Specialist Printing Worldwide Issue 3 2024

ISSUE 3 

2024 

INDUSTRIAL 

GRAPHIC 

TEXTILE 

SPECIALIST 

WORLDWIDE 

ELECTRONICS 

FOR IMAGING 

Metropole adopts 

large- format 

press from EFI 

Page 2 

INNOVATION. 

EFFICIENCY. 

SUSTAINABILITY. 

Partners 

With the EFI VUTEk Q5r press, 

METROPOLE leads in large-format 

printing, combining cutting-edge 

technology with sustainability.

SWISS SCREEN TECHNOLOGY 

SCREEN MAKING 

PRINTING UNITED 

EXPO 2024 

Sept.10 –12, 2024 

Las Vegas, NV 

Booth SL10022 

Transit direction 

AUTOMATION 

Today, screens must be manufactured 

in a reproducible 

and cost-efficient manner at 

optimal quality. Only then 

will you be better than your 

competitors. 

STRETCHING 

COATING 

WASHING 

Grünig-Interscreen AG · Switzerland 

www.grunig.ch 

SIMPLIFY SCREEN PRINTING 

SWISS CtS TECHNOLOGY 

CtS DIRECT EXPOSURE 

TECHNOLOGY 

Smooth work sequences and 

automation will considerably 

lower your present costs. It is 

essential that all the departments 

involved – ArtWork / 

RIP, screen making and print 

room – work hand in hand. 

DIGITAL 

SCREEN 

MAKING 

SignTronic AG · Switzerland 

www.signtronic.com

Issue 3 / 2024 of Specialist Printing 

Worldwide was published by: 

Chamond Media Ltd, Second Floor, 

3 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, 

West Sussex, BN11 1TF. 

Tel: + 44 (0) 7889 637 434 

www.specialistprinting.com 

PUBLISHER: 

Nicola Penhallow 

+44 (0) 7889 637434 

nicola@specialistprinting.com 

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT: 

Penny Potter 

penny@specialistprinting.com 

DESIGNER: 

Alison Smith for 

Blue Daze Design Ltd 

copy@specialistprinting.com 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: 

Robert Penhallow 

+44 (0)7816 968563 

robert@specialistprinting.com 

DATA MANAGER: 

Lisa Craik 

lisa@specialistprinting.com 

ACCOUNTS MANAGER: 

Karen Hobden 

accounts@specialistprinting.com 

This issue of Specialist Printing Worldwide 

(ISSN No: 2044-2319) was published by 

Chamond Media Ltd, GBR. 

The reproduction, publication or storage 

of any material in this publication is 

expressly forbidden anywhere in the 

world without the publisher’s prior 

written consent. 

Printed by L&S Printing, UK 

(www.ls-printing.com) 

Royal Mail Periodicals Code 

for Presstream Y4778. 

WELCOME... 

Welcome to the latest issue of Specialist Printing 

Worldwide. In this edition, we feature a diverse 

array of engaging technical articles, customer 

success stories, company profiles, event previews 

and much more! 

We are eagerly anticipating the upcoming 

events, including Printing United and Label Expo 

in the US, as well as FachPack in Germany. The 

printing industry has never been more exciting, 

CASE STUDY 

2 Metropole adopts large format vutek 

q5r press from EFI 

Sandrine Fornet from EFI, celebrates the 

growing success and strength of 

Metropole, as the company acquires the 

EFI VUTEk Q5r 

TECHNOLOGY 

4 Ensuring consistent colour quality in 

digital printing 

Alexandra Schalk of ColorGATE Digital 

Output Solutions, outlines the essentials of 

maintaining colour accuracy and quality in 

digital printing 

6 A perfect marriage in digital printing 

Daniel Velema, Managing Director of 

Koenig & Bauer Durst, reports how the 

joining of Koenig & Bauer with Durst, has 

created the ideal partnership in the folding 

carton and corrugated, digital-printing 

market 

COMPANY FOCUS 

10 Cadillac Plastic offers custom-converted 

materials 

Simon Jones at Cadillac Plastic Ltd, 

outlines how global specialist printers can 

benefit from custom sizes and quantities 

of materials 

TECHNOLOGY 

12 Integration of inkjet and robotics to 

enhance manufacturing automation 

David Horne of Meteor Inkjet, describes 

how the evolution of handling complex 3D 

surfaces, offers waste reduction and 

efficiency benefits, with successful 

integration in manufacturing automation 

16 The importance of fluid-management 

systems in inkjet printing 

Mike Seal of Megnajet, explains why a 

reliable fluid-management system is critical 

for any inkjet application, but is essential 

in industrial textile and graphics printing 

20 Glass screen-printing inks for functional 

display applications 

Sarah Klee of Proell GmbH, outlines the 

benefits of using NoriGlass glass screenprinting 

inks in a wide range of display and 

sensor products 

22 Back to the future of screen printing 

Peter Walsh, Executive Vice-President of 

M&R Printing Equipment, investigates the 

value of traditional screen printing in the 

fashion industry and beyond 

24 Vitrapack – success through strategic 

standardisation 

Michael Van den Putte of Vitrapack, reports 

on how the company has become more 

successful due to its strategic 

standardisation journey 

with technological advancements continually 

providing innovative solutions across a variety 

of sectors. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to each 

of our readers for your positive feedback 

and comments on the information we share. 

Your enthusiasm makes our journey together 

even more rewarding. 

Nicola Penhallow, Publisher 

28 US print market maintains sales growth 

and embraces AI opportunity 

Ford Bowers, CEO of PRINTING United 

Alliance, reports that while modest 2024 

sales growth is expected, cautiously 

optimistic US printers are contending with 

cost concerns and aiming for impressive AI 

adoption 

30 Key considerations for prepress 

workflow 

Nigel Wild at Global Graphics Software, 

outlines the most important aspects to 

review when developing a prepress 

workflow for labels and packaging inkjet 

presses 

32 Opportunity is in the bag 

Mingming Guo from Inkcups, outlines 

innovations in direct-to-object printing and 

inks which are opening up opportunities to 

capitalise on the growth of reusable bags 

34 Advancement of green claims directive 

in Europe 

Elaine Campling of ChemAdvisory, reports 

on the progress of the Green Claims 

Directive in Europe and its aim to protect 

consumers from green washing 

36 Roll-to-roll printers meet flatbed-cutting 

machines 

Matteo Muto of Valiani, explores the 

benefits of using an in-house flatbedcutting 

machine to achieve one-off, 

customised, durable decals 

38 Imaging in inkjet printing 

Lekshmi BS at Archipelago Technology, 

highlights the significance of using imaging 

techniques for its Powerdrop coating and 

other inkjet-printing technologies 

EVENTS 

40 Printing United Expo 2024 

40 Automotive Interiors Expo Europe 

41 WRAPFEST 2024 

42 Labelexpo Americas 2024 

42 Decorative Surfaces Conference 2024 

44 Automotive Interiors Expo North 

America 

46 Textile Printing and Sustainability 

Conference 2024 

IN BRIEF 

48 The latest news, appointments and 

technology 

DO YOU HAVE 

NEWS OR AN 

EVENT TO SHARE? 

CONTACT: 


SPECIALIST PRINTING WORLDWIDE : ISSUE THREE : 2024 1

CASE STUDY 

METROPOLE ADOPTS LARGE 

FORMAT VUTEK Q5R PRESS FROM EFI 

Sandrine Fornet from EFI, celebrates the growing success and strength of 

Metropole, as the company acquires and begins production with the EFI VUTEk 

Q5r large-format press 

Gary Blumenfeld, President of Metropole 

Metropole offers a huge range of products 

to as many markets. Included in this is urban 

scenography, retail and volume, large formats, 

art and culture, cinema, stands and trade 

shows, the workplace, luxury and events. 

With its 3,000m 2 workshop in Gennevilliers, 

Greater Paris, France, Metropole offers not 

only proximity, but also responsiveness for 

manufacturing up to the last minute. All of 

this, while achieving a reduced environmental 

footprint. 

METROPOLE EVOLUTION 

Created in 2000, by Philippe Zanet, the 

company has been able to evolve, make the 

right investment choices and adapt to a 

clientele that is as varied as it is demanding. 

Gary Blumenfeld, President explains, 

”Metropole is a company that has two 

businesses. A professional advertising agency 

and a professional digital-printing workshop. 

In both cases, our expertise is the art of 

large-format printing.” He continues, “With 

the control room, the provision of a heritage 

of XXL advertising canvases to advertisers in 

strategic and emblematic locations, and for 

the digital-printing workshop, the mastery 

of all the trades, from the design to the 

installation of the supports, relying on one of 

the most efficient machine parks in Greater 

Paris.” 

Nicolas Faure, Deputy Managing Director of Metropole 

CONSTANTLY CHANGING MARKET 

The company invested heavily in 2023 in order 

to offer speedy responsiveness and very high 

quality of production to its customers. At the 

same time, Metropole amplified its corporate 

social responsibility (CSR) approach. This 

resulted in the arrival of an EFI VUTEk Q5r 

large-format printer with a width of five metres 

(700m 2 /h, nine UV inks, white + varnish). 

“A significant investment for a small to 

medium sized enterprise (SME) like ours,” 

notes Nicolas Faure, Deputy Managing 

Director. “Firstly, it allows us to renew 

our machinery, but also to increase the 

technology that we can offer our customers.” 

He continues, “Their needs actually change 

every year and today one has to be able to 

offer relevant technical proposals that are 

well suited to their ambition.” 

Blumenfeld explains that customers 

no longer have deadlines and they expect 

impeccable quality and geographical 

proximity. This means that they can easily 

come and check aspects such as rendering 

and colours. This makes Metropole’s 

positioning in the heart of Greater Paris – five 

kms from the main places where the devices 

are installed – very important to the business. 

“This is a key point for Metropole, 

reinforced by the performance of our 

production tools and especially the new EFI 

VUTEk Q5r,” Blumenfeld says. “It is indeed 

a very versatile printer, which allowed us 

to discover and test new printing modes 

including selective backlights made directly 

with a print profile.” He goes on to say, 

“We really pushed it to its limits, especially 

for selective backlighting – the timing is 

perfect, the result exceptional and the added 

value obvious. We can thus be a source of 

proposals to our customers on traditional 

media, such as tarpaulins.” 

Blumenfeld also notes that with the 

different printing modes, such as selective 

varnish, backlighting and white, the VUTEk 

Q5r large-format printer will potentially open 

up new markets for the business. “This is why 

“It is quite a differentiator in 

the market to be able to offer 

five metres in this technology” 

Metropole’s EFI VUTEk LX3 Pro LED, chosen for its versatility, flexibility and white option 

2 SPECIALIST PRINTING WORLDWIDE : ISSUE THREE : 2024 

www.specialistprinting.com

CASE STUDY 

THE SOLUTION 

“We have invested in exceptional ecological 

equipment to meet the environmental 

concerns of our customers” 

(Gary Blumenfeld, President, Metropole) 

THE RESULT 

“We are prepared for the next 5–7 years for a 

market that is constantly renewing” 

(Nicolas Faure, Managing Director, Metropole) 

With the different printing modes the VUTEk Q5r wide-format printer will potentially open up new markets for Metropole 

we have chosen to integrate all the options 

directly on the machine so as not to close 

any doors to our customers’ requests,” he 

says. “It meets our expectations extremely 

well.” Blumenfeld concludes, “We are very 

satisfied with it and it has found its place 

perfectly in the workshop.” 

ECO-FRIENDLY EFI VUTEK Q5R 

In addition to its speed and the very high 

quality delivered, Nicolas Faure, Deputy 

Managing Director, insists on the undeniable 

CSR advantages offered by the EFI VUTEk 

Q5r press. He states, ”For me, it is the 

most environmentally friendly printer on the 

market, with a very low overall consumption. 

In particular, the primer, which is much shorter 

compared to other machines, the LED curing, 

ink consumption, electricity consumption and 

more.” He continues, “It also allows us to 

respond calmly and in a more relevant way to 

the CSR constraints of our customers. Criteria 

that are becoming more and more important, 

well beyond calls for tenders and on which it 

is necessary to be able to respond seriously.” 

Metropole is already labelled Imprim’Vert and 

Ecovadis Bronze but has the ambition to do 

even better. 

3.20m-wide flatbed printer (eight colours plus 

white) is very versatile, optimised for POS 

productivity and compatible with media up 

to 5.08cm thick. Cool LED curing technology 

expands the range of supported media, 

reducing energy consumption, making it 

environmentally friendly. 

Blumenfeld adds, ”This printer was chosen 

for its versatility, flexibility and the possibilities 

offered by white. Again, it opens the door to 

many of the highly creative and value-added 

applications that our customers expect.” 

IN SUMMARY 

Metropole thus claims a complete fleet, 

which has very good technical capabilities. 

The company also responds well to its 

production volumes, as well as to the needs 

of its customers today and in the future. 

THE CHALLENGE 

“Our customers no longer have deadlines 

and they need impeccable quality, total 

responsiveness and CSR guarantees” 

(Gary Blumenfeld, President, Metropole) 

CONCLUSION 

Metropole offers one of the most efficient 

machines in the heart of Greater Paris. It 

comprises a reinforced clothing centre, in-house 

installation services provided by 15 versatile 

technicians. It has also recently integrated a 

high-spec design office. All of this guarantees 

SME customer base unique positioning. 

Metropole has been a reference company in 

large-format printing for many years. 

Sandrine Fornet is Senior Sales 

Development Manager, EFI 

THE ESSENTIALS ABOUT METROPOLE 

Founded – 2000 

Two partners – the Zanet and 

Blumenfeld families 

Employees – 60 

Revenue – around €30 million (planned 

for 2024) 

Production – 300,000 m² of tarpaulins, 

adhesives and rigid media printed annually 

Further information: 

EFI, Londonderry, New Hampshire, USA 

tel: +1 855-334-4457 

email: sales@efi.com 

web: www.efi.com 

MORE FROM EFI 

Metropole is equipped with several types 

of machines that also allow it to offer 

sublimation in addition to digital printing. 

Blumenfeld explains, ”Currently, we have 

three machines from EFI. In addition to the 

EFI VUTEk Q5r press, the workshop also has 

an EFI FabriVU 520 (five metres wide for 

sublimation).” He goes on to say, ”It is quite 

a differentiator in the market to be able to 

offer five metres in this technology, which is 

also not lacking in ecological arguments.” 

A resolution of 2,400dpi, four-level 

greyscale printing and drop sizes from 4-8pL 

ensure exceptional quality. The productivity of 

this industrial printer is also up to date with 

a range from 157m 2 /h in point of sale (POS) 

quality, to a maximum speed of 446m 2 /h. 

Finally, the EFI VUTEk LX3 Pro LED 

“The VUTEk Q5r 

wide-format printer 

will potentially open 

up new markets for 

the business” 

Metropole invested in an EFI VUTEk Q5r press to offer a faster response and higher quality to its customers 



TECHNOLOGY 

ENSURING CONSISTENT COLOUR 

QUALITY IN DIGITAL PRINTING 

In this article, Alexandra Schalk of ColorGATE Digital Output Solutions, outlines 

the essentials of maintaining colour accuracy and quality in digital printing, and 

offers solutions for navigating existing challenges 

Alexandra Schalk, Team Manager Marketing, ColorGATE 

Digital Output Solutions GmbH 

In the ever-evolving world of digital printing, 

maintaining consistent colour quality is critical. 

Be it in wide format, packaging, textiles or 

any other application area, achieving and 

maintaining colour consistency is crucial to 

brand integrity, customer satisfaction and 

overall product quality. Achieving colour 

consistency, however, is no small feat. Several 

challenges can lead to colour variations, making 

it essential for print providers to be aware of 

and proactively manage these variables. 

THE ENVIRONMENT 

Environmental factors, such as temperature and 

humidity, can have a significant impact on colour 

quality in digital printing. Changes in temperature 

can alter the viscosity of the ink, affecting how it 

spreads and adheres to the substrate. For 

example, higher temperatures can make ink 

more fluid, causing it to spread more than 

desired, while lower temperatures can thicken 

ink, resulting in inadequate coverage. 

Humidity also plays an important role. 

High humidity may cause substrates – 

especially paper-based – to absorb moisture. 

This will change its surface properties and 

cause colour shifts as the ink interacts 

differently with the substrate. Conversely, low 

humidity can cause the ink to dry too quickly, 

which may not allow it to fully integrate with 

the substrate. Maintaining a controlled 

environment in the printing facility is essential 

to mitigate these issues. 

PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE 

In any digital printer, the printhead is a critical 

component that directly affects the accuracy 

and consistency of colour output. Over time, 

printheads experience wear and tear that can 

result in nozzle clogging, misfiring or uneven 

ink distribution. The life of a printhead 

depends on the frequency of its use, the types 

of inks used and maintenance practices. 

Regular maintenance – including cleaning 

and calibration – is critical to prolonging 

printhead life and ensuring consistent 

performance. In addition, timely replacement 

of worn printheads is necessary to maintain 

optimal colour accuracy and avoid production 

disruptions. 

INK AND SUBSTRATE VARIATIONS 

Varying ink and substrate conditions are 

another major challenge in achieving 

consistent colour quality. Different production 

batches of ink may have slight variations in 

their chemical composition, resulting in 

different colour output. Even small variations 

can cause noticeable discrepancies, especially 

in high-precision applications. 

Similarly, substrates can vary in properties 

due to differences in manufacturing 

processes, storage conditions and handling. 

For example, paper substrates can have 

different degrees of whiteness, texture and 

moisture content, all of which can affect how 

the ink interacts with the surface. 

To minimise these issues, it is important 

to source inks and substrates from reliable 

suppliers with stringent quality control 

measures. Consistent storage conditions, 

such as maintaining optimal temperature and 

humidity levels, can also help reduce 

variability and ensure consistent print results. 

PROCESS CONDITIONS 

The conditions of the printing process can also 

have a significant impact on colour quality. 

Prepress treatments, such as priming, coating 

and corona treatment, prepare the substrate to 

receive ink evenly. Any inconsistencies may lead 

to uneven ink absorption and colour variations. 

For example, a poorly applied primer can cause 

areas of the substrate to repel ink – resulting in 

lighter or inconsistent colour patches. 

Post-processing conditions such as drying, 

curing and heating, are equally important. 

Insufficient drying or curing, for example, can 

cause colours to bleed or change over time as 

the ink continues to interact with the substrate. 

