Posted on Tue, Apr 24, 2012
Danvers, MA (April 24, 2012) TECHKON USA – the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the global print and packaging communities, announced today that it will showcase the new SpectroEdge for flexo presses at drupa 2012.
Based on TECHKON’s leading-edge color measurement technology, TECHKON SpectroEdge is an inline spectrophotometer that gives flexographic press operators the ability to measure and maintain accurate color at standard production speeds, instead of only at a roll change or when the job is complete. SpectroEdge reads the color bars on your sheet and instantly interprets the color values sent to your host computer. It mounts directly on the press, capturing real-time spectral data at print production speeds up to 1000ft/minute (300m/minute), without the need to stop the press, and reports “on-the-fly” color variations as they occur, eliminating costly waste.
The new SpectroEdge is designed to work in conjunction with the ChromQA software recently developed by Techkon USA. “Immediate access to accurate press run information is critical to any printer making real-time color quality control decisions on press,” reports George Adam, TECHKON USA President. “The combination of SpectroEdge and ChromaQA gives you full color control in real-time, whether you are in the pressroom or hundreds of miles away. Each of these products make a critical difference in the customer satisfaction of your print job, and can have significant impact on the profitability of day-to-day operations, no matter if you are a single and multi plant operation.”
The new TECHKON SpectroEdge and ChromaQA are commercially available, easily implemented and suitable for a wide range of flexo environments. Working either individually or in tandem, their capabilities include:
SpectroEdge
- Drives color measurement at press speeds of 1000 ft/min (300 meters/min)
- Measures 3000 samples per second, reporting 31 spectral bands and providing CIE L*a*b, CIE L*C*h* and status T & E densities
- Utilizes TECHKON patent-pending automatic color bar recognition and alignment features, measuring color bars printed along the paper feed path
ChromaQA
- Color Quality Assurance Cloud Software offers both client server and single seat versions
- Enables print specifiers, quality control managers and press room managers to create and monitor print jobs locally or remotely, managing all required customer information, color values, and target tolerances required to print the job
- Posts job information to the cloud (or company Intranet) so multiple presses and/or plants printing the same job may all access the same target color tolerances and values, and color data from multiple presses
- Manages custom color libraries, analyzes color quality and tracks and reports trending
Visit us at drupa (Hall 09 Stand D62) to see demonstrations of these exciting new products. More information at: www.techkonusa.com/
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have led to highly successful implementations by leading commercial, digital and large packaging printers and OEM press manufacturers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings.
TECHKON . . . We measure color and more.
Posted on Tue, Apr 17, 2012
Danvers, MA (April 17, 2012) TECHKON USA – the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the global print and packaging communities, announced today that it will unveil ChromaQA®, its new cloud-based color quality assurance solution at drupa 2012.
Based on TECHKON’s superior color measurement and control technology, ChromaQA is a powerful set of tools designed to provide both direct and remote access to pressroom color data, allowing print quality control managers to monitor color quality in real-time on press, locally or globally. It empowers digital, flexographic, and packaging press operators to make timely, critical adjustments on press, substantially increasing quality and profitability by catching problems early in the print production process.
ChromaQA software comes in two versions: the Standard and Cloud editions. The Standard edition is for single-seat installations that do not require remote access. ChromaQA Cloud edition is designed to allow larger organizations with multiple presses and print facilities to remotely manage and monitor customer jobs via the Internet or company Intranet.
“Immediate access to accurate press run information is critical to any printer making real-time color quality control decisions on press,” reports George Adam, TECHKON USA President. “TECHKON ChromaQA is the tool that gives you full color control, whether in the pressroom or hundreds of miles away. It makes the difference in the customer satisfaction of your print job, and can have significant impact on the profitability of day-to-day operations, no matter if you are a single and multi-plant operation.”
