by Cassandra Balentine
Part three of three
In this series we’ve discussed the technology evolutions as well as common challenges for digital print production specific to inspection and verification systems.
Here we highlight several hardware and prepress solutions on the market today.
AB Graphics
AB Graphics’ fleyeVision assures full quality throughout the entire label production. The system uses digital line cameras with resolutions of up to 8k to detect printing errors such as scratches, hickies, and text irregularities as well as register shifts and colur deviations.
Baldwin
Launched in 2023, Baldwin’s Guardian PQV 4.0 was upgraded with advanced automation, micrometer inspection precision, and its new Wizard-iQ Interface.
Building on the success of Guardian PQV 3.0, the new system offers three substantial upgrades to enable operators—through the simplified access to newly automated advanced and powerful features—to enhance efficiency and boost productivity.
Wizard-iQ is the new printing inspection software companion. It can set up a repeatable process with a few simple clicks, lowering the barrier of entry for new employees.
PQV 4.0 allows printers to automate more. With automated-Delta-E color monitoring, barcode recognition and sensitivity and lighting presets, PQV 4.0 is designed to take the legwork out of monotonous automation setups.
PQV 4.0 boasts micrometer inspection precision, providing clear and detailed mapping and reporting. The camera systems offer both single- and dual-sided 100 percent print quality inspection for any application.
Bobst
Well suited for labels and flexible packaging, oneINSPECTION is BOBST’s answer to the critical need of the packaging industry to transition from isolated quality controls devices and human interventions to fully digitalized quality inspection solutions.
oneINSPECTION is an integrated set of BOBST Quality Control solutions enabling converters to proactively meet the needs and the requirements of brand owners and converters making zero-fault packaging a reality. This new quality control concept is designed to provide significant value to packers, retailers, and consumers part of the packaging value chain. oneINSPECTION is an end-to-end data driven quality process for each industry. The company provides specific systems that should be deployed in the production lines to reduce errors and increase quality.
BST
BST is at the forefront of providing comprehensive solutions for web guiding, monitoring, 100 percent inspection, register control, spectral color measurement, and automation, all unified under the SMARTData platform. This integration of technologies ensures superior control and efficiency in printing processes.
The BST SMARTData platform provides an all-encompassing view of complex production processes, featuring centralized data management and open interfaces. It allows for seamless integration with various systems and sensors, including external suppliers, enhancing overall process visibility and control
BST iPQ-Check Digital is tailored for wide format digital presses, this system is compatible with HP One Package Workflow, particularly beneficial for the corrugated carton segment. It automatically sets inspection parameters for diverse multi-job print runs. The system offers comprehensive inspection capabilities across all materials, with flexible sensitivity settings, advanced color monitoring, spectral measurement options, and barcode grading. Its Haze Guard feature is pivotal for visualizing missing lacquer and detecting low-contrast defects such as hazing or scumming. The intelligent defect classification system is designed for quick, informed decision-making, crucial in minimizing waste and ensuring quality roll reports.
BST TueScan DS is meant for narrow web digital presses, it features the innovative Dynamic Job Change technology, enabling uninterrupted inspection of multiple jobs. Fully integrated with PACKZ by HYBRID Software, the TubeScan offers advanced quality assurance tools, including variable data barcode verification, deltaE color monitoring, PDF validation, and UV lighting. The Qlink workflow ensures comprehensive quality management from the press to the finishing stage.
Further, through BST’s partnership with CERM MIS software, it extends its capability to connect with other industry-standard workflows such as Scan Sys, Label Hub, Screen Equios, Hybrid Cloudflow, Esko, and Heidelberg. This integration provides complete, customer-focused solutions, enhancing the efficiency and scope of our inspection and verification systems.
Esko
In 2023 Esko launched a new complete print inspection solution for digitally printed label production, delivering unparalleled fully automated quality control to reduce waste and boost efficiency. AutoSet Digital, is an end-to-end solution that automates AVT print inspection of digitally printed labels from prepress through to on-press and finishing.
