Monthly Archives: March 2012

Digital Freedom is a Success at Oakland Schools

Mid-State Litho recently visited Oakland School’s Summit Campus in Waterford Township on our Digital Freedom Tour. MSL was able to demonstrate the Meteor DP8700 XL Digital Press from MGI along with other featured equipment from MBM, Morgana, OKI Data and Mitsubishi. Several of our best customers came out and enjoyed lunch and refreshments provided by MSL, while learning about the unique capabilities of the Meteor and how it can benefit their business.

MSL will be announcing upcoming dates and venues for the Digital Freedom Tour soon, so be sure to check our website often to find out when MSL and the Meteor will be heading to your area. For any questions on the tour or the Meteor, please call 800.343.4231 or email krista@midstatelitho.net.

Don’t Forget!

Just a reminder that MSL will be in Waterford Township at Oakland School’s Summit Campus (2214 Mall Dr. E Waterford Township, MI) from 10am to 5pm tomorrow, March 28th. The Digital Freedom Tour continues, featuring MGI’s Meteor DP8700 XL Digital Press. You can find directions, maps, links to featured products and more information by visiting our website. Many of our team members and system specialists will be there to help answer any questions you have about any of our products and equipment. If you would like more information about the Digital Freedom Tour, upcoming tour dates and locations and featured equipment, please contact MSL at 800.343.4231 or email krista@midstatelitho.net.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Less Than One Week Until Digital Freedom

MSL’s Digital Freedom Tour will continue next Wednesday, March 28th from 10am to 5pm. The show will take place at Oakland School’s Summit Campus and will feature MGI’s new digital press, the Meteor DP8700 XL. MSL would like to invite all of our customers to come and experience digital freedom. You can find directions here. RSVP to krista@midstatelitho.net.

The Meteor gives you:

Freedom from click charges
Freedom to print in large, versatile formats (13″ x 40″!)
Freedom from environmental risks and hazards
Freedom to print laser safe digital work
Freedom to print envelopes on a digital press
Freedom to explore new substrates

Other equipment featured at the show will include:

Request a sample pack of what the Meteor is capable of today! Call 800.343.4231 or email krista@midstatelitho.net.

MSL Receives Training on Morgana

Morgana representative Alan Oppenheim came and trained MSL team members on Morgana equipment including the Autofold Pro, Digifold Pro and the Autocreaser 33. Morgana and MSL teamed up earlier this year, bringing our customers more options than ever. Morgana specializes in finishing equipment for the digital printer. Their patented flying knife technology guarantees stock printed on a digital press will not crack when creased and folded, a problem which occurs when creased or folded using traditional methods. All of Morgana’s creasing devices feature the same creasing mechanism, whether you purchase a manual, electric, semi-automatic or fully automatic creaser. Morgana’s finishing devices are easy to use, allowing operators with very little technical knowledge to work the machines, while still giving all of the options higher-end printers desire.

MSL will be bringing several Morgana devices on the road with us on our Digital Freedom Tour. You can see demonstrations of these devices Wednesday, March 28th from 10am to 5pm at the Oakland School’s Summit Campus. For more information, please call 800.343.4231 or email krista@midstatelitho.net.

Static in Printing

By, Steven Barrett

Static can be a tough enemy in print manufacturing. Just moving sheets from place to place can generate static and in the right conditions, static can ruin your day. Static is caused by many phenomena, but the most common culprit is friction. Sheets traveling along a register board or sliding on top of one another as they pile up can induce enough static to turn a stack of sheets into a brick.

The number one solution to static is prevention. Preventing static comes from controlling the work environment. Temperature and humidity are the two largest factors. Moisture in the air can absorb static charges. Without moisture in the air, the charge has nowhere to go and will accumulate. During dry times of the year it is recommended humidifiers be used to moisturize the air. Ideal humidity is roughly 40% between 64 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are other things you can do to help alleviate static buildup. Ensure your machinery is properly grounded back to the wall outlet, and ultimately to your buildings main ground. Insufficient grounding is another way of trapping static; we often see people hanging tinsel in the paper path to absorb the static. This approach is sound, but relies on the machine’s connection to ground. Air flow can quite literally blast away static, some products on the market contain a core installed in an airline which will de-ionize air as it passes by. This neutral air is great at absorbing charges as it flows past.

To summarize, take control of your environment. Add humidifiers during dry months to keep your humidity over 35%. Ensure your machinery is well grounded to your electric panels. As a last resort you can turn to specialty products that will de-ionize your problems.

