Print Buying Direct

Print Finishing – 29th September 2009

With the continuing popularity of digital printing, it won’t come as any surprise that the main focus for finishing technology from suppliers in 2008 will be in the development of digitally compatible systems.

As digital print engines become faster and slicker, and boast even shorter set up times, the pressure for finishing manufacturers to introduce equipment that can seamlessly fit into a single pass production line is most certainly on. To this end, we can expect to see manufacturers in 2008 automating the finishing process through the introduction of more server motor driven machines, which are capable of delivering shorter run work and reducing the amount of operator intervention required when setting up and changing jobs. As a result, we will undoubtedly see more equipment that ever at drupa that is able to function automatically as part of an in line, pr at least near line, process whether it is high end paper processing equipment for roll fed production or a simple folding mechanism.

The increasing need for speed and efficiency, coupled with an increase in personalised print, also brings a need for utmost security throughout the document production process. This will mean that in the coming year, print finishers will be looking for systems that include barcode and optical reading devices on all types of systems, from perfect binders and booklet makers to inserters, to ensure complete data integrity and quality control.

Developing technology

Since its introduction, digital technology has arguably been responsible for bringing finishing into the 21st century, but it has also brought with it a number of production issues for the printer. The chemicals, heat and papers used in digital printing has brought a raft of problems to the table, which were not previously relevant to the offset printer. To help combat problems such as marking and cracking, manufacturers will hopefully work towards tackling the issues with ever more sophisticated feeding systems and pre-creasing/folding technology over the coming months.

The year ahead is also set to bring further developments for PUR binding systems, as suppliers such as CP Bourg and Horizon turn their attention away from EVA binding in order to improve the reliability of binding coated stock. Traditional EVA and ease of use do not perform well on the coated paper and silicone fuser’s oils in digital printing. Therefore the shift towards PUR compatible systems is set to make the perfect binding sector one of the fastest developing and most existing areas of finishing.

Promo - look out for our forthcoming offers on Wall Calendars, Desk Calendars, Xmas Cards, Promotional Wall Calendars and CD Calendars.

For more information on printing and graphic design please see some of our recent blog articles;

• Digital Presses
• Digital Printing
• Offset Printing
• Print Production Management
• How to create a marketing plan incorporating promotional newsletters
• All you need to know about Digital Printing
• The Future of Printing
• Print Finishing
• Variable Data Printing
• ISO 12647 and Colour Management in Printing
• Pre-press – In Flight, Pre-Flight and Post-Flight
• Print, Paper and Recycling
• Design of the times – (Article reproduced from Printing World February 2009)
• Pre-press – 20 years of change
• Transactional and Direct Mail
• 7 Guidelines For Good Newsletter Printing
• Graphic Design
• Printing – Where in the world are we?
• Improving Your Response Rates to Leaflets, Flyers and Brochures
• HINTS & TIPS…The sales letter
• The History of Printing
• 10 Tips for Creatives in a Digital World
• Eight Easy Ways to Improve Digital Print Sales to Creative and Design Agencies
• Transactional and Variable data printing
• PUR or EVA? That is the question
• What you need to know about…… Perfect Binding
• What’s the point of Recycling Paper and Board?

Print Buying Direct is a Trading Name of The Printing House Ltd. One of the UK’s leading quality printing companies for short run, long run and large format colour printing. Based in Crewe, Cheshire and delivering to customers across the UK and Ireland.

Tags: digital printing, perfect binders, Perfect Binding, personalised print, pur binding, variable data printing

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 7:51 am and is filed under Banners, Business Stationery, Calendars, Christmas Cards, Leaflets and Brochures, News, Newsletters, Postcards. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.