Punters are keeping the flame burning at the ExCel centre as they unload into the halls each morning, with finishing for digital printing rising to the fore on day four of the show.

The absence of heavy metal from Ipex has left the field clear for some of the smaller solutions developers to step into the spotlight, which in the case of digital finishing solutions companies they are doing with aplomb.

There must be three dozen different finishing equipment developers here that are focusing on creating systems for digital print businesses.

They range from the high tech Scodix digital multi-embellishment systems to the low tech creasing machines, with everything in between. Finishing has become an integral part of digital printing, in fact some say the most important part, as it is the differentiator between the flat sheets.

[Related: More Ipex news]

The Scodix on display was the new 1250sph Ultra, which marketing manager Marcus Adler says will produce, 'every embellishment you can imagine, in one pass'. Scodix is available through Currie Group, Adler says at least double the three systems that are already in Australia will be sold by the end of the year.

New entry level finishing systems were particularly prevalent. Morgana launched a 200 cycles an hour entry level PUR perfect binder, which is essentially its previous 150 model but with automated feed rather than manual. Duplo launched its 646 all in one finishing system, which performs a host of finishing tasks such as fold, crease, perf  in one pass on one machine

Watkiss, supplied here by FAB Equipment launched the entry level Bookmaster Pro Document Finishing System, which according to FAB owner Matthew Benn runs 25 per cent higher productivity than the previous system, taking 30 sheets. Watkiss has the stitch square back lie-flat system.

[Related: More finishing news]

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