Take The Right Path
June 2000
|
Are electronics the major factor in keeping webs in line? Or are other, more conventional options the answer?
By Chris Bauer
THE WORLD HAS gone digital. That statement has been beat to death, pushed down your throat, and probably gone in one ear and out the other countless numbers of times in the past few years, especially when it comes to printing equipment. Isn't there anything left that can be done without bits, bytes, or megs? Makes you wonder how we ever got anything accomplished before the "digital revolution."
Simpler equipment designs still have a strong appeal. Many printing companies report experiencing difficulty in finding experienced personnel. And for this reason, a simple approach to web guides is often the answer. "As an alternative to complicated electronic guides, the all-air guiding system offers a simpler approach to web guiding—without sacrificing anything when it comes to accuracy," announces Bob Duffy, sales and marketing manager for Coast Controls. All-air guiding systems, he says, use only low pressure plant air for both web edge sensing and guiding actuation.
But the real benefit of an all-air system comes back to simplicity, Duffy explains. "Production and maintenance personnel appreciate the fact that all-air guiding systems are easy to hook up, virtually maintenance free, and rarely ever need adjusting after installation. In fact, they're so uncomplicated that most people understand exactly how they work in just a few minutes."
Coast's all-air guiding systems are intrinsically explosion-proof and do not require modifications or special provisions when guiding in explosive environments, Duffy adds. Worries of interference problems when installing near a corona treater, an electron beam oven, or other devices are also eliminated.
Electronic alternatives
With that said, there are other schools of thought concerning web guides. There is no denying the strong market for electronic web guiding equipment. And suppliers are lining up to provide more intricate systems to ensure substrates remain on the correct path.
"Guiding technology has changed quite dramatically over the past ten years," says John Thome, vice president of marketing for BST Pro mark. "It used to be that everyone used air-operated systems, primarily because they were the least expensive. We certainly make air sensed systems for those customers that require them."
But this is not the direction he sees the web guide market gravitating to. According to Thome, digital technology has exceeded the guiding abilities of some all-air systems. This trend will continue in the future, he adds.Thome feels many people in the printing industry have the perception all guiding devices are the same. The only truth to that, he says, is all guiding devices follow the same rules of physics. All have sensors, a control unit, and a guiding mechanism, but that really is where the similarities end.
By Chris Bauer
THE WORLD HAS gone digital. That statement has been beat to death, pushed down your throat, and probably gone in one ear and out the other countless numbers of times in the past few years, especially when it comes to printing equipment. Isn't there anything left that can be done without bits, bytes, or megs? Makes you wonder how we ever got anything accomplished before the "digital revolution."
Simpler equipment designs still have a strong appeal. Many printing companies report experiencing difficulty in finding experienced personnel. And for this reason, a simple approach to web guides is often the answer. "As an alternative to complicated electronic guides, the all-air guiding system offers a simpler approach to web guiding—without sacrificing anything when it comes to accuracy," announces Bob Duffy, sales and marketing manager for Coast Controls. All-air guiding systems, he says, use only low pressure plant air for both web edge sensing and guiding actuation.
But the real benefit of an all-air system comes back to simplicity, Duffy explains. "Production and maintenance personnel appreciate the fact that all-air guiding systems are easy to hook up, virtually maintenance free, and rarely ever need adjusting after installation. In fact, they're so uncomplicated that most people understand exactly how they work in just a few minutes."
Coast's all-air guiding systems are intrinsically explosion-proof and do not require modifications or special provisions when guiding in explosive environments, Duffy adds. Worries of interference problems when installing near a corona treater, an electron beam oven, or other devices are also eliminated.
Electronic alternatives
With that said, there are other schools of thought concerning web guides. There is no denying the strong market for electronic web guiding equipment. And suppliers are lining up to provide more intricate systems to ensure substrates remain on the correct path.
"Guiding technology has changed quite dramatically over the past ten years," says John Thome, vice president of marketing for BST Pro mark. "It used to be that everyone used air-operated systems, primarily because they were the least expensive. We certainly make air sensed systems for those customers that require them."
But this is not the direction he sees the web guide market gravitating to. According to Thome, digital technology has exceeded the guiding abilities of some all-air systems. This trend will continue in the future, he adds.Thome feels many people in the printing industry have the perception all guiding devices are the same. The only truth to that, he says, is all guiding devices follow the same rules of physics. All have sensors, a control unit, and a guiding mechanism, but that really is where the similarities end.
Companies Mentioned:
 |
|
|
|
Diversifying with Packaging Services: Unlocking Hidden Profit Potential
Common-Sense Flexography