The solution enables automatic job change with no manual inspection setup. The system gets all the information from pre-press, through Esko Automation Engine, and loads the correct job automatically without losing any information, inspecting 100 percent of the printed material.
AutoSet can support various digital workflows and can support installations on the printing press, hybrid presses, or digital finishing.
EyeC
EyeC has developed cutting-edge inspection systems specifically tailored for the labels and packaging segment. With its latest system generation, the EyeC ProofRunner HighLight, it are especially addressing the needs of print and finishing environments in the premium segment, offering 100 percent inspection of high-finish labels and flexible packaging in these determined markets.
Thanks to unique HighLight illumination, the system quickly and reliably inspects the quality of complex finishes such as hot stamping, holograms, or blind embossing. With the latest 8K color camera, the UHD extension mode offers the highest image quality at larger inspection widths without compromising production speed.
GlobalVision
GlobalVision offers advancements tailored for digital print with its cloud-based proofreading and digital asset inspection solution, Verify.
Its latest innovations include advancements to our core technology algorithm, which has made Verify ten to 30 times faster than the market standard. In the context of the digital print review process for labels and packaging, this is ground breaking, as companies need to accelerate content compliance reviews and approvals directly on the digital asset before going to print. This also allows them to get to market before competitors and save costs through resource optimization. Additionally, its algorithm has enhanced adaptability, enabling it to self-optimize and evolve alongside the ever-changing landscape of digital print technologies.
GlobalVision’s latest release also brings a number of major improvements for digital print, including Single File Inspections. This type of inspection, otherwise known as ‘Proofreader Mode’ in the UI, which allows users to inspect single digital assets without comparing them to a master or source file. This is particularly useful when running a spell check and barcode inspection.
HYBRID Software
Digitalization ends with tight integration between workflow and inspection systems. Communicating effectively to on-line inspection systems helps to best analyze which areas on artwork are vital, and what determines acceptable quality criteria.
The best thing a prepress developer can do is prepare files that work flawlessly with any inspection system. As a prepress company HYBRID Software partners with a number of companies, such as Baldwin, AB Graphic International, EyeC, BST, and others.
The same requirements that make workflows effective apply to quality control systems. It’s helpful for them to have an open architecture integrating all production and business systems. With open back-and-forth connections between the workflow and ERP system, many questions are answered.
Standard Finishing
Targeting transactional and direct mail environments, Standard offers two vision/inspection systems. Standard Hunkeler’s WI8 Inspection System uses compact image sensors (CIS) to provide precise image monitoring of both sides of the paper web during production for absolute quality assurance. The system checks each individual page during production to detect errors in real time, including color variation in pictures and logos, incorrect page content, distortions in printed images, errors in text, and jet-outs.
The compact WI8 was designed for simple, space-efficient installation in printing and finishing systems. CIS sensors can be easily installed in inkjet presses and Hunkeler devices, and the sensors require no adjustment or mechanical calibration. The WI8 also features Intelligent Print Inspection (IPI), which compares the ripped data going to the printer heads with the actual printed image. This means that a golden template is no longer required. IPI is ideally suited for full page comparison of every single printed page of highly variable information such as books or direct mail. The WI8 is also integrated with Hunkeler Site Manager which can track all documents inspected by the WI8 for compliance purposes, generate exportable reports, and automatically divert any errored documents on Hunkeler finishing equipment.
Standard Horizon’s barcode verification system can be deployed across a range of Horizon finishing solutions including perfect binding, bookletmaking, and saddlestitching solutions. It provides tracking, end-to-end system control, and production reporting. This system can be used to complete a required audit trail for documents with personal and sensitive information, but it can also be used with non-sensitive pieces for automated, full-time assembly inspection. It virtually eliminates common errors caused by improper loading of stock, book blocks, covers, and intermingled jobs and sets.
Vision and Inspection
Vision and inspection systems continue to evolve to match the demands brought by the adoption and evolution of digital print in a variety of segments.
Mar2024, DPS Magazine
