Observations from IPEX 2006

Drent Goebel has become a major player in printing machinery, especially with its recent acquisition of RDP Marathon. The company's biggest markets are Russia and Eastern Europe. Its product emphasis is now on hybrid printing.

The most significant introduction by Drent Goebel at IPEX is its staggered plate capability, which is said to increase productivity by essentially eliminating the 'straight across' gap on the printing plate. This enables offset printers to use a staggered layout for, say, labels, as is commonly done by flexographic printers. The Drent Goebel system uses a diecutter to match plate and blanket, and to make the gap follow any line desired. The plate and blanket are then attached to the cylinder using adhesive tape. The company claims the maximum speed supported by this approach is 400 meters per minute.