Drupa 2016 In Detail - Flexographic Technical Association

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drupa 2016 in Detail NEW at READY FOR Real Innovation in Lamination Technology Solvent Less lamination featuring no need of a meter mixing unit, no pot-life concerns, quality check as quick as in 30 minutes, slitting in 90 minutes, delivering within 24 hours and more. (*) Innovation made easy, the Nordmeccanica way, by means of creativity featuring the same low energy consumption, the same no emission policy as typical for solvent less lamination. Duplex SL One Shot is ready for Dow Symbiex adhesives and featuring the quickest change over time in the Solvent Less industry once used with traditional two components adhesives. (*) Once using Dow Symbiex adhesives. to learn more contact: NORDMECCANICA Spa Strada dell’Orsina, 16/A - 29122 Piacenza - Italy phone +39 0523 596411 - telefax +39 0523 612051 [email protected] www.nordmeccanica.com NORDMECCANICA N.A., Ltd. 155 Ricefield Ln, Hauppauge, 11788 New York - Usa phone +1 631 242 9898 - telefax +1 631 242 9899 - [email protected] Nordmeccanica N.A. Ltd is a full service company for USA, CANADA and MEXICO Visit us at Hall 4 Booth B42 Contents 72 Printers’ Perceptions 74 drupa, in a Word The event’s committee chairman, Claus Bolza-Schünemann, breaks down what 2016’s installment meant. Robert Moran FLEXO put a handful of questions to FTA printer members to gauge their views on what drupa 2016 offered and how it affected future plans. 76 First Contact: drupa, by the Numbers 78 Announcements & Introductions 80 Valid Observations 102 Intelligent Insights A collection of opinions, observations and general thoughts from drupa 2016. Facts and figures out of Düsseldorf, including attendees, exhibitors and more. Compiled by Robert Moran New equipment, software and products making their debut at drupa. A roundup of flexographers’ takes on drupa 2016. for the digitalization of printing techniques and processes for new applications in functional and industrial printing for utilities, i.e. new consumables, substrates, etc. drupa for rapid manufacturing and 3-D printing for the growth market of packaging Claus Bolza-Schünemann, chairman, drupa committee and CEO, Koenig & Bauer AG 72 Photos courtesy of Messe Düsseldorf F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 Photos courtesy of Messe Düsseldorf J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 73 drupa in DETAIL Printers’ Perceptions Flash Poll Findings: drupa & Its Impact Robert Moran S eventy percent of Flexographic Technical Association printer members that confirmed they sent one or more representative to drupa 2016 identified flexography as being a force at the global exhibition. Many reported their decision to attend was prompted by several different factors. Specifically: • 57 percent traveled to Düsseldorf to initialize or finalize capital equipment expenditure plans • 57 percent went to analyze technological advancements and their potential impact on business • 43 percent were attracted by the global nature of the event • 42 percent seized the opportunity to study digitalization of packaging • 29 percent focused on flexography and its future • 14 percent went to begin development of a specific business strategy • 14 percent said they wanted to maintain a competitive edge • 14.5 percent elected every choice as influencing their plan Those were the findings of FLEXO Magazine’s week long flash poll, launched immediately at the conclusion of drupa. Respondents all said they would consider returning in 2020 or sending a colleague in their place. Given that drupa’s official theme was “Touch the Future,” the sample audience was asked to identify major sub themes. The tally: Automation and efficiency 71.5% Digitalization of packaging 71% Complementary technologies across print processes 43% Boosting production and productivity 42% Packaging’s prominent place in the printing industry 14% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% *Multiple Responses Permitted 74 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 Based on what they saw, those polled listed out specific classifications of products they felt were destined to have the most profound effect on flexography. Their insights: Digital presses 57% Plates, sleeves, plate making and imagesetting 43% Hybrid presses 43% Inline converting applications 15% Process control systems and devices 14.5% Automated workflow systems/software 14% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Did FTA printer members make purchases/commitments? What did they buy? The questions had to be asked. Answers revealed: Plates, sleeves, plate making and imagesetting devices 60% Traditional flexo presses 20% Digital presses 20% Hybrid presses 20% Process control systems and devices 20% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Sample size constituted approximately 5 percent of printer membership. Results are presented to spur dialogue and should not be construed as highly scientific. J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 75 drupa in DETAIL Intelligent Insights Thoughts, Observations & Opinions from drupa’s Management Team DES KING “Brand owners today invest in imaginative, innovative and well executed creative design in order to achieve distinction and differentiation, as well as appropriate color management technologies to ensure accurate replication, irrespective of substrate or geographical location. Web based workflow platforms and systems now link all components within the packaging print supply chain. “Requirements for rapid response and competitive positioning have translated to short terms and shorter runs. That same level of expediency applies to the introduction of brand extensions and new products. As a result, enhanced analog process print and next generation digital equipment—designed to deliver accelerated, cost effective time to market—are competing for attention.” King CLAUS BOLZA-SCHÜNEMANN “Industry 4.0 is on everyone’s lips, but what is only in the very early stages in many industries is already being put into practice in modern print shops. Intelligently networked machines and systems are linked to form continuous process chains. Quality is monitored in the production line itself by sophisticated sensors. The necessary standardization is already very advanced. “It is no exaggeration to say the printing and paper industry is the pioneer of industry 4.0—with a continuous digital workflow from beginning to end. It might be the personal photo book with images uploaded online, converted into a high quality product in a modern printing center on fully networked systems in a largely automated 76 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 process and finally delivered to the customer. Or it might be the annual report, sent to the printer as one or more PDFs and then printed, folded, cut, bound and prepared for delivery in an end to end process. “This is the new quality: The intelligent networking of machines and systems has advanced to a point where automation is economically viable even for small jobs. Print 4.0 optimizes the process, helping printers to minimize downtimes and significantly increase the utilization of their systems: Bolza-Schünemann • Sensor based remote monitoring solutions in machines sound the alarm before a component fails, allowing the equipment to be proactively serviced • Closed loop color management solutions alert the operator when color begins to drift, even before it is visible to the eye • Machine manufacturers also link, structure and analyze the data from service, sales and marketing to offer printers informative performance comparisons and more tailored advice and training • VPN connections have been in use for years, not only for remote analysis but also for troubleshooting, updates and upgrades” MICHAEL SEIDL “The market for flexible packaging is significant and will continue to develop its digital side in the coming five years, but it is also subject to social change. People eat and drink on the move and because of this, flexible packs are gaining popularity and increasingly replacing fixed formats. In the food sector in particular, flexible packs are easy to handle, and they fulfill the current trend for less waste and a smaller carbon footprint. The convenience factor cannot be ignored. Photo courtesy of Messe Düsseldorf “Label print shops increasingly recognize that digital printing can be used as a logical adjunct to the long printruns in flexo or offset printing. Designs can also be changed rapidly. It’s almost as if label design is turning into fashion design; some wine bottles are becoming style icons as a result. “Digital printing is still relatively new in the folding carton market, even though there are now several excellent examples of applications here. The folding carton industry tends to use the technology for small and differentiated runs. Printruns before or at the end of large, conventional runs are another application. Digital folding carton printing is currently still considered to be in the early adopter stage; in other words, the users who have recognized the trends and developed the first applications. “To date, firms processing corrugated have been slow to adopt digital printing technologies, with the exception of those using flatbed systems. However, this is more due to the fact that, until now, there have not been many systems available on the market that could be used for corrugated. But this will be changing relatively quickly, due to providers, such as BOBST or the HP/KBA joint venture.” DRUPA ANALYSTS Data courtesy of Messe Düsseldorf “Flexography is doing very well in packaging (up 18 percent). Gravure is also seeing a modest but definite growth (up 3 percent) in this sector. That conclusion comes as a result of looking at some 14 common print processes. Digital technologies are growing fastest (on average by 28 percent annually), but sheetfed offset lithography is also seeing significant growth, particularly in publishing (net positive growth of 7 percent) and packaging (up 12 percent). Functional printing is a growth area for screen printing (up 11 percent), although digital is very important as well.” n J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 77 drupa in DETAIL First Contact drupa 2016: A Resounding Success Amid Outstanding Investment Climate Compiled by Robert Moran S ome 260,000 print executives “touched the future” over an 11 day period, stretching from May 31 - June 10, as they traversed the 19 exhibit halls on the Messe Düsseldorf Fairgrounds. They came for drupa 2016, where packaging took a prominent position as global manufacturers unveiled cutting edge technologies destined to simplify and enhance both analog and digital processes. Exhibitors numbered 1,837 and represented 54 nations, with just over 100 hailing from the U.S. and 15 of those taking up residence in a special U.S. Pavilion. Flexography ranked among the multitude of focal points, as did multiprocess combination print, digital integration, offset, gravure, screen and finishing solutions. Applications from flexible packaging, to corrugated, preprint, labels, pouches, folding carton, wide format, three dimensional (3-D) and printed electronics were discussed continually, as were the heavily automated premedia and prepress services associated with all forms of print. 