Asian Inroads

Here s a quote from the Library of Congress Congressional Research Service: The People s Republic of China launched its first astronaut, or taikonaut, Lt. Col. Yang Liwei, on October 15, 2003, Beijing time. China thus became only the third country, after Russia and the United States, to launch humans in orbit. The report adds that the launch raised congressional interests into the nature and scope of the Chinese space program. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) reports that it has various remote-sensing, telecommunications and navigation satellites, and others, aloft. Over the next few years, it plans to build an earth observation system and an independent satellite-navigation system. It also plans to improve its manned, space-flight systems and explore outer space. Today, China is among the top five nations with the most satellites in space. Russia is first, followed by the United States. On August 29, 2003, at the fourth conference of the Space Cooperation Sub Committee of the China and Russian Regular Premier Committee meeting, in Beijing, the CNSA reported that the conference reviewed and confirmed China and Russia s cooperation in the field of space technology. China also has space-cooperation agreements with Brazil, Iran, the Republic of South Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand and European aerospace industries. In 2002, China, for the first time, surpassed the United States in foreign direct investment, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. China received $52.7 billion; the United States received $30 billion. The China-based People s Daily newspaper explained why: A major reason behind the big increase in China s foreign direct investment is that more transnational corporations are moving their manufacturing operations to China. Low labor costs drive this trend. In January 2004, Digital Output writer Tom Franklin quoted I.T. Strategies (Boston and Tokyo) analyst Patti Williams as saying, …Chinese and Korean manufacturers are competing against the more established brands using low cost as the differentiator. She s saying Chinese and Korean-made printers cost less than those made elsewhere. Williams is also quoted in a November 2003 press release as saying I.T. Strategies …estimates that in 2002, more than 5,000 aggressive solvent printers were sold worldwide. She said that primarily, Chinese OEMs sold 70% of these machines — that would be 3,500 — in their own country. Aggressive solvent machines use cyclohexanone, a malodorous additive requiring ventilation and safety precautions when employed in the United States and Europe, but not China. In November 2002, Stewart Partridge, the managing director of Web Consulting Ltd., a U.K.-based consulting and research firm, said that China, with more than one million billboards in place, is the world s largest, outdoor-advertising market. Recently, Stewart recited these numbers at a meeting in ST s Cincinnati offices. His surveys indicate appoximately 700 superlarge-format printers operate in China, and many of these operate 24/7. He further said Chinese printmakers buy large-format printers for 40% less (equivalent) than their U.S. counterparts, and they can buy ink more cheaply, too. Stewart speaks with authority (he has offices in Boston, Abingdon, Oxon, England and Shanghai). His 12 staff people are strategically placed in North America, Germany, Japan, China and the Netherlands. Furthermore, his researchers include senior consultant Angie Li, who assists Web Consulting s development in China and other Asian markets. Among other things, Angie is Stewart s associate with the Chinese Screen and Graphic Imaging Assn. (CSGIA). She has a bachelor s degree in English communication from Changsha Electric Power University in China and a master s degree in marketing management from Brisbane, Australia s Griffith University. Angie speaks Chinese, English and Japanese. Jim Chang, a U.S.-based, digital-print-industry software expert and consultant, says the Chinese market is huge, but that Chinese-made printers aren t as sophisticated as U.S.-made machines, because Chinese customers aren t as demanding. Another cost-lessening factor, he says, is that digital-print-component companies are selling their older technologies to Chinese manufacturers at reduced costs. He believes that Chinese manufacturers will follow this low-price trend and enter the world market by offering less formal machines, at a lower cost than American- or European-made machines. Jim says alliances with the Chinese are difficult. He describes most digital-machine manufacturers as sole proprietorships and adds that, in China, both business and government have a different bureaucracy than in Europe or the United States. Although it s often done, he says, it s not easy to merge the two cultures. Still, China-based manufacturing companies know that, to succeed globally, they must first succeed in the United States. In October 2003, Matan Digital Printers Ltd. (Rosh Ha ayain, Israel, its American division being Matan Digital Printers Ltd.) announced its new, superlarge-format TeckJet™ line of digital inkjet printers. TeckJet printers are manufactured by China-based Shanghai Teckwin Development Co. Teckwin has awarded the Master Distributorship of this product line to Matan®, with exclusive territorial rights in Europe and North America.

Rami Einav, Matan s president, says the TeckJets conform to all international quality standards, including ISO9001/2000 and CE IEC/EN60204. His company s press release says the TeckJets are the only printers in their price range suitable for all large-format printing applications. It adds that the entry-level machines allow for a quick ROI. Matan has distributors in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa.

The TeckJet piezo-head, drop-on-demand printers use solvent-based inks and are available in either a 70.8-in.- or 98.4-in.-format width, in four- or six-color models.

Today, in addition to the Teck-Jet line, Matan offers its variously sized, thermal-transfer type Sprinter®, SprinterB®, Spark 1612®and Spark/ DFS. The latter is an extremely innovative, joint-production project of Matan and Allen Datagraph Systems Inc. (Salem, NH). An end-to-end processor, the Spark/DFS delivers roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet, pressure-sensitive labels, decals and industrial markings. Further, it will laminate, digitally die cut, strip, slit and rewind, or produce finished sheets.

One of the niftiest machines I ve seen lately is Brain Union Services Ltd. s (Seoul, South Korea) BusJet. This device, approximately the size of a |1137| EDGE™, piezo inkjet prints onto almost anything that will go through it, because it incorporates a precoating spray mechanism, with a dryer, that pre-treats the media. The first time I saw it, the device was printing on cigarette lighters.

Shanghai-based Fei Yeung Union Ltd. manufactures and markets the Infiniti line of wide-format digital printers and is developing overseas contacts; it has contracted with China s Domestic Science Development Institute to ensure improvements to its products.

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Seoul, Korean-based |1974| and Dream Printing Technology are also working on world markets, and Precision Industries (Dilli) offered a UV-cure printer at the International Sign Assn. s Las Vegas Sign Expo 2003. DGI Digital Graphics

Shanghai-based Yaselan Advertising Material Co. Ltd. is combatting the low-cost, China-made image. Its recent press release says the Chinese insist on machines that result in economic and reliable production, but, because …Yaselan is finding that the export markets tend to be even more exacting, it has improved its machine quality to meet worldwide demands. Yaselan has recently announced its YSL-S8N production digital printer with Spectra s Nova 256-nozzle printheads.

Yaselan says it s sold 400 print machines in China and others in Australia, Italy, Poland, Japan and Korea.

Spectra recently appointed Enhance Technology Corp. (E-Tech) as its Korean agent for the flat-panel display and electronics-fabrication market. Spectra s spokesperson says the company also has agents in China and Japan, but they re not specifically assigned to flat-panel technologies.

Spectra made this announcement in September 2003. Recently, I talked to Ed Chrusciel, Spectra s marketing director. He said that Spectra is marketing its SX-128 printhead worldwide, but, Because of the Koreans big interest, we ve contracted with E-Tech to augment our program there.

Ed says the Spectra SX-128 printhead is suitable for diverse technologies, because it s trimmable, meaning the operator may individually adjust the drop straightness, as well as the drop mass and velocity. You can buy the SX-128 today.

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In a separate report, Spectra s Marlene McDonald says, While other S-class printheads are designed for graphic-art applications, the SX-128 can perform as a micropump [my italics] for precision, dispensing applications, such as display manufacture. You can read her report on ST Media Group s ElectronicDisplayCentral.com website (www.electronicdisplaycentral.com)