Archive: Mar 2023

What Specialty Printing & Processing Can Do With The Iridesse System

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Specialty Printing & Processing provides top-quality printing services for customers based on their unique project specifications. To give our customers the best possible results for vinyl, polyester, and polycarbonate prints, we have implemented a highly efficient printing process. Specifically, using the Iridesse printing process, we have determined how to print at a significantly lower cost and much greater efficiency.

What Is the Xerox Iridesse Production Press?

The Xerox Iridesse production press is a new type of digital press used for printing on vinyl materials. It uses as many as six colors within the same pass, allowing for inline embellishment. In turn, customers benefit from superior results with each print job using this press.

Ultimately, using the Xerox Iridesse production press enables us to provide our customers with highly efficient prints while maintaining consistently great quality with each project. One of the main features that allows for this quality is the press’s Color FLX technology. This tech gives you the ability to use two specialty dry inks within a single pass, layering cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (CMYK) for color printing. At the same time, registration remains accurate across all colors.

Features of the Iridesse Printing Press

The Iridesse production press offers a few key features that help us deliver great results to our customers, which include:

  • A maximum of six inline print stations that are efficient and print within a single pass at a high rate, all while maintaining accurate registration from color to color
  • Specialty dry inks available in colors such as clear, white, gold, and silver that can enrich each project
  • Full Width Array technology that further increases efficiency through baselining the press
  • Mixed Media Xceleration (MMX) tech that boosts performance for mixed-stock projects

How SP&P Has Redefined the Iridesse System’s Capabilities

Using the Iridesse system, SP&P can print everything from polyester and vinyl labels and polycarbonate overlays to decorative trims and decals. We’ve also achieved similar results with our Indiego600, a paper printer we’ve used for printing templates, labels, overlays, decorative trims, and more.

Since acquiring the Xerox Iridesse production press, we’ve pushed it to its limits to maximize efficiency, durability, cost-effectiveness, color adhesion, and speed. In the process, we’ve worked to offset increasing printing costs, with these savings passed on to our customers in the form of more affordable printing services to help increase their bottom line.

One of the main benefits we’ve found with the Iridesse system is its ability to duplicate color. The press has the ability to duplicate, verify, and store various colors over a period of time, eliminating the need to rematch colors while allowing for optimal color stability and management. This also facilitates more cost-effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency.

How SP&P Has Improved Productivity

With the help of the Iridesse system and other efficient equipment, SP&P is able to make the most of its existing resources. We’re capable of providing our customers with the products we offer while using staff more efficiently, maintaining financial stability, and offsetting increasing material costs. In other words, we can do more with less.

A couple of specific benefits of using the Iridesse production press among other efficient systems include:

Expanded Applications

Our production press helps us serve all markets across a range of applications from medical device templates to decals and labels for businesses. Our long list of applications includes polycarbonate overlays, custom decals, product identifications, custom digital graphics, and specialty signage.

Scalability

The efficiency of the Iridesse production press allows us to scale our services based on each customer’s needs, enabling us to keep up with customer growth and maintain sustainability. While printing materials may come with higher costs, our equipment has helped stabilize these expenses.

Learn More About SP&P’s Innovative Capabilities

The state-of-the-art printing equipment available at SP&P helps us provide our customers with the precise solutions they require, whether printing on vinyl or other materials that require specialized solutions. We work with each customer to understand their specific needs and provide the best available solution to get the job done right the first time.

Want to learn more about our printing capabilities? Request a consultation to discuss your next printing project with us, or reach out to us to speak with a representative about our services.

How to Choose the Right Metal Nameplate for Your Application

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Metal nameplates are used in many diverse applications to display information clearly. As a highly customizable product, there are numerous factors to consider when developing a nameplate for any given application. This blog post will discuss the types of nameplates, their production processes, and other key design considerations.

Things to Consider When Selecting a Metal Nameplate

When selecting a metal nameplate for a product or piece of equipment, there are several design considerations to keep in mind. One important factor is the type of metal to be used, as different metals have different properties that may be more or less suitable for the intended application. Other important factors to consider include the size, shape, and thickness of the nameplate, as well as the type of printing or engraving to be used to create the markings on the nameplate.