Ensuring that all pre- and post-processing 

conditions are carefully controlled and 

standardised, is critical to maintaining 

consistent colour quality. This includes using 

“Fingerprint Technology takes colour management a step further” 

Keeping colour under control can be challenging 



TECHNOLOGY 

the correct settings for each substrate and ink type, as well as 

monitoring and adjusting process parameters as needed. 

COMPOUND EFFECTS 

Each of these challenges can introduce small variations in colour. 

While these individual deviations may be minimal, their cumulative 

effect can result in significant colour inconsistencies. Over time, if not 

carefully managed, the variations can grow and severely affect the 

quality and consistency of the printed output. 

It is therefore essential to keep every aspect of the printing 

process under control. Regular monitoring, maintenance and calibration 

are key practices to ensure that all variables are kept within acceptable 

tolerances. In this way, print providers can minimise the risk of colour 

variation and maintain high quality standards for their products. 

COLORGATE TOOL KIT 

ColorGATE offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help digital 

printers meet these challenges and maintain precise colour control. 

Outstanding features of the ColorGATE Productionserver are Media 

Device Synchronization and Fingerprint Technology, as well as the 

Color Correction Loop Module. 

Media Device Synchronization 

Media Device Synchronization recalibrates the printer to the original 

profiling state. This is particularly useful because it ensures that any 

changes in the printing environment, printhead wear or other 

variables, are accounted for, restoring the printer’s colour output to 

its original standard. Recalibration is essential to counteract the drift 

in colour output that occurs due to wear and environmental changes, 

enabling printers to consistently produce high-quality prints. 

Fingerprint Technology 

Fingerprint Technology takes colour management a step further by 

creating a file that contains all the production steps of the original 

design. This file can be saved and reused for later runs or even for 

distributed production, ensuring that colours remain consistent – 

regardless of where or when printing takes place. 

Color Correction Loop Module 

For digital-print companies looking to expand their colour-matching 

capabilities, the Color Correction Loop Module works in harmony with the 

Fingerprint Technology. Using the created Fingerprint file, this module can 

automatically correct colour deviations during production. This continuous 

correction ensures that minor colour shifts are addressed immediately, 

maintaining the highest colour accuracy throughout the run. 

FASTER 

SHARPER 

PRINTING 

-----STEEL BELTS 

FOR HIGH SPEED 

PRECISION 

DIGITAL PRINTING 

The drive for greater print productivity places new 

demands on press conveyors: as speeds increase, so does 

risk of vibration. As the world’s leading manufacturer of 

high specification steel conveyor belts, we can help. 

IPCO belts offer up to 6x better stability than plastic belts, 

and are precision engineered to the finest tolerances of 

thickness and straightness. Together with high precision 

belt tracking, this means the position of the print substrate 

is assured, and speeds can be maximized without 

compromising on quality. 

CONCLUSION 

In the competitive field of digital printing, maintaining consistent colour 

quality is essential for success. Environmental factors, printhead 

characteristics, ink and substrate conditions, as well as process 

variables, all present challenges to colour accuracy. With constant 

monitoring, maintenance and advanced tools – such as ColorGATE’s 

Productionserver, Media Device Synchronization, Fingerprint Technology 

and Color Correction Loop Module – print-service providers can 

effectively overcome these challenges. This not only increases 

customer satisfaction, but also strengthens brand integrity and ensures 

long-term success in the competitive world of digital printing. 

Maximum stability – up to 6x less vibration 

vs. plastic belts. 

Precision engineered for complete 

flatness/straightness. 

High tensile strength resists stretching. 

Solid steel or perforated for vacuum systems. 

High precision belt tracking. 

100+ years’ experience in belt manufacturing. 

Read more at ipco.com/print 

Alexandra Schalk is Team Manager Marketing at ColorGATE 

Digital Output Solutions GmbH 


ColorGATE Digital Output Solutions GmbH, Hannover, Germany 

tel: +49 511 942 930 

email: alexandra.schalk@colorgate.com 

web: www.colorgate.com 


TECHNOLOGY 

A PERFECT MARRIAGE IN DIGITAL 

PRINTING 

Daniel Velema, Managing Director of Koenig & Bauer Durst, reports how the 

joining of Koenig & Bauer with Durst has created the ideal partnership in the 

folding carton and corrugated, digital-printing market 

Daniel Velema, Managing Director of Koenig & Bauer Durst 

Durst and Koenig & Bauer came together at 

CEO level. The driving forces were Christoph 

Gamper (CEO and Co-Owner of Durst Group) 

and Bolza-Schünemann (CEO of Koenig & 

Bauer). The goal was a partnership on equal 

terms, as well as enthusiasm for technology 

and expertise on both sides. 

COMPANY FOUNDATIONS 

The technological goal, as a motive for founding 

the company, was the development of the 

VariJET 106. Here, the competencies of the two 

companies complement each other excellently. 

Durst, as a ‘digital native’ in the printing 

industry, brings unparalleled know-how in digital 

printing, software and electronics. Koenig & 

Bauer – the leading manufacturer in offset 

folding-carton printing for the packaging market 

– brings market access and understands 

customer requirements. 

The synergies also arise in market 

processing. Koenig & Bauer has been 

successful in the folding-carton market for a 

long time. Durst gains the opportunity, 

through the partnership, to tap into a new 

market and scale proven technology. 

In the corrugated-board market, the 

parent companies have pooled their activities 

in single-pass digital printing by founding 

Koenig & Bauer Durst. Durst introduced the 

Delta SPC 130 and Koenig & Bauer the 

CorruJET 170. The joint venture also combines 

development cooperation, joint product sales 

and efficient use of global service capacities. 

UNITED ACHIEVEMENTS 

The VariJET 106 would not have existed 

without Koenig & Bauer Durst. Koenig & 

Bauer had previously collaborated with 

another partner in the digital-printing sector 

and developed the product. However, this 

partnership was not successful. Therefore, a 

partnership for mutual success was 

established and legally solidified with Durst, 

to form the perfect marriage. 

Integrating inkjet technology into the 

platform of the high-performance Rapida 106 

offset press, the VariJET 106 combines the 

strengths of digital inkjet with those of classic 

offset printing and inline finishing with coating. 

It can utilise its full versatility by adding 

several coating stations for spot varnishes, UV, 

tactile, matt and gloss varnishes, as well as 

pearl, silver and gold effects, both before and 

after the inkjet unit. It is this unique flexibility, 

which defines the VariJET 106 as the most 

productive and cost-efficient hybrid-printing 

systems for digital-packaging printing. The 

VariJET 106 can produce personalised and 

individualised print products or constantly 

alternate between short and medium runs. 

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION 

A Steering Committee was established at the 

beginning of the joint venture, which has 

proven itself and meets regularly. Here, the 

Koenig & Bauer Durst management team 

coordinates important, urgent and sometimes 

difficult issues with the owners. Trust and 

reliability play an important role in this 

cooperation and result in consistently positive 

experiences. 

CUSTOMER APPROVAL 

The marriage of industry expertise and future 

defining technologies, has resulted in 

sustainable, highly versatile and productive 

technology that delivers. This is particularly true, 

because the company’s single-pass presses are 

perfect for application versatility. In addition, 

they all use water-based, food-safe inks. 

Koenig & Bauer Durst’s market-proven 

Delta SPC 130 is a firm favourite with 

customers across the world, including four 

installations at Schumacher Packaging, of 

which the latest has been installed in 

Birmingham, UK. 

Continued over 

“Durst introduced the Delta 

SPC 130 and Koenig & Bauer 

the CorruJET 170” 

The FlexLine Automatic is one of the options from Koenig & Bauer Durst’s 

award-winning Delta SPC 130 product portfolio. The ability to produce digital 

white for food-safe packaging is an important step forward in the corrugated industry 



NoriGlass TP 

Glass Decorating Ink – 

silicone free 

Innovative Inks & 

Functional Lacquers 

Field of Application: 

Two-component stoving screen printing ink for the decoration 

of glass, particularly for symbols of touch switches and for 

backlit displays. The ink system shows good adhesion on 

various metals and ceramics as well. 

Properties: 

This organic screen printing ink system provides very high 

resistance to aqueous household cleaners, hand and machine 

dishwashing detergents as well as to chemicals and solvents, 

alcohols, greases, oils and hydraulic fluids. 

− Glossy, solvent-based screen printing ink 

− High-grade pigments 

− Good scratch and chemical resistance 

− Silicone free and halogen free (depending on pigments) 

− Solvents are free of aromatic hydro carbons 

− Cyclohexanone free 

Processing: 

− Extensive mesh opening time, no drying in mesh 

− Pot life of 8 h 

− Overprintable after 3 min forced drying 

− Only one final curing step: 

· Min.: 20 – 30 min / 120 °C 

· Max.: 30 min / 180 °C 

· Accelerated: IR-supported Jet drying 

➔ 200 s / 130 °C + 100 % IR 

Basic Colors 

093 Colorless HF 412 Pink Transparent HF 

102 Citron HF 472 Violet Transparent 

112 Yellow HF 566 Blue Transparent HF 

171 Yellow Transparent 669 Green 

225 Orange HF 945 White HF 

321 Bright Red HF 948 Black HF 

Standard Colors 

930 Titanium White HF 960 Deep Black HF 

Special Color 

770 Silver HF 

NoriGlass TP 930 Titanium White and 

960 Deep Black 

Technical Properties: 

− Very high optical density, especially suited for display 

frames: 

➔ TP 960: OD ~ 5 at 7 µm layer thickness 

− Very high Surface Free Energy for an excellent bondability: 

➔ TP 930 and 960: SFE ~ 50 mN/m 

− Very high degree of whiteness: 

➔ TP 930: L* ~ 90; b* ~ 0 

− Very high Electrical Resistance: 

➔ TP 960: R > 1 TΩ at 5000 V 

www.proell.de 

7/24 

Pröll GmbH · Treuchtlinger Str. 29 · 91781 Weissenburg / Germany · Phone +49-9141-906-0 · info @ proell.de · www.proell.de

TECHNOLOGY 

“The VariJET 106 would not have 

existed without Koenig & Bauer Durst” 

The VariJET 106 made its public debut at drupa with live daily 

demonstrations, proving extremely popular with visitors to the Koenig & Bauer stand 

The VariJET 106 – the company’s major 

digital development in folding carton markets 

– is now a reality. At drupa 24, delegates 

experienced running samples on a regular 

basis. Some of these have been produced in 

Switzerland by SCHELLING AG, one of Koenig 

& Bauer Durst’s customer sites. 

The company has also shown gamechanging 

industry firsts. For example, its 

breakthrough of printing on mainly brown 

substrates with water-based digital white for 

corrugated substrates in primary food 

packaging for the Delta SPC 130. 

Anthony Memme, Digital Print Manager 

from Atlantic Packaging, which installed one 

of the first Koeing & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 

130s in Canada, explains how it will transform 

service delivery. “We do a lot of food, food 

contact, food ready packaging, such as pizza 

and produce boxes. Being able to put down a 

white and get high-definition, full-colour 

graphics on a kraft substrate is going to be 

transformative in our industry. Up until now, 

I have not seen any print method print this 

quality and vibrancy of colour on uncoated 

and kraft materials.” 

COLLABORATION 

Collaboration is also a cornerstone for 

ongoing development. This was seen in action 

at drupa 24 with Highcon and Scodix. 

Following an on-stand print run, the team 

wanted to see how the printed sheet could 

be brought to life by transforming it into a 

complete, shelf-ready package. After a quick 

conversation with the experts at Highcon and 

Scodix, its Beam 2 digital die-cutting system 

and the Ultra 6500 SHD embellishment 

capabilities transformed the work in minutes. 

It was the perfect demonstration of purely 

digital, same-day turnaround. 

Daniel Velema is Managing Director of 

Koenig & Bauer Durst 


Koenig & Bauer Durst GmbH, Wuerzburg, 

Germany 

tel: +49 931 909 4338 

email: info@koenig-bauer-durst.com 

web: www.koenig-bauer-durst.com

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COMPANY FOCUS 

CADILLAC PLASTIC OFFERS 

CUSTOM-CONVERTED MATERIALS 

Simon Jones at Cadillac Plastic Ltd outlines how global specialist printers can benefit 

from custom sizes and quantities of materials, enhancing cost savings and efficiency 

Simon Jones, General Manager, Cadillac Plastic Ltd 

Many printers, all over the world, still 

purchase material in standard sheet and 

pack quantities. A ‘one size fits all’ approach 

is rarely the most efficient or cost-effective 

way of purchasing print substrates. In the 

current business climate, greater efficiency 

and cost savings can make all the difference 

to a business. Environmental footprint is 

an increasingly important consideration. 

The principle of ‘reduction’ can be applied 

by buying only what is required, rather 

than what is convenient for a distributor or 

manufacturer to sell. 

For over 40 years, Cadillac Plastic has 

been providing industrial print customers 

with custom-converted sheets and rolls of 

high-performance plastic films and filmic 

adhesives. These are sourced from major 

manufacturers, such as Transcontinental, 

Sabic, Mylar, 3M and DuPont. 

Master rolls of film waiting for conversion 

BESPOKE SOLUTION 

Cadillac Plastic provides a bespoke materials 

solution for every application from membrane 

switch panels to display screens and labels. 

Sheeting, slitting, guillotining, laminating and 

die cutting come at no extra cost. 

Advantages of purchasing custom sizes 

and quantities: 

• Cadillac Plastic converts film materials 

from master rolls, minimising material 

waste and environmental impact 

• Buying no more than is required provides 

a cost-effective solution 

• When material is the exact size, the 

printing process can begin immediately, 

improving lead times 

• Materials can be supplied for specific 

jobs in the required quantities, making 

planning, internal tracking and allocation 

much easier 

• For multi-layer assemblies – such as 

membrane switches – the overlay, heatstabilised 

polyester for circuitry, spacer 

layers and adhesive tapes can all be 

purchased together in the correct size 

and quantity for each job 

• Purchasing ‘freshly’ converted material 

is better than using old, ‘out-of-date’ 

stock – this is particularly important for 

adhesives 

• All of the above leads to reduced 

inventory costs and better management 

of materials 

STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS 

This service, combined with the highperformance 

films Cadillac Plastic supplies, 

meets the stringent requirements of the 

aerospace, automotive and medical industries. 

For example, within the medical industry, 

Reflex anti-microbial film 

Cadillac Plastic Ltd based in Swindon, UK 



COMPANY FOCUS 

anti-microbial reflex films from 

Transcontinental, provide a safer surface for 

keypads and equipment displays. Aircraft 

interiors require flame-retardant films and 

adhesives from LEXAN and 3M. Heatstabilised 

polyesters and polyamide films 

– resistant to extreme temperatures – are 

specified for automotive circuitry and labels. 

The industrial-print market makes up a 

large portion of Cadillac’s customer base. Many 

businesses rely on the comprehensive portfolio 

of materials offered by the company. These 

include Reflex hard-coated polyester films, 

Lexan polycarbonate films, Mylar polyester 

films, 3M adhesives and DuPont Tyvek. 

“Environmental footprint is 

an increasingly important 

consideration” 

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE 

The team behind Cadillac Plastic has years of 

experience and knowledge in the industry. As 

a result, it can provide technical support and 

product knowledge via telephone and email. 

For demanding printing applications, Cadillac 

Plastic offers support in finding the best 

solution. Even for relatively straightforward 

orders, a dedicated sales advisor will always 

ensure the most efficient sheeting and 

slitting patterns to optimise material yields, 

reducing waste and costs. 

ISO 9001 Quality Management 

Certification – held for over 30 years – 

provides further evidence of dedication to 

quality and service. This is backed up by 

the ISO 14001 Environmental Standard and 

ISO 45001 for Health and Safety. 

IN SUMMARY 

Whether the job requires five or 50,000 

pieces, the customer can purchase only 

the necessary amount. There is no need to 

buy oversized packs which leave unwanted 

material on the shelf. 

Custom sizes are available – efficiently 

produced from master-roll stock – thus 

eliminating the need to compromise with 

standard-sized sheets or rolls. 

For complex, multi-substrate jobs, all the 

component parts can be bought from one 

supplier who can deliver in the correct sizes 

and quantities. 

Finally, expert advice is readily available 

on the best material for the job. This not only 

saves time and money, but customers will 

thank you for providing high-quality printed 

parts which meet their expectations. 

CONCLUSION 

Many customers, in the UK and across the 

world, make Cadillac Plastic their supplier 

Conversion of material 

of choice for specialist substrates. They 

recognise the many benefits of bespoke 

conversion, combined with quick turnaround 

of products and short lead times. This strong 

position in the market makes Cadillac Plastic 

ideally placed to provide material wherever it 

is needed, as quickly as possible. 

Simon Jones is General Manager at 

Cadillac Plastic Ltd 


Cadillac Plastic Ltd, Swindon, UK 

tel: +44 01793 648500 

email: marketing@cadcouk.com 

web: www.cadillacplastic.co.uk 

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TECHNOLOGY 

INTEGRATION OF INKJET 

AND ROBOTICS TO ENHANCE 

MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION 

David Horne, of Meteor Inkjet, describes how the evolution of handling complex 

3D surfaces, offers waste reduction and efficiency benefits, with successful 

integration in manufacturing automation 

David Horne, Vice-President of Engineering, Meteor 

Inkjet Ltd 

Inkjet technology continues to replace the 

incumbent analogue techniques in traditional 

2D graphics for decorative industries. 

However, new applications are emerging in 

the manufacture of products that require 

decoration or coating over a 3D surface. 

Although, this comes with some challenges. 

Industries as varied as automotive to 

footwear are seeking to make use of the 

advantages of digital printing. Key drivers 

include reduction of waste material and 

customisation of individual products in a 

serial production line. The cover-all term for 

this type of application is direct-to-shape 

(DTS) or direct-to-object (DTO) printing. 

These applications are part of a trend 

towards greater manufacturing automation. 

robot, constrains the size of parts that can be 

practically handled in this way. Imagine trying 

to inkjet print a car roof by moving the car! 

For decoration of parts above a certain size, 

these practical limitations drive integrators 

towards the ‘printhead-on-end-effector’ 

approach, which places the printheads and 

ancillary components onto the robot itself. 

INKJET ADVANTAGES 

An example of the ‘printhead-on-end-effector’ 

process is in the automotive industry, for 

application of paint and other coatings onto 

the car body. Although the necessary spray 

technology is effective for coating parts, the 

use of inkjet can increase transfer efficiency 

and reduce waste by minimising overspray. 

