Bolingbrook, Ill. -- Company officials at The Standard Group constantly ask themselves how they can make their products better. To help satisfy customer demand for increasingly higher quality, The Standard Group purchased a new sheetfed press and outfitted the machine with the Hi-Cure ultraviolet (UV) system from Grafix USA.

"UV coating is associated with faster throughput, rub resistance, high gloss and use of uncoated paper and plastics," said David Himmelein, corporate marketing/account manager. "We chose the Hi-Cure system for all those reasons. We plan to capitalize on those capabilities to better serve our clients and attract new business."

The Standard Group, an independent folding carton converter with headquarters in Jackson Heights, N.Y., and manufacturing operations in Louisville, Ky., takes pride in making high-caliber private label packages and cartons for branded products. The 78-year-old company's business is concentrated in the household goods, food, pet care, personal care and distillery industries. Private label packages account for the majority of its work. Branded products make up the remainder.

The Standard Group installed an eight-color Mitsubishi Diamond V3000LX at its Louisville plant in September 2009. The press features an interdeck UV curing system, chamber/anilox coater and extended delivery.

"The UV interdeck drying capabilities give us the flexibility to cure ink and additional varnishes, if desired, inline," Himmelein said. "This results in greater variety in each carton in one pass, which allows us to create more value-added packages for our customers."

In addition to the 41-inch Diamond V3000LX, The Standard Group operates a seven-color, 51-inch Mitsubishi press with aqueous coater and a seven-color, 56-inch Mitsubishi press with UV and aqueous coating capabilities.

"We want to be able to give our customers the greatest versatility that we can offer," Himmelein said. "The range of standard aqueous coating up to high-gloss UV gives us that added competitive edge."