Processes

Screen printing, digital printing, and engraving are all suitable processes for metal substrates. However, they vary in how the printing is performed, the colors that can be used, and how well the results will perform in various environments.

Screen Printing

Screen printing is a cost-effective method of placing graphics and colored logos or images onto equipment. It is a multi-step process that involves covering a metal surface with a mesh screen and then using an applicator to apply ink or epoxy. Screen-printed nameplates use spot colors, which is a printing technique for producing line art, logos, and text with clean edges and excellent color control. While the inks used today do withstand wear, sometimes a final coating is necessary to further seal the nameplate. This is particularly useful for nameplates that will be exposed to chemicals and wear.

Digital Printing

Widely regarded as the best option for producing nameplates with unique colors, gradient colors, or halftones, digital printing offers nearly endless opportunities for customization. It is also well suited to a variety of fabrication styles, enabling further customizations such as rounded corners, holes, and adhesives.

Engraving

The engraving process is highly suitable for both metal and plastic nameplates. During this process, a rotating tool gently cuts into the nameplate’s material at the desired depth, following a computer-generated design pattern. Engraving creates a permanent design with less risk of wear compared to ink-printed designs.

Nameplate Materials

The best material depends on the nameplate’s intended use and the environment to which it will be exposed. For example, nameplates that will be used outdoors require a material able to withstand the elements. An anti-corrosive option like stainless steel is generally suitable for these applications. If the nameplate will be used indoors, malleability and color can be prioritized over durability.

Common Nameplate Materials

The most commonly used types of metal for nameplates include:

  • Stainless steel: Incredibly long-lasting, stainless steel is corrosion-resistant and able to withstand other environmental challenges, such as moisture and wear. It also features an attractive, clean finish, delivering a stylish appearance in addition to its high-performance capabilities.
  • Aluminum: Aluminum is a cost-effective alternative to other alloys and pure metals. It is malleable, making it ideal for custom printing, intricate designs, and shaping work. As a lightweight material, it is well-suited to pressure-sensitive adhesives. Its coloration naturally enhances digital and screen-printed graphics.
  • Brass: A popular choice for plaques, mounted nameplates, and awards, brass is a luxurious material. It is a more decorative choice than other metals due to its distinct coloration. Brass has a copper and zinc-alloy base which provides durability and malleability when heated. The higher the zinc content, the stronger the nameplate will be.
  • Cold-rolled Steel: Also known as cold-formed steel, this material is shaped using low temperatures. For nameplates, it provides a canvas suitable for painting, plating, and powder coating. Its durability and maintenance-friendly nature make it suitable for a variety of uses.

Dimensions

The final shape, height, length, and thickness of a nameplate help determine which type of metal will be most suitable. It also determines how much detail can be included in the printed designs and what type of edges the finished product could have.

Finish

Certain applications require protective coatings to increase the nameplate’s durability. In other applications, a finish to enhance its visual effect might be more suitable to help the final product stand out.

Environmental Conditions

The wear the nameplate will experience in its ultimate environment influences which material, printing process, and finish it requires. Possible exposure to water, oil, chemicals, and even air are other environmental considerations.

Indoor or Outdoor

Determining whether the nameplate will be used in an indoor or outdoor environment can help you make other decisions regarding its materials and production.

  • Indoor: If the nameplate is for indoor use and won’t be exposed to abrasives, vinyl decal designs may work well. In more demanding applications, polycarbonate or polyester nameplates may be a more suitable choice.
  • Outdoor: Outdoor usage typically requires a high degree of durability and weather resistance. Stainless steel and aluminum are most suitable for withstanding humidity, high temperatures, water, oils, and chemicals.

Adhesives or Fasteners

How your metal nameplate will be mounted onto its final location is another important consideration. Holes can be added to the nameplate design for wall fasteners if the dimensions allow it, or an adhesive backing can be used.

Metal Nameplates from Specialty Printing & Processing

Nameplates are an effective method of identifying products and conveying information. If you need a custom nameplate, Specialty Printing & Processing has been creating high-quality solutions since 1961. We offer a wide selection of processes to meet your needs and can help you develop the perfect nameplate for your application. To get started, contact us today.