Print finishing - why?
Gerhardshofen, 11. November 2013
Referent Dipl. Wirt.-Ing. (FH) Ralph C. Rieker
Rieker Druckveredelung GmbH + Co. KG Leinfelden, Germany
Company portrait
Since 1906 is the Rieker print finishing company specialising in finishing and coating of print products.
The company is now in the hands of the 4th generation
We are a medium-sized enterprise with 28 workers in Leinfelden, near Stuttgart.
Your ideas varnished by Rieker
What is Print Finishing?
The coating of paper and cardboard packaging with films, varnish and pigments is
called print finishing
Already printed papers are going to be coated hence they become special
characteristics
All that is closely linked with logistical service between printing press and print
finishing
Your ideas varnished by Rieker
Why are printed products offline finished?
increases the value of print products
makes is extraordinary- effects
optical highlighting of graphic elements
increases curiosity
it is a part of a creative concept
it is used as a part of the brand/ CI
indispensable component
makes the product durable – protects
replaces costly materials
it is necessary for further processing
How is Print-Finishing integrated in the printing process?
Customer Product
Idea
Job/Order
Printer, graphic design, agency
Concept
Print Finisher Print
Logistic, Assembly, Personalisation
Finishing
Text, Image
Previous Market Situation
How is Print-Finishing integrated in the printing process?
Current market situation
Inline Finishing
Agency Publisher
Digital Printing
Customer
Distribution
Finishing
Printing
Printer, In-house Finishing
Web to Print
Distribution Distribution directly to
the customer
Bookbinding
Which printing products can be varnished?
book covers/ books
catalogs
packaging
calendars/ cards
labels
business stationery
magazines
displays
maps/ Poster
office products – ring binders
annual reports
mailings
Your ideas varnished by Rieker
Which characteristics can be achieved with finishing?
1. Appearance
2. Haptics
3. Effects
4. Functional coating
Which characteristics are achieved with finishing?
1. Optic
finished surfaces increase the colour brilliancy/dot gain – matt/gloss
strong contrasts by spot coating
metallic surfaces
special films/printed/coated/laminated
structured surfaces
highlighted images + Logos
visualisation just with coating– scattered prints
embossing
relief varnish
Which characteristics are achieved with finishing?
2. Haptics
velvet straight surfaces– soft-touch
rough surfaces
raised elements relief varnish/ embossing
flocking – textile surfaces
textile-effect-films
full surface embossing (structure)
scratch- resistant coating
digital print enhancement – “Scodix”
Which characteristics are achieved with finishing?
3. Effects glitter pigments Iriodin – “latent image effect” luminous ink “after glow ink” fluorescent ink magnetic ink match reactive ink scented varnish foil transfer cold/hot foil stamping effect films – e.g. Holography photochrom – daylight-sensitive
Which characteristics are achieved with finishing?
4. Functional coating
greaseproof/waterproof barrier varnish/barrier film
sealing properties blister varnish
bonding moistening rubbering
sales promotion window lamination
temperature control thermo reactive ink
slippage protection anti-slip varnish
product protection varnish gets visible by black light
scratch card coating hidden identification marks
Which process technologies are mainly used for print finishing?
Which process technologies are mainly used for print finishing?
film lamination – full surface paper-film-composite
full surface embossing – structure embossing
flexographic varnishing – coating plate/ coating blanket
spot coating – screen printing
hot foil embossing – pigment transfer (heat)
cold foil embossing – pigment transfer (adhesive)
blind blocking– 1-level/2-level
cutting , creasing, perforating, laser- cutting
digital enhancement
The impact of the digital technology on the printing industry
Influences of the digital technique to the printing industry
since the integration of the internet the printing volume has still increased
the paperless office has not proven true, so far
digital printing technologies enable print-on-demand
modern data based applications and web-to-print are the answer to changing
channels of communication
a digital workflow allow shorter processing times and rationalization
the printing market is in a significant structural change
-> Full service vs. online printing
the media channels have to complement one another, media convergence is the
approach to modern marketing
Why have print finishing products a future in the media world?
