Offset Printing: Fearless on UV
- Published: June 01, 2008, By Edited by Claudia Hine, Managing Editor
Having experienced rapid growth in the large-format market with the installation of a 56-in. KBA Rapida 142 five-color press in 2006, All Out Inc. has added a second KBA Rapida 142 press. This model features six color units plus interdeck ultraviolet (UV) capabilities.
“We needed a second press to keep up with demand,” says All Out president James B. Capuano. “We would also like to branch out into new market segments by using different substrates, such as plastics and foils, so we equipped the new press with interdeck UV capabilities. Our plan is to move into the specialty print market, printing on foil stocks, styrenes, biodegradable plastics, and other materials. This will allow our sales force to fearlessly meet just about any print and finishing needs our customers may have.”
Many preparations for the new press are being made. New software upgrades will accommodate the press's lenticular production capability, and 12,000 sq ft of space is being added to expand the facility to 37,000 sq ft. The firm will be hiring more production employees to take on the additional work derived from the Rapida 142, as well as a few sales people.
A Need to Differentiate
All Out was formed by a core group of employees led by Capuano in 2005. As a group, they have more than 100 years of experience in the 40-in., sheet-fed market. They have served a diverse range of customers, including direct manufacturers, ad agencies, designers, and corporate clientele.
“Since the 40-inch market has become so commoditized and saturated, we wanted to carve out a unique niche,” says Capuano. “We are now much more competitive in our existing 40-inch market and are now into the large-format markets as well. Buying the new 56-inch KBA press with UV will differentiate us even further in the marketplace and give our sales people even more to offer their customers. This press also gives our customers total freedom to achieve their vision without being limited by space restraints.”
Learning Curve
To ready themselves to produce specialty work, such as utilizing lenticular, plastic cards, and other substrates, All Out sent its employees to specific seminars at KBA headquarters in Vermont to collaborate with other industry professionals. For example, employees learned advanced techniques for working with lenticular printing, a special technique that involves printing an image on the back side of lenticular plastic, allowing the eye to simultaneously view alternating sections of multiple images to give the impression of 3-D, flip, or motion.
“We found KBA's seminars to be extremely educational and informative,” says Capuano. “It was a great learning experience, and we're glad we took advantage of it.”
Converter Info
All Out Inc. | 10430 Argonne Woods Dr., Woodridge, IL 60517 | 630-754-4054 | www.alloutprint.com
Supplier Info
KBA North America | www.kba-usa.com
PFFC-ASAP 318
Green Certification
All Out is in the midst of “going green” by becoming certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and earning its Chain of Custody certification. The process confirms All Out's commitment to well-managed forestry and the environment. Once the firm is certified, it will be allowed to display the FSC logo, which indicates that the wood used to make the product comes from a forest managed in an environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner.
The FSC system demands direct traceability to particular wood sources and provides a chain of custody throughout the supply chain, including paper mills, merchants, and printers. All Out will be able to identify what paper has been used throughout the production process and will be able to deliver FSC-certified paper to its customers that want an environmentally friendly option.
“Achieving FSC certification will demonstrate our dedication to sustaining the environment,” says president James B. Capuano. “It will also give our customers a way to honor their own commitments to the environment by specifying FSC-certified paper.”
