Why Your Large Format Software Should Be Working Hard

By Angelo Mandelli, Large Format & Flatbed Product Manager, Ricoh Graphic Communications, Ricoh Europe

Are you getting the most out of your large format digital printing hardware investment?

Once you have enjoyed the capacity uplift, expanded application possibilities, and explored the production flexibility of digital – especially when making the transition from analogue technologies for processes such as screen printing – what’s next?

Increasingly for Print Service Providers (PSPs) attention is turning to ways to use software to save time and money and ultimately boost profits without the need for further expenditure.

In fact a recent Keypoint Intelligence survey in America exploring how software is transforming large format production found nesting software has specifically been on the rise. It reported 92% of large format PSPs are harnessing nesting and ganging software for capacity optimisation and almost 30% of PSPs are saving up to $10,000 annually as a result.

Nesting is a quick and easy way of enabling the most efficient use of often costly substrates. It also ensures smoother completion of post printing processes such as cutting for greater accuracy, reliability, and consistency.

Specialist large format software can also deliver the following operational improvements:

Accurate cost calculations

Alongside substrates, ink is one of the most expensive elements in a job. Accurate calculations for profitable pricing are vital – especially when margins are so tight. Getting it wrong can mean the difference between profit and loss. It could also result in clients going elsewhere.

Consistent results on different substrates

Producing the same job on different substrates and ensuring the colours, depth and vibrancy match can be very challenging. Skilled operators can spend a significant amount of time matching and testing. Software can set up the correct ICC profiles to deliver the consistency clients are requesting.

Reduce the need for skilled staff

Finding knowledgeable employees is becoming increasingly challenging. Easy to use and run large format software enables PSPs to take on less skilled staff or allow vital team members to cover a number of systems more flexibly.

Allow the smooth adoption of digital

Operations that have been running analogue systems are increasingly seeing the value of being able to produce the shorter runs, or customised jobs, which are made possible with digital printing technology. Simple to use large format software aids this switch, supporting a fast and smooth adoption process that drives confidence in the possibilities for a successful transition.

ColorGATE Productionserver workflow is the software solution of choice for all Ricoh industrial large format systems. The single solution can be expanded to fit many applications and productivity requirements and drive multiple mixed vendor devices. It is modular and scalable allowing PSPs to extend their use of the software as they explore the operational gains it can deliver.

What could enhanced software utilisation deliver your business? How can you explore smarter software to make your hardware work harder? Talk to our team to explore the possibilities.

For further information, please visit www.ricoh-europe.com

#modernplasticsindia #plasticmagazine #indianmagazine #indianplasticmagazine #modernplasticsaward #ginujoseph #modernplastic #plasticindia #plasticnews #plasticrecycling #modernplasticsglobalnetwork #modernglobalnetwork #modernplasticsaward2023 #PlasticIndustry #modernplasticsgermany #modernplasticsmiddleeast #modernplasticsamerica #modernplasticsbangladesh #modernplasticsasia #modernplasticsitaly #gneuss #ricoheurope

Winpak First to Install CrystalCleanConnect in North America

Leading packaging company achieves improved sustainability, reduced waste, improved cycle time, reduced dependency on skilled operators, and more, with breakthrough automated flexographic platemaking solution

Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, today reported that leading North America-based packaging company Winpak Ltd. is the first in the United States to install the company’s CrystalClearConnect automated flexo platemaking system at their Winpak Films business unit in Senoia, Georgia. This automated system was co-developed with ESKO and Kongsberg. With CrystalCleanConnect, press-ready plates are prepared in a single step, reducing operator interventions normally required in a 12-step traditional plate production.

Winpak Ltd. is a $1.2 billion packaging company that manufactures and distributes high-quality packaging materials and related innovative packaging machines. The company uses solvent-based inks in the production of wide web flexible packaging. Its products are used primarily for the protection of perishable foods and beverages, including thermoformed cups and lids, flexible films, meat trays and covers, and other packaging comprised of flexible and rigid substrates. The company manufactures several solutions for healthcare as well. Winpak operates twelve production facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico, offering customers global coverage and expertise.

“We were looking for a more efficient and sustainable means of producing flexo plates, including the ability to bring platemaking in-house to reduce costs and lead times,” said Vishal Khushalani, General Manager at Winpak Films Inc., “Wikoff, our Asahi distributor partner, recommended that we consider CrystalCleanConnect. As we looked into the details of the system, we found a number of truly unique benefits CrystalCleanConnect offers, and the decision was then quite easy.”

Khushalani reports that the outsourced plates were solvent-wash, so the first step was to bring platemaking in-house with an ESKO plate imager, Asahi AWP™water-washable plates, an Asahi plate processor, and a Kongsberg cutting table, all operating as independent units. “When we were outsourcing plates, in addition to the environmental impact of solvent wash plates, our customer lead times ran anywhere from one to two weeks,” he says. “By bringing this initial platemaking configuration in-house, we were able to produce a plate every 45 minutes to an hour, so going from a week to an hour sounded amazing, and the solution lived up to its promise.”

By converting standalone platemaking to an integrated process with CrystalCleanConnect, Winpak took its platemaking process to an entirely new level.

