The April 2022 edition of the GravurExchange
Your source for news for the Gravure Industry!
We Speak Gravure!
There is still time to enter the 2022 Golden Cylinder Awards!
The deadline has been extended to June 24.
With the supply-chain challenges affecting our industry, the entry deadline date for the 2022 Golden Cylinder Awards has been extended to June 24. We have heard from a number of members how the logistics crisis is keeping them scrambling, so this is our way to help the situation. There are four primary award categories that reflect the best execution of the Gravure-printing process and supporting innovations: A. PACKAGING AND LABEL, with nine sub-categories; B. PRODUCT, with eight sub-categories; C. PUBLICATION, with 10 sub-categories; and D. TECHNICAL INNOVATION, with eight sub-categories; for a total of 35 categories.
Additional changes affected by deadline extension: The materials to be judged needs to be received no later than July 1, 2022. All entries need to represent work performed from June 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022. The judging will be held in mid-July, and the awards presented at the AIMCAL R2R USA Conference in Orlando, FL 2022 R2R USA Conference (aimcal.org). Winners will be notified the first week in August.
To learn more and see past winners: https://gaa.org/awards/golden-cylinder-awards/
To download the entry form, go to GAA-Golden-Cylinder-Awards-2022-Form-EXTENDED-Rev-B.pdf
We want to thank all who attended the recent AIMCAL Executive Leadership Conference in Charlotte on April 4-5.
It was great to be back in person for a live conference. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was a terrific venue, and the business topics covered by the speakers were timely and very informative. We also want to thank the sponsors Daetwyler, INX International and Steingraeber-Enulec.
The next live conference will be the annual technical-themed AIMCAL R2R USA Conference on September 25-29 in Orlando FL. For all you who have technical information, methods and innovations and want to share a non-commercial presentation, it is time to file the “Call for Papers” form by June 1. 2022 R2R USA Conference (aimcal.org)
Gravure Basics Virtual Seminar May 10-11
“Save your spot by registering Today”
The “Gravure Basics” virtual seminar is designed for those new to Gravure Printing and Coating. The program with live speakers takes place over two days, May 10-11, 2022. Each webinar is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT, and will feature six speakers each day with 30-minute presentations and 5 minutes for Q&A. Moderators will facilitate Q&A sessions, and there will be a 20-minute break halfway through each webinar.
The presenters are all members of the GAA Committee (Gravure AIMCAL Alliance) and bring countless years of experience to share with the attendees.
Sessions on May 10 will be “The valued and unique qualities of Gravure Printing”, “Gravure Market Segments”, “Gravure Print Station Components”, “Pressroom Safety”, “Cylinder Basics” and “Doctor Blades, Holders and related topics”. May 11 sessions will be “Pressroom Perspective of Gravure Inks”, “Color Management as related to Color Theory”, “Press Registration and Drying Fundamentals”, “Films/Foils and Paper Substrates Applications”, “Web Inspection” and “ESA and Web Static Control”.
Member registration is $299, and $399 for non-member for both days. Click Here To Register
“Gravure Printing and Converting Corner”
DOCTOR-BLADE SYSTEM CHALLENGES FOR WIDE-WEB CYLINDER METERING – Part 3 “Efficient Blade Changes” by Bill Warner of Allison Systems, Riverside, NJ.
Wide-web gravure applications can have doctor blades with lengths greater than 100 in. When doctor blades are that long, setting them correctly and consistently to achieve effective metering can be more difficult because slight variations will be compounded over the length of the blade. Part One of this article focused on challenges with setting the doctor blade at an appropriate position and angle; Part Two centered on applied force control. This month will cover the barriers to efficient blade changes.
Quick and easy blade-change capability is essential when working with long doctor blades. Slow, difficult, and potentially dangerous blade changes were the norm with a very wide-web application that required a +200-in.-long doctor blade. The existing bladeholder was a prime example of everything you don’t want in a very-wide-web blade holder. It needed to be removed from the press and carried to a remote location to clean the holder and install new doctor blades. Carrying such as long, heavy, steel doctor bladeholder with a used, sharp doctor blade installed could be challenging for the three operators typically needed to accomplish the task. To install the new blade, dozens of bolts had to be loosened and then carefully re-tightened so that the blade did not have any wrinkles. The blade holder was worn from all the years of being carried in and out of the press so that, even on a good day, it was difficult to install the doctor blade without producing wrinkles in the blade. Assuming the blade was installed without wrinkles, often the blade would have wrinkles after the bladeholder was carried back and installed on the press due to deflection of the holder while being carried. Wrinkles in the doctor blade typically lead to poor metering and printed waste. Upgrades with this project provide new components with the ability to be able to perform blade-change operations on-press, in less than 10 minutes, and without having to use tools or deal with bladeholder bolts and their associated issues.
This three-part article was intended to briefly reveal common issues seen particularly with wide-web gravure doctor-blade systems. However, the same issues could apply to any width blade system. If you have chronic poor metering issues, the first component to consider would be the doctor blade. Contact your doctor-blade supplier to help determine if you are using an appropriate blade for your application and that the blade is being set properly. If it is determined that the blade is appropriate for your application and any of the points presented in these articles sound familiar, then it might be time to look at upgrades or replacement of the doctor-blade system. If you need help, the press manufacturer would be a good place to start or consult with an aftermarket blade-system manufacturer.
The GravurExchange wants to thank Bill Warner and Allison Systems for providing the three-part article. “DOCTOR BLADE SYSTEM CHALLENGES FOR WIDE-WEB CYLINDER METERING.”
