March 2011 Sign China Expo Guangzhou 2011

March 2011
Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
UV-cured, Solvent
Wide-Format Printers &
Lamination Equipment
By Nicholas Hellmuth
Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex main entrance, Guangzhou Sign China Expo 2011.
Please Note
Contents
This report has not been licensed to any
printer manufacturer, distributor, dealer,
sales rep, RIP company, media or ink
company to distribute. So if you obtained this
Introduction 1
The Sign China Guangzhou expo
2
from any company, you have a pirated copy.
Innovative booth at Guangzhou
4
Also, since this report is frequently updated, if
you got your version from somewhere else, it
may be an obsolete edition. FLAAR reports are
being updated all year long, and our comment
on that product may have been revised
positively or negatively as we learned more
about the product from end users.
UV-cured flatbeds
6
Digitex
7
CAE, Sien
9
To obtain a legitimate copy, which you know
is the complete report with nothing erased
or changed, and hence a report with all the
original description of pros and cons, please
obtain your original and full report straight
from www.large-format-printers.org .
Your only assurance that you have a complete
and authentic evaluation which describes all
aspects of the product under consideration,
benefits as well as deficiencies, is to obtain
these reports directly from FLAAR, via
www.wide-format-printers.NET.
Copyright 2011
WER-China
11
Flatbed with solvent ink
12
Solvent Ink Printers (not flatbeds)
13
FINA
13
Laminating Equipment
15
FULEI
15
How to handle buying in China if this is your first visit
17
Venue
17
Schedule for Sign China expo 2012, Guangzhou and nearby
17
What to expect on Guangzhou Sign China Expo 2012
17
Hotels
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Sign China Expo hall view. This exhibition attracted many people from different regions of the world interested in learn about the new technology.
Introduction
My original intent was to have a separate FLAAR Report on each kind of wide-format printer
at Guangzhou:
•
•
•
•
•
UV-cured
Solvent
Textile
Printers using Epson printheads
Printers using thermal printheads (Lexmark or Lenovo)
But there were not enough UV-cured or solvent printers to justify making separate reports.
All these printers were at the D-PES event an hour away. So instead of making a bunch of
separate reports for Sign China, Guangzhou, I group together all UV-cured (almost none
were available), all solvent (those that were noticeable), and add notes on laminators.
For textile printers, for this I still do a separate publication, though there were fewer brands
than at Dongguan expo.
For printers using non-industrial heads, I still do a separate publication. Industrial heads are
Xaar, Spectra, Ricoh, Seiko, etc. Non-industrial are Epson and all thermal printheads.
Textile Printers
& Heat Transfer
Dye Sublimation
Machines
Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
All Chinese-Made
Printers that use
Epson DX5 and
DX7 printheads
Which were exhibited
at Guangzhou
Sign China Expo 2011
1
Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
The Sign China Guangzhou expo
The Guangzhou expo complex is one of the largest in the world. Guangzhou city itself is one of the 20 largest cities in
the world. Many people say Guangzhou is the third largest city in China: after Shanghai and Beijing.
As a large city, expenses are higher than in a smaller city. So in 2010 the union of wide-format inkjet printers decided to
move their exhibits and booths to Dongguan where expo space was less expensive. In 2011 80% of the ink companies
also moved to Dongguan. But 95% of the media and substrate manufacturers and distributors remained at Guangzhou.
So if you need to find wide-format inkjet media, logically attending the Guangzhou expo is essential to find media and
substrates.
I estimate 50% of the CNC router maufacturers of China were at Dongguan; 50% of the CNC router brands were at
Guangzhou.
99% of the LED lighting and LCD displays were at Guangzhou. So Guangzhou in 2011 was
• a full selection of everything LED
• a huge selection of wide-format inkjet media,
• with a few inkjet ink companies,
• a few inkjet printer manufacturers
• two or three lamination hardware booths,
• several textile printer or equipment companies,
• half the CNC router and CO2 laser cutter manufacturers
• and Mimaki, Mutoh, Roland, and HP, which, being international, are not members of the Chinese printer manufacturer’s union.
Sign China Expo outside view. The Guangzhou expo complex is one of the largest in the world.
2
Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Third floor general view. This floor had access to the LED China expo.
Just a couple of laminator equipment companies exhibited at Sign China 2011. ICO (Beijing ICO Science and Technology) booth.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Nonetheless, Mimaki and Mutoh distributors also exhibited at D-PES. HP and Roland were pretty much non-existant at
Dongguan.
The attendance at the Guangzhou expo was spectacular; as in huge crowds. The Guangzhou show organizers are clearly
doing an excellent job of publicity and attracting crowds. The number of international visitors was sizeable as well.
Guangzhou is a friendly city. I stayed here a week after the expo to learn more Chinese language and ability to read more
Chinese characters. I appreciate the assistance of Leaf Li in organizing my stay in Guangzhou.
Innovative booth at Guangzhou
One booth that stood out for content within the booth was that of TRENDVISION. I have never noticed this company
before, and I do not remember seeing them at any Shanghai expo. The full name is Trend Vision Technology (Zhuhai)
Co., Ltd.