Sophisticated, yet easy to use, TECHKON ChromaQA software provides press operators or quality control personnel a wide range of functionality, including the ability to measure color control bars and receive immediate, intuitive feedback on how well the job is both performing on press and conforming to customer tolerances. Print quality control managers and press operators all benefit from using ChromaQA by:
- Efficiency of monitoring press room results either locally or remotely, and receiving press room data in real-time during press run
- Savings of catching color problems early in the press run and avoiding remakes
- Ease of using an intuitive interface to configure job specifications and color bars
- Versatility of importing colors from multiple industry standard file formats like MIF, CXF, CXF3, TCB, .INK and Excel CSV
- Speed of choosing previously created tolerance settings used in other print jobs
- Convenience of simply creating and saving configured color bars for use in other print jobs, eliminating the need to create a new color bar for every job
- Productivity of exporting detailed Trending and Statistical Reports in PDF or Excel CSV formats for consideration in future press runs
ChromaQA software can be fully integrated with TECHKON’s wide array of color measurement devices that includes: TECHKON SpectroDens®, TECHKON SpectroDensXL®, TECHKON SpectroJet®, TECHKON SpectroDrive® and TECHKON SpectroEdge®, as well as devices from other leading manufacturers.
Visit us at drupa (Hall 09 Stand D62) to see demonstrations of our exciting new products.
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have led to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings.
Posted on Tue, Apr 03, 2012
Orange County Container Group Installs Industry’s Largest Color Scanning System
Danvers, MA (April 3, 2012) TECHKON USA – the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the global print and packaging communities, announced today that Orange County Container Group LLC (“OCC Group”), a leading integrated paperboard and paper-based packaging manufacturer with locations in both the U.S. and Mexico, has installed the industry’s largest custom SpectroDrive® automated color measurement scanning system. Developed by TECHKON , this SpectroDrive system was manufactured with a custom 78” scanning track to meet specific color control and production requirements for OCC Group’s package printing facility in Tijuana, Mexico.
TECHKON USA’s ability to design, manufacture and install a superior technological solution to meet OCC Group’s unique color measurement needs made them the number one choice for this project. The TECHKON SpectroDrive system consists of two components: the motorized measurement system which scans the complete color bar on a printed sheet within seconds; and the TECHKON Expresso® software, which simultaneously receives the spectral measurement data wirelessly on a PC where all the relevant information for controlling the printing press is displayed.
This customized TECHKON SpectroDrive, with its automated color and density measurement capabilities mounted on the 78” track, enables press operators to read 52 individual ink zones across the presssheet. Instantaneously, SpectroDrive wirelessly communicates highly accurate color data via the TECHKON Expresso software interface and allows operators to make critical color corrections on press and substantially increase productivity by ensuring consistent print-to-print accuracy throughout the press run.
“The speed, accuracy and versatility of TECHKON’s proven color scanning technology is why Orange County Container Group LLC chose to partner with us,” reports George Adam, TECHKON President. “TECHKON SpectroDrive design is sophisticated, ergonomically friendly, and adaptable to special packaging requirements. I believe this custom implementation of the 78” track will ensure higher productivity and consistent color accuracy for OCC Group.”
As a multi-site packaging printer for Dos Equis, Panasonic and other major brands, successful implementation of this solution was as critical to OCC Group as the design itself. TECHKON USA’s technical team worked closely with plant management to assess current production, understand specific packaging needs, and design an implementation plan.— with the measurement of an entire 78” color bar in less than 15 seconds and the swift display of highly accurate spectral color data at their fingertips, OCC Group press operators could react quickly to changing pressroom conditions. They found the TECHKON Expresso software to be very intuitive and easy to navigate, and with the ability to analyze post press data, they can continuously deliver a quality product that exceeds their packaging customers’ expectations.
Key advantages of this TECHKON SpectroDrive system are:
- Speed – scanning a 78" press sheet in less than 15 seconds
- Dual Functionality – multi-tasking as an automatic scanner or as a hand-held device for "spot check" measurements
- G7 Compliance – with recommended ink key specific adjustments of C,M,Y densities to obtain neutral values according to the G7 specification
- Flexibility – allowing the ink zone control strip to be printed and measured anywhere on the press sheet
- Accuracy – measuring density and color with the InkCheck feature, which suggests ink key specific density changes to obtain highly accurate color
“Orange County Container Group has notably one of the larger presses we have seen,” states Bob Byrnes, Director of Technical Services. “With Techkon’s technical support, OCC Group was able to implement the SpectroDrive scanning system very rapidly and bring SpectroDrive into full production on the first live job, scanning multiple sheets with greater efficiency, after only one day of training.”
