NO FLASH IN THE PAN (Laser digital converting presents compe

Further evolution

Suppliers continue to work to remove potential obstacles to a laser installation. Material compatibility issues are steadily tackled with substrate manufacturers, particularly in terms of the laser's ability to negotiate sharp corners, and to cut facestocks without damaging liners.

More specialized controllers, such as Laser Machining's Acu-Power® galvo controller, have been developed to automatically adjust to laser power levels typically required when tracing a complex pattern or a sharp corner. Suppliers also continue to pursue processing speeds that mirror conventional press speeds. Wave Front Technologies reports its SoftDie system has demonstrated speeds in the 100 fpm to 300 fpm range, depending on material and job complexity.