SmartInk Technology Matches Brand Colors in Minutes Not Hours in the Ink and Press Room

TECHKON – The leading innovator in color measurement and quality control solutions for the print and packaging industry, announces a groundbreaking development.

Introducing ChromaQA 5, a revolutionary color quality software solution designed specifically to automate and simplify the color matching process resulting in drastically shortened make-readies, reduced waste, and increased profitability for packaging printers.

Achieving precise brand colors in the inkroom and on the press has traditionally been a complex and time-consuming task due to various factors affecting the printing process, such as the condition of anilox rolls, doctor blades, and even the press wash-up between jobs. Press operators often resort to manual adjustments, a process known as “ink toning” during make-ready, which can take up to 1-2 hours. ChromaQA’s SmartInk technology revolutionizes this process by using a unique formulation engine that removes all the subjectivity with toning ink on press.

Stephen Rankin, Director of Product Management at Techkon, highlights the significance of SmartInk, emphasizing its role in tackling color-matching challenges under tight tolerances.

"The SmartInk recipe correction feature in ChromaQA 5 is in an industry-first for packaging printers who must match brand colors under tight tolerances. SmartInk removes the guesswork by providing precise recipe corrections using the printer’s base inks, streamlining the process, and cutting make-ready times in half. In addition, we’re excited to announce that ChromaQA 5 also includes a completely new, dynamic and interactive, web-based reporting system and a new global instrument management dashboard to ensure instrument accuracy across a fleet of devices.” Steve Rankin

Key Benefits and Features of ChromaQA 5:
ChromaQA has earned praise from packaging printers worldwide for its user-friendly interface, robust feature set, and competitive pricing. ChromaQA 5 distinguishes itself by including a dedicated ink management and QC module, enabling the ink room to qualify new inks before they reach the pressroom, leading to smoother make-readies.

1. Increased Profitability
Reduces make-ready times by 50% through precise color matching.

2. Effortless Learning
The intuitive interface minimizes training time, allowing operators to use it immediately.

3. Improved Color Accuracy
SmartInk technology and other tools recommend corrective actions for accurate colors during make-ready and production.

4. Web-Based Dashboards
ChromaAnalytics allows easy comparison of color metrics and job data, enabling trend identification and process improvements.

5. Simplified Job Reports
Automatically generates reports with charts and graphs for brand owners to verify adherence to specifications.

6. New Instrument Management
Dashboard to monitor and track instrument locations, performance, and service schedules for global color consistency.