Product Watch: Quadtech and Roland DG
A look at colour quality and management solution and wide-format kit
11 Feb 2015 | 4688 Views | By PrintWeek India
QuadTech CMS with SpectralCam: Reduces waste
QuadTech is keeping an eye on the flexo and gravure packaging market. QuadTech’s Color Measurement System with SpectralCam (CMS), which was introduced at Drupa 2012, but went into production at a press in Milan, Italy, in early 2014, promises to address colour quality issues, including delivering essential packaging colour quality.
QuadTech Color Quality Solution (CQS) is a feature of CMS, which enables automatic sharing and processing of colour data between in-line colour control and off-line colour measurement industry leaders. “Colour quality stays within targets and consistently high while downtime and waste are reduced dramatically,” says Hemant Desai, general manager for QuadTech in India.
Brand requirement vs cost pressure
While on the one hand brand owners look towards packaging to not only ship the products safely, but also make them desirable while on the shelf, the packager are under pressure to reduce production cost, as the brand owners are unwilling to pay a higher price for quality products.
No matter how accurately your inks are mixed, they are impacted by a variety of press and substrate dynamics. This necessitates stopping the press several times so that operators can remove a section of the printed substrate and manually measure each of the colours and adjust ink recipes. “This wastes time and material. Plus, with the costly substrates your customers require, the tiniest misstep in ink colour can cut deeply into your profits,” says Desai. One way the packager can meet the ongoing challenges is by using colour quality solutions.
According to Desai, QuadTech is the first and only automated precise in-line colour measurement and ink control, delivering essential packaging colour quality. “The CQS assures colour quality and consistency from your defined colour targets through on-press ink formulation recipe changes and ongoing colour measurement during the press run. Any colour deviations are automatically captured, and are rectified immediately. This translates to less downtime, faster makeready, reduced waste and colour quality that make for satisfied customers.”
Return on investment
Depending on the application, the return on investment is generally in the range of one year, says Desai. “Installations of CMS and CQS have typically resulted in a 50% reduction in the number of press stops needed to adjust the ink recipe. Improved production efficiencies have also been realised.”
Roland Versa RF-640A: 100 units sold so far
The Versa Express RF-640, according to Ravi Agarwala, director at Apsom Infotex, the Indian representative of Roland DG, has been engineered for long, unattended production runs. “The new RF-640A features Roland’s latest print head technology which accurately reproduces the finest details while delivering vibrant, high-density colours for flawless photographic reproductions, smooth gradations, superb contrast and all round outstanding image quality.”
Launched in August 2014 at the Media Expo in Delhi, it has sold around 100 units so far.
The RF-640A features the previous model’s (RF 640) print control technology, and is supported by Roland Intelligent Pass Control, which stabilises production print speeds.” The RF 640A prints at a speed of 18.5 sqmtr/hour, which again is around 40% higher than the RF 640. It prints on media thickness of 1mm and a width from 0.25m to 1.62m.
Further it is equipped with Roland’s gold printhead technology. “It is Roland’s most advanced technology and it delivers exceptional print quality and colour consistency. What is running in favour of the RF-640A is the Roland’s Ink Switching Systems, which increases productivity through unattended continuous printing. “It allows the operator to load a backup cartridge that automatically discharges ink to the printer when the primary cartridge is empty,” says Agarwal.
The other thing going in its favour is Roland’s Printer Assist iPad app that enables one to remotely manage the production, test printing and cleaning function. “This app lets the iPad user connect to the printer to manage jobs comfortably and in the process increase productivity and efficiency. It lets one concentrate on business growth,” says Agarwal.
Other key features include variable droplet control, which can produce up to seven different sizes to reproduce every detail. It also boasts a dual wiping system to reduce maintenance requirements, It is an electric driven auto choke system.