The high addressability of an inkjet printhead 

ensures that material is jetted only where 

it is needed. As well as saving waste, there 

is less aerosolised material that must be 

extracted from the air and treated to make it 

safe. Process costs are further reduced since 

the need for masking off areas that are to 

be kept clear or painted a different colour is 

eliminated. 

Another example is applying a functional 

layer to the surface of a 3D part. In these 

applications, a high-quality, undistorted 

application of the functional material to the 

surface is required. Integrating the printhead 

and robot arm produces a system that is highly 

flexible for printing on parts with different 

geometries, as well as curved surfaces. The 

combined robotic inkjet system provides 

significant benefits over incumbent analogue 

techniques. These would typically employ foils 

or contact-printing techniques – pad printing or 

screen printing – which, in some cases, cannot 

be applied to complex 3D surfaces or may lead 

to distortion of the design. 

THE CHALLENGES 

Integrating a robot arm and inkjet, using the 

‘printhead-on-end-effector’ approach, has 

some clear advantages in terms of coating 

large parts. In addition, it offers flexibility 

to address different part geometries within 

a single cell. However, this does not come 

without challenges in the design and 

engineering of such a system. A printhead 

mounted on the end-effector of an industrial 

robot is subject to acceleration in any 

axis. The orientation of the part may mean 

that the printhead is rotated vertically – 

known as skyscraper configuration – and 

may accelerate and change orientation 

whilst jetting. The fluid-supply system 

must regulate to keep a consistent level of 

meniscus pressure at the printhead. Good 

jetting is achievable under these conditions 

and reacts quickly to changes in printhead 

orientation or acceleration. Typically, for 

coating applications, a high rate of material 


ROBOT INTEGRATION 

Use of inkjet printing in manufacturing 

automation often involves the integration of 

a robot arm to handle either the product or 

the printhead. Using a six-axis robot, allows 

for the ability to cover the entirety of a 

complex 3D surface. It also offers additional 

flexibility to handle parts of varying size (for 

example, due to manufacturing tolerances) or 

an entirely different design using the same 

production cell. For some applications, it is 

possible to handle the part using the robot 

and move it underneath the printheads – 

‘part-on-end-effector’. However, physical 

space in the cell and load capacity of the 

Integrating inkjet with an industrial robot for painting a large automotive part 



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TECHNOLOGY 

deposition is also required, placing further 

demands on the fluid supply. 

There are also challenges for the ink/ 

paint/coating formulator in achieving the 

necessary material properties. Inkjet is 

typically capable of jetting fluids with 

viscosities in the range of 5–30cP with 

temperature control utilised to bring more 

viscous fluids within the jettable range. A 

traditional automotive paint would be in the 

range 50–500cP. A thicker paint generally 

produces less sag, which is important where 

coatings are applied to a non-horizontal 

surface. Of course, the desired physical and 

chemical properties of the cured finish must 

be maintained with any modification to the 

chemical make-up. 

“Integrating inkjet technology 

on an industrial robot is a 

challenging undertaking that 

requires a multi-disciplinary 

approach” 

INKJET SYSTEM PROCESS DESIGN 

When it comes to process design, there are 

decisions to be made about how to apply 

the coating/decoration efficiently. If the area 

to be addressed is wider than the printhead 

swath, the printhead must pass over the part 

multiple times to cover the area in a similar 

manner to a 2D multi-pass printer. The robot 

should move the printhead over the surface, 

with the most efficient path, to ensure that 

the full area is addressed – path planning. 

The image is then broken down into swaths 

to be printed on each pass. Alignment and 

stitching of multiple passes is complex when 

dealing with a 3D surface, since the paths 

are not necessarily parallel. Curved areas 

must also be handled, sometimes including 

tightly concave sections. It may be necessary 

to increase deposition to ensure coverage 

of hard-to-reach corners. Path planning and 

image processing must be tightly coupled to 

achieve good coverage. Deformations and 

distortions due to mapping a 2D image onto 

a 3D surface, or other process limitations, 

can be compensated in the image data to 

Applying a functional layer to a complex 3D surface using inkjet printhead mounted on a robot 

produce a high-quality result. 

As with any practical inkjet system, 

there will be less-than-ideal behaviour that 

can impact the finished result. Even using 

high-performance industrial robots, with 

excellent repeatability, the absolute accuracy 

of trajectory and velocity may deviate from 

the ideal case. Synchronising the fire pulses 

– essentially timing of when the printhead 

jets ink, such that a line is printed in the 

correct place – to the motion of the robot 

is a challenging task. Furthermore, there 

is a possibility of introducing vibrations 

that cause relative movement between the 

printhead and substrate. This can lead to 

banding effects. For simpler geometries, 

where motion is highly repeatable, it is 

possible to run open-loop and get acceptable 

results. For more complex geometries, or 

situations where uniformity of deposition is 

important, feedback from the robot can be 

used to better synchronise movement and 

jetting. This ensures precise placement of 

each pixel on the surface. 

Drop-placement errors can also result from 

dimensional tolerances, meaning that the part 

to be printed does not accurately match the 

CAD model. A 3D scan of the surface enables 

corrections to be applied that will avoid 

distortion/misplacement of a graphical image 

– as well as gaps in coverage – that could 

result from these positional errors. 

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH 

Integrating inkjet technology on an industrial 

robot is a challenging undertaking that 

requires a multi-disciplinary approach. 

Different applications have different 

requirements and there is no off-the-shelf 

solution. The material must be carefully 

formulated to ensure it can be jetted reliably, 

whilst maintaining desired properties in the 

finished product. The robot, printhead, data 

path and fluid control must work seamlessly 

together for a reliable, accurate system. 

The software workflow needs to provide 

necessary tools to process graphics or 

prepare the coating strategy, to plan the 

robot motion and prepare the image data. 

CONCLUSION 

Despite the challenges, several examples 

of successful implementation exist today 

including aerospace, automotive, clothing, 

packaging and furniture decoration. The trend 

towards manufacturing automation, smart 

factories and greater product customisation 

are likely to drive the need for DTS printing. As 

a result, the combination of industrial robots 

and inkjet will become more widespread. 

Working closely with all major industrialinkjet 

printhead manufacturers, Meteor Inkjet 

Ltd offers production-ready solutions to printsystem 

builders worldwide. 

David Horne is Vice-President of 

Engineering at Meteor Inkjet Ltd 

Inkjet printing complex 3D surface to coat an automotive part 


Meteor Inkjet Ltd, Cambridge, UK 

tel: +44 345 844 0012 

email: enquiries@meteorinkjet.com 



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TECHNOLOGY 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

The Megnajet system 

THE IMPORTANCE OF FLUID- 

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN INKJET 

PRINTING 

Mike Seal of Megnajet, explains why a reliable fluid-management system is critical 

for any inkjet application, but is essential in industrial textile and graphics printing 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

Mike Seal, Megnajet’s General Manager 

The unique printing demands in these sectors 

means that a high level of precise fluid 

control and conditioning is paramount. The 

importance cannot be understated. A reliable 

fluid-management system can mitigate risks, 

meet industry requirements and help 

contribute to innovation. 

The complexity of inkjet systems can be 

overwhelming. However, at its core, a fluidmanagement 

system does not just ‘supply’ 

ink, despite its name. It also controls and 

conditions the fluid. Therefore, it is the 

system’s job to regulate the fluid – including 

its flow rate, temperature and pressure. This 

helps to deliver the required results for many 

of today’s innovative uses of inkjet. 

The ink-supply system is the ‘heart’ of the 

ecosystem – it pumps, circulates, controls 

and conditions the fluid. Printheads require a 

reliable and consistent ink supply to be able 

to fulfil their purpose. Megnajet’s systems 

stand at the centre of this inkjet network, 

enabling the best possible output from 

industrial printheads. 

WHY ARE FLUID-MANAGEMENT 

SYSTEMS ESSENTIAL? 

The role of an ink-supply system can be broken 

down into four categories for each application – 

reliability, control, optimisation and versatility. 

Reliability 

Every good inkjet printer requires a high level 

of reliability. A dependable ink-supply system 

is a key part of achieving high-quality jetting. 

Good fluid-management systems achieve this 

with easy operation, low maintenance and allimportant 

self-monitoring control. This allows 




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TECHNOLOGY 

temperatures often mean that the ink remains 

thicker, which, if too cold, can prevent jetting 

properly. 

Innovative, high viscosity, inkjet 

applications are on the rise. Uniform heating 

and recirculation technology make a reliable 

fluid-management system all the more 

important for handling these challenging 

higher-viscosity fluids, even when cold. 

“Another critical aspect of a 

fluid-management system is its 

versatility” 

“At its core, a fluidmanagement 

system 

does not just ‘supply’ ink” 

The JetSource Core, Megnajet’s latest fluid-management system 

systems to consistently maintain set 

parameters. These features ensure that every 

print keeps outstanding quality and that 

these processes are repeatable. 

Megnajet’s systems are built with high 

quality components and include fail-safe 

measures to increase overall reliability. These 

mechanisms act as safeguards and prevent 

situations such as fluid spills or ink overflow, 

preserving the printing process’s integrity. These 

features can ultimately save users the costly 

and timely task of cleaning up expensive fluids, 

as well as avoiding system downtime. 

Control 

Printheads are intricate machines that demand 

precise and consistent conditions to perform 

optimally. Without proper temperature and 

pressure control, fluid properties can deviate, 

which ultimately affects print quality. The inksupply 

system maintains these crucial 

parameters and enables the printheads to 

consistently deliver to the highest performance. 

When carefully conditioning fluid to the 

appropriate pressure and temperature, a 

reliable fluid-management system can prevent 

blockages in printhead nozzles and avoid 

foaming of the fluids. With this in mind, the 

system can be fitted with a Megnajet 

de-gassing pump which is designed to be 

combined with the customer’s matrices. This 

ensures consistent print quality by removing 

any dissolved gasses. 

“Printheads are intricate 

machines that demand precise 

and consistent conditions” 

By heating fluids to the correct 

temperature, a fluid-supply system’s internal 

heater can adjust and control the viscosity of 

the fluid for its intended application. Cooler 

Optimisation 

Every application has its own unique 

requirements. Often, choosing the 

appropriate system depends on factors such 

as the type of printhead, the number of 

printheads required and the nature of the 

printing application. For Megnajet, these 

specific customer requirements are what 

drives the innovation of new solutions. The 

company can tailor systems to meet the everchanging 

industry trends and demands. 

For many OEMs, optimising workspace 

efficiency is crucial. Megnajet’s compact fluidmanagement 

systems are designed with this in 

mind. Choosing a compact ink-supply solution 

not only minimises the machine’s footprint, but 

also provides the benefit of easier integration 

and enhances overall production productivity. 

Versatility 

Another critical aspect of a fluid-management 

system is its versatility. The world of inkjet 

printing includes a wide range of printhead 

technologies, types and applications. Therefore, 

systems should be able to support a wide 

range of printheads to meet these industry 

demands. 

In addition, ink-supply systems should 

not only be fit for purpose in their mechanical 

operation, but their software must also meet 

the needs of the customer. By offering userfriendly 

software and direct communication 

options, Megnajet streamlines the integration 

process and ensures a seamless transition 

into every existing printing setup. 

CONCLUSION 

In short, the role of an ink-supply system is 

never to merely ‘supply ink’. It is designed to 

manage, control and condition fluids to create 

the optimum environment for reliability, 

functionality and precision. A reliable inksupply 

system is an essential part of the 

process for making a perfect inkjet print. 

Mike Seal is General Manager at Megnajet 

The Megnajet system 


Megnajet, Kettering, UK 

tel: +44 153 652 3501 

email: enquiry@megnajet.com 

web: www.megnajet.com 



High-performance printing machines for glass hollowware 

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TECHNOLOGY 

GLASS SCREEN-PRINTING INKS FOR 

FUNCTIONAL DISPLAY APPLICATIONS 

Sarah Klee of Proell GmbH, outlines the benefits of using NoriGlass glass screenprinting 

inks in a wide range of display and sensor products 

Sarah Klee, R&D Development of glass screen-printing 

inks, Proell 

for components, such as resistance to 

temperature fluctuations and UV radiation. 

For these reasons, glass finishers place 

high demands on quality, appearance and 

durability. In addition, easy processing and 

further processing during production must be 

guaranteed. 

CERAMIC INK DISADVANTAGES 

For decorative purposes, indoors and 

outdoors, ceramic printing inks have been 

used as a standard for glass finishing for 

many years. These are melted onto the glass 

surface at temperatures of often more than 

600°C after application. However, ceramic 

inks regularly reach their limits, especially 

when it comes to brilliant colour shades, as 

well as the coating of very thin or laminated 

glasses. Because of this, glass finishers are 

increasingly turning to alternatives to this 

energy-intensive ink technology. 

GLASS SCREEN-PRINTING INKS 

Proell’s core expertise lies in the development 

and production of customised chemical 

products for printing on glass, plastics, metals 

and many other substrates. The innovative 

solvent and water-based – as well as 

UV-curing screen- and pad-printing inks – 

are used for a wide variety of industrial and 

graphic applications across all industries. 

“Glass finishers place 

high demands on quality, 

appearance and durability” 

Displays, such as ticket machines, e-charging 

stations and smart-home applications, have 

become an integral part of everyday life. The 

display of various devices conveys information 

and serves as a design element. In the form of 

touch displays, many interior functions can be 

intuitively controlled. For example, lighting, 

room climate and blinds. To achieve state-ofthe-art 

quality and performance, display 

manufacturers are increasingly turning to 

durable glass materials. With regard to 

scratches, abrasion and chemicals, the 

combination of modern glass design and 

electronics enables highly resistant surfaces for 

IT, industrial, automotive and medical devices. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR LONG-TERM USE 

For the long-term use of end devices, decorative 

and functional components must meet highquality 

requirements and, furthermore, have a 

permanent reliable bond. Aesthetics and 

functionality often play a primary role for indoor 

devices. Outdoor applications pose challenges 

Touch display applications 

Screen-printing process 



TECHNOLOGY 

Translucent black colour shades 

Visual inspection of IR-transmitting ink 

For the decoration of glass, particularly 

for the realisation of touch panels and backlit 

displays, special organic screen-printing inks 

for indoor and outdoor applications are 

available. These inks are mainly printed on 

the second surface of the glass panels. 

“Ceramic inks regularly reach 

their limits, especially when it 

comes to brilliant colour shades” 

Display frames with opaque black, IR transmitting and 

mirror inks 

Functional glass display with a highly opaque black frame 

CHARACTERISTICS OF NORIGLASS 

SCREEN-PRINTING INKS 

The NoriGlass screen-printing inks offered for 

glass applications today are particularly 

impressive due to a variety of characteristics. 

NoriGlass outdoor-resistant (OR) inks are 

formulated without aromatic solvents and all 

colour shades can be formulated free of 

halogens. In addition to the essential 

property of very good long-term adhesion to 

the glass substrate, glass screen-printing inks 

also need to have very good bonding 

properties. This ensures a permanent 

adhesion to films and other components of 

the corresponding device. 

The different ink systems marketed under 

the NoriGlass brand, meet the highest 

demands for excellent glass adhesion and 

best bonding properties. This is due to their 

unique composition, silicone-free formulation 

and very high surface-free energy of the 

cured ink film. 

TRANSPARENT TO OPAQUE 

Both homogeneous transparent or semitransparent 

and highly opaque colour shades 

are available, making it possible to realise 

dead-front effects and precisely adjust 

transmission values. Even the translucentadjusted 

colour shades show an excellent ink 

levelling and a homogeneous surface. 

Highly opaque ink layers can be achieved 

with a very low layer thickness – resulting in a 

low printing shoulder – offering advantages for 

optical bonding. IR-transmissive black colour 

shades are available for when ink layers need 

to guarantee high permeability to infrared (IR) 

radiation. These are required when the 

functionality of sensors are concealed behind 

glass, such as proximity sensors. 

In terms of user-friendliness, great 

attention has been paid in order to ensure 

that the inks allow the screen to remain open 

for a long time. The inks prevent drying into 

the screen mesh – even during printing breaks. 

Organic screen-printing inks have another 

major advantage over ceramic inks. They 

require significantly lower stoving 

temperatures for processing. This makes them 

suitable for thin glass applications and use on 

laminated glass types. Especially in times of 

constantly rising energy costs, organic 

screen-printing inks, which can be stoved at 

temperatures between 120 –180°C – 

depending on the ink type – are likely to 

become increasingly attractive for processors. 

“The Titanium White has a very 

high degree of whiteness and 

an extremely low tendency to 

yellow” 

OUTDOOR, BLACK AND WHITE 

The NoriGlass OR ink series also offers a special 

feature. As a two-component system based on 

high-quality binders and hardener, it forms ink 

films with very high resistances to both 

chemicals and UV radiation. These properties 

make it suitable for outdoor applications if 

applied on the second surface of glass. 

Outstanding opacity can be achieved with 

the highly opaque colour shades NoriGlass OR 

930 Titanium White and NoriGlass OR 960 

Deep Black. In addition, the Titanium White 

has a very high degree of whiteness and an 

extremely low tendency to yellow. 

One of the particularly remarkable 

features of the Deep Black is a very high 

electrical resistance, which means that the 

cured ink layer has no negative influence on 

touch sensors. 

Sarah Klee is R&D Development of glass 

screen-printing inks at Proell GmbH 


Proell GmbH, Weissenburg, Germany 

tel: +49 914 190 6851 

email: sarah.klee@proell.de 

web: www.proell.de 



TECHNOLOGY 

Print details – high-density print with puff, reflective stitching and a gel 

BACK TO THE FUTURE OF SCREEN 

PRINTING 

Peter Walsh, Executive Vice-President of M&R Printing Equipment, investigates 

the value of traditional screen printing in the fashion industry and beyond 

Peter Walsh is Executive Vice-President, M&R Printing 

Equipment, Inc 

The past few years have been challenging 

for apparel decorators who utilise traditional 

screen printing as their primary garmentdecorating 

technology. The introduction of 

industrial direct-to-garment (DTG) printers 

and direct-to-film (DTF) transfer-printing 

systems has had a massive impact on the 

apparel-decorating industry. DTG and DTF 

printers have the ability to produce hundreds 

of high-resolution, full-colour graphics per 

hour with minimal make-ready cost. In this 

environment, is screen printing still relevant? 

“Screen printing, hybrid 

printing, DTG and DTF will 

continue to be economically 

viable for years to come” 

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 

There are many perceived advantages of 

these digital-printing systems in the appareldecorating 

industry. They bring into question 

the long-term future of the traditional screenprinting 

process. M&R Printing believes that 

each of the print technologies used in the 

apparel-decorating process, have unique 

strengths and weaknesses. Screen printing, 

hybrid printing, DTG and DTF will continue to 

be economically viable for years to come. 