78 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 Attendee surveys indicated brisk business was taking place, with purchasing decisions/commitments being made at a frenetic pace. Specifically: • 75 percent of attendees described themselves as key executives— the decision makers • 54 percent of visitors came to drupa 2016 with concrete investment intentions • 29 percent placed orders • 30 percent are planning to place orders • 60 percent found new suppliers When all was said and done, show management Messe Düsseldorf announced drupa will adhere to its proven four year cycle and be held again in Düsseldorf, Germany, from Tuesday, June 23 to Friday, July 3, 2020, rather than switch to a three year cycle and congregate in 2019, as had been planned in advance of the 2016 event. “drupa 2016, with its outstanding business deals and positive atmosphere, really stood out and has made one thing perfectly clear: Its USPs (unique selling propositions) are the production lines that are in full operation,” explained Werner M. Dornscheidt, president & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. With expectations exceeded, predictions point to a repeat performance in just four short years. On the following pages, FLEXO looks at the product introductions, line extensions and associated technological advancements, announced at drupa, that attendees saw as helping to propel the package print industry forward. It includes details on traditional and digital presses, digital finishing systems, converting equipment, press components/accessories, plate and sleeve materials, systems and imagesetters, process control tools, inks, substrates and everything else that comes together to turn out optimized, high quality, cost effective package print. FLEXO PRINTING Efficiency in its Purest Form Innovation · Leadership · Performance Comexi, with more than 60 years of experience in the flexible packaging industry, offers high performance in flexographic printing solutions with state-of-the-art innovation. The Comexi F4 has been the market leader in sales and the benchmark since its launch in 2010. Designed for short and medium runs, the Comexi F4 adapts itself to the converters market needs and trends. The Technological Center Manel Xifra Boada is the reference in consulting, innovation and offering custom-made test for our clients and suppliers. Polígon Industrial de Girona · Av. Mas Pins, 135. E-17457 Riudellots de la Selva. Girona. Spain Tel. +34 972 477 744 Fax +34 972 477 384 www.comexi.com THREE WORLD PREMIERES 1 BOBST pulled back the covers on technology and systems that deliver high productivity and low total cost of ownership in their respective process areas. A new member of the BOBST SIX range of flexo presses, the 40SIX delivers premium print quality and profitable production on runs of all lengths. Leading innovation in sheetfed die cutting, and folding and gluing processes, respec1 tively, are the completely new MASTERCUT 106 PER and MASTERFOLD 110 A3, both of which offer higher running speeds, much faster makereadies, less waste, increased uptime and technology that makes “zero fault” production achievable. These attributes also appear on the MASTERFOIL 106 PR hot foil stamping press, which features a new module, the FOIL UNWINDER. drupa saw three web fed world premieres from BOBST: • The M6 UV flexo press, which gives users access to the disruptive technology of digital flexo printing onto folding cartons and flexible packaging • The CL 750D compact laminator, that offers a way for converters to access new markets, such as ultra short run laminating • The MW 85F & MW 125F (CI) flexo presses, offering new levels of flexible packaging print productivity OPTIMIZED, INTUITIVE CI 2 With the MIRAFLEX C, Windmöller & Hölscher claimed to open a new chapter in the success story of the MIRAFLEX family. The new machine is characterized by improved accessibility, optimized ergonomics and sustainability, as well as intuitive operability. • The rear frame and the tunnel—the area between the printing unit and the rewind unit—were redesigned • Automatic cleaning of the impression cylinder, as well as the inking and ink cleaning system—TURBOCLEAN ADVANCED E, with electric pumps for pulsation free ink circulation are examples of multiple innovations included in the new machine • Integrated assistance modules— VISION—complete the innovations launched • Optimal interfaces are created between the operator, the modules 2 and the machine 80 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 The result: Full control for the operator, quick job changeover and less waste. In short: Increased profitability. MODEL OF EFFICIENCY 3 KBA Flexotecnica’s CI flexo NEO XD LR Hybrid is engineered for printing with solvent and water based inks, as well as curing ink systems, such as UV LED and EB. It is available with up to 12 colors, a cutoff from 15.75-in. to 47.24-in., a maximum web width of 64.96-in. and a maximum printing speed of up to 1,640.42 fpm. In terms of automation and operation, this innovative press meets various production demands in flexible packaging. According to KBA Flexotecnica, the NEO XD LR is the first fully hybrid machine featuring the unique possibility of using different flexo printing technologies, ranging from solvent or water based 3 inks to UV LED or EB inks, either as a single printing process or as a multiprocess combination, on the main central drum printing group, as well as on inline downstream units. And all this on a wide range of substrates ranging from flexible film to paper and board. Cutting edge technical solutions include a new ultra stiff printing unit designed to minimize the effects of vibration and plate bounce in the most severe printing conditions, ensuring excellent print quality at maximum speed. During the EVO XG’s development phase, the focus was on safety, which was addressed by new wrapup safety covers with protective glass doors. A new level of press ergonomics, which makes anilox and plate sleeve change faster and easier even in the case of large web widths and repeat sizes, guarantees efficient and economic production. related adjustment parts from the operating area, make maintenance easier and faster. Considered as a model of efficiency, the NEO XD is equipped with a number of integrated electronic solutions to make the machine’s automation and control systems more effective and easier to use. ROBOTS, TROLLEYS = FASTER PRODUCTION, GREATER CUSTOMIZATION 4 Comexi introduced its new F1 flexographic press and heralded the fact that it incorporates a robot capable of automatically manipu- A newly designed system for easy extraction of the inter color dryers and a new access door on the top of the central drum printing group frame, together with the renowned PIPELESS doctor chamber design that removes all ink piping and 4 “ A&V helped us streamline production and gave us a competitive advantage over other label printers. ” When a successful label printer like The Label Shoppe needed to streamline their production process, they turned to Anderson & Vreeland. With demands for shorter runs and tighter delivery windows, Ryan Gaytan and his team knew a digital press was the solution… “Being new to digital label production, we sought a partner offering strong support, a thorough knowledge of the marketplace and challenges converters face every day.” Anderson & Vreeland offers a complete range of digital and conventional equipment and software, plus single source responsibility for label and package printing requirements. Ryan Gaytan, The Label Shoppe, City of Industry, CA www.AndersonVreeland.com | 866.282.7697 | [email protected] J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 81 lating all the sleeves that intervene in the printing process. With the new F1, an increase in production of at least 25 percent can be achieved by the robot managing changes automatically, significantly reducing changeover time between jobs. Reports also indicate that a 30 percent improvement in customized print capabilities is possible. Sleeves are handled automatically and the robot can prepare them off machine in trolleys enabled to store the sleeves during production runs. Operators need only move the trolleys through a motorized system of transit. The new F1 is specifically designed for large formats, wide web and long runs—for example, the North American flexible packaging market. The F1 can print in eight and 10 colors with formats of between 17-in. and 53-in., material widths up to 68-in. and a velocity of nearly 1,000 fpm. transmission, iFLEX is able to provide higher print quality than typical mechanical printing presses of the past. COMPACT, FLEXIBLE PRESS 6 ONYX XS is the compact version of the ONYX range featuring the latest Uteco flexo technology and designed to optimize very short runs in flexible packaging and label printing. ONYX XS is characterized by: • A flexible configuration from basic with single reel shaftless unwinder/rewinder to fully automatic ones • No ladders or stairs to access upper decks • Between color dryers that are easy to remove, rotate and clean • CUBE, a new triple energy saving ventilation system for drying SUPERCHARGE PRODUCTION! Allstein’s next generation flexo press made its premiere. Billed by the manufacturer as the most advanced high performance wide web CI flexo press in package printing, the second generation Allstein Hydro is said to encourage printers to supercharge production and deliver jobs never before possible at profitable speeds. 