Editor's note: Since Drupa 2004 was convened, people's demand for paper processing and post-press processing technology has significantly improved on a global scale, especially in the commercial and packaging fields. At the same time, diversified and combined post-press processing technologies have also become the focus of attention.
In the past three years, with the speed of color printing, customers have also gradually increased the requirements for product quality. For this reason, equipment manufacturers not only introduced presses suitable for long-run color production, but also equipped them with printing units capable of on-line post-printing (integrating offset and flexographic units onto a single printing press). In addition, customers also hope that their own presses can further shorten the transfer time, save energy, and improve the handling of consumables.
Many of the interesting finishing solutions we saw at drupa in 2004 are now at the heart of the added value of high-quality printing and packaging products. Various types of coating materials, gold and silver inks, die-cutting, embossing, cold and hot stamping techniques, etc. - can only show their value-added ability when used in actual production.
Precise post-press processing can bring unique features to printed materials. In order to meet market demand, post-press equipment and materials suppliers have brought their key products to Drupa 2008.
In recent years, the hidden harmful substances in food and beverage packaging have gradually become the focus of debate. Since ITX on the surface of printed packaging materials (a photosensitizing factor in UV printing inks) can cause serious harm to human health, it must be effectively controlled. In order to reduce the occurrence of such harmful substances, equipment and material suppliers have developed non-transferring adhesives and coating materials for on-line post-printing.
Quality factor
If all the parameters are set properly—gold foils, substrates, adhesives, etc.—online processes like cold foiling can bring higher quality prints. It can produce a fixed hot stamping area that is common on labels or high-quality packaging, and does not require the use of too high a temperature, thus avoiding the registration and other quality problems that occur during the hot stamping process. In addition, on-line post-press processing provides users with a higher resolution, allowing them to reproduce clear text, beautiful lines, and perfect halftone dots. In addition to the ability to turn attractive design patterns into reality, it also adds important safety features to the product, which cannot be ignored.
Point of sale competition
If a company wants to stand out from the competition in the market, their product packaging must be different. The shape of a print should clearly express the value of the company and highlight the image of the product. Practically speaking, the cosmetics industry is relying on packaging to sell its own products.
Modern production technology can add a lot of value to high quality prints. But good products are not necessarily expensive. For short-term promotional materials with strong market demand, equipment manufacturers exhibited at Drupa 2008 a series of auxiliary production systems using the latest electronic technology. The platform printing process will play an increasingly important role in the production of point-of-sale advertising.
Self-promotion
Many print service providers have upgraded their technology and are able to provide customers with an economical online finishing solution, but they are not aware of the importance of providing consulting services to customers. Explaining your own production capacity to your customers is not enough. You must let them know how to use the capacity of the printing plant to create value for themselves. Many companies have succeeded by providing their customers with production advice and a high level of finishing solutions. Fundamentally, people can only use this technology to make money after they have mastered the new technology.