Print Buying Direct

Recycled paper- uses – 15th January 2010

Printers have seen an increase in the frequency with which clients specify recycled paper all kinds of work from brochures to newsletters and government publications. Without going too deeply into the pros and cons of the environmental debate, there are sound reasons for using a greater proportion of recycled fibre and reducing the pressures on forestry and disposals. It has been suggested that the growth in the demand for paper has led to logging of old temperature forests and the disappearance of traditional wilderness areas under conifer plantations, resulting in the loss of wildlife habitat and a reduction in the diversity of land uses available to local people.

According to the Pulp and Paper Information Centre, the UK uses around 10 million tonnes of paper every year. Most of this paper is disposed of after use (with the exception of relatively small quantities that are archived or kept in the form of books), and ultimately end up being incinerated, recycled or used as landfill is becoming economically unattractive owing to the scarcity of suitable sites, and incineration leads to the release of greenhouse gases into atmosphere.
Environmental arguments over the pulp and paper industries have not gone entirely unchallenged. Nevertheless the re-use of primary fibre through recycling is along-established feature of the industry which all forecasters agree will account for an increasing proportion of paper use in the developed countries, as a result of a combination of economic pressures, consumer demand and government legislation.

Paper is an ideal material for recycling. A sheet of paper is basically a mat of cellulose fibres, and these fibres can easily be separated in a hyrapulper ready for re-entry into the paper-making cycle. The two main challenges for the recycler are the removal of contaminants such as ink from printed waste, and the restoration of the cellulose fibres to a state nearer to that in which they entered the paper-making process as virgin fibre.

Waste paper is cleaned after pulping in series of stages, each involving specialised equipment. Larger contaminants are removed by forcing the pulp through screens, and smaller particles are separated by centrifuging. Removal of inks is carried out by either de-inking (chemical removal of ink in flotation tanks, in which the waste ink rises to the surface for removal) or by dispersal (physical separation of ink from pulp).

Fibre restoration is necessary for premium recycled grades since the initial paper-making process causes a hardening (or homifcation) of the outer layer of the cellulose fibre. When homified fibres are made into paper again, they bond together differently, producing a sheet with greater porosity and lower surface energy.

On the whole, it is more efficient to ‘down cycle’ paper – i.e. to recycle it into a lower grade of paper – than to restore it fully and so the most suitable uses for recycled fibre are the packaging boards and newsprint grades that account for a high proportion of paper and board consumption. Higher grade recycled papers inevitably carry a price premium as the cost of the plant needed for cleaning and restoring the pulp has to be recovered, and the higher energy costs begin to make the environmental benefits more questionable.

Once a printed product has been distributed to the consumer, the printer has no control over any contaminants that may be introduced. However, some of the printing processes can also affect subsequent recyclability. Lamination and UV curing both create a plastic film, rather than particles like conventional inks, and these make repulping and cleaning more difficult. Water-based inks used in flexo printing, while having clear environmental benefits over solvent-based inks, cannot be removed from paper fibres. Carbonless copy papers and some adhesives are also unsuitable for recycling.
Peter Harrison is Joint Managing Director of The Printing House Ltd,
and Print Buying Direct of Crewe, Cheshire, UK.

Print Buying Direct are UK market Leaders in Leaflet Printing | Brochure Printing.

For more free articles on Printing and Graphic Design see our Online Printing | Print Buying Direct
Website.

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

• Paper Recycling legislation as it concerns the print industry
• Printing and Recycling- definitions and legislation
• Print and paper industry – Other emissions to water
• Print and Paper Industry Environmental Facts
• Paper for Printing – Other areas of environmental impact

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

Also see our other websites

The Printing House, Print Buying Direct, Prospectus printing, Golf Club Centenary Books

Print Finishing part 2 – 30th September 2009

Printers will also look to niche markets in order to maintain a competitive edge and because of this the book production industry is currently a flourishing sector. The book production industry ‘is at a very interesting stage; on the one hand the traditional bread and butter long run work is continuing to leach away to low cost base competitors overseas but, on the other, we are experiencing phenomenal growth in demand for shorter run and quicker turn around times books’.

Because the limits of automated bookmaking ultimately lie with the capabilities of finishing technology, the upturn in demand for digitally produced, short run books will surely benefit the well equipped print finisher by provision a new, lucrative revenue stream, however, opportunities begin and end with production of soft cover books as solutions geared towards the automated, medium run production of hard case books are still very limited. This trend is unlikely to change in the next 12 months as either sheetfed digital systems need to print fast enough to warrant a high investment in an automated casing in line, or high quality, low priced cover makers, book block makers and case binding systems need to become available so that the digital printer can viably venture into the publishing market.