6 QUICK & EASY ONYX XS can be equipped with: 5 Omet’s iFLEX is characterized by its simple operation and extremely quick startup times. A series of innovations make this machine unique: the iLight laser preregister system and the iVision printing register adjustment ensure optimal quality printing can be achieved in a few simple steps, accelerating machine setup after each job changeover and considerably reducing waste on each startup. With an innovative, direct driven 5 82 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 • • • • Kiss&Go: Fully automatic impression setting at startup SmartMatch: Reliable and quick color matching ChromaLab: An inline spectrophotometer Defect detection: 100 percent linear camera for detection of print defects Make-ready time Domino N610i 7-color digital UV inkjet label press …MORE PROFIT per job. …MORE CAPACITY in a given day. …MORE LABELS out the door faster. …MORE MONEY in your pocket sooner. Experience the DOMINO difference Contact us today for more information, N610i label samples, a Total Cost of Ownership analysis, or to schedule a visit to our newly expanded demonstration and training facility. dominodigitalprinting.com 800.444.4512 Why DOMINO? • • • • 38 years of inkjet experience Financially strong and stable Heavily invested in digital technology North American headquarters in Gurnee, IL Why N610i? • • • • Highest digital PRODUCTIVITY Most CONSISTENT print results Best digital inkjet QUALITY SIMPLE operating model See more. Learn more. Do more. EB FOR FLEXO Series Retrofit digital printing platform offers a combination of high print quality, fast job production and low equipment cost. ebeam Technologies, a brand of the COMET Group, debuted an ebeam system for curing inkjet inks in food contact materials, as well as a new application of ebeam technology that increases the productivity of CI flexo. The launch of the new ebeam Inkjet Dryer (EID) enables production of printed, personalized food packaging without the need for the photoinitiators required in UV cured inks. The technology enables customers to use both their flexo and digital assets to fit the demands of their business. Supporting its focus on safer food packaging, ebeam Technologies’ partner, Omet, demonstrated a new, wide web (33.46-in.) offset process that harnesses ebeam technology to offer food safe packaging. Omet presented its new Varyflex V2 Offset with Electron Beam drying system: a machine designed and developed to service the packaging sector, designed to best enhance Omet’s patented, sleeve offset printing units combined with flexo printing technology, always guaranteeing utmost performance in the production of flexible packaging on different kind of substrates, also with combining printing technologies. ebeam Technologies’ partner, Uteco, demonstrated a new process that combines printing, laminating and curing steps in a single, highly efficient process that improves throughput and eliminates the need for lengthy drying and storage before conversion. Uteco promoted the new concept “4-EcoOne” solution on the new ONYX XS, featuring four different processes integrated inline. It illustrated the eco friendly EB flexo printing, EB lamination inline, and automatic slitting and fully automatic unloading system for multi reel delivery, as well as an integrated unloading system for the final reels. BEYOND FLEXO 7 Colordyne Technologies demonstrated the production class 3600 Series Sprint. It prints at 500 fpm at a resolution of 1,600 by 725 dpi. The company also displayed its 3600 Series retrofit platform, which is an ideal digital printing solution for label converters looking to add full color digital inkjet printing to their existing flexographic printing press. Colordyne’s digital conversion program allows printers to turn an existing press into a state of the art hybrid digital web press. The 3600 8 With the largest exhibit space at the show—spanning the size of a football field in Hall 17— HP featured more than 50 digital printing solutions from across its portfolio, highlighting the innovation, speed, performance and power of digital printing. The company unveiled the new PageWide C500 8 Press, a flexible and robust industrial postprint corrugated solution, and also showcased the new Indigo Digital Combination Press, enabling Indigo print and digital embellishments in a single pass. Leveraging 30 years of HP Thermal Inkjet innovation and powered by proven single pass HP PageWide Printing Technology, the new PageWide C500 is a highly versatile, offset quality, cost effective solution for corrugated, direct to board printing. The new press is designed to seamlessly integrate into a standard production environment, from large integrated packaging converters with centralized or distributed printing, to small, independent sheet plants, enabling customers to affordably adopt digital technology for mainstream production and reinvent a segment ripe with opportunity. Helping to expand media versatility and enhance production flexibility, HP Corrugated Grip Technology allows customers to handle a wide range of media, from the lightest microflute to the heaviest double wall board. Additionally, new water based HP inks are designed for printing on the non food contact surface of paperboard packaging and comply with global food safety regulations and industry guidelines necessary to produce food compliant packaging. HP plans to start testing the HP PageWide C500 Press at customer sites in 2017, and the press is expected to be commercially available in 2018. HP also previewed its vision for the future of combination label production. The HP Indigo WS6800 incorporates Indigo print and digital embellishments in one press, creating a fully digital, single pass solution for more customers to deliver high value labels and packaging production. This new digital combination concept, developed in alliance with JetFX, will enable streamlined production of digital spot and tactile varnishes, digital foils, as well as embellishments of virtually unlimited designs made possible using the company’s SmartStream Mosaic commercial 3-D printing system. 7 84 DIGITAL POWER, CORRUGATED TO LABELS F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 MONOCHROME TO EXPANDED GAMUT IN A DIGITAL DIMENSION 9 Domino’s B2 digital printing sheetfed solution, including the newly launched 30.79-in. print width Domino K600i monochrome printer, operates at up to 393.7 fpm. Applications range from variable data printing for security printing and game cards to two dimensional (2-D) code printing onto carton sheets. Domino’s N610i 7-color digital label press won the category of Best Label Printer at the European Digital Press Associ9 ation (EDP) Awards ceremony on June 1. EDP represents 20 member magazines across Europe. Its awards recognize innovation and quality, as well as assessing aspects such as value to the user, support and service capabilities. With more than 50 units installed at label printers throughout the world, the Domino N610i operates at speeds of up to 246 fpm and has a native print resolution of 600 dpi. The 7-color press uses high impact UV curable inks including a highly opaque, screen like white, and enables more than 90 percent of the Pantone range to be printed. SINGLE PASS PRINTING SYSTEMS FOR CORRUGATED & LABELS 10 Durst entered the corrugated packaging and display printing segment with single pass and multipass printing systems for corrugated cardboard manufacturers and converters.   The Rho 130 SPC, with a print speed of up to more than 100,000 sq. ft. per hour, offers the industrial productivity needed to transform the packaging sector to digital technology. Alongside the more cost efficient production of shelving and sales packaging in small and medium sized job runs, the Rho 130 SPC also supports sampling, customizations and versioning—directly and without setup costs. chrome inline digital printing of cases, labels, folding cartons, mailing and addressing, and direct to shape applications. The inline laser imaging solutions enable customers to print personalized communication on various materials, such as paper, carton and plastics. This leads to a faster time to market, while engaging communication with consumers and brand promotions, as well as a significant increase in productivity, process optimization and cost reduction through SKU minimization. NEXT GENERATION DIGITAL FINISHING 11 Workflow efficiencies from Xeikon include: • For labels, the Xeikon CX3 offers a broad array of applications with inline finishing. Its top speed of 98 fpm ensures it is the most productive 5-color digital label press in its class • The 5-color Xeikon 3500, the flagship of the Xeikon 3000 11 series, was dedicated to folding The Rho 130 SPC is based on the latest generation of single pass printing systems which Durst is already using in the label printing segment, for instance, with the Tau 330, a single pass UV inkjet label printer. Configuration and automation options allow end to end production and, with low migration UV inks, also support their use on primary packaging. HIGH SPEED INLINE VARIABLE PRINTING DataLase, in cooperation with Ricoh and its Fibre Coupled Laser Diode Array (F-LDA), launched what was called revolutionary variprint technology for mono- 10 J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 85 PARTNERING UP • Kodak and Landa Digital Printing announced a strategic collaboration to provide an automated digital workflow that drives nanographic printing presses for mainstream commercial applications. PRINERGY Workflow’s digital press management, using the Workshop experience, enables an advanced level of control of Landa’s nanographic printing presses. Production decisions can now be based on real time metrics and changes can be centralized with the Digital Job Ticket Editor. Workflow and editing capabilities will provide complete control over all Job Definition Format (JDF) parameters understood by the press and can be automated through rules based automation • AVT (Advanced Vision Technology Ltd.) was chosen as the strategic provider of EFI’s print and quality control solution. Named Jet-IQ, the AVT solution will initially be integrated into the EFI Nozomi C18000 single pass LED inkjet corrugated board press • Shutterfly, a leading manufacturer and digital retailer of high quality personalized products and services, has leased 25 new HP Indigo 12000 Digital Presses, marking the largest customer installation in HP Indigo history. Shutterfly is shifting production to its new HP Indigo carton applications. By using CMYK + orange toners as an example, packaging converters can extend their color gamut to be able to achieve more than 72 percent of Pantone colors. It has a variable width of 9.8-in. up to 20.3-in., runs at a top speed of faster than 1,600 B2 sheets per hour and produces B2+ format • With Fusion Technology, Xeikon maintained that it comes very close to fully automated, unattended label and packaging production. It combines full color production printing with digital embellishment of labels and packaging in a single pass, fully digital production process SECURITY PRINTING ON DIGITAL PRESS 12 SCREEN Graphic and Precision Solutions Co., Ltd. finalized development of the Truepress Jet520NX high speed, roll fed inkjet press. The new model incorporates many of the advanced image processing and inkjet technologies accumulated by SCREEN over its many years in the printing industry. It is currently scheduled for market release in February 2017. 