Why have finished printing products a future in the media world?
Future of print finishing products
enables completely new design levels
makes print conceivable, makes it touchable – haptic and visual stimulation
differentiation of print towards other media channels
durability -> longer duration of use
high value -> products are not thrown away promptly – sustainable appearance
effects or functions which are adapted to the content
Trend: “quality rather than quantity”
Thank you!
Rieker Druckveredelung GmbH + Co. KG
Max-Lang-Straße 62
70771 Leinfelden
Telefon: 0711-7587099-0
Telefax: 0711-7587099-111
Which defects lead to complaints?
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Wetting disorders
Varnish or glue cannot sufficiently adhere on the undercoat (paper/ink) hence they cannot build a proper wettability friable surface Reason for that is an insufficient surface tension, printing surface > 35mm/m (dyn), e.g. because of fresh ink or admixtures like drying agents, rub restistant pastes or silicones (heatset) Error indication: varnish contracts partially, foil lamination is delaminated.
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Chipping
Varnish does not stick on or with the undercoat and when it comes to adhesion the varnish peels of the undercoat, heat embossing /stamping foils, grooving or on the crop margins The reason for that is an impaired layer layer build-up paper-ink-primer/ varnish for the offline coating – surface tension of layers, colour pigments (metallic), paper or rather the coated surface (absorption) and Scotch tape resistance of the primer and varnish Error indication: varnish peels off during mechanical stress, fingernail test/ Scotch tape test, in some cases even paper coat comes through
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Bleeding/Changes in colour
The printing ink changes itself with regards to the shade after the foil lamination/ varnishing. Reason for that are colour pigments which do not fulfill authenticity accroding to DIN 16534, e.g. reflex-blue Error indication: wrong colour shade is mostly faded To put this right,authentic special colours need to be mixed or one need to inform the finisher in advance that tests must be made
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Dot gain
Film laminations and high- gloss varnishing lead to a significant dot gain when halftone print motifs are produced. The colours and the contrast seem to be more intensive than products without any coating. Reason for that is the refrection of the light in the foil layer or rather the varnish layer. For human eyes grid points appear to be bigger, especially when it comes to logos and half- tone colour areas it becomes very disturbing. Only with the help of litho and test laminations is it possible to counteract. The change can be simulated by sticking a Scotch tape on to the sheet during the adjustment at the printing machine.
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Blocking/Bonding
The coated sheets stick together at the edges or even extensively. Reasons for that is a bad varnish drying, stacking pressure is too high, moisture acculumation/consendation within the stack (packaging/storage), thermoplastic and hydrophoilic paper coating Error indication: Bonding with the chipping of varnish, chipping of colour or chipping of the coating Not to be confused with adhering sheets due to the effect of glass paletts
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Creasing
Foldinglines and creasings break open during the processing and the use (white breaking edges) Reason for that is always attributable to a print substrate defect, because the line with the colour and the varnish breaks open (running direction, paper moisture). With the help of film laminations can such issues be avoided Error indication: especillay on darker areas are these breaking edges clearly noticeable up to the fibre core
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Scrubbing
Especially coated products can be susceptible to abrasion , high- gloss and matt surfaces are particulary susceptible. A common reason for that is printing powder on the front and on the back of the sheets or it is only because of bad packaging . Error indication: the final products are extensively scratchted or they have visible flaws due to the processing (bookbinder)
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?
Error catalogue print finishing
1. Traces of printing powder
Powder particles disturb the creation of the film or they are going to be trapped underneath the film. The reason for that is an uneven powdering and a over- powdering or residual printing powder which , due to vibration, fall on the ground in between the printing machine (Puderkometen). Error indication: extensively and evenly distributed powder particles become visible due to the print finishing process and especially trapped powder particels underneath the film lead to an greyish and blemished appearnce, which is rather disturbing.
Welche Fehlermerkmale führen zu Beanstandungen?