Monthly Archives: May 2022

Although PVC's hazards to the environment are well known, and steps have been made in a more environmentally friendly direction, PVC is still widely used in the print media industry. Fortunately, the more sustainable options seem to be gaining in popularity. Those who visited Fespa Amsterdam might have noticed; terms like "environmentally friendly", "PVC-free" and "sustainable" were a common theme at the fair. The global situation and the long-term trends in sustainability, health, and well-being are fundamental to this. More and more companies and well-known brands are discontinuing the use of PVC and looking for PVC-free alternatives.

Harmful effects of PVC as a raw material for print media

PVC - polyvinyl chloride - is a plastic that is originally rigid, transparent, fire-resistant and deformable at high temperatures. By adding additives to the material, you can give PVC all kinds of other properties. The notorious plasticizers, for example, make the material flexible, but certain additives can also improve colour, stability and resistance to cleaning agents, for instance. When PVC burns, dangerous substances - chlorinated hydrocarbons - are released. In addition, the plasticisers used are released into the environment. These plasticizers can be harmful to the environment and health.

Major parties recommend avoiding PVC

Major parties awarding cradle-to-cradle (C2C) certificates already recommend avoiding the use of PVC. But also the list of major corporations, like Microsoft and Unilever, as well as large printing houses that have a policy of avoiding PVC, continues to grow. In some sectors - hospitality and health care, for example - alternatives are often chosen anyway, as they are subject to strict plasticizer regulations.

These drivers, combined with a need for more sustainable forms of print media, the availability of high-performing PVC-free alternatives (PP, PET, and non-wovens) and, a significant narrowing of the price difference, are making it easier to replace PVC

PVC-free alternatives for PoS and interior decoration

In the past, PVC-free products did not perform as well or were not favourably priced in comparison to PVC materials. But this is no longer the case, as PP is a good alternative to PVC. The raw material PP (polypropylene) is recognized as an environmentally friendly alternative, as it is a very simply constructed plastic - consisting of carbon and hydrogen - and moreover is obtained anyway as a "by-product" in the petroleum industry. PP also bends and forms well at high temperatures. It is strong and stiffer, allowing up to 40% reduction in raw material use to achieve similar film haptic. And the significant advantage of this raw material is that no plasticizers are needed to make it flexible. PP is naturally resistant to acids. Moreover, when heated, no harmful substances are released. Because PP has to undergo various treatments to make it suitable for printing, it is slightly more expensive than PVC print media.

But besides PP-based media there are other suitable PVC-free alternatives:

1. easydot® PET matt L-UV. This environmentally friendly PET film consists of 25% recycled material (the max. possible content to remain the properties). As polyester is a more rigid material, less material is needed to achieve the same haptic perception as PVC, which results in a material saving of 40%, allowing waste volumes to be significantly reduced.
    
2. easySTYLE self-adhesive furniture film. This is a fast and economical way for interior design and shop fitting. Our furniture films are made to high sustainability standards to protect the environment. The material is a combination of PET & FSC® certified paper and therefore 100% PVC-free.
   
   
3. Neschen fleece wallpaper of the GREEN WALL range. These are digitally printable non-woven wallpaper, PVC-free, suitable for indoor applications such as interior design of shops, restaurants, trade fairs, museums, and living spaces. Besides smooth versions, some different textures and also self-adhesive versions are available.

Enhanced performance, quicker, more productive, more efficient, better outcome and facilitating the operator’s life, are only a few of the many benefits you can achieve with the upgrade possibilities on an F Series flatbed cutter from Summa.

Did you know already that our F Series flatbed cutters can be enhanced with a range of upgrades and add-ons according to the pace of your company’s growth, aspirations and goals? We gladly point them out for you below.

1400W ROUTER MODULE

The 1400W router module – which can be purchased at an entry-level price - offers an attractive performance increase with improved output quality over the standard router. The router is capable of handling the most used solid boards in the Graphic Industry. It is suitable for milling, contour cutting, polishing and engraving. (Available add-on for all F Series models)

F-PERFORMANCE MODE

The F-Performance mode ensures an increase of up to 40% of the F Series’ performance. Advantages include faster up, down and turning movements of the cutting head, which will be most remarkable when using the Kiss-cut tool. Also, feeding material will happen significantly faster. The job will be finished practically twice as fast without compromising an inch on quality.  (Available add-on for all F Series models)

Note: The F-Performance mode is available as free unlock on new machines and as payable unlock on older F Series models, built before 2018.

CONVEYOR EXTENSION

Thanks to the conveyor extension, the F1612 makes light work of cut designs, that are much larger than their actual cutting area. Once the first part of the job is completed, the conveyor feeds the cut material to the extended front where it can be removed easily and safely, while the machine is cutting the next part. This minimizes downtime considerably. (Available add-on for the F1612 model)

Note: All existing F1612 units in the field can be upgraded with this option.

