GATF's InterTech Technology Awards

GATF (Sewickley, PA) will present the 2003 InterTech Technology Awards on Nov. 15, at an industry awards dinner at La Mansion del Rio Hotel in San Antonio, TX. Since 1978, the awards have honored innovative, recently developed technology that has been proven in industrial application but is not yet in widespread use. Recipients are chosen by an anonymous judging committee composed of independent industry experts.

ORIS Color Tuner 5.0, CGS Publishing Technologies International (Minneapolis)

ORIS Color Tuner 5.0 color-management software is said to produce contract-quality proofs on inkjet output devices. The system uses ICC-based color management combined with fine tuning for difficult color reproduction, such as neutral grays. All major digital file formats can be handled, including PostScript, PDF and PDF/X, TIFF, TIFF/IT, DCS, CT/LW and copydot. Automatic calibration enables novices to calibrate an output device and create a color-matching table by outputting and measuring a standard color target.

HyperFlex, Creo, Inc. (Billerica, MA)

HyperFlex reportedly aids in the exposure of small dots or graphic elements on a flexographic photopolymer plate. It helps to reduce the relief depth between dots and expands so the dots are better formed and capable of resisting the wear and tear of normal use. HyperFlex reportedly preserves the size of the dot and the intended tonality, while allowing printers to work with smaller highlight dots. It is said to complement and enhance hybrid AM screening technologies in flexography, allowing smaller highlight dots and reducing non-uniformities in the FM range of the hybrid AM highlights.

Epson Stylus Pro 7600/9600 with UltraChrome Ink, and Professional Media Line, Epson America, Inc. (Long Beach, CA)

Epson's SWOP-certified combination of inkjet printer, inks and output media for contract-level proofing reportedly delivers accurate proofs with a wide color gamut that closely simulates colors produced on the printing press. The inks include a seventh color, a light black ink that improves the printer's gray balance along with superior transitions within the midtones and highlights. Epson's line of proofing media is designed with different base tints and gloss levels to more accurately match the papers used on press. These features, plus a high-resolution printhead, are said to produce high-quality proofs at lower running costs than alternative proofing solutions.

FastVariants, Esko-Graphics (Kennesaw, GA)

This suite of software tools and technologies lets users output the same file in multiple versions. It is especially aimed at avoiding costly mistakes in the production of versioned jobs for which one plate — typically the black plate — is changed for another one with a different version during the print run. Whether a job is supplied as neutral pages with separate version pages or as full-color version pages, FastVariants solves or detects specific problems that make a file unsuitable for double-burn. All of its tools run in batch mode so a large number of pages can be efficiently handled with minimal operator intervention.

Plate Cell Patterning, Artwork Systems Inc. (Bristol, PA)

This software application, part of the company's Nexus product family, places anilox cell patterns on flexographic plates to improve ink transfer during printing. The cells are “patterned” into the job during imaging on an imagesetter or a direct-to-plate unit. The cell patterning roughens the plate surface, which reportedly improves the quality of printed solids, reduces ink consumption, reduces halos around type, and produces more open reverses and finer positive images.

Goss Digital Inking System, Goss International (Bolingbrook, IL)

Goss International's digitally controlled ink-metering system eliminates the need for fountain blades and can be mounted on new newspaper and commercial web offset presses or retrofitted to older presses, even non-Goss presses. The system reportedly delivers a precise volume of ink, at all press speeds and conditions, to each zone across a web using miniature rotary valves that are either on or off. It comes ready to use CIP3-compliant ink-key presets based on digital image data downloaded from customer files. The system's closed nature eliminates impurities that contaminate the inking system.

Remote Director, Integrated Color Solutions (New York City)

Remote Director is said to be the first SWOP-certified, display-based, contract proofing system. Using proprietary color science and software technology, the Remote Director system enables and verifies the accurate, consistent viewing of color images on computer monitors in different locations all from the same source file. The system offers dynamic viewing of requested images, monitor control and calibration, verification of color accuracy, and dynamic use of industry-standard ICC profiles; it also supports both CMYK and RGB workflows. It can be used during all phases of the creation and printing of a job by ad agencies, publications, commercial printers, color trade shops and service bureaus alike to digitize their workflow, eliminating geographical barriers and speeding the workflow of color-critical jobs.

Matchprint Virtual Proofing System 1.0, Kodak Polychrome Graphics (Norwalk, CT)

This interactive, contract-level, SWOP-certified proofing system uses color science and specialized color transformations to enable what is said to be accurate, consistent viewing of CMYK color reproduction via RGB displays. The system consists of high-end, customized CRT monitors, proprietary color-management technologies, and a suite of Web-based image viewing and collaboration tools from RealTimeImage. A rigorous, instrumented color-calibration process ensures consistent and accurate color from monitor to monitor. Color proofs can be transported, viewed, and approved or electronically marked and returned for corrections within minutes. There is no need for color reference books to support the system.

Magnapak, Heidelberg (Kennesaw, GA)

Heidelberg's high-speed, newspaper-insert packaging system may be configured as an inserter, a collator/polywrapper system, or as a combination of both while delivering output speeds up to 30,000 cycles per hour (cph), per delivery. Magnapak features a completely shaftless, servo-driven design and advanced system controls. It can be configured as a small standalone inserter or as a large packaging system fed automatically from press or automated storage systems.

Stitchmaster ST 400, Heidelberg

The ST 400's computer-driven, independent servo motors, mobile feeders and productivity enhancements are said to result in more productive and efficient saddlestitching. Its presets and automation reportedly can reduce makeready times up to 50 percent. The stitcher has an output of up to 14,000 cph and can handle products up to 12⅝ × 19⅞ inches. Operated via touchscreen and a touch-sensitive keyboard, the Stitchmaster can be preset with local or network data, including prepress CIP data. Mobile feeders equipped with wheels allow operators to move them around the shop floor.

RealTimeProof Express, RealTimeImage, Inc. (San Bruno, CA)

RealTimeImage offers a high-resolution Internet-streaming imaging platform that supports color-managed, Web-based proofing, approval and collaboration workflows. The technology also makes it possible for other online systems (including those from Kodak Polychrome Graphics, WAM!NET and Printable) to be collaborative and interactive. RealTimeProof Express, a hybrid application service provider (ASP) and local system, combines the workflow-management efficiencies of the RealTimeProof.com ASP with a local, high-resolution streaming server. RealTimeProof Express targets high-production volumes or multisite companies looking for local, secure, image streaming with centralized administration.

Lithrone S40, Komori America Corp. (Rolling Meadows, IL)

The Lithrone S40 is highly automated and features open-systems architecture. The 40-inch press is equipped with Komori's Color Connection software suite, and, when coupled with a CIP4-compliant K-Station, provides a computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) link to the pressroom. Features said to enhance makeready speed include an automatic plate-changing system that can change six plates in less than three minutes, and advanced automatic programming of current makeready, washup and the next makeready from the press console. The Lithrone S40 is rated at 16,000 sph and can print on substrates from onionskin to 40-pt. board.

Xerox Square Fold Booklet Maker, Xerox Corp. (Rochester, NY)/Plockmatic International

The Xerox Booklet Maker produces a square-fold edge on saddlestitched booklets. Based on technology designed by Plockmatic International AB, the machine provides the look and feel of a perfect-bound book, including preprinted color covers with text on the spine, at a fraction of the cost of perfect binding. It connects inline to Xerox DocuTechs and performs saddlestitching, folding, trimming and squaring at printer-rated speeds.

Tag spec/marketing guide

Universal Tag's new guide for “Pre-Spec'ing” and Marketing Tags includes tips and methods to uncover problems before they become problems. The guide walks printers through each step to identify paper, ink, applications and technology issues. Marketing tips cover prospecting, strategy, presentations, advertising and PR.

Writing, text and cover redesign

Smart Papers announces a redesign and modernization of Carnival writing, text and cover printing papers. The redesign reportedly was done to strict environmental guidelines, maintaining a minimum of 50 percent total recycled fiber and featuring the benchmark 30 percent post-consumer fiber content.

The redesigned line offers a simplified swatchbook organized by finish and a quick-view chip chart organized by color. A new, integrated color palette features eight whites and off-whites, six fiber-added, five mid-tone colors and nine deep saturated colors available across a choice of 10 finishes. Also featured are new heavyweight cover items, new finishes, an improved printing surface, and bright whites and colors now available across all finishes for mix-and-match design capability.

Workflow control/collaboration tool

Speedflow Cockpit from OneVision is a workflow control and collaboration tool for print and media production that manages and distributes instructions for production tasks, bringing different operators on a production team closer into the information loop. Speedflow cockpit reportedly facilitates visual job monitoring and tracking of jobs within a production workflow, from preflight, check and normalization over editing, modifying and processing to imposition, proofing, printed output and archiving.

