026 April|May 2004“Used within digital work?ows, FAST could allow ?exo printers to compete more effectively with gravure andoffset for many applications, including those dependentupon satellