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  • HP Announces HP PageWide XL Portfolio – the REVOLUTION begins in September!!!

    I’m in Atlanta today, and I just finished
    attending the live production of a world-wide webinar presentation HP’s PageWide
    wide-format team gave today. 
    HP’s
    webinar-presentation team was led by Ramon Pastor, Vice President & General
    Manager of Large Format and 3D Printing.
    I have to admit that is was very exciting to
    have been invited by HP to attend the HP PageWide launch event that took place in early June in San Diego, and I feel
    compelled to say that it was doubly-exciting
    to have been invited to the live production of today’s webinar presentation….
    for, at today’s presentation, HP released very
    important     additional news about
    HP PageWide wide-format, as you’ll read below and as you’ll read in the April 9th
    Press Release, which can be found by using the first link at the bottom of this
    post.
    Today, HP introduced the HP
    PageWide XL portfolio.
    Previously
    on my blog, I speculated that HP was going to introduce more than just one
    model.  And, in fact, HP, today, announced that there will initially be four
    models.  You read that correctly.  Four
    different models    !
    -The HP
    PageWide XL 8000 – offering up to 30 D/A1 size prints per minute.
    -The HP
    PageWide XL 5000 – offering up to 14 D/A1 size prints per minute.
    -The HP
    PageWide XL 4500 – offering up to 12 D/A1 size prints per minute.
    -The HP
    PageWide XL 4000 – offering up to 8 D/A1 size prints per minute.
    HP also announced delivery
    dates for its PageWide XL portfolio:
    –XL 8000 –
    Deliveries to begin in September 2015
    –XL 5000 –
    Deliveries to begin in November 2015
    –XL 4500 –
    Deliveries to begin in January 2016 (and possibly earlier)
    –XL 4000 –
    Deliveries to begin in January 2016 (and possibly earlier)
    Towards the end of today’s webinar
    presentation, questions were invited from the audience, and I asked two
    questions:
    Q1 – When will HP begin releasing pricing
    (and cost) information?
    Response:  Distributor/Dealers have
    received this information from HP, and they will shortly be in a position to
    begin working with prospective customers on pricing and costs.
    Q2 – When will HP begin taking orders for
    PageWide XL systems?
    Response:  Distributor/Dealers will
    begin to take orders within the next couple of months.
    Just a suggestion:  If you are interested in acquiring HP
    PageWide XL systems, I’d highly suggest that you get in the front of the order
    queue.  I suspect that there will be very
    significant demand for this revolutionary, game-changing technology.  In other words, act quickly!
    Link to HP PageWide XL press-kit (press
    release inside):
    http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-news/press-kit.html?id=1935660#.VSau9bolmQw
    Link to HP PageWide XL Printers web-site:
    http://www8.hp.com/us/en/commercial-printers/pagewide-printers/overview.html
    Link to HP PageWide XL Printers video:

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGP8hUpard4

  • HP PageWide Wide-Format at the IRgA/ERA Convention in Atlanta next week

    Yesterday in
    the mail, I received a promo piece – about HP PageWide wide-format – prepared
    for, and sent to those, who will likely be attending the IRgA/ERA Convention in
    Atlanta next week. 
    For those
    reprographers who’ve not yet seen an HP PageWide wide-format printer in person,
    this will be their first opportunity to watch it operate … and kick the tires.
    There’s a
    very bold claim in the promo piece. 
    Here’s what’s said, “Come and
    meet the printer producing color jobs at speed, for the same price as
    black & white    , all with lower running costs than LED.”
    I take that to mean….
    -Color and black & white large-format
    prints at the same output speed.
    -Color and black & white large-format
    output at the same cost.
    -Running costs lower than the running costs of
    LED.
    HP is expecting its new PageWide wide-format
    technology to truly disrupt the large-format printing market in terms of speed,
    growth and economics.

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    I’m looking forward to attending the IRgA/ERA
    event in Atlanta next week.

  • Innovating 3D Printing – a company has come up with a way to substantially speed up the process

    Blog Publisher’s Comment:
    I received this, yesterday, from someone who regularly
    visits the Reprographics 101 Blog.  My
    main problem, all along, with 3D printing (and with 3D printers) is that the 3D
    printing process is EXCRUATINGLY slow. 
    Kind of like waiting for a turtle to finish a 100-yard dash.  (Pack a breakfast, a lunch, and a dinner … x
    3.)
    Evidently, a company has come up with a way
    to substantially speed up the process. Watch this video and you’ll see what I
    mean.
    Joel,
    An interesting
    article I saw from Design News with a new twist on 3D printing

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    http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=277013&cid=nl.dn14.20150325&dfpPParams=ind_186,industry_medical,kw_40,aid_277013&dfpLayout=blog

  • ONYX launches HP WallArt interface to simplify custom application

    Onyx
    Graphics has announced that its ONYX® software can be directly integrated with
    the new HP WallArt application to provide seamless and efficient workflow for
    décor applications.
    Link
    to read more:
    http://www.largeformatreview.com/lfr-software/workflow/5441-onyx-launches-hp-wallart-interface-to-simplify-custom-application

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  • Tree Towns Reprographics is now Tree Towns Imaging & Color Graphics

    Well, another reprographer
    has updated its name!
    “Welcome to Tree
    Towns!”
    “Tree Towns has
    updated its name to better reflect the Professional Services we offer. Tree
    Towns continues to change and modify its services to match the needs of our
    customers. We have added new printers, precision digital cutting equipment and
    Color Management techniques to make your graphics look the very best. One
    service never changes….. Customer Service. That’s the reason we have been
    privileged to serve the industry for over 58 years. Please consider Tree Towns
    for your next project, You won’t be disappointed!”
    Chuck Wingard
    President &
    Owner
    Link to Tree Town’s
    web-site:

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    http://www.treetowns.com/about/history

  • Which Came First? The EGG Print or CAD Color?

