Product category:
Inkjet, Laser, Digital, Thermal, Graphics, Wide Format Printing Systems
News Release from: Domino Printing Sciences plc | Subject: Macrojet
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 June 2006
Batch Change-Over Times Cut By 90% By
Coder
Aluminium alloy sheet manufacturer Dolgarrog Aluminium in Conwy (north Wales) has benefited from a 90 per cent reduction in batch change-over times.
Aluminium alloy sheet manufacturer Dolgarrog Aluminium in Conwy (north Wales) has benefited from a 90 per cent reduction in batch change-over times That follows the installation of three Domino twin-headed valve jet Macrojet printers and control software
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 26 Feb 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Water-washable ink solves platemaking problem
A new ink enables essential instructional data to be printed onto printing plates
Domino's Inkjet Finds Niche With Software Printer
Beshara Press, the niche printing company for the software publishing industry, has invested in a Domino A400 to produce unique numbers on the back cover of manuals.
Dolgarrog Aluminium, the independent aluminium rolling mill, supplies sheet metals and plates for companies such as Airbus UK Limited, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Westland Helicopters, all of which require stringent quality checks and product approvals, said Domino.
The complexity of ensuring end product quality and traceability requires Dolgarrog to print trace and item codes at regular intervals on every finished aluminium sheet, prior to them being packaged and despatched to the customer.
Dolgarrog was originally printing the information using three stand-alone drop on demand ink jet technology printers, but was experiencing difficulties in reliably obtaining clear print, small enough to meet specifications.
Further reading
Trade Printer Adds Domino Inkjet Personilisation
Folio Bristol Ltd has ordered a Jetarray ink printer and Editor GT controller from Domino Commercial Printing in order to extend its range of trade services.
50,000 And Counting For Ink Jet Printer Sales
Domino has made the shipment of its 50,000th A-Series printer - what it claims to be the world's best-selling continuous inkjet printer.
Total Variable Data Ink Jet Printing On Show
The commercial printing division of Domino, will exhibit the latest product from its range of variable data print systems at Labelexpo Americas - the ON Demand system.
After researching a range of coding and marking alternatives, the company found that Domino's Macrojet printers, based on valve jet technology, provided the best overall solution.
Graham Williams, quality manager at Dolgarrog Aluminium, explained: "We really needed a coding system that would not only allow us to print smaller, yet still readable characters, but it was crucial it could also deliver a very fast drying time.
Our aluminium sheets pass through oiling rollers within just two seconds of printing, so it was essential that this coding printer would still enable us to maintain an efficient production process.
In addition, the ink had to adhere firmly to the non-porous, smooth surface of the metal and withstand repeated handling, whilst still being able to remove it at end product stage, without damaging the integrity of the aluminium." Said to be compact, efficient and reliable even in the most demanding production environments, Macrojet printers produce coding on to a number of different substrates, including metal, PVC, card, wood, sacking and other surfaces.
Ink replacement is infrequent and printing can take place on a variety of irregular shaped objects at a distance of up to 15mm, said Domino.
Williams continued: "These Macrojet printers have an excellent reputation for delivering reliable and cost-effective variable data printing (VDP), whilst the quality of print produced by the valve jets is excellent.
Setting up the Macrojet printer is very simple and can be seamlessly integrated in to existing production lines.
A unique product barcode is assigned to each print job and the operator uses a hand-held barcode scanner to scan the document, which includes links to all job specific VDP information including specification, alloy, temper, size, batch number and customer specific information." And Williams further commented that the company is extremely satisfied with the reliability and performance of the Macrojets, which have been networked in to the company's ERP system and have enabled it to increase the efficiency and automation of the production line.
He concluded: "Not only have we seen a significant 90 per cent reduction in batch change-over times, we now have the capabilities and scope to tailor our coding and printing to meet the specific needs of our customers, whilst eliminating errors due to inputting.
Furthermore, the continuing technical support and assistance from the Domino team has been second to none.".
• Domino Printing Sciences plc: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Printingtalk email newsletter
• Printingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