In addition to TECHKON SpectroDrive®, TECHKON offers a wide array of color measurement solutions that includes: TECHKON SpectroDens®, TECHKON SpectroDensXL®, TECHKON SpectroPlate®, TECHKON SpectroJet®, and TECHKON SpectroEdge® More information at: www.techkonusa.com/
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have lead to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings.
TECHKON . . . We measure color and more.
Posted on Wed, Mar 21, 2012
Danvers, MA (March 21, 2012) TECHKON – the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the global print and packaging communities, announced today that All Printing Resources (APR) was named an authorized dealer. APR will focus on the Techkon color measurement instruments that serve the Flexographic market including the SpectroDens, SpectroJet, and SpectroEdge.
Based in Glendale Heights, Illinois, APR is unique in its ability to act as a value-added reseller, fabricator, and manufacturer’s representative. With 7 locations across the United States, APR will be committed to providing customers with an in-depth sales and technical perspective on the ergonomics, speed, and accuracy of Techkon color measurement instruments.
“We are extremely pleased to bring APR on board as an Authorized Dealer of Techkon products” states George Adam, President of Techkon USA. “All Printing Resources brings a unique expertise in the Flexo marketplace particularly well suited to our focus on providing the very best in instrumentation and solutions for the packaging industry.”
APR showcased some of the Techkon USA instruments at the InfoFlex 2012 Tradeshow in San Antonio, Texas. InfoFlex was the perfect venue for both companies given its’ focus on packaging, printing, and converting. Richard Black, Director Digital Solutions of APR is excited about the upcoming opportunities with the Techkon instruments and states “the SpectroDens is by far the nicest Spectro unit I have ever used”.
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have lead to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings.
Posted on Tue, Jan 10, 2012
Danvers, MA (January 10, 2012) TECHKON – the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the global print and packaging communities, announced today that Rose City Printing and Packaging, a commercial packaging company with locations in Vancouver WA and Gresham OR, has installed three new SpectroDrive® automated color measurement scanning systems. Two of the three systems employed custom 60” tracks to meet specific production requirements in their advanced printing facility. The SpectroDrive will enable higher productivity, faster makeready and a substantial savings in consumables, while significantly reducing waste – a high priority for this “Lean Manufacturing” site.
The TECHKON SpectroDrive, with its automated color and density measurement capabilities is the perfect solution to substantially increase press productivity by ensuring consistent print-to-print accuracy throughout the press run. The system consists of two components: the motorized measurement system which scans the complete color bar on a printed sheet within seconds; and the TECHKON Expresso software, which simultaneously receives the spectral measurement data wirelessly on a PC where all the relevant information for controlling the printing press is displayed.
Key advantages of the TECHKON SpectroDrive system are:
- Speed – scanning a 40" press sheet in less than 8 seconds
- Dual Functionality – multi-tasking as an automatic scanner or as a hand-held device for "spot check" measurements
- G7 Compliance – with recommended ink key specific adjustments of C,M,Y densities to obtain neutral values according to the G7 specification
- Flexibility – allowing the ink zone control strip to be printed and measured anywhere on the press sheet
- Accuracy – measuring density and color with the InkCheck feature, which suggests ink key specific density changes to obtain highly accurate color
TECHKON’s superior design and technology made it the obvious choice for Rose City top management when outfitting their 62,000sf state-of-the-art printing plant in Gresham OR. The speed advantage alone of the SpectroDrive scanning spectrophotometer has improved overall productivity, meeting the high expectations of packaging customers such as, Trader Joes, Krusteaz, Kirkland, Tazo Tea, and Ghirardelli. The measurement of an entire 60” color bar in less than 10 seconds and the swift display of highly accurate spectral color data at their fingertips, allows press operators to react quickly to changing pressroom conditions. Press operators have also found the TECHKON Expresso software very intuitive and easy to navigate, and with the ability to analyze post press data, they can continuously deliver a quality product that exceeds their packaging customers’ expectations.