The new introduction complements the company's Speedflow Suite. It can also integrate third-party production applications as well as workflows that combine tools from multiple vendors or entire workflow systems.

Paper renamed for digital capability

International Paper Commercial Printing and Imaging Papers has changed the name of Springhill PLUS to Springhill Digital to reflect the paper's ability to meet the demanding requirements of digital printing. Papers are said to run smoothly through high-speed machines and offer excellent print quality for sharp text and clear images. They are available in white and all 13 Springhill colors. Applications include booklets, manuals, posters, sales sheets, direct mail, financial data and brochures.

Scratch-resistant banner material

A suite of outdoor product solutions is available from LexJet Direct. Products carry a 12-month warranty for unlaminated graphics that covers fading, peeling, cracking, bleeding and running. The products reportedly feature the most scratch-resistant waterproof coating available to users of piezo and thermal inkjet printer platforms. Products include Extreme Blockout Banner, a 20-mil blockout scrim vinyl banner said to offer three times the tear strength of traditional scrim vinyl media; Extreme UltraBanner, called the industry-standard blockout scrim vinyl banner; and Extreme AquaVinyl, an adhesive-backed vinyl with permanent, removable adhesive.

Online resource for PDF specs

Enfocus Software launches CertifiedPDF. net, an online resource designed to facilitate secure, reliable and accurate digital file exchange. It is said to ensure all parties in PDF workflows will share up-to-date specifications reliably when creating, exchanging, verifying and working with PDF files. Graphic-arts professionals will subscribe, free of charge, to PDF specs published by industry associations, printers or publishers. Subscribers' Enfocus applications — such as Instant PDF or PitStop Server — will notify them automatically when PDF specifications are updated, or they can choose e-mail notification, which does not require an application.

The website features four main components: Specifications is a database containing all the settings needed to create and check PDF documents for publication; Community offers information on the companies supporting Certified PDF workflows; Resources provides news from the printing industry; and Interaction allows visitors to share knowledge and ideas.

High-speed platesetter

Esko-Graphics has extended its family of violet PlateDriver CTP systems with a high-speed PlateDriver HS platesetter capable of imaging both violet polymer plates and violet silver plates. Up to 46 four-up plates can be exposed per hour on the PlateDriver 4HS, while up to 42 eight-up plates can be exposed on the PlateDriver 8HS (at 1200 dpi). The PlateDriver HS utilizes a 55,000-rpm spinner to attain the fast imaging speeds.

By increasing the power of the violet FreeBeam laser from 30 mW to 40 mW, the PlateDriver HS can expose polymer plates at the same imaging speed as silver-based plates. With the PlateDriver, printers can change between silver and polymer plates with only a few on-site adjustments, activated by the PlateDriver's control software, without changing any mechanical or optical parts. The different nature of the two plates does require post-processing and chemistry adjustments, according to the company.

Digital-camera back for medium-, large-format

The Leaf Valeo 22 digital-camera back from Creo utilizes a 22-megapixel CCD designed for medium- and large-format photography. In studios, the unit features live video view and electronic shutter control. On location, it reportedly offers the fastest capture rate in the industry and a burst rate of eight frames. The 4056 × 5356-dpi resolution in a sensor size of 48 × 36 mm is said to provide exactness and to diminish moiré issues. Raw data files reach 126 MB in 16 bit.

The camera back works with a removable 5 GB or 10 GB Leaf digital magazine for storing hundreds of uncompressed 16-bit images. The Leaf DP-67 detachable 6 × 7-cm image display and control unit is based on the HP iPAQ pocket PC, acting as both a digital proof and personal photographic assistant.

Wasy-setup tabletop folder

MBM's 206M tabletop folder can fold newsletters, booklets and other literature. With a speed to 10,500 sph (single fold, 8½ × 11 inches), the folder handles paper sizes ranging from 3 × 5 inches to 12 × 17½ inches, in weights from 12 lb. to 80 lb. The 206M is said to set up easily for six standard and nonstandard fold types(single, letter, double parallel, gate, zigzag and foldout).
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Labelers and tabbers

Rena Systems expands its line with three tabbers and a labeler. The T-150 Stand-Alone Tabber has a built-in feeder for one-button operation on a variety of materials to ⅛-inch thick and can apply one tractor-fed tab per pass up to 12,000 per hour. The T-300 In-Line Tabber is suited for fast, efficient single tabbing, applies tabs on a variety of materials to ¼-inch thick, and has a tabbing speed of 15,000 per hour. The T-600 In-Line Tabber is a high-speed dual tabber with all-metal construction that offers quick tab positioning, an automatic centering mechanism and tabbing speeds of more than 16,000 per hour while applying two tabs. The T-300 and T-600 can run inline with the L-300 Labeler. The L-300 Stand-Alone Labeler has an automatic label feeder, is capable of labeling 15,000 pieces per hour, and accepts material to ¼-inch thick.