Next month’s technical article will feature Rachel Malley, Product & Application Specialist for CGS ORIS AMERICAS explaining why Brand Owners have endorsed color management by using CxF (Color Exchange Format) data.
Here is a preview: “Remote color management is a hot topic in our modern print and marketing world. With business travel less common, brand owners are looking for solutions to ensure their spot colors reproduce accurately and consistently across the entire workflow. Color Exchange Format (CxF) is becoming a major part of this solution as printed material is produced globally on various substrates and print technology. Tune in to next month’s newsletter to learn more about how CxF has helped brand owners across the globe ensure the highest print quality, without having to leave their home office.”
In an effort to catch up for the lost year, we have closed the Class of 2021 and will announce new inductees at the AIMCAL R2R USA Conference 2022 R2R USA Conference (aimcal.org) along with the Class of 2022.
It’s time to nominate your colleagues or those you consider the people who have helped advanced the knowledge of the Gravure industry to the Cylinder Society Class of 2022. Cylinder Society Chair Hubert Metzger took the stage to address the importance and relevance of the Cylinder Society at the AIMCAL Executive Leadership Conference earlier this month. “The Cylinder Society is a way for those who are helping to advance the Gravure process and association to be recognized.”
Nominations for the Class of 2022 must be received no later than August 26, 2022. See the list of Cylinder Society members at Cylinder Society Members – GAA. The nomination form is available for download: https://gaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021-Cylinder-Society-Nomination-Form.pdf
For Wisconsin printers:
“Save the date June 22 as it’s “Time to Get Back Together” says the Wisconsin Print Industries Council.
We’re excited to announce that we are having an in-person meeting for the printing industry in Wisconsin that will address critical environmental, health & safety, and sustainability updates. The program, Changing Regulatory Landscape Workshop for the Printing Industry, will feature speakers from industry, the US Dept. of Agriculture, and the WI Dept. of Natural Resources.
The program will be held June 22, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CDT at Waukesha County Technical College. More information including registration go to https://glga.info/registration/changing-regulatory-landscape-workshop-for-the-printing-industry/
EPA Seeks Input on Revision to Air Emissions Reporting Requirements Rule
| The US EPA invites qualified small businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) for a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. The panel will focus on the agency’s development of proposed revisions to the existing Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR) rule that was last revised and published on February 19, 2015 (80 FR 8787). The proposal may add reporting requirements to gather data about hazardous air pollutants, emissions-rate test results from facilities, emissions from facilities in Native American areas that are not currently reporting emissions data, and emissions from small electricity-generating units used intermittently, such as to meet demand on high electricity-use days. The panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA. Panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, government, or organization to inform panel members about potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities. EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs. Self-nominations must be received by April 19, 2022: Nominate yourself as a SER. Read the full press release. |
Converting Quarterly, the official technical journal of AIMCAL, is a great source of information and current news from members and the industry. Go to https://www.convertingquarterly.com/ to subscribe to the quarterly print magazine, the digital edition, the weekly CQ eNews…or all three.
For all the news you may have missed, go to Archived News (aimcal.org)
Save the date! Live four-day intensive Gravure Training is back. On August 8-11, 2022, trainers and experts will be at Interprint in Pittsfield, MA, which will host the “Gravure Basic and Advances Seminars.” More information to come soon!
“Ask the Gravure Experts” is a feature where members from the GAA Committee review your questions and reply directly to you, publishing the Q&A in the next issue of GravurExchange. One of the important benefits of being part of an association is the ability to network with members, and the “Ask the Gravure Experts” provides the opportunity to all readers of GravurExchange to collaborate. Send your question, subject line: “Gravure Experts” to info@gaa.org
If you are looking for new employees or are looking for employment, we encourage you to use the new resources on the AIMCAL website: (Jobs (aimcal.org). Members may post jobs at NO CHARGE. We invite you to see how easy it is to post jobs online today. To maximize your job posting, you should also post on the GAA website at Job Openings | Gravure Association of Americans (gaa.org)
Thanks to all who have renewed their membership. The following link will help all to understand how to make use of the valuable benefits available from being a member of AIMCAL. Video Walk Through of Login Process + Member Resources.
University and College Gravure Day: This program helps students understand all the industry segments that use the Gravure process and provides awareness of all the careers in printing and converting. Interested in holding a “Gravure Day?” Email info@gaa.org, subject line: “Gravure Day.”
GAA Services, Training and Products:
On-site Training/On-site Consulting:
Bob Kikkert and Mike Gaffney are ready to help with on-site and/or hybrid virtual training and consulting. Those in need of these services, please contact info@gaa.org using subject line: “Consultant Services.”
The Gravure Textbook Sale Continues:
We continue to receive orders for the Gravure Process and Technology and the Gravure Specifications and Tolerances (GST) textbooks. They can be purchased at Shop (www.aimcal.org)
Gravure Certification:
Members continue to use the online gravure training program. There are four levels of Certification training. Information and registration for all four levels are available at https://gaa.org/services/training/online-gravure-certification-training/. Special Member pricing has been established for the certifications. For pricing and to register, email info@gaa.org and use subject line: “Certification.”
Want to become a member?
Anyone interested in having their company become a member of this dynamic association of companies that are promoting the gravure process, please go to: Become a Member | AIMCAL
Questions? Contact AIMCAL Member Outreach Director Tim Janes at tim@aimcal.org