Below are some quotes from the article.

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Contact us now to learn more about the Esko CDI Spark 2420

We recently shared the story of how Anderson & Vreeland developed its direct engraving line of products along with Stork’s laser engravers, including the Stork Direct Laser Engraver, and the Stork Print Helios. Stork makes every element of their product in-house, including the lasers, and are also the only company of their kind with support staff in the U.S., both big advantages in AV technology team product manager Paul Zeinert’s book. Here we look at two Anderson & Vreeland auxiliary products that were designed specifically for laser engraving.

AVCE Direct Engraving—Gives You Control

The greatest advantage of this product, says Zeinert, is the amount of control AVCE offers. Not only does it work on the X and Y axis, but also the Z level, which is where problems often occur. “The big advantage for us is that with below surfaceness, we can take care of the real problems in printing, and that’s pressure,” he says. “Now we can control pressure from the solids all the way down to the highlights, and in turn make smaller and cleaner dots and in turn make better mid-tones.”

It works with black, white, and all shades of gray, from 1% to 100%. Each gray shade is assigned a number for laser wattage, and that number determines how much wattage will be placed into the plate. This level of control means a higher quality end product. “Nothing on the market competes with AVCE,” says Zeinert.

The key industry for AVCE Direct Engraving materials is beverage, but also works with flexo, primarily the mid and wide-web applications.

AVCE Spray Away System—Gives You Clean

The AVCE Spray Away System was concepted and created in-house by A&V technology specialists who were looking for a better method to wash plates.

Washing by hand doesn’t work well, says Zeinert, because it often leads to damaged plates. “Either you’d knock images off or dots off,” he says. So the AV team came up with a unit that doesn’t use brushes. The Spray Away System is a higher water pressure spray, using normal tap water, which gets plates very clean, while safeguarding edges and dots. Especially when working with polymer, says Zeinert, getting plates scrupulously clean is important for end product quality.

Unique on the market, AV sells their Spray Away Systems all over the world, usually in concert with the Stork engravers.

If you’d like to learn how AVCE Direct Engraving products can help you create and maintain quality, we’d be happy to talk. Fill out the form below to learn more.

Below are a few quotes from the Labels and Labeling Article:

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Click here to view the full issue on Labels and Labeling. While you’re there also check out their archive of publications.

We recently teamed up with X-Rite and Pantone for a color series webinar. Click here to view a recording of that webinar.

Fill out the form below to contact a salesperson about the X-Rite eXact spectrophotometer.

Liquid Photopolymer has come a long way since the days it was considered second fiddle to sheet photopolymer—and now it’s a environmentally sustainable platemaking product in high demand. But there are a few hurdles, explains Randy Reynolds, AVantage Business Development manager, to its wider adoption.

The History

Liquid photopolymer really started coming into its own in the late 70s, as the flexo industry realized that green was the way to go. But not all was smooth sailing, says Reynolds.

Greening Driven by CPCs

The real push to green in the flexo industry came from large Consumer Product Companies, like Wal-Mart, Georgia Pacific, and International Paper, all who were demanding environmental sustainability throughout the entire supply stream. For vendors, going green meant staying in business. “So the trade shops where these plates are being made, if they’re going to be rewarded with any new business, they have to be compliant,” says Reynolds.

Equipment—The Last Frontier

The only issue standing in the way of large scale liquid photopolymer adoption is equipment—as in, the lack of. There are only a handful of companies overseas, and none in the U.S., that manufacture liquid photopolymer equipment, and a 7 to 9 month turnaround is common. The demand is so high that used equipment can go for as much as new. Liquid equipment is also more complex than sheet, and therefore more expensive. “Liquid is much more expensive than sheet photopolymer systems because you’re extruding a liquid and the rigidity and technicality of the system is much, much more advanced than anything to do with sheet.”

Which means that convertors who don’t already have a liquid photopolymer platemaking system are having a hard time entering the market. They’re sold on the product and the market share, says Reynolds, and if the equipment were more accessible, liquid photopolymer’s sales would grow exponentially.

The Biggest Market-Driver

The biggest advancement and what’s really fueling the market to convert from sheet to liquid is the process of an inposition plate. The artwork is overlaid with a black mask that blocks the UV light from curing the resin, explains Reynolds. “If you look at a typical corrugated plate, there’s far more non-image area than there is image area and all of that is 100% reclaimable. Whereas if you do it with a sheet plate, all of that gets washed away with solvent and you have to dispose of the waste. It’s just a nightmare.”

Watch the video: How To Make a Liquid Photopolymer Plate Using AVantage Liquid Photopolymer Resins.

So How Green is AVantage Liquid Photopolymer?

1. It’s soap and water washable.

Normal soap and water that can be washed down the drain—there’s no caustic chemicals at all. AVantage Liquid Photopolymer is only for use with water-based flexo inks—it will not work with any solvent-based or oil-based inks.

2. It’s reclaimable

In the non-image areas of the plate, it’s 100% reclaimable. The material can be captured and reused multiple times.

