Flexographic Press Manufacturers goal is to study and implement solutions that meet today's printer needs, in particular waste reduction and quick job changeovers.
Many solutions are already in place, at present, to speed-up job changes and to reduce waste, such as direct drive technology, utilization of anilox and plate sleeves, automatic washing and inking control systems, automatic setting of registers and printing pressures at every new job start-up.
All these functions are of a great help but they are not enough to follow today's market dynamics. The optimization of quick job changeovers and waste reduction can only be achieved if the color matching is fast enough and if the organization of all production phases and printing process are properly studied and planned.
This is the aspect of the business that the press manufacturer Uteco Converting S.p.A. of Verona, Italy, has been looking at by developing a concept which does involve the entire production steps, a combination of printing process, ink preparation, production structure, pre-press process and production management.
Each of these steps depends on various elements/variables, such as the substrates to be printed, the anilox and plate sleeve characteristics, the type of printing plates and cushion, ink type and viscosity, ink formulas and mixing systems, printing pressures, temperatures and printing speeds, location of the press and ancillary equipment (sleeve storage, plate mounting machine, plate storage, ..), material flow and, at last but not the least, pre-press process with color separation, plate type and features and correct anilox selection.
G.I.M. (Global Imaging Management) by UTECO is a system that integrates the production process with the transfer of data and it gives solutions for the optimum printing. It does manage the peripheral equipment dedicated to the printing process and it manages the right choice of anilox and plate sleeves at disposal (stored) according to the needs of the printer.
G.I.M. by UTECO generates the sequence of job preparation and a consequent availability of stored sleeves, it gives the inputs for corrections needed to prepare the correct ink recipe according to the parameters detected on the press. It does receive and give the data to the plate mounting machine for the correct plate mounting and it establishes the daily sequence for the optimization of the ink usage, minimizing the ink change thus reducing waste and non-productive times.
This is resulting in a proper production management which starts from the order processing and job planning optimization and goes through the definition of clear and reliable timing, traceability of orders and defects, minimization of costs and the correct judgment on evaluating new orders.
The system is actually under testing and in a development phase at UTECO ConverDrome® (Uteco Demo Centre) and at some selected customers.
More information on G.I.M. will be given at a dedicated Open House to be held in September at UTECO facilities on the occasion of the Company 25th Anniversary.
Source: http://www.uteco.com
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