(July 22, 2008) KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Williston, Vermont, is announcing that Plastic Resource, Inc., a Cottage Grove, MN plastic printing company specializing in gift card printing and high speed data application, will be enhancing its services with a new KBA Genius 52 UV digital offset press. More capacity along with using additional substrates and techniques are a few of the benefits to be derived from the new press installation. The firm anticipates that it will be in full production mode in mid-August 2008.
 
“Our company is a recognized industry leader in the small- to medium-run UV Printing and gift card market due to our high quality, customer service and fast turnaround,” says John Brier, president and founder of Plastic Resource, Inc. “Until now, we’ve been printing on a standard offset litho sheetfed press with UV. But the Genius 52 UV from KBA will set us apart and allow us to enhance our services for our customers. There is no other press on the market like the Genius that can take sheets of plastic with one set of grippers and produce a perfectly printed sheet completely in register with the color held during the entire run. We also like the fact that the Genius is up to color in less than 15 sheets since efficiency and less waste are key components of our business.”
 
The Genius 52 UV, awarded the prestigious PIA/GATF InterTech Award in 2006, is a one-operator press designed to print on a variety of stock including paper, board, plastic and lenticular. Using a central impression cylinder, the Genius 52 UV ensures accurate registration with full automation and immediate drying using its UV ink system. The Genius 52 UV can print 0.06 mm paper up to 32 pt. board stock as well as plastics and lenticular stock. With its ultra-short make-ready of less than 15 sheets – based on the Gravuflow keyless inking system - and make-ready times of less than 5 minutes, the Genius 52 UV press is the perfect tool for the short run commercial, packaging and advertising specialty markets.
 
Over the last two years, Plastic Resource has been upgrading its facility to continually meet the needs of its customers. In 2006, the firm built a new 20,000 sq ft facility anticipating the purchase of the Genius. Last year, the firm enhanced its data network to provide a solid, non-compromising method for its customers to send their jobs and data electronically to the firm. Currently, the firm is completing a specially-built room for their Genius 52 UV.
 
One of the key features of the Genius 52 UV that attracted Brier is its ability to produce 3D and lenticular printing. Lenticular printing is a special technique that involves printing an image on the back side of lenticular plastic, allowing the eye to simultaneously view alternating sections of multiple images to give the impression of 3-D, flip, or motion. Brier is planning to add lenticular printing to his gift card services with the installation of the Genius 52 UV press.
 
“Currently, we’re able to run different types of plastic substrates, like PVC, polyethylene and polypropylene,” says Brier. “But we’ll now be able to offer lenticular as well as produce soft vinyl covers for the short-run market–a market that other printers don’t want to touch due to low volumes. We also believe that the Genius will give us an edge over using our conventional sheetfed press in that we’ll no longer experience sheet stretching and we’ll be seeing an even higher quality on our line screens.”
 
Plastic Resource, Inc. has been offering the gift card industry with exceptional gift card products and data encoding services for more than a decade. Headquartered in a new 20,000 sq ft facility and posting $3 million in annual sales, the firm offers high-quality gift cards, competitive pricing, and exceptional customer service. In 2006, the firm established a new division known as GiftCardPrinter.com, a web site based firm. In May 2008, Print Solutions Magazine cited Plastic Resource, Inc. as one of the top 100 trade printers in the U.S. and the third largest plastic product seller. One month later, Plastic Resource was selected for the 2008 Best of Cottage Grove Award in the Printers category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA). The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.