Fujifilm and Screen push digitally printed newspapers with sales partnership

Fujifilm and Screen are putting on-demand newspaper printing on the agenda at this year’s forum of the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers’ Association.

The pair will officially launch their distribution partnership for Screen’s inkjet Truepress Jet 520 at the PANPA Future Forum in August.

The partnership capitalises on Fujifilm’s newspaper client base as a gateway to distribute the Truepress Jet 520ZZ, which can print 220 metres per minute in full colour – approximately 3,600 24pp tabloid newspapers per hour.

Fujifilm marketing manager Matt Ritson said the joint venture at PANPA would be the first public showing of the relationship.

“We have been Screen resellers for some years for their CTP and now we are having a wonderful experience promoting the Truepress,” he said.

“The machine is perfect for short-run newspaper work, so smaller publications such as those in the Northern Territory can turn editions around in a few hours rather than a few days.”

Screen Australia managing director Akira Hayakawa said the company had high hopes about the partnership.

“Jointly, Screen and Fujifilm will now be able to help newspapers in the ANZ region address the exciting possibilities of digital inkjet printing for remote printing, zoning of targeted publications, personalization of news and short runs printed at many sites for maximum impact and rapid time-to-market,” he said.

Fujifilm said there has been one sale of a Truepress 520 in the region, to Astra Print in New Zealand. The 520ZZ has just been introduced into the ANZ market.

The PANPA Future Forum takes place on 18-19 August at the Dockside Convention Centre at Darling Harbour, Sydney.