BASKET

The basket is a handy accessory to reduce the media handling time, thus optimizing your workflow. The F1612 can automatically process several feet of material while the basket is capturing the cut-out vinyl and/or waste material. Rely on an efficient cutting workflow and a clean work environment. (Available add-on for the F1612 model)

EXTENSION TABLES

The sturdy, foldable Extension Tables can be placed in front and at the back of an F1612. They are adjustable to set the correct height. This way, board material longer than the F1612 working area can still be processed. With the extension tables, you can use the continuous sheet feed feature, which enables the user to load and unload material while cutting. The feature helps to avoid idle periods during the processing of material and thus adds significant value to the overall workflow. (Available add-on for the F1612 model)

ROLL-UP SYSTEM

When kiss-cutting, the roll-up system winds the material back on a roll after it has been cut. This allows the F1612 to work unattended while keeping the work area neat and clean. When cutting through, a workflow can be set up in combination with the basket or extension table. The roll-up takes care of the waste matrix while the operator collects the cutout material. The winding roll is also easily accessible for trolleys or other tools to handle heavy rolls. (Available add-on for the F1612 model)

HEAVY-DUTY ROLL SUPPORT (HDRS)

The Heavy-Duty Roll Support can be used on our wide format flatbed sizes to allow a straight and effortless throughput of heavy print rolls before cutting the material. Especially for the processing of heavy banner material, non-stretchable wide textile rolls and lightly stretchable materials, the HDRS will prove its worth. It will even allow the processing of rolls up to 200 kg with ease.  (Available for F1832, F3220 and F3232 models)

BARCODE WORKFLOW WITH THE GOPRODUCE PRO PACK

The Summa barcode workflow on the F Series generates an automatic process of identifying and opening cut files to start cutting an entire roll without user intervention. This optional feature will increase your productivity and enhance flexibility substantially whilst freeing up time for the operator to attend to other assignments.

Note: the automated barcode workflow, based on the F Series’ built-in camera system, is included with the Summa GoProduce Pro Pack (one-time purchase).

For SummaFlex users: possibility to upgrade to GoProduce Flatbed Edition software
For flatbed machines shipped as of March 1, 2019, the GoProduce Flatbed Edition Software is included. But if you happen to have an older F Series unit, you may be still working with the SummaFlex software. Now, if you want to keep up with the latest features, and updates and ensure you can use the latest techniques on your F Series equipment, we do recommend upgrading your software to the GoProduce Flatbed Edition software.

At the upcoming ISA Sign Expo, Onyx Graphics, Inc., will be providing a first glimpse of the next major release of ONYX software that offers print service providers a new drag-and-drop user experience and easy-to-use tools for everyday automation. The next major release will be available for the full range of ONYX solutions including ONYX Thrive print workflow software and all ONYX RIP products. Demonstrations will be held in the Onyx Graphics booth 1943 at the ISA Sign Expo, May 4-6 in Atlanta, Georgia.

This latest release builds upon industry-leading ONYX 21.1 software that introduced Swatch Books 2.0 for faster color matching and PDF tile maps to streamline tile-job installation. “User experience expectations are changing,” said Matt Crawford, Director of Product Marketing at Onyx Graphics. “Software owners and operators need fast, easy-to-use tools that are intuitively designed which is our motivation behind this release.”

The announcement of a new ONYX software version coincides with the International Sign Expo next month in Atlanta, Georgia, the first major US tradeshow since 2019. “This year’s theme is to bring top technology, powerful connections, and smart solutions together under one roof,” said Lori Anderson, President and CEO of the International Sign Association. “This is the perfect venue to see new innovations from exhibitors and manufacturers such as Onyx Graphics who continue to drive our industry forward.”

Availability

The next major release of ONYX software is anticipated to be globally available in May 2022 covering the entire product portfolio of ONYX solutions including ONYX Thrive print workflow software; ONYX Go, the company’s RIP software subscription, ONYX PosterShop, and ONYX RIPCenter RIP software. It will be available to all ONYX Advantage customers by requesting a key update, is included as part of ONYX Go subscriptions, and to all other customers through a license or subscription purchase. As part of the company’s attendance at ISA, Onyx Graphics is promoting a special offer for all booth visitors.

Teaming with industry leaders

Onyx Graphics proudly supports the widest range of industry-leading printers and manufacturers. In addition to the Onyx Graphics booth at ISA, ONYX software will be driving printers in numerous partner booths around the show. Visit Onyx Graphics at booth 1943 for a complete list of partner booths showcasing the power of ONYX software.

About Onyx Graphics, Inc.

