November 1999 Issue
Beams of Might
Laser diemaking stands ready to serve big and small shop needs. by Susan Friedman Many bigger die shops are upgrading; many smaller outfits are finding the investment more palatable. But where do the rosiest prospects—for buyer and seller—lie in laser diemaking systems? "Laser system sales have been cyclical," says Tim Christopherson, regional sales manager, Laser Machining. "Heavy sales prior to 1984 filled existing need, and very few were sold in the next few years." From his perspective, 1992 was the next peak sales year, and volumes are likely to swing upward again in the near future. Renewed sales volume could spring from any point
Chill Roll Pinning Takes Scrap to the Mat
by Susan Friedman Can the experience of a 30-year-old, 185-employee, short-run heat-set litho publication printer hold static control lessons for package printers? Quite likely. For United Litho, the stage for a static solution was set when a move from Falls Church, VA, to a new 70,000 sq. ft. building in Ashburn, VA, in March 1997 coincided with the purchase of two new Heidelberg/Harris M130 offset presses. "The M130 was a brand new design in 1997," recalls Press and Finishing Manager Tom Naquin. He estimates United Litho bought the seventh or eighth press off the production line, and start-up proved to be a bit
Conquering the Divide
With a commitment to internationality and diplomacy, Jean Benoit has helped build a stronger, more unified die industry. by Jessica Millward Canada is a nation of distinct and defined identities. The French-speaking population living around Montreal possesses its own culture—one very different from that of English-speaking Canadians, generally associated with the city of Toronto. Jean Benoit, founder and owner of Dieco Steel Rule Die, had a wish—to bridge the gap between Canada's two cultures of diemaking/diecutting professionals. As a long-time member of the International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD), Benoit has been dedicated to the expansion of the Can/Am chapter, and its mission
It's Like Totally' Digital
Printers willing to work through a few minor obstacles can reap huge rewards by implementing "total digital workpath" concepts and technologies. by Terri McConnell In 1919, three gentlemen put up $500 dollars each to start a new business in downtown Cincinnati. The company—Phototype Engraving—took its name from an amazing new technology for photographing type and etching it into metal printing plates. During the past 80 years, Phototype Engraving has remarkably remained on the leading edge of packaging printing technology, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services ranging from digital photography, to image asset management, to conventional and photopolymer platemaking, to short-run printing. The company is
Process Progress
Can the printing disciplines be ranked in order of UV usage? by Susan Friedman How easy is it to separate the UV leaders from the UV followers? On the surface, UV flexo has executed a clean swipe of the No.1 spot, right? Maybe so. But don't forget the longevity of UV screen and UV letterpress...two processes that confronted the unknowns of UV years ago and have been using it to their advantage ever since. And don't count out offset, which may be leaning on UV a bit more now to meet soaring quality goals, and gravure, which stands ready to employ UV if the