12 86 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 12000 fleet, and installation of the new presses will take place in summer 2016 to ensure the company is prepared for peak holiday season production of photo specialty applications, such as custom photobooks, greeting cards and calendars • Komori and Kodak entered into a strategic partnership that will deliver seamless interoperability between Komori KP-Connect (K-Station 4) Printing Task Control Software and KODAK PRINERGY Workflow. Integration will increase the automation and productivity of mutual customers • AVT’s strategic alliance with Erhardt+Leimer (E+L) combines the two companies’ technologies to offer SMARTSCAN—a new joint solution for print gross defect detection systems that is a comprehensive array of end to end solutions for packaging and label converters, from measurement and viewing to inspection and quality control solutions. The companies are co developing a next generation solution for the corrugated market based on the combined benefits of AVT’s Titan & E+L’s NYSCAN Corr inspection systems The Truepress Jet520NX is equipped with newly developed 5-in. printhead module and supports a maximum resolution of 600 by 1,200 dpi, plus advanced ink volume control. These features deliver significantly enhanced color reproduction. In addition to the standard printheads for four ink colors, the Truepress Jet520NX can be fitted with an extra printhead for a fifth color that enables the use of MICR black ink, invisible UV fluorescent ink and other special inks. These combined technologies support printing that incorporates various effects intended to prevent counterfeiting. ADVANCED, AUTOMATED, ACCURATE 13 Konica Minolta christened a new brand, Accurio, at drupa 2016. The name reflects the advanced, automated and— 13 most of all—accurate nature of Konica Minolta’s technology. The AccurioJet KM-1 can produce high quality images comparable to those of conventional sheetfed offset printing. Furthermore, this product is highly acclaimed and can directly print on a wide variety of paper media, ranging from art paper, coated paper and wood free paper, to embossed paper and packaging paper. The versatile AccurioJet KM-1 is capable of serving general commercial printing to small size packaging markets. Single pass inkjet technology, combined with the high speed UV ink technology, enables high speed printing. On the label front, Konica Minolta offered optimized print quality and value added printing with its bizhub PRESS C71cf full color digital label press. It was demonstrated in combination with MGI’s JETvarnish to produce high quality labels. Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) printheads were publicly unveiled for the very first time by Konica Minolta. Nozzles described as being arrayed in high density are said to enable higher resolution printing with fewer printheads deployed in the process. They are compatible with a wide range of inks and offer higher resistance than traditional inkjet printheads. Konica Minolta maintained it is poised to contribute to the expansion of the industrial use inkjet market and the development of new inkjet applications. MEMS targets label, commercial printing and industrial applications. The technology forms micro sized mechanical systems on a silicon or glass substrate, which require highly advanced micron scale fabrication technologies. FROM PLATES TO PRESS 14 Fujifilm lauded a water based flexo printing plate, FLENEX FW, which it says guarantees reduced dot gain and better ink transfer for cleaner and brighter print results. Plate making times can be cut to less than 40 minutes. 14 TOTAL WORKFLOW CONTROL? ALWAYS, WITH CAMIS PLATE MOUNTING SOLUTIONS. • Manage everything a hectic flexo print shop throws at your mounter. Handle all your presses. Models for cylinders and sleeves & proofing. Narrow, Mid & Wide Web. • Improve & standardise ALL your plate mounting procedures, not just registration, with effective and practical FULL process control. • Very easy to use ergonomic operating system. • Multiple or single lanes. Camis is always rapid and highly effective. • Ultra-reliable with minimal servicing or re-calibration required. • Cylinders & Sleeves always “Press Ready”, no down time on press due to manual tape or plate mounting. • Off Line Powered Tape Applicator and Demounter • The New SleeveMASTER HD. • Installed widely in the US & Canada. U.S.A. SALES AND SERVICE TRI-X INCORPORATED • +1(805) 466-1077 • [email protected] GLOBAL DISTRIBUTORS FOR CAMIS S.R.L. EUROGRAV LTD • +44(1483)474426 • [email protected] J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 87 PARTNERING UP, CONT’D • EFI and Esko signed a letter of intent to bring a combined workflow solution to market that will enable companies to produce packaging with a single seamless and integrated workflow. This collaboration will connect EFI Fiery digital front ends (DFEs), Esko workflows and EFI ERP/ MIS solutions to provide a unified production ecosystem for packaging companies. In addition, customers using the Esko workflow will be able to prepare jobs once for output and use EFI’s optimization tools to route them to their Fiery driven digital production devices with a single seamless experience. EFI and Esko intend to develop a unified workflow for digital printing of packaging using EFI’s industry leading Fiery DFE, combined with Esko’s industry leading workflow automation platform • Imagine!, one of North America’s leading providers of large scale point of sale displays and in store signage, will be a beta site for the Landa S10 nanographic printing press, Landa’s single sided B1 (41-in.) press. The press will be installed at Imagine!’s facility in Minneapolis and will be predominantly used for POP/POS display work, The firm’s new LED UV inkjet press for flexible packaging applications continues the company’s core philosophy of offering high performance, high quality digital print solutions, and thanks to a reliable media handling system can deliver productivity of up to 164.04 fpm using the five standard CMYKW ink colors. This new press uses an LED UV curing and drying system, so the amount of heat applied to the substrate is minimized, reducing power consumption and enabling the press to be used with a wide range of flexible substrates. DEFINING EDGE 15 Kodak maintains it is helping define the future of flexo printing with the introduction of its FLEXCEL NX System ’16 and ULTRA NX. The new FLEXCEL NX System ‘16 includes Advanced DIGICAP NX Patterning with patented Advanced Edge Definition technology that dramatically improves ink transfer in the broadest range of print applications and controls ink flow at the edge of objects, resulting in cleaner print, increased contrast and greater visual edge definition. Implementation is streamlined with NX tags for the application of multiple patterns on a single plate layout. New features, combined with Kodak imaging and material technology, enable the FLEXCEL NX System ‘16 to uniquely serve the wide ranging demands of flexo print applications, including wide web flexibles, 88 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 15 eliminating setup waste and creating versioned stacks of printed product that will dramatically reduce the high costs associated with fulfillment services • Esko and Landa Digital Printing entered a strategic collaboration that brings together their respective solutions to create an end to end digital folding carton workflow that drives nanographic printing presses. This integration enables folding carton packaging converters to automate their workflow starting from order entry over prepress to the ultra high speed Landa S10 nanographic printing presses. Esko and Landa are showing bi directional connectivity from the MIS (EFI Packaging Suite with RadiusERP software at its core) to Esko Automation Engine to the Landa DFE powered by EFI Fiery technology. Esko Automation Engine, including Esko Color Engine for color consistency, is further complemented with Esko WebCenter for online collaboration and approval, thereby integrating the entire folding carton production workflow from design to production on the S10 at 13,000 B1 sheets per hour narrow web labels and paperboard printing, with a single plate type. This gives prepress operations that switch from competitive technologies the added opportunity to reduce inventory, errors and complexity. FLEXCEL NX System ’16 also introduces corrugated postprint customers to the proven industry changing benefits of the Kodak FLEXCEL NX technology. Kodak and Uteco partnered in presenting a hybrid press for labels. It can print film labels with water based inks at production speeds to 600 fpm. Some 30 servo motors are deployed in a way that allows the film rollers to be so finely and positively controlled that contact tension is always held to perfection. Kodak advocates for a hybrid solution that combines the speed, cost effectiveness and versatility of flexo printing with KODAK FLEXCEL plates with integrated, inline high speed inkjet components for package customization. Demonstrated by Uteco, the KODAK PROSPER S20 Imprinting Systems can be integrated into a conventional flexo press to add variable content at high speeds to high quality package designs. INTEGRATING IMAGING & EXPOSURE 16 Esko urged customers to take control of flexo plate production, achieve faster turnaround times and deliver more consistent plates. It called attention to what it considers 16 “the most exciting innovation in flexo plate making since the introduction of the CDI (Cyrel Digital Imager)”: a brand new integrated flexo imaging and exposing solution, the CDI CRYSTAL 5080 XPS. This solution is said to deliver a 68 percent reduction in operator time for plate making; 50 percent reduction in operator training time and 74 percent faster time to plate. The company also showcased Equinox for expanded gamut (EG) printing. At all steps in the workflow, the Equinox ecosystem provides tools to implement EG in a simple, effective way—from fingerprinting the press, to conversion of packaging artwork, to gamut expansion of an image. Artwork conversion can take place inside Esko’s high end packaging editors, or inside the Automation Engine workflow. Building these tools inside the prime platform used for packaging prepress makes adoption of the solution straightforward. An integrated contract proofing product, Pack Proof, provides accurate proofs of EG jobs, giving converters confidence in the result before going on press. consistent plate dimensional stability vital for fixed color palette printing, delivering significant quality and OEE benefits. CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH ENDLESS COLOR 17 Pantone launched 112 new colors for graphic design to offer the most comprehensive palette available—1,867 in total. Product development saw hundreds of designers across graphics, packaging, print and web design surveyed. Findings indicated a desire for more blushes, blues and neutrals. “Color is a visual cue that draws us 17 to establish a connection with our environment and the things we love,” said Kathryn Shah, VP, marketing. “Color breaks through the noise, commanding our attention, conveying a mood or style, and enabling expression of unique identities for individuals and brands alike. That’s what this palette and our new campaign are about—exploring creative expression through endless color.” COMPRESSIBLE BLANKETS & SLEEVES 18 Printing blanket specialist ContiTech expanded its range of printing products in presenting its first ever Laserline flexographic STUNNING QUALITY, EFFICIENT PRODUCTION Lamenting its Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer, Asahi Photoproducts proclaimed its plate technology is specifically engineered to transfer all remaining ink to the print substrate, due to the photopolymer plates having a lower surface energy than others on the market. This reportedly delivers stunning graphical quality, while also improving overall production efficiencies—reduced makeready waste and fewer press washups. New