Ink & Ink Dispensers
Automate ink processes to unlock value!
Maarten Hummelen, marketing director and co-founder of GSE, says ink management soſtware is bringing greater automation to the packaging print workflow – making converters more efficient and responsive
F
or packaging and label printers serving the retail goods and pharmaceutical markets, spot colours are a regular feature of the job schedule. They are preferred for their consistency in accurately reproducing special colour shades demanded by brand-owner customers. Spot colour inks can be harder to manage and account for than other raw materials, because of their ‘non-linear’ routes through the printing house’s workflow, in which inks are mixed together or frequently returned from the press for use in new jobs. These problems are solved with new software programs, automating ink-related processes such as inventory control, colour-making and tracing of raw materials. Designed for the cyclical route taken by spot colour ingredients, the software features advanced data- handling and machine-to-machine connectivity, to make flexo, gravure and screen printing workflows faster, more reliable and more efficient. Here are some software innovation highlights at various steps in the workflow:
INVENTORY CONTROL
Ink inventory control software provides simplified purchasing, real-time stock level visibility, and traceability of ink ingredients.
It does so by providing straightforward record- keeping at three ink-handling stages: Generation of purchasing advice notes – enabling the user to raise orders for new inks, in quantities matching demand levels; Booking-in base inks when they arrive from the supplier; and Connection of base inks to the ink dispenser.
As inks pass from one stage to the next, the user updates the status of the ink barrel, and the software automatically updates data on stock level availability in the warehouse and at the dispenser. At the dispenser, it records the ink dispensed for each job and keeps a historical log of all connected barrels – allowing ink ingredients to be traced from supplier batch to customer order.
COLOUR RECIPE CREATION AND ADJUSTMENTS
The ability to add new colours and modify colour formulas is important for packaging printers. A brand extension, a market trial and even a change of substrate for the same brand graphics can require a new ink formula.
A new ink management software module can
converter generate traceability reports instantly, and comply with the most stringent quality standards used for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging, like GMP.
Monitoring barrels connected to the dispenser and the ingredients of each dispensing job, the software links all vital data for tracing ink ingredients from the raw materials supplier to the customer order. Whenever requested, the software can generate traceability reports instantly, linking batches with jobs and vice-versa.
In the event of a safety concern, any affected packages or labels can be identified and remedial action can be taken swiftly, limiting costs.
TRANSFERRING DATA BETWEEN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS An interface connects the ink management software other management information systems such as ERP software. This allows importing data such as a job’s graphic design details and order quantity requirements, to
import new and corrected ink formulas generated by ink formulation software, without the need to re-enter data.
RE-USING RETURNED INKS AS BASE COLOURS
The standard way to reuse press-returns is to store the leftover ink from each printing station in a dedicated container – normally a bucket – until it is recalled for the next suitable job. However, with a new software module, converters consuming large ink volumes can save space, handling and administration by ‘clustering’ their returns. ‘Clustering’ is when leftover inks with a similar colour are collected together in one large barrel. The barrel is then connected to the ink dispenser and treated as a base colour ingredient in new ink recipes.
INK BATCH TRACEABILITY An ink traceability software module helps the
calculate required ink quantities for production; and exporting inventory changes such as the arrival of new stock, or booked-in press returns. Integrating software packages within the printing house speeds up many processes, from colour preparation to management reporting, avoiding administration.
FASTER RESPONSE, REDUCED COSTS Software modules are available in bespoke packages, with ink management software suites such as GSE’s Ink manager. Your software provider can advise the best combination, usually suited to application. Handling ink need not involve lots of administration and cumbersome data entry. By automating these processes, the latest ink management bring faster response times, reduced administration costs, improved decision-making and lower risk of error - while staff can focus on higher-value problem-solving tasks.
36
May 2023
www.convertermag.com
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