3. It uses fewer resources

AVantage Liquid Photopolymer uses far less electricity than a comparable sheet plate. A typical .250 thick sheet plate takes anywhere from 3 to 3.5 hours to dry because the solvent is being extracted out of the plate. On a liquid plate, the times are dramatically shortened by as much as two-thirds. For example, the 3.5 hours to dry a sheet plate would only take an hour to dry that same liquid plate, the time it takes for the water to dry. You can even use an air hose and just blow the plate until it’s dry and take it right to press. That also means a big reduction in power consumption—you can make the same plate in about 2 hours from start to finish.

Contact our AV technical team to discuss how AVantage Liquid Photopolymer can help you maintain environmentally sustainability and save time and money. Simply fill out the form below to start the conversation.

Very exciting year for FTA InfoFlex. Lot’s to see and learn. We hope you stop by and see us.

Come by and meet the A&V Team at Booth #301

Also stop by and visit Dixie Graphics at  Booth #632

Anderson & Vreeland today announced the acquisition of The Provident Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of doctor blades, end seals and innovative solutions for the flexographic printing industry. The acquisition is part of Anderson & Vreeland’s on-going effort to provide continuous improvement in product offering, service and support for its North American customers.

The Provident Group was founded by industry veterans Mark Van Denend and David Allen in 1996 and specialized in developing innovative solutions for package and label printers. The company owns numerous patents that improve doctor blade and end seal performance, including Chamber Wrap, an innovation that protects the doctor blade chamber from ink build up, greatly reducing clean-up time and solvent usage.

The Provident Group will operate independently as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. The company has 16 employees and a manufacturing and sales/warehouse facility in Englewood, Colorado. David Allen will remain with the company in charge of sales and Mark Van Denend will serve in a consulting capacity and continue to develop innovations for the pressroom.

Founded in 1961, Anderson & Vreeland has earned an international reputation as a leading provider of flexo prepress solutions for the graphic arts industry. The company offers a “systems” approach to conducting business by evaluating a customer’s needs and offering the best solutions in the form of equipment, materials, training, and technology tailored for each customer.

A&V supports these solutions with over 50 years of experience and a staff of technical sales representatives thoroughly knowledgeable about the fine points of flexo. The company’s substantial flexo experience and technical support sets it apart from other prepress suppliers. This experience and support results in smoother and easier integration of technical advancements affecting flexo prepress.

Anderson & Vreeland serves the United States, Canada, and Mexico with sales warehouses strategically located throughout North America.

For more information visit www.AndersonVreeland.com/ProvidentGroup.

To Learn More About The Provident Group’s Flexo Products. Please contact us in the form below.

What if you could automate many of the prepress tasks performed everyday in Illustrator and Photoshop? Using the Action tools in Illustrator and Photoshop and custom scripting, many of these repetitive tasks can be completed faster and more efficiently. While it is possible to write scripts specific to your needs in prepress, there are already many scripts available online. This presentation will look at a selected collection of scripts available now that can help streamline many processes. It will also cover how to implement these scripts into Illustrator and Photoshop and how to use them on a regular basis. Users will also learn the basics of how scripts and Actions are written and how they can learn to write their own custom scripts.

Alix graduated top of her class at Cal Poly State’s Graphic Communications program where she majored with an emphasis in Design Reproduction Technology. She has studied programs with GMG, EFI and Epson and is certified in each of these color management applications with experience in implementing these systems into production. Alix’ strength is in design, color, and software applications.

Learn more about InfoFlex Here

We are giving away ticket to this event. Fill out the form below to claim yours.

Is it time to update your equipment? The flexo industry has experienced a recent profusion of technological innovation, effecting every step of the flexographic printing process. Flexo Daily takes a look at how three key printing elements, pre-press, press room, and platemaking, have been revolutionized by new technologies in the past few years. We spoke with Jessica Harkins, Technologies Manager at Anderson & Vreeland, about what’s new.

Pre-press

Then: Analog was king, and proofs were made using products like Kodak Approval and Dupont’s Digital Chromaline. Inkjet had yet to come into play across the board, being used mostly for just content proofing.

Now: We have seen the future and it is inkjet. With developments in inkjet technology, coupled with measuring instruments, consistent and exact color predictions are easier than ever. “Proofing types have changed in equipment, in quality, and in ability to match color,” says Harkins.

Ditch the FPO servers—computer hardware and software has developed in leaps and bounds. Systems now have the ability to handle full design files, and new software has simplified complex projects, and helped increase automation and speed. Of course, designs have become more complex, thereby increasing file size.

Press Room

Then: Densitometers were around but not yet ubiquitous in the press room. J.I.T. was new but not yet common, and there were fewer CPCs and fewer methods of waste measuring.

Now: Tracking, minimizing waste and maximizing environmental accountability—the press room has changed to accommodate cost controls and environmental sustainability. The new eco-awareness has been driven, in part, by consumer product companies expecting accountability from flexo suppliers, and are measuring cost, performance, and eco-awareness.

Quality control devices are better than ever, and press room operators can now track pretty much everything, although there’s definitely been a learning curve, says Harkins. “Not everyone has jumped on board, but once educated, most see the value in taking the time to measure, track and analyze.”

