Reeves, A Trelleborg Co.

Behind the Scenes R&D on New Line of Eco-Friendly Inks CARLSTADT, NJ—At Sun Chemical’s Carlstadt Technical Center, a research and development facility, more than 100 scientists and support staff from around the globe test the analysis, surface characterization, interfacial dynamics and synthesis of new inks. Some new developments at the facility include Earth sheetfed inks, which produce only 2 percent VOCs, and offer sharp lithographic dot fidelity, high-trap efficiency, well-maintained density during press runs and fast color accuracy; and Liberty eco-friendly inks that offer sharp press stability and ultra-fast drying; the WetFlex printing process, which allows converters to print flexible films at high speed

Group Visits KBA’s German Head­quarters RADEBEUL, GERMANY—KBA North America invited a select number of U.S. and Canadian printers, as well as industry journalists, to visit its headquarters and sheetfed press manufacturing facility here recently. The group was treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the factory assembly hall; the R&D facility; product demonstrations on the new-generation, 41˝ Rapida 105 five-over-five perfector press and the large-format, 56˝ Rapida 142 four-over-four perfector; and visits to several area printers that are utilizing KBA presses in sophisticated markets. Time was also spent sightseeing in Dresden and Leipzig. “Our open house in Germany provided printers with an in-depth education on

by Chris Bauer Managing Editor The press manufacturers’ “big iron” may have taken up mammoth amounts of floor space and received the lion’s share of headlines at PRINT 05 & CONVERTING 05, but not to be forgotten are the booths often found on the fringe of the McCormick Center’s halls. Here, there was plenty of news to be found from paper, ink and other consumables providers. For example, while donning white lab coats, executives from International Paper announced that its entire range of uncoated freesheet papers for imaging, commercial printing, envelopes and forms would be improved to a new standard of whiteness and

by chris bauer The printing industry is packed with interesting and creative people. And it isn't just inside the pressroom or prepress department that graphic arts professionals shine. Outside of the print shop, things seem to get even more exciting. As a follow-up to our September 2002 article, PI found more members of the printing fraternity with unusual and interesting hobbies. Here are the tales of what some of your contemporaries like to do after the lights in the plant go dark. Winfield Padgett Padgett Printing Although an interest in golf has become as common as starched-white shirts for many business executives, Win

BY ERIK CAGLE The following is an industry service announcement, courtesy of Scott McGowan, product manager, supplies marketing for A.B.Dick-Multigraphics. He offers the following definition of a printing blanket: The medium by which the right reading image on the plate is transferred to become a right reading image on the paper or media being printed. Choosing the correct blanket for your offset printing job, he adds, will yield the highest quality results. While not the most heralded gun in the offset printing arsenal, blankets play a critical role in the success (or failure) of a client's job and are, ultimately, a deciding factor in

In 1996, millions of textbooks were printed in North America. High-quality, high-circulation news magazines, such as Business Week, Time and Newsweek, reported circulations topping 15 million. In the United States alone, 60 million Bibles were produced that year for distribution throughout the world. With this explosion in commercial web printing and the reduction of profit margins, press operators are exploring new ways to save time and money. For two commercial printers—Quebecor-Hawkins, in Kingsport, TN, and St. Ives, in Hollywood, FL—the solution was a new no-pack printing blanket. A Blanket Solution"We realized that a no-pack printing blanket was just what today's commercial web printers needed,"