take advantage of some great bonuses and deals, and hopefully, have some fun. Most of all, it is about Agfa engaging with its audience so that our eyes remain wide open, wherever we are looking to take our business.’