13 Lucite Stars for 13 Technology Vendors

Print Action, Aug 2004

Since 1978, the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has sponsored the InterTech Technology Awards to focus on trends and technologies it expects will greatly influence the printing industry over the next five years. The 2004 GATF InterTech Technology Award recipients are - alphabetically - listed below, along with the independent judges' comments concerning each technology's appeal.

SPLOX Speed Loading Box

Boise Cascade

This economically designed paper delivery system reduces the risk of injury while improving the speed at which workers can load office paper into equipment. Third-party testing has indicated 47 per cent productivity improvements.

NovaJet 1000i (Intelligent Mask Technology)

ENCAD (Kodak)

The NovaJet large-format inkjet features printing speeds of up to 150 square feet per hour in photo quality. One judge said, "This is designed for the professional commercial print environment."

FOLDRite

Finishing Experts Group

A first-of-its-kind industry resource and the product of seven years of research, FOLDRite is said to be the most comprehensive brochure folding classification system ever created.

Fountain Solution Recycling System

FloClear

Using a combination of filtration, separation, and absorption technology to trap contaminants, FloClear cleans and restores the fountain solution used in web and sheetfed press dampening systems to a fresh-mixed condition. "I'm going to buy it."

Genicap Supergraphx

Genicap Corporation

This revolutionary series of software plugins and standalone products uses a recently discovered algorithm (the Gielis Super-formula) to simplify the core technology used to define and create simple and complex shapes in 2D and 3D.

Inline Diecutting Unit (Speedmaster SM 52)

Heidelberg

A rotary inline diecutting unit for the Speedmaster SM 52 lets printers finish 20-inch work on the press in a single pass at press speed (up to 15,000 sheets per hour). "Perfect for the printer who is finding more and more customers asking for elaborately finished small-format work."

Hammermill Color Copy Gloss

International Paper

Can reliably run in electrophotographic printers and copiers. It overcomes the shortcomings of blistering and feeding jams in equipment, giving small and medium-size commercial printers the flexibility of digital printing.

Rollin Stabil X Offset Blanket Technology

MacDermid Printing Solutions

The first significant advancement in blankets since the arrival of the compressible layer in the 1960s, Stabil X replaces traditional nitrile rubber and cotton fabric with polymers and high-tech synthetic fibers.

VISION 3 Engraving Head

Max Daetwyler

The VISION 3 head increases publication and packaging printer productivity by using electronic sensing and the highest engraving speeds available to provide both speed and cell depth. "It provides the quality of security printing."

Applause No-process Plates

Presstek

The plate consists of a hydrophilic ceramic coating (titanium carbide) applied to an ink-receptive substrate (polyester film). "You can see the innovation in this truly processless plate."

Confirm Service

United States Postal Service

Mailers use a special PLANET Code barcode on their mail pieces. When mail pieces with PLANET Codes are processed, electronic records are created that can be sent directly to the mailer or accessed online from a website.

iGen3 Digital Press

Xerox

The xerographic colour press delivers new dimensions in imaging, paper handling, and process control. Most notable to this year's judges were the print quality and inline finishing capabilities.

PersonalEffect

XMPie

This modular software suite makes variable documents for cross-media use. Output streams can be generated for print, email, the Web, and mobile devices. "It simplifies the entire process for anyone; I haven't seen anything that makes it as easy as this."

By PrintAction Staff