NEXPO attendees caught a glimpse of the future as they learned about two new computer-to-press technologies: "elcography" and "photoelectrochemical automatic image makeready," or PECAIM. Their inventors hope to one day eliminate the need for all intermediary film and plates.
Intex Inc. and Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., both of Tokyo, and Elcorsy Inc. of Quebec are all collaborating on elcography, short for "electro-coagulation technology." The method involves sending electric signals through electricity-sensitive ink, which coagulates to form the image area. The nonimage ink is then pulled off with a pressure roller. A new image can be written while the old one is being transferred.
Elcography is not totally new. The process was invented in 1971, but its printing speed dragged along at 30 feet per minute. Special pigments in the polymer have since doubled its speed.
For now, the technology is aimed at smaller-market, community and ethnic newspapers that produce short runs, but plans are underway to adapt elcography for larger operations, said Pierre Castegnier, vice president of marketing at Elcorsy.
Beta tests are underway at sites in Montreal and Tokyo. Printing costs are estimated at one cent per single-sided tabloid page and about two cents per double-sided, one-color tabloid page, factoring in labor, paper, ink, overhead and machine depreciation, Castegnier said.
Goss Graphics Systems is developing PECAIM, a newly patented technology, said Lou Franconeri, vice president of operations at the San Antonio Express-News, at a NEXPO session exploring international newspaper operations.
PECAIM involves depositing an oil-attracting, copper-like metal into a water-attracting coating on the printing cylinder. An image is formed when a laser beam contacts the solution. After printing, the image is erased by forward-biasing the coating, which dissolves the metal back into the plating solution.
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