Hardware - Print Finishing

Acknowledging the continued importance of finishing processes as a part of practical learning about wide-format production, Vivid Laminating Technologies has joined forces with The Roland Academy with the provision of two Easymount machines. These state-of-the-art hot and cold laminators are to be incorporated into Roland DG’s industry accredited training courses held at Walsall College, and will enable new and experienced users of digital print to develop additional finishing skills in display production and sign-making.

The two machines joining the existing fleet of Roland digital solutions at the Academy are from Vivid’s comprehensive wide-format portfolio. The first of the duo is the Easymount EM-1400 cold mounting and laminating model which has a maximum film width of 1.4m, no warm-up time and a convenient reverse mechanism. The second unit, the Easymount EM-1600H, is a single hot roller machine with a width of 1.6m that can mount and laminate simultaneously.

Designed and manufactured by Vivid Laminating Technologies to ISO14001 standards, both of these solutions feature large diameter rollers, solid heavy-duty construction and a magic eye safety feature. The systems installed at The Roland Academy are representative of the company’s broad range of laminators from pouch and document models through to machines designed for wide-format print and signs up to 20mm in thickness.

Bruce Cozens, product manager at Vivid Laminating Technologies, is delighted that his company’s machines will play an integral role in courses at The Roland Academy. “The versatility of our solutions enables display producers and sign-makers to extend the range of services they offer to their end customers by adding durability and a more vivid and attractive appearance to applications,” he states. “The combination of our EM-1400 and EM-1600H models gives users an excellent introduction on how lamination can enhance different jobs as well as providing extra protection on a variety of end materials.”

“Finishing is a vital element in the production process, and the need to incorporate greater laminating versatility into our courses at The Roland Academy is vital as demand increases for wraps and vehicle graphics,” comments Jerry Davies, managing director of Roland DG (UK). “The Vivid Easymount machines complement perfectly our latest printing and cutting technologies, and will prove to be valuable additions to our programme of courses.”

[Photo shows Bruce Cozens from Vivid (left) and Jerry Davies from Roland DG (right)]

Vista System International, a fast growing pioneer and world leader in Modular Curved Frame Technology (MCFT), has recently won the prestigious 2011 ADEX Platinum Award For Design Excellence, for its innovative Laser Cut Pictograms.

The product that won the award was designed by Vista System R&D for a terminal project. It Features a Laser Cut Pictogram add-on that can be attached to any Vista System sign frame. The product was selected "for its superior product design and quality".

Vista System's laser cut pictogram series is another example of the flexibility of MCFT (Modular Curved Frame Technology). The client chooses any icon or logo to be featured, either previously produced or custom-designed. The chosen design is then laser cut from an aluminum sheet and attached to the appropriate sign extrusion. 

Spandex has confirmed its status as the premier one-stop supplier of display systems for the digital printing and signmaking industries with a major expansion of the Spandex 300 Series of Roll-Up Displays.

No less than 16 new designs join the existing models to provide signmakers with a comprehensive range of solutions with which to meet the growing demand from customers for vibrant, attention-grabbing displays.

The enhanced 300 Series offers the ideal solution for a host of applications, from point-of-sale and point-of-purchase retail environments to exhibitions and other temporary and promotional events. Customers have a choice of finishes and designs for all environments, from the showroom to the more demanding wear and tear of an exhibition.

Spandex 300 Series Roll-Up Displays are lightweight, highly portable and notable for their ease of assembly and the speed with which graphics can be changed. They are available in a range of sizes capable of displaying graphics up to 2000mm x 2145mm and with a choice of fixings and extra features such as integral pole storage and tensioning systems. The new models offer a choice of display casing— single roller banner, removable cassette, double roller banner and single/double roller banner combined.

Commenting on the new models, Phil McMullin, Spandex’s UK Country Manager, says: “Digital technology has transformed the sign and display business, giving customers the flexibility to take bold, eye-catching graphics into every location, inside and out. As the creative options grow, it’s imperative that displays keep pace. Our new, enlarged 300 Series does just this.”