For example, DTG and DTF printing excel 

in applications where screen printing cannot 

compete, such as print-on-demand (POD) 

production at low, minimum order quantities. 

Moving forward, progressive appareldecorating 

companies may employ two, three 

or all four of the printing technologies. This 

is in order to maximise efficiency, lower cost 

and provide the highest level of print quality 

and service for every order. At the end of the 

day, it is important for apparel decorators to 

have the right set in their toolbox to get the 

job done. 

SCREEN-PRINTING RENAISSANCE 

Industry naysayers, who forecast the 

imminent demise of screen printing as a 

relevant garment-decorating technology, fail 

to recognise the unique processes where 

screen printing excels above all others. 

Screen printing offers advantages that simply 

cannot be matched using current DTG or DTF 

systems. Screen printing advantages are a 

lower cost of consumables per impression, 

high production speeds and the ability to 

decorate on almost every type of fabric. 

The renaissance of screen printing as a 

leading garment-decorating process is not 

being driven by financial metrics. It is because 

of changes in recent fashion trends. There 

is an expression in the fashion industry, that 



TECHNOLOGY 

printers is that these special-effects inks 

cannot currently be applied with the piezoinkjet 

printheads used in DTG and DTF printing 

systems. The only way to create these cool 

new designs is to use a screen with a quality 

stencil, sharp squeegee blade and reliable 

screen-printing press. 

“It is important for apparel 

decorators to have the right set 

in their toolbox” 

High density print with super gloss gel 

says if you want to know what next season’s 

styles are going to be, look back 10–15 years. 

One area where these cyclical fashion trends 

are having an impact is with the increased 

utilisation by designers of special effects 

screen-printing inks. These include puff, 

glitter, metallics, high density, faux leather, 

thermochromic, luminescent and reflective. 

SPECIAL EFFECTS IN FASHION 

Today’s fashion designers are moving beyond 

flat CMYK images and simple one or twocolour 

designs. Their preferences are for 

high-impact graphics that incorporate specialeffect 

inks to create images with a higher 

value, that stand out from the competition. 

The encouraging news for traditional screen 

CONCLUSION 

As the industry advances printing 

technologies into the future, depending on 

the past is a part of remaining on the road 

to success. To coin a phrase from the Back to 

the Future movie franchise, “The way I see it, 

if you’re gonna build a time machine, why not 

do it with some style?” 

Peter Walsh is Executive Vice-President at 

M&R Printing Equipment, Inc 


M&R Printing Equipment, Inc, Illinois, USA 

tel: +1 800 736 6431/+1 630 858 6101/ 

+1 847 967 4461 

email: peter.walsh@mrprint.com 

web: www.mrprint.com 

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TECHNOLOGY 

VITRAPACK – SUCCESS THROUGH 

STRATEGIC STANDARDISATION 

Michael Van den Putte, of Vitrapack, reports on how the company has become 

more successful due to its strategic standardisation journey 

Michael Van den Putte, Project Manager, Process 

Optimisation, Vitrapack 

Vitrapack is a flexibles packaging printer. 

At the recent Fogra CMS 2024 conference, 

Michael den Putte, Project Manager, shared 

insights into its process of standardisation. 

This article highlights how effective project 

management and collaboration with external 

experts can lead to efficient print room 

standardisation. 

“Vitrapack approached 

standardisation as a changemanagement 

initiative” 

THE ROAD TO STANDARDISATION 

Recognising the need for standardisation 

around the year 2000, Vitrapack’s owners, 

led by Jan Laeremans, made a strategic 

decision to partner with Co-ëfficiënt – a 

team of standardisation experts. This alliance 

proved crucial in helping Vitrapack navigate 

the complex process of standardisation, 

while avoiding costly mistakes. By leveraging 

Co-ëfficiënt’s expertise – alongside Vitrapack’s 

internal knowledge – Vitrapack significantly 

accelerated its standardisation timeline, 

reaping benefits years ahead of schedule. 

In 2019, Vitrapack became part of the 

larger Korozo group. Building on its previous 

success, the company is spearheading 

standardisation efforts across the entire 

organisation. With Vitrapack’s annual revenue 

of €30 million, it has served as a pilot for 

the €300 million Korozo group. Its approach 

offers a scalable model for standardisation in 

the printing industry. 

KEY ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL 

STANDARDISATION 

Comprehensive Assessment – The 

foundation of Vitrapack’s standardisation 

process has been a thorough evaluation 

of current practices, tolerances and 

methodologies. This initial assessment – 

conducted with the fresh perspective of 

Co-ëfficiënt’s external experts – forms 

the basis for a detailed standardisation 

blueprint. The blueprint outlines the proposed 

methodology, realistic timelines and high-level 

budget implications. 

Securing Management Buy-in – Before 

proceeding with detailed planning, Vitrapack 

emphasised the importance of presenting the 

blueprint to C-level management. This step 

ensured leadership support based on clear 

financial projections and realistic timelines. 

Setting the right expectations regarding 

project duration (typically 18 months) and 

return on investment is crucial for long-term 

success. 

“Vitrapack significantly 

accelerated its standardisation 

timeline” 

Effective Project Management – 

Vitrapack approached standardisation as a 

change-management initiative. It recognises 

the need for strong project management 

throughout the process. Key aspects include 

maintaining consistent communication with 

all stakeholders and keeping the team 

motivated over the 1–2 year project timeline. 

Furthermore, regular progress reporting and 


START 

Process assessment 

Color & process 

masterclass 

Defining color references 

& tolerances 

Implementing color 

quality tools 

Excellent aniloxes 

Best plates & cylinders 

Optimal printing 

parameters 

Prepress integration 

& automation 

SUCCESS 

Improving process stability 

Overview of all modules for a complete standardisation project 

Making perfect 

fingerprints 

Efficient Pantone color 

printing 

OEE improvement 

& cost reduction 



THE RIGHT TOOL 

FOR EVERY JOB

TECHNOLOGY 

ANILOX STANDARDISATION CASE STUDY 

Real-world ink transfer is influenced by complex interactions between plate/cylinder, 

ink, anilox cell shape and other physical factors. Therefore, the traditional reliance on 

‘theoretical volume’, or volumetric measurements, often falls short. Instead of analysing 

each component separately, Vitrapack focused on the actual printed result and set up a 

test together with Co-ëfficiënt. The partnership compared and accepted aniloxes based 

on printed results, rather than on volume measurements. This pragmatic approach has 

led to more reliable and applicable anilox standardisation. 

early demonstration of results as well as 

thorough preparation in each project phase 

to ensure smooth execution were paramount. 

Empirical Testing and Validation – One 

of the core principles in Vitrapack’s approach is 

the emphasis on practical experimentation over 

theoretical analyses. This ‘seeing is believing’ 

philosophy is particularly important when 

integrating diverse technologies on a printing 

press. Rather than relying solely on supplier 

specifications or consensus agreements, 

Vitrapack and Co-ëfficiënt prioritised real-world 

testing to validate performance. 

PHASED IMPLEMENTATION 

Vitrapack’s standardisation process was 

broken down into three distinct phases. 

Firstly, a clear starting project was 

established, to serve as a starting point 

for future reference. Secondly, preparation 

included training staff on colour and process 

management. In addition, the definition of 

references, tolerances and measurement 

tools. Finally, determining standardisation 

parameters through extensive testing 

(accounting for 80% of project time). 

Implementation involved improvement 

of process stability through variation testing 

and analysis. Once the standardisation was 

in place, real-world fingerprints could be 

created and prepress was trained in this way 

of working. In addition, Pantone workflow and 

formulation were optimised, as well as the 

implementation of Statistical Process Control 

for ongoing monitoring. 

DATA-DRIVEN PROCESS CONTROL 

To maintain the newly standardised process, 

Vitrapack employs data-driven statistical 

process control. Tools such as Printspector, 

provide a comprehensive view of the printing 

process. This allows for easy monitoring of 

overall performance. At the same time, it 

enables detailed analysis of specific jobs 

or parameters that deviate from expected 

behaviour. 

“Demand for print approvals 

is drastically reduced, 

streamlining the production 

process” 

The approach transforms troubleshooting 

from a time-consuming, sample-limited 

process to an objective, data-rich analysis. 

It means that Vitrapack can fine tune its 

process with confidence, knowing that all 

available data is being considered. 

STRONG FOCUS ON PREPRESS 

With a standardised print room, colour 

correction shifts upstream to the prepress 

stage. It In the 1980s, the Laeremans family 

established a specialised prepress company 

– RASK. RASK performs all print preparation 

for Vitrapack. RASK also implemented a 

brand portal called Interask, which directly 

integrates brand owners and prepress 

agencies into the workflow. 

Vitrapack’s policy now includes the 

creation of an internal proof – with the 

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TECHNOLOGY 

correct profile for every job – even when files are delivered with the 

appropriate profile. This ensures consistency and reduces the need 

for press approvals. 

THE BENEFITS OF STANDARDISATION 

While undertaking a standardisation project requires significant 

investment in time and resources, Vitrapack’s experience demonstrates 

the substantial returns it can yield. These include improved Overall 

Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and cost reduction. Additionally, 

customer service is enhanced through consistent, high-quality 

output, as well as real predictability and repeatability in printing 

processes. Brand-colour consistency can also be achieved across 

multiple print runs. This means that demand for print approvals is 

drastically reduced and, in turn, streamlines the production process. 

Furthermore, measurable guarantees of print quality are possible. 

For printers looking to remain competitive in today’s market, 

standardisation offers a clear path to delivering superior results, 

while improving operational efficiency. It enables printers to meet 

the increasing demands of brand owners for consistency and quality, 

while simultaneously reducing time to market and eliminating costly 

approval processes. 

“As the printing industry continues to evolve, 

standardisation emerges as a key differentiator” 

CONCLUSION 

Vitrapack’s journey to standardisation serves as a blueprint for 

success in the printing industry. By using Co-ëfficiënts’ methodology 

and expertise, results include data-driven decision-making and a 

commitment to continuous improvement. In this way, Vitrapack has 

positioned itself at the forefront of print quality and efficiency. 

As the printing industry continues to evolve, standardisation 

emerges as a key differentiator. It not only improves internal 

processes and profitability, but also enhances the value proposition 

to customers. For printing businesses looking to secure their future 

in a competitive landscape, Vitrapack’s approach to standardisation 

offers valuable insights and a proven path to success. 

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Michael Van den Putte is Project Manager Process Optimisation 

at Vitrapack 


Vitrapack, Wommelgem, Belgium 

tel: +32 332 255 22 

email: michael.vandenputte@vitrapack.be 

web: www.vitrapack.be 

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TECHNOLOGY 

US PRINT MARKET MAINTAINS 

SALES GROWTH AND EMBRACES 

AI OPPORTUNITY 

Ford Bowers, CEO of PRINTING United Alliance, reports that while modest 2024 

sales growth is expected, cautiously optimistic US printers are contending with 

cost concerns and aiming for impressive AI adoption 

Ford Bowers, CEO of PRINTING United Alliance 

Despite remaining flat during the first quarter 

of 2024, sales growth of 4.1% on average is 

expected this year. Half (50.4%) of PRINTING 

United Alliance’s State of the Industry (SOI) 

survey participants expect to increase sales 

in 2024. A healthy appetite for live events, as 

well as continued enthusiasm in the travel 

and tourism industries, are cited as factors 

contributing to this moderate growth, as well 

as the removal of weaker competitors in the 

market. Of course, the fact that this is a US 

election year will certainly have some bearing 

on growth as businesses benefit from the 

need for election material printing. 

OPTIMISATION 

The largest piece of the puzzle is 

optimisation. Businesses are boosting 

efficiency by zeroing in on cost and quality 

control, and productivity, alongside 

automation. In addition, the more effective 

use of business intelligence systems, such as 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Copier 

and Multifunction Printer Resource 

Management (CRM) and Management and 

Information System (MIS) solutions. 

PRODUCTIVITY UP, INFLATION DOWN 

While there is justified optimism for increased 

sales growth, profits remain under pressure, 

thanks to increased inflation. A whole host of 

operating costs continue to rise, including 

labour, transportation, energy, postage, 

insurance and debt service. These overheads 

are squeezing margins for SOI participants. 

Increasing sales (58.5%), maintaining 

profitability (57.6%) and economic/business 

conditions (55.1%) top the list of major 

concerns. This demonstrates that businesses 

are not expecting any dramatic changes in 

conditions through year end. 

In the first quarter of 2024 – while 33.9% 

of those surveyed saw an increase in pre-tax 

profitability – 41.3% experienced a decline. 

This shows that even moderate inflation is 

enough to put stress on profit margins. While 

the challenge of substrate costs has 

improved since Bowers’ last overview of the 

US market – now a major concern for just 

over a quarter of participants rather than one 

of the leading anxieties – rising labour 

(49.2%), transportation (39.3%) and energy 

(33.3%) remain primary sources of tension for 

the panel. Any re-acceleration of cost 

inflation in soft markets will further impact 

those margins. 

“Every company in the printing 

industry will be impacted by 

the AI/big data revolution” 

Despite low expectations for the 

economy among participants, productivity is 

increasing thanks, in part, to growth in the 

labour force. Since the April 2020 pandemic 

low, the civilian labour force – aged 16 years 

and older – has been boosted by 11.1 million 

workers. This includes a 6.7 million increase in 

workers aged 25–54. (Source: U.S. Bureau of 

Labor Statistics, bls.gov.) These productivity 

gains facilitate healthy increases in employee 

compensation and play a role in moderating 

unit labour cost rises. Although this has been 

a long time in coming, it is very encouraging 

to see. 

AI – THE NEXT BIG DISRUPTOR 

In addition to a burgeoning labour force, the 

adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is also 

positively impacting productivity. Every 

company in the printing industry will be 

impacted by the AI/big data revolution. The 

Alliance is certainly urging its members to 

embrace the potential of AI technology. 

It is no surprise to see interest in AI 

on the rise among SOI participants. Since 

September 2023, the number of respondents 

that confirm they are using AI (either 

independently or embedded in OEM 

products) has jumped from 24.7 to 39.7%. 

In addition, those neither using AI, nor 

planning to within one year, has fallen from 

49.3 to 33.9%. 

“Even moderate inflation is 

enough to put stress on profit 

margin” 

Digging into what panellists are actually 

using AI for, this report finds that content 

creation such as text, audio, social media and 

podcasts, tops the chart at 28.6%. Twentyone 

per cent are planning to use it 

for this function within 12 months. With 

generative AI solutions – such as OpenAI’s 

ChatGPT – dominating headlines, it makes 

sense that content creation is the most 

widely adopted function. 

FUTURE USES OF AI 

However, if SOI participants implement their 

plans, content creation will not hold the top 

spot for long. AI use will grow significantly 

across all functions in the next year. The most 

PRINTING United Alliance’s State of the Industry Report 

2024: The AI/Big Data Revolution 



TECHNOLOGY 

notable rises will be in its utilisation for operations, customer 

analytics and sales. AI’s use in operational activity – such as 

predictive maintenance, quality control, supply chain/procurement 

management and logistics – is currently at 12.6%, with 37.8% planning 

to use it for this function within one year. That means just over half 

of SOI participants will be using AI in operations this time next year. 

“AI use will grow significantly across all 

functions in the next year” 

Just over a quarter (26.9%) plan to use AI for customer analytics 

tasks within the next year and the same share of respondents told 

the Alliance that they will be using AI for sales optimisation. This 

includes automating administrative tasks, scoring leads, forecasting 

sales and evaluating sales personnel. More than 25% plan to 

integrate AI into their customer service, as well as performance 

evaluation. The Alliance is excited to continue monitoring and 

supporting its members on their AI journeys. Simultaneously, it is 

urging printing businesses to ensure their AI initiatives are aligned 

with business objectives. A clear understanding of how it will benefit 

business operations is paramount. 

“More than 25% plan to integrate AI into their 

customer service” 

SUPPORT TO SUSTAIN SUCCESS 

Increasing sales and maintaining profitability are paramount for 

members. The Alliance is proud to see so many contributors to its 

SOI data demonstrating the ways in which they are making this 

happen. Inflation, the economy, labour shortages and higher interest 

rates are all factors out of participants’ control. However, when it 

comes to those factors within their control, so many members of the 

research panel are grabbing these opportunities with both hands. 

These include investing in and using business intelligence systems 

more effectively, strengthening web-to-print capabilities, rooting out 

inefficiencies and embracing the advantages of AI and big data. The 

Alliance is here to advocate for its members as they take charge of 

the opportunities available in 2024 and beyond. 

“Increasing sales and maintaining profitability 

are paramount for members” 

PRINTING UNITED EXPO 2024 

This year’s PRINTING United Expo will take place from 10–12 

September at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Global attendees 

will have the opportunity to take in education, insight and resources 

speaking to these very topics. In addition, participants will see the 

very latest industry technology, live. The Alliance Research team and 

various subject matter experts will present on a range of topics 

including economic trends, AI, workforce development, segmentspecific 

trends and best practices. Register to attend the Expo to 

experience it all at www.printingunited.com 

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Ford Bowers is CEO of PRINTING United Alliance 

The Alliance’s State of the Industry Report is free to members of 

PRINTING United Alliance and is €182 ($199) for non-members. 

Copies can be obtained at https://www.printing.org/publication/ 

state-of-the-industry-april-2024. 


PRINTING United Alliance, Fairfax, USA 

tel: +1 888 385 3588 

email: membership@printing.org 

web: www.printing.org 


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HYBRID Software 

Booth 3015

TECHNOLOGY 

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR 

PREPRESS WORKFLOW 

In this article, Nigel Wild at Global Graphics Software, outlines the most 

important aspects to review when developing a prepress workflow for labels and 

packaging inkjet presses 

Nigel Wild, Applications Specialist at Global Graphics 

In the development of prepress workflow in 

this sector, brand owners demand accurate, 

consistent and high-quality colours, printed 

on different materials with a fast turnaround. 

Printing large quantities of personalised 

products – at speed – on inkjet presses is 

also becoming the norm. To stay efficient 

and reduce waste, having a smart, integrated 

prepress workflow is essential. 

AUTOMATION AND INTEGRATION 

Smart prepress workflows leverage 

automation and integrate with other 

systems such as the Digital Front End (DFE), 

Management Information Systems (MIS) 

and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). This 

streamlines processes and reduces manual 

interventions, leading to faster turnaround 

times. 

