MINIT Print, Pretoria, has invested in the ultra-modern Scodix1200 UV Digital Enhancement Press, supplied by Kemtek Print Solutions. Established 31 years ago as an instant print bureau, the company has developed into one of Pretoria’s largest and busiest commercial printers.
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 press, it’s possible to add dramatic impact to a short-run book cover, to provide subtle personalisation to a mailer or give a gift card an extra lift. The opportunities are virtually endless.
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 the expo, I wasn’t expecting anything as groundbreaking and magnificent as the Scodix technology,’ said Shiller. ‘I took some samples away and showed my staff and they were blown away. I knew we had to have it.’
Before the 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 and 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 70?m, to create a raised 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 press 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 personalised 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 matte effects on selective areas, using proprietary registration technology based on cameras, the press adds tangible depth, texture and a whole new dimension to images and text to litho- and digitally-printed sheets.
‘With Scodix’s versatile digital enhancement, we now have the flexibility to add value to a wide range of applications from commercial jobbing to wedding invitations,’ said Shiller. ‘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,’ concluded Shiller.