Finally, not all developments set for finishing in 2008 are connected to digital production. UK laminating manufacturer Autobond is set to make over its offset laminating portfolio with wireless webcam and Skype phone facilities, which promise to raise the bar with regards to customer care. The new facilities will give the company the ability to provide customers with instant advice and technical support if they are experiencing a problem with the machinery during production.

According to managing director John Gillmore, this could be a world’s first across the graphic arts industry as well as within the finishing sector. He said, ‘We are taking the concept of remote diagnostics to a completely new level. New laminators will be supplied with a wireless Panasonic network camera. When required the operator can pick up and move the camera around as instructed by the engineer. We will also provide customers with a Skype telephone, which gives free unlimited telephone calls over the Internet to an engineer’.

With the introduction of increasingly sophisticated finishing and ancillary technology in 2008, the printing industry should see the post press process further shedding its ‘Cinderella’ imagine that has shrouded it in the past, to be regarded as the integral part of the print, and money making, process that is to rightfully is.

New Year Promos – promote your business with 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;

• Print Finishing
• 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.

Finishing – part 11 – UV Varnishing – 12th June 2009
In the battle of digital print versus litho there is one area that has yet to be tackled successfully and that is spot UV varnishing. MGi says it has addresses this with its Jet Varnish Inkjet Spot UV Coater that was premiered at drupa. The off line coater is designed to ensure precise coverage for B3 format applications, with an integrated infrared dryer to enable turnkey operation.
But, if the drupa developments, greater control and shorter lead times are not enough to persuade printers to make the move, there is the creation of an additional profit centre and that in turn should help the business grow.

However, lamination should not be relied upon as a way of speeding up throughput. Products with heavy ink coverage or lots of dark solids still need to be allowed ample time to dry before being sent to the end user or quality issues could arise.
Offering lamination can open up new revenue avenues as well as enabling printers to hold onto the work they already have – both litho and digital. The time and cost associated with outsourcing means that printers are now keep to reap the benefits of providing all their offerings under one roof. With modern technology making the laminating process so simple, the need for highly skilled operators has disappeared.
Manufacturers, keen to help the printer cater for very need, are fast developing their range of films to include a variety of finishes. This way a range of end results can be achieved for a relatively small outlay. Environmentally conscious films are been developed too, which should enable any laminated product to biodegrade.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Finishing – part 10 – Lamination - 11th June 2009
Offering lamination in the bindery retains the work in-house preventing the need for sending it out and the subsequent ramifications on turnaround times. These operational benefits prompted printers to start looking seriously at the pros and cons of bringing this service in-house. At the same manufacturers made technological advances that resulted in easy to use and cheaper machines making the decision a much easier one to make.
All of these factors are combining to create a buoyant lamination market that has in turn supported a wide variety of technological improvements. For example, some laminators are equipped with a wireless webcam and Skype phone facility, taking the concept of remote diagnostics to new levels within the industry. With automation also playing a key role in the sales success of laminators. Duplo introduced its fully automatic and user friendly Ultra 205A UV Coater with optional SF-205A Feeder and Morgana launched its DigiCoater – a fully automated, micro format UV coater and priming system with dual path coating stations that allow both matt and gloss varnishes – or two differently textured finishes- to be available at all times. With the latest touch screen technology it is also fully automatic in its wash cycle, which demands minimal operator involvement. While D&K Europe’s DoubleKote Digital can encapsulate/double side laminate in one pass and benefits from a guillotine style cutter. Speed is also a key issue in the sector, a point GBC underlined with its demonstration of the world’s fastest laminator, the 8556HS- Cyclone at drupa.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Finishing – part 9 – Lamination – 11th June 2009
Lamination and encapsulation
Large and expensive machines requiring highly skilled operators ensured this was one of the last finishing processes to join in house binderies. Trade finishers were able to hold onto this process for longer than any other discipline because of the prohibitive cost of the machines and the skills required ensuring top quality results.
However, the popularity of digital print also pushed this service into the spotlight. With the increase in demand for short run, fast turnaround products, printers are being required to work faster and smarter with lamination increasingly being used to protect the final product. Not only is it used to prevent ink that is not totally dry from scuffing and thereby allow work to be delivered in shorter timeframes, it also gives it a high quality finish. But there were some initial problems. Manufacturers had to tackle the issue of digital inks or fusing oils reacting adversely to the film. Focused research and development has resulted in systems that can now be used for both litho and digital work.
There are two main methods of laminating- wet and thermal. The former sees a wet adhesive applied at the point of lamination. These machines tend to require a larger footprint to ensure the sheet is totally dry before being stacked. This also dictates the speed of the machine. The second is thermal where the lamination drum is heated up using oil, water or electricity. The laminate film incorporates a dry adhesive on one side. With a smaller footprint, a key attraction with the latter option is the fact that the pressure on space in the bindery is reduced. Despite the bigger capital outlay, larger trade laminators tend to use water based processes while wet laminating allows films with special textures to be used.

