By DPS Staff
After a piece is printed, it is rarely ready to go out to market. Finishing is a core component of the digital print scene, making items presentable with cutting, folding, and binding; adding value with coating and embossing; and managing high-volumes of sensitive statements with inserting and mailing solution.
Last week, we discussed highlights in terms of printing hardware shown and displayed at Graph Expo 2014, which wrapped up October 1, 2014 in Chicago, IL. This week, we focus on finishing.
Bell and Howell
Bell and Howell showcased its innovative means of delivering mail, parcels, and electronic communications, a full complement of service, hardware, and software solutions. In terms of hardware, the company featured virtual demonstrations of CartonWrap, a dynamic packaging system that boxes and labels ready-to-ship goods for eCommerce fulfillment.
The company also displayed its Inveloper system, which is a finishing concept that wraps inserts in customized envelopes created from a paper roll; as well as the Producer 22 inserting system.
B&R Moll
Supplier of folder/gluers and bindery finishing equipment for printing and packaging facilities, B&R Moll featured its latest solutions including a working demonstration of the Premier 36 System. The solution performs complex folding and gluing tasks on 36-inch wide media.
Duplo USA
Featuring a comprehensive range of digital finishing solutions, Duplo USA highlighted some of its newest solutions, including the DC-616 PRO Slitter/Cutter/Creaser, the new and enhanced iSaddle System, the DFS-1500 Booklet System, and the UD-300 Die Cutter with separator and conveyor.
Additional capabilities, including perfect binding and UV coating, were also shown.
Harris & Bruno (H&B) International
H&B demonstrated its ExcelCoat ZR offline/inline coater for UV and aqueous output. The company displayed a fully automated ExcelCoat ZR with Its high-pile feeder and high-pile stacker.
Highcon
Highlighting the latest in folding carton finishing, Highcon introduced the Euclid II and II+ digital cutting and creasing machines. The company held live demonstrations of the equipment throughout the duration of the show.
Kluge
Attendees witnessed the latest advancements in die cutting, laser cutting and scoring, foil stamping, as well as folding and gluing offered by Kluge. In its booth, the company demonstrated converting a digitally printed folding carton with products and systems in laser cutting and scoring, foil stamping, and folding and gluing.
MBO America
Following its successful open house for the New MBO this Summer, the company highlighted its newest and most notable equipment at Graph Expo.
The New M80 Folder is a fully scalable and expandable folder accommodates current and future applications with the flexibility to install add-on components after the initial purchase to meet new job requirements.
The BRS 550 Servo Rotary Die Cutter processes both single and folded products. Its engineering allows it to process mailings, greeting cards, folding cartons, labels, and many other products in a one- or multi-up production setting. Due to flexible dies, the BSR 550 Servo features a variety of functions including rotary die cutting, cutting, kiss cutting, perforating, scoring, and debossing. The MBO New H+H 091.1 plow folder-gluer is designed for folding cartons. The H+H can operate inline with the BSR 550 Servo die cutter in order to fold and glue straight line folding cartons.
Other highlighted products include the new SVC Sheeting Systems, 30-inch digital web solution; the new SVC Sheeting Systems, 20-inch digital web solution; and the new MBO K8 RS folder, which runs at 18,000 sheets per hour.
MBM Corp.
In addition to its popular Aerocut G2 digital finishing system, MBM introduced three new paper creasers to its lineup of digital finishing equipment. The MBM icrease series consists of the Pro, Excel, and Air model creasers. Each features touch screen programming along with a rotary actuated die creasing system to create creases without cracking.
MGI Digital Technology
In addition to its latest in print offerings, MGI launched the first inline finishing unit for use on the Meteor Series. The DF Pro I designed to keep pace with the Meteor Series and offer commercial printers a creative finishing option in one pass. It is capable of cutting and trimming, as well as striked perforation, as well as up and down creasing.
Also in finishing, MGI introduced the JETvarnish 3D Evolution T Option, which is a digital spot UV coater that allows for doubling or tripling production speeds. This provides the JETvarnish 3D the ability to digitally emboss up to 300 microns in one pass on formats up to 20×40 inches.