Their catalog features ink, but their exhibit featured giclee and sophisticated printing. It is so nice to see a booth and a
company that is presenting something innovative and different.
Trend Vision front view. This was one of the most striking booths at Sign China.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Epson Stylus Pro 7910 printing some samples using art ink.
Mimaki JV33-160 with Digital Printing Color Reproduction Machine NM-X1700-I heating unit.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
UV-cured flatbeds
95% of the UV printer manufacturers exhibited at the D-PES event in Dongguan. So there were hardly any UV-cured
flatbeds exhibited at the Guangzhou expo. Perhaps Roland had one of their UV-cured printers in their Roland booth, but
with only one day available to visit the Guangzhou expo I did not want to waste time in the Roland booth since there
was nothing new to be expected from any Japanese manufacturer. I wanted to see what was new: this meant visiting
the Chinese booths.
DEJU exhibited a KinColor flatbed printer in their booth, at Sign China.
KinColor UV1825C flatbed printer at DEJU booth, printing some samples.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Digitex
The first time I remember seeing Digitex was at the July 2010 APPPEXPO in Shanghai. I do not remember seeing their
printers anywhere else in the world, though a reader of the FLAAR Reports send me a link to a web site in Australia which
sells them under another brand name.
DIGITEX Printing Technology booth.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
This printer can use Solvent Ink, Eco Solvent Ink, Direct Textile Pigment Ink and
Water Pigment Ink. The GUNSJET SR2608 uses Ricoh GEN4 printheads.
GUNSJET SR2608 printing samples at Digitex booth.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
CAE, Sien
A deep red flatbed printer was in the brochure of the CAE Technology company. The brochure of Sien Printer indicated
they are allied with Allwin; but I do not remember ever seeing an Allwin flatbed UV-cured printer. The flatbed in the CAE
brochure is from Kincolor (Saven ink).
CAE Technology, GuangZhou Sien Technology Co., Ltd.
www.SienPrinter.com
Guangzhou Sien Technology booth.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
CAE UV flatbed printer.
The brochure of Sien Printer indicated they are allied with
Allwin; but I do not remember ever seeing an Allwin flatbed
UV-cured printer.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
WER-China
I am estimating that WER is a distributor, rather than a manufacturer.
www.wer-China.com
Wer-China Industry booth.
When Zhongye can’t exhibit, their printers are rebranded and exhibited by WER, another
Chinese company that also handles media and solvent ink. But I doubt WER is the
manufacturer of these other supplies.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
WER-SD3406, this is a 3.4m wide format solvent printer with Seiko/Spt1020-35pl print heads. The WER-SD3406 can print on: cloth banner, flex banner, PVC mesh, one way
vision, vinyl and more.
Flatbed with solvent ink
At the 18th Southern China print expo, one week after the Guangzhou Sign China expo, there was a booth with flatbed
printers with solvent ink. My translator said she thought perhaps they had also been at the inkjet expo the week before
(in the same expo center, but a different hall). If so, I did not notice them.
Their brochure was 100% in Chinese. The business card listed two companies: Shenzhen Orient Longke Industry Co., Ltd
and East Dragon (HK) International Investment Co., Ltd.
Because the font was red at the bottom area of the page, on a gray background, none of the contact information was
legible whatsoever (so I can’t find a web site). This is a problem with advertising handouts even in America and Europe:
often the graphic design, the font, and the background colors are simply inadequate.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Solvent Ink Printers (not flatbeds)
FINA
The brochure featured three brand names: standwell (sic), FINA, and ORASIGN. The last two are the brand names that
Aeromatrix uses in China since in China they can’t use the brand name Infiniti (since Infiniti brand name in China is
owned by FY Union).
In America FINA and ORASIGN used to be exhibited by Aeromatrix out of Miami. They cleverly registered the brand
name Infiniti for America many years ago. But Aeromatrix no longer exhibits at expos in America; not even at Graphics
of the Americas any more.
Most of the solvent printers in the Standwell brochure feature Xaar 126 or Xaar 128 heads, which date back to the last
century (literally and figuratively). A few models use the Xaar 382 printhead. One model uses the more recent Spectra
PQ head (still at 35 pl but at least a more modern concept).
The brochures of standwell are of professional quality and it is laudatory that they carefully list the brand and model of
the printheads and list the picoliter drop size. This is a good stance for a company.
Shanghai Standwell Digital Technology booth.
Shanghai Standwell Digital Technology booth. Most of the solvent printers in the
Standwell brochure feature Xaar 126 or Xaar 128 heads, which date back to the
last century.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
The brochure featured three brand names: standwell (sic), FINA, and ORASIGN. The last two are the brand names that Aeromatrix uses in China since
in China they can’t use the brand name Infiniti.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Laminating Equipment
We cover basic laminating equipment but make no attempt to test every brand (would be too expensive). However
there is one brand of laminating equipment which is evidently available through ChinaSigns (sign-in-China.com) that
Rissa took us to, so we mention them here.
