PAT Technology Systems Inc. (PAT) of Montreal, Canada is introducing the world’s first true digital UV coating systems capable of variable data coating and variable data printing. With the support of Xaar plc of England, a leader in piezo electric inkjet head manufacturing and development, PAT’s intense development program is paying off with the completion of two true digital coating platforms which will be unveiled at Label Expo 2006 and Graph Expo 2006. The product line consists of a sheet fed digital coater called Varstar and a web fed, semi-rotary converter/digital coater called Rotoworx. Traditional Digital Coaters use rollers and plates to apply coating to digital print. Nothing digital about that! PAT’s true digital coater product line redefines what a digital coater is. “It performs flood, spot coating, textures, variable gloss levels with a single fluid and special effects without the need for plates and requires only a digital file,” PAT’s head of Product Development, Jamie Koehler said. “We’re bringing coating into the digital age.” Digital print producers are eager to adopt the paradigm shift. During development of Rotoworx, a number of printers were invited to PAT Technology System’s head office in Montreal Canada to preview the technology. Among them was Imprimerie St-Julie Inc. Their plant is equipped with 3 HP Indigo Digital Presses and is one of North America’s largest digital print producers. “This technology can save time, money and add value to the print jobs,” Jean Maurice Fournier, the president of the company, said. “My customers and I can finally maximize the advantages of digital printing by using this piece of equipment.” In addition to protecting digital print, true digital coating gives graphic artists a new creative tool. Images, textures and special effects that were neither possible nor cost effective with traditional technologies are now made accessible. The coating effects generated by proprietary software and piezo technology can be used as a print enhancement or can even be used on their own. “It brings a new dimension to graphic design,” said Simon Dumais, a graphic designer at Imprimerie St Julie (Quebec). PAT committed to an intense 2 year development plan to realize the concept of true digital coating. They have succeeded by selecting development partners who are leaders in their fields and who have passion for innovation. Xaar plc of England, a world leader in piezo electric head manufacturing and development offered their expertise and their new hybrid side-shooter (HSS) technology for the development of Varstar and Rotoworx. The HSS platform combines piezo drop-on-demand (DOD) technology with Xaar's patented 'through-flow' design which enhances reliability, performance and flexibility in this novel application. PAT is one of Xaar’s five launch customers for the HSS technology. Ian Dinwoodie, Managing Director of Xaar said, “PAT has developed a strong reputation for delivering creative solutions to the industry and we have and will continue to fully support PAT’s goal to bring a true digital product offering to the coating and finishing world.”