Finally, the newest addition to the JETvarnish Digital Spot UV Coating line, MGI is announces the first achievement of its strategic alliance with Konica Minolta, the JETvarnish 3DS. A product developed by MGI exclusively for the Konica Minolta sales network, the third generation JETvarnish has all the tactile effects and advantages of the original JETvarnish 3D at only half the size. Designed primarily for the digital print market, the new Digital Spot UV 3D Coater makes 3D tactile varnish finish available to digital printers in the market today printing on widths up to 14 inches.
Muller Martini
Finishing equipment provider, Muller Martini offered its engineers and product specialists to discuss how component-driven finishing solutions help provide a stable future and delivery investment protection to businesses crossing into digital print. Among its solutions is the Presto II Digital Saddle Stitching System, the SigmaLine book finishing system, SigmaTrimming Center, and Alegro Perfect Binder.
Additionally, the company introduced two products scheduled for availability in 2015, the AMS Adhesive Monitoring System, and the Dynamic Thickness Stitching Head.
The company also emphasized the importance of touchless workflows in an in-booth seminar.
Nordson Corporation
Nordson was on hand to discuss its perfect binding solutions that simplify and improve the use of reactive hot melt polyurethane adhesives for digital book production.
Pitney Bowes
Pitney Bowes featured many of its integrated print and mail solutions, highlighting the new Mailstream Direct High Speed Inserter.
The Mailstream Direct Inserting System gives direct mail operations the ability to accurately process a range of applications at a lower cost per mail piece. It performs at up to 22,000 mail pieces per hour.
RISO, Inc.
Attendees to RISO’s booth saw two new production solutions, the RISO Print to Mail Solution and the Perfect Binder Solution. The RISO Print to Mail Solution is comprised of a RISO ComColor 9150 or 7150 printer as well as the new Wrapping Envelope Finisher, and automatically personalizes documents and envelopes, then addresses, folds, and assembles them into a completed, sealed mailpiece at rates of up to 2,200 completed pieces of mail every hour.
Rollem International
Making its official debut at Graph Expo, Rollem displayed its new Delta Die Cutter. Ideal for gift boxes and personalized packaging products, visitors witnessed live demonstrations of the die cutter. This sheet-fed, flexo-magnetic rotary die cutter can die cut and crease with 100 percent sheet-to-sheet registration.
Standard Finishing Systems
In its 4,800 square foot booth, Standard unveiled its line of Horizon Rotary Die Cutters to the North American market. The Standard Horizon RD-4055 and RD-3346 are designed to die-cut, crease, perforate, slit, hole punch, and round corner in one process for digital and offset printed sheets. Both systems feature easy changeover and simple operation via intuitive touch screen controls, and vacuum belt feed with powerful air separation for consistent feeding performance. Die- and kiss-cutting can also be performed at the same time to produce stickers and labels.
Making its North American debut, the Standard Horizon CRA-36 Creaser provides mechanical creasing with automated feeding to eliminate cracking on digitally printed applications.
Standard also premiered the Horizon TBC-200L Top and Bottom Trimmer as part of an inline solution with the Horizon SPF-200L Landscape Bookletmaker, CR-400 Creaser/Bleed Trimmer, and HOF-400 High Speed Sheet Feeder for digitally collated output.
In the folding arena, Standard introduced the new Horizon AF-406F Small-Format Folder. This fully automated six-buckle folder offers pile feed and suction head with an optional six-buckle second unit.
Tecnau
Lasermax Roll Systems announced its company name change to Tecnau. In addition to the name change, the company unveiled a selection of new products, including Roll 30 30-inch wide web roll-to-roll solution; PageReady NL near-line cutting/stacking finishing solution for large sheet output from sheet-fed digital presses; and the Zero Speed Splicer u40 splicing unwinder system.
Therm-O-Type
Therm-O-Type demonstrated the new RAS-mc right angle slitter and the NSF Excel platen press. Additionally, the company featured the Zip-CSCL and Zip-TS2L finishing machines as well as foil fusing equipment.
Scodix
Following the launch of its Scodix Ultra last fall, the company introduced Scodix Ultra Pro. The new addition to the Scodix press family offers Automatic Multi Tanks and a Multi Polymer Switching System with the ability to use different polymers on the same press.
Digital Print Innovation
The above only represents a few of the innovations announced on the show floor. Stay tuned as we bring you highlights regarding production software and workflow tools and media/substrates in the final two installments of our four-part Web wrap up of Graph Expo 2014. Look for additional show coverage in the November/December issue. dps
Oct2014, DPS Magazine