“Rose City Printing and Packaging was able to adopt the SpectroDrive scanning system very rapidly and bring it online in a short period of time thanks to a collaborative installation plan,” states Bob Byrnes, Director of Technical Services. “Very often, TECHKON is approached with unique customer requirements in regard to system configuration and implementation, and is able to respond with the right combination of technical resources to execute the plan successfully for our packaging printers.”
In this case, the color measurement system was pre-staged in TECHKON USA’s Danvers, MA headquarters, where technical support consultants loaded the software on new touch screen computers (provided by Rose City). A TECHKON technical support team then went onsite to install the three SpectroDrive systems, and provide assistance with the touch screen computer configuration, as well as onsite customized training for press operators throughout multiple shift changes. TECHKON set up color bars for Rose City which were printed and tested by TECHKON in-house. In all, TECHKON spent four days onsite: two days in the Gresham Plant and two days in the Vancouver Plant providing intensive support.
“TECHKON’s support was key in why Rose City chose the SpectroDrive,” reports George Adam, TECHKON President. “While TECHKON’s design is sophisticated, ergonomically friendly, and well thought out, it was our ability to integrate the data generated by the SpectroDrive into the Rose City data management system that enabled faster set-up and accurate job information. There is no doubt that the implementation of the SpectroDrive system will ensure higher production and consistent production for Rose City Printing and Packaging.”
In addition to TECHKON SpectroDrive®, TECHKON offers a wide array of color measurement solutions that includes: TECHKON SpectroDens®, TECHKON SpectroDensXL®, TECHKON SpectroPlate®, TECHKON SpectroJet® and TECHKON SpectroEdge®. More information at: www.techkonusa.com/
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have lead to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings.
TECHKON . . . We measure color and more.
Posted on Wed, Nov 09, 2011
Danvers, MA (November 9, 2011) TECHKON USA, innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the global print and packaging communities, announced today that they are moving to a larger facility.The additional space will better accommodate the rapid growth experienced since the establishment of Techkon USA in 2007.
Techkon USA is moving to a larger facility at 300 Rosewood Drive in Danvers, Massachusetts effectively tripling the size of its previous location. The newly renovated location enables Techkon USA to carry more inventory to better meet increased market demand for Techkon’s flagship product line of densitometers and spectrophotometers. Additional improvements include larger office space for expanded technical and sales support personnel, larger and more technologically advanced R&D, manufacturing and QA facilities for the SpectroEdge inline spectrophotometer, and room for further anticipated growth over the next couple of years.
“We are pleased with the move to the new location to better accommodate our expanding business,” said George Adam, President of Techkon USA. “The larger and better equipped engineering facilities demonstrate Techkon’s ongoing commitment to innovation in color measurement technology.” For more information or if you would like a detailed demonstration of any of the Techkon USA products for your specific application, please contact your local sales representative.
About Techkon
Techkon is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, Techkon products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. Techkon innovative color measurement solutions have led to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings.
Techkon . . . We measure color and more.
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Posted on Wed, Sep 07, 2011
Danvers, MA (September 6, 2011) TECHKON – the innovation leader in high-precision color measurement technology for the global print community – announced today that they will unveil SpectroDens XL® with a 6mm measuring aperture at Graph Expo 2011.
This annual Print industry showcase, where "today’s printers embrace the technology that empowers them to succeed," will be held September 11 – 14 at McCormick Place South, Chicago IL.
"SpectroDens XL was developed by TECHKON in response to a request for a larger 6mm measuring aperture by one of North America's leading producers of corrugated and consumer packaging," states George Adam, President TECHKON USA. "This response is testimony to TECHKON’s commitment to innovation and unique focus on developing color measurement solutions to better serve all our customers’ unique requirements."
