PFFC - March 2009 - (Page 55) SEMI-ROTARY PRESSES An example of a shaftless semi-rotary (intermittent) web press that features a flexo ink system (anilox roller) with an offset image carrier. The benefits are no ink keys with a short roller train, providing offset quality print. fering amounts of web travel, which equates to differing print repeats. Letterpress was the print method of choice until the 1990s when offset was introduced into the world of semirotary. The main reason was that quality expectations of buyers and designers alike became more demanding. Fine vignettes and text on the same WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM plate as a solid caused many production hurdles for flexography and letterpress. Offset provides excellent image reproduction in CMYK with the full range of screens available. In tandem with the substrates that were being developed, for example, clear stock, image reproduction required the more refined process of offset. The achievable quality now has led to semi-rotary web presses being used to print for the health and beauty aids and personal care markets, which are well known for their exceptional standards. Wine and spirit labels were the entry point for many semi-rotary presses in the 1990s. The labels printed today must be more eye- catching and have the necessary aggressive shelf appeal that offset can produce. Offset also introduced cost reductions when compared to flexo. Offset plates typically are 15% the cost of flexo and are easier, quicker, and more accurate to mount. Waste is reduced, as a semirotary press has a straightthrough web path, not looped MARCH 2009 | 55 http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM
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