Spear Achieves G7 Master Printer Status
MASON, OH—November 1, 2012—As industry focus increases on innovation and process improvement, Spear, a leading provider of labels to the global beverage industry, has achieved G7 Master Printer status which is a benchmark for exceptional print processes from proof-to-print.
G7 Master Printer qualifications are granted by IDEAlliance, a non-profit organization that specializes in developing “standards and best practices to enhance efficiency and speed information across the end-to-end digital media supply chain—creation, production, management, and delivery of knowledge-based multimedia content—digitally and in print.”
Master status is presented to physical facilities that continually use the G7 Proof-to-Print Processes and use modern technology, techniques, and press controls to ensure close visual match on printed products. G7 is both a definition of grayscale appearance and a calibration method for adjusting any CMYK imaging device to simulate the G7 definition.
To become certified at its corporate headquarters in Mason, OH, Spear had to go through a qualifying process that includes optimizing all ink sets and print conditions, printing a fingerprint to evaluate the necessary curve adjustments and then reprinting after adjustments are made. This is followed by a certification from an outside registered source. The detailed print process displays Spear’s excellence in print/color management.
“The G7 qualification has delivered a win-win to Spear and our customers. Using this methodology allows our customers to use more standardization with its prepress suppliers reducing costs and improving time to market,” said Doug Bartlett, director of graphics at Spear. “On our end it has given us a tool to more accurately calibrate our printing processes reducing set-up time and related waste. It also improves consistency in our print process within a run and from run to run, delivering a more consistent product to our customers.”
Currently Spear is exploring G7 qualification at two of its other U.S. locations, totaling three facilities that will meet the Master Printer status.
About Spear
Spear is the leading global supplier of pressure sensitive labels to the Beer and Beverage Industry. We operate multiple facilities in North America, Europe and Africa, with on-going expansion throughout the world.
Our customers can be found in 59 countries on six continents. Creative development, label production, label application and package durability through a product’s filling and distribution life cycle are all part of the Spear labeling system. E-mail us at info@spearsytem.com, follow us on Twitter @SpearLabels and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/spearlabels.
Source: Spear.