The bundled software package
made it easy to create custom designs
for personalization. A wide selection
of fonts are available, and settings
like font size and spacing can be adjusted
at the click of a mouse. Vector
data can also be imported including
custom designs like illustrations
and logos. Compliant with the safest
Class 1 international standard for
products equipped with laser devices,
the LD-80 incorporates a full-cover
design to ensure it can be used
Finishing equipment
will continue to grow in
size and become more
automated and integrated
with the digital presses.
safely without laser light being visible
outside the unit. It also includes
a failsafe design that stops the unit
automatically if the cover is opened
while it is operating. The exclusive
design of the laser system eliminates
dust or gas from being generated, ensuring
maintenance-free operation.
It also works on ordinary household
power, requiring no electrical work
for installation.
‘Much More Automation’
For Ricoh, the ability to bring
third-party finishing in-line with
production presses “has been one
of our leading advancements,” said
Chris LePore, Senior Product Manager,
Commercial & Industrial Printing
Business Group, Ricoh USA, Inc.
“Across the industry, we’re seeing
much more automation. Th e main push
in the industry is overall effi ciency,
which includes the ability to get more
things done with less steps, taking
touch points out of fi nishing to help
increase accuracy, reducing waste and
work hours,” said LePore.
According to LePore, printers are telling
her company’s executives that they
are looking for more fi nishing features
preformed in-line, which eases operation,
reduces touch points, will reduce
work hours and help free up operators
to do other tasks in the shop.
“With automation, operators can
perform other tasks while jobs are
running, with the confi dence that they
will run smoothly. Printers are constantly
aft er quick turnaround times,
increasing the breadth of off erings to
their customers, and the ability to do
more in-house.” Ricoh’s customers have
been “very clear in telling us they are
willing to invest more capital as long as
there is an eff ective return on investment,”
LePore reported. “Th e ability to
streamline production with reduced
inline makeready that enables a white
paper in, fi nished product out solution
in many cases can do just that.”
Ricoh’s latest advancement is the
Ricoh Peripheral Interface Port (RPIP).
In development for between three and
fi ve years, it hit the market in 2015.
Of this technology, Lepore said: “It
removes the limits of what fi nishing
devices we can off er. It allows us to
interface with any third-party fi nisher,
opening up options that were historically
standalone units. If a customer
has a desire for a certain option in-line,
there’s a good chance we can accommodate
the customer.”
Greater Return
Th e advancements are ongoing. One of
the latest progressions in equipment
has to do with gluing systems and technologies,
Simpson said. Th e application
and monitoring of glue “has become
much more sophisticated and clean,
which leads to quicker set-ups and a
better-quality product.”
According to Simpson, the new
things that he and his management
team see coming in the next few years
is continued automation that can
reduce the dependency on manpower.
Also on the way, he added, are further
development of quality-control systems
within the manufacturing process, and
the continued reduction of both setup
times and change-over rates. Companies
are “defi nitely” willing to pay more
for improved technology, Simpson feels.
Finish with
Success
Bold embellishments are among
2018’s biggest fi nishing trends,
here are fi ve tips that package
printers and converters can follow to
make their bold fi nishes pop, according
to X-Rite/Pantone:
1. Implementing process control software
can speed job setup, provide
near-real-time assessment of color
performance, and generate reporting
to help production managers
address issues.
2. Special fi nishes and embellishments
require different measurement
techniques. Choose the
right spectrophotometer for the
job, which is a critical element of a
color-managed workfl ow.
3. Age, fading, and improper care can
cause physical references to change
over time—implement digital references
to offer a more sophisticated
level of connectivity.
4. Explore cloud-based tools, such as
PantoneLIVE Design and Adobe plugin,
to better understand how colors
will change when applied to the
most common print and packaging
materials.
5. Reference emerging standards, such
as Print Requirements Exchange and
Print Quality Exchange, for effective
bi-directional communication.
“A small investment in technology can
give them a much greater return in cost
savings.”
In the next few years, LePore believes
that finishing equipment will
continue to grow in size and become
more automated and integrated with
the digital presses. It will also be able
to perform more functions that were
traditionally done by hand.
Th e advancements in fi nishing have
limits that are being broken each day.
Opportunity for commercial print
owners to invest in fi nishing are for the
taking. You just have to seize them.
PrintingNewscom June 2018 Printing News 17
/PrintingNews.com