Agfa Graphics is breaking into digital print in the Australian market, signing on as dealer for French print and finishing technology company MGi.

Printers will have the opportunity to check out the flagship Meteor DP 8700 XL four-colour multi-substrate digital press at Agfa’s Scoresby, VIC showroom in June in a series of open house events, starting with a red carpet launch.

Agfa Oceania business manager of digital printing Harry Kontogiannis says the Meteor hits a sweet spot in the middle segment of the digital print market.

“There are a bunch of flexible options with the Meteor – such as printing on envelopes and unusual formats, like a gatefold up to a metre long. There aren’t too many digital presses that can do that,” he says.

“The Meteor can also print onto business cards, loyalty cards, credit cards – so it does give the potential customer great flexibility. We think it’s a really flexible and attractive device, at an attractive price point.”

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The machine will come with Agfa’s back up service and support, and can be bought outright without being locked in to a click charge model.

Kontogiannis says the Meteor is designed to appeal to a commercial printer; with the look and psychology of a commercial press.

“It doesn’t look like office equipment, it looks like pressroom equipment – it has a feeder and a stacker on the back, so operators don’t find it daunting to approach,” he says.

European Agfa entities are already supplying MGi technology in Switzerland, Sweden and Italy.

Agfa Oceania managing director Mark Brindley says the positive feedback coming from overseas made the decision to take on the MGi dealership in Australia a no-brainer.

He says Agfa will continue to bring out more MGi devices in the future, as demand arises, and the company is open to also supplying other third party products where it sees a niche and complementary fit with its portfolio of prepress, consumables and wide format equipment.

 “MGi are a really innovative company, and passionate about their products. That, combined with some of the price performance equations, means we think this range of products will have a high degree of appeal to the marketplace,” he says.

Kontogiannis says one device already generating interest in Australia is MGi’s Jetstream 3D finisher, which can add a UV spot varnish, digitally.

“The Jetvarnish will appeal to someone who has already made a digital purchase but is looking to add further finishing capabilities to give their print a bit of a lift,” he says.

 “When you see what the Jetvarnish can do, you’ll run your fingers over it and have a good long look. It has a nice tactile feel and I think could do some real value-adding. For a modest investment printers can probably command a higher price per sheet given the luxurious nature of this product.

“It allows for the possibility for personalisation, applying spot varnishes digitally – where previously you would have to get into an involved analogue process to generate something like that. This device also comes at an interesting price point, and there aren’t too many players in this particular area.”

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