Production/Printing Processes

Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Hewlett Packard (HP) announced the availability of the Digital Color Toolbox it has developed in partnership with Pantone, Carlstadt, N.J., to further enable accurate reproduction of Pantone colors with HP Indigo digital color presses. The Pantone and HP Indigo Digital Color Toolbox includes the Pantone Color Bridge swatchbook, as well as the CMYK and HP IndiChrome on-press color guide. Together, the two swatchbooks offer a convenient way to compare solid Pantone Colors with their simulations in offset four-color, HP Indigo four-color and HP IndiChrome on-press six-color processes. The Pantone Color Bridge swatchbook enables users to determine how a

Due to growth in high-impact, quick-turnaround printing, St. Louis-based FormStore is partnering with Kodak as a Kodak MARKETMOVER member. The company has added a five-color NexPress 2100 Plus digital production press; a NexGlosser glossing unit; a DIRECTPRESS 5634 DI digital offset press; and a DIGIMASTER E125 digital production system. Furthermore, FormStore purchased an additional NexPress 2500, and upgraded its existing NexPress 2100 Plus press. The NexGlosser features clear, dry ink, which delivers enhanced image quality and a laminate-like gloss for higher marketing impact. The DIGIMASTER E125 system enables applications such as varying sizes, saddle-stitched booklets, on-demand short-run books and color integrated workflows. The Kodak MARKETMOVER

With headquarters in Eerbeek, the Netherlands, Drent Goebel is set to deliver narrow web offset technology. MPS—a manufacturer of narrow web label and packaging UV-Flexo presses—announced an innovative cooperation with Drent Goebel for delivery of offset printing towers to MPS for integration in new MPS press lines. MPS has noticed an increasing demand for offset print quality in the narrow web label and packaging market, and asked Drent Goebel about supplying MPS with the necessary offset technology for its narrow web flexo presses. MPS is convinced that hybrid technology is the future for label and packaging printing. Not just because of its fantastic flexibility

Eerbeek, Holland-based Drent Goebel demonstrated its Vision offset press in Virginia Beach, Va., during an open house at the Christian Broadcasting Network’s corporate support building, June 5 to 7. The first servo-driven press in the world, the Vision is an eight-color litho press with a 201⁄2" web width, and it’s equipped with a sheeter and UV curing. It allows for short make-ready times, and combines shaftless technology with near limitless inline options. The Vision press can be used for a wide variety of products—including commercial printing, direct mail, labels, pharmaceutical inserts and various flexible packaging applications. In addition, the modular design makes virtually

Kodak, Rochester, N.Y., presents its Versamark VX5000e high-resolution printing system, offering enhanced resolution of 300x1200 dpi for improved color quality, clearer images and text and sharper bar codes. The Versamark VX5000e can produce a wide variety of high-volume applications, including transactional documents, TransPromo documents, direct mail, books and a variety of print-on-demand outputs. With a web speed of 328 feet per minute, it produces high-volume output quickly, accurately and cost effectively. Up to 1,432 images per minute for U.S. letter-size documents and 1,348 A4 images per minute can be produced with a two-up, duplex configuration. In addition, ink drop size is concentrated on

Atlanta-based PRINTSouth announced it’s Tempe, Ariz., manufacturing facility has achieved ISO9001:2000 certification. “The management processes associated with certification will present our customers with a superior product, providing consistent and expected performance,” stated Rick Martin, vice president. “Certification will standardize the internal operations across our manufacturing facilities and support our continuous improvement objectives.” In addition, PRINTSouth’s Richmond facility is working towards ISO compliance, and anticipates certification in the fourth quarter of 2007. The company manufactures and distributes mission critical LaserSelect documents, including jumbo rolls and cut-sheet documents. For more information, call (800) 221-1388 or visit www.printsouth.com.

Victor Printing, Sharon, Pa., has installed a six-color Komori Lithrone S 29 offset press at its commercial print facility. Featuring six print units and an inline aqueous coater, the LS 29 opens new market opportunities and offers a greater range of applications for Victor’s distributors. Packed with the latest technologies, the LS 29 offers higher print quality and consistent reproducibility, and prints up to 32 pt. board. In addition, it facilitates shorter runs, and is fortified with functions that improve make-ready, while decreasing environmental impact. The LS 29 offers extraordinary mechanical rigidity and smooth, consistent high-speed operation. Reproduction powers will satisfy even extraordinary demands

Hauppauge, New York–based Muller Martini will host an open house at the company’s Long Island headquarters June 5 to 7. The event—entitled “First to the Finish: Leading-Edge Saddle Stitching Solutions for Maximum Automation”—will feature several live machine demonstrations. The event will highlight ways in which printers and binders can increase productivity and profits by finishing jobs faster with the use of state-of-the-art automated finishing technology. In addition, several individual areas will be set up focusing on specific approaches that operations can implement to boost their production control and flexibility. The Muller equipment that will be demonstrated includes: • The 13,000 c/hr. BravoPlus saddle stitcher with AMRYS,

Lewis Run, Pennsylvania-based McCourt Label has added a new Nilpeter FB3300 press. The state-of-the-art press has a 13" web width, and eight UV curing stations. It prints up to eight colors, and is servo-driven for superior flexographic printing, as well as silk-screening and cold-foil stamping. The FB3300 press has a web speed that is among the fastest in the narrow web industry, and it is exceptionally easy to make-ready and operate, enabling fast set up and job-cost reductions. As a result of the expanded production capabilities, new products are available. They include “no-label-look” labels; scratch-off tickets and labels; four-color process prime labels; one-color silk

Due to rising petroleum prices, printers are seeing cost increases in finishing products, inks and substrates. “We are seeing five to seven percent increases,” said Jerry Hill, vice president of sales and marketing, Drytac Corporation. “Almost all the components used to make our overlaminate and adhesive products have risen,” agreed Angela Mohni, director of marketing, Neschen Americas. This includes base film carriers, such as PVC, polyester and polypropylene. “We have seen unprecedented and relentless increases over a period of three years in plastic substrates and adhesive. It is clear there is limited availability of some of the highly engineered components of our laminates,” explained