The COP22 (Celebration of Print) day saw Duplo’s distributors, customers, and the press invited to walk around its Addlestone headquarters to see and feel the capabilities of its full range of finishing kit.

First up in the line-up of new launches is the DuSense DDC-8000 UV coating and embellishment press. Building on the technolgoies of Duplo’s older DuSense embellishment press, the kit can process up to 585mm x 1068mm formats (all B2 prints) and features 600dpi print heads. Able to handle sheets of up to 600gsm in weight, media can be taken from both digital and litho presses; and a 200mm paper capacity also allows for longer runs without disruptions.

Available in four configurations, the press can be adapted depending on each print-service-provider’s needs. The first option is the ‘Essential’ configuration which comprises of feed and print capabilities measuring 5264mm long.

The second option is the ‘Foil’ configuration which comprises of feed, print and foil capabilities and sits at 6005mm long. The third is the ‘Pro’ which includes feed, treat, and print features at 5864mm long; and the fourth and final option is the ‘Ultimate’ configuration which includes feed, treat, print, and foil options with a 6605mm-long footprint.

Some additional features include a patented multi suction belt feed system, an Automatic Thickness Detection (ATD), and a Barcode Reader for variable data printing.

The DuSense DDC-8000 UV coating and embellishment press launched at the event

An added benefit of the ‘Foil’ option is that the press comes equipped with an inline Cold Foiling Unit. This removes the need for lamination and allows users to combine spot UV with cold foiling in one pass to produce a range of eye-catching applications.

Another optional unit is the Surface Treatment Unit which can be found in the ‘Pro’ configuration. This option allows users to remove the lamination process to produce embellishment. This technology works by transferring a constant electric discharge on the substrate and modifying the surface tension of the substrate.

The second launch from Duplo was the DC-20K B2 cutter creaser system. This kit has been designed to remove complex manual processes, reduce production costs, increase productivity, and enable more jobs to route through B2 presses. It also saves costs and time by removing the need for a guillotine.

In keeping with Duplo’s ‘load it and leave it’ ethos, the DC-20K B2 cutter creaser system adjusts automatically to process a wide range of jobs and can be added to an existing DC-747 system for B2+.

For ease of use, a centralised user interface automatically produces layouts to guide prepress, and programmes can be saved, edited, and recalled. In terms of the substrates this kit can handle, the system can process paper up to 750 x 750mm and up to 350gsm. The footprint of this machine sits at a width of 7060mm (including waste bin) and a depth of 2369mm.

The second launch from Duplo was the DC-20K B2 cutter creaser system

At the busy event, Duplo also announced a new partnership with laminating equipment manufacturer, Bagel Systems. Two laminators were launched at the event: the iLAM Pro professional digital laminator, and the MINILAM B3 high performance digital laminator. The latter offers technologies such as digital hot stamping to resemble foil stamping with metallic foils, holographic foils, flood varnish, and spot varnish, and can handle substrates up to 380 x 700mm.

The iLAM Pro is ideal for laminating applications such as book covers, menus, photo books, greetings cards, as well as a range of packaging applications. The machine is modular and laminates both sides in one pass.

Speaking to Print Monthly at the event, Brian O’Dolan, export sales director of Duplo International, said: “Today is all about bringing together all our export customers, we have over 25 different nationalities here, and we are launching the B2 DuSense, the B2 cutter, as well as a first look at the 618 and the DC648 and the iSaddle 5.0.

“It’s been overwhelming. We’ve been reconnecting, conversations are going on, and people have just generally been robust in their response to us. This is about people. People are sharing, sharing experiences, and being able to ask the questions they want to ask, rather than having to listen.”

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