plates include: • AFP, a double layer digital flexo plate, designed to produce deep vibrant color prints for water and solvent based inks in flexible packaging applications. Deep color balance is delivered by using a unique multilayer polymer solution, giving the best balance between highlight dots and deep vibrant colors within one plate • AWPDEW plate solutions incorporating the renowned quality properties of AWPDEF plates with the addition of a faster processing speed, making this plate ideal for larger format flexible packaging operations with higher throughput. It has the same 18 J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 89 PARTNERING UP, CONT’D • Camis S.r.L. and Eurograv Ltd. unveiled a brand new flexographic sleeve mounting solution known as the Camis SleeveMASTER HD Pro. It’s specifically aimed at the mid to wide web flexographic printer looking to improve print quality, registration, press uptime and overall process standardization from operator to operator and sleeve to sleeve. The Camis SleeveMASTER HD Pro will be available in widths from 35.43-in. up to and more than 78.74-in. wide and with print repeats up to 49.21-in. • BHS Corrugated Maschinen, Anlagenbau GmbH, and Screen Graphic and Precision Solutions Co. Ltd. announced an exclusive partnership to develop the BHS Corrugated Inline Digital Printing Solution for corrugated box plants. A new company, Screen GP IJC Ltd., has been established to develop the print engine technology that will be integrated into the new digital print solution. The new company will integrate core competencies in inkjet, engineering, web transport and manufacturing to develop the new industrial inline print engine. The alpha installation of the BHS Corrugated Inline Digital Printing Solution is planned at a customer site in 2018 • Autajon (Sinel) ordered at drupa a Domino N610i integrated with an AB Graphics Digicon 3 in the form of a modular hybrid printing system for the production of high quality labels, combining UV flexo and UV inkjet printing. The hybrid press will be installed at the Sinel plant located in Barcelona, which is part of the international Autajon Group, headquartered in Montelimar, France • Kodak marked a significant milestone in the worldwide adoption of its industry leading flexographic plate technology with the 500th order of a FLEXCEL NX System. Multidruk, a Polish flexographic prepress provider that is also expanding its services to the rest of Europe, ordered its second FLEXCEL NX System. The new FLEXCEL NX printing sleeve, featuring a compressible layer. This layer improves printing performance and eliminates the halo effect. Phoenix Xtra Blankets presented the Nova Spot, a compressible coating plate, which—thanks to its special, newly developed top compound chemistry—is ideal for both water based and UV varnishes. The specially designed manufacturing process guarantees the top compound and the Mylar foil are securely joined together. Even very aggressive UV varnishes do not cause delamination. Another new product, the Conti-Air Duo printing blanket, was designed especially for packaging printing and has a double compressible layer. This minimizes imprints in the blanket and the cutting of edges. 90 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 Wide System will be an addition to the mid sized device ordered in 2012 • New Solution incorporated Memjet inkjet printing technology into its all in one wide format labeling and packaging solution, NS Multi. This new multilayer machine can produce several applications for end user customers, including printing and laminating on substrates like cardstock and corrugated. The printer features 5-color printheads, and can print at speeds of 11.81 inches per second of 1,600 by 800 dpi and 5.90 inches per second at 1,600 by 1,600 dpi. The NS Multi can accommodate variable widths up to 42-in. • TRESU announced the sale of a hybrid wide format Flexo Innovator printing line to Dominion Packaging in Richmond, VA. Dominion purchased a multiple color Innovator press with hybrid printing capability which is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2016. With its robust build, advanced level of automation, ergonomic design and minimal setup times, the Flexo Innovator is said to offer significant efficiency gains and outstanding quality consistency at extremely high production speeds • Fujifilm North America, Graphic Systems Division forged a strategic partnership with Heidelberg Druckmaschinen AG and launched the Primefire 106. The new B1 digital inkjet press enhances the range and application of Fujifilm inkjet technology—the J Press 720 series—in the B2 space. A new print engine design will soon incorporate Fujifilm Dimatix Samba state of the art MEMS printhead technology, and combine with Heidelberg’s developments in press manufacturing and system integration capabilities to achieve quality output comparable to offset, with superior consistency and reliability. Commercialization for the new platform is anticipated in 2017 MOUNTING MADE EASY 19 Building on 10 years of experience in automatic mounting, AV Flexologic claimed it has taken automatic mounting to the next level in speed, accuracy and repeatability. It launched the second generation Fully Automatic Mounting Machine (FAMM) that is said to: Eliminate mounting related press downtime Require no operator interaction Ensure 5-µ. positioning accuracy Facilitate 45 second to 60 second mounting time, creating more mounting capacity • Incorporate HD Ethernet cameras and lightbeams for higher measurement accuracy • • • • A new introduction, the Automatic Tape Mounting Machine (TAMM), applies tape evenly with consistent pressure. It: • Saves 20 percent on tape thanks to zero waste and spiraled application • Frees up valuable operator time • Applies tape without air inclusions • Features a sleeve carousal that allows for up to eight sleeves in mounting session ENGINEERING BETTER FLAT TOP DOTS MacDermid Graphics Solutions expanded its LUX ITP offerings to include several additions: 19 • LUX ITP M is a softer version of LUX ITP 60, well suited for paperstock, folding carton, and tag and label applications. This is the plate for printers who are looking for the benefits of medium durometer printing plates, including improved solid ink density and increased plate flexibility. LUX ITP M is available in sizes up to 50-in. by 80-in. and in thicknesses of 0.045-in. to 0.112-in. • LUX ITP C is a capped version of ITP 60, ITP C’s modified surface allows for better ink transfer and superior coverage. LUX ITP C builds on MacDermid’s years of capped plate experience and knowledge that began with EPIC and Digital EPIC products. LUX ITP C is specifically developed for maximum compatibility of the cap layer with the ITP chemistry, as well as for outstanding roughness consistency throughout the cap layer. LUX ITP C is also available in sizes up to 50-in. by 80-in. and in thicknesses of 0.045-in. and 0.067-in. Additionally, the firm announced it leveraged its expertise in flat top dots to engineer a dot that is ideally suited for the corrugated market. Digital MAF reportedly dramatically reduces fluting in corrugated direct print applications—customers have noted it has the lowest fluting ever seen with a digital plate. Digital MAF is available in thicknesses of 0.112-in. to 0.250-in., in sizes up to 50-in. by 80-in. SLEEVE SCANNER Glunz & Jensen unveiled the FlexScan 1800. It enables premedia service providers and converters to exercise full control of sleeve quality before going on press, which prevents production stops and optimizes pressruns. FlexScan digitally scans for “low and high spots” on round sleeves and thereby eliminates the need for a full test run on a printing press. At the same time, the FlexScan delivers a quality report (PDF or in print), with relief depth/height that is used to document the quality of incoming or outgoing sleeves. This process can be done in 20 minutes—compared to more than two hours with the current quality control process in the market. This will enable customers to cut repro time up to 80 percent on each sleeve or adaptor and secure an optimal prepress workflow along with the highest possible print quality. MODULAR, EASY PLATE MAKING 20 Vianord Engineering highlighted what it billed as the first and only modular system for the full automation of flexo plate making— Easy to Plate. Starting from the CPI for digital plates, the line includes an inline transfer system that carries the plates from the laser to the exposure unit with an LED technology (back and main), and through the entire process until storing them into a stacker, enabling intervention free processing. 20 Components can be purchased individually and joined together over time. Included in the offering are: • • • • Exposure system—back and main—with LED technology Processor with automatic dryer 3-D brush motion automatic punch Double washout unit for digital plates in sizes up to 35.43-in. by 47.24-in. (a smaller version accommodating plates of 25.98-in. by 33.86-in. is available) SHORT RUN, HIGH SPEED, COST EFFICIENT 21 Marvaco collaborated with flexographic press manufacturer Soma in launching the latter’s OPTIMA2 CI press. In printing a pet food job live at the show, design, prepress work and plates were J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 91 produced by Marvaco with the objective of demonstrating short run jobs can be printed with high speed in a cost efficient manner. The demonstration combined several groundbreaking technologies, with which several PMS tones and challenging designs can be implemented without any spot colors or compromises. The implementation includes the Marvaco Full HD Flexo and the Multiscreen FM raster, combined with the Marvaco EGP (Expanded Gamut Printing), to overcome the challenges in a demanding and colorful print. Among the highlights: • Product images with very high line density • Very high density aniloxes • • • • • • Very low printing ink consumption High densities thanks to micro surfacing on the plate A progressive, slow process color technology Small, round dots and strong solids in the same color Printing various artwork at the same time Short jobs run with high speed printing COMPLETE CONTROL 22 Grafikontrol’s TQC-360 platform puts the emphasis on total quality, thanks to features like: 21 Kai Lankinen, managing director, Marvaco, left, and Petr Blaško, marketing director, Soma, right, with EG print 92 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 • SYSTEME CHROMATIQUE color management, an innovative system that optimizes images and PDF files by improving print quality and reducing processing costs. The system integrates into any workflow, simplifying the process and increasing repeatability and productivity • CHROMALAB, a spectrophotometer that provides real time measurement and color correction during production in gravure, flexography and digital printing • MATRIX, a sampling camera with motorized zoom for detail inspection and bar code verification • LYNEX, a 100 percent print inspection system that uses the latest computer vision