All About Newspapers

QuadTech's AccuCam system stands
amongst a dozen innovative technologies

Designed specifically for the newspaper printing environment, QuadTech’s Color Control and Web Inspection System with AccuCam helps newspaper printers penetrate into high-quality colour advertising markets, adding capabilities to open new revenue streams and reduce costs.

The world?s largest graphic arts trade association, Printing Industries of America announced twelve technologies selected to receive 2012 InterTech Technology Awards. These winning technologies include: Kodak NexPress Red Fluorescing Solution, Enterworks Enable, i-cut Suite, Fujifilm J Press 720, Prinect Performance Benchmarking, Keen MIS and Web-to-Print, Color Control and Web Inspection System with AccuCam, SunPak LMQ, iTechnique, Avatrex Transportable Imaging, Xeikon X-800 VariLane, and i1Pro 2, which come from Eastman Kodak Company, Enterworks, Esko, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Heidelberg USA, Keen Systems, QuadTech, Sun Chemical, Technique Business Systems Ltd, Utopia Digital Technologies, Xeikon, and X-Rite Incorporated, respectively. Since 1978, the award has ?honoured the development of technologies predicted to have a major impact on the graphic communications and related industries?.

The independent panel of judges deliberated over many technology nominations ranging from digital presses and related enhancements to a variety of mobile and web-based software. Great strides in technology were demonstrated in colour measurement and control, layout and finishing, security and low migration inks, inkjet and label presses, printable coatings, pressroom analytics, management information systems, and product content management and publishing. Technologies were selected from those nominated for a variety of reasons, but the judges felt they all met the award criteria of being truly innovative and expected them to have a major impact on the graphic communications industry. What follows is a description of the technology and its significance to the field. The InterTech star, a symbol of technological innovation and excellence, will be presented before an audience of industry leaders during the 2012 Premier Print Awards Gala featuring the InterTech Technology Awards and web2awards, on October 7, in Chicago, Illinois.

Amongst the winners of the 2012 InterTech Technology Awards, QuadTech?s Color Control and Web Inspection System with AccuCam uses a spectral sensor to examine the entire printed image, without the need for control bars. It monitors colour and adjusts inking while detecting a variety of print issues, including switched plates. The judges hailed its unique ability to spot scumming and automatically adjust water.

According to Dr Mark Bohan, vice president, technology and research at Printing Industries of America, ?The judges were impressed with the system?s ability to control colour and provide automatic water control to minimize scumming in newspapers. As one of the judges said, ?I wish I had this in the past. It would have made my life so much easier!? Colour control without colour bars is the future. This eliminates waste and enhances the visual appearance of print.?

The AccuCam system provides fully automatic closed-loop colour control by controlling the ink-key settings. Using pre-press image files to create L*a*b* target aim point values, its proprietary six-channel spectral sensor measures the printed web and calculates the L*a*b* values of the entire image. Then the system brings the printed image to the specified target values and automatically maintains the colour quality throughout the production run.

Besides advanced image-based colour control, the system also provides reliable warnings of many common printing faults such as catch up (scumming), creasing, transposed plates, and tramlines. Recent research and development efforts have resulted in a new AccuCam water control capability, in which the system monitors and controls press damping levels.

?We?re honoured to receive this recognition from Printing Industries of America. Our AccuCam technology is the result of close development partnerships with some of the most advanced printers in the world,? commented Karl Fritchen, president of QuadTech. ?The AccuCam system has a proven track record of reducing waste and delivering consistent quality. Our development partnerships will help us to continue adding more features and capabilities?further strengthening printers? ability to grow and increase profit margins. We?re very excited about what AccuCam can do for newspaper and retail insert printers throughout the world,? added Vince Balistrieri, QuadTech director of engineering and GM of commercial and newspapers.