With drupa 2024 around the corner, and Screen's powerful launching of several new inkjet-driven printing technologies, the March 31st release of its 23-24 results to the Tokyo stock market will be very encouraging for both the company and its customers, with one Wall Street analyst describing Screen's balance sheet as 'flawless.'
Sure to be a show-stopper - Screen's huge PAC830F inkjet flexible packaging press
In February 2024, Goldman Sachs named Screen Holdings as one of the 'Magnificent Seven' of the Japanese stock market, driving the equities market to dizzying heights, alongside better-known names such as Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi.
Of course, Screen Holdings' success is largely down to its strong position in the semiconductor sector but the latest results show good performance from its foundation Graphic Arts Equipment sector where it experienced a stunning 26.4% increase in operating income year-on-year. Screen's report identifies this success not just with increased equipment sales, but greatly increased volumes of ink pumped through its rapidly-growing installed base of inkjet printing devices such as the Truepress L350UV series of digital label presses and Truepress 520 series of continuous-feed commercial and book printing presses. Overall, earnings were up 8.4% across all divisions - Semiconductor, Graphic Arts, PCB, Display Systems and Coatings. Overall net sales were, in Australian dollars, about AUD$6 billion.
The back story to this must surely be Screen's legendary engineering credentials, resulting in equipment that has high uptime, uncompromised output quality and highly refined sustainability performance. It's a fact that digital presses generally have a history of lower uptimes and reliability when compared to offset. Even today the maxim 'buy two because one is always broken down' rings true on occassions, when buying digital presses. This is definitely not the case with Screen machines and systems, a legacy borne of its market leadership in computer-to-plate and before that film imagestters, prepress scanners, step-and-repeat cameras and other hardware. Like the famous paint brand, they 'keep on keeping on' - to the extend that used Screen inkjet presses - if they come onto the market through upgrading - are much in demand.
The drupa boost
Screen's results where inkjet press sales are concerened can only be expected to continue - big time. This is not an overstatement. In the inkjet business, the prime consumable in ink. Companies with broad inkjet offerings of devices addressing various sectors will increase their overall ink volumes - especially if the equipment has high usage and uptime - a clearly demonstrated plus with Screen label and commercial equipment. However, at this long-awaited drupa expo in Germany, Screen will commercialise no less than four new inkjet series, quadrupling its potential for ink usage volumes. These are:
- The Truepress PAC520P - an inkjet press developed to produce sustainable paper-based flexible packaging as brands demand reduced use of plastics.
- The Truepress PAC 830F - an inkjet flexible packaging press using water-based inks, under development for 4 years and alreadyt in 2 beta test sites
- The Truepress JET560HDX - a wider (560mm) version of the 520 series but also with new SCplus inks that can print on standard offset stocks and deliver commercial results that will please the most discerning offset printers. Two are already running in the USA to much acclaim.
- The Truepress JET S320 - jointly developed with Kyocera, an SRA3 cut-sheet press for high production sheetfed with offset quality
Added to this list is the latest improvements to the successful Truepress LABEL 350 series, with a new primer extending the media range and a new drying system to speed up converting.
With a stellar EOFY corporate result, several new products and a soon-to-be announced major equipment deal (more on that live from drupa!), the Screen team will be bouyed-up in Hall 8 at drupa and well worth a visit and stand tour.
Local SCREEN MD Peter Scott and team will be at drupa to greet ANZ visitors
Present from Australia will be local MD Peter Scott and doing EQUIOS workflow demonstrations to a global audience is long-serving Screen Australia technician Charlie Williams. Backing these will be Screen dealer Jet Technologies personnel Jack Malki and David Reece.
The see the future of inkjet, don't miss the Screen stand, Hall 8a, stand A03.
Screen Europe has created a dedicated drupa website here: https://www.screeneurope.com/drupa24/
If you would like to pre-book appointments with your local Screen people, email: sales@screenaust.com.au