High-pressure humidification unit

The ML Princess 3 high-pressure humidification unit from Husson can provide uniform humidity and reduce problems associated with dry air in large spaces. The unit operates without using compressed air. The modular unit features water capacity to 15 gph (120 lbs. per hour) and 12 high-pressure spray nozzles. Units are placed over walkway areas for easy maintenance and to prevent any risk of water damage to products or equipment.

Portable dot meter line

X-Rite introduces X-RiteDot, a line of portable dot-analysis instruments that allow operators to identify and resolve common plate issues. Operators reportedly receive precise measurement of dot size, including digital screen-ruling assessment, on-board video dot magnification and dot-shape analysis.

The product line is available in five models: BasicDot measures dot coverage from blue- and green-imaged printing plates; PlateDot adds the ability to measure from virtually any color and plate image and autoselects the appropriate settings; PrintDot provides physical dot-size measurements from comps, proofs or press prints; ComboDot analyzes the exact screen percentage of any hard- or soft-dot film on any light table; and FlexoDot measures dot sizes and screen rulings on CTP and conventional flexo printing plates.

Barcode-generating software

TALtech adds the RSS-14 (Reduced Space Symbology) barcode symbology to its B-Coder Professional barcode-generating and -printing software. This new type of bar code targets applications where space for a barcode symbol is limited. RSS bar codes can encode up to 14 numeric digits. In addition to being smaller than most other types of bar codes, RSS bar codes can be produced with an optional two-dimensional composite component capable of encoding up to 2,361 additional bytes of alpha/numeric data within a single (albeit larger) symbol.

Digital-proofing workflow suite

Electronics for Imaging (EFI) announces the availability of the Best Premium Family, a suite of digital-proofing workflow solutions. Offerings include: Best Colorproof, proofing for high-quality output on inkjet and laser printers; Best Screenproof, for color and screen accurate digital proofing on large-format inkjet printers; and Best Remoteproof, a feature that allows users to compare and measure proofs' color values created at a single or multiple locations. Also included are Best Eye, a handheld color-measurement device, and Best Color Manager, for proficient color-management capabilities.

Paper cutter upgrade

Challenge Machinery's paper cutters are available in either 30½- or 37-inch models. Standard equipment includes Category 4 light curtains that guard the cutter opening, said to ensure a high degree of safety. These upgrades guarantee that the Champion paper cutters comply with the recent updates to the safety standards outlined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Improved controls include a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the false clamp plate in relation to the lamp. This communication with the paper-cutter's computer determines the forward limit of the backgauge without the intervention of the machine operator.

Enhanced Reporting tools

Strategic Systems International has enhanced the reporting capabilities for its SmartSTRATEGY enterprise-planning software. Managers from interrelated printing processes can create and save unlimited ad hoc reports for developing optimal scenarios for equipment utilization, product distribution and inventory planning. The system provides printers with recommendations on facility and equipment as well as customer and product rationalization, in addition to manufacturing, inventory and distribution planning. Its reporting tools use configurable filters, pivot tables, charts and graphs. Managers from disparate areas of the enterprise (production, logistics, sales, finance) can interpret scenario results using fully customizable data filters. Any number of these filters can be saved in a user profile and run against multiple data sets, said to save managers the time and effort of recreating and reformatting specialized reports for each planning cycle.

Color-output software plug-in

Global Graphics' Harlequin RIP now supports proofing on the medium-format Epson Stylus Photo 2100 and 2200 desktop color printers, with its new ProofReady plug-in. For Harlequin OEMs, ProofReady plug-in software enables users of specific Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Encad and Canon printers to achieve color-accurate proofs.

ProofReady software offers an easy way to manage the precise color output from a variety of medium- and large-format printers. Users of products based on the new Harlequin RIP Eclipse Release and Harlequin RIP v. 5.5 just select the printer and the paper type used from a simple user dialog. The Harlequin RIP automatically selects the appropriate resolution and screening type needed to deliver a color-accurate proof to Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) standards.