Thursday, 17th November 2011

MINIT Print, Pretoria, is no fly-by-night operation. Established 31 years ago as an instant print bureau it has developed into one of Pretoria’s largest and busiest commercial printers. Situated in retail premises alongside a pizzeria and coffee shops, its front window reveals a perfectly oiled, showroom-style print shop, where printing jobs hum all day long.

Taking pride of place in the factory now is the ultra-modern Scodix1200 UV Digital Enhancement Press, supplied by Kemtek Print Solutions. Stan Shiller, Minit Print’s owner, continually monitors the latest product developments and market trends and it was by coincidence, when he visited IPEX 2010, he stumbled on Scodix and was bowled over. ‘When I visited IPEX last year I wasn’t expecting anything as groundbreaking and magnificent as the Scodix technology,’ reveals Stan. ‘I took some samples away and showed my staff and they were blown away. I knew we had to have it’

This latest inkjet technology, pioneered by Scodix in Israel, has recently changed the standard in book cover printing and numerous other applications with its unique single-stage inkjet process of applying UV-cured ‘Scodink’ to create a raised 3D image, with no running or definition loss. With the Scodix1200 it’s possible to add dramatic impact to a short-run book cover, to provide subtle personalization to a mailer or give a gift card an extra lift. The opportunities are virtually endless. Before the Scodix1200 solution there were two costly methods to produce a raised glossy effect of UV and embossing; the use of two post-processes after printing, to apply and cure the varnish hand create the raised effect; and thermography, traditionally used for greeting cards and invitations.

Scodink is a unique material because its properties allow deposition of up to 70µm, to create araised effect with fine detail. The system has the potential to extend the capabilities of the traditional alternatives to 3D print enhancement. The inkjet droplet size means that halftone clear ink can be produced with detail not previously possible.

The Scodix1200 facilitates high relief, fast drying and different print effects all with the overriding requirement of product reliability. It’s also capable of Variable Data Printing (VDP) of the 3D clear ink, which allows operators to create personalized products or short-run versions. It’s low cost and efficient and adds another level of impact to digital print, matching the effects previously only obtained through traditional means. The eco-friendly press performs digital enhancement effects on demand with variable density,
gradations and a high gloss level.

Capable of applying either glossy or matt effects on selective areas, using proprietary registration technology based on cameras, the Scodix1200 adds tangible depth, texture and a whole new dimension to images and text to litho- and digitally-printed sheets.

‘With Scodix’ versatile digital enhancement we now have the flexibility to add value to a wide range of applications from commercial jobbing to wedding invitations,’ Stan confirms. ‘Those customers that have already seen the results with Scodix have been amazed and have repeatedly used its effects on their products. I think it’s very important to offer customers a complete range of services and Scodix has exceeded all expectations,’ concludes Stan.

Stan Shiller, owner of Minit Print, Pretoria has been bowled over by the capabilities of his new Scodix 1200 UV Digital Enhancement Press, supplied by Kemtek Print Solutions. 

Article link – https://www.kemtek.co.za/newsarticle_print.htm?contentID=68