Máquinas industriales que mejoran la productividad en acabados de impresión digital

Productivity in the digital print finishing department is one of the issues that causes the most concern amongst professionals. This is mainly because product finishing is often a bottleneck in any print shop. In many cases, finishing processes are labour-intensive and involve little automation, which means that in large print shops this proves to be a serious productivity issue.

In light of this issue, print shops have called for greater innovation and automation in finishing processes in order to reduce costs and turnaround times.

One area of innovation has been the development of industrial eyelet-setting machines, which, for example, can reduce the time taken to set eyelets on printed rolls of 50 to 100 metres by 75 per cent.

Similarly, the crimping machine purchased must be appropriate for our production volume. The number of crimps applied per minute can therefore vary from 4 or 5 when using a manual machine to approximately 50 with an automatic machine. The increase in speed is immense, meaning that processing times are reduced to a minimum. Bearing this in mind, we must also take into account the physical strain on the operator working with a non-automated machine.

Types of industrial machines for digital print finishing

In large-format digital printing, there are various tools and machines used in the finishing department. Among the main ones are laminators, coating machines, cutters and cutting machines, heat sealers and creasing machines. Below, we will look at the main features of each.

Laminating machines

Laminating machines are robust machines designed for digital environments. Highly powerful automatic laminating machines with process automation features are currently available on the market.

Laminators enable plastic to be fused onto paper or other materials; this process is designed to protect the sheet of paper. Although they serve the same purpose as a plastic coating machine, laminators typically carry out the process at room temperature and the plastic film is very thin.

Coating

Like laminating, coating is a process in which a coating – in this case, a varnish – is applied to the surface of a base material, usually referred to as a substrate. The purpose may be decorative, protective, or both.

Cutters and cutting machines

The main cutting tools include cutters, XY-type industrial cutters, cutting plotters and automatic cutters. These tools are available in a range of designs tailored to specific applications.

Cutters are usually used to trim away excess material, thereby achieving finishes with the desired shape. When selecting this type of tool, it is important to take into account the required production volume and the type of finish.

Welding machines

The most commonly used heat sealers in the printing industry are usually impulse or hot-air models. The latter operate using a stream of hot air to seal the fabric used in advertising banners, lorry tarpaulins, tents and coverings, amongst other applications. There are manual welders for small-scale production and automatic welders for jobs involving large production runs. When working with a manual hot-air welder, a roller is required as a pressure tool.

In digital printing, hot-air welders are used to reinforce areas around the entire perimeter, which makes the material stronger so that fastenings, such as eyelets, can be attached. These welders allow the pressure, air volume and speed to be adjusted to suit the type of material being welded.

Can-sealing machines

Hemming machines are widely used in large-format digital printing and in textile production, such as in the manufacture of curtains. There are three types of hemming machines: manual machines, semi-automatic machines and automatic machines.

Eyelet-setting machines are used to attach eyelets, and the type required will depend on the production volume of the print shop.

Manual pot-making machines

They are compact and easy to carry, so you can work anywhere, whether on a table or on the floor.

Semi-automatic canning machines

These are very user-friendly pneumatic machines that allow you to carry out tasks with minimal effort. This type of machine can punch holes and fit eyelets at the same time, simply by pressing a button or operating a foot pedal.

Automatic machines

They are the most advanced on the market and are ideal for large-scale production runs. They are fast and can handle a variety of materials, such as plastics, textiles, corrugated cardboard and thin materials.

Finally, there are fully automated systems that improve productivity and reduce costs. They are the perfect solution for high production volumes. These automated systems enable eyelets to be welded, measured and fitted with precision in just a few steps.

Find out more about automated systems here.

Every graphic designer and staff member in other departments of a print shop must bear in mind that the finishing of large-format prints serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it adds a visual element that helps to highlight the print (such as the level of gloss); on the other hand, it provides strength and durability, thereby helping to preserve the quality of the image.

To improve productivity in the finishing stage, automatic eyelet machines reduce the amount of manual labour required, cut down on working time and deliver higher quality. For example, by speeding up the finishing of large-format prints, more time is freed up to handle the workload. This makes it possible to increase profits within the same timeframe.

Take a look at the industrial machines we manufacture at PLASTGrommet and streamline the finishing department in your digital printing workshop.