Drupa 2012: Digital Printing and Inkjet

Four years ago at Drupa 2008, everyone was talking about inkjet technology and the promising future of digital printing. Higher speeds, better quality and lower running costs all brought attention to the potential of digital printing, along with increasing interest in print-on-demand. Drupa 2012 will continue this discussion, exploring the continuing advancements being made to improve digital printing and inkjet technology. Digital printers have come a long way in advancements, particularly in terms of speed and the ability to hold a solid. Presses such as the MGI Meteor DP8700, capable of printing up to 4,260 A4/Letter pages/hour or 2,280 A3 pages/hour and allows operators to adjust the THV (transfer voltage) on the pilot, create high-quality output comparable to that of an offset press without streaking and banding.

Perhaps some of the most exciting advancements being made are those involving finishing equipment catering to the digital print market. In the past, there was seemingly very little room for improvement in digital finishing, especially when compared to the possibilities allowed using offset output. Now, several of the biggest names in post-press equipment have unveiled finishing devices which accommodate digital printers. Morgana and Graphic Whizard both have finishing devices which help eliminate problems associated with digital finishing, such as cracking when folding using conventional methods. 3D varnish, high gloss varnish or fluorescent varnish are all now possible with digital print, along with UV varnish, cold foil, special effects varnishes, die cutting, and dispersion and iroidin varnishes.

One driving force behind the growth of inkjet technology is the cost effectiveness companies can gain by utilizing digital print, particularly in their marketing materials. Businesses benefit from the ability to personalize their direct marketing pieces, along with the the idea of affordable full page coverage designs which can be produced in high-volume. Inkjet printers are also versatile, allowing print shops to meet a multitude of needs including monochrome, light-coverage color and full color, all using the same device. Digital presses can also print on a wider variety of substrates including coated paper, plastics and polycarbonate.

Printers can expect more exciting advancements to be unveiled at Drupa 2012. Inkjet technology and digital printing is set to be the future of print, the heir apparent to offset printing. According to Drupa’s website:

Digital printing represents one of the great hopes for the industry. At a time when conventional printing processes like rotogravure and rotary offset are facing enormous economic challenges and the growth prospect for sheet offset is one of restrained optimism at best, digital printing seems to be a good bet for the future. Among its various applications, inkjet promises to be the frontrunner… There is one technology rising above any other when assessing the printing industry’s growth prospects: digital Print featuring inkjet technology. No other process is likely to achieve anywhere near its growth rate in market share.

For more information about Drupa 2012, please contact MSL at 800.343.4231 or email krista@midstatelitho.net.

Digital Freedom at Oakland Schools: Exclusive Sample Packs Coming

MSL will be at the Oakland School’s Summit Campus Wednesday, March 28th from 10am to 5pm. We invite everyone who has yet to see the Meteor DP8700 XL Digital Press to come and experience Digital Freedom. Along with the Meteor, MSL will be demonstrating:

MBM Aerocut Programmable Finisher: Ideally suited for digital applications, MBM’s Aerocut slits, cuts, creases and perforates a wide variety of stocks including brochures, business cards, post cards, greeting cards, CD jackets and more.

Dry-Lam FUJiPLA 3220 Laminator: This two-sided laminator features an automatic sheet feeder and will laminate and trim virtually unattended.

Graphic Whizard Vivid-Coater XDC-530 Micro Coater: Graphic Whizard and MSL bring you the VividCoater XDC-Micro™, an ultra-violet cured coating system. This easy-keeper creates vivid colors, giving you an amazing finish on your project.

OKI DigiKing Multi-Purpose Print System: The Digiking is an exciting product available only through MSL. Imagine printing full color envelopes, letterhead, and other unique items easily, efficiently, and economically.

Morgana CardXtra Plus: Morgana’s CardXtra Plus was developed for digital printers in need of an easy to operate, accurate and cost effective multifunctional finishing device. It can feed sheets up to 12″ X 19″ in size and can trim, cut and crease in multiple positions.

Morgana Autofold Pro: A free standing folding unit, the Autofold Pro was developed with both digital and litho printers in mind with its ability to fold both precreased sheets.

Morgana Digifold Pro: The DigiFold Pro features Morgana’s patented flying knife technology which was developed to prevent the scuffing and marking on digital stocks that are caused by folding using conventional methods.

Morgana Autocreaser 33: The AutoCreaser Pro 33 provides the complete solution to the problem of cracking that occurs when folding digitally printed output. This automatic creaser is capable of handling conventionally printed card, laminates or cross-grained stock.

In the upcoming weeks MSL will also be mailing out an exclusive sample pack to some of our best customers. The pack will contain multiple samples of the various substrates the Meteor is capable of imaging; Substrates such as PVC and plastics, polycarbonate, coated papers, canvas, super format and more. Be sure to keep your eyes open for your upcoming sample pack. To find out more information about either MSL’s upcoming show or your sample pack, please contact krista@midstatelitho.net or call 800.343.4231.

MSL Graphic Express

Mid-State Litho's Tips, Tricks, and News for the Printing Industry