In commercial printing, staying ahead of the competition requires more than just high-quality prints. It demands innovative print & finishing solutions that can elevate your business to new heights. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, understanding the latest advancements in print & finishing technology is crucial for success.
The importance of print & finishing solutions
Print & finishing solutions are crucial for any printing business because they directly impact the quality, appeal, and functionality of the final product. High-quality printing ensures that colors are vibrant, text is clear, and images are sharp, which enhances the overall perception of the customer’s brand or message being conveyed. Finishing techniques such as UV coating, embossing, and foil stamping add a professional and luxurious touch, making printed materials stand out in a crowded market. Additionally, advanced finishing options allow for customization and personalization, which are increasingly demanded by consumers seeking unique and tailored products.
By investing in innovative print & finishing solutions, businesses can not only meet but exceed customer expectations, build stronger brand recognition, and gain a competitive edge in the industry. These solutions also enable efficient production processes, reducing costs and turnaround times while maintaining high standards of quality.
We’re going to take a closer look at the latest in print & finishing solutions and highlight some of the innovative technologies we really like right now.
Digital printing: speed and versatility
High-resolution output
Digital printing has revolutionized the industry by offering high-resolution outputs with incredible speed. Unlike traditional offset printing, digital printing does not require plates, making it ideal for short runs and on-demand printing. This technology ensures consistent quality, whether you're printing business cards, brochures, or posters.
Personalization and variable data printing
One of the standout features of digital printing is its ability to personalize each printed piece. Variable Data Printing (VDP) allows for customized text, images, and graphics on each print, making it perfect for targeted marketing campaigns. By leveraging VDP, you can create personalized direct mail and customized packaging, enhancing customer
engagement and response rates.
What we like in digital printing right now:
Canon has been consistently one of the top manufacturers of digital presses for decades. Their build quality is second to none and the images produced are some of the best in the business.
Ricoh has had some huge success in recent years and fits really well in multiple types of print environments. Their 5th color technology is a huge differentiator in the market and many of our clients have experienced success with the wide range of outputs you can get using this type of system.
Advanced finishing techniques: adding value to your prints
One of the primary goals of any commercial printing business is to create visually stunning products. Innovative print & finishing solutions can help you achieve this by offering a range of options such as:
UV Coating
UV coating is a popular finishing technique that enhances the durability and appearance of printed materials. This clear coating is applied to the surface of the print and then cured using ultraviolet light, creating a glossy or matte finish. UV coating not only protects the print from scratches and smudges but also adds a professional look, making it ideal for business cards, book covers, and postcards.
What we like in UV coating right now:
Kompac has cutting-edge technology, with which you can effortlessly prime your own paper, achieve flawless flood coating across an entire substrate, or expertly spot coat specific images with precision.
Kompac equipment empowers you to unleash your creativity and produce visually stunning finished products that captivate your audience. Regardless of whether you're working with digital or offset printing, sheets or rolls, or handling large or small volumes, Kompac’s versatile coating systems are meticulously tailored to meet your exact needs.
Foiling
Foiling involves applying a metallic foil to the print surface using heat and pressure. This technique adds a luxurious finish to printed materials, making them eye-catching and memorable. Foil stamping is widely used for business cards, wedding invitations, and high-end packaging.
Lamination
While lamination isn’t new in the world of printing, it still is an extremely valuable method for protecting printed materials from moisture, tearing, and fading.
What we like in foiling and lamination right now:
The award-winning Matrix OPP digital foiling and laminating system is a favorite. It offers you the ideal investment in finishing your digital and litho print work. These easy-to-use, reliable, and robust laminating and foiling systems empower you to create enviable finishes at a fraction of the price of outsourcing and guarantee a great return on your investment. Although specializing in lamination, these systems are also capable of digital foiling and special effects such as spot UV.
Embossing and Debossing
Embossing and debossing are techniques that create a raised or recessed design on the print surface. These methods add a tactile element to your prints, making them stand out. Embossing is commonly used for logos, letterheads, and packaging, while debossing can add a subtle, elegant touch to invitations and certificates.
High Volume Die-Cutting
Die-cutting allows you to create unique shapes and designs by cutting the print material into specific forms. This technique can transform ordinary prints into extraordinary pieces, making them more engaging and visually appealing. Die-cutting is perfect for creating custom postcards, promotional materials, and intricate business cards.
What we like in high volume die-cutting, embossing, and debossing right now:
The Horizon Rotary Die Cutting system is a game changer. It combines a high-capacity feeder, a single- or dual-magnetic cylinder die cutter, a specially designed separator, and an optional card stacker into a highly efficient, versatile system for operator-friendly production. As part of Standard Horizon’s popular RD series of die cutters, the system can die cut, kiss-cut, emboss/deboss, crease/score, perforate, slit, hole punch, and round corner in a single pass or in multiple combinations for a wide range of applications including business cards, invitations, labels, door hangers, light packaging, and more. With the addition of a separator and optional card stacker, this new system also eliminates the need for manual separating and counting at the delivery section to allow operators to work more efficiently, improve accuracy with a verified piece count, and increase production efficiency for small and short-run pieces.
Digital Die-Cutting or Prototyping
Digital cutting uses an interchangeable blade that follows directions from a computer program to create a desired shape. There are a variety of reasons you might want to cut your decals digitally. Digital cutting gives users better control over tolerance, which means there’s a higher likelihood of producing a variety of products that all look the same. It provides a wider range of cut options and can cut through a large variety of materials, including vinyl, polyester, polycarbonate, and rigid PVC. It also gives users the ability to make smaller, more complex cuts, ideal for complicated shapes. Digital cutting is speedier than die cutting because there’s less setup required and no wait necessary to create special tooling. Digital cutting is ideal for smaller runs of 1,000 items or fewer, or even a run as small as a simple prototype.
