BST PRO MARK

As evidenced by these application examples, package printers have put web inspection systems to work for a broad spectrum of reasons, from meeting customer or end-use requirements, to establishing a general competitive advantage, to achieving process efficiencies. See for yourself. By Susan Friedman, Editor Fast-forward for flexpack quality A general push toward quality assurance has taken hold in the flexible packaging segment, reports Koby Shtaierman, vice president, marketing and sales for AVT. He hears more printer requests to see the web at all times, to provide process control and quality assurance for big-name brands such as Frito Lay and Coca Cola. Flexible

Are electronics the major factor in keeping webs in line? Or are other, more conventional options the answer? By Chris Bauer THE WORLD HAS gone digital. That statement has been beat to death, pushed down your throat, and probably gone in one ear and out the other countless numbers of times in the past few years, especially when it comes to printing equipment. Isn't there anything left that can be done without bits, bytes, or megs? Makes you wonder how we ever got anything accomplished before the "digital revolution." Simpler equipment designs still have a strong appeal. Many printing companies report experiencing difficulty in

Digital's descent on web guiding continues, but converters also see value in tried-and-true approaches. by Susan Friedman Digital this and digital that. In package printing equipment, it's nearly impossible to avoid. Web guiding technology is no exception, though many converters are just now beginning to buy into their digital story—one that has been told for several years. BST PRO MARK has produced digital signal controllers, complete with internal networking capabilities and a flexible module bus system, for more than 10 years. The company's web guide expertise also includes ultrasonics, infrared, and CCD camera sensors, as well as pneumatic edge and servo-controlled sensor positioning. From

Variation in web inspection systems lets converters see just what they want to see. By Susan Friedman Whether package printers' fiercest print nemesis is skip-out, smudges, streaks, register or color, the web inspection market is teeming with improved approaches to sending defects packing, whether the budget is basic or no-holds-barred. In the narrow-web market, Brian Tithecott, marketing manager for Focus Automation Systems, reports strong sales to pharmaceutical, health and beauty, and prime label printers with a need for high quality, and in the case of pharmaceutical printers, perfection in each impression. "Wide-web printers," he notes in comparison, "are looking at inspection to improve yields.

Sophistication across all levels of web inspection technology make it a manageable investment for package printers. By Susan Friedman Why buy a Mercedes when you can reliably, stylishly get from Point A to Point B in a Honda? The infusion of sophistication across all levels of web inspection technology makes this analogy ring true for many package printers' purchasing decisions. "The largest base for video web inspection technology will continue to be simple, inexpensive video systems for general web viewing, while new image-based technology is being developed to bring value-added features to more sophisticated web printing processes," observes Paul Burrows, product application engineer at

A web guide technology overview confirms the progression of electronic controls, automation and custom approaches. By Susan Friedman Hardly an unfamiliar concept, web guides are often a taken-for-granted component of presses and converting lines. A closer look at this technology's latest developments can help converters squeeze further efficiencies from even the most intricately tailored press configurations. Web guides' longevity hasn't completely wiped out usage misconceptions. When Allen Rausch, application engineering manager for BST Pro Mark, Elmhurst, IL, is in the field, he often sees guide sensors positioned too far within the exit span of the guide frame. To work best, sensors should be in