PIA/GATF Announces InterTech Technology Award Winners
PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) has announced the 2008 PIA/GATF InterTech™ Technology Award recipients.
Twenty-eight nominations were submitted from 21 domestic and international companies, and 10 innovative technologies were selected to receive the award. The independent panel of InterTech judges deliberated over a unique cross-section of technologies, from consumables to MIS systems to large-format printing. Innovative advancements in technology were demonstrated in the form of digital press design, prepress content and color control, flexographic printing material, and value-added print processes. Process efficiency was a prevalent characteristic among many entries; submissions contained solutions to automate production steps, provide in-line process control, and manage production.
The InterTech stars, recognized as a symbol of technological innovation and excellence, will be presented before an audience of industry leaders during the 2008 PIA/GATF Premier Print Awards Gala, Oct. 26 in Chicago, Illinois.
A technology review booklet showcasing all 28 of the current year’s entries will be produced by Graphic Arts Monthly for release in Fall 2008; the booklet will also be available on www.intertechaward.com .
The 2008 InterTech™ Technology Award recipients are:
Alwan Dynamic DeviceLinks
Alwan Color Expertise (www.alwancolor.com)
Alwan’s Dynamic DeviceLinks technology applies sophisticated color management and quality control to standard PDF-based workflows.
EskoArtwork Neo
EskoArtwork (www.esko.com)
EskoArtwork Neo is a stand-alone native PDF 1.7 viewer and editor that provides the production tools needed to assess and edit multi-page PDF files.
POLAR P.A.C.E. Cutting Systems
Heidelberg USA, Inc. (www.heidelberg.com)
Through automatic loading, turning, aligning, and cutting of paper lifts without manual intervention, Heidelberg’s POLAR P.A.C.E. Cutting Systems allow for faster throughput with less operators, while achieving higher quality standards.
Prinect Inpress Control
Heidelberg USA, Inc. (www.heidelberg.com)
Prinect Inpress Control from Heidelberg is the first fully-integrated device for the sheetfed press that provides inline measurement and analysis of color using spectrophotometry while the press is in full production.
HIFLEX MIS and Web2Print
HIFLEX Corporation, North America (www.hiflex.com)
HIFLEX MIS, including eBusiness, Office, and Factory with Webshop and Print Support, use JDF to leverage total automation of procurement, estimating, production planning, order entry, and scheduling.
Inca Onset
Inca Digital Printers Limited (www.incadigital.com)
The Inca Onset is a large-format UV digital flatbed printer that handles print sizes up to 10.5 × 5-ft. and achieves production throughput of three hundred 3 × 5-ft. sheets an hour.
KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System
Kodak Graphic Communications Group (www.graphics.kodak.com)
The KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System is an integrated digital flexographic prepress system consisting of an imager, plates, laminator, and workflow.
MetalFX®
MetalFX® Technology (www.metal-fx.com)
MetalFX® is a printing system that creates thousands of metallic colors and effects in one pass on a five-color press.
Platinum White Technology
Sun Chemical Corporation (www.sunchemical.com)
Platinum White Technology ink is a low-shear, silicone-free, low-viscosity, excellent wetting UV flexo white ink that provides the same aesthetics as rotary screen whites with a single application.
Xaar 1001 Printhead
Xaar plc (www.xaar.com)
The Xaar 1001 Printhead is used in a number of high-quality digital presses to deliver excellent drop formation and placement accuracy with outstanding operational durability.