hardware and software • PROGREX, a combination of the functions of MATRIX and LYNEX to form a complete tool that helps the user with each control phase for flexographic, gravure and offset processes • CR25-CR26, a register control system with MicroMarks, that allows for the reduction of register marks in very small spaces, thanks to high speed cameras • CR33-CR34, a register control system for packaging flexographic and rotogravure presses that ensures stability among colors for the entire production and reduces waste FLAT TOPPED & MICRO TEXTURED 23 nyloflex FTF Digital (flat top plate for flexible packaging), awarded a 2016 FTA Technical Innovation Award, has opened the way to further innovations. Following The Easy Way, Flint Group Flexographic Products has now expanded its product range with a further inherent flat top dot and micro textured flexo plate. Specifically designed for 23 absorbent substrates and water based inks, the 22 J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 93 new printing plate targets customers in preprint, beverage cartons or flexible paper packaging and offers the benefits of flat top dots in a simple way. It achieves enhanced ink laydown and improved solid ink density on fiber substrates. Currently in the extended field trial phase, the new printing plate will be commercially available in the last quarter of 2016. Also of note is the new rotec lightweight sleeve, a hard coated sleeve for conventional plate mounting with adhesive tapes, which offers weight savings up to 40 percent compared to standard sleeves. Additionally, it meets a range of customers’ requirements in the mid to wide web and preprint sectors. With this sleeve, maximum weight limits in the pressroom, shorter and easier press setups, or missing adapter configurations can easily be managed. The entire edge of the rotec lightweight sleeve is sealed with an aluminum plate, which protects the sleeve from exposure to cleaning liquids, inks or solvents, and prevents unnatural diameter growth of the sleeve. The new sleeves are available in rotec Omega Surface Technology for the use of solvent based inks, as well as with other well known features like the rotec Stainless Steel Register Ring. Flint has made an important technical development in prepress: the brand new rotec Eco Bridge with breathable metal ring creates an air pillow to virtually eliminate all tight fit and sleeve mounting problems. This bridge reduces up to 90 percent of the air volume requirement, up to a 30 percent reduction in noise, and significantly improves ease and speed of mounting all sleeves. X-RITE COLORCERT DELIVERS PROCESS CONTROL The foundation of a successful EG print process includes the ability to control color across the entire workflow and at multiple locations. ColorCert: X-Rite Edition provides real time monitoring of color performance to ensure stable production and consistency of EG colors. ColorCert users can create color specifications and monitor production. A scorecard applies a score to each job, site or client based on specified color tolerances, and the score reflects the overall quality level of an EG run. This provides a fast and easy way to verify the process is in control. In addition, ColorCert provides the ability to drill down on any specific metric to support troubleshooting when overall quality levels indicate adjustments are needed. When ColorCert and PantoneLIVE solutions are used in conjunction with X-Rite’s measurement solutions, converters are equipped to start transitioning to EG printing in the pressroom. X-Rite’s family of spectrophotometers, including the new X-Rite eXact Xp fully automated X-Rite IntelliTrax2, offers accurate and repeatable color measurements for EG printing on a variety of substrates, including flexible film. 94 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 SMART BONDING 24 Lohmann presented five new innovations in the graphics market segment under the motto “Smart Bonding for Flexo,” including: • DuploFLEX 5, which consists of several compressible tapes that differ in their foam hardness and adhesive performance • DuploFLEX HP 5, for difficult and demanding print jobs • DuploFLEX CB (Corrugated Board), which ensures the best printing results in high quality postprint. The line of products’ strengths are enhanced print quality and cost effectiveness • DuploFLEX EB (Engineered Bonding), combining proven features of the DuploFLEX 5 range with new, product specific properties • DuploFLEX EBX, suitable for a wide variety of foams, from very soft to very hard, with a maximum width of 0.054-in. 24 MULTIPROCESS IMAGESETTER Lüscher Technologies unveiled its XPose! FlexLine 330L for 42in. by 60-in. formats. It combines a revolutionary dual optic with 5,080/2,540 dpi with a unique patented inside drum system. It was positioned beside the MultiDX! 320, the all in one computer to plate system line equipped with a dynamic autofocus, which automatically adjusts any unevenness of the plate material of up to 0.0197-in. during the exposure. Furthermore, MultiDX! 320 can be equipped with up to 128 laser diodes to allow processing of larger screen frames. With this universal system, almost any printing form, such as flexo, rotary screen, letterpress and offset printing plates, flat screens, and aluminum and copper plates can be exposed. CTP RIP Xitron’s Navigator RIPs drive computer to plate devices from almost all major manufacturers, including Agfa, Kodak, ECRM, Heidelberg, Fuji, Krause and Presstek. Most recently, Navigator has become the RIP of choice for driving high speed inkjet systems from Astro, Neopost, Colordyne, Trojan and SuperWeb, along with many other Memjet OEMs. Navigator 11 provides improvements in speed, memory usage and screening for flexographic printing as well as functional enhancements, such as better handling of poorly formed PDF files, specific use of PDF/VT hints, and export of dieline separations when used in package printing environments. For high speed inkjet applications, Navigator 11 introduces features to improve speed on image heavy jobs, increasing productivity so that pages are fed more quickly to the press. GREATER TRANSFER, HIGHER RESOLUTION DuPont highlighted its newest equipment offerings that are advancing flexography by delivering color complexity and workflow simplicity, including Cyrel EASY flexographic printing plate technology and Cyrel FAST 2000 TD system. The new Cyrel EASY technology platform simplifies the prepress process by building the flat top digital dot directly into the plate, resulting in increased productivity and consistency. Cyrel EASY plates are based upon a new polymer that produces higher ink transfer and higher resolution, plus customer testing has shown significantly higher SID without compromising on highlights. Cyrel EASY plates are available for FAST/thermal and solvent processing, and in engineered and smooth surfaces. DOW & NORDMECCANICA: “NEW, REVOLUTIONARY” LAMINATION IN SOLVENTLESS ADHESIVES 25 SYMBIEX Solventless Adhesives, Dow’s new ultra fast curing adhesive technology, combined with the innovative Duplex SL One Shot lamination line from Nordmeccanica, is said to redefine packaging lamination, offer converters best in class conversion efficiency improvements, shorter time to market and effect total conversion cost reductions. Greg Bunker, global business director for Dow Adhesives for Packaging, Textiles and Hygiene, commented, “We succeeded in introducing the biggest innovation in packaging lamination in 50 years.” Vincenzo Cerciello, vice president of technology at Nordmeccanica Group, added, “Dow and Nordmeccanica worked together to reimagine the current conventional lamination process and address some of its fundamental limitations, namely combining fast curing, which requires a fast acting adhesive, with outstanding pot life, which requires a slower acting adhesive. With SYMBIEX and the Duplex SL One Shot laminator, we are able to slit just 90 minutes after lamination compared to today’s 24 hour standard. This is an exciting development and game changing innovation for the lamination adhesives market.” Conversion efficiency improvements include: • Lower cost in use: reduced line downtime and curing inventory • Ability to form a package and achieve food compliance in less than one day from lamination • Very high web speeds • No misting and better wettability • Elimination of adhesive scrap • Reduction in line downtime for cleaning • Reduction in curing inventory • Bond quality checking possible 30 minutes after lamination 25 J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 95 ANTI CORROSIVE CORRUGATED BLADE 26 TRESU Group expanded its range of carbon fiber chamber doctor blades to include 19.69-ft. chambers principally for corrugated applications. The company’s lightweight carbon fiber chambers, now available in wider widths from 63-in. to 236.22-in., offer improved chemical resistance, optimized flow and safe, easy handling. The carbon fiber composition gives high strength qualities, enabling a relatively low weight of between approximately 1.6-lb. and 2.74-lb. per linear foot. When used with an ink supply and cleaning system, such as TRESU’s F10 iCon, the chamber doctor blade offers a fully automated and enclosed means of circulation, maintaining precise flow, pressure and viscosity, as well as eliminating leakage and evaporation during the printrun.   ENERGY SAVING VISCOSITY CONTROL SYSTEMS GAMA released a family of viscosity control instruments for printing and converting. All feature “vibration” technology. Models include: VIS G26, for water based inks, G29, for water and EB based inks, and G28, together with the G90 for temperature control and the G50 for pH control. Also, VIS G20 for the viscosity control of water based inks, VIS G30 for adhesives and varnishes, VIS G31 for pH control and VIS G32 for the corrugated market. The systems incorporate ease of use with compact design, compliant anti explosion standards, energy savings and environmental friendliness. EXPANDED CELL GEOMETRIES FOR FUNCTIONAL PRINT Harper Corporation of America promised to enhance efficient print repeatability and improve profitability. One of the products highlighted was its HIVE (High Imaging Volume Engraving) line of engravings, which delivers high levels of quality and predictability with exclusive print performance. It features Cladless Anilox Sleeve Technology— no aluminum cladding, lighter weight, corrosion resistance and more. 26 Henrik Kristensen, vice president, TRESU Ancillary, stands with the 236-in. carbon fiber chamber doctor blade, designed for postprint corrugated.  