The full list of new 300 Series models is:

• 303 Series: A stylish, reliable, feature-rich single-sided roller banner specially designed for maximum convenience and ease of use.
• 304 Series: A popular quality roller banner stand for prestige locations, available in single or double-sided configurations.
• 305 Series: The 305 removable cassette roller system features refined styling, a streamlined profile and a host of new design innovations.
• 306 Series: Based on a very popular design, this versatile telescopic roller banner is lightweight, portable and very simple to use.
• 307 Series: A single-sided banner display with an increased internal housing—ideal for thicker graphics up to 450 microns.
• 308 Series: Available as a single or double-sided banner display with an increased internal housing—also ideal for graphics up to 450 microns.
• 309 Series: A smart roller banner styled on a highly popular base profile, with a substantial anodised silver casting. The 309 provides the perfect combination of design with stability. The spring-loaded rail clamp system and slide on/off applicator makes it easy to apply or change graphics.
• 310 Series: Sleek styling coupled with the latest banner technology makes the Roll Up 310 lightweight, portable and very easy to use.
• 311 Series: A lightweight economy roller banner with slim base and bungee pole making it very compact, complete with a twist-out foot for stability.
• 312 Series: A sleek low-profile single or double-sided banner with a high-specification finish, cast chrome metal end-plates and an adjustable base, for use on uneven floors.
• 313 Series: A lightweight economy roller banner with slim base and bungee pole making it very compact, complete with a twist-out foot for extra stability.
• 314 Series: Quick to assemble and easy to use, the 314 roll-up banner display features a snap fixing top rail for simple, secure graphic fixing.
• 315 Series: Designed to give promotions maximum impact, this stylish and eye-catching banner system is extremely quick to put up and easy to use, the 315 banner system is ideal for any exhibition environment.
• 316 Series: All the benefits of the 315 Series in a double-sided configuration.
• 317 Series: Designed to give promotions maximum impact, this stylish and eye-catching banner system is extremely quick to put up and easy to use, the 317 banner system is ideal for any exhibition environment.
• 318 Series: Designed to give promotions maximum impact, this stylish and eye-catching banner system is extremely quick to put up and easy to use, the 318 banner system is ideal for any exhibition environment

 

The fundamental advantages of digital cutting are well known by now. The elimination of traditional dies saves production time and costs as well as space, since digital dies require no physical storage. The digital cutting process also makes it possible to create far more complex contours and permits even last-minute changes. In addition, tighter registration capabilities allow for printing larger sheets, and setup for digital cutting requires very little time. However, the one apparent bottleneck in the whole process up until now has been the manual feeding and sorting at either end of the production cycle. Zünd has now addressed this issue to make digital flatbed cutting even more efficient and fully automated digital cutting.

Fully automated feeding, cutting and stacking of boards up to 2x3m will occupy a large part of Zünd ‘s162m2 stand (B20, Hall A1) at FESPA Digital exhibition in Hamburg on the 24th – 28th of May this year.

High process reliability and automation

The new Zünd board handling system, designed for fully automated production of signage, displays, packaging, cardboard engineering and other applications, further accentuates the advantages of digital cutting. This option, typical of the Zünd cutter concept, is highly modular and can be implemented gradually. You can have fully automatice feeding and unloading, semi-automatic or manual – depending on your needs and workspace.

With full automation of both the loading and unloading process, virtually no setup or operator intervention is required. And the Zünd Cut Center software, as always, ensures user-friendly system operation. All of this combines to significantly enhance productivity while limiting personnel requirements to loading and unloading pallets of stacked boards and finished product.

In developing this automated material-handling system, care was taken to not lose sight of the need for processing single boards. The accessibility and easy set-up of the system allows single orders and samples to be produced just as efficiently as the short and medium size runs. Whether for shorter or longer production runs, the innovative Zünd board-handling system is the passport to greater efficiency and new opportunities.

The fully automated production system will be presented to the public for the first time at Fespa Digital in Hamburg, Germany, Hall A1, Booth B20. A G3 3XL-1600 equipped with the new roll-off unit for cutting printed textiles and a G3 M-2500 configured for routing applications will also be on display.

UK laminating machine manufacturer Autobond celebrated earlier this month its most successful week since the company was formed in 1978, after winning orders from eight different countries over a seven day period. These include the first of the recently redesigned B1 landscape Mini laminators, a Mini 105 TPH, which has been purchased by a UK printer in Bristol, plus the first sale via the Heidelberg distributor in Italy, Macchingraf, for a Mini 105 THS FL. This laminator is destined for a printer in the Naples area.

The second Autobond purchase in more than 20 years by a company in Indonesia has come from a finishing house in Jakarta, for a Mini 105 TPHS, while orders have also arrived from new customers in Denmark, Wales, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and South Africa.

“Some sales take a long time to come to fruition,” says Autobond managing director John Gilmore. “As a young salesman in 1978 I demonstrated a hand-fed, hand-sheeted water-based Autobond laminator to Gareth Jones, the managing director of magazine printer Stephens & George in Methyr Tydfil, South Wales. His son Andrew, group managing director, has just placed the company’s first order with us, for a Mini 76 THS.”

