PFFC - October 2007 - (Page 39)

ow does a prime label converter manage to maintain and grow market share in the heart of the rustbelt? Certainly not by clinging to the technologies and ideas of yesterday. Instead, it anticipates and adapts to its changing market, challenging common perceptions about the ways things are done. It makes the “commitment to invest in technology” something more than a slogan on its website, and it partners with vendors to make smart equipment purchases. H That’s precisely the formula Gintzler Graphics is using. Since its beginning in 1916 as a typical “letter shop,” the company has evolved over the decades through sheet, pressure-sensitive, and roll label converting. By the 1970s, Gintzler recognized the growth potential in narrow web labels and began to move away from the offset and tape businesses. Today Gintzler’s 54,000-sq-ft facility serves several operations ranging from prime labels (health, beauty, pharmaceutical, and food) to converting. Also included is the company’s shrink-sleeve operation, which has experienced dramatic growth in recent years. “We focus on short- to medium-run, high quality prime labeling,” says president Franklin Nice. “We can do any kind of pressure-sensitive label, and we do some specialty flexible packaging—nonpressure-sensitive pouching materials and material converting. We primarily have Gallus equipment, both rotary letterpress and ultraviolet flexography.” Gintzler Graphics believes in investing in technology and a variety of it. It considers its wide range of capabilities a key to market flexibility and customer satisfaction. But until a few years ago, and despite this open-minded outlook, Gintzler had never considered automatic roll changing as a production enhancement. For years, printers believed automatic splicing was primarily for lower quality, high-volume printers, not for a high quality, shorter-run house like Gintzler. “That’s definitely how we see ourselves,” Nice concurs. “And that was a pretty common belief that we probably shared. But as the market changes, needs change. We discovered that automatic splicing has a valuable place in a short-run, high quality shop like ours.” Costly Substrates Bring Change Where Servo Serves Best Gintzler Graphics’ next press, like many new presses on the market, will be servo driven. Does this technology in a press carry over to automatic splicing? Not necessarily, says Gintzler president Frank Nice. “Quite frankly, the thought never entered my mind. The place where servos can be used efficiently is in the print units, where there are a lot of critical registration and tension issues, but I don’t see a need for them on our splicers. The splicers work very well and very consistently as is, and I’m not sure how servos would enhance their performance. In fact, it might make things more complicated while not improving anything.” According to Jim Ward, VP of engineering for Martin Automatic, “The term ‘servo press’ can have different meanings depending on the press design. When properly applied, servo technology is a tool for holding tight register and maintaining tension within the press. Today’s servo technology combined with the latest press controls can provide a much quicker response to registration variations. It can even anticipate certain events and dramatically improve the performance of the press. “On the other hand,” Ward continues, “this technology does not provide the same benefits to all components. Automatic unwinding and splicing systems have a unique set of challenges, including running out-of-round rolls, continuously changing roll diameters, and severe changes in roll weight. The precision motion control offered by servo systems has very little benefit for these applications.” Ward concludes, “A ‘fits-all’ technology solution, servo or otherwise, is rarely in the printer’s best interest. It really comes down to asking questions and then applying sound engineering and the appropriate technology to each project to deliver the best performance and return on investment.” OCTOBER 2007 | 39 The definition of quality is evolving constantly in the eye of the customer. The never-ending quest for shelf appeal has led to the use of more costly substrates, particularly among Gintzler’s core clientele of health and beauty, pharmaceutical, and gourmet foods. uConverter Infot uGintzler Graphics Inc. | 100 Lawrence Bell Dr., Buffalo, NY 14221 | 716-631-9700 | www.gintzler.com WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM http://www.gintzler.com http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PFFC - October 2007

PFFC - October 2007 Contents First Glance From the Editor Calendar of Events Web Lines Process Management Package Converting News Clips Narrow Web & Label Reporter Narrow Web & Label What’s New Products Bagmaking Slitting/Rewinding Digital Printing EB Flexo Web Handling Paperboard Packaging Security Packaging Business Transactions What’s New Products Focus: Unwinds & Rewinds Trade Show in Print Services Directory Classified Marketplace Equipment Buyers & Sellers Advertisers Index thePLACE Experience Speaks

PFFC - October 2007

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