GraphExpo

Sorry for delayed report due to delay of GASC’s official announcement about the result of GRAPH EXPO 08.

The Graphic Arts Show Company announced that over 26,000 people( 20,285 in 2006, 31,779 in record-setting 2007) from over 8,800 companies attended Graph Expo 08, visiting the 600+ exhibitors that spanned the 450,000 square foot McCormick Place South exhibition center. On the official report, Ms. Susan Baines, director of marketing at Komori America reported “GRAPH EXPO was a good show for us. We’ve had quite a bit of momentum since the show that will carry us through the balance of the year.”
Please refer to the PDF file to read official report.
report



GRAPH EXPO 08 opened at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 26 at McCormick Place South in Chicago, USA. Thanks to fine weather, many people passed the gate to enter the exhibition area. Please watch the video of opening.

（GE08 Opening Movie（4.2MB)）

Prior to the exhibition, Komori held a press conference in the evening of October 25 at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, located near the Chicago river.



After Mr. Y. Komori, President and CEO of Komori Corporation made opening remarks, Komori America presented a brief overview of the Komori booth. This was followed by a panel discussion with four Komori customers including 4 Over, Inc., Anstadt Printing, Jones Packaging and Solo Printing.



The ideal location of the Komori stand, drew many visitors, throughout the exhibition.



Komori exhibited the most offset printing equipment of any exhibitor at Graph Expo, demonstrating a 6-color LITHRONE SX40 with coater, a 6-color LITHRONE SX29 with coater and a 4-color SPICA 29P. Special displays for the Web sales group, Komori Chambon and the DoNet zone were also located on the stand.
At the DoNet zone, live CIP4/JDF workflow was shown with EFI Hagen OA MIS, Komori K-Station and the Lithrone S presses.



A color management zone was placed just beside the DoNet zone providing more information about Komori’s CMS.
On the wall of double-deck hospitality area, high value-added print samples produced during drupa 2008 were displayed. A B1 sized poster printed on a LITHRONE S44 in Japan was also on display. Komori conducted 12 live daily demonstrations during GRAPH EXPO 08, drawing large crowds throughout the exhibition. Please refer to Komori America’s press release to know the details of Komori booth.
（Komori Press Release 10.15.08.pdf）

The first demonstration of every day on LITHRONE SX29 was a 60 minute run that let visitors see first hand the fast job cycle time. The result of the first day was 10 jobs per 59 minutes.



Operators made improvements every day to shorten the time of job cycle. By above efforts, the fastest record was 10 jobs per 55 minutes in the last day. Job change-over and 300 sheets printing were done within 6 minutes!

On LITHRONE SX40, to demonstrate the fast job changeover, each demonstration ran three jobs running three different paper stocks and sheet sizes. Maximum printing speed was 18,000 sheets per hour of course. This was realized by the enhanced feeder and delivery for increased sheet stability. A new higher speed, fully automatic plate changing system helped fast changeover.



On the SPICA 29P, fast changeover from 4-color to 2-color two sided printing was demonstrated using with the SPICA’s highly automated systems.

All images printed on three presses had same concept from the famous American motorcycle brand, Harley Davidson. Komori displayed real one, the new Rocker C, just beside of reception counter. This was collaborated with paper supplier “Sappi.”


(Mr. Komori rode a motorcycle)

Komori and their vendor partners Fujifilm, Toyo Ink and Sappi fine paper will team to highlight the environmental benefit of their products working in tandem on the show floor.
Even if we are in very difficult circumstances, Komori completed GRAPH EXPO 08 with great success. Thank you very much for our guests and partners!

Next year, we have PRINT 2009 at same place from September 11 through 16. See you at there.

GraphExpo 07 was started on Sunday, September 9th at Chicago’s McCormick Place. First day was very fine day and many guests came to this exhibition.

Please see the Movie by "Quick time Movie"
GraphExpo 07（6.0MB)
Opening movie

Prior to the show, Komori Press Conference was held on September 8th at Renaissance Hotel in Chicago. Agenda was as follows,
Introduction: Mr. Stephan Carter, Presidnt & COO, Komori America
Welcoming Remarks: Mr. Yoshiharu Komori, President & CEO , Komori Corporation
State of the Business: Mr. S. Carter
GraphExpo Overview: Mr. Doug Schardt, Sheetfed Product Manager, Komori America
Customer Panel: Mr. Paul Marino, President, Impress Communications Inc. Mr. Rick Tardiff, President & CEO, J.S. McCarthy Inc.