The Mini 76 THS destined for Stephens & George is a single-sided thermal laminator equipped with a rising pile, back separation Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 feed head and stacker pile delivery. Production speeds can be up to 60 metres per minute. The Mini 76 THS can handle print from SRA4 up to B1 and from 90 gsm to 650 gsm in weight. In 2010 Autobond launched a redesigned range of Mini laminators that incorporate the feeder, laminator and sheeter within one side plate, which has reduced the footprint even further. The Mini 76 THS has a footprint of only 2.5m x 1.5m.

“We were spending around £100,000 annually on trade laminating but because of the volatility of the UK finishing sector we decided to install our own laminator,” says Andrew Jones. “There is no doubt in my mind that Autobond’s sheet-fed laminators provide the best value for money in the industry, with a longevity that is unrivalled.”

EskoArtwork will present its portfolio of integrated packaging design, pre-production, collaboration and workflow automation solutions at Interpack 2011, which takes place at the Messe Dusseldorf, Germany from 12 to 18 May, 2011.

Packaging professionals and brand owners visiting the show will get the opportunity to understand why EskoArtwork has become the worldwide market leader in packaging design lifecycle management solutions. Faster time-to-market, increased shelf impact, reduced costs and streamlined communication between all players in the packaging supply chain are just some of the competitive advantages. EskoArtwork will exhibit in Hall 7a / B28, just in front of the Innovation Parc Packaging stand.

“At Interpack 2011, we look forward to greet our global corporate customers specialized in packaging that also exhibit on the show. Besides that, we especially want to welcome the many brand owners who will be attending the show, " says Dieter Janout, Vice President Global Business Group of EskoArtwork. "Successful brand owners realize that real competitive advantages can be achieved by integrating their own product lifecycle systems with their success-critical packaging design processes. Live demonstrations of EskoArtwork’s unique packaging lifecycle management solutions will clearly illustrate why 9 out of 10 major brands have put their trust in EskoArtwork solutions.”

New ways to increase innovation, quality and speed to market

Brand owners recognize that innovation, quality and time-to-market are key success factors in achieving market leadership in the consumer market. After visiting the EskoArtwork stand they will have a much better understanding of how EskoArtwork’s integrated portfolio of packaging design and pre-production tools can help them on all three fronts. Visitors can also see firsthand how packaging design has gone 3D.

Full integration between a brand owner’s product lifecycle management system and packaging supply chain processes is what sets EskoArtwork’s solutions apart. This integration enables standardization and streamlines the entire end-to-end process – simplifying file transfers, approval processes and ensuring quality is maintained every step of the way.

Design and collaboration goes 3D

At the beginning of the process, EskoArtwork’s design tools enable packaging designers to work in a 3D environment. Creative packaging ideas are shared with clients early in the process using 3D collaboration tools. These allow them to gain feedback quickly and effectively. And because of the close integration of structural and graphic design, changes at any point in the design process can be viewed on the final structure in complete 3D. Virtual mock-ups are communicated the same way saving both time and the costs of expensive physical prototypes. All these features help to get to the right design quality faster. They reduce the development time and cost for the brand owner drastically.

Quality control: an intrinsic part of the process

A reduction of lead times for new product development means little time for additional control, double-checking and rework. EskoArtwork’s solutions make quality control an intrinsic part of the process. Workflows are streamlined and many rudimentary processes automated, reducing the risk of errors and costly rework. A consistent level of quality is delivered in the shortest amount of time enabling new products to be taken to market faster with a higher, more consistent level of quality – crucial in maintaining brand equity.

Get hands on with EskoArtwork’s solutions

A full range of EskoArtwork’s solutions will be demonstrated during Interpack. These will include tools for structural design, graphic design, virtual prototyping, real prototyping and online collaboration. The highlights of the show will be:

• WebCenter: a 24/7 global communication, secure internet-based view and approval service that allows information to be stored centrally and shared globally.
• Dynamic Content for Adobe® Illustrator®: links an Adobe® Illustrator® CS text object directly to a source created by the information owner and separates it from the design.
• Studio: a plug-in for Adobe® Illustrator® that brings interactive 3D packaging design to life.
• Studio Visualizer that creates realistic digital mock-ups including print effects such as embossing, hotfoil, metalized inks and different substrates.

Participate at the Live Packaging Development Survey !

Visitors are invited to participate in EskoArtwork’s innovative interactive survey on packaging development. Since years EskoArtwork keeps track of unique market data on packaging design, prepress and pre-production, and holds its development plans against the light of the detected trends in that area. When participating to this survey, visitors may expect interactive feedback and will be able to acquire valuable insights in the way other packaging professionals manage their proper packaging supply chain.