By Editor Morten B. Reitoft 

Friends and followers!Today, one of the most anticipated events starts. Having been filming Innovationdays exhibitors all weekend, you will see a well-prepared show with lots of technology, print samples, software, and hardware in what is becoming the most important event in the industry.

One of the reasons why Hunkeler Innovationdays is such an important event is because of its equipment and showing end-to-end solutions, but also because of the digital transformation in the graphic arts industry. In all the films we did over the weekend, we asked whether now is the time to go all-in on digital. Though some vendors continue to include offset in the equation, there is no doubt that they all see a fantastic opportunity in the change from offset to digital inkjet.

Though almost all solutions are web-based, they can easily be fitted with a cut-stacker and seen as comparable to B2 printers or even larger formats. This is also why I have often decided to disclose B2 sheets per hour, as it's more comparable for most commercial printers over meters per minute. And these machines are not only good, but they are also fast.

All the exhibited machines are 4+4 (perfection) presses, and all of them have superior quality - in my mind, as good as offset or some even better - I will explain in a moment. But with that in mind, we have machines that all deliver more than 10,000 B2 sheets an hour, with a broad media diversity, zero setup time, and some are even faster - much faster.

You will see print samples and LIVE output showing how great inkjet has become - whether it is high-end photo books, covers, magazines, postcards, posters, or anything you print today, you will be amazed. Some exhibitors are even integrating third-party solutions besides the Hunkeler solutions to show high-quality inline coatings. Some will show a diversity of products printed on a roll to be converted into numerous products-of-one.

All of the above needs fast workflow, substrates, moisturizers, and embellishment, and at Hunkeler Innovationdays, you'll find it all.

I am confident that the anticipated 6,500 attendees will have a great event that, for some, will be an eye-opener into how far inkjet has moved in just a short time, and for some, Innovationdays will be a milestone in a PSPs investment plan, as inkjet is now ready to seriously compete with offset in some segments in the commercial space.

What to check out:

• - Workflow, IoT, how the solutions handle equipment across vendors, how fast it can handle a large volume of data, variables, different types of PDFs, etc.
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• - Print samples (pay attention to colors/bindings, and ask how each application is made) - also, ask for supported media and how each vendor handles treatment.
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• - Energy requirements/consumption
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• - Delivery time
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• - Training/Installation
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• - Integration to existing workflow solutions
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• - And, of course, speed - do they deliver the promised output, and under what conditions?
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• Hopefully, some valid suggestions for you to ask :-)