J AAA PRESS INT'L Doctor blade assemblies and parts for all narrow-web presses. Blade compounds: fiberglass, metal, and plastic. Sizes from 0.4˝ to 2˝ wide and custom lengths. Visit www.aaapress.com Allison Systems Advanced doctor blade systems/ holders, specialized steel, laser-hardened alloy, composite, lubricant plastic blades. Visit www.allisonblades.com J ARC International Offers a complete line of Xcalibur steel doctor blades in various sizes and configurations, including the X-90 linear edge blade, the X-91 beveled blade, the popular X-92 extra smooth radius blade, the X-95 lamella blade, and X-97 synthetic retainer blades. Visit www.arcinternational.com J MAX DAETWYLER CORP. High quality, custom-made blades available from MDC include:
Allison Systems Corp.
These products and companies were the most sought-after in 2002 by packagePRINTING readers. Top 10: Prepress Equipment 1. Creo—PDF-based packaging workflow Prinergy Powerpack, copydot scanning systems, film imagers, and CtP devices 2. Agfa—Workflow and color management systems including the AgfaScan XY-15 Plus, Sherpa 43 Inkjet system, and Lithostar plates 3. Kodak Polychrome Graphics—Offers Digital and conventional plates, film, and proofing and color technologies including the Kodak Approval XP unit 4. BASF—Offers Nyloflex® and Nyloprint® equipment combinations for processing photopolymer flexo and letterpress plates and sleeves 5. MacDermid—Broad range of sheet, liquid, digital, and water-wash photopolymer plates, platemaking equipment, sleeves,
Suppliers trace popular and pending doctor blade usage trends. By Susan Friedman The smooth, even business of ink metering isn't without its grayer areas. Yes, flexo printers have long been heavily loyal to doctor blades, particularly chambered systems...but metering roll applications still remain. And yes, gravure printers still favor trailing blade configurations...but reverse angle's potential hasn't faded away. Here, suppliers explore the sometimes uneven ink metering terrain. Flexo: chamber-made? For many flexo printers, the decision to use doctor blades instead of a two-roll metering system has been pretty, well, cut and dry. "There are not many scenarios where a two roll system will out-perform