Today’s labels and packaging often 

feature intricate designs with high colourfidelity 

requirements. Managing and 

optimising these designs for digital-inkjet 

printing can be complex and time consuming. 

Automation should handle repetitive 

tasks – such as step-and-repeat, layout 

imposition and file preparation – to maximise 

media usage and press efficiency. This is 

especially important when printing labels 

and packaging where variable data is to 

be printed. In these cases, every label may 

be different and may include a barcode, 

manufacturing data and serial number. Smart 

prepress workflows incorporate specialised 

software for managing variable data, ensuring 

The prepress workflow should be a smart, comprehensive solution that optimises and automates the labels and 

packaging workflow, integrating with the DFE, MIS and ERP systems and enhancing inkjet press productivity 

that personalised elements are correctly 

handled and efficiently processed. 

Important tasks, at this stage of the 

workflow, include automatically examining 

the file to detect and fix elements that will 

affect the result. These include small text or 

technical inks that knock out artwork, artwork 

beyond the printing area and barcodes in 

more than one colour. Other tasks include 

excluding information panels not intended 

for printing and eliminating technical or other 

non-printing colours. Additionally, rotating 

and scaling images to align with the finishing 

requirements, as well as adding extra white 

layers when printing onto transparent 

materials to ensure optimal print visibility and 

quality. 

The ability to scale and customise 

workflows and use data from and to an 

existing MIS, greatly enhances efficiency. 

This integration minimises the time and 

errors associated with double data entry and 

streamlines productivity by ensuring seamless 

data flow and consistency across all systems. 

Moreover, it is possible to create personalised 

workflows that effectively function as an 

MIS. This further optimises operations and 

resource management. 

CLOUD COMPUTING 

How data is processed and stored should 

also be a key consideration. Cloud Computing 

and Edge computing both process and store 

data, but in different ways. 

In Cloud Computing, data is sent to 

centralised servers (the Cloud) for processing 

“To stay efficient and reduce waste, having a smart, integrated 

prepress workflow is essential” 

Brand owners demand high-quality, consistent results 



TECHNOLOGY 

Cloud-based collaboration tools, such as MyCLOUDFLOW from HYBRID Software, enable multiple stakeholders to 

review and approve designs in real time 

and storage. This can involve long distances, 

leading to delays and higher bandwidth 

use. It is great for tasks that don’t need 

immediate response and can benefit from the 

vast resources of centralised data centres. 

It is also successful for the collaboration 

required in workflows. 

“Smart prepress workflows 

incorporate specialised software 

for managing variable data” 

Cloud-based collaboration tools enable 

multiple stakeholders to review and approve 

designs in real time, speeding up the approval 

process and reducing the likelihood of errors. 

The ability to interact securely within a 

prepress workflow, over the internet, offers 

significant advantages. With zero deployment 

required for end users, partner companies can 

seamlessly adopt multi-location operations. 

This capability enhances flexibility, allowing 

for scalable solutions to meet varying 

production demands. By leveraging secure 

internet interactions, organisations can 

ensure efficient and co-ordinated workflows, 

regardless of geographical location, thereby 

optimising overall production processes. 

EDGE COMPUTING 

Edge Computing processes data close to 

where it is created, such as on local devices 

or nearby servers. This reduces delays and 

bandwidth use, making it ideal for real-time 

applications. Processing high data rates 

locally also allows for quicker handling of large 

volumes of information – crucial for real-time 

applications such as driving inkjet presses. 

HYBRID COMPUTING 

Using a mix of Cloud and Edge Computing, 

also known as Hybrid Computing, creates a 

flexible and efficient system. In this approach, 

data and processing tasks are strategically 

distributed between centralised Cloud 

servers and local Edge devices. Critical data 

that needs immediate processing and quick 

response times is handled locally on Edge 

devices, reducing latency and bandwidth 

usage. Meanwhile, less time-sensitive data 

or tasks requiring significant computational 

power and collaboration are sent to the 

Cloud, leveraging its vast resources and 

scalability. 

CONNECTED COLOUR MANAGEMENT 

Using a sophisticated colour-management 

system (CMS) ensures accurate and 

consistent colour reproduction across 

different substrates and printing conditions. 

Here, it is important to connect the prepress 

workflow to the DFE to share information. By 

knowing what DFE media setups are available 

– and assigning these to specific jobs – 

operators ensure the job can only be printed 

using the correct DFE setting. 

“Inkjet OEMs in the label and 

packaging market, need a 

solution designed to streamline 

and automate prepress 

workflows” 

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP 

It is important to emphasise that an OEM 

should work with a partner to create a 

custom workflow solution. Bringing an inkjet 

press to market requires a specialised skill 

set and significant engineering effort, which 

can necessitate workflow specialists. Some 

customers may have specific challenges 

that need tailored solutions. Solutions are 

available that offer printers advanced tools 

and automated processes to ensure that 

the supplied PDF is press ready. High-quality 

printed jobs begin with well-prepared 

artwork and these solutions optimise 

performance, minimise waste and incorporate 

printed controls for downstream production 

considerations. Partnering with a company 

that has proven expertise in the label and 

packaging print industry – and owns all the 

key components from PDF preparation to 

printhead electronics – can be a significant 

asset for any printing solution. 

CONSIDERING THE FUTURE 

In addition to current needs, OEMs should 

consider future scalability and compatibility. 

By providing a prepress workflow solution, 

customers will have the flexibility to upgrade 

and expand their operations as requirements 

evolve. The solution needs to be easily 

integrated with open, industry-standard 

communications protocols. This futureproofing 

approach ensures that the OEM’s 

offering remains relevant and capable of 

meeting the growing needs of its customers. 

To future-proof prepress workflows, OEMs 

should consider the following strategies: 

Adopt scalable solutions – 

Implementing scalable workflow solutions 

allows for flexibility and growth. As business 

demands increase, the workflow system 

should be able to handle larger volumes and 

more complex tasks, without compromising 

efficiency. 

Implement robust data management 

– Effective data management ensures 

that all digital assets are well-organised, 

easily accessible and secure. This includes 

implementing data back-up solutions and 

maintaining a clean and structured file system. 

Embrace connected Cloud and Edge 

technologies – Connect Cloud-based 

solutions that offer enhanced collaboration, 

storage and processing power. Use Edge 

technologies, built into the inkjet press, to 

deliver real-time feedback and high data 

throughput. 

CONCLUSION 

Inkjet OEMs in the label and packaging 

market, need a solution designed to 

streamline and automate prepress workflows, 

thus boosting the press’s productivity. By 

considering these key factors and futureproofing 

strategies, OEMs can create efficient, 

reliable and scalable workflows that meet 

current and future demands in the industry. 

It is also crucial to offer a flexible and 

extendable workflow solution. This solution 

should have the capability to adapt to 

different customer workflows, accommodating 

their unique requirements and preferences. 

Furthermore, seamless integration with the 

DFE at the Edge is paramount, enabling a 

smooth and efficient transition from the 

design phase to printing. By integrating the 

workflow solution with the DFE, automated 

lights-out printing operations can be achieved. 

As a result, manual intervention is minimised 

and productivity maximised. 

Nigel Wild is Applications Specialist at 

Global Graphics Software 


Global Graphics Software, Cambourne, UK 

tel: +44 195 428 3100 

email: nigel.wild@globalgraphics.com 

web: www.globalgraphics.com 



TECHNOLOGY 

OPPORTUNITY IS IN THE BAG 

Mingming Guo from Inkcups outlines innovations in direct-to-object printing and 

inks which are opening up opportunities to capitalise on the growth of reusable bags 

Single-use polyethylene shopping bags have 

been a part of everyday life for the past six 

decades. However, the days of these are 

finally numbered. As far back as 2018, twothirds 

of the world had already enacted some 

kind of legislation to tackle environmental 

problems presented by single-use shopping 

bags. In the years since, growing numbers of 

consumers worldwide have switched to 

reusable shopping bags as they look for ways 

to reduce their personal environmental 

impact. Even in the US – which is behind a lot 

of the world when it comes to bans – charges 

and taxes on single-use plastic bags are now 

in place. Many consumers are already opting 

for reusable totes or recyclable bags instead 

of plastic ones. 

PREFERENCE FOR REUSABLE BAGS 

Recognising this trend, marketers and 

retailers are capitalising on the growing 

consumer preference for reusable bags. 

Companies are using them as a promotional 

tool and to highlight their brands’ 

commitment to sustainability. Some direct-toconsumer 

(DTC) gift providers are even 

offering reusable tote bags as a product in 

their own right. These have become popular 

for both party favours and personalised 

gifting. The rise of clear, stadium-approved 

‘concert bags’ have also been seen over the 

past decade. The intention for sporting 

bodies, stadiums and live events venues is to 

increase safety and streamline security 

checks. Against this backdrop, it is no 

surprise that the market for tote bags is 

expected to achieve an annual growth rate of 

almost 7% between 2023–2027. 

PRINTING CHALLENGES 

Thankfully, the demise of the single-use 

plastic bag is opening up a wealth of 

opportunities for promotional goods suppliers, 

merchandise manufacturers, retailers, 

marketers and producers of personalised 

print. Yet printing onto reusable bags is not 

necessarily simple. While many types of bags 

may lend themselves well to decoration, 

there are a number of factors that need to be 

considered when matching up material and 

method. 

CHALLENGING SUBSTRATES 

Firstly, reusable bags are intended to be used 

frequently, to move and flex, and to stand up 

to some hard wearing before being stowed 

away for later use. As a result, it is essential 

that the inks and printing methods used, 

provide the strongest adhesion possible. At 

the same time, they need to allow for enough 

flexibility for graphics to stay intact and 

continue to look fresh after many uses. 

Each type of bag also comes with its own 

set of decoration challenges. Although 

thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is growing 

in popularity, most clear ‘concert bags’ are 

currently made of clear PVC, making them 

sensitive to heat. This rules out methods such 

as heat transfer, screen printing and 

sublimation. In addition, because they are 

“Growing numbers of consumers 

worldwide have switched to 

reusable shopping bags” 

A sample of Samuel Adams Vivid White 

usually quite thin, the bags are very flexible 

meaning that decoration needs to endure a 

lot of movement. 

Non-woven, cotton, canvas and jute bags 

are also increasingly popular, but all present 

challenges due to their absorbent properties. 

These can make it difficult for some digitalprinting 

technologies to achieve the same 

level of white opacity and colour brightness 

as screen printing. 

In addition to considerations for ink and 

substrates, vibrant colour and precise design 

reproduction are fundamental to achieving 

A floral transparent stadium bag 

The Inkcups XJET Switch 



TECHNOLOGY 

the kind of visual impact that brand owners 

are looking for in this market. Consumers 

expect outstanding image quality and 

flawless colour reproduction. Finally, the 

suitability of bags for seasonal campaigns, 

mass customisation and personalised gifting, 

means that digital print is often the most 

appropriate technology for many reusable 

bag applications. 

“The market for tote bags is 

expected to achieve an annual 

growth rate of almost 7% 

between 2023–2027” 

XJET SWITCH DIRECT-TO-OBJECT PRINTER 

It was with all of these requirements in mind 

that Inkcups developed the XJET Switch – 

the first UV-flatbed direct-to-object (DTO) 

printing machine designed specifically with 

bag decoration in mind. 

Launched in 2023, the XJET Switch is an 

industrial DTO UV-inkjet printer capable of 

printing high-quality, full CMYKWW (highly 

opaque white) images – with a print area of 

350mm x 650mm – directly onto bags. 

Extremely versatile, the XJET Switch can 

handle a wide variety of tote and drawstring 

bags, be they paper, non-woven fabric, nylon, 

cotton, polyester, canvas or even thin, clear 

plastic. When paired with Inkcups’ flexible 

XFlexx UV Ink Series, the XJET Switch 

eliminates the risk of the printed image 

cracking or distorting as the bag is used, 

ensuring the longevity of its impact. 

XFLEXX UV INKS FOR DIRECT-TO-OBJECT 

PRINTING 

SFlexx UV inks were originally formulated to 

enable Inkcups’ flatbed UV-printer customers 

to print onto challenging substrates such as 

polyurethane, nylon, canvas, cellophane and 

felt. These inks are extremely durable and can 

be stretched, folded or twisted. Their 

formulation provides strong adhesion on 

many reusable bag materials, while also 

offering a high degree of stretchability after 

curing. Because they allow surface curing to 

happen quickly, inks are not easily peeled or 

scratched off. In addition, linear 

polymerisation ensures that the inks flex with 

the bags. 

“The XJET Switch can handle 

a wide variety of tote and 

drawstring bags” 

BRIGHT WHITES AND VIVID COLOUR 

Recognising the absorbency challenge 

presented by non-woven and woven bags, 

Inkcups developed XFlexx Vivid White. This 

ink uses a specially formulated dispersion 

that is between 20–30% whiter than its 

regular XFlexx white. The company also 

developed a special white-white-colour print 

mode in which the first white layer fills in the 

‘holes’ to provide a flatter white surface for 

the second white and colour layers. As a 

result, by combining the XJET Switch with 

XFlexx inks, a number of Inkcups customers 

are already successfully achieving that bright 

white and colour vividness. This has become 

achievable especially on lighter colour, nonwoven 

bags. 

Building on the flexibility of XFlexx inks, 

Inkcups is also developing an ink series, 

specifically for bag printing, using the DTO 

XJET Switch. Due to stricter regulation 

requirements, the business has developed a 

TPO-free and REACH-compliant ink set with 

stellar performance. This set of inks is in the 

Beta testing phase and Inkcups is hoping to 

launch in Q4, 2024. 

“Paired with Inkcups’ flexible 

XFlexx UV Ink Series, the XJET 

Switch eliminates the risk of 

the printed image cracking or 

distorting” 

CONCLUSION 

Opportunities in reusable-bag decoration are 

wide open. However, as with all fast-growing 

applications, there are challenges for 

businesses seeking to adapt their existing 

technology to capitalise on this. The path to 

success lies in understanding what is ‘under 

the hood’ of business technology and working 

with partners who equal their commitment to 

innovation. 

Mingming Guo is Director of Imaging 

Technology at Inkcups 

1 UN Environment Programme. April 2018. 

From birth to ban: A history of the plastic 

shopping bag. https://www.unep.org/ 

news-and-stories/story/birth-ban-historyplastic-shopping-bag 

2 New York Post. 14 December 2023. Do 

Americans still use plastic bags? Here’s 

what the stats tell us. https://nypost. 

com/2023/12/14/lifestyle/do-americansstill-use-plastic-bags-heres-what-thestats-tell-us/ 

3 Technavio. March 2024. Tote Bags Market 

Analysis Europe, APAC, North America, 

Middle East and Africa, South America - 

US, China, France, UK, Germany - 

Size and Forecast 2023–2027. https:// 

www.technavio.com/report/tote-bagsmarket-industry-analysis 


Inkcups, Danvers, MA, USA 

tel: +1 978 646 8980 

email: info@inkcups.com 

web: www.inkcups.com 


TECHNOLOGY 

Inks for 

Water Slip Decals 

and 

Heat Transfer 

ADVANCEMENT 

OF GREEN CLAIMS 

DIRECTIVE IN EUROPE 

Elaine Campling of ChemAdvisory, reports on the 

progress of the Green Claims Directive in Europe and 

its aim to protect consumers from green washing 

Companies may develop their own symbols to 

portray their messages, rather than obtaining 

third-party verification. 

NYLONTECH HS 

• Solvent Based Inks 

• High opacity, very flexible 

• perfect adhesion of the decal 

no defects in over-coat finishing 

HYPERFLEX NT 

• Water based inks 

• Extremely flexible and elastic 

for professional Heat Trasfer 

production 

Specialities for heat transfer 

- Silicon based inks + Hot melt 

- High barrier against dye migration 

- Screen printable release clear 

- Screen Primers for Digital Printing 

- Screen Thermoadhesives 

Elaine Campling, Chair of ESMA’s Health, Safety and 

Environment Protection Committee 

Via the Green Claims Directive, new criteria 

is being developed to prevent companies 

from making misleading claims about the 

environmental merits of their products and 

services within the European Union (EU). The 

Directive is considered necessary to address 

difficulties that consumers face in trying to 

‘make sense’ of label statements. These cover 

environmental performance of products and 

the credentials of the companies promoting 

them. According to the Commission, claiming 

to be ‘green and sustainable’ has become a 

competitive factor in the bid for customers. 

ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS 

An environmental claim usually portrays a 

product or service as environmentally superior 

or beneficial to the environment. Claims may 

be supported by the colours and imagery 

used, as well as the words themselves. 

GREENWASHING 

The practice of presenting a false image 

of the environmental impacts or benefits 

of products and services is known as 

‘greenwashing’. This term also applies to the 

credentials of the companies that make them. 

The European Commission has produced 

some interesting statistics to demonstrate 

uncertainty and unreliability in some of the 

claims made. These claims go alongside the 

number of ‘sustainability’ labels that can be 

obtained: 

• 53% of green claims are vague, 

misleading or provide unfounded 

information 

• 40% of claims have no supporting 

evidence 

• 50% of all green labels offer weak or nonexistent 

verification 

• There are 230 sustainability labels and 

100 green energy labels in the EU 

There are extensive labels associated with 

endorsement of products and services for 

environmental criteria. This makes it difficult 

for consumers, businesses, investors and 

stakeholders to establish if the claims are 

dependable and trustworthy. According 

to the Commission, consumer trust in 

environmental claims is now extremely low. 

GREEN CLAIMS SWEEP 

The Commission and consumer organisations 

have undertaken a number of studies to 

examine the use and validity of ‘green claims.’ 

A ‘sweep’ was undertaken by the Consumer 

Protection Cooperation Authorities in 2020, 

assessing 344 claims. The authorities had 

“Consumer trust in environmental claims is now extremely low” 

Grafco s.r.l. 

Via delle Industrie 14, 

31050 Camalo di Povegliano (TV) 

ITALY 

Tel.: +39 0422 872241 

Email: info@grafco.it 

www.grafco.it 

Examples of symbols created by individual companies without third-party verification 


TECHNOLOGY 

difficulty identifying whether the green claim 

covered the whole product or just one of 

its components (50%). In many cases, the 

authorities could not find out whether the 

green claim referred to the company or only 

certain products (36%). Furthermore, it was 

confusing as to which stage of the life cycle 

the claim covered (75%). 

