Weigang highlights intermittent offset presses at LMAI Conference
On day two of the LMAI Conference in Goa, Spring Xu of Weigang Machinery highlighted the advantages of offset printing technology and how the web-based intermittent UV wet offset with multiple in-line functions can be advantageous to Indian label converters at the recently concluded LMAI Conference in Goa.
08 Aug 2013 | 3208 Views | By Mihir Joshi
Xu touched upon the trends which are currently prevalent in the global label industry, she said, “With branding becoming more important and growth of retail segment, the label industry is constantly growing by volumes. Brand owners understand that labels attract customers and increases sales for end-user products. So, they demand highest printing quality which often requires printing in multi-processes. Security features are becoming a necessity among brand owners as they help to curb duplication and piracy.”
She also pointed out that due to intense market competition, label users are constantly changing label designs, which has contributed in changing many large runs label orders into small or medium run orders. Faster production and quicker delivery has also become paramount for the brand owners.
Talking about the advantages of intermittent presses Xu said, “The current generation intermittent offset label printing machines can be equipped with multi-utility in-line functions like cold foil stamping, hot foil stamping, lamination, varnishing, embossing, rotary die-cutting and sheeting.”
She further added, “Intermittent presses offer best printing quality, with 0-100% dot gain, high quality is achieved using screens of 200-350 LPI. The plate cost is also the lowest among all the options available in the market, for example, a PS plate size of 320 x 400 mm from Fuji would cost around Rs 180. So, for a CMYK job, one set of plates would cost no more than Rs 720, which is just around 15% or even less than the cost of photopolymer plates. Fast and easy production of PS plates also ensures that minimal time is wasted between proof to print.”
She also spoke about faster job changeover due ease with which a pre-punched PS plate could be mounted. Also each print repeat does not require a different set of printing cylinders. The intermittent press works for all repeat sizes with single plate cylinder thereby reducing tooling cost and job set-up time. Ink consumption is also considerably lower because flat printing, offset does not require much ink quantity. It may consume just one-third ink when compared to some other printing processes for a similar job, thereby reducing input costs.
Shorter web path, no additional investment into multiple sizes magnetic cylinders and multi-inline processes and functions are some of the other advantages of intermittent presses according to Xu.
Weigang is represented by Global Graphics in India.