Techkon color measurement supports lean manufacturing in US

Rose City Printing and Packaging has installed three SpectroDrive automated color measurement scanning systems from Techkon in order to enable higher productivity, faster make-ready and savings in consumables, while significantly reducing waste.

Techkon, a specialist in densitometers, spectrophotometers and software solutions for the global print and packaging industries, said this is a high priority for Rose City’s lean manufacturing sites in Vancouver, Washington and Gresham, Oregon.

The Techkon SpectroDrive features automated color and density measurement capabilities, and consists of two components: the motorized measurement system which scans the complete color bar on a printed sheet within seconds; and the Techkon Expresso software, which simultaneously receives the spectral measurement data wirelessly on a PC where all the relevant information for controlling the printing press is displayed.

Two of the three systems installed with Rose City Printing and Packaging employ custom 60ins tracks to meet specific production requirements in its printing facility. 

Techkon said the speed advantage of the SpectroDrive scanning spectrophotometer has improved overall productivity, helping Rose City meet the high expectations of packaging customers like Trader Joes, Krusteaz, Kirkland, Tazo Tea and Ghirardelli. The measurement of an entire 60ins color bar in less than 10 seconds and the swift display of highly accurate spectral color data allows press operators to react quickly to changing pressroom conditions, Techkon said. Press operators are also reported to have found the Techkon Expresso software intuitive and easy to navigate, and with the ability to analyze post-press data, can continuously deliver quality products that exceed packaging customers’ expectations.

The color measurement system was pre-staged in Techkon’s Danvers, Massachusetts headquarters, where technical support consultants loaded the software on new touchscreen computers provided by Rose City. A Techkon technical support team then went on-site to install the three SpectroDrive systems, and provide assistance with the touchscreen computer configuration, as well as on-site customized training for press operators throughout multiple shift changes. Techkon also set up color bars for Rose City which were printed and tested by Techkon in-house.  In all, Techkon spent four days on-site: two days in the Gresham plant and two days in the Vancouver plant providing intensive support.

Techkon director of technical services Bob Byrnes said: ‘Rose City Printing and Packaging was able to adopt the SpectroDrive scanning system very rapidly and bring it online in a short period of time thanks to a collaborative installation plan. Very often, Techkon is approached with unique customer requirements in regard to system configuration and implementation, and is able to respond with the right combination of technical resources to execute the plan successfully for our packaging printers.’

George Adam, Techkon president, said: ‘While Techkon’s design is sophisticated, ergonomically friendly and well thought out, it was our ability to integrate the data generated by the SpectroDrive into the Rose City data management system that enabled faster set-up and accurate job information. There is no doubt that the implementation of the SpectroDrive system will ensure higher production and consistent production for Rose City Printing and Packaging.’