96 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 Another featured product was the QD ink proofing and flatbed printing system. This system has become the color matching proofer of choice by many of the leading ink manufacturers. With the expansion of functional printing into the flexo and gravure markets, Harper has developed printing features and accessories that minimize the amount of expensive materials necessary to test printed electronic concepts and ideas. Harper has also expanded the engraving geometries and volumes for the proofers to accommodate the different deposit properties of functional inks needed for functional and printed electronics. of rewound final packages utilizing a linear tracking slitter section which maintains a constant minimum distance between knives and rewind shafts, giving better control of the slit webs and ensuring the highest side wall quality. SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT HIGH PERFORMANCE SLITTING/REWINDING 27 Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. presented its range of primary and secondary slitter/rewinders. The Titan SR800 Series slitter/ rewinder provides higher performance and improved productivity in a more flexible and sustainable package. In development, Atlas focused its product strategy on achieving significant reductions in machine downtime for printers and converters, including reduced set change time, lower operator intervention and a reduction of costly waste materials—which adds up to outstanding productivity gains. Aside from the SR800, the Titan range includes the ER610, the SR9DS and SR9-DT. The ER610 is a compact slitter/rewinder, delivering a cost effective solution with the added benefits of reduced power consumption and no hydraulics, meaning lower energy bills and zero risk of contamination. The SR9 series represents the pinnacle of secondary slitter/rewinder development, delivering the optimum quality 28 ETI Converting Equipment highlighted multifunctional inline coating and printing equipment with its Mini-Cohesio press. It has a maximum web width of 13-in. and prints on a large variety of paper 28 27 J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 97 and filmic substrates. The Mini-Cohesio machine can produce material at 500 fpm using different adhesive technologies: standard hotmelt, UV curable hotmelt acrylic and water based emulsion adhesive. The equipment shown manufactured clear on clear PS labels (BOPP 50 micron and a PET 18 micron) at a speed of 500 fpm from raw material to finished product. ANILOX ANALYSIS TOOL WEB TRANSPORT, TAMED Martin Automatic has developed new web transport technologies that enable higher process speed, lower web tension and reduced equipment size. Specifically, its: • Airnertia roller technology uses a near frictionless air bearing system to minimize roller inertia • MDR or Magnetic Driven Roller technology, used in web transport rollers, reduces or eliminates the effects of roller mass, bearing friction, speed changes, and entrained (boundary layer) air Troika Systems Ltd. launched CorruCAM, a tool that is able to measure aniloxes within corrugated presses, and the Advanced Inspection Microscope (AIM), a fast, accurate and simple to operate 2-D microscope that can work in conjunction with different applications within the print industry. Martin also displayed the TMSL automatic splicer. This free standing system includes two roll unwind positions, splice unit and festoon (accumulator) for continuous feed of narrow web materials, such as film, nonwoven and foam. It has been designed to work at up to 120 degrees from the vertical. The CorruCAM will offer the corrugated print industry excellent quality control and accurate measurements across an anilox or printing plate. Once data is collected and automatically analyzed, it helps converters reduce waste and improve quality in subsequent printruns. SURFACE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT The AIM can be used with Advance FlexoPlate Analysis (APA) applications. It gives greater in depth analysis of flexo plates for dot size, dimensions, relief depth and plate condition analysis. Used alongside the AIM, it will be positioned between the 3-D analysis of the AniCAM/FlexoPlate QC and the low cost Plate to Print (P2P) HD unit used for simple mechanical dot analysis on plate or print. 30 Vetaphone exhibited a range of improved and enhanced surface treatment technologies that included the UL approved iCorona generator series—the new iCorona2 and iCorona3. Examples of the latest corona treater stations were also presented, specifically the VE1C-C and the VE1E-B, which is fitted with a ceramic roller covering and the new segmented electrodes for improved cleaning SMART SLITTING 29 KAMPF offered a comprehensive range of products in the area of slitting and winding technology for web shaped materials. KAMPF detailed the systematic approach to the development of cross process and safer solutions for the smart production landscape of the future. 29 30 98 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 and maintenance, as well as better airflow that prevents dirt from adhering. BUDGET FRIENDLY FILM CLEANER 31 The Polymount Film Cleaner cleans printed film and enables FUNCTIONAL TOPOGRAPHY TOOL The Meridian Nano by Applied Laser Engineering is a new type of laser engraving machine targeted at the research and development of functional topography—the addition or subtraction of material to a surface in order to bring about a change in the properties of the surface. Some methods: • Refract or diffuse light, e.g. optical films • Vary reflectivity with viewing angle, e.g. lenticular prismatic affects • Attract or repel a liquid, e.g. hydrophobic/hydrophilic • Change the fluid dynamics interaction of a surface • Hold ink on top of a surface, e.g. flexo and letterpress • Hold ink in a cell structure, e.g. gravure, anilox or applicator rolls • Remove an etch or photomask, e.g. photo gravure and lithography reuse for the next setup of a new print job, instead of ending up with thousands of feet of waste setup film. Cleaning setup substrates is also beneficial, even if you choose to recycle. Clean film with no ink remaining will obtain a higher resale value compared to printed film. The roll of printed film is guided via multiple loops through a tank filled with a specially developed Polywash cleaning liquid. There is 31 R e m ov e i n k fro m yo u r start- u p film and r e u s e i t agai n fo r th e start-up o f yo u r ne x t p ri n t j o b J u s t i m ag i ne th e amo u n t o f star t-up wast e you c an save on a yearly basis F o r m o r e i n form at ion a bout t h is gro und-breaki ng machi ne pl ease vi si t our w ebsi te www.polym oun t-in t.com or contact one of our sal es offi ces Polym oun t US T: +1 770 683 2629 E: i nfo@ polymount-i nt.nl J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 99 a recycle unit installed to keep the Polywash clean and maintain its deinking ability. The last station is where the cleaned film is dried with patented technology. The end result is a roll of clean and dry film which is ready for the next setup. The Polymount Film Cleaner can clean up to 164-ft. of printed film per minute. trigger inputs for instant synchronization to movement. Multiple strobes can be connected across a machine to synchronize frequency in various locations or allow simultaneous use of UV and standard inspection lights. Polymount’s Film Cleaner, just like its self adhesive Twinlock Sleeve and Plate Cleaner, is friendly to the environment and enables printers to save significant amounts of money on consumables. DUAL SOURCE UV DUAL SLITTING PLATFORM 32 Laem Systems RB-2 series of slitter/rewinders is designed to meet the production requirements of the converting industry. Models combine center driven winding technology with advanced differential shafts, accommodating very narrow webs of just 0.79-in. with consistent tension and hardness held. A dual slitting method, using both razor blades and circular knives, affords processing of web materials with variable thicknesses from 10-µ. to 150-µ. in standard configuration and web widths up to 63-in. IST METZ focused on its Hycure product concept for sheetfed, webfed and narrow web printing. The UV unit is equipped in such a way that it can be switched to operate either with UV lamps or with UV LEDs. The housing, cooling and electrical supply are identical for both systems; the cassette with the light source just needs switching in the press. This hybrid concept is of particular interest to printers who would like to set up their presses to suit individual jobs, but without a great deal of complexity. ADAPT & SLIT 33 DCM’s TIGRE duplex turret slitter/rewinder keeps downtime between two cycles to less than 30 seconds. Modular construction permits the machine to adapt to different needs. It features shafted or shaftless unwinders, razor or sheer slitting, differential or lock core rewinding, and permits both manual and automatic unloading for lighter or heavy rolls. It accommodates web widths of 31.5-in. to 70.87-in. Production speeds range from 23.62-in. to 31.5-in. Target applications include labels, flexible packaging, even printed electronics. Touchscreen digital pilot control sets operating parameters, stores job data and offers dynamic fault tracing. 32 BRIGHTER LIGHT, ENHANCED COVERAGE Lightweight stroboscopes deliver brighter light, more even coverage and an enhanced ability to inspect UV visible inks—that is the promise made by Unilux. It introduced two LED strobes—the new LED-3 and LED-9 stroboscopes. Both provide twice brighter output than earlier LED based inspection lights and give inspectors a more defined coverage area. UV models enhance the ability to see special security codes or coatings that are only visible in the narrow UV light spectrum. LED technology significantly reduces maintenance over xenon based inspection lights and eliminates inspection system downtime caused by burned out lamps. The new strobes can be configured for flood or spot lighting patterns and are available in handheld or fixed mount configurations. They can reduce energy consumption by two-thirds and gain all the environmental and reduced maintenance benefits that come with LED technology. Handheld models feature a new ergonomic design to better suit the operator and high quality, all metal construction. New lithium ion batteries provide more power at one-third the weight and four times the longevity. Fixed mount models feature remote operation and 100 F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 33 SOFT, STRONG & RESISTANT Arjobex presented its latest products: • Polyart Inkjet is a polyethylene film coated on one side. Its special waterproof inkjet coating is fast drying and compatible with most pigment and dye based inks. Ideal for all labels that must stand up to tough environments, Polyart Inkjet resists water, grease and chemical products, tearing, outdoor use and low temperatures (-60 degrees Celsius) iQ iQ Your Blueprint to Multiprocess Printing/Converting APRIL 2016, VOLUME 2, NO. 1 tion c e p Inf s t n i r P st toems eys s S B ld Thell Wor A “ SEPTEMBER ve Ste &G ibin Le 3 ies erg dayny’s oS eet Ts, to Mualitie l o tr and Q on me— lity C igher real ti Qua cts in create s in dsH g defe ickly n qu mEavnen dard tectin and ca e n d de D — t ta un ly S s, no your not fo es &livery ediates New presse lleng d immab.leMore so, if g shipped to or, em flexo thn Cha to De ting a s ewnasteiv e up bein of reruns Print ted correcexooue er istica fl amocntss nodevafetcts end lt in rejects, w tz eerth ae ith ne n olafrge p r a soph e su Kr g W os n s ed re i o th Klau T dd uldin ed,r we ne em today? in tio ine ov rk ive t hia ch coes s’ hy do lope na inl rem syst enve bi Wo tion del terhs,aw elv ss.er n W ed e s mofsbusitne om inospf ec its shing th codsm, thiennea s eto cuostnom ts ntss pu r nghe spee re ity ton erth lutiworeset, hloessr cus h lo w esase e tiT avuqu wit npr d luttprin r into palriornnotghesro ntiat elive nts. ded m: bra tehrm ke a lf sc of d ng ofgpr s ns syste i ere d d meS ey ta x row Each al s e neito g e c ri e, e su s. 