High Tech Prints

New processes for personalising products These days there is a strong trend for bespoke products. For the footwear and accessory industries, printing and etching processes are available as an alternative for making an ever greater individual product range. Previously, processes used to embellish and personalise raw materials and components used in the footwear manufacturing process, ranged from painting by hand, ribbons and cylinder embossing, right up to graphic prints to transfers - which is the most popular and practical method used nowadays. Recently, a new and innovative process has been added and it promises to revolutionise this procedure. It is a direct printing process, without colour separations or a mold to emboss, and can be used to decorate any type of material used when manufacturing footwear or accessories. This means that a roll or a piece of any synthetic or natural material can be printed upon automatically. Two systems Basically there are two types of printers available in the market for large surfaces. One of them makes prints in UV - ultra violet - and the other system is based on using solvents. Both systems can make direct prints on many materials including: natural and synthetic leather, canvas, EVA, neolite, regenerated leather, cork, synthetic weavings, wood, MDF, glass, acrylic and PDV. This new system allows prints to be made on a white background which makes it possible to print on dark colored materials. It is also possible to print on rigid materials of up to 4cm thick as well as flexible materials of 0.8mm thickness and up to 2 meters wide.

A Challenge to Creativity In order to meet this market for bespoke products in Latin America, COLORGRAF of Novo Hamburgo in Brazil, now offer customers both printing systems.. The company's manager, Ciro Reuter, says their services are ideal for developing exclusive collections, limited editions and short production cycles. There are unlimited aesthetic possibilities, Mr Reuter said, because the systems offer unlimited options. Different types of images and photos can be printed in full, high definition colour and will remain undimmed in the course of time. http://www.colorgraf.com.br/ Source: p. 168, May / June 2008 Issue of SERMA, Argentina If you wish to contribute to the APLF News, with your experiences in the industry, your observations, or general thoughts on the direction the industry is going, we would like to hear from you. Email: aplf-news@aplf.com