Competitive Edge
Robert Buongiorno, president, BST North America/AccuWeb
I started in the industry back in the 1970s. Then, “quality printing” was something that was only aspired to, and achieved by, the highest-quality printers. Waste control meant that if it looked OK, it was worth saving. High-quality printers usually killed an entire forest before they had a press OK and started saving product.
Today, we live in a different world and the expectations of the end user are very different. I’ve heard you can blame the demand for increased print quality on HD television, since our eyes no longer are forced to look at a grainy picture tube, but now a screen that almost looks better than reality. Naturally, we demand that of our printed products, as well. 
So, as the demand for print quality has increased, unfortunately waste has, right? Wrong! The economic pressures on printers and converters today mean that they need to produce the highest possible quality with the lowest possible waste.
One way this is achieved is through the embrace of technology that allows the printer or converter to electronically look at every image printed and every square inch of the product to determine if defects exist in the print, or the color shifts from the desired target. This technology helps ensure that every product you produce that leaves your door, looks exactly as it should look, and the rejects never end up being sent to the brand owner or end user.
Print inspection systems have moved from the “nice gadget” of some years back, to a “must-have” to ensure success. Printers and converters who don’t embrace this and other technologies run the risk of being left behind. You may think you’re on the right tract to satisfy your customers, but as Will Rogers once noted, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
Not embracing print quality and waste control technology is the equivalent of just sitting on the tracks. Printers and converters who thrive today, and in the course of time, are the ones who are constantly looking for a competitive edge and to make their product stand out.
Partners & Providers
Gabriela Kim, global strategic brand and Americas marketing leader—DuPont Cyrel Solutions
Completing a year of the global pandemic, we were all forced to rethink the way we do business, adjust to the new needs of customers and make operations more flexible. The advancement of technology has made us realize how effective we can be in obtaining a competitive advantage. In the face of changing scenery, package printers need to be equipped and prepared with innovative solutions.
The trend of operational efficiency had been growing in previous years, but the global pandemic accelerated its pace and led companies to seek corrective and improvement measures in the short term. When faced with limited work shifts, restrictions on raw materials, limited supply and a reduced number of laborers, efficiency becomes key to remaining profitable.
Companies that are able to quickly readjust to this new reality will have competitive advantages in this market. Our role, as partners and providers, is to offer a high-quality product, deliver innovative solutions for customers to thrive and offer differentiated products.
During the days of FORUM and INFOFLEX, DuPont will present solutions to help its customers face operational challenges, by overcoming day-to-day obstacles, without compromising the quality of their products. We will also work on future developments that guarantee the prosperity of customers and help them to optimize competitiveness in their markets.
Data-Centric Cleaning
Peter J. Mulheran, VP, Eaglewood Technologies
While laser anilox cleaning has been around for many years; advancements in cleaning speeds, safety and cleaning capabilities have catapulted it to the forefront. In addition, IoT 4.0 features like automated reporting, smartphone features, RFID or bar code reading, remote technical support and microscope integration allow new laser cleaning technologies to fully control anilox inventories and maximize production efficiencies.
For many years, anilox cleaning was a necessary evil, but with laser cleaning:
- Automated features allow for production floor optimization and cost savings
- IoT affords seamless reporting of anilox inventories directly to the production team’s email inbox to reduce press makereadies and simplify color matching
- Smartphone attributes allow the machine to communicate seamlessly with machine operators. This permits them to clean anilox rollers while they’re providing value elsewhere on the production floor. Operators receive live status updates, end-of-cycle notifications and will be alerted to any issues that may arise during the cleaning process
Anilox cleaning has evolved into a data-centric part of the flexographic process. While laser cleaning is being adopted quickly by flexographers because of the features, cleaning capabilities and information gathering capabilities, it is providing significant improvements in terms of achieving sustainability initiatives. Laser systems use a fraction of the energy required by competitive technologies, completely reduce waste streams and water usage along with freight of consumables.
There is not a more sustainable cleaning technology on the planet than laser cleaning. Many wide web flexographic printing companies can reduce monthly water and chemical expenses by $5,000 by simply adopting the right laser anilox cleaning system. While it may not be a fit for every flexographer, those who are looking for repeatable cleaning results, valuable data on their anilox inventories, simplified color matching, a streamlined production process and the most sustainable cleaning technology in the world—The right laser cleaning system is there for you.
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