June 2001 Issue
Feel-good Forecast? (Top Tag & Label Converters)
As recently as January 2001, many label converters still felt positive about this year's business prospects. by Susan Friedman, Editor A snapshot of the industry indeed. When responses to packagePRINTING's 2001 Top Tag and Label Converters Survey were heaviest, in December 2000/January 2001, converters' mood was positively, well, positive. Consider these figures: 48 percent of respondents predicted greater output for their operations in 2001, and 42 percent predicted greater profit margins. Seventeen percent forecast flat margins for their firms, and just 5 percent saw leaner profits ahead. (Not every respondent answered these questions on the survey.) In light of recent changes in the condition
On the Post-cure Case (UV Inks)
Industry experts weigh in on the who, what, when, where, and why of the post-cure process. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor THE APPARENT "chemistry mystery" occurring after a UV ink is cured significantly impacts the appearance of a finished printed product. Supplier sleuthing has led to these conclusions: WHAT is (and what isn't) post-cure? Though used throughout the industry, the term "post-cure," in many cases, is technically a misnomer. Rob Stendahl, corporate technical support supervisor for Akzo Nobel, clarifies: "Post cure only takes place with cationic UV-curable inks. The more common type of UV inks is cured through a UV-induced free radical polymerization
Prime-time for Contone Proofing
Today's improved ink jet technology offers an impressive mix of color accuracy, media versatility, and affordability. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor ALL PROOFS ARE not created equal. Nor should they be. The range of proof requisites varies from printer to printer, and from production stage to production stage. While newly developed digital halftone systems get closer to ultimate color matching (see next month's PrePress article for more details), ink jet-based digital proofing comprises the all-round best solution for many prepress programs. Suppliers' keen interest in developing both drop-on-demand and continuous ink jet devices testifies to contone's strong foothold within the packaging market. On the
Purpose-built Print (Screen Printing)
Demand for screen retrofits multiplies as printers look to satisfy process-savvy manufacturers. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor WHILE THERE IS no easy-out clause when adopting a new print method, screen retrofits allow printers to make a significantly smaller leap of faith (and finance). And with manufacturers gaining awareness of its unique benefits, job-specific or brand-specific requests for screen will make the retrofit an even more appealing option. Path of less resistance Screen printing, in its nature, is a more niche-oriented process. As Gary Teeter, after market applications engineer for Mark Andy explains, "Printers likely to retrofit…are typically looking to expand production capabilities in
The Dish on Plates
While some suppliers continue to pursue digital platemaking, others remain focused on conventional exposure and processing. by Kate Tomlinson, Assistant Editor THE WORLD IS digital. Digital phones, digital cable, and DVDs (digital video discs) are today's reality—will digital plates make way into every pressroom next? More and more suppliers are working to make digital plates commonplace. But how long will it be before every printer has adopted this approach? The future of digital plates "Without a doubt, once digital platemaking systems come full circle, they will be able to offer printers something they can always use more of—time," says Paul Zeinert, manager of