At the show, Komori exhibited new 6-color LITHRONE SX29 with coater, 4-color SPICA 29P perfector and digital network solutions. Please refer to following press releases for the show results.




(Abstracted from official press release of GASC : http://graphexpo.gasc.org/)
“SUPERSIZED” GRAPH EXPO® PACKS IN CROWDS, RACKS UP SALES IN CHICAGO"
Hailed by exhibitors as “the number one show for us,” “extraordinarily successful” and “the best show I can really remember,” the four-day GRAPH EXPO held at McCormick Place in Chicago in mid-September was an unprecedented success.
With 654 exhibitors filling 460,296 square feet of booth space on the sold out show floor, this was the largest U.S. national graphic communications trade show since 2000 and the second biggest GRAPH EXPO ever.
Continuing its commitment to provide verified attendee data, the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC®) reported 31,779 total participants (includes exhibitors and attendees) at the event, achieving a 3% increase in attendance over last year, with 20,285 actual verified attendees.

(From Komori America Corporation’s press release)
"Komori Graph Expo Results Exceed Expectations"
(September 28, 2007 Rolling Meadows, IL)Komori America announced sales in excess of $60 million at the recently completed Graph Expo 07 held in Chicago September 9-12, 2007. “We were quite pleased with the results,” said Stephan Carter, President and COO of Komori America. “Our new LSX29 generated much interest and drew large crowds throughout the exhibition.”
Komori ran 90 minute demonstrations on the LSX29 each day of Graph Expo, highlighting the efficiency and fast job cycle of the newest press in the Komori LS product line. “Not many manufacturers would run a press for such an extended period in a tradeshow environment,” says Jacki Hudmon, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales Administration for Komori America. “It really impressed attendees at how quickly we could change over jobs. Plus, it pushed our demonstrators to beat their record each day. By the last day of the show we had completed 21 jobs in 90 minutes. It really wowed everyone.”


Komori also featured their “green team” on their Spica 429P convertible perfector press, running the Fujifilm Brillia processless plates; Toyo HyPlus 100 eco-friendly inks and Sappi’s new Lustro Environmental Offset (LOE) 30% PCW papers. “It was our way to demonstrate that Komori is taking a leadership position in promoting environmental initiatives in the printing industry,” said Hudmon. “Becoming environmentally responsible is becoming an increasingly more important issue for printers and print buyers, and Komori presses are designed with a host of features to reduce the environmental footprint of the press while maintaining high print quality.”
“We took orders for products across our entire product line from System 38S web presses through our entry level Spica 429P. It proves that commercial printers are still seeking technology that improves efficiency and productivity,” said Carter. “Our success at Graph Expo positions us for an outstanding year.

The next GRAPH EXPO® will be held in Chicago on October 26 - 29, 2008.

(Abstracted from official press release of GASC : http://graphexpo.gasc.org/)

Hailed by exhibitors as "spectacular, absolutely incredible," "phenomenal," and "the best show I can really remember," the four-day GRAPH EXPO® and CONVERTING EXPO® held at McCormick Place in Chicago in mid-October, was an unprecedented success.


With more than 630 exhibitors filling over 440,000 square feet of booth space, this was the largest U.S. national graphic communications and converting trade show since 2000. Its education program of nearly 70 sessions drew a record number of ticket sales, notably the largest registration since 1995, with participants choosing to attend more sessions than in the past, including six sold out sessions.


Some comments from exhibitors are asa follows,
"This Show is Smokin'!"
"We were optimistic; but this is beyond anything that I expected."
"Standard Finishing Systems had another record show this year. We did more business at this year's GRAPH EXPO than we did at PRINT® 05 last year, and last year's PRINT was a record for us!"
"We've been to other trade shows, but this is probably the best show I can really remember. The numbers are dramatic and people are in a buying mood."
"It's a great way to generate new business."
"Traffic has been great; it's the decision-makers who are coming to this show."


Komori America met at GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO with "customers who weren't on our radar screen and whom we probably would not have had an opportunity to talk with had we not been here," according to Susan Baines, marketing communications manager. "We have been extremely busy here. In the first day of the show we signed 16 contracts. The response has been phenomenal."