“Claiming to be ‘green and 

sustainable’ has become a 

competitive factor” 

EU ECOLABELS 

An assessment of ecolabels in the EU was 

also undertaken by the Commission. The 

results found that verification of the criteria 

was either weak or not conducted at all 

in around 50% of the labels examined. It 

was also determined that consumers were 

unaware of the distinction between labels 

governed by third-party certification schemes 

and those based on ‘self-certifications’ – 

unverified by a third party. 

GREEN CLAIMS DIRECTIVE 

The aim of the new Green Claims Directive 

is to ensure that environmental labels and 

claims are credible and trustworthy. The 

regulators are discussing the possibility of 

third-party verification of environmental 

claims, before a product or service can be 

promoted with a particular ‘green’ claim. 

“The aim of the new Green 

Claims Directive is to ensure 

that environmental labels 

and claims are credible and 

trustworthy” 

The Green Claims Directive is closely 

linked to the Ecodesign for Sustainable 

Products Regulation (ESPR), which came into 

force on 18 July, 2024. The ESPR establishes a 

framework for setting ecodesign requirements 

on specific product groups. The aim is to 

improve circularity, energy performance and 

other environmental sustainability aspects of 

products within the groups. 

PERFORMANCE AND INFORMATION 

REQUIREMENTS 

Almost all categories of physical goods 

placed on the EU market will be subject to 

performance and information requirements, 

which includes the following: 

• Product durability, reusability, 

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upgradability and repairability 

• Presence of substances that impact 

circularity 

• Energy and resource efficiency 

• Recycled content 

• Re-manufacturing and recycling 

• Carbon and environmental footprints 

• Digital product passports 

The Commission will prioritise products 

subject to the regulation, as well as 

requirements specific to the product types 

via the adoption of Working Plans. These are 

expected to cover a three-year period. 

Rules will also be put in place to 

address the destruction of unsold consumer 

products, such as textiles and footwear. 

Some companies will be required to disclose 

information on the number and weight of 

unsold consumer products discarded each 

year. 

CONCLUSION 

Companies who do not comply with 

these directives may be excluded from 

procurements, and lose revenue. They could 

also face a fine of at least 4% of their annual 

turnover, according to the report from the 

European Parliament. 

Elaine Campling is Chair of ESMA’s Health, 

Safety and Environment Protection 

Committee 

• www.environment.ec.europa.eu/ 

publications/proposal-directive-greenclaims 

• Greenwashing: How EU firms can validate 

their green claims (News, European 

Parliament, www.europa.eu) 

• Text adopted from Substantiation and 

communication of explicit environmental 

claims (Green Claim Directive), 12 March, 

2024 (www.europa.com) 

• Ecodesign for Sustainable Products 

Regulation – European Commission 

(www.europa.eu) 


email: info@chemadvisory.com 

web: www.chemadvisory.com/www.esma.com 

we 

coat. 

Archipelago’s Powerdrop 

coating system applies 

precise layers of chemicals 

and coatings onto any 

material enabling you to 

bond, protect, and enhance 

any surface, in seconds, 

without waste. 

Get in touch 

+44 1223 459160 

connect@archipelagotechnology.com 

www.archipelagotechnology.com 


©Archipelago Technology. 

Powerdrop is a registered EU trademark of Archipelago Technology

TECHNOLOGY 

ROLL-TO-ROLL PRINTERS MEET 

FLATBED-CUTTING MACHINES 

In this article, Matteo Muto of Valiani, explores the benefits of using an in-house 

flatbed-cutting machine to achieve one-off, customised, durable decals 

Matteo Muto, Marketing Manager, Valiani 

In the printing industry, there is a growing 

number of companies printing on stickers and 

decals. Decals are generally considered to be 

more durable than stickers because they are 

printed onto a special type of paper, 

designed to withstand wear and tear. In 

contrast, stickers are printed directly onto a 

backing material, which can be prone to 

tearing and peeling over time. With stickers, 

kiss cut is generally used, whereas decals are 

associated with cut through. 

MOTORBIKES AND CARS 

Printing on decals is very common in the 

motorbike and car industry. It is a service 

specially requested by both professionals and 

enthusiasts. Decals are printed digitally, 

which greatly reduces the cost of production, 

because expensive systems or start-ups are 

not required. Using digital technology, it is 

possible to create decals with several 

individual graphics – in a single print – with 

maximum photographic detail. 

Generally, high print runs are not needed. 

Thus, the ability to make a few pieces with 

minimal investment is available. This is why a 

flatbed-cutting machine perfectly matches 

customers’ needs. 

Premium-quality graphic decals change 

more than the look of a motorbike, helmet or 

bicycle. They can change the overall look. Be it 

more aggressive, smoother, rally-inspired, 

classic or just representational, MX graphics 

give riders something extra. Digital printers 

specialise in custom motorcycle graphics for all 

types, such as Supermoto graphics kit, Enduro 

and other bike graphics. These printers modify 

Roll-to-roll printer for decal adhesives 

“A flatbed-cutting machine 

means that the perfect cut 

can be achieved” 

colours and logos with a graphic kit to exact 

specifications and follow every step of the 

way in real time. Digital printing looks for a 

flexible solution to be up-to-date to everevolving 

market needs and customer tastes. 

PRINTING – LAMINATION – CUTTING 

Everything starts from a vector graphic 

programme, before moving to the printing 

and cutting phase. Once the design has been 

finalised, the printer springs into action. After 

printing, it is common to use a laminator to 

add the plastic film on the printing sheet. 

Once the lamination is over, the cutting 

phase begins. 

A customer can create their own artwork 

by adding text and images, upload their own 

file or work with a designer. A digital printer 

MX decal on a flatbed-cutting machine 

will make it possible to print on the decal in 

full CMYK colours, which enhances the overall 

design. Lastly, the flatbed-cutting machine 

will carry out the final process. 

THE NEED FOR A FLATBED-CUTTING TABLE 

Crystal decals can help make outstanding, 

rigid stickers. This material is more and more 

popular among digital-printing houses in this 

fast-growing industry. 

Crystal is a type of transparent and softlaminated 

PVC of around 0.5mm. It can be 

printed with very bright and deep colours. 

The material has an adhesive suitable for 

application to plastics with poor adhesion, 

which makes it resistant to abrasion. It is 

particularly appreciated for its ability to 

withstand mechanical stress due to falls and 

bumps, which could scratch or tear normal 

stickers. Thanks to these qualities, it is the 

ideal product for making stickers for 

motocross, off-road vehicles, quads and 

go-karts. 

Decal applied to a motocross bike 



TECHNOLOGY 

Sample cut by a flatbed cutter 

MAIN FEATURES OF CRYSTAL 

The main features of crystal adhesives are 

their durability and resistance to weather, 

fading and corrosion. Patterns are 

customisable with strong viscosity and no 

residues, deformations or print damage. In 

addition, decals using Crystal adhesives look 

good and can stick to any surface. Scratches 

on the gas tank from the armoured jacket or 

belt can be prevented. These decals are also 

easy to paste and remove without damage 

to the surface and a high degree of 

personalisation is achievable. Finally, they 

offer no limits in rigidity and thickness. 

CUTTING OR FLATBED-CUTTING PLOTTER? 

Most companies cut their decals using vinyl 

cutters. This type of operation very often only 

allows the cutting of the actual vinyl toplayer, 

leaving the backing material intact. The 

consequent need to devote time to separate 

the two parts, requires more time. Times are 

further lengthened by the difficulties that the 

customer may encounter in aligning the 

decals to the original part of the plastic. 

The use of a flatbed-cutting plotter makes it 

possible to use the kiss-cut application on any 

adhesive film. Primarily, it can be used to cut 

through thicker materials such as Crystal. This 

enables the production of ready-made decals. 

Crystal decals are generally preferred due to 

the unique characteristics of the material and 

its longevity. Kits can be personalised with 

writing, race numbers and branding. 

CUSTOM DESIGN AND CUTTING 

It is possible to create a custom design that 

will give a motorcycle, car, go-kart or quad an 

impeccable, fresh-from-the-factory look. A 

flatbed-cutting machine means that the 

perfect cut can be achieved. This means that 

a graphic kit will last longer than any other. 

Customers will be satisfied as a result of 

providing them with superior quality and 

long-lasting products. Additionally, clients will 

be extremely satisfied with the drastic 

reduction in delivery times. A printing house, 

only needs to equip itself with three devices 

which can be managed by the same operator. 

Any printing company should, initially, 

have a roll-to-roll printer. A laminator serves 

as an additional device and finally a flatbedcutting 

machine. This combination supplies a 

complete machine portfolio in house. As a 

result, counting on external suppliers is 

eliminated and full control over quality and 

production times is made possible. 

CONCLUSION 

Frequent design updates keep things fresh 

and regularly provide new possibilities. 

Personalisation with a bold motorcycle decal 

is achievable. Customisation of stickers for 

motocross, motorcycles and quads is by far a 

future-proof business. But it is attracting the 

attention of printing professionals, as well as 

customers who like to experiment with 

graphics and cutting devices. 

Matteo Muto is Sales and Marketing 

Manager at Valiani srl 


Valiani srl, Certaldo, Italy 

tel: +39 057 166 6598 

email: matteo.muto@valiani.com 

web: www.valiani.com 

IT’S A 

TURBULENT 

WORLD 

With risks all around us, industry needs 

inkjet capabilities more than ever. Ricoh 

is the natural choice: Inkjet printhead 

technology with reliability built-in and 

an ecosystem to fully support equipment 

development and manufacture. 

YOU CAN TRUST RICOH 

TO RIDE THE WAVES AND DELIVER. 

industry.ricoh.com/en/industrialinkjet/

TECHNOLOGY 

IMAGING IN INKJET PRINTING 

Lekshmi BS at Archipelago Technology highlights the significance of using imaging 

techniques for its Powerdrop coating and other inkjet-printing technologies 

Lekshmi BS, KTP Associate at Archipelago Technology, in 

collaboration with Queen Mary University, London 

Printing technologies have evolved significantly 

over the years. In this modern era of innovative 

inkjet printing, the Cambridge-based company 

Archipelago has introduced Powerdrop – a 

novel and unique coating technology. The 

state-of-the-art technology offers a cuttingedge 

solution for jetting highly viscous liquids. 

This ability offers high transfer efficiency and 

provides both continuous and patterned 

coatings. The design of the Powerdrop 

printhead differentiates it from conventional 

inkjet printing. At the heart of Powerdrop is a 

hollow cylinder with many precise nozzles. This 

remarkably engineered printhead is referred to 

as the Powerdrop drum. The coating material 

is fed into the nozzles using the Powerdrop 

filler as the drum rotates. The application of 

Powerdrop technology spans a wide range of 

uses. From functional coatings for sustainable 

food packaging, to quality coatings for 

furniture manufacturing, as well as adhesive 

applications. 

IMPORTANCE OF IMAGING IN INKJET 

PRINTING 

Though the Powerdrop jetting process may 

be seen with the naked eye, the detailed 

fluid motion and behaviour can only be 

captured with the aid of imaging techniques. 

To unravel the mechanisms and physics 

involved, imaging techniques often save 

the day. 

Imaging is paramount in analysing fluid 

jetting and its impact on spreading processes. 

This is because it provides visual insights into 

these dynamic phenomena. Visualising the 

formation of a jet from the Powerdrop nozzles 

– and how it coats the substrate – can 

provide insights into how the system works 

with different coating liquids and substrates. 

Before exploring imaging techniques, here are 

some of the benefits that imaging brings to 

the coating industries. 

“The application of Powerdrop 

technology spans a wide range 

of uses” 

BENEFITS OF IMAGING TECHNIQUES 

First and foremost, is the real-time monitoring 

of the coating process. This makes it possible 

to understand the optimal conditions for the 

perfect coating. Without imaging, we would 

need to rely on indirect measurements, 

theoretical models and simulations. Indirect 

techniques may not capture the full 

complexity of the processes. Next, the 

characterisation of jetting. The high-frame 

rate imaging enables the characterisation of 

jetting processes. Capturing images of the 

liquid jet at various conditions and stages 

allows the analysis of factors, such as droplet 

size, velocity, trajectory and distribution. This 

information is crucial for optimising jetting 

parameters, to achieve desired droplet 

properties and ultimately create perfect 

coatings. Finally, analysis of the behaviour on 

the surface. Recording the images of the 

liquid onto the substrates provides invaluable 

insight into the wetting behaviour, which is 

critical for optimising coating formation. 

ULTIMATE IMAGING TOOL 

The selection of an imaging tool to record the 

process depends on its time scale. Highspeed 

cameras are the perfect candidates for 

capturing jetting events, as they can record 

events from thousands to millions of frames 

The Powerdrop coating process 

per second. On the other hand, time-lapse 

images, using a typical camera such as a 

DSLR, Go Pro or iPhone, would be enough to 

capture some processes which occur over a 

longer period. These cameras can provide 

insights into the whole jetting and coating 

process. Once the camera is ready, the next 

step is lighting. 

PERFECT LIGHTING, PERFECT IMAGE 

Lighting plays a crucial role in imaging 

techniques. Lighting is not only brightness 

and darkness, it has an impact on luminosity 

and vibrancy of colour and brings balance to 

the picture. The lighting is important for a 

perfect image, as is the position of the light 

source. For example, the position of the light 

source can play a pivotal role in imaging a 

transparent liquid droplet. The resulting 

image or video will vary according to the 

position of the light source. This is due to 

how light interacts with the droplet. 

“Recording the images of the 

liquid onto the substrates 

provides invaluable insight 

into the wetting behaviour” 

The images are captured with the light 

source at two different positions. The 

lefthand image is captured with a light source 

positioned above the droplet. This enhances 

the visibility, uniformly illuminates the 

droplet’s upper hemisphere and highlights its 

features. Whereas, the righthand image is 

backlit, resulting in a bright edge around the 

droplet, giving a perfect liquid-air boundary. 

These and other, high-contrast imaging 

techniques are used at Archipelago for 

analysing the behaviour of coating liquids. 



TECHNOLOGY 

second. These imaging tools allow the 

company to enhance and optimise its 

Powerdrop technology for various 

applications. Getting started with imaging 

in printing technology involves the 

understanding of the whole process, the 

time scale involved, as well as selecting 

the right imaging tool and lighting. 

“The selection of an imaging 

tool to record the process 

depends on its time scale” 

conducted high-speed imaging experiments 

to investigate droplet impact events, 

exploring the applications of droplet impactdriven 

fluid flows. 


Archipelago Technology, Cambridge, UK 

tel: +44 122 345 9160 

email: lekshmi.bs@archipelagotechnology.com 

web: www.archipelagotechnology.com 

Learning the basics of image-processing 

techniques, can help a great deal with 

optimising printing and coating techniques. 

After all the images, comes the analysis. 

As a beginning, free software, such as 

ImageJ, can be used. 

Lekshmi at work, capturing the Powerdrop droplets 

ANALYSING THE IMAGES 

Archipelago uses a variety of cameras for 

visual analysis, including iPhone cameras, 

GoPro action cameras, Sony DSLR cameras 

and high-end Chronos, high-speed cameras 

capable of capturing up to 24,000 frames per 

Lekshmi BS is a KTP Associate at 

Archipelago Technology, in collaboration 

with Queen Mary University, London 

Lekshmi is a physicist with a PhD in fluid 

dynamics and soft matter. Her field of 

expertise spans experimental and 

computational fluid dynamics, soft-matter 

physics and microfluidics. She has a strong 

publication record in prestigious international 

journals and has received several awards for 

her presentations. During her PhD, she 

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SHARE? 

CONTACT: 

nicola@specialistprinting.com

EVENTS 

PRINTING UNITED EXPO 2024 

PRINTING United Expo – one of the most dynamic and comprehensive printing 

events in the world – will take place from 10–12 September in Las Vegas, USA 

At PRINTING United Expo, every aspect of 

the print industry comes together under one 

roof. Each community within the industry will 

be represented on the show floor through 

exhibits, education and demonstrations. 

Join tens of thousands of attendees who 

share common interests, goals and 

challenges. This is the industry’s largest 

opportunity to connect face-to-face with old 

friends, create new relationships, see new 

products and network with industry experts. 

With over a million square feet of 

equipment, technology and trends on display, 

delegates will get the opportunity to discover 

new products and innovations to fit business 

and customer needs. Whether actively in the 

buying cycle or exploring the latest 

technologies, the event is an ideal place to 

diversify and grow business. More than 800 

exhibitors from around the world will be 

unveiling their latest solutions. 

“We are incredibly excited about this 

year’s Expo in Las Vegas,” says Mark J Subers, 

President. He adds, “The enthusiasm from 

The main showroom floor at PRINTING United Expo 2023 

exhibitors and attendees is palpable, with 

hotel bookings and registration figures 

already trending significantly ahead of 

previous years. The incredible momentum 

underscores the value and importance of this 

event in the printing industry. Subers 

concludes, “We look forward to welcoming 

everyone to what promises to be our most 

dynamic and innovative Expo yet.” 

www.printingunited.com 

AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS EXPO EUROPE 

The Automotive Interiors Expo will take place from 12–14 November, 2024 at 

Messe Stuttgart, Germany 

Automotive Interiors Expo is the premier 

automotive interior design, component and 

fabrication showcase of the year. Firmly 

established as the leading expo for designing 

and fabricating interiors and interiors parts, it 

is full of ways to improve component 

manufacturing and finishes, enhance the 

quality, durability, performance and efficiency 

of manufacturing processes, as well as 

aesthetic appeal. Free-to-attend, it is a mustvisit 

event for designers, engineers and 

procurement managers from OEMs and Tier 1 

and Tier 2 suppliers, who want to enhance 

the passenger experience and create 

individualised, unique products. 

The show is moving to a larger hall, 

enhancing the event’s scope, encouraging 

greater accessibility and participation. It also 

promises an even more immersive experience 

for all attendees. 

Europe’s leading suppliers of automotive 

interiors manufacturing systems and 

manufacturers of interiors parts, will display 

groundbreaking trends in materials, finishes, 

technologies and production systems for 

future vehicle interiors. Visitors will be able to 

source many next-generation enhancements, 

Automotive Interiors Expo Europe takes place from 12–14 November 2024, in Messe Stuttgart, Germany 

including materials optimisation and 

colouring, speciality plastics finishes, future 

interior concepts, haptic and UI technologies. 

Additionally, the brand-new Innovation 

Showcase (formerly the Technology 

Presentation Stage), will host free technical 

sessions across three days, featuring speakers 

from OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers, 

suppliers, research institutions and styling 

houses at the forefront of their industry. 

