HP held its annual global Imaging and Printing Conference and announced several new innovations, collaborations, apps and solutions for all types of users - from consumers and small to midsize businesses (SMBs), to enterprise organizations and graphic arts customers.

HP also announced that customer adoption of its cloud-enabled, web-connected print technologies has reached the mainstream, with more than 10 million printers sold to date.

“HP’s history of innovation runs deep, and we continue to leverage that legacy and build on it for future growth,” said Laszlo Czinege, general manager, Imaging and Printing Group, HP Saudi Arabia. “While printing in the traditional sense will continue to be integral to what we bring to the world, we are disrupting the market with leading innovations beyond the page as well.”

Scanning of 3-D objects; tools and services for SMBs
Micro and small businesses need the best tools to market and operate their businesses, especially when faced with potentially rapid growth. HP’s innovations help these businesses keep pace with the speed of customers:
— To capture images of 3-D objects and scan documents, the HP TopShot LaserJet Pro M275 is an affordable desktop companion that’s ideal for small businesses or home offices. It is equipped with HP TopShot Scanning, a revolutionary technology that captures six separate images of a document or 3-D object and produces one final seamless image of exceptional quality. With this technology, SMBs can quickly produce high-quality images for immediate use in printed materials or on the web. This product will be available on the Saudi market from February 2012.
— The new HP Officejet Pro 8600 e-All-in-One series and HP Officejet Pro 8100 ePrinter deliver professional-quality colour documents for up to 50 percent lower cost per page than laser printers, and enable printing from virtually anywhere when using mobile devices with HP ePrint. Enhanced with new inks, which resist highlighter-pen smearing, two-sided borderless printing and cloud solutions that can help businesses grow beyond the page. These products will be available on the Saudi market from February 2012.

New HP LaserJet printers, Scanjet printer for businesses of all sizes
HP introduced two HP LaserJet printers and an HP Scanjet printer that facilitate mobility and workflow for businesses.
— HP LaserJet Enterprise 600 M601, M602 and M603 printer series - a secure, easy-to-use web-enabled monochrome printer series engineered to help businesses increase efficiency and improve document workflow. These products are available on the Saudi market from next month.
— HP LaserJet Enterprise 500 color M551 series - an HP ePrint-enabled printer ideal for enterprise and SMB work teams that want professional-quality colour and document management tools. These producte will be available on the Saudi market from April 2012.
— HP Scanjet Enterprise 8500fn1 Document Capture Workstation - a scanner optimised for workgroups with high-volume scanning needs, featuring an easy-to-use, large colour touch screen. These products are available on the Saudi market from next month.

Mobile solutions for consumers and businesses
HP is making the mobile print experience even quicker and easier, so customers can stay focused on the tasks at hand - whether they are at home, at work or simply on the go. HP’s new and enhanced mobile solutions allow people to bring print into their digital lives no matter where they are.
— For SMBs, the industry-first HP ePrint Wireless Direct offering allows users to connect directly to supported HP printers without the need for network or internet connections. Users can simply walk up and connect to a printer from any Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device with a peer-to-peer connection.
— The new HP ePrint Home and Biz app unifies the HP ePrint experience with a mobile app for Apple iOS, Android or Symbian smartphones and tablets, available at no additional cost, making it easy for customers to print documents and photos.
— The HP ePrint Mobile Driver makes it easier to print from notebook PCs to HP-enabled printers. Users simply “File and Print” to any registered ePrint-enabled printer.
— The new HP Printer Control mobile app for Apple iOS devices delivers wireless access and control of a printer through a robust mobile printing experience. Customers can scan photos and documents to Facebook, Google Docs and scan to email from their mobile devices. They also can monitor printer and supplies status.
— In a mobile printing first, the cloud-unified HP ePrint app for BlackBerry smartphones allows BlackBerry users to print with one app to three cloud solutions: HP ePrint-enabled printers, HP Enterprise printers and HP Public Print Location printers. The app is available from 31 October 2011.
— HP ePrint Enterprise mobile printing version 1.6 now gives mobile device users the ability to leverage print job retention and PIN release functionality found in over 50 HP LaserJet devices, whereby a user sends documents to supported HP printers from their mobile device, releasing the documents to the output bin only when they enter their unique release code at the printer.

IPEX Digital Middle East which opened today (14 November) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) showcased the latest in Latex printing technologies which are now set to supercede the more environmentally damaging solvent ink printers, according to experts at the show.

Ashish Panjabi, COO, Jacky’s, reseller for HP, which is exhibiting at IPEX commented, “These water-based latex inks need no special ventilated storage and when used they are not considered hazardous waste material and can be disposed of safely with everyday refuse.”

As with many sustainability initiatives there is always a correlation between good environmental practice and cost-savings and latex technology is no different.

“Being water-based we save money on storage, no need for ventilated stores or printing areas. Customers also save money as Latex can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments safely, irradiating the need for multiple dedicated printers. Finally it improves turnaround time so that printers can take on more short notice jobs,” added Panjabi.        

The benefits are not confined there. In addition, the ink is more durable, the quality is far superior and you can print on a broader range of materials.

“Even the packaging is 100% recyclable,” said Panjabi

“IPEX will bring together businesses involved in print production, creative and design, print finishing, pre-press, photography, publishing and many other sectors of the industry – both global and regional,” said Binu Pillai, Exhibition Director of IPEX Digital Middle East.

Apart from the Latex technology which was created by HP, the digital leader will be showcasing their ‘versatile’ printing solutions for graphics, as well as books and publications.