Platemaking

Then: Digital platemaking was new technology and expensive, pretty much reserved for larger outfits that could afford the outlay.

Now: Digital is now the norm, and means the capacity to print a larger tonal range. A new option that’s just made it to North America, says Harkins, is inkjetting specialty inks directly straight onto plate materials laminated with a primer sheet—the ink solidifies and creates a negative.

Enviro-sensitivity has made it to platemaking as well, with eco-friendly solvents and photopolymers that are water washable and low odor instead of the old-school harsh and environmentally damaging chemical solvents.

As package designs and substrates become more complex, and brand owners demand originality to distinguish and protect their products, look for even more technological innovations that will take flexo printing further into the digital age.

Contact us now to learn more about the latest products we offer.

This year’s Info*Flex is happening on April 29th and 30th at the San Diego Convention Center. Take advantage of the over 200 exhibitors, education and networking opportunities, and learn about the newest technologies, trends, and players in the flexo industry.

And you can bet Anderson & Vreeland will be there. Stop by booth #301, where we’ll be on hand to answer your questions, discuss how we can custom create the best solution to your flexo needs, and introduce you to Flexo Synergy, our unique flexo business development approach.

Learn about AV’s Solutions: AV isn’t just a distribution company, we also make many of our own products—often in response to our clients’ needs. This dual-capability means we’re perfectly placed to innovate solutions to your flexo requirements. We lead in technologies that provide improved quality, while saving you resources.

Learn about AV Collaboration: We treat all of our client relationships as true collaborations. That means we listen and discuss—no once-size-fits-all solutions from us. We adapt, we customize, and we think about the future so as your business grows, your flexo equipment can adapt.

Learn about AV Expertise: Over 50 years of experience is what we bring to the table. Our team are the best and the brightest in the business, and hail from prominent graphic, packaging, and print institutions, like Clemson and Cal Poly. Our international footprint, plus 7 distribution facilities in North America, means we’re close by and available.

Connect with AV: Stop by our booth #301 and find out how our expert technology team can collaborate with you to put in place the solutions you need.

Fill out the form below to schedule a time to meet with us at InfoFlex 2013 and learn more about Flexo Synergy.

While you’re in San Diego, take a break with some of the city’s main attractions:

Take a plane ride: Take in San Diego’s sights from above in a biplane, or experience the thrill of flying in a dogfight plane.

Take a surf lesson: Realize your inner Beach Boy and take a surf lesson with one of the several schools in San Diego, like Pacific Surf, San Diego Surf School, and San Diego Surf Lessons.

Kayak with sharks: Take a kayak tour and get up close to La Jolla Underwater Park and Ecological Reserve, with caves, arches, and lots of sea critters.

Tour local breweries: San Diego has over 60 breweries, so a tour would be a good place to start.

Visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego, where you’ll see a fantastic collection of historical ships, and take a sea voyage aboard the Californian, a replica cutter.

Dixie Graphics has been in business since 1903. The Nashville, Tennessee-based company started as a pre-media provider for the printing and packaging industry. They specialize in platemaking of flexographic and dry offset printing plates, plus graphics and color management.

We asked Matt Williams, Dixie Graphic’s VP of business development, to talk about some of the changes he’s seen in the platemaking industry, especially when it comes to technology. This is what he says:

Here’s some highlights of Dixie’s services.

Quality Low-Run Prototypes

Perfect for quick, small samples, Dixie uses a Mimaki 50 square foot digital flatbed UV printer and Kongsberg cutting table to print, score, perforate and fold using almost any substrate.

3D Proofing

Dixie offers 3D proofing of a variety of packaging options, using Esko’s Studio Visualizer which allows detailed views of a project’s proofs, including inks and finishes. Dixie is also EskoArtwork HD Flexo Certified.

Flexo Plates

Narrow Web: An alternative to offset and gravure with a width max of 20 inches, narrow web is good for rapid turnaround projects.

Wide Web: Polymer flexo plates that offer solid ink density coverage.

Rubber: Plates made from natural, synthetic and Green PVC rubbers that are durable and give high print quality; great for projects requiring high ink densities.

Corrugated: Back to basics—corrugated was flexography’s first medium. Good for runs of any size, and very cost-effective.

HD Screening Technology: Provides for a very wide tonal range, which gives sharp high-quality reproductions.

Flat-Top Dot Technology: Plate surface is textured using HD Flexo v2.0 (MicroCell).

Dry Offset Plates

Containers and cups: Using very high speed printing coupled with clean screening for the most precise color separations and digital plates.

Cans: High quality and employing Precise stay-a-ways, Dixie’s dry plates mean can printing is fast and efficient.

Tubes: Often used in the personal care products and pharmaceuticals as an alternative to labeling, tube printing needs to look polished and high-end.

Clean Screen Technology: For printing halftone color separations and removes common problems like ink contamination.

Dixie also offers specialities like debossing dies, embossing dies, magnesium/zinc imprinting, and many others.

Dixie Graphics has been working with Anderson & Vreeland for over 15 years, says Dixie’s Williams.

If you would like to learn how to Partner with A&V. Fill out the form below and we will contact you shortly.