    There has
    been considerable discussion in and around the reprographics industry since HP,
    in early June last year, announced that it would be introducing its PageWide
    wide-format printing system in the 2    nd half of 2015.
    One part of
    that discussion     pertains to whether or not HP PageWide wide-format will prove
    to be competitive with brands/models already on the market from OCE (ColorWave
    and PlotWave), KIP (b/w and color), Xerox (IJP2000 Memjet), and RTI Digital
    (Vortex 4200 Memjet).
    Another part
    of that discussion     pertains to whether or not A/E/C customers are actually
    interested in increasing the use of color in their sets of plans.
    And, another
    part of that discussion     pertains to this question, “will the introduction of
    higher-speed wide-format color printing devices have an effect on prices in the
    market for color CAD printing services?”
    Those are
    all “big questions”, for sure.
    This
    morning, I found a very interesting, well-written post on Cushing & Co’s
    blog.  Within that blog-post, you’ll find
    this quote:
    “Whether we like it or not, based on
    global trends, the price for technical color print will come down. If you don’t
    respond by taking the lead, companies like HP & Canon will make it
    happen without you.”
    I encourage you to read that post, and here’s
    the link to get there:
    http://www.cushingco.com/egg-print-cad-color/
    Blog Publisher’s additional comment:

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    I thoroughly enjoy my visits to Cushing &
    Co’s blog.  The posts on Cushing’s blog
    are always well-written, informative and provide info that services as “food
    for thought.”  After all, the people at
    Cushing & Co are awesome folks.  One
    of my all-time favorite guys was Jack Cushing, father of Cathie Cushing Duff
    and Joe Cushing.  Jack was an incredibly
    nice person and a very astute businessperson. I learned a lot from him, and I’m
    thankful that I had the opportunity to get to know him.  One of my ex-partners, Gary Rowley, was the
    one who introduced me to Jack. That was in 1981.

  • ABC Imaging adds new Regional Director of Business Development

    From a post, on Feb 19th, in the “news”
    section     of www.abcimaging.com
    “ABC Imaging
    would like to extend a warm welcome to     Steve List who just joined our team as the Regional Director of Business Development
    at     our ABC Imaging location
    in New York, NY.
    Steve is joining
    ABC Imaging with over 30 years of management and sales experience. Most
    recently, Steve was the Regional Manager of Named Accounts and
    Vertical Markets at Konica Minolta. In this position, Steve restructured
    the Suffolk County, NY sales team and worked to identify business
    opportunities and workable solutions to fit clients’ needs.
    Prior to working
    at Konica Minolta, Steve was a Regional Manager of Major Accounts and
    Managed Print Services at Carr Business Systems where he gained
    experience building a sales force and creating the organizational backbone
    for the Production Print Group. Steve was also the Corporate Secretary
    and Executive Vice President at Arkin Medo, Inc. where he held full
    responsibility for the planning, administration, and direction of the
    company.

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    Steve is now
    refocusing his efforts with ABC Imaging, and will be able to utilize his
    skills and experience to strengthen ABC Imaging’s Business
    Development Department and increase ABC Imaging’s reach and exposure.
    We are excited to welcome Steve to ABC Imaging and are confident that he
    will make a positive addition to the Business Development team!”

  • NRI Enters New Phase Of Relationship With PlanExpress – PE ownership “transitioning” to Pantera)

    From a post in the “news” section on www.nrinet.com:
    “With NRI focusing on other business
    opportunities, ownership of PlanExpress is transitioning to Pantera Global Technology, effective
    March 1, 2015. NRI and PlanExpress will remain business partners, continuing to
    work together on joint projects.”
    Blog
    Publisher’s comments:
    “Boomerang” was the first word that came to mind
    when I noticed the above post on NRI’s web-site.
    Well, it wasn’t that long ago that NRI purchased
    PlanExpess from iSqFt.  iSqFt had
    purchased PlanExpress from its then current owners (at that time, PE was
    primarily owned by private equity investors.)
    For those of you who are not familiar with Pantera, it’s
    founder, DeWayne Adamson, was one of the co-founders of PlanExpress, which was
    founded in 1993.
    Here’s what Pantera’s web-site says about DeWayne’s
    background:
    DeWayne’s unique background
    encompasses numerous aspects of the Construction and Technology sectors.
    His expertise in Construction began
    as a skilled tradesman. At an early age he was quickly promoted through the
    ranks to become a Project Manager/Estimator and then a Vice President of a
    prominent Mechanical Contractor. Gaining knowledge from one of Chicago’s
    largest Mechanical Contractors, Dewayne ran numerous Major construction
    projects in the downtown area. In 1986 State Construction offered Dewayne an
    opportunity as a Sr. Project Manager in the General Construction arena.
    Specializing in Retail Construction, Dewayne ran over 700 projects. In 1992
    Dewayne founded the first National Permit Expediting firm, a National
    Maintenance Company, and Co-founded one of the Largest Retail Construction
    firms in the country. All of these companies were successfully sold. In 1993 he also co-founded
    Plan Express    , a national printing and distribution company. In 1999
    Dewayne became the sole owner of Plan Express and went on a mission to make PEI
    the first Online Planroom with Print functionality. This technology was
    launched successfully and PEI grew to one of the largest print and logistics
    companies in the world, introducing many new technology products along the way.