To be continued…

Order your Appointment Cards online at Print Buying Direct – prices from £13.50 for 100 cards printed in full colour. At print buying direct we are market leaders in the printing of appointment cards and can produce them for doctors, hairdressers, dentists, physio, beauty salons, nail technicians, garages, massage therapists – for anything really. Just visit our Appointment Cards web page for more information.

Don’t forget we’re still running our Letterheads promotion – 2000 full colour letterheads (headed paper) for £125 delivered! We’ve been producing letterheads since 1991 for hundreds of customs as diverse as Bentley and Royal Mail.

See Part one of this blog on print finishing , See Part one of the Blog on Variable Data Printing – also part one of Publication Printing

Print Buying Direct and School Prospectus Made Easy are both brands of parent company – The Printing House Ltd of Crewe, Cheshire, UK. Keep visiting both websites for details of our latest offers and promotions. For more information School Prospectus including School Prospectus Design or School Prospectus Printing (we also specialise in college prospectus) see our www.schoolprospectus.info website

Have a look at our Newsletters webpage for help and assistance with writing and designing your newsletter. It deals with, company newsletters, college newsletters, school newsletters and employee newsletters in particluar. Our blog often focuses on newsletters and we have a page which specifically helps with newsletters as a marketing tool.

TOP TIP: Add that feel of quality to your company brochure by first applying Matt Lamination then a Spot UV Varnish. The UV Varnishing actually ‘lifts’ your pictures to give them a glossy impact.

Our Digital Brochures (turn page technology) are really taking off now – get your brochure put online from only £15 per page.

Increase the Wow Factor – 4th February 2009

It’s not just the design and print that can determine how your finished printed item (brochures, leaflets etc) looks and feels. Fancy a very high gloss or matt finish on one side of your brochure cover or both sides or even throughout the whole of your leaflet, brochure, annual report or poster?. Then talk TODAY on 0870 950 8444 to one of our print professionals at the North West’s leading printing companies – Print Buying Direct at The Printing House, about Gloss Lamination OR Matt lamination, it’s not as expensive as you may think.

For more information please see our websites

The Printing House

Print Buying Direct (Print Buying Direct is a brand of The Printing House Ltd, Crewe, Cheshire, UK)

While many of the other stages in the bindery have been an essential element of post press, lamination is a relative newcomer. Previously restricted to trade finishers because of the prohibitive cost of the machines and the skills required to ensure top-quality results, the popularity of digital print has pushed this process into the spotlight.

With the increase in demand for short run, fast turnaround products printers are being required to work faster and smarter. As a result lamination is increasingly being used to protect the final product and give it a high-quality finish. But because sending this out could have ramifications on turnaround times and create unacceptable waiting times, printers started to look at the issues surrounding bringing this service in-house. At the same time, manufacturers were making technology advances that meant easy-to-use and cheaper machines.

A fully automatic laminator should cope with both lithographic and digital output for example and consideration should be given as to how easily a feeder could be added to a hand fed laminator at a later date should the printer’s volumes increase. It should be built for longevity of use and be backed by a comprehensive service organisation.

This is true for B1 and B2 printers and now includes B3 and digital printers, too. Despite increasingly tighter margins, printers are realising the added value a laminator can bring to their businesses. The time and cost associated with outsourcing means that printers are now keen to reap the benefits of providing all their offering under one roof, as a means of creating another profit centre. With modern technology making the lamination process so simple, the need for highly skilled operators has disappeared. Having a laminator in-house means that printers have greater control over the job at hand, there’s faster turnaround and as a result many printers are actually winning new business.

To ensure successful lamination the minimum diameter for a nip roller should be 10 inches so it provides a decent amount of nip pressure, together with a good water heating system.

For more information on printing, Gloss Lamination, Matt Lamination and print finishing in general please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Printing House (Print Buying Direct)