SpectroDens XL expands the capabilities of SpectroDens, enabling operators to collect sample data from a larger area with higher speed and accuracy for critical packaging needs and ink formulation. The new larger 6mm aperture SpectroDens not only provides the increased measurement area recommended for building critical color standards for packaging, but is especially well-suited for applications in ink matching and printing ink specification, offering a total solution whether printing in a flexo or offset environment. SpectroDens XL is shipped with the SpectroDens Premium functionality set.
SpectroDens was first introduced in 2007, as a robust design and fast, accurate color measurement device for color quality control in all print environments. Empowered by the ever-expanding range of SpectroDens functionality, quality managers are able to quickly check color accuracy using Pass/Fail, and also quantify it with Ink Check, identifying exactly what adjustments need to be made to bring color into spec. Additionally its G7 Gray Guide support provides instant verification of near neutral standard conformance. No matter whether printing on paper or juice bottle plastic labels, quality managers need to ensure that the printed colors are not only accurate, but consistent throughout the print run. Their need to quickly react to changing press conditions in critical color environments clearly demonstrates the need for developing this new device.
In addition to SpectroDens XL, TECHKON will demonstrate their wide array of color measurement solutions at Graph Expo that includes: TECHKON SpectroDens®, TECHKON SpectroPlate®, TECHKON SpectroJet®, TECHKON SpectroDrive® and TECHKON SpectroEdge®. More information at: www.techkonusa.com/
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have lead to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings.
TECHKON . . . We measure color and more.
Posted on Tue, Feb 01, 2011
Break-through technology for Closed Loop Color Calibration exhibited at Hunkeler Innovationdays
Danvers, MA (February 1, 2011)TECHKON – the innovation leader in high-precision color measurement technology for the global print community – announced today they will exhibit a live, running version of TECHKON SpectroEdge® ES5000, an in-line spectrophotometer for digital and wide format inkjet presses at Hunkeler Innovationdays (February 14-17, 2011 in Lucerne, Switzerland). This demonstration of SpectroEdge will feature in-line closed loop color calibration at measurement speeds of 300m/minute (1000ft/minute), dramatically reducing set-up time and enabling accurate and rapid press adjustments "on-the-fly."
SpectroEdge ES5000 is based on the same leading-edge color measurement technology that TECHKON is well known for globally. The ES5000 runs on an embedded version of a Linux operating system, and is capable of monitoring up to 4 high-speed control signals providing bi-directional communications with the host computer for greater production automation and efficiency. SpectroEdge is set up to read 4x6mm color samples either at preset intervals or frequencies, or via a hard-wired signal initiated by the printing press controller. SpectroEdge ES5000 software converts the raw data, instantly interpreting the color values sent to the host computer to make automatic "on-the-fly" press adjustments, both quickly and efficiently.
This stream of accurate color data from SpectroEdge works in tandem with either the host digital press or wide format inkjet printer to produce offset class output in terms of quality, productivity and cost for clients. In actual OEM installations, SpectroEdge’s rate of speed in color measurement has been judged to guarantee excellent color accuracy and image quality, producing offset quality images at speeds up to 300m/minute (1000ft/minute) in a process color environment, driving digital presses to their full potential. This key enabling technology marks a turning point in the digital print market, bringing previously unattainable levels of quality, productivity and total cost of ownership to print service providers and their customers.
"As color quality and automation in digital printing continues to evolve, presses demand more from the color measurement device to meet their maximum capabilities," states George Adam, President TECHKON USA. "SpectroEdge ES5000 delivers on that promise, as a break-through technology capable of driving a wide range of digital print solutions to new levels of color quality and automation."
TECHKON SpectroEdge ES5000 in-line spectrophotometer is designed to meet the needs of both digital presses and large format inkjet printers. Here are some of its key technological advantages:
- Fast, highly accurate 3000 samples-per-second scanning spectrophotometer with in-line color measurement and reporting of 31 spectral bands. Each color patch is measured multiple times to reduce error in the color variation within the color patch.
- Onboard Linux operating system capable of automatically indentifying color patches using image recognition algorithms
- Simultaneous measurement of L*a*b*, LCH and status T&E densities
- Operates at 3mm height, accommodating ±.5mm change in distance from media
- Used as a diagnostic tool to measure the color density variation across the media, in case nozzles get clogged or the printer is not printing uniformly
- Delivers 3000 spectral samples/second to judge uniformity across the entire media width
- Tough, all-metal construction to withstand vibration, even the impact of broken media.