“With digital technology driving innovation in the sector at an unprecedented pace, it is now essential for industry players to stay connected to this fast-paced marketplace,” commented Binu Pillai, Exhibition Director, IPEX Digital Middle East.

Running alongside IPEX is Signage, Imaging and Media (SIM), sponsored by Advanced Interactive Media Solutions, which will focus on the exponential growth of social media and other online marketing communications throughout the region.

Besides Gold sponsors HP, also exhibiting at the show are silver sponsors Konica Minolta Holdings Inc, a Japanese manufacturer of office equipment, medical imaging, graphic imaging, optical devices, and measuring instruments.

Company commends stringent measures taken by UAE Government to curb counterfeiting 

September 19, 2011

Ahmad Qasem - Channel Sales Manager

According to Epson Middle East, nearly 75 per cent of consumers in the UAE use only original printing ink cartridges, making the UAE the country with the lowest level of counterfeit ink use in the region. Epson attributes the stringent laws passed by the UAE Government against the sale of counterfeit products as the fundamental reason for the higher adoption of original ink in the country.

Ahmad Qasem, Channel Sales Manager, Epson Middle East, said, “The GCC market in general has a low level of usage of counterfeit inks compared to countries like Egypt, Iran and some other global markets. The UAE market in particular has been exemplary with regard to the use of original ink, which reflects the government’s strong commitment to eliminate counterfeiting.”

“Nevertheless there is a continuous need to educate end-users and resellers about the hazards of using counterfeit ink, and also about ways to distinguish between original and counterfeit ink cartridges,” added Qasem.

Epson points out that the risks and consequences of using counterfeit ink can range from sub-standard and illegible prints; reduced page yield; damage to printer; and invalidation of warranty to leaking cartridges; increased long-term costs; paper wastage; and environmental pollution.

“Our advice to end-users will be to not think of short-terms gains and always opt for genuine ink cartridges. We recommend Epson customers to buy inks from an authorized Epson reseller only as far as possible, and also to look for the watermark on the ink package to make sure the product is genuine,” added Qasem.

“If the print quality is inconsistent, if the cartridges are delivered in poor quality packaging, if the number of printouts from the cartridge is very low, or the print cartridge fails, this could mean that the product is not original,” pointed out Qasem.

HP to assist Al-Falak in resale & business planning

March 28, 2011

Ahmed Ali Ashadawi

Al-Falak Electronic Equipment & Supplies Co., a leading provider of technology-based end-to-end solutions in the Middle East, has successfully qualified for the 2011 Gold Specialist Imaging & Printing Partner Program of Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP), one of the world’s largest information technology companies. 

As a certified HP Gold Specialist in Imaging and Printing, Al-Falak will be aligned with HP’s sales strategy and gain access to HP’s enterprise customers. HP’s partner development managers will work with Al-Falak to coordinate HP’s reselling of its solutions and develop a business plan to drive Al-Falak’s sales. Al-Falak will also receive a partner insignia from HP to promote the added value it offers to its customer; have access to HP software development kits, support and training; and be invited to exclusive HP events.

“Our prestigious HP Gold Specialist status for 2011 affirms the exceptional quality of our services and solutions. HP carefully chooses its program partners based on their geographical reach, business stability, professional services and support capability. We were able to prove our excellence in all these areas and we are now eager to offer the superior benefits of the HP brand to our clients,” said Ahmed Ashadawi, CEO and President, Al-Falak Electronic Equipment & Supplies Co.

Al-Falak’s membership in the 2011 Gold Specialist Imaging & Printing Partner Program takes effect through October 31, 2011.

Leading printing solutions provider to highlight new ‘P-touch’ models at the exhibition

Brother Gulf, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of printing, communication and digital imaging products for homes, Read the full story

Mr. Mohammed Ali Addarrat, General Manager Lexmark International Middle East

Lexmark, a leading provider of printing solutions and services, conducted its two-day channel training program in Cairo, Egypt which involves working with resellers and retailers in key markets across the region, helping them to successfully sell and integrate Lexmark printing solutions. Read the full story

Dubai is ‘printing house’ of the Arab world, says Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Hisham Abdullah Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice Chairman, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, officially inaugurated Paper Arabia 2009, the first-of-its-kind industry expo at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event will continue until October 29, 2009.

Al Shirawi said: “This show can contribute effectively to the development of the paper, printing and packaging industry in the GCC. Read the full story

Aptec Egypt appointed authorized Lexmark  after sales service agents

Mr. Mohammed Ali Addarrat, General Manager Lexmark International Middle East

Lexmark, a leading provider of printing solutions and services, conducted its two-day channel training program in Cairo, Egypt which involves working with resellers and retailers in key markets across the region, helping them to successfully sell and integrate Lexmark printing solutions. Read the full story

Over 500 exhibitors from 24 countries unveil the latest in petrochemical, printing, packaging and plastic industries

Saudi Arabia has emerged as the most attractive investment destination in the Middle East’s petrochemical, printing, packaging and plastic industries, revealed Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC), organiser of “Saudi PPPP 2009″, in a press conference held today (Sunday, October 11, 2009) Read the full story

Leading manufacturer to unveil new line of colour printers and MFC’s at ‘GITEX 2009’

Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother International Corporation Gulf

A substantial shift from monochrome to colour printers and multifunction centres (MFCs) is being monitored across the Middle East, says Brother International Corporation Gulf, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of printing, Read the full story