X-Rite launches latest InkFormulation update

X-Rite’s described InkFormulation as the industry leading system for ink color recipe creation, storage, approval and retrieval for offset, flexographic, gravure and screen printing inks.

InkFormulation v6.3 offers improved integration so ink professionals can quickly compare their formulations to a digital color reference stored in the PantoneLIVE ecosystem or as a measured CxF standard. This automatically makes both the formula and reference data available to quality control software for a pass/fail analysis. If corrections are required, data can be fed back to InkFormulation, where recipe corrections can be made. X-Rite said this speeds up the ink formulation process while reducing the risk for errors and providing added value to customers.

Ink formulation issues on press can be resolved more quickly for flexographic and gravure printers as, when press-side color measurements do not meet tolerances, and quality control software reports that tolerances cannot be met with the existing ink formulation, reformulation data is immediately sent to InkFormulation. The ink room can make appropriate adjustments and dispense the new formula, speeding up the correction process on press. This minimizes press downtime and keeps print quality high without the need for the press operator to be an ink expert.

The latest InkFormulation update also features enhanced management information system (MIS) integration. This simplifies data interchange with MIS systems whereby the MIS system can request from InkFormulation a new material number based on specifications and naming conventions defined in the MIS, or by referencing a multi-color CxF file stored in PantoneLIVE or elsewhere. This request then appears in the ink kitchen as a job with a target color requiring an ink recipe to be defined. Once the recipe is defined, InkFormulation returns the recipe to the MIS with a bill of materials – a list of ingredients and the percentage for each.

Additionally, InkFormulation v6.3 allows for the formulation of more than one recipe in the system. The new formulation tab enables formulation and correction of whole jobs coming from quality control software. This new capability will use tags to associate ink recipes to individual jobs.

Iain Pike, product portfolio manager at X-Rite Pantone, said: ‘In this latest version, we have streamlined the ability to exchange color data between InkFormulation, PantoneLIVE digital color libraries and quality control software, such as ColorCert InkRoom and Color iQC. This new capability addresses an important need of our customers – the ability to integrate color specification and reporting into supply chain workflows to efficiently monitor print production and make ink corrections in real-time, thereby avoiding costly color errors.

‘MIS integration helps to close the loop in a production workflow for everything from estimating to invoicing, making it easier to estimate ink consumption by job as well as to reuse existing ink formulations without the need to send a request to the ink kitchen. In addition, all ink recipes required for a given job can be linked to that job, streamlining the workflow even further. This will add significant value at many converter and ink sites.’

X-Rite InkFormulation v6.3 will be available on a worldwide basis in late June 2016 through X-Rite channels and directly from X-Rite.

X-Rite will demonstrate InkFormulation on its stand in (A23) in hall 8b at drupa 2016.

Read L&L’s preview of label and package printing and converting technology to see at drupa in issue 2, 2016, available here, and read an enhanced online preview here