Presented by Nathan Broughton from finishing equipment manufacturer Morgana at a Konica Minolta seminar day in October 2013. The perfect finish requires equipment capable of overcoming problems normally associated with ink and paper cracking, the type of stock used and grain direction. View YouTube: http://youtu.be/w2Ow8yoEfWE

1. Digital Print Finishing
for digital printers

2. Nathan Broughton
Product Manager - Finishing
Ferrostaal Australia Pty Ltd

3. Agenda
• Market conditions
• Technical challenges
• Business challenges
• The technology
• Where the technology is applied

4. The future of digital print will be
decided in the finishing
department…
Frank Romano
School of Printing
Rochester Institute of Technology

5. The document finishing market has
changed
New methods of printing require new
finishing techniques to overcome postprint challenges:
• Curling paper
• Image cracking
• Static
• Reduce wastage
• Increase efficiency
• Save costs and increase profitability

6. Problem #1
Curling stock
• High toner fuser temperatures can
cause stock to curl
• Stock becomes difficult to feed for
finishing equipment
• Requires special techniques such as
low-pressure suction to hold the
substrate
• Accurate sheet alignment of the
finisher is critical

7. Problem #2
Cracking ink / toner
• The crease ensures the ink/toner is
embedded into the fibres / stock
• The crease enables easy folding
• The finishing process is fast and
efficient
• The quality is professional

8. Problem #3
Static
• Printed stock is typically electrostatically charged
• Finishing techniques must overcome
the problem
• Low pressure air suction must be
used to handle & separate the sheets

9. The legacy of rotary scoring
Traditionally, rotary scoring machines
used circular blades…
•Creates a ploughing action that
actually cuts through the top fibres of the
paper in order to create a score.
•This weakens the paper and encourages
cracking.

10. Traditionally >> only two choices
Printers and finishers faced with the
problem of cracking.
1.Use a platen or cylinder press –
effective, but very slow to set up and
demanded high skill levels.
2.Rotary scoring, which inevitably
damaged the material. Resulting in white
show-through on the spine of the folded
document.

11. Overcoming the problems
Patented creasing technology
• “Crease & matrix” patent
• Embosses the paper
• Fibres are compressed, not cut
• 6 tonnes of pressure applied
• The crease is even across the sheet
• Unlike a rotary scorer this does not tear
the surface, so there is no white showthrough, even when the fold is made in
an area of solid colour.

12. Overcoming the problems
Patented paper folding technology
• The “flying knife”
• Folds…
– delicate digital stocks
– cross-grained materials
– heavy weight stocks
• No scratching and marking as seen
with conventional folders.

13. Increasing profitability
Customers expect fast
throughput…
•Improve turnaround times
•Must be simple to use
•Bring the work back in-house
•No need for couriers or lost time
•Less wastage (spoils)

14. Reducing business costs
No need for specialist bindery staff
•Lower cost of training
•Operators can be skilled in many concurrent
print & finishing processes
•Common to see one operator for both print
and finishing
•Add print engines without the need for
further investment in finishing equipment

15. Where are they used?
Where-ever there’s a digital printer
•There’s a need to crease & fold…
• Brochures, flyers, menus
• Creasing and folding covers
• Can be used for traditional offset
printed work

16. Summary
Digital print requires…
• Specialised creasing and folding
equipment
• Increase profitability
• Bring the work in-house
• Get a professional finish
• Reduce waste
• Minimal training
• Ease of use

17. Questions?
Digital finishing for digital printers
Morgana products distributed by
Ferrostaal Australia