ISP - July/August 2013 - 26

This microscope-slide printer from Systematic Automation loads, registers, cleans,
screen prints, and densely populates trays
in rows of printed slides.

fully, but variances in materials, when the
requirements are so specific, are out of our
hands and often out of our clients’ hands.
The materials—or the product design
itself—can make or break a custom-engineered system. It can put us in a real David
vs. Goliath situation, and in this situation,
we’re David!
Bolduc: As would be expected, a custom
system may have limitations that the
customer imposed on it. They want to run
a certain product at a certain speed with a
certain accuracy, but they didn’t really want
the other possibilities that may go with that.
A customer who uses a system to make
diabetes-test strips probably isn’t going to
print conductive inks with it. For customizable, off-the-shelf systems, if the machine
were specified correctly, they can always
add to it. It’s not so much of a drawback

unless you’ve specified something that’s too
small and you need a bigger format.
let’s talk aBout features.
Bolduc: In a custom-engineered application, the customer may have included
components that are specific to them
and are limited because they may need
a certain type of web cleaner or tension
device or a device that meters certain types
of inks. A lot of features are available on
a custom system: varnishing, laminating,
cutting (including diecutting), sheeting,
rewinding/unwinding, stacking, flex heads,
offset heads, screen printing (flat or rotary),
gravure, inkjet, coating, drying with UV
or LED-UV, drying with IR or hot air,
embossing, hot foil, and more.

scanning vision systems. Where we found
we were not the experts, we partnered with
companies that are. So we can offer highspeed, 3D, post-solder-paste inspection
using CyberOptics technology; solderpaste-dispensing solutions from Asymtek;
and Opteon’s progressive scanning vision
technology.
What Is the most effectIve Way for a
prInter to Work WIth a manufacturer
to select the rIght system?
gilberti: It is recommended that a buyer
meet with the machinery manufacturer
face to face. Tour the facility, have an
engineering-review meeting, and go over
all aspects of the project.

gilberti: Custom features can include part
pre-cleaning, vision inspection for printed
parts, automatic loading, automatic takeoff,
built-in drying or curing, and more.

Brodeur: For you have to look at the risk
factors; if it’s custom, as to what needs to
change based on the off-the-shelf version.
The goal is to deliver the best system with
the least amount of risk.

Brodeur: We’ve integrated features we feel
belong in custom systems, including 3D
inspection technology, dot dispensing, and

Bolduc: It all starts with a phone call. On
that first call, we engage the customer to
try to understand the application. Once we

26 | IndustrIal + specIalt y prIntIng www.industrial-printing.net
ISP - July/August 2013

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