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    DeWayne left PEI
    in 2009 and it was sold to I sq ft. He then moved on with his plans for
    continuing to build a digital workflow environment for the construction
    community and again roll out a product to leap frog the Industry.

  • Beyond Print: How Smart Repro Firms Are Transforming

    Interesting article now up on IRgA.com
    Here’s the link:

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    http://www.irga.com/beyond-print%3A-how-smart-repro-firms-are-transforming/

  • Bentley Systems Acquires EADOC

    EXTON, Pa.,
    U.S.A. –     12 March 2015 – Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the
    leading company dedicated to providing comprehensive software solutions for     sustaining
    infrastructure    , today announced that it has acquired the business of
    Oakland, Calif.-based     EADOC, LLC, provider
    of construction management cloud services.     This newest addition to
    Bentley’s     MANAGEservices
    offerings helps construction managers at engineering / construction management
    firms and infrastructure owner organizations with capital projects to easily
    reduce risk and staff hours, improve information quality, and provide owners
    with real-time visibility into costs.     EADOC empowers facility owners to
    increase ROI through faster project completions, easily monitor project
    financial performance, and maintain detailed construction records without
    administrative staff.
    EADOC enables construction management
    professionals to track construction project documentation including design clarifications,
    inspectors’ daily reports, special inspections, memos, action items, deficiency
    items, and schedules. EADOC also uniquely integrates project cost
    controls, including budget, funding sources, contracts, schedule of values, pay
    estimates, change requests, and change orders, with this project information.
    The solution,
    which is immediately accessible to the project team, provides fast access to
    documents and cost information from virtually anywhere. At the same time, it
    incorporates security features to make sure the right people have access to the
    right information.
    Harry Vitelli,
    Bentley Systems senior vice president, construction and field, said, “We
    welcome the EADOC team, including founder Eric Law, to Bentley. Eric’s
    expertise will be invaluable as we advance ProjectWise
    for more comprehensive project delivery. In parallel, we will be extending EADOC’s
    information mobility, for instance, through Bentley mobile apps including Navigator Mobile
    and ProjectWise Worksite.”
    Eric Law said,
    “As a former member of the Bentley Developer Network, our team is extremely pleased
    to now be part of Bentley. Together we can take information mobility across
    design and construction workflows, as well as into operations, to new levels
    for small and large organizations alike.”
    EADOC, LLC was
    founded by Law in February of 2006. The idea for the EADOC construction
    management solution came from Law’s experience working for a large contractor
    on commercial and industrial projects as a project engineer.
    Users of EADOC
    include construction managers at:
    •  engineering/construction management
    firms – for example, Brown & Caldwell, Carollo Engineers, CH2M HILL, HDR,
    HNTB, Jacobs Engineering, MWH Constructors, and Arcadis;
    •  facility owners – for example, East
    Bay Municipal Utility District; City of Bend, Oregon; Lee County, Florida;
    Central Utah Water Conservancy District; and West Valley Mission Community
    College District.
    The many
    benefits of the EADOC solution include improved:
    •  accessibility – keeping construction
    projects up to date with real-time information;
    •  accountability – providing faster
    return on investment;
    •  productivity – enabling time savings
    of up to 30 percent;
    •  efficiency – reducing costs;
    •  risk mitigation – tracking and
    controlling risk to mitigate cost and schedule impacts.
    Commenting on EADOC,
    Ron Perkins, construction services manager, HDR, said, “The more I know of the
    risks coming up ahead of time, the more I can mitigate them. EADOC allows
    you to take the output from those risk registers, with probability and cost,
    and incorporate them into the cost module. You can identify the risk, identify
    the probability, identify the potential cost, and that allows you to track
    those costs – so that your client or the owner understands and knows what the
    risks are and the potential costs.”

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    Kenny Klittich,
    mechanical engineer, Brown & Caldwell, said, “I have worked with both
    ‘manually’ managed construction services, as well as competing project
    management software, and EADOC is the first to reduce my ‘paper-pushing’
    time to zero. Internet-based access to construction tasks (RFIs, submittals),
    as well as the latest drawings and specs, saves me tremendous amounts of time
    tracking down these resources and verifying they are the latest version. EADOC
    is a great product.”