Next year, GRAPH EXPO will be held on September 9-12 at McCormick Place in tandem with the first edition of PackPrintSM, a new exhibition launched by the Graphic Arts Show Company with the support of the Flexographic Technical




KOMORI CLEANS UP AT GRAPH EXPO 06 WITH $74 MILLION IN SALES
(From Komori America Corporation’s press release)



(Rolling Meadows, IL October 30, 2006) Graph Expo 06 proved to be the most successful Graph Expo for Komori America in the new millennium, with 46 orders totaling in excess of $74 million in sales. Press orders ran the gamut from the full size System 38S web press to the small format Spica 429P. Standing room only crowds filled the booth for the multiple daily demonstrations on the award-winning LS640, the new LS629 and the Spica 429P. “We are overwhelmed at our success at Graph Expo. Attendees were in the buying mood, and the Komori press technology on display in our stand piqued their interest. Printers who have waited to purchase new press technology, now know that to stay competitive they need state of the art technology. We were able to show a wide range of equipment as well as some unique applications that drove that message home,” says Stephan Carter, President and COO, Komori America.

Komori accomplished a feat never before accomplished on a tradeshow floor; the completion of 17 jobs in less than 90 minutes on the new LS29. “The tradeshow floor is a unique printing environment,” says Don Newberry, Manager of Komori’s GraphiCenter. “You tend to print conservatively, but the makeready speed of the LS29 and its advanced technology allowed us to demonstrate to show-goers what the LS29 is truly capable of achieving in a real production environment.”

Komori also demonstrated value-added printing techniques by running both jobs on the LS640 using MetalFx technology,that provides a full range of metallic colors using only one base metallic ink. The Spica 429 was demonstrated running Toyo’s new Kaleido ink, that expands the color gamut of four color process to that of six colors.


“Our stand design, our demonstration format and having our award winning equipment on display really paid off for us,” says Carter. “The momentum we built at Graph Expo has put us well ahead of our sales goals for this year.”

GraphExpo 06 was started on Sunday, October 15th at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Even if the day was very cold, surge of guests onto this exhibition.
http://graphexpo.gasc.org/

"Kando : Beyond Expectations"
Komori exhibited three latest models of printing presses on its 8,000 sq.ft (725 sq.m) booth in South building (Booth number : 629). There were many guests in this booth always during show.




Demonstrations highlighted;
・Speed
・Versatility
・Print Quality
・Integration / Open systems architecture
・Environmentally friendly printing



Spica-429P(4-color perfector)
Two jobs per demo : 4 color and 2 and 2 perfecting
New Toyo Ink’s realized six color effect with four color process
Fuji processless thermal plates
Check SPICA on movie! 1
Check SPICA on movie! 2

Lithrone S29(6-color plus coater)
Three jobs per demo : Two quick job change over (12 jobs per day!)
Full automated plate changing and automatic print start up
Environmental benefits with Non VOC chemistry and inks
Check LS29 on movie! 1
Check LS29 on movie! 2




Lithrone S40(6-color plus coater)
Two jobs per demo
Feature MetalFX
Value added printing
Check LS40 on movie!



Digital Integration Zone
・KOMORI KARE
Special support package
・K-Station and BLADESETTER software
Komori DoNet digital products communicated lively with all presses
・EFI Hagen OA Press Connector
MIS : JDF communication with K-Station and all presses lively
・Komori Auto-Count Integration
New trial for communication between Auto-Count and Komori press


Next report will come soon!

On October 14, Komori held a press conference at Renaissance Hotel Chicago prior to the start of Graph Expo 06. Over 20 journalists joined to this press conference. It took over one hour because many Q&As about Komori customers.

Stephan Carter, President, Komori America Corporation, Rolling Meadows, IL

Left：Yoshiharu Komori President and CEO, Komori Corporation, Japan


Mr. Stephan Carter, President of Komori America Corporation spoke about Komori’s Kando Policy, Komori America’s first half result and so forth. After then, he handed over to Mr. Yoshiharu Komori, President of Komori Corporation.



Hiro Tada, President, Fujifilm Graphic Systems USA


Next speaker was Mr. Hiro Tada, President of Fujifilm Graphic Systems USA. He talked about good relationship between Fuji and Komori to provide solutions to the market. For example, Pressroom Partnership Program which is SPICA429P press and Fuji’s CTP/plate materials package, CIP4 communication between both systems, etc.



