Product category:
Printing Presses and Machinery (New and Used, Service and Repair)
News Release from: KBA North America | Subject: Genius 52 UV waterless press
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 August 2007
UV Waterless Press's Success With
Lenticular Print
Retailer and manufacturer of 3-D motion lenticular products, Motion Imaging, has achieved over one million impressions of lenticular sheets on its KBA Genius 52 UV waterless press in less than a year.
The Genius 52 UV, which was installed in August 2006, according to KBA North America, has driven Motion Imaging to a two-shift operation and will necessitate a move from its current premises to a larger 35,000 square foot facility in early 2008 The press is claimed by KBA to be the world's first waterless UV sheetfed offset press
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 10 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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The maximum sheet size is 14 and three sixteenths inches x 20.5" and it can operate at 8,000 sheets per hour (sph), added the company, which also claimed that the Genius 52 UV has the world's widest stock range in its class - from 60lb to 32pt.
The company believes that printers are attracted to the Genius 52 because of its anilox roller-based short-run inking system, its single impression cylinder, waterless technology, make-ready times of less than five minutes, its startup waste of less than 10 sheets and its print quality.
The Genius 52 UV press with keyless inking, waterless technology, extended delivery and dryers is designed to print on a variety of paper, board and plastics, such as lenticular, ABS, PVC nd PC, for instance.
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Offset and digital printing company The Mallard Press in Lombard, Illinois (USA) is delivering fast, high-quality four-color jobs using its new KBA-Metronic Genius 52 UV press.
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It features an automatic plate changing device that guarantees short set-up times, reliable reproducibility and offset quality, said KBA.
The press's control console features a touch screen display that can be slid from one end of the machine to the other for access.
The press prints in five colours with UV curing inks that are said to rapidly and completely harden through an integrated drying system, allowing further processing, such as laminating or punching immediately afterwards with no waiting period.
To generate the images needed for the lenticular process, Motion Imaging hires photographers to take consecutive shots of sports players to use for the lenticular process.
Once the image is obtained, the firm's artists place the player in a special configuration with the player's name and team logo.
Plates are generated on a Kodak Trendsetter platesetter for the Genius.
Once the sheets are produced on the press, they are sent to a local die-cutter to be cut for use on cups, notebooks, or any other purpose.
Once they have been finished, they are returned to Motion Imaging for fulfillment.
Robert Thompson, founder and president of Motion Imaging, said: "When we first began the business in 2002, we would out-source the production of lenticular printing.
But when I read about the Genius 52 UV press from KBA, I felt that we could bring production under our own roof and grow the business much faster.
During the last 12 months, the Genius has given us higher quality, faster turn-around, and more production." And he added: "In the end, we depend on the quality and fast production of the Genius.
If we produce a lenticular piece that is not high quality and not on time, we don't have anything to sell to our customers.
We can't miss a deadline as we have 40,000 stores nationwide waiting for our products." Today, Motion Imaging's business is broken in to two segments.
Seventy-five per cent is for the retail market and 25 per cent is for the custom manufacturing market.
The retail market includes posters, magnets, cups, notebooks, portfolios, calendars and point-of-purchase displays with 3D imagery featuring the likenesses of different Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and National Hockey League, or Disney and Nickelodeon characters.
Those items are sold at large chain retailers throughout the United States.
The custom manufacturing market features certain items for one company not sold through the retail outlets by Motion Imaging.
For example, the firm has produced a specialised 3-D lenticular box for the new Transformer movie.
Ed Heffernan, KBA North America's district sales manager, commented: "Robert Thompson and his staff have taken a concept of selling high-end lenticular pieces in a particular niche and becoming successful and profitable.
We're pleased that our Genius 52 UV press, which was recognised as a winner by the GATF Intertech committee in 2006, is a cornerstone of its success and continues to produce sports and entertainment lenticular pieces for customers all over the country." Part of the firm's success is being able to quickly produce an athlete's image on a variety of products in a short amount of time.
For example, when the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl earlier this year, Motion Imaging had eye-catching lenticular items with Peyton Manning's image out on store shelves within three days of the game.
The key to that success is the quality, fast production, and efficiency of the Genius press, added KBA.
Thompson continued: "When I first looked in to lenticular printing, the big problems were delays in plastic substrate production, delays in turn-around and reproduction and pre-press issues.
My experience in the ad agency business gave me the ability to decipher high-quality printed work.
I found that the Genius from KBA delivered on its promises and produced high-quality lenticular pieces.
I have truly partnered with KBA in my business.
When I need help, whether it be training or service, the company responds immediately." KBA said that it continues to keep the firm's employees up to date with knowledge on producing lenticular.
Once the press was installed, the firm sent four of its employees to the week-long lenticular seminar at the KBA North America headquarters in Williston, Vermont.
Beth Humphrey of Motion Imaging, said: "Going through the lenticular printing process from start to finish really helped me to understand all that needs to be done.
Having the team of experts on hand was great." Motion Imaging has been producing exciting 3D-Motion lenticular projects for five years.
The firm produces posters, magnets, cups, notebooks, portfolios, calendars and point-of-purchase displays with brilliant 3D imagery.
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