Toray Industries Inc., the world’s leading supplier of waterless offset printing plates, is re-energizing its marketing efforts in the North American market beginning at Graph Expo 2010, October 3-6 at McCormick Place Exhibition Center in Chicago. Toray will be represented at Graph Expo by KBA North America and by Pitman Company. In addition, the company is sponsoring the International Waterless Printing Association at Graph Expo in the GREENspace pavilion.

“Toray will begin a new North American marketing campaign this fall, which will include new advertising, email blasts and PR activities, that will be directed at both the printing industry as well as the print-buying community,” says Eric Friedman, North American sales manager at Toray. “Our message is clear: waterless printing is not only a superior method of printing - it is environmentally-friendly and attracts print buyers and graphic designers with its superb quality and eco-conscious print process.”

Toray’s customers are finding that the ever-increasing interest and demand for greener, environmentally-friendlier printing is putting a positive spotlight on waterless printing and Toray plates. “Waterless printing is a greener, cleaner printing process that minimizes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and provides quality and productivity benefits,” says Friedman. “Waterless is particularly well suited for VOC-free UV printing and printing on plastics and non-absorbent substrates.”

Ever since it was introduced by KBA, the Genius 52UV 20-inch press has exclusively used Toray plates. The press, the recipient of the 2006 PIA / GATF InterTech award, is the world’s first waterless UV sheetfed offset press making it a ‘must-have’ option for printers who care about the environment. The KBA Genius has the ability to print on a seemingly infinite array of substrates, including plastics, cardboard and paper. In fact, its plastic printing capabilities alone produce a range of possibilities that include PVC, PC, PS, ABS, PET, and more. KBA North America will be located at Booth #1255.

The Pitman Company, U.S. distributor of the Toray waterless plate, provides a full range of graphic communication products for prepress to the pressroom, as well as ink and media. Pitman Company will be located at Booth #2611 where information on Toray’s innovative offset printing plate will be available.

The International Waterless Printing Association is a worldwide, non-profit trade association dedicated to waterless printing and its various forms. Toray is a sponsor member of the organization. The IWPA will be located in the special GREENspace pavilion in Booth #3240.

The Toray waterless plate permits offset printing without the need for water or fountain solution. Elimination of fountain chemistry provides many significant benefits, including enhanced print quality, higher color stability, particularly on non-absorbent substrates like plastics and film. In addition, waterless reduces VOC’s, water consumption and waste water generation in the offset printing process.