Multiple networking opportunities will 

enable attendees to connect, share ideas and 

find innovation, to deliver a better, more 

efficient and sustainable future. 

Automotive Interiors Expo 2024 

(www.automotive-interiors-expo.com) 



EVENTS 

WRAPFEST 2024 

WRAPFEST returns to the iconic Silverstone Racing Circuit in Towcester, UK, from 

3–4 October, 2024 

Discover the future of vinyl and surface 

decoration at the ultimate gathering for the 

vehicle wrapping, paint-protection film, 

window film, detailing and surface-decoration 

industry. The event is designed to keep 

industry members and business owners at the 

forefront of their fields. 

With over 50 exhibitors and 75 brands, 

WrapFest 2024 brings together industry giants 

such as 3M, Avery Dennison, HP, William Smith, 

Signgeer, and Kala SAS, alongside specialist 

companies, such as General Formulations. 

These exhibitors will present a diverse range 

of resources, including printed-paint 

protection, architectural films, window tints 

and colour-change films. 

In response to growing demand, 

WrapFest 2024 introduces a brand new zone, 

dedicated to surface decoration. The Surface 

Decoration Showcase will feature products 

for interior spaces, including furniture wraps, 

wall coverings and window-tinting solutions. 

The WrapTalks programme offers a 

dynamic line-up of sessions. Highlights 

include the ‘Women in Wrap’ panel discussion, 

design and technology in Formula 1. In 

addition, the effective design of fleet liveries 

will be presented as well as the impact of 

architectural wraps. 

Live demonstrations in the famous pit 

garages will feature the latest wrapping 

techniques from industry-leading technicians. 

The Wrap Institute will conduct training 

sessions as well as the World Wrap Masters 

WrapFest returns with an inspiring line-up of exhibitors 

UK competition. The event will also feature 

the Wrap Warrior competition, Show N Shine 

and the Silverstone Simulators. 

WrapFest will host its Wrap Party at 

Blackpit Brewery on 3 October, providing a 

fantastic networking opportunity for visitors 

and exhibitors. Early bird discounts are available 

until 4 September using the code WPF. 

www.wrap-fest.com

EVENTS 

LABELEXPO AMERICAS 2024 

Labelexpo Americas 2024 will take place between 10–12 September at the 

Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, USA 

Lalbelexpo Americas showcases the best in 

the label and packaging printing industry. 

Hundreds of live demonstrations of flexo 

presses alongside digital technology and 

finishing equipment will be on display. 

As part of the conference, expanded 

networking opportunities will focus on 

merging educational content and bringing the 

international package-printing community 

together. 

Labelexpo Americas 2024 will also 

feature a one-day conference programme. 

This will further expand networking 

opportunities. Two educational workshops 

and a master class will take place, all aimed 

at the latest trends impacting the label and 

package printing industry. 

The show feature areas include a Flex 

Pack Factory – a focused area for flexible 

packaging. In addition, an RFID Zone and 

Innovation Stage, will centre on automation, 

RFID technology application and development. 

Tasha Ventimiglia, Group Director at 

Labelexpo Americas comments, “We’re excited 

to be back in Rosemont for Labelexpo Americas 

2024. Attendees can expect to see a range of 

Labelexpo Americas showcases the best in the label and packaging printing industry 

key innovations that are shaping the future of 

the label and package printing industry, 

including sustainable material solutions, 

workflow automation and RFID technology. She 

continues, “We can’t wait to connect and 

network with our international audience at this 

must-attend event for the industry.” 

www.labelexpo-americas.com 

DECORATIVE SURFACES 

CONFERENCE 2024 

The upcoming Decorative Surfaces Conference will take place in Miami, Florida, 

USA, from 11–12 September, 2024 

This premier event brings together industry 

experts, designers and manufacturers from 

around the world to explore the latest trends, 

innovations and best practices in decorative 

surfaces. 

The conference will feature a 

comprehensive programme of keynote 

presentations and technical lectures. These 

talks will delve into the most pressing issues 

and opportunities in the decorative-surfaces 

industry. Attendees will have the opportunity 

to engage with leading experts and network 

with peers from various sectors, including 

architecture, design, construction and 

manufacturing. 

The event will focus on topics such as 

sustainable design, emerging technologies and 

innovative materials, shaping the future of 

decorative surfaces. Attendees will gain 

insights into the latest developments and 

applications that are transforming the industry. 

The 2024 Decorative Surfaces Conference 

promises to be an unforgettable experience, 

offering a unique blend of education, 

inspiration and networking opportunities. 

Participants are invited to come to Miami to 

The Decorative Surfaces Conference is taking place in Miami, Florida, USA 

explore the latest trends and innovations in 

decorative surfaces, and take their business 

to the next level. 

www.surfaces-conference.com 



www.zentner-systems.de 

⦿ A TRUE HYBRID PRESS: Reel-to-Reel to full hybrid. 

⦿ Modular platform - Die Cutting and Flexo Station options. 

⦿ Up to 350mm print width, up to 75m/min. 

⦿ CMYK plus White plus 3 additional colour station options. 

⦿ SuperWhite® - the highest opacity inkjet white available. 

⦿ TOUCHSCREEN GUI + industry-leading software. 

⦿ Dantex DRS Head Technology - powered by Ricoh 

⦿ Improve profitability on every label. 

⦿ Super-fast job turnaround. 

⦿ Waste reduction features as standard. 

⦿ Built in the UK to the highest quality industry standards. 

⦿ PicoJet 1200 / PicoJet 1200 DRS / PicoColour HD 

SEE THE FULL PICO UV DIGITAL PRESS RANGE AT: www.dantex.com/meet-the-family 

⦿ HYBRID PICOJET MODEL SHOWN 

SCAN FOR SHOW 

JOIN US ON STAND #6129 

REGISTRATION

EVENTS 

AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS EXPO 

NORTH AMERICA 

The Automotive Interiors Expo North America will take place from 22–24 October, 

2024 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, USA 

Automotive Interiors Expo North America is 

the annual car and truck interior design show. 

The expo provides a showcase for cuttingedge 

automotive interior concepts, materials 

and finishes. As a result, visitors can speed 

up their decision making and integrate unique 

design options into their interiors. Everything 

needed to create high-quality interiors will be 

displayed under one roof, from concepts and 

colours, to interior parts machining and 

finishing. 

North America’s leading suppliers of 

automotive interiors manufacturing systems 

and manufacturers of interiors parts, will 

display cutting-edge trends in materials, 

finishes and technologies. Additionally, 

sustainable solutions for brand differentiation 

and improving production quality will be on 

show. The event is of equal significance to 

design teams and those responsible for 

procurement. Visitors will have plenty to see 

whether working as interior designers or, just 

as importantly, Tier 1 or 2 component 

manufacturers. 

This year’s Expo will once again provide a 

platform for industry pioneers. Amongst 

others, high-tech materials, new interior 

concepts, lighting solutions, plastic 

metalisation, haptic technologies, UI 

technologies, foams, sewing and cutting 

machines, will be showcased. 

New for 2024 is the InteriVision Summit – 

Future of Automotive Spaces will serve as a 

platform for industry professionals, 

researchers, designers, engineers and 

enthusiasts to come together and discuss the 

evolving landscape of automotive interior 

Automotive Interiors Expo North America takes place from 22–24 October, 2024 in Michigan 

design and technology. Located at 

Automotive Interiors Expo North America, the 

InteriVision Summit will comprise preconference 

workshops on 22 October and a 

two-day conference with panel discussions 

and keynotes from 23–24 October. 

Free to attend for OEMs, delegates can 

attend keynotes and panel discussions, 

engage in interactive workshops to learn 

about new materials, technologies and design 

approaches, as well as hear from pioneers 

shaping the future of automotive spaces. 

Presentations will cover key themes 

encompassing design trends, technology 

integration, comfort and ergonomics, 

sustainability, safety innovations, user 

experience (UX) and future mobility concepts. 

Multiple networking opportunities will enable 

attendees to connect with top professionals 

and decision makers from across the industry. 

On the show floor, special showcases will 

highlight innovative concepts, prototypes and 

future trends in automotive interiors. These 

sessions will offer a glimpse into emerging 

technologies and design concepts that could 

shape the future of automotive interiors. 

Automotive Interiors Expo North America 

2024 (www.automotive-interiors-expo.com) 

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How 

How automatisation 

automatisation 

and 

and digitalisation 

digitalisation 

enable 

enable sustainable 

sustainable 

textile 

textile decoration 

decoration 

15-16 

15-16 October 

October 24 

24 

Radisson 

Radisson Blu 

Blu 

Conference 

Conference Hotel 

Hotel 

Düsseldorf 

Düsseldorf 

TEXTILE 

PRINTING 

& 

SUSTAIN 

ABILITY 

SUPPORTED BY PRESENTATIONS AND EXHIBITION STANDS FROM AVIENT, ARMOR, BLUESIGN, BRENNTAG, BROTHER, 

SUPPORTED CENTEXBEL, BY CHT, BY PRESENTATIONS COLDENHOVE, AND FIERY, EXHIBITION FUJIFILM INK STANDS SOLUTIONS, FROM AVIENT, HOHENSTEIN, ARMOR, KEYPOINT BLUESIGN, INTELLIGENCE, BRENNTAG, BROTHER, KORNIT, 

KRONOS, CENTEXBEL, MARABU, CHT, COLDENHOVE, MIMAKI, METEOR FIERY, INKJET, FUJIFILM ORION, INK SOLUTIONS, TEGEWA, TEXINTEL, HOHENSTEIN, UNIVERSITY KEYPOINT OF INNSBRUCK INTELLIGENCE, AND KORNIT, 

MORE! 

KRONOS, MARABU, MIMAKI, METEOR INKJET, ORION, TEGEWA, TEXINTEL, UNIVERSITY OF OF INNSBRUCK AND MORE! 

Register 

Register at 

at tps-conference.com 

tps-conference.com

EVENTS 

The last TPS Conference was a great success 

TEXTILE PRINTING AND 

SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE 2024 

The Textile Printing and Sustainability (TPS) Conference will take place in 

Düsseldorf, Germany from 15–16 October 2024 

The Textile Printing and Sustainability (TPS) 

Conference returns, for the second time, to 

Düsseldorf, Germany. Organisers from the 

European Specialist Printing Manufacturers 

Association (ESMA) have put together an 

interesting programme to discuss all critical 

factors shaping current and future textile 

production and decoration. 

In 2022, key market players and 

renowned academic institutes met for the 

first time to discuss solutions for a 

responsible textile industry and the 

contribution of printing technologies. 

Participants were enthusiastic about this 

networking opportunity in a community of 

experts from different backgrounds and 

stages of the supply chain. 

“The enthusiasm to rethink established 

processes and material solutions to make the 

textile industry more sustainable was 

palpable,” said Dr Inga Bargende from 

Covestro. She continued, “TPS was an event 

with diverse minds, but one common goal.” 

Kamil Ras from Stanley/Stella, added, “I 

was positively surprised by the content of 

the speeches. There were some valuable 

Presentations will include inks and chemistry, as well as hardware and workflow automation 

ideas and a positive update about the 

developments for inks and fabric preparation.” 

TPS features two days of presentations 

while leaving ample time for networking at 

the accompanying exhibition area. Each 

conference block opens with keynote 

addresses balanced between inspiration, 

policy guidelines, market trends and the 

latest technology insights. These include Safe 

chemistry and Digital Product Passport by 

bluesign, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products 

by Tegewa, Innovative Plant-based Pigments 

by the University of Innsbruck, The Trends 

and Challenges Ahead for Direct-to-Film 

(DTF) by Keypoint Intelligence and Navigating 

the Future of Print – Textiles and Decorative 

Surfaces: Market Shifts, technologies and 

applications by Texintel. 

Solutions presented by suppliers to the 

printing industry cover inks and chemistry, as 

well as hardware and workflow automatisation 

for applications such as fashion, garment, 

sportswear, workwear, home textiles and 

wearables or smart textiles. Among TPS 

supporters are leading technology experts and 

pioneers of sustainable solutions, including 

Armor, Avient, Brenntag, Brother, Centexbel, 

CHT, Coldenhove, Fiery, Fujifilm, Hohenstein, 

Kornit, Kronos, Meteor Inkjet, Marabu, Mimaki 

and Orion. 

On 14 October, all TPS attendees are 

invited to a Kornit Digital company tour, close 

to the conference venue. 

www.tps-conference.com 



IN BRIEF 

DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? 

CONTACT: nicola@specialistprinting.com 

ISIMAT GMBH PRESENTS GROUNDBREAKING INNOVATIONS GLASSTEC 2024 

ISIMAT GmbH – a leading manufacturer 

of decoration machines – will unveil its 

latest innovations for glass decoration at 

the Glasstec 2024 trade fair (22–25 

October, 2024) in Düsseldorf, Germany. 

Under the theme ‘Glass Decoration 

Reimagined’, the company will present 

revolutionary developments, cementing 

its position as a pioneer in the field of 

glass decoration. 

Attendees of the trade fair will have 

an exclusive opportunity to experience, 

firsthand, the exciting advancements 

from Ellwangen. Highlights will include 

the further development of the inLINE 

Foiling® process, known as Conical inLINE 

Foiling (CIF), Direct Digital Printing (DDD) 

and the modularity of the I-Series. 

ISIMAT’s CIF technology overcomes 

previous limitations in the metallisation of 

conical articles, setting new standards in 

glass decoration. Through a significant 

adjustment in the unwinding process, 

conical items can now be finished 

efficiently and wrinkle-free. This 

innovation means that complex shapes 

and designs can be realised with ease, 

enabling a variety of creative 

applications. 

DDD technology opens up a world of 

possibilities for glass-article finishing – 

from personalised promotional series to 

individual special editions. This technology 

offers unparalleled flexibility and efficiency, 

with seamless integration into existing printing 

processes. This enhances design freedom for 

both designers and manufacturers. DDD not 

only enables direct digital printing on glass, 

but also facilitates the transfer of print motifs 

onto already metallised surfaces. 

The modularity of the I-Series 

underscores ISIMAT’s commitment to userfriendliness 

and efficiency. Its quick-change 

systems reduce set-up times and allow for 

rapid change-over between different printing 

stations. This enables customers to swiftly 

adapt to changing requirements and optimise 

their production processes. The intuitive 

operator interface further enhances machine 

Glasstec 

decorated 

bottles 

handling and significantly increases 

efficiency and flexibility in glass 

decoration. 

ISIMAT will be in Hall 12, Stand C59 

at Glasstec and invites attendees to 

experience the future of glass decoration. 

The company looks forward to presenting 

its latest technologies and setting new 

standards in the industry. 

www.isimat.com 

NEW RUTLAND EVOLVE BIO PLASTISOL INKS ANNOUNCED BY AVIENT 

New Rutland Evolve Bio Plastisol Inks from Avient, 

contain 56–59% bio-derived content 

The Avient Corporation is a premier provider 

of specialised and sustainable materials 

solutions and services. Avient is pleased to 

announce the launch of Rutland Evolve Bio 

Plastisol Inks for the screen-printing industry. 

Created with 56–59% bio-derived 

content and tested to ASTM D6866, Rutland 

Evolve Bio Plastisol Inks can reduce screen 

printers’ reliance on fossil fuel-based inks. At 

the same time, they can seamlessly 

introduce more sustainable practices to 

plastisol screen-printing shops. The inks are 

currently offered in white and mixing base, 

and provide an intuitive printing experience 

with standard screen-printing equipment and 

processes. 

“At Avient Specialty Inks, we are 

committed to offering innovative screenprinting 

inks that support sustainability 

objectives without compromising on 

performance,” says Jake Ojeda, Global 

Marketing and Sales Director. He 

continues, “Rutland Evolve Bio Plastisol 

Inks are a great example of this. They 

allow screen printers to incorporate bioderived 

inks that maintain the on-press 

performance that Rutland is known for.” 

Rutland Evolve Bio Plastisol Inks print 

compatibly with Rutland NPT C3 pigments 

and can be mixed to thousands of 

Pantone-simulated colours using IMS 3.0, 

Avient Specialty Inks’ proprietary colourformulation 

software. When printing with 

these inks, formulas in IMS 3.0 will 

calculate the amount of bio-derived 

content associated with each Pantone 

colour. The inks are manufactured in the 

US and are available from Rutland 

distributors. 

www.avient.com 

Rutland, Evolve and Bio Plastisol are all 

Registered Trademarks of Avient 



IN BRIEF 

POWERDROP TV APPEARANCE 

On 1 July 2024, Archipelago was featured in a 

Channel 4 documentary, broadcast on UK 

national television. The programme was 

presented by Tim Harford, a well-known 

economist and broadcaster. Harford’s key point 

was that Britain needs to grow and, in 

particular, invest far more in hardware, 

infrastructure and technology. Harford thought 

that Archipelago and its Powerdrop non-contact 

coating technology was a perfect example of 

this. The programme featured footage of 

Archipelago’s team and showed Peadar Byrne 

coating 3D paper food containers using the 

Powerdrop non-contact coater. 

Powerdrop is a versatile non-contact, high 

throughput coating technology. Its key 

attributes are its ability to handle viscous and 

tacky coating liquids and coat 3D objects, 

such as food trays and bowls. In addition, 

there is very little waste and downtime. 

Powerdrop is enabling the transition from 

plastic to sustainable paper packaging for 

food, beverages and personal care products. 

www.archipelagotechnology.com 

Guy Newcombe, Archipelago’s CEO (far left), with Tim Harford and the Channel 4 team 

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IN BRIEF 

DANTEX GROUP AND POLYMOUNT PARTNERSHIP 

Dantex Group has recently announced a 

strategic partnership with Polymount, a 

leader in innovative solutions for the print 

and packaging industry. The collaboration 

is set to introduce Polymount’s state-ofthe-art 

self-adhesive sleeve technology to 

the label industry, providing a sustainable 

and efficient alternative to conventional 

printing methods. 

Polymount’s products cater to a 

broad spectrum of the printing industry 

Polymount Sleeves 

including labels, flexible packaging and 

commercial printing. Its commitment to 

sustainability is evident in the development 

of products that not only meet the industry’s 

needs for high-quality printing solutions, but 

also address environmental concerns by 

reducing waste and promoting recycling 

practices. Polymount’s pioneering selfadhesive 

sleeve technology eliminates the 

need for double-sided plate mounting tape, 

offering a reusable and easy-to-clean solution 

guaranteed for a decade. This technology not 

only presents an opportunity for significant 

cost savings – through fast amortisation – 

but also leads the way in environmental 

responsibility by eliminating tape waste from 

operations. 

