Demanding It All
Narrow-web press manufacturers continually evolve their products to keep up with the rapidly changing package-printing market.
February 2007 by Chris Mc Loone
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Shorter print runs, green technology, the emergence of flexible packaging and UV inks, shorter makeready times, globalization—we’ve heard them all of late. Talk to almost any converter or print industry manufacturer and these buzz terms are likely to come up. Whether you’re a high- or low-volume converter, these issues impact the packaging industry in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most important result is that they push press manufacturers to continually evolve their products to keep up with the rapidly changing package-printing market.
The challenges are the same for narrow- or wide-web press users. Shorter print runs are converters’ new realities, making shorter makeready times critical to the success of their businesses. Presses used for narrow-web applications must operate at high efficiencies with the shortest amount of downtime. They must be able to print on a variety of substrates and be up to the task of integrating digital printing technology—especially for packaging applications where the package is the label. In such applications, a press must be able to employ a variety of inks and drying techniques. Flexibility, it seems, is the key.
Roger Pellow, managing director, labels group, Tarsus Exhibitions & Publishing, Ltd., stated in his Labelexpo Americas 2006 welcome that the North American label industry was predicted to grow 5 to 7 percent by 2007, with global label consumption increasing by 15-20 percent each year.
RFID’s emergence has placed a hi-tech emphasis on labeling, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. As the printed electronics market expands, labeling and narrow-web presses will enjoy expanding roles in the package printing arena.
Market demands
Besides the omnipresent pressure to adapt to an industry that demands shorter print runs, the package-printing market has become more sophisticated, and so have its demands. Recent press introductions represent various companies’ initiatives to meet these demands.
“Our customer base has become considerably more sophisticated over the past several years, and it is demanding quality, performance, and competitive pricing, as well as the latest in technology,” says Andrew Colletta, president/CEO of Nilpeter, USA. “Additionally, customer support has become extremely important, not only for servicing of their presses, but as a consultative resource in addressing the applications needs of their own customers.” Joe Posusney, marketing manager for Gallus, Inc. concurs. “[The] number one [demand] is support after the installation —training of the pressman, and training of the sales teams.”
To that end, Posusney says Gallus representatives will bring a converter’s press team to the Gallus facility in Philadelphia, Pa., and train them before their press arrives. “We’ll get their orders, so the press will be made in Switzerland or Germany, and we’ll bring their pressmen here so they hit the ground running when the press arrives. But then we still have training on the site with the press that they’re getting.”
The challenges are the same for narrow- or wide-web press users. Shorter print runs are converters’ new realities, making shorter makeready times critical to the success of their businesses. Presses used for narrow-web applications must operate at high efficiencies with the shortest amount of downtime. They must be able to print on a variety of substrates and be up to the task of integrating digital printing technology—especially for packaging applications where the package is the label. In such applications, a press must be able to employ a variety of inks and drying techniques. Flexibility, it seems, is the key.
Roger Pellow, managing director, labels group, Tarsus Exhibitions & Publishing, Ltd., stated in his Labelexpo Americas 2006 welcome that the North American label industry was predicted to grow 5 to 7 percent by 2007, with global label consumption increasing by 15-20 percent each year.
RFID’s emergence has placed a hi-tech emphasis on labeling, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. As the printed electronics market expands, labeling and narrow-web presses will enjoy expanding roles in the package printing arena.
Market demands
Besides the omnipresent pressure to adapt to an industry that demands shorter print runs, the package-printing market has become more sophisticated, and so have its demands. Recent press introductions represent various companies’ initiatives to meet these demands.
“Our customer base has become considerably more sophisticated over the past several years, and it is demanding quality, performance, and competitive pricing, as well as the latest in technology,” says Andrew Colletta, president/CEO of Nilpeter, USA. “Additionally, customer support has become extremely important, not only for servicing of their presses, but as a consultative resource in addressing the applications needs of their own customers.” Joe Posusney, marketing manager for Gallus, Inc. concurs. “[The] number one [demand] is support after the installation —training of the pressman, and training of the sales teams.”
To that end, Posusney says Gallus representatives will bring a converter’s press team to the Gallus facility in Philadelphia, Pa., and train them before their press arrives. “We’ll get their orders, so the press will be made in Switzerland or Germany, and we’ll bring their pressmen here so they hit the ground running when the press arrives. But then we still have training on the site with the press that they’re getting.”
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