The Last Word

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Heuchemer Digital Flower Box

Demand for the requirements afforded by digital were present even before the effects of the pandemic, of course. However, they seem to have become more important than ever. There is more pressure to maximise operational efficiency and to overcome supply chain shortages. Today, jobs need to be streamlined and production optimised. In the age of print 4.0, the web-to-pack business model is surely a great fit for the future, with many businesses already reaping the benefits. We see successful converters selecting the right tool(s) for the job, with many running conventional and digital manufacturing approaches in parallel. A fully implemented digital manufacturing strategy will dynamically gang jobs onto a single sheet, reducing the number of set-ups to ensure a healthy set-up-production time ratio. Jobs are then finished digitally without mechanical dies, saving time and money. In the USA, Digital Room has built its business around the concept of offering customers nearly endless product customisation possibilities through a portfolio of e-commerce websites including UPrinting, Packola and LogoSportswear. Digital Room is leveraging the latest manufacturing and e-commerce technologies to enable this, including Highcon Euclid IIIC and Highcon Beam 2 digital cutting and creasing machines. Chase Cairncross, COO, Digital Room, said: “With the constant increase in e-commerce, customers want to be able to decide the shape, size, colour and quantity of the items Customers want to be able to decide the shape, size, colour and quantity of the items they need – they do not want to be limited to what they are told they can have

they need – they do not want to be limited to what they are told they can have.” Heuchemer Verpackungen in Germany is doing something similar with its Highcon Euclid IIIC at LAMAXSO.com, a digital packaging platform for small business owners, entrepreneurs and local manufacturers. It offers customers packaging design templates and a portfolio of customised shipping boxes, bottle packaging, folding boxes, gift boxes, product trays, decorations and more. The nature of these customised jobs ordered through web-topack sites are short run print runs that challenge the conventional manufacturing process. This is where digital manufacturing shines, enabling cost-effective and timely production of such jobs, bringing all the advantages of digital to the post-print part of the packaging manufacturing process. Within this new online trend and digital paradigm, we have been lucky to be the chosen partner for many looking to optimise and digitise their finishing process. At the heart of our digital finishing technology is a laser cutting system that utilises the Highcon proprietary DART technology – ideal for digitally driven physical creasing via 3D printed rules. Creasing, cutting and stripping are performed on one single platform, in one pass, at high speed, eliminating the need for the die cutting and stripping tools. Our portfolio includes two innovative product families, each with specific models for folding carton and corrugated board. While the web-to-pack model was accelerated by businesses looking to meet the challenges of the pandemic, the many benefits of digital finishing within it are now starting to be more widely understood. Indeed, you don’t need to go far to see some stunning examples of print and packaging that leverage this technology, achieving stand-out products that wow consumers and increase sales across the value chain. As a result, demand for our solutions have skyrocketed and our order books are filling-up – we look forward to a successful 2022 and we wish you all a very Happy New Year! For more information on how digital finishing could transform your business, visit www.highcon.net

Simon Lewis is VP of Marketing at Highcon

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THE LAST WORD Carlos Cavacas at Grafix Signs in Midleton has just taken delivery of a new Roland TrueVis VG2-640

TRUECOLOURS

Featuring 40 enhancements from the previous TrueVIS VG2 Series, the Roland TrueVIS VG2-640 is allowing Carlos and the team at Grafix Signs to not just meet customer expectations, but exceed them. “Apart from the very first machine we had here, I’ve always worked off a 54 inch press. With the new 64 inch Roland, I can increase capacity and perhaps take a look at sectors I wouldn’t have considered previously. The innovative inks on the press also make for a really vibrant print reproduction. One of the areas that we specialise in is vehicle wrapping; I wrapped my own car at the weekend and the results were amazing,” said Carlos. Ideal for signs, posters, banners, stickers, backlit displays and vehicle wraps, the Roland TrueVIS VG2-640 can produce finished jobs in as little as six hours. It also features new TrueVIS2 ink with orange along with new colour management presets for superior colour reproduction. Mark Howey in Quadient supplied Grafix Signs with the new press. “I’ve known Mark since I set up the company in 2010. We’ve got a good relationship and Quadient has been very reliable when it comes to training and after-sales service. I’m confident that the new printer will help us improve our offering to customers and expand into other areas. I’m really happy with the purchase.” Customer relationships are key at Quadient. “We grow as our customers grow. I’m delighted to see the quality of work coming from Grafix on their new machine. The Roland TrueVIS is an exceptional printer and shows how Roland has maintained its leading position in the Irish market,” said Dave Rainsford, Graphics General Manager at Quadient.