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Ad nd secu easy to com gnized narro m•ult100 pe nt q ingcothpro e prinspeeds o n offer n ri a in phigh bec d ow peali for bra ient, for r p ial goved ty a reco te to ilities n materengra achirine ty at ven erio ned es in sset ly, pabnt Bra ore ap need e con s or msecu ow sup f itct ss ca quick came g m e ren roce ers se odo r n r can as ure e iv ei are rowin that ar fi p ete ar s th me om del ecau l for g s eb) erou load phot ITY the ption ,b ea vure ectro ally up . id w um o ine sp tomatic r review Gra stency cess id IBIL d m ng n for An inl si d au d owne EX y an w an orati con ure pro FL bran easil v arro corp s for INE gra result es (n by in INL g ress E 2 o p rintin U S ex fl | IS np ne 15 Inli binatio 20 s: iQ il com pas XO t fo gle FLE /ho sin old ation1 6 ng in • C 2 nti gs am E pri in U • L een at SS cr /co | I • S nish ar 15 • V 20 iQ O EX FL LED Flexo ls SustainUV Labe abilityPackaging’s Future at drupa Plus: to n cree From S 8 Digital » Trends in Europe Labelexpo » Digital at bossing/Hot » Bags, Em & Pouches Stamping View All Issues: www.FLEXOiQ.com VALID OBSERVATIONS “Consumption figures and the demand for flexible packaging are growing. In other printing segments, digitalization is increasingly making printing itself obsolete. This is not the case with flexible packaging. Here, there is a stronger focus on new technical opportunities for optimizing the printing process.” — Dr. Jürgen Vutz, chairman of the board, W&H LEAN INKING “Over the long term, we see digital printing as a meaningful addition to the established flexographic and gravure printing processes, especially for smaller batch sizes. With the current state of technology, it will initially remain a niche product and continues to be a topic for research and development.” — Peter Steinbeck, sales director, W&H “Increased product variation and lean manufacturing mean converters today face the challenge of shorter printruns. Implementing EG printing helps converters reduce press setup time and increase press efficiency.” — Bernard Zwaenepoel, senior VP software, Esko “Customers no longer need to make tradeoffs between quality and productivity. They can have it all—high quality, high speed and high performance.” — Colleen Pritchett, global business director, DuPont Advanced Printing 102 • The Polyart Iridescent range that combines a luxury appearance with water resistance. Add sheen to all synthetic paper creations and continue to take full advantage of the strength of Polyart for packaging and labels. Polyart Iridescent is particularly useful for wines which are served in ice buckets • A range of security and tamper evident films specially designed to protect products from counterfeiting and being tampered with. They can be embedded with overt or covert security features • Polyart Soft Touch, which gives a velvety feel and a premium appearance to prints. It adds a sophisticated touch to labels F L E X O | J U LY 2 0 1 6 Designed for flexo, gravure and screen ink applications, GSE Dispensing’s ink logistics solutions comprise dispensing systems for spot and process colors, ink bucket washers, tabletop offline proofing systems and integrated ink management software. On exhibit were the Colorsat Compact dispensing system, the Evolution Series Perfect Proofer and the Colorclean Indigo bucket washer. The company encouraged printers to “think lean,” as it emphasized ink dispensing solutions that are integral to a safe, efficient print workflow, in which human talent is free to focus on creative, added value work. • The Colorsat Compact dispenser and the improved Colormix mixer, suited for higher volume packaging applications, offer fully computerized dispensing of up to 34 components and can be modified on request specially for either solvent or water based inks. Standard dispensing accuracy is 0.002-lb. for batches of up to approximately 55-lb., though an accuracy of 0.0002-lb. is available as an option. Thanks to excellent flow dynamics, a 44-lb. batch is prepared in less than two minutes • The Colorsat Compact can be adapted to ink consumption requirements. The Compact’s standard batch dispensing limit is 55-lb., however a version can be adapted to dispense up to 1,300-lb. • The redesigned and fully automated Colorclean drum and bucket washers are an easy and efficient way of cleaning containers used to store inks. Water is forced through a series of rotary brushes that clean the inside and outside of the containers FAST, CLEAR LAMINATING INKS INX International Ink Co. displayed a wide range of superior, high performance lamination inks for flexible packaging, the entire Energy Curable product line, and low migration inks and coatings, as well as water based flexo inks for corrugated board, including non slip varnish and high color sheetfed inks. • Synergy is a flexographic lamination ink formulated specifically for high press speeds of 2,000 fpm. This solvent ink system is a great choice for general purpose snack food packaging • Lamiall is used for multilayer packaging film. A premier laminating ink that produces sharp and clear images on a broad range of substrates Also from INX, the NW210-E Narrow Web UV Digital press is a small footprint integrated printer that offers best in class image quality performance with UV LED advanced technology to produce labels. It combines full color, single pass inkjet output with an integrated laser die cutter. Advanced technology allows every label to be different for cost effective, on demand printing for short or long runs VALID OBSERVATIONS “drupa 2016 is a celebration in the graphics industry and an opportunity to showcase innovations that are transforming the print and graphics world!” — Mike Salfity, general manager, HP Graphics Solutions Business LOW ODOR, WATER BASED & VIVID INKS “Top of the wish list for any brand owner is global brand integrity. The ever increasing demands for one color standard across geographies and packaging substrates ring loud.” — Stuart Duffy, sales director, Flint Group Packaging and Narrow Web Toyo Ink Group showcased a wide range of solutions designed to help printers reduce waste throughout the supply chain, lessen environmental risks, enhance food safety and achieve uniform packaging quality worldwide. Specifically: • The FLASH DRY FL Kaleido series of UV curable flexo inks, designed in response to demands of today’s flexible packaging market for high impact, vivid color reproduction. This product is ideal for the high design demands of tag and label printing • The LIOFLEX AQUA LIONA NFQD series of flexo inks, created to address the growing demand for water based products in flexible packaging applications. Once considered impossible to achieve using water based inks, the newly developed flexo ink series enables high speed printing at a maximum speed of 1,640.42 fpm • STERAFLEX, the flagship solution for UV flexo, which exhibits an excellent balance of rheology with other characteristics, bringing high print imaging, greater efficiency and economy to the flexo printing operation. The low migration and low odor variation, STERAFLEX FOOD, is specially formulated to support food label printers and packaging converters in their quests to achieve desired print performance results LOW MIGRATION UV INKS Siegwerk noted that an increasing number of printers are opting for LED UV technology, regardless of the printing process used. With potential for eco efficiency, cost effectiveness and its productivity advantages, it is one technological advance of recent years that may drive future development in the printing industry. With Sicura Nutriflex LEDTec, the first low migration LED UV flexo series for food and pharma packaging, Siegwerk is now also addressing the growing demand for low migration products for food packaging applications. The firm reported it is also using its profound expertise in ink technology to expand its business into the inkjet ink market—initially, for labels and, secondly, for packaging applications. n “It is no longer just about efficiently producing short and medium length production runs, but also about enabling our customers to offer innovative added value design capability.” — Philip Easton, director, Domino Digital Printing “Visitors, prospects and customers changed their point of view in the flexo printing area completely. In today’s surroundings, stunning graphical quality is a given. Customers are more looking for productivity advancements, such as the improvement in overall equipment effectiveness—reduced makeready waste and fewer press washups.” — Dr. Dieter Niederstadt, technical marketing manager, Asahi “The digitalization of the packaging supply chain is paving the way for the future.” — Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO, Bobst J U LY 2 0 1 6 | F L E X O 103 COLOR COMPLEXITY. WORKFLOW SIMPLICITY. DuPont Cyrel EASY plates have arrived. ™ ® New Cyrel® EASY plates are based upon a new polymer technology that produces higher ink transfer and color saturation, with excellent fade-to-zero highlights. And the flat top digital dots are built directly into the plates, simplifying the prepress process, improving productivity and streamlining consistency. Better yet, we offer plate options that work with both thermal and solvent workflows, in your choice of smooth or engineered surface. DuPont Cyrel EASY: Highest quality at high speed. Learn more fast at cyrel.com/na ™ ® Copyright © 2015 DuPont. All rights reserved. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™ and Cyrel ® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. 2 FTA Best of Show in 2016 2015 FTA Best of Show 2014 FTA Best of Show 2013 FTA Best of Show 2011 FTA Best of Show 2010 FTA Best of Show 7 TIME FTA BEST OF SHOW WINNER PRE-PRESS • GRAPHIC DESIGN • FLEXO PLATEMAKING • BRAND MANAGEMENT With our award-winning FleXtreme® technology, Trisoft Graphics is the industry leader in prepress for flexographic printing. Trisoft provides you with a full range of innovative solutions and expertise including prepress, graphic design, and brand management as well as color separation and flexo plate-making. FleXtreme® integrates technique and technology into an award-winning solution that will improve your productivity, quality, and return on investment. This unique approach is comprehensive, manageable, and best of all, affordable. Trisoft’s FleXtreme® will bring out the best in your package printing. www.trisoftusa.com Corporate Office 245 Fischer Ave., D7 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 phone: 714-751-8851 fax: 714-436-0501