Digital Papers – Reels
An article form Paperfocus Magazine, July 1999
With the growth in digital printing constantly increasing and the choice of papers matching this growth, our product guide this month only looks at those papers available in reels. With the choice of papers constantly increasing, we suggest you always check with suppliers to check suitability.
Commenting on the market for digital printing papers, Robin Waterhouse, digital products manager at Robert Horne Paper Company, said: “The market for digital printing is accelerating, though not as fast as was anticipated a year or so ago”. He continued: “By the millennium, we expect an increase of around 50% on the existing 200-plus installed machines of both Xeikon and Indigo narrow format, digital technologies, with a corresponding steady growth in the demand for substrates.”
Waterhouse, also points out another particular development with this new technology: “We all need to be aware of the emergence and growth of full service media management companies, who will be equipped to offer a number of media output services depending on the specific requirements of a project. These companies will have the capability of printing using Xeikon, Indigo, wide format inkjet, laserjet and traditional web-offset equipment.” He continued: “In addition, they will offer website design services and the ability to maintain and use client database for all forms of direct marketing activity – with the ultimate aim of achieving its “one-to-one” marketing”. He added: “I believe this will have a major impact on paper merchants in respect of both their product offering and the expertise needed by their sales people – with many digital presses installed outside of traditional print outlets, we find the level of advice and information required by paper buyers is very high.”
On the products themselves, Waterhouse said: “In the case of substrates for Xeikon type presses, it is vital the precise moisture content of the product is kept intact after manufacture. Strict controls have to be applied to the conversion of products into reels and their correct packaging.”
Robert Horne stocks a range of products for digital printing, but in particular, for Xeikon technology Neusiedler Colour Copy R, Royal Digital Gloss and Royal Digital Silk. Mo Do paper has invested time and money in understanding the new technologies and markets digital printing has created and in response to customer requirements has designed new products working in collaboration with machine manufacturers. The papers include: Silverblade Digital, Data Copy Option and Datacopy Digital. A spokesperson for MoDo Paper said: “A key issue in achieving success in digital printing is the right choice of paper. Too often, the effect that paper choice has on the finished product is not fully appreciated.”
Brand Paper, which stocks a range of papers suitable for digital printing, believes it is the responsibility of paper suppliers to educate both digital press users and their customers on exactly what products are available to them. The company states that papers for the web-fed Xeikon, Chromapress and IBM machines have to initially be approved by the press manufacturer after thorough testing on a press. This can often take a great deal of time and once approved, a paper script file is created, published and distributed to enable users to run the paper. Brand, also reiterates the need for care with storage of paper. Derek Jones, product manager for digital and self adhesive papers stated: “If the paper has been stored in the press room for 24 hours and kept wrapped to avoid moisture absorption, it can be loaded and run immediately. If, however, moisture has been absorbed, it will cause the paper to resist toner or ink adhesion and when printed may cause the paper to jam in the machine. The image may also appear cloudy and mottled. The moisture content of a digital product is slightly lower than a conventional one and this must be maintained at 3.5-4% for optimum performance, so packaging and storage is important.”
Two and a half years ago, Bunzl Fine Papers, set up a division for digital papers and invested in logistics to support the on-demand lifestyle of its customers with an on-demand supply service. Alan Harry, who heads up the Bunzl Digital Papers marketing team, explained: “With comprehensive stocks of 320mm and 500mm reels held at both out Camberley and Leeds distribution centres – and our network of 25 sales offices – we can meet the requirements of this fast-growing market centre.”
Another merchant that recognized the significance of Xeikon digital reel fed market is Caxton. In conjunction with OEM’s and paper mills, Caxton developed a range of products for this marketplace and it has the knowledge and expertise to offer its customers a complete service. The company has a dedicated team for digital reel products to give guidance and help to all end-users.
Mo-Do Merchants has also increased its product range in line with the requirements of the customer and to this end will work with new sites to offer knowledge of the different areas of digital printing. Curtis Fine Paper’s product,Classic Flannel Digital, has recently received approval for use of Agfa Chromapress, IBM and Xeikon digital colour presses. Script files for Curtis’s Eureka, Classic Superwove and ConservationDoc-IT are already available.