2006-01-01
Executive Forum?Servo-Driven Presses
THE USE OF servo drives in package printing, especially when incorporated into the printing press, is one of several technologies that can significantly improve quality and productivity for package printers. To get a perspective of the impact that servo technology is having, and will have on our industry, packagePRINTING interviewed executives from several press manufacturers that have staked a claim at the forefront of this state-of-the-art technology. pP: What impact has servo technology had on the package-printing industry? Mac Rosenbaum, vice president, Aquaflex—The speed and accuracy of servo-driven presses are making it possible to maintain margins while still satisfying customer demand for stabilized
Ink Industry Hopeful, Despite Adversities
INK IS THE colorful part of the package-printing process. Metallics, phosphorescents, pearlescents, fluorescents—ink is often the most eye-catching component of packaging. That may be why, even in the face of rising production and product prices, the ink industry saw growth in 2005. For the last two years, ink manufacturers have had to boost the price of their products between 5-15 percent, with some offerings soaring as much as 30 percent. While some of the price hikes appear to be exorbitant, it's what ink companies have had to do to sustain margins and survive. At the root of this problem is the escalating cost of
Is it Time to Bump the Bump Treating
BUMP TREATING IS a way of life in a package printing plant. Re-treating substrate surfaces before going to press helps provide a consistent and predictable print quality. Skipping it can leave a print job littered with pinholes, poor ink adhesion, and other printing blemishes. Progress made in recent years in surface treating equipment has extended the longevity of treatment applied following extrusion, but printers still rely on bump treatments for successful runs. In fact, according to Ralf Weber, marketing, Erhardt + Leimer Inc., the trend in surface treating leans more toward multiple treatments. This is due to several reasons, Weber said, including: • Increased printing
Remote Proofing is Outtasight
Industry experts lend their advice on the best ways to approach remote proofing for packaging. IT HAS BEEN observed that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except that she did it backwards and in high heels. It's the same with proofing (Fred) and remote proofing (Ginger). Throw in the complex proofing requirements of packaging printers and a straightforward series of dance steps becomes an intricate high-wire act, in which the accurate long-distance reproduction of graphics, text, placement, and structure—as well as the matching of special brand or logo colors—can make or break an important job. Like commercial printers, packaging printers can save
Rewinders-A Look at the Future
REWINDERS PLAY AN important roll in today's print shops and can make or break a great print run. For example, registration can be right on the mark, color can be perfect, then Whammo!, during the rewinding process the entire roll can "telescope" into a useless pile of wound-up trash. "Maintaining uptime and reducing downtime on the rewinder has been a goal for some time," said Brian Ivens, manager, sales and marketing, Arpeco. "Quality of design and manufacturing has always been a significant method of providing reliability and dependability with equipment." There are many reasons the rewinding process can be a problem, but knowing what
The Key to Lenticular - Keep it Simple
EVEN THE MOST seasoned marketing guru has most likely been stopped in his or her tracks by the sight of some of the incredible lenticular print jobs out there on the shelves. "Oohs!" and "Aahs!" can be heard in an aisle that holds a product packaged in this eye-catching manner. But there's a lot a printer needs to know about lenticular products to achieve the right look within the right budget—and keeping the design simple is the best place to start. Keep it simple Let's start from the very beginning. Lenticular images are digital files that are printed onto a plastic material made up
