Die Lifelines

Consumables are always a very prominent consideration in die selection because their physical composition may contribute to wear of the die material. As Atlas Die Product Managers Tim Bussard and Marc Love explain, "Many converters now use recycled paper products that may contain a small percentage of non-paper contaminants, including abrasive particles." Bussard and Love insist the printer must also add potential ink complications into the equation. As with paper, some inks are more damaging to die material than others. "A classic example of this is Titanium white, which is among the most abrasive inks and contributes to premature die wear," they note.