Leading the market since 1989, Onyx Graphics is dedicated to helping customers increase productivity, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge with superior software solutions for the print industry. Innovative, productive, and delighted customers around the globe help motivate the company to develop and enhance its leading-edge technologies. Global channel partnerships and longstanding relationships with printer manufacturers position Onyx Graphics as a market leader in powerful, reliable, large format printing workflow and print business software solutions.

Laminating your print materials?   For some people, it is a no brainer, while others consciously avoid it.  In this article, we will discuss the 7 most important advantages of laminating your printed materials.  Laminating may be the last step in your production process, but it is certainly not unimportant! And to make sure that your next lamination job is a sucess, we concluded with some handy tips.

1. Laminating makes your printed material thicker and more robust

The transparent film applied during lamination makes the printed material thicker and more resistant to mechanical wear. Therefore, it is important to ask yourself whether your print material is likely to be wrinkled through use. If this is the case, then laminating is recommended. There are several advantages when you choose to laminate. For example, you can apply a laminated sticker more easily, there is less chance of air inclusions under the sticker, and the sticker is less likely to wrinkle. This also makes the sticker easier to remove if you want to do so in the future.

2. Laminating protects against UV radiation

If your printed material is exposed to many environmental factors, such as the sun, there is a high risk of discolouration. UV rays cause the ink to fade. Laminating your work with protective films with integrated UV protection slows down or prevents this process and ensures that your prints retain their beauty much longer. 

3. Laminating protects against moisture and dirt

Laminating your work also prevents moisture from penetrating your printed materials and dirt, e.g., from greasy fingers, from sticking to them. This not only protects your prints from water damage, for example, but also makes it easy to clean. This is very handy when you are dealing with outdoor applications.

4. Laminating protects against damage

Tears and creases do not stand a chance when your work is properly laminated. By using a scratch-resistant material, you can provide your printed material with a scratch-resistant layer. This is often applied to print media for display panels of pop-up systems. These panels have to endure a lot during transport, assembly, and disassembly. It, therefore, makes sense to laminate frequently used panels to provide better protection.

5. Laminating gives a luxurious appearance

Laminating - also known as finishing - is a finishing technique that gives printed material a luxurious and characteristic appearance. Laminating makes the paper appear and feel firmer, making the quality appear (and be) better. A wide range of finishes is available, ranging from matt, satin, glossy to high gloss. Depending on the application of the printed material, you can choose the most suitable finish. Using glossy laminates, for example, colors come out more powerfully. And the use of matte films prevent disturbing light reflections, for example in photo posters.

6. Laminating increases the lifespan of printed materials

The protective layer of the laminate also increases the lifespan of your printed material. You have to keep in mind that prints not protected against mechanical or environmental influences have a limited lifespan. Therefore, you can say that applying a protective film extends the life of prints and secures their value. A not unimportant finishing touch! 

7. Laminating provides your printed material with special properties

In addition to the standard laminating films mentioned above, there are also laminating films with unique properties. For instance:

• Adding an anti-slip texture to floor graphics: to prevent slipping and to protect against moisture and dirt.
• Creating a writable surface for whiteboard applications: ideal for maps, for example.
• Preventing vandalism by adding anti-graffiti properties: paint and permanent markers are easy to remove with cleaning agents.
• Providing a scratch-resistant layer with the display panels mentioned above: scratches are less easily visible on pop-up panels, for example.

Tips for successful laminating

Are you convinced of the benefits of laminating? Then it's up to you to carry out the laminating process successfully.  We'll help you on your way with our tips and instructions:

• Work clean, dry, free of dust and grease: Use a PCR roller to remove dust and dirt.
• Use the same material combinations as often as possible: So a PVC monomer laminate for a PVC monomer print material and, for example, polyester on polyester. Matching base materials behave similarly, which will prevent, for example, shrinkage of the edges.
• Drying time: Especially when laminating inkjet prints, make sure that the inks dry sufficiently and cure completely, consider a drying time of at least 24 hours.
• Avoid silvering: Fine trapping of air between the print and laminating film is called silvering. Silvering can be difficult to detect due to the fine texture and is particularly noticeable on dark prints. Heating the roll slightly to 30 degrees during lamination will help the adhesive flow better and prevent silvering.
• Let the print rest for 24 hours after laminating: After laminating, allow the print to acclimatize at room temperature for 24 hours before proceeding with further operations. This will ensure optimal adhesion of the adhesive and allow the film to "relax".
• Send laminated printed material: If you want to send your printed material rolled up, make sure that you roll the material onto a large core with the image side outwards. This prevents the rolled-up print from tunneling after it has been unrolled.

Make your next laminating project a success

Laminating is the finishing touch to your printed material and can greatly influence the final result. But with these tips, the result will certainly be a success. Would you like to do some tests with laminate? For example, to protect important printed material, add an anti-slip layer to floor graphics, or counteract reflections on photo posters?  For a free no obligation protection film swatchbook please contact our sales team on 01527 853 136.