What we like in digital die-cutting right now:
The Eclipse Digital Die Cutter is a die free flatbed cutting solution designed for the printing, packaging, and sign industries. It is a cost-effective solution for sample making, short-run production of adhesive sheets, business cards, specially shaped cards, invitations, labels, packaging, tags, and more. The Eclipse features an integrated touch Screen PC for full operation at your fingertips. It can process materials up to 10mm thick and up to B5 (35"x47") sheet size. You can use the roll feed attachment for 24" wide roll material processing.
Binding
From saddle stitching to perfect binding, there are various binding methods to add longevity and durability to a printed piece.
What we like in binding right now:
Horizon continues to innovate with perfect binding, booklet making, and saddle stitching. From standard-alone perfect binding or trimming to completely automated binding solutions from start to finish, Horizon delivers maximum versatility. The BQ-300 Perfect Binder is a single-clamp binder with enhanced automation from the feeding section to the nipping section for the efficient production of variable books. The SPF-2000 Booklet maker is the most automated booklet maker to date in Horizon’s SPF booklet maker series. Changeovers are 50% faster compared to previous models along with easier operation. Horizon's new HSF-50 Sheet Feeder runs at 45,000 sheets/hour and seamlessly switches from cut sheet feeding to bypass mode for roll-fed production with the StitchLiner Mark V Saddlestitcher.
For shorter run digital jobs, we really like the Plockmatic/Morgana line. They have had significant success across world markets with the Morgana DigiBook range of PUR perfect binders, and the Morgana BM350/500 high-capacity booklet makers, which have been developed jointly with Plockmatic.
Wide-format printing: expanding possibilities
For businesses specializing in banners, posters, or signage, large format printing provides high-resolution outputs on various substrates like vinyl, fabric, or canvas.
Large-scale graphics
Wide-format printing technology enables the production of large-scale graphics, such as banners, posters, and trade show displays. These prints are perfect for advertising and promotional purposes, helping businesses capture attention in crowded spaces. With advancements in wide-format printing, you can achieve stunning image quality and vibrant colors on a variety of substrates.
What we like in large-scale graphics right now:
The multi-award-winning Canon Arizona line allows you to create photorealistic images with their award-winning VariaDot printing technology. You can create output of exceptional quality with the Arizona flatbed printers using their curable UV-LED ink system.
Mutoh also has an award-winning line of eco-solvent, UV, and dye sublimation printers. They have a model to fit just about any application and are an industry leader in wide-format technology.
Vehicle wraps
Vehicle wraps are an innovative way for your customers to advertise their business on the go. Wide-format printing allows for the creation of custom wraps that adhere to the surface of vehicles, turning them into mobile billboards. This form of advertising is highly effective and provides high visibility.
What we like in vehicle wrapping right now:
With the Canon Colorado line, you can create robust, fade, and scratch-resistant prints with excellent print quality. White Ink Without Worry, the new UVgel white ink developed just for the Colorado M-series printer, provides a next-level white ink that reduces the hassles traditionally associated with white ink. Wow your customers with an extended media range, including textured, transparent, colored, reflective, magnetic, and heat sensitive media. You can also configure your own ideal Colorado M-series printer to your current business needs and easily upgrade features, speed, and inline finishing as your business grows.
Automation and workflow solutions: streamlining operations
To fully leverage innovative print & finishing solutions, integrating technology into your workflow is essential. Here’s how you can do it:
Integrated software solutions
To maximize efficiency and productivity, consider integrating advanced software solutions into your printing workflow. Print Management Information Systems (MIS) and Web-to-Print (W2P) platforms can streamline operations, from order processing to production and delivery. These systems enable seamless communication between different departments, reducing errors and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality prints.
Automated finishing equipment
Investing in automated finishing equipment can significantly enhance your production capabilities. Automated cutting, binding, and folding machines reduce manual labor and increase output. These machines are equipped with advanced sensors and controls, ensuring precise and consistent results. By automating finishing processes, you can improve turnaround times and reduce operational costs.
What we like in workflow automation right now:
Ultimate Technologies has two software packages we like right now - Ultimate Bindery and Ultimate Impostrip. Ultimate Bindery is a standalone software solution designed to fill the gap between prepress and finishing. Ultimate Bindery can take any JDF imposed job and complete it with all the necessary parameters needed to automatically set up your finishing equipment such as perfect binder, saddle-stitcher, cutter, slitter-creaser, 3-knife cutter, etc. It allows you to produce variable length products in different quantities, on the fly with no manual make-ready.
With the increasing demand for shorter runs and quicker turnaround times, Ultimate Impostrip provides hands-free reliable automation. From imposition to true shape nesting, it has the intelligence to dynamically place your print elements on the sheet optimally and automatically.
Finding the right print & finishing equipment
Innovation is the key to success in the printing industry. By embracing the latest print & finishing solutions, you can enhance the quality and efficiency of your operations. From advanced finishing techniques to wide-format printing, these innovations offer endless possibilities for your printing business. Investing in these technologies not only meets the evolving demands of your customers but also sets your business apart in a competitive market.
If you are curious about any of our production print equipment recommendations or would like to visit our print & finishing showroom, please let us know. Our experts are here to support your commercial printing business and help you elevate your customers’ brands.
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