- Thermally rugged, and can be placed in close proximity to the IR dryers
The TECHKON ES5000 is commercially available. The design is easily adaptable and suitable for implementation with a wide range of printing presses. The key benefits of the TECHKON ES5000 include:
- Exacting color, delivering offset color quality from a digital press
- Precise automation of the closed loop color calibration process, eliminating both errors associated with manual checks and interrupted press runs
- "On-the-fly" setup and inking adjustments, providing shorter make-ready, less paper and ink waste. Exacting color control of the press – all without a single sheet pull
- Keeps pace with digital presses running 300m /minute (4x10mm), working reliably at variable speeds
- No media contact, operating 3mm away from the media, eliminating smudging and scratching the ink on the media
- Color quality control with every impression, monitoring color in real-time with no need to stop press
- Embedded Linux computer operating system, enabling future development and expansion
The TECHKON ES5000 is just one example of TECHKON’s commitment to innovation and unique focus on developing color measurement solutions that support their customers’ need for quality, efficiency and accuracy. Other products include: TECHKON SpectroDens®, TECHKON SpectroJet®, TECHKON SpectroDrive® and TECHKON SpectroPlate®. More information at: http://www.techkonusa.com/products/spectroedge/
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. With a track record of 28+ years of continued technological excellence, TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have lead to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings. TECHKON . . . We measure color and more.
Posted on Tue, Jan 11, 2011
SpectroDens® Brings Wide Range of Functionality to Smurfit-Stone Pressrooms across US and Canada
Danvers, MA (January 11, 2011)TECHKON – the innovation leader in high-precision color measurement technology for the global print community – announces a purchase agreement with Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation ("Smurfit-Stone"), dually headquartered in Creve Coeur, MO and Chicago, IL. Smurfit-Stone has partnered with TECHKON USA to outfit its pressrooms across the country with the TECHKON SpectroDens® spectrophotometer.
Smurfit-Stone is well recognized for its broad range of packaging capabilities, from the paperboard packaging and corrugated products it manufactures, to its innovative packaging solutions and design, display and merchandising services. Also known as a global leader in environmentally sustainable packaging, Smurfit-Stone is committed to growing its business profitably, environmentally responsibly and safely. Smurfit-Stone is also one of the world’s largest paper recyclers and exporters, annually processing and selling more than six million tons.
Smurfit-Stone was looking to drive enhanced color quality and consistency across its network of packaging facilities. After consulting with the Smurfit-Stone Quality Managers and with their brand owner customers, TECHKON’s Director of Technical Sales Bob Byrnes worked collaboratively to assess their needs and draw up an implementation plan that would put Smurfit-Stone on the leading edge of color quality control within the packaging industry.
"The implementation plan calls for the brand color libraries to be loaded directly on the SpectroDens device. Then using TECHKON’s "Pass/Fail" feature, press operators can both quickly check color accuracy and identify exactly what adjustments need to be made," reports Byrnes. "With the new color measurement best practices that we have co-developed with Smurfit-Stone, pressroom personnel now have a 'call to action' with step-by-step responses to bring color in line with great efficiency, significantly reducing makeready on press."
Empowered by the full range of SpectroDens Premium functionality, Quality Managers find that pressroom operators are not only able to quickly qualify color by checking for accuracy, but also quantify it with comprehensive data indicating exactly what adjustments need to be made to bring color into spec. Overall, the pressrooms run more efficiently with color quality performance tracking across the Smurfit-Stone network of packaging plants; better scheduling through faster makeready; and significant savings in time, labor and material costs — all key components to customer satisfaction.
"Our partnership with TECHKON has not only provided Smurfit-Stone with fast, highly accurate color measurement in the SpectroDens Premium, but also the expertise to develop a process-driven approach to achieve excellence in color quality and pressroom performance," states Russ Lawrimore, senior director of Operational Excellence for Smurfit-Stone’s Container division.
