Predicting the future
Recently Mark Bohan, Vice President, Technology and Research, Printing   Industries of America, commented, "I look forward to a strengthened relationship with manroland and extending it to the next phase of collaborative research activities and training that will provide ongoing benefits to the graphic arts industry."

This project was identified shortly after Printing Industries of America announced that they were planning to rethink and remodel traditional concepts in training and research and wanted to set forth on a new direction for collaborative research with manroland.

Added Value of Print
The subject of the Added Value of Print is a topic which is foremost on everyone's mind today, and it has been the foundation of manroland research for many years.  This project focuses on the product differentiation that can be achieved using the printing process and various effects that many of Printing Industries' members use.  This includes utilization of specialty substrates, the introduction of effects using non-traditional coatings, the use of metallic inks, the opportunities afforded by mi-croencapsulated scents, and lenticular printing.  In the arena of security, specialty applications are being investigated to determine how these technologies can be deployed.

The outcome of this project will be a series of resource guides, each highlighting a single technology in question, including printed examples, discussing the added value that the method bring to the piece, and then detailing the production methods that are used in the product.  It will detail the challenges that are required for producing the pieces, the common mistakes that can occur, and provide a checklist of solutions to help avoid these when you produce the prints.  Many of these can be used without the need of adding additional equipment of the production facility.

manroland agrees
Vince Lapinski, CEO manroland Inc., adds, "Applying today's technology so that printers receive the maximum benefit is imperative.  The future of print can be strengthened by understanding innovation and Added Value applications...we welcome the opportunity to continue our long term relationship with Printing Industries of America on this and future projects which reinforce and strengthen the value of print."