Printing Blankets Benefit From New R And D Boost

Rosanna Santorelli has been appointed as global technology leader by Trelleborg Printing Blankets, which manufactures the Vulcan range of blankets for offset presses.

In her new role Dr Santorelli will be responsible for overseeing the global research and development (R and D) resources of Trelleborg Printing Blankets.

She has global responsibility for Trelleborg Printing Blankets R and D and the staff who work in the various laboratories, which specialise in rubber, chemistry, mechanical engineering and blanket performance.

Dr Santorelli's appointment is part of Trelleborg's continuing investment in developing the design, manufacture and application of printing blankets, said the company.

She gained a degree in chemistry and a PhD in metallurgy and corrosion science at Universita' degli Studi di Milano in Italy and she has held a number of senior roles within research and development.

Those previous jobs have included a time as project manager for the National Electricity Board, ENEL and laboratory chief to the National Oil and Gas Company.

By 1997 she was working as a research and devlopmeng manager when she had responsibility for several technical teams dealing with special coatings, technical fabrics and energy production.

Trelleborg said that during her career Dr Santorelli has been actively involved with international working groups, to set standard specifications and develop methodologies for the characterisation of products for industrial applications.

She has also worked with leading research and development centres, universities and institutions throughout Europe.

Dr Santorelli said: "Part of the attraction of Trelleborg is its attitude to innovation and its philosophy to research.

In many organisations the development team works in almost total isolation and has little or no contact with other employees.

However, at Trelleborg Printing Blankets there is constant communication between all departments and this brings a fresh approach to research." She added: "People involved in creating new technology can benefit significantly from the interaction they have with sales and customer account personnel, as well as other technical staff and management." Dr Santorelli is based at Trelleborg's Lodi Vecchio factory in Italy, which is the largest of three facilities that manufacture and supply Vulcan blankets to printers throughout the world.

And she explained: "It's important to appreciate that Trelleborg Printing Blankets provides the graphic arts industry with products that helps to ensure consistent reproduction of high-quality images over long print runs, under a diverse variety of press conditions.

The technology behind that solution is huge, whilst the personnel involved in its success range from the technical staff who liaise with printers and press manufacturers to those manufacturing and packing the blankets and, of course, the R and D team." Dario Porta, president of Trelleborg Printing Blankets, said: "We are delighted that we have someone of Dr Santorelli's stature to spearhead the drive by our worldwide R and D departments in pushing forward the boundaries of blanket technology.

Last year the Trelleborg Group acquired Reeves Brothers, which produced the Vulcan range.

We expect the coming months to be productive and look forward to demonstrating our achievements to our OEM partners and customers at Drupa 2008.".

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