Breakthrough Solution Offers Significant Benefits

The initial reasons Winpak chose CrystalCleanConnect included:

• Sustainability: CrystalCleanConnect is known for its sustainable and environmentally friendly features. It is a water-wash platemaking process which is designed to minimize waste, reduce the consumption of resources like water and energy, and promote eco-friendly printing practices. Choosing CrystalCleanConnect aligns with the growing global emphasis on sustainability and responsible production, a specific focus for Winpak.
• Ease of Use: CrystalCleanConnect offers user-friendly features that make it easy to operate and integrate into existing printing processes. Its intuitive interface and streamlined workflows enhance productivity and reduce training time for operators. This can help address skill shortages and enable printers to maintain consistent quality even with less experienced operators. Because it reduces plate production from 12 steps to one, completely automated from imaging the plate material to cutting press-ready plates, there is very little opportunity for error.
• Reduction of Waste and Cycle Time: CrystalCleanConnect helps minimize waste by reducing makeready time, material waste, and ink consumption. Its advanced plate-making technology and process optimization features can lead to significant reductions in cycle time and material waste, improving overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Also important in the decision process was the high level and quality of support provided by Wikoff and Asahi Photoproducts, providing expertise, guidance and assistance both pre- and post-sale as well as during the implementation process. “,” Khushalani added, “The fact

More information is available at www.asahi-photoproducts.com

#modernplasticsindia #plasticmagazine #indianmagazine #indianplasticmagazine #modernplasticsaward #ginujoseph #modernplastic #plasticindia #plasticnews #plasticrecycling #modernplasticsglobalnetwork #modernglobalnetwork #modernplasticsaward2023 #PlasticIndustry #modernplasticsgermany #modernplasticsmiddleeast #modernplasticsamerica #modernplasticsbangladesh #modernplasticsasia #modernplasticsitaly #gneuss

Renew Signs Mous for INR 640 Billion (~US $7.8bn) for Green Energy Projects PFC, REC Commit to Debt Funding of INR 320 bn (~US $3.9 bn) Each

ReNew Energy Global Plc (“ReNew”) (Nasdaq: RNW, RNWWW), India’s leading decarbonisation solutions company, announced on Friday that it has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth INR 640 billion (~US $7.8 bn) with Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) for its green energy projects.

According to the MoUs signed with the lenders at the Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in Goa, ReNew will receive INR 320 billion (~US $3.9bn) each from PFC and REC for financing its current and upcoming energy transition projects. The MoUs support the ongoing efforts to further the clean energy transition under India’s G20 presidency.

In terms of funding, ReNew is among the top companies to have signed agreements with the two leading financial institutions in India. The company will utilize the funds for new projects including solar, wind, hybrid, energy storage, solar modules and cell manufacturing, and green hydrogen.

Kailash Vaswani, President, Corporate Finance at ReNew said: “We have a long-standing relationship with PFC and REC, who are among the biggest lenders to the energy sector. These MoUs will help us meet our current and future financing needs and demonstrate ReNew’s ability to raise long-term financing for large-scale green energy projects. We will leverage this relationship for our energy transition goals.”

#modernplasticsindia #plasticmagazine #indianmagazine #indianplasticmagazine #modernplasticsaward #ginujoseph #modernplastic #plasticindia #plasticnews #plasticrecycling #modernplasticsglobalnetwork #modernglobalnetwork #modernplasticsaward2023 #PlasticIndustry #modernplasticsgermany #modernplasticsmiddleeast #modernplasticsamerica #modernplasticsbangladesh #modernplasticsasia #modernplasticsitaly #gneuss

KAGA FEI Europe and Silicon Line Partnership

On August 14th 2023, Silicon Line and Kaga Fei Europe signed a distribution agreement regarding Silicon Line’s ultra-low-power devices for high speed communication of video and imaging data. Besides supporting standard interfaces like USB, DisplayPort, HDMI and MIPI, Silicon Line is also offering general purpose solutions for data rates up to 64Gbps. When using the components within an active optical cable, the Silicon Line products enable EMI-free high-speed video/data transmission over a much longer distance combined with a small cable diameter, allowing easier cable routing. Since many target applications like drones, XR products, and body cameras are battery-powered, the extremely low power consumption and the small footprint of the Silicon Line products are additional benefits.

“By adding Silicon Line to our product portfolio, we now have more options to help customers solve their engineering challenges when it comes to flexible high data rate communication. On the one hand, we have complete cables utilizing Silicon Line technology and now we can help when custom solutions are required as well. Especially for MIPI, which hasn’t been specified with longer range communication in mind, the Silicon Line products offer a unique possibility to improve or even enable new developments.” answered Dr. Klaus-Peter Dyck, Director Marketing & Application of KFEU, when asked about customer benefits resulting from this partnership.

Mr. Jerome Py, CEO of Silicon Line mentioned his motivations for entering this partnership: “Over the last months, we have seen increasing market opportunities in Europe and strong customer interest for our ultra-low power MIPI interconnect ICs, particularly in drones, medical imaging, security and industrial machine vision, fueled by increased camera resolutions and by the need for higher bandwidth requirements. KAGA FEI Europe brings a proven track record in our targeted markets and also brings solid technical expertise, which is instrumental for our customer experience. Their existing product lines fit perfectly with Silicon Line and I am really excited about this partnership and bringing more value and services to our customers.”

www.eu.kagafei.com

#modernplasticsindia #indianplasticmagazine #modernplasticsaward #plasticnews #modernplasticsgermany #ginujoseph #modernplastic #plasticindia  #plasticrecycling #sustainability #modernplasticsglobalnetwork #modernglobalnetwork #modernplasticsaward2023 #plasticmagazine #PlasticIndustry  #modernplasticsmiddleeast #indianmagazine #innovations #modernplasticsamerica #modernplasticsbangladesh #modernplasticsasia #modernplasticsitaly