FULEI
Their catalog shows a complete line of laminating equipment, from desktop to full size. Many of these models were
exhibited in their booth. I would estimate that FULEI is the manufacturer for some equipment sold in US and Europe
under other brand names.
Beijing FULEI Industrial & Commercial Co., Ltd.
www.FuleiLaminator.com
Rissa Xia (China Signs) and Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth at Fulei booth.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Fulei was one of the few companies that exposed laminators at Sign
China. This company produces cold laminators, hot laminators and
liquid laminators of different capacities.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
How to handle buying in China if this is your first visit
There is an innovative multi-national company in China that has cleverly realized that what distributors and large endusers really need (when they buy direct from China) is a service to double-check on the container-load before it is sealed
and shipped. I was visiting ChinaSigns recently and the owner, Mr Liu, explained his new service. They will inspect the
container before it is shipped to provide some reassurance that what is in the container is what you actually ordered.
You still need to be sure the OEM is reputable and will stand behind their product even once their container lands in
your home country. But it is obviously a lot easier if you have a second set of eyes and ears checking the container before
it is sent.
For further information contact Mr Liu’s capable bi-lingual assistant Rissa: [email protected] I have known her
now for three years, so can attest that this company has an experienced team. I have visited their office in Beijing twice.
They are now opening offices and warehouses in Europe and North America. Their company has provided me access to
knowledge of China. I have also seen their personnel at major international exhibits around the world.
This service is new, and as soon as we have more experience with how it works we will update our year 2012 China printing products expo reports.
Venue
There is a Visitor Guide and a healthy-sized book as full exhibitor list. The Visitor Guide is page by page; not fold-out. The
one I have is 100% Chinese for the map. The list in English is at about 6 pt font which is too small to read easily. The guide
covers all the exhibits: so LED etc. There is no guide specifically for wide-format printers, inks, media, and CNC routers.
Schedule for Sign China expo 2012, Guangzhou and nearby
The first dates I thought I say on the Internet for Graphics of the Americas + FESPA Americas I thought were 21-24 Feb,
2012. But when I checked again, the dates are March 1-3, which is better for TWO reasons: first, they are after the Chinese
expos which means I can attend both events. And second, GoA is three days: four days is too long (four days or even five
days for a Chinese expo is more realistic since these are huge events).
Sign China 2012, Guangzhou, is 20-23 Feb, 2012
D-PES in Dongguan is 19-22 February, 2012. Being the same dates as the Guangzhou expo makes it easier for people to
attend both.
This year (2011) I and several other Latin American companies attended all four expos, literally. But that was because the
Florida shows started several days before Guangzhou+Dongguan. Yes, you could still attend both: First China and then
Florida, but for FLAAR this is tough since it is after the Chinese expos when we do most of our factory visits.
What to expect on Guangzhou Sign China expo exhibitor list 2012
You can expect comparable in 2012 as we experienced in 2011. The exhibitor list for Sign China 2012 will be filled with
wide-format inkjet media and substrates, 3D signage material, CNC routers, C02 laser engravers, some ink companies, a
few printer booths, and an entire hall(s) of LED and LCD signage displays.
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Sign China Expo
Guangzhou 2011
Hotels
There is a huge WESTIN hotel towering over the exhibit complex. Otherwise there are not many hotels within walking
distance (and the WESTIN would be a healthy walk even though visible clearly; it is far behind the furtherest exhibit
hall).
Dongguan is much more convenient for hotels being near the Dongguan exhibit hall. There are hotels on one side and
many hotels at main end of Dongguan expo building area. Plus other hotels within 20 minutes. Prices in Dongguan
would tend to be lower too.
Since the organizer of the D-PES kindly provided free hotel rooms for all three of us, we stayed in Dongguan. If we had
a hotel close to the expo in Guangzhou we would like to stay there at least one night, especially since the main airport
is in Guangzhou, not in Dongguan.
Guangzhou is a huge city; things can be over an hour away; if traffic, much further.
Acknowledgements
I appreciate that my airfare was provided by ChinaSigns, Mr Liu, CEO. Since he was visiting Dongguan expo and I was
visiting the Guangzhou expo, we did not have a chance to be at the same expo at the same time. So the photograph
here shows me with Rissa Xia, who helps me navigate Beijing when I visit the ChinaSigns offices there.
I also appreciate her patiently teaching me Chinese characters. I wish to learn to understand enough Chinese characters
so that when I travel around China I can understand all the highway signs, all the billboards, all the signs on the fronts
of stores, menus in restaurants, and naturally I wish to be able to read a spec sheet of a wide-format inkjet printer in
Chinese characters.
Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth and Rissa Xia at
China Signs booth.
First posted the last week of March 2011
We are not aware of any independent outside coverage of the Guangzhou expo with as full a coverage as in the overall
series of FLAAR Reports (there will be three or four more chapters: on inks; on media; on textile printers, and on printers
with Epson printheads: so a total of four FLAAR Reports). There will be five FLAAR Reports on D-PES (since there were
enough solvent printers for a separate report and enough textile printers for a separate report).
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