Substrates Make Digital Printing Work

Digital printing is quickly becoming top dog in the space of printing, being driven by changes in the consumer market, such as the rising number of products and SKU’s in stores, etc.  This is creating competition that is driving brands faster than ever before.  Seasonal, promotional, and personalized productions are increasing in demand.  This rise in business is causing owners to realize a few things-

• Shortened supply chains
• Streamlined logistics
• Shorter run lengths
• Faster turnaround
• Minimized inventory

The type of digital press being run gives the operational advantage, but the substrates are making it work overall.

When deciding to use a digital press, common concerns including having the right substrates and whether or not the ink and toner will adhere to specialized substrates.  In most cases, the answer to both is yes.  There are an abundant amount of substrate options and the ink/toner adhesion can be fixed many times with a simple coating or treatment for an easy run.  However, it’s important to note that the inks and toners used in digital printing are different from those used in other kinds of printing, and they require varying levels of heat and light to dry and bond an image to a substrate.  Making substrates compatible for digital presses only makes supply chain management easier, since materials that were used on conventional presses can now be used on digital.  Purchasing materials through a substrate vendor also ensures quick lead times and fast shipping so the product is delivered quickly and efficiently.

The substrates are not the only thing that have adapted to digital presses, many presses have been engineered to work with specific substrates that may have been difficult before.

Digital press and substrate suppliers use many resources to ensure compatibility between press and substrate.  Here at MGX for example, we partner with HP to create materials that are guaranteed to print.  Many different tests are conducted on these materials that help us fine-tune our materials to the characteristics of different presses.  Testing materials on your own press is also important to verify that the settings are correct and that the material will have the look you are desiring.  Even if a substrate isn’t certified, we often work with customers to create a unique solution for them that is unavailable through other vendors.

Some of our materials for the Indigo include 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 mil synthetic paper.  We also have ESTATE LABEL® Papers, MAX Impact Cardstock, and 4 mil White Vinyl.  Looking for a Xeikon or Nexpress material?  We have those as well, and many more.  Custom coating and materials are yours here at MGX, and we want to supply you with materials to make your press run its best, save you money, and give you top quality.  Contact us today for more information.