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Charlotte, NC, USA, 01 June, 2009: Rotary screen printing expert Stork Prints, headquartered in the Netherlands and with its US office in Charlotte, NC, presents its renewed rotary screen integration program along with its new logo SPG Prints to the US market. José Maldonado, Commercial Manager, says: “the new logo is very much part of our new visual identity. However, our company name will remain Stork Prints, as our clients and relations have known us for many years”.
Stork Prints is the global leader in rotary screen printing technology. Rotary screen printing lends itself to the reproduction of numerous high-value features, because it lays down thick ink coatings, up to 300 micron, at high speed, in a single pass. As a result, it provides a flexible, economic alternative to for instance, embossing or hot foil.
Stork Prints favours the many high-value applications of rotary screen. These include coarse, textured varnishes, Braille, thermo-chromic inks that change colour at different temperatures, conductive inks for RFID antennae, electro-luminescent lighting, solar panels, and security inks for anti-counterfeit purposes.
For many American flexo printers, adding rotary screen capability to the existing press can greatly broaden the creative repertoire and make it possible to compete in premium label markets.
RSI modules
In today’s market heavy investments in complete rotary screen printing lines are not necessary anymore. For those price-savvy manufacturers Stork Prints offers rotary screen integration (RSI®) units. The company’s acclaimed RSI® module offers smooth, stable, high-speed printing and is easily fitted onto an existing press. Furthermore, Stork Prints reduces the investment requirement for narrow-web printers with its dedicated RSI Compact modules, which feature limited sizes between 12” and 18”. Stork Prints has a partnership with over 30 of the world’s leading press manufacturers to ensure smooth adoption of rotary screen capabilities on a new or existing press. The installed base of 2000 Stork Prints RSI units worldwide shows the grown interest for rotary screen printing technology by various manufacturers and printing firms.
Screens and sleeves
Furthermore, Stork Prints’ electroformed nickel rotary screens set the industry performance standard, with their proven durability, strength, on-press stability and reproduction quality.
Specifically developed for the RSI® units Stork Prints offers RotaMesh®: the top-quality screen that is a non-woven, electroformed mesh made out of 100% nickel. The unique hexagonal structure (honeycomb structure) leads to extreme sharp printing quality and ensures maximum stability and consistency. The RSI-compatible RotaMesh® screens offer reduced consumable costs, and can be re-imaged several times.
Especially for non-Stork systems Stork Prints offers the RotaPlate® screen with excellent handling properties, reusability and significantly higher mesh-counts than woven mesh alternatives.
But Stork Prints also answers to any needs - like short runs and quick change-over times - flexo printers might have with its extensive program of narrow web sleeves. Stork Prints’ subsidiary AKL Flexo Technik’s innovations in flexo sleeve technology enable customers to achieve higher quality results, and higher productivity through faster production speeds and reduced downtime. The Warburg (Germany)-based company has recently introduced its program of tough, hard-coated mounting sleeves for narrow- and wide-web applications. Ideal for the latest generation flexo-printing systems, the sleeves offer highly stable slippage-free printing, and assured total indicator readings (TIR) of within 15 µm, even under extreme humidity and heat.
Laser engraving innovations
Stork Prints is also a technology leader in direct laser engraving. Involving virtually no consumable costs, or chemicals, the process is a fast, purely digital means of imaging relief and nickel rotary screen printing formes – engraving and rinsing are the only required stages in the process. Besides delivering superior quality results, it eliminates costly products like UV light and film and time-consuming processes such as exposure, washing and drying.
Direct laser engraving enables fine linework of up to 100 / cm, high contrast, minimal dot gain and good tonal gradations for authentic highlight and halftone effects. Direct laser engraving’s quality strengths result from an ablation process that is not restricted to the path of light. Dots are engraved to unlimited depth and shoulder angle variables for optimum support, especially in highlight areas. This in turn gives the printing forme improved durability and consistency of printing quality over longer periods.
The Stork Prints Helios engraver for instance is suitable for flexo, letterpress, dry-offset and embossing processes, as well as nickel rotary screen cylinders. Some printing formes can be engraved in as little as 15 minutes.
FOR FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION:
Stork Prints is a global leading company in the textile and graphics printing market. Providing total system solutions: from screens, lacquers and engraving to a broad range of coating and rotary printing systems.
Being the expert in electroforming this not only entails highly reliable rotary screen technology but also an extensive programme of precision metal products.
The group achieved worldwide a turnover of € 180 million in 2008. Through continuous innovation and a powerful distribution network Stork Prints adds significant value to its customer’s processes and products. For more information please visit www.storkprints.com.
USA
Contact José Maldonado, Commercial Manager, telephone: +1 704 921 5307 or e-mail jose.maldonado@stork.com
The Netherlands
Contact Désirée Ordelman, Communications Manager, telephone: +31(0) 485 599296 or e-mail desiree.ordelman@stork.com.
Source: Stork Press Release
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