With the transition to SpectroDens Premiums in progress, Smurfit-Stone already sees enhancements in the following areas: Higher color quality using the new color measurement best practices; greater consistency in brand color across all Smurfit-Stone facilities; ability to track press performance across all packaging plants and faster makeready driving better plant scheduling efficiencies, providing significant savings in time, labor and material cost-savings.
TECHKON SpectroDens is just one example of TECHKON’s commitment to technological innovation and unique focus on developing color measurement solutions that support their customers’ need for quality, efficiency and accuracy. Other products include: TECHKON SpectroJet®, SpectroDrive®, SpectroPlate® and SpectroEdge®. Visit our new website at: www.TECHKONUSA.com
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement speed, accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have lead to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings. TECHKON … We measure color and more. Visit us at: www.techkonusa.com
Posted on Fri, Oct 01, 2010
TECHKON ezINK and ezQC bring a whole new level of global color control to Brand Owners
Danvers, MA (October 1, 2010) TECHKON – the innovation leader in high-precision color measurement technology for the global print community – is announcing two new products at GraphExpo, designed to work in tandem to effectively manage brand color libraries. TECHKON ezINK will enable brand owners to set up, manage and communicate critical color specifications, and TECHKON ezQC to allow pressroom managers to analyze target values and densities on press, and make necessary adjustments to ensure conformance. Geared to the packaging and offset markets, TECHKON ezINK and TECHKON ezQC will empower brand owners to effectively manage, communicate and validate crucial color requirements globally. TECHKON will showcase these breakthrough color tools in Booth 753 at GraphExpo (October 3-6, 2010 at McCormick Place South, Chicago IL).
"The role of the brand owner to ensure color consistency across multiple press environments, inks and substrates grows more complex on a daily basis," states George Adam, TECHKON USA President. "Powerful server-based color management tools are required to manage the color quality demands of the brand owners. TECHKON has developed effective, intuitive color tools enabling printers to deliver consistent and accurate color to their customers. Once again, TECHKON has listened to the needs of the industry, and developed a dynamic solution." Using TECHKON ezINK, brand owners or their service providers can easily set up press runs with all required information including customer-specific print job information and colors used, density, dot gain and color-specific target values and tolerances. TECHKON ezINK is a server-based application that enables users to create target color reference libraries by:
- Importing/Exporting existing color libraries from industry standard ink formulation and 3rd party color management software applications
- Measuring customer or vendor-supplied printed color targets or ink draw-downs using TECHKON SpectroDrive®, SpectroJet® or SpectroDens®
- Entering customer or brand owner’s supplied color reference data
Once target color reference libraries are created, the data can be effectively downloaded and shared among all relevant service providers, ensuring consistency across print suppliers.
TECHKON ezQC then takes brand color management into a whole new dimension … Using a highly intuitive display and drawing from imported job information, pressroom operators are able to:
- Measure color bars or specific image areas against the target values and tolerances specified in the job setup information
- Qualify and quantify whether press run is in or out of tolerances.
- Display empirical and/or visual aids of tolerance conditions
- Display color trend analysis of density, dot gain and delta E
- Analyze and drill down on specific measured areas of the press sheet
- Generate an in-depth report of press run
TECHKON ezINK and TECHKON ezQC are just two examples of TECHKON’s commitment to technological innovation and unique focus on developing color measurement solutions that support their customers’ need for quality, efficiency and accuracy. Other products include: TECHKON SpectroDens®, SpectroJet®, SpectroDrive® and SpectroPlate®. Visit our new website at: www.TECHKONUSA.com
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About TECHKON
TECHKON is the innovation leader in densitometers, spectrophotometers and color software solutions for the global print community. TECHKON products are chosen for their high degree of measurement speed, accuracy, repeatability, reliability and ease of operation in all sectors of the printing industry. TECHKON’s innovative color measurement solutions have lead to highly successful implementations by leading OEM press manufacturers and large commercial printers, yielding dramatic gains in quality, productivity and cost savings. TECHKON … We measure color and more. Visit us at: www.techkonusa.com