Eleven innovative technologies bag 2013 InterTech Award

Since 1978, the InterTech Technology Awards, sponsored by Printing Industries of America (PIA) have honoured the development of technologies predicted to have a major impact on the graphic arts and related industries. More than 80 percent of technologies that receive an award experience continued commercial success in the marketplace. The InterTech stars, recognized as a symbol of technological innovation and excellence, will be presented before an audience of industry leaders during the 2013 Premier Print Awards Gala Featuring the InterTech Technology Awards and web2awards, on September 8, in Chicago, Illinois.

An independent panel of judges deliberated over technology nominations, which showcased the dynamic nature of the industry. 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 capable of having a major impact on the graphic communications industry. What follows is a description of each technology selected to receive the 2013 InterTech Technology Award:

Aproove from Aproove SA

Aproove is a Web-based online collaboration, proofing, and approval solution for Macs, PCs, tablets, and smartphones. The system is device-independent, allowing users to continue with existing workflows, and its open architecture can easily integrate with other systems. The judges were impressed with the Cloud-based technology that is easy to use, designed to be scalable, and is not locked into any one specific MIS or prepress workflow system.

DLMS (Distributed Learning Management System) from Sinapse Print Simulators Sinapse has developed a Cloud-based DLMS for its press training simulators that allows trainers to configure, manage, and evaluate large numbers of trainees on-site and across sites. The system provides automatic analysis and reporting of training exercises while providing multilingual capabilities that allow the trainer to set problems and analyze results in many languages without translation. The judges recognized DLMS for its sophistication and ability to make press simulators a potent teaching tool.

GMG OpenColor from GMG

GMG OpenColor increases the colour accuracy of proofs by simulating the overprint behaviour of different printing processes and process-specific variables. It meets the demands of consumer products companies who are sensitive to even minor inconsistencies in colour matching. The judges were impressed by GMG’s research into the spectral behaviour of inks resulting in sophisticated modelling algorithms that predict overprints, reducing the need for press fingerprinting and shortening the time to accomplish colour matching and profiling.

Heidelberg Speedmaster XL VLF Press with Twin-Gripper Delivery and Remote Fan-Out Control from Heidelberg USA

The twin-gripper technology secures the lead and tail edges of the sheet in the delivery, ensuring smooth pile formation, and eliminating marking as well as paper waste from slowdown corridors. Remote fan-out control adjusts the plate tail clamps dynamically from the console to compensate for fan-out, avoiding wasted time in stopping the press. The judges were impressed with these technologies that take large-format presses to a new level of efficiency and productivity.

HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press from HP

The HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press prints up to seven colours on a 29×20-inch sheet with the same print quality and substrate flexibility common to other Indigo presses. Producing a B2 format size means the press easily integrates into offset pressrooms and significantly increases the print volumes that are cost-effective on a digital sheetfed press. The judges were impressed with the many technological advancements necessary to rapidly produce digital prints of this size.

JETvarnish 3D from MGI Digital Graphic Technology

JETvarnish 3D is an inkjet digital system offering traditional spot UV coating and new 3D raised effects to print projects—with coating thicknesses up to 100 microns—that differentiate the printed material. In a B2 format, it can produce quantities ranging from one to hundreds of thousands without requiring plates, screens, or extensive makeready. The judges were impressed with registration control and the multiple curing options available to create different textured visual effects not traditionally available via inkjet.

ORIS Lynx from CGS Publishing Technologies International

ORIS Lynx is colour management offered as a Cloud-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS) system. Employing an easy-to-use Web-based client application and a secure server, it generates reliable device link profiles or ICC profiles to control the quality and consistency of output on any print device. The judges were impressed by the SaaS approach, giving small- and medium-sized operations a simple way to produce accurate colour and satisfy specific colour requirements.

POWERCOAT from Arjowiggins Creative Papers

POWERCOAT was developed to meet the exacting demands of printed electronics. The substrate is made from 100 percent cellulose fibres with no plastic, easily recyclable, and FSC-certified. The judges cited POWERCOAT’s ability to support an expanding market and were impressed with the substrate’s ultra-smooth coating, which provides the ability to reduce ink consumption and print at the resolution required for printed electronics. It also has high thermal and dimensional stability.

Pressero with eDocBuilder from Aleyant Systems

Pressero is Cloud-based Web-to-print software for quickly developing digital storefronts and marketing-oriented websites. It offers a full range of functionality, from order management to workflow integration, and sets itself apart with eDocBuilder, a powerful variable-data publishing system. eDocBuilder impressed the judges by empowering users to personalize, proof, and approve VDP documents directly from a Web browser while the open platform of the software allows easy integration into existing workflows.