Finishing - Conventional

Digital print advances will create many new finishing opportunities. The finishing expert of the near future will truly have to "think outside the box" to be able to create products in new and innovative ways.

In an effort to provide full service printing to Los Angeles area residents and businesses, Southern California Graphics recently implemented an in-house suite of printing technology, offering access to printing services previously unavailable within the company.

The finishing systems salesperson has to work pretty hard to sell new against used, but it can be done. You've got to sell the ROI in today's workplace. That means labor savings, automation, accuracy and speed. In short, adapt your selling skills to the realities of today's printing industry.

Rollem International has announced several new print finishing installations at Graphic Arts Studio, Elk River Systems and Puget Bindery.

Since installing an Eco-Eagle Cold Foil System at its headquarters in Dallas two weeks ago, Cartamundi and Elite Packaging have already experienced faster turnaround times. “After a two-day install, we’ve already run three jobs through the Eagle System and our KBA 106 Press, and our customers are overwhelmed by the results and accelerated turnaround time,” said Bob Nickel, vice president, Specialty Packaging Innovative Technology/R&D for Cartamundi USA.

Years ago, I had listened to presentations on the personalization possibilities that digital print would bring to the newspaper industry. So far, those predictions have not come to pass. As inkjet continues to evolve (and gets faster), this market may finally evolve.

Hard-cover bookbinding is a craft that has a history measured in centuries, and one of my discoveries was how small the specialty machinery world in hard cover actually was.

Earlier this month, nearly 300 participants from all over the world attended the Heidelberg Postpress Commercial Days event at the Print Media Center (PMC). The live analyses conducted at the demonstrations were very well received, with visitors using actual production data to gain an understanding of specific machine functions.

Hard-cover production is shifting more and more to an "on-demand" model, which has lifted the sales of vendors manufacturing modular machines that can make cases and case-in hard-cover books in small quantities.

Lewisburg Printing of Lewisburg, TN, has added a new 90˝ Saber XXL paper cutter and auxiliary Schneider engineering paper handling equipment from Colter & Peterson. The Saber unit will finish top sheets, litho and cut and stack work performed on two 73˝ Roland 900XXL large-format presses.