You are in:
Are you really finished?
For the uninitiated the final print process step is finishing: an obvious but vital element in ensuring jobs meet customers’ requirements. Here we look at laminating, an important finishing step which can make all the difference in achieving perfection by Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Seal graphics product manager for machines, Mick Budd, opens the discussion, illustrating that demand for lamination systems is strong at the bottom and top ends of the market: “Even today, many people are getting into digital print for the first time and they quickly realise there is a need to offer some form of additional finishing.
“The types of businesses entering the market are quite diverse, even down to what the Americans call ‘Ma & Pa’ shops. As printer prices come down, the opportunity is there to add to their existing business or build a new service. Following the downward trend in the price of printers, Seal Graphics has designed affordable, entry-level laminators, such as the new 62 Base, that assist these new entrants to offer the total package.
“At the top end, the increasing proliferation of wide format UV-cured print technologies (especially those that print direct to substrate) has created a definite requirement to protect and improve the appearance of inks that can still be brittle when dry or require a different finish.”
For the screen and sign markets, Mick pointed out that liquid lamination is the current buzzword around the trade: “Liquid laminates are UV-cured too, so the technologies of print and finishing are sympathetic to each other. There is no doubt that more and more specialist digital print firms are going down the liquid laminate route and, if proof were needed, it can be seen from the interest generated by our new AquaSEAL 60 and 80UV Pros which were launched at Fespa earlier this year.”
Another area that is blossoming and leading to increased sales is the provision of consumables and specialist media. Manufacturers are scrambling over each other to bring new vinyls and textiles to market, with the consequence that there is today a much wider choice available than ever before.
Mick continued: “In terms of vinyls, printers can now choose from economy, premium or cast products according to the finished application and life expectancy of the image and, where these are supplied from the equipment manufacturer, users can be sure that each will be compatible with the machine they have selected.
“Specialist materials such as textiles are bringing about a completely new approach to signage in areas such as flexible-faced signs and exhibition graphics, for example. Although the different weaves and alternatives we have available for inkjet printers do not require finishing, they are serving to increase our user base and give us contact with the marketplace ready for when they choose to move into laminating.”
Wide range
The market is definitely changing, with a wide range to choose from.
Therefore, what you need to ask yourself is what are you going to do with the machine?
If you have fairly basic requirements, then an entry level machine like the Seal 62 Base laminator is probably a good choice. This is a wider version of the successful predecessor (the Seal 54 Base) and thus expands the options available for people like signmakers, printers, finishing houses and in-plant departments who need to handle a wider variety of lamination tasks.
This machine is ideal for mounting and laminating pressure sensitive materials up to 1,575mm wide and offers performance, flexibility and functionality which you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a machine which retails at just over £5,000.
A couple of extras to get you excited are the: heat-assist function on the top roller which ensures you can achieve perfect results with a wide range of materials; and the swing-up feed table which facilitates set up. In fact, everything about the machine is easy and whatever the operator’s experience, the Seal 62 Base is designed to be a simple machine to use, delivering genuine flexibility and high performance levels for the small to medium sized end user.
Professional choice
Not everyone wants the same results from their finishing equipment, which is why there are so many to choose from. If you are aiming at the high end, then take a look at the AquaSEAL 60 and 80UV Pro liquid laminators which have been recently brought to market by UK distributor Atech.
Atech now boasts a range of liquid roll-to-roll laminators in 1.6 and 3.3m widths and, with the addition of the new range of UV coaters for sheets and rolls from Seal Graphics, they pretty much have the market sewn up.
The AquaSEAL 60 and 80UV Pro machines are designed to be workhorses for the print finishing industry and are typically aimed at the high volume sign and display houses using inkjet and UV flatbed printers.
They use curable liquids that offer instant curing, providing immediate protection to a variety of materials and substrates such as inkjet, photographic, dye-sub and vehicle graphics. The liquid has been formulated to meet extreme demands in the outdoor and vehicles graphics markets, further opening the number of projects these machines suit.
The real difference is these machines are heavy-duty coaters and thus deliver automated protective lamination on sheet, board or roll-fed substrates up to 76.2mm thick and 1,524 and 2,032mm wide respectively.
As you would expect, they come with features including: an air knife to eliminate roller wraps; large diameter coating rollers to avoid roll deflection; adjustable coat weight between seven and 20mm; and a manually adjustable nip with calibrated display for repeatable accuracy.
The machines operate at variable speeds up to 32m/min, with the liquid laminate instantly cured when passing under the inbuilt UV dryer. UV curing also means there is no necessity to clean down on a daily basis which is an added benefit that saves operator time.
And finally
The phrase ‘I have started so I will finish’ is one we are all familiar with from the days of Mastermind. However, it is also one worth remembering in the printing industry.
Too many people are willing to rush a job, but if it is worth doing it should be done properly. It is always worth remembering that a client wants a job done to the highest standards which means they may not come back if finishing techniques are not up to scratch.
Thus, investment in the right laminating machine could be one of your best investments if it means your clients are happy with the work you turn out. After all, nobody wants a second rate product, particularly not when machines are so affordable and economical to run.
So next time you are at the end of a job ask yourself if it is really finished. If you answer anything other than yes, then perhaps you should be looking for a new piece of kit to do the job properly.
