As production lines in Australia continue to evolve and feature higher levels of automation, pressure for increased output quality and volume at lower cost drives the demand for smarter more integrated line devices.
Visy Technology Systems managing director Steve Jowett says his company is meeting this challenge by offering higher levels of reliability, higher standards of print quality, smarter device integration, support programs to optimise uptime and ultimately a lower total cost of ownership.
“Visy Technology Systems has recently entered into an agreement with Kodak to assume distribution of the Kodak Versamark range of Ink Jet printers,” Jowett says by way of example.
“Kodak Versamark is an industry-leading ink jet platform for variable data printing in the commercial printing and packaging markets. It fits neatly with the Visy Technology Systems existing range of product.”
“Offering new print head technology in widths from 1 inch to 9 inch to application of wide format, high speed variable data is a reality for many emerging applications in commercial print and packaging,” Jowett observes.
“The new Kodak products join recent new product releases from our other partners.”
Hitachi, Visy Technology’s supplier of CIJ ink jet systems for date and batch number marking has recently released the PXR-H High Speed version of the already successful standard speed PXR printer.
“The PXR-H lifts image quality at very high speeds an important consideration when code legibility is of critical importance,” Jowett says.
“New ink products have also been released by Hitachi for use in all models and in particular a range of new NON-MEK inks which comply with our customers desire to limit the use of MEK inks and solvents.”
Jowett says high performance ethanol and acetone inks are now offered as high performance alternatives.
“Our partner HSAjet of Denmark is a licencee to Hewlett Packard and we recently released a range of printers that feature the well known HP ink cartridge as the printhead and ink supply.”
The simple idea of using the deskjet style head in industrial applications has proven to be an enormous success worldwide.
“The use of HP print cartridges in an industrial printer is a unique concept that has changed conventional thinking about outer carton printing,” Jowett says.
“The amount of ink volume required to print a typical carton code is now substantially less that with traditional dot matrix printers.”
“Using precision jets to place smaller droplets of inks on the product surface to create the image it is possible to extend the print yield for every millilitre of ink used."
"This translates into lower running cost and higher print yield from less ink.”
“The cartridge contains the both ink and 300dpi printhead and is designed to be replaced regularly,” Jowett explains.
“This removes the need for technical support and ensures quality of print remains as new indefinitely.”
“Inkjet printing has traditionally involved the use of ink in large volumes leading to risk of spillage and general contamination of the environment around the printer,” he adds.
“The closed cartridge format of HP cartridges and the high ink yield offered reduces these risks and enhances the handling experience for operators and maintenance personnel.”
“Visy also offers a special new ink for use in the HP cartridge which can dry in less than 1 second on plastic and other non porous materials."
"This opens up many new printing applications for high resolution inkjet marking that were traditionally not achievable.”
According to Steve Jowett, areas of market opportunity for Visy Technology include developments in ink technology, which seem to be outpacing advances in hardware.
“In the past many application ideas were restricted by the narrow capabilities of the inks available,” he says.
“We’re now seeing nano technology, which contains active components, playing a role in the development of inks.”
“We have inks which can be influenced to change colour when exposed to certain temperatures and other micro pigment inks which develop into vivid colours when printed onto dark substrates.”
“We also have inks which can be applied directly to packaging making them turn black when exposed to laser coding,” he says.
“These advanced fluid products open up new opportunities in commercial and package printing and in many cases are waiting for the development of the application systems and coders to fully realise their potential.”
“One such ink is the Jettdry ink Visy offers for the HP based HSAjet,” Jowett says.
“There’s a big market worldwide for an alternative to thermal transfer marking of flexible films."
"Our HSAjet printer and Jettdry Ink combination offers tangible benefits in reduced running costs and lower maintenance taking the HP cartridge concept into the world of plastic film marking.”
Steve Jowett says his company’s alignment with key technology partners Kodak, HP via HSAjet and Hitachi gives Visy access to the product developments of these industry powerhouses.
“Combining the proven products from these brands with our own local integration and support skills best equips us to provide our customers with a product coding and marking roadmap for the future that is in alignment with our strategic vision.”
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