With its extensive network, Dantex 

Group is set to spearhead the promotion of 

this exceptional product in the UK, France, 

Germany, Poland, Switzerland and the US. In 

addition, with a focus on the medium 

(orange) sleeve, Dantex ensures its customers 

access to a robust solution that not only 

enhances print quality, but also promotes 

operational sustainability. 

Jan W Boers, owner of Polymount, 

said, “I am very pleased and confident in 

partnering with Dantex, which will help 

bring the self-adhesive sleeve to the label 

market. The Polymount sleeve is widely 

accepted in wide-web flexo, which has 

always been our focus.” He went on to 

say, “With Dantex’s emphasis on narrow 

web, I strongly believe that sustainable 

plate mounting – without using tape – will 

become the industry standard in flexo.” 

Ben Danon, CEO of Dantex Group, 

added, “Through our partnership with 

Polymount, we are delighted to offer our 

customers a product that embodies our 

commitment to delivering value-added 

solutions.” He continued, “This 

collaboration, not only marks a significant 

step towards a more sustainable future in 

the printing industry, but also marks the 

beginning of a long-term relationship that 

will deliver substantial benefits to our 

customers.” 

www.dantex.com 

DANTEX ANNOUNCES GROUP MD PROMOTION 

Dantex Group has announced the 

promotion of its UK Managing Director, 

Richard Bunney, to the position of Group 

Managing Director, effective immediately. 

Having been instrumental in 

overseeing all activities in the UK, 

Bunney’s new role will now include the 

group’s subsidiary companies and foreign 

markets. His previous roles included 

Dantex’s powerful digital division based in 

Corby-Northants, as well as the analogue 

and consumables business located in 

Bradford. He will continue to work closely 

with the CEO to continue driving the 

company forward. 

Commenting on his promotion, Bunney 

says, “Continuing to lead such a talented 

team and managing a dynamic product 

portfolio is a source of great pride for me. I 

very much look forward to further developing 

and driving the company’s progress.” 

Dantex Group CEO, Ben Danon, 

comments, “Richard has been instrumental in 

advancing Dantex’s UK company, consistently 

embodying the core values and philosophies 

that define the business. Under his 

leadership, Dantex Graphics has experienced 

robust growth and development, with a 

strategy that can now be deployed across 

our group. I am thoroughly looking forward to 

supporting Richard in his new role.” 

In conclusion, Danon adds, “Collectively, 

we are committed to reinforcing a unified 

strategy across the group – one company, 

one goal, one success.” 

www.dantex.com 

Richard Bunney, Group Managing Director, Dantex 






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IN BRIEF 

XAAR AND NAZDAR COLLABORATION 

Xaar’s collaboration with Nazdar was a 

celebrated highlight of drupa 24. As part of 

the touchpoint textile forum, Xaar’s Group 

Research and Development Director, Karl 

Forbes, explained how the latest inkjet 

technologies are rewriting the rulebook for 

aqueous printing. 

The presentation outlined Xaar’s 

collaborative work with global ink developer 

and manufacturer Nazdar. This collaboration 

has enabled the creation of a unique high 

viscosity, pigmented water-based technology 

– the HighV Aqua Series. Forbes went on to 

say that this series will deliver disruptive 

performance benefits in the direct-to-garment 

(DTG), corrugated and outer case printing 

sectors. 

With a focus on DTG, breakthrough 

research and development chemists at Nazdar 

have produced a new fluid technology that 

can deliver clarity and high-pigment loads. This 

process offers innovative techniques and rawmaterial 

selection. Vibrant, colour-rich textiles 

can now be achieved with vastly reduced ink 

usage and printhead passes. A reduction in 

energy consumption, in the drying process, can 

also be achieved. 

This technology has the capability to 

make water-based inkjet a viable option in a 

host of sectors. By reducing ink usage and 

energy consumption during drying, while 

simultaneously increasing production speed, 

water-based inkjet can become a mainstream 

production method. 

“Bringing this to market is the result of a 

strong partnership with Xaar and something 

we’re excited to finally share with the 

industry,” says Martin Burns, Nazdar’s OEM 

Business Development Manager. 

Notably, Nazdar’s new HighV Aqua Series 

includes a high-viscosity white ink. When 

coupled with the TF Technology embedded 

within Xaar’s Aquinox printhead, the ink 

provides customers with quality textile 

printing at a previously unmatched efficiency. 

The higher pigment loading and reduced 

water content, deliver significant savings in 

the time required for printing, as well as 

reductions in energy and material use. 

Overall, the speed of production can be more 

than doubled, making inkjet printing a greater 

reality for a much wider variety of decorative 

applications. 

www.nazdar.com/www.xaar.com 

The TECHNIGRAF World of UV-Light 

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info@technigraf.de www.technigraf.de

IN BRIEF 

GLOBAL GRAPHICS SOFTWARE ANNOUNCES NEW RELEASE OF HARLEQUIN CORE 

The print industry’s fastest RIP Harlequin 

Core Version 14 offers unbeatable 

performance for modern, high-speed labels 

and packaging inkjet presses. 

Global Graphics Software is a hybrid 

software company and developer of smart 

software components for print original 

equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and 

independent software vendors (ISVs). The 

company is pleased to announce its latest 

release – Harlequin Core. It is the print 

industry’s fastest raster image processor (RIP). 

Harlequin Core Version 14 represents a 

significant advancement in quality, performance 

and functionality. This version has been 

specifically optimised for modern high-speed 

digital labels and packaging presses, and is fully 

aligned with the latest PDF standards. 

“Harlequin Core v14 represents a leap 

forward in efficiency and capability,” says Paul 

Dormer, Harlequin Core Product Manager. He 

goes on to say, “It now boasts its fastest-ever 

performance, with files processing up to 60% 

faster. Also, since Harlequin Core is now 64 

bit-only and optimised for modern central 

processing units (CPUs), users can fully exploit 

hardware released in the last five years.” 

Version 14 introduces a new feature into 

Harlequin VariData. This aspect further 

enhances the printing of variable-data PDFs at 

speed. Harlequin Core now shares reusable 

elements across RIPs for improved performance, 

ensuring that RIP farm configurations benefit 

greatly when running on high-end multicore 

hardware over single RIP instances. 

To achieve exceptional colour reproduction, 

Harlequin Core Version 14 represents a significant advancement in quality, performance and functionality 

Global Graphics Software has collaborated with 

its sister company, ColorLogic GmbH. 

Leveraging ColorLogic’s world-leading expertise, 

Harlequin Core Version 14 now offers more 

accurate reproduction of brand colours to 

match real spot inks, achieved with CxF data. 

Harlequin Core Version 14 is now easier and 

faster to work within a typical development 

environment. The QuickStart Software 

Development Kit (SDK) offers a library that 

customer code can link to directly, providing an 

improved Visual Studio experience. It simplifies 

the code structure for users integrating their 

own build systems, resulting in less 

development time. Additionally, complex 

InstallAnywhere distributions and platformdependent 

installers have been replaced with a 

new distribution method using a simple ZIP file. 

Harlequin Core Version 14 supports Mac 

Silicon, Windows and Linux, and is compatible 

with the latest print-related standards, 

including PDF 2.0, PDF/X-6, and PDF VT-3 

specifications. 

Harlequin Core is a trademark of Global 

Graphics Software 

www.globalgraphics.com/harlequin 

CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP 

On 1 May 2024, Dr Markus Arendt took 

up his position on the Executive Board of 

Dr Hönle AG. He succeeds Dr Franz 

Richter, who was appointed by the 

Supervisory Board for a year to lead the 

Dr Markus Arendt, Executive Board member 

company on an interim basis. Richter now 

returns to his role as Chairman of the 

Supervisory Board. 

Dr Hönle AG is a publicly traded 

technology company based in Gilching near 

Munich, Germany. The Hönle Group, with 

600 employees, develops innovative 

solutions for a wide range of industrial 

applications. A key area of its business 

activities is the development and sale of 

industrial adhesives and equipment for 

adhesive curing. Additionally, it manufactures 

systems for the drying and curing of paints 

and coatings for the printing and coating 

industry, as well as devices for solar 

simulation used in material testing. Another 

business field involves the environmentally 

friendly disinfection of water, air and 

surfaces. The Hönle Group supplies 

technology and market leaders worldwide, 

and is represented in over 20 countries with 

its own subsidiaries and partner companies. 

Arendt has extensive experience with 

international industrial companies. Most 

recently, the PhD in Industrial Engineering 

served as Managing Director of the 

German subsidiary of MKS Instruments, 

Inc – a supplier to the semiconductor 

industry. Prior to that, Arendt spent 15 

years with SUSS MicroTec SE, where he 

held positions including Head of the 

Business Unit Lithography and Managing 

Director of SUSS Photonic Systems Inc, 

Corona, US. 

Arendt commented, ”It is fantastic to 

take on such an important role in a 

dynamic medium-sized but worldwide 

operating company like Dr Hönle AG.” He 

continued, “The Hönle Group is already 

active in attractive growth markets with 

its unique range of products and 

technologies. I look forward to 

contributing my expertise in advanced 

packaging and my international 

experience, particularly in the US and 

Asia, to the further development of the 

corporate group.” 

www.hoenle.com 



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IN BRIEF 

EPRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE UNVEILS NUBIUM MIS 

eProductivity Software (ePS) unveiled 

its groundbreaking, cloud-based printmanagement 

information system (MIS), 

Nubium, at drupa 2024. A cloud-native, 

innovative, end-to-end platform, Nubium 

is set to redefine print management for 

small- to medium-sized (SME) printers. 

Nubium represents a pioneering 

leap in print-productivity solutions, 

offering a comprehensive suite of tools 

designed specifically for SME 

commercial printers. As a 100% cloudnative 

MIS, Nubium enables rapid 

start-up and onboarding. These 

features allow businesses with limited 

IT resources and budgets to support a 

wide range of products and services 

with minimal deployment and start-up delays. 

“We are excited about Nubium’s potential 

to revolutionise print management,” says Ryan 

Casey, CEO of Customizable.com. “Its 

powerful and extensible capabilities promise 

to significantly reduce operational challenges 

and enhance the user experience with its 

intuitive design.” 

Dan Vertachnik, CEO of Print ePS 

comments, “Nubium isn’t just another cloud 

solution. It’s a game changer specifically 

designed to cater to the often-overlooked 

needs of SME commercial printers.” He 

continues, “In addition, Nubium completely 

revolutionises the implementation process by 

eliminating traditional complexities. It is 

intuitively designed for rapid deployment and 

immediate value realisation, setting a new 

standard in the industry.” 

Nubium offers seamless integration 

with web-to-print eCommerce platforms 

such as MarketDirect StoreFront. This 

integration enhances the overall customer 

experience by streamlining online-order 

processing and production workflows. The 

integration is a versatile and essential tool 

for commercial printers looking to optimise 

their entire business process from online 

orders to financial management. 

Andrew Tooke, Genereal Manager of 

N2 Group states, ”Transitioning to Nubium 

has been seamless, demonstrating its 

superior adaptability to our digital printing 

needs.” He goes on to say, “The intuitive 

design has reduced training time and the 

cloud-based infrastructure supports 

remote work effectively, which is crucial in 

today’s environment.” 

Visitors to Printing United Expo 2024 

(10–12 September at the Las Vegas 

Convention Centre) can experience, 

firsthand, the capabilities of Nubium and 

other ePS productivity solutions. ePS will 

be in Hall C, Booth 2877. The team will be 

on hand to demonstrate how Nubium can 

streamline operations, enhance decisionmaking 

and boost productivity for 

commercial printers. 

www.printepssw.com/ 

nubium-print-mis 

Nubium is a cloud-native, innovative end-to-end platform 

Nubium is set to redefine print management for SME printers 

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS 

OF NUBIUM 

• Advanced estimating – Nubium 

includes sophisticated tools for 

precise and efficient quoting, as 

well as automated machine and 

process selection 

• Inventory management – 

Comprehensive management of 

raw materials and finished goods 

optimises stock levels and reduces 

waste 

• Seamless integration – Native 

integration with accounting tools, 

such as QuickBooks, ensures 

streamlined financial operations 

• Rapid deployment – Nubium’s cloudnative 

architecture facilitates quick 

deployment, enabling businesses to 

start creating estimates within the 

first hour of operation 

• Scalability – The cloud-based 

infrastructure scales with any 

business, ensuring the right tools 

without significant upfront 

investment 



IN BRIEF 

SUMMA PARTNERS WITH CARON TECHNOLOGY 

Summa is partnering with Caron 

Technology Srl to offer a new expansion 

to its L Series laser cutters – the Caron 

The Summa Caron cradle feeder 

cradle feeder. The combination of a Summa 

laser cutter and a Caron cradle feeder 

helps create an automatic cutting 

workflow. This pairing will make textile 

production extremely efficient, while 

retaining the highest level of quality. 

The Summa L Series laser cutters are 

perfect for cutting textiles with speed 

and precision. The cutters are optimised 

for cutting stretch fabric as found in 

sportswear and swimwear. At Summa, 

efficiency and quality are paramount. 

That is why Summa is constantly 

innovating and further developing its 

laser-cutting solutions. By introducing the 

Caron cradle feeder, Summa is taking the 

production workflow to a higher level 

through automation and ease of use. 

The main job of the Caron cradle 

feeder is to facilitate and speed up the 

loading and changing of media on the 

Summa L1810 laser cutter. The system is 

designed to make the process as 

effortless as possible for the operator. 

Having multiple people struggling to load 

media into the laser cutter is no longer 

an issue. In fact, loading even wide and 

heavier media becomes feasible for a sole 

operator. 

www.summa.com 






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IN BRIEF 

FESPA ACHIEVES ISO CERTIFICATION 

FOR SUSTAINABLE EVENT MANAGEMENT 

FESPA is pleased to announce that it has 

achieved ISO 20121:2012 certification for 

Sustainable Event Management. This is an 

internationally recognised standard for 

implementing an effective and sustainable 

event-management system. 

The accreditation solidifies FESPA’s longstanding 

commitment to implement 

environmental best practices in its own 

operations. In addition, to minimise the 

environmental impact of its events, increase 

positive community engagement and 

motivate print businesses to take concrete 

steps towards more sustainable operation. 

FESPA’s 2025 events in Berlin will be the 

first in the speciality print sector to be run 

under the certification. It provides a 

comprehensive framework for organisers to 

prioritise sustainability, without compromising 

on quality or success. 

To achieve the ISO certification, FESPA 

implemented an extensive range of policies 

and procedures to address key measurable 

objectives. These included waste reduction, 

energy efficiency, carbon-emissions reduction 

and stakeholder engagement. These activities 

and the system were independently audited 

and verified by the British Standards Institute 

(BSI) certified-awarding body under 

certificate number SEMS 799937. The 

certification affirms FESPA’s demonstration of 

best-in-class sustainable event-management 

services to its exhibitors and visitors. 

FESPA has also led by example by 

measuring its carbon footprint at its 

UK-based headquarters for three consecutive 

years. This has been implemented without a 

regulatory obligation. Furthermore, it is 

installing solar panels to generate renewable 

energy. 

Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA comments, 

“We are thrilled to have achieved the ISO 

20121:2012 certification, which proves our 

dedication to delivering environmentally 

responsible events and championing the need 

for the sectors we represent to make continued 

progress on sustainability.” He continues, “Our 

team recognises the importance of operating 

our events in a manner that delivers exceptional 

value to our attendees and exhibitors, while 

also prioritising environmental responsibility 

and community engagement.” He concludes, 

“We look forward to delivering our 2025 events 

in accordance with the certified sustainable 

events-management system and hope that our 

example inspires our community to look at ways 

of optimising its sustainability performance.” 

FESPA remains committed to continuously 

advancing its sustainability initiatives and 

improving its event-management practices. 

By integrating sustainability principles into its 

operations, FESPA aims to inspire positive 

change across the specialty print community 

to facilitate a greener, more environmentally 

conscious future. 

To view FESPA’s Event Sustainability 

Proposition visit: www.fespaglobalprintexpo. 

com/sustainability-fespa 

For more information about FESPA’s 

sustainability initiatives, visit: www.fespa. 

com/en/sustainabilityspotlight 

www.fespa.com 

INDEX TO DISPLAY ADVERTISERS 

FESPA’s 2025 events will be the first in the speciality print sector to be run under the ISO 20121:2012 certification 

SPECIALIST 

WORLDWIDE 





Agfa..................................................................... 15 

Archipelago Technology Ltd..................... 35 

Avient Corporation........................................ 13 

Cadillac Plastic Ltd....................................... 55 

ColorGATE Digital Output 

Solutions GmbH.........................................39 

Coveme S.p.A...................................................33 

Dantex Group..................................................43 

DSPrintech China...........................................47 

EFI GmbH.......................................Front Cover 

eProductivity Software................................ 17 

ESMA.................................................................. 45 

Fespa WrapFest.............................................. 41 

Fimor.................................................................. 53 

FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Group 

Inside Back Cover 

Gallus Ferd Rüesch AG................................ 15 

Global Graphics Software Ltd..................29 

Grafco S.r.l.........................................................34 

Grünig-Interscreen 

AG.................................. Inside Front Cover 

IPCO......................................................................5 

ISIMAT GmbH.................................................. 19 

Koenig & Bauer Kammann 

GmbH......................... Outside Back Cover 

M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.................... 25 

Marabu GmbH & Co KG...............................11 

Meteor Inkjet Ltd...........................................23 

Nazdar Ink Technologies...............................9 

Neos Srl.............................................................. 13 

Printcolor Screen AG....................................27 

Pröll KG................................................................ 7 

Ricoh Europe PLC...........................................37 

Sefar AG............................................................26 

SignTronic AG................. Inside Front Cover 

Summa nv......................................................... 53 

Supplier 

TECHNIGRAF 

Directory 

GmbH..................................... 51 

A comprehensive directory 

for the Valiani specialist SRL......................................................... printing industry. 

51 

Find the WEPACK right supplier to ASEAN...............................................8 

meet your needs. 

Visit specialistprinting.com 

Megnajet (Part of XAAR Group)...............49 

ZENTNER Systems GmbH..........................43 



SCREEN 

FLEXO 

INDUSTRIAL 

Trusted by experts in 

print for over 60 years 

www.sericol.com

Pushing the boundaries of possibilities 

Koenig & Bauer Kammann GmbH 

Weidehorst 80 | 32584 Löhne 

kammann.koenig-bauer.com

Specialist Printing Worldwide Issue 3 2024

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