What's New in Narrow Web
- Published: June 01, 2003, By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor
New Products for the Narrow Web Converting Industry
OPS Shrink Film Joins Rapid-Roll Line
Avery Dennison, Painesville, OH; 440/358-4943; fasson.com
Co. has enhanced its Fasson Rapid-Roll product line with oriented polystyrene (OPS) shrink film. Transparent films are reverse printable and used for product decoration in medium shrink applications. Narrow web converters can select from CD Shrink OPS 45 or CD Shrink OPS 55s. Products offer contoured package decoration with 360-deg printability. They are said to maintain a high degree of shrinkage in the transverse or cross directions, making them ideal for shrink sleeve and tamper-evident applications. OPS photoluminescence shrink film products, available upon request, provide a luminescence effect when stimulated.
Digital Label Stock Designed for Indigo Presses
Raflatac Inc., Fletcher, OH; 828/684-3931; 800/992-3882; raflatac.com
A range of roll-to-roll digital label printing substrates has been designed for HP Indigo Press ws2000 and HP Indigo Press ws4000. HP Indigo's patented digital offset color process, which utilizes standard CMYK colors in a liquid ElectroInk form, requires a substrate specifically developed for the challenges of this technology. Good toner anchorage is critical when working with a digital offset printing system, co. says, and these new digital label stock products have been formulated with a proprietary topcoating to ensure extended shelf life.
Tapes Mount Graphics Smoothly
MACtac, Stow, OH; 866/622-8223; mactac.com
PermaPrint IP5500 translucent adhesive is designed for mounting graphic images. It consists of a thin, semi-transparent plastic film coated on both sides with an aggressive acrylic PSA. Co. says the adhesive allows for smooth, quick, and easy adhesion of photographic and printed images to a variety of mounting surfaces, including Fome-Cor, Gatorfoam, Crescent board, Masonite, and Sintra. The IP5500 and its improved counterpart, IP5000 — a white, opaque mounting adhesive — feature white, moisture-stable, polycoated kraft liners.
Screen Exposure System Eliminates Film
Kammann Machines Inc., St. Charles, IL; 630/513-8091; kammannmachines.com
CTS (computer to screen) system for the digital exposure of screens eliminates the need for film output and manual film registration. The digital exposure process is fast and ensures the highest color-to-color registration accuracy, mfr. reports. Artwork can be sent straight from graphic work stations to the CTS system, where the job data can be held in a print queue or archived for later use.
Thermal Die-Cutting System Suited for Screen Printing
Contech, Goddard, KS; 316/722-6907; contech-usa.com
The OmniPress thermal die-cutting system is described as ideal for screen print shops, offering simple, low-cost die-cutting. The unit also can emboss, deboss, and foil stamp a wide variety of materials including vinyl, plastics, and foils. System can process 16×20-in. sheets and has a cutting capacity of 15 × 19 in. Larger size presses are available. It fits on a small table, uses low-cost thermal dies, and can plug into any 110-V outlet. Features a flip-top platen for easy die changes and a heat blanket system that allows precise temperature control, co. adds.
Imaging Device Features Sleeve Imaging
Creo Inc., Burnaby, B.C., Canada; 604/451-2770; 800/685-9462; creo.com
The next-generation ThermoFlex imaging device with sleeve imaging has variable repeat sleeves yet reportedly retains the ability to image digital flexo and rotary letterpress plates, as well as film with formats to 52 × 80 in. Co. says design provides flexibility for converters running digital plates, digital plates-on-sleeves, and continuous sleeves. Includes semi-automatic changeover from plate imaging to sleeve imaging and accommodates sleeves with repeats to 42 in. and lengths to 72 in. in both continuous digital photopolymer sleeve and digital plate-on-sleeve formats.