Doug Schardt, Product Manager, Komori America Corporation


Then, Mr. Doug Schardt, Product Manager, Komori America Corporation explained about exhibits such as SPICA 429P, LITHRONE S29, LITHRONE S40. This is the first launch of LITHRONE S29 at public exhibition in the US. Doug also talked about other Komori lineups such as LITHRONE S40SP Super Perfector press, etc. Finally Doug talked about special feature about digital data management with EFI such as Komori Auto-Count Integration. About this, Doug handed over to Mr. Gehman of EFI..



Chuck Gehman, Director, Product Marketing, EFI


Mr. Chuck Gehman, Director, Product Marketing, EFI talked about CIP4/JDF communications with their MISs and Komori K-Station, and also talked about unique integration using with Auto-Count to communicate with Komori presses.

Next session was the panel discussion with two Komori customers. Doug introduced them first.


Chuck Chalifoux, President, ColorDynamics, Dallas, TX


First customer was Mr. Chuck Chalifoux, President, ColorDynamics, Dallas, TX. This company has commercial sheet-fed and also web presses for many kinds of print jobs. This company decided to purchase Komori 10-color LITHRONE S40P with double coater. This means 5-color printing and coating, and perfecting, then 5-color printing and coating. This configuration fits to client’s demand, Mr. Chalifoux said.
http://www.colordynamics.com/



Zarick Megerdichian, President, 4Over, Inc., Glendale, CA


Second customer was Mr. Zarick Megerdichian, President, 4Over, Inc., Glendale, CA. Very famous Internet based printing company. This company purchased some Komori presses from 2004 and produce high quality printing. They decided to purchase Komori 5-color LITHRONE S40SP SuperPerfector with double coater for expanding their jobs.
http://www.4over.com/


They also talked about relationship with Komori, good points of Komori, such as good technology and good support. After the panel discussion, Q&A time for journalists started. Journalists asked many questions to them, and excess planned closing time.


Thank you for attending Komori press conference.

On October 14, Komori held a press conference at Renaissance Hotel Chicago prior to the start of Graph Expo 06.

Good evening and welcome to our Graph Expo Press Conference.
I am very happy to be here in Chicago and I am looking forward to a very successful Graph Expo.
You have heard the word Kando mentioned this evening, and now I would like to tell you why Kando has become our corporate management philosophy.


Kando means creating satisfaction beyond expectations. Since our beginning, Komori has put the needs of our customers first, so it is logical to embrace the Kando message throughout our organization. For Komori, Kando means designing products and services that exceed customer expectations; creating products and an operating environment that are environmentally friendly and providing our employees a work experience allows them to grow and expand their abilities. Our belief is that when these three elements work in harmony, we can achieve our ultimate goal of customer Kando.


Our new Tsukuba plant is an example of Komori Kando.
As you saw in the video, we are operating in a “green” environment, and focusing our manufacturing and design teams on creating products that exceed our customers’ needs in an industry that is constantly changing. Listening to our customers and designing equipment that helps them achieve success is our ultimate success. This evening you will hear from two of our customers who are currently installing unique press configurations. I like to think this is Kando in action. I personally want to thank them for their business and for being here tonight to share their experience with Komori.


As Mr. Carter stated, Komori Corporation has experienced much success in the past year. We are growing our market share around the world and we believe it is due to the strength of our products and our people. As we go forward, we will continue to bring new innovations to the marketplace, keeping our eyes focused on the changing print marketplace and our ears open to our customers, with our final goal of delighting our customers with Komori Kando.


Thank you for your kind attention.


Yoshiharu Komori
President and CEO
Komori Corporation

Graph Expo 06, will be held at Chicago's McCormick Place from October 15-18 is the largest graphic arts trade show in the Americas in this year.
More than 500 exhibitors and attendance in excess of 40,000 are expected.
http://graphexpo.gasc.org/

"Kando :Beyond Expectations"At GraphExpo 2006, Komori will exhibit three latest models of printing presses on its 8,000 sq.ft (725 sq.m) booth in South building (Booth number : 629).

With three demonstration machines, the LITHRONE S40 (6-color plus coater), the SPICA29P (4-color perfector) and the North American launch of the LITHRONE S29 (6-color plus coater),
Komori also features SYSTEM 38S (16-page web press) by video presentation and display of DoNet digital network for JDF workflow.
Evident throughout the stand is the Komori mantra of "kando: beyond expectations" - with demonstrations highlighting not just the outstanding Komori technology but our attention to the needs of the ever-changing marketplace.