Was there one BIG trend in bindery systems that stood out at drupa 2012? The answer is, “Yes!”—and it was roll-to-bind. This reflects the new reality of the digital workflow. The most efficient way to run most continuous inkjet or toner presses is roll-to-roll.
Digital printing has created a fair amount of heartaches for bindroids. The chemistry and physics of printing with toner create some special problems when it comes to producing a finished product. Among the challenges are
This PaperSpecsGallery.com entry is a blue chip of an idea for any portfolio. Linking the concept of the stock certificate to a collectible piece of art (both things that increase in value in happy times) is money in the bank.
The in-line vs. off-line finishing debate has gone on for as long as I can remember. Let’s look at the book industry, which is in a state of consolidation. Here are my recommendations for what to consider in deciding between in- and off-line finishing:
One subject that I feel doesn’t get enough coverage is wide-format finishing. With the rapid growth of digital printing technology in this area, the focus on finishing is increasing. The combination of print-on-demand wide-format printing and finishing has truly revolutionized the large-format signage and display industries.
Bindery expertise is critical in the overall planning of a printed job. This is especially true in the all-digital environment because the years of experience that you’ll find in a commercial print bindery may be missing in the digital shop.
drupa will see a host of new perfect binder entries all designed to smooth the finishing workflow for both inkjet- and toner-based digital presses. All of these machines can either run in-line with the press, or in a near-line configuration.
The last drupa and the upcoming one have both been characterized as the “inkjet drupa.” Rightly so, as the advance of inkjet technology continues. But a printed roll of paper is worth nothing until it's turned into a finished product.
When a specialty project like a flipper brochure comes into the shop, it can be stressful and unprofitable to try to make that happen for the client. However, I’ve found that there are printers that thrive on this kind of work.
At Innovationdays, over 5,000 international experts and professionals in the areas of print-on-demand, data center, direct mail and web finishing are expected to gather to see demonstrations of real-world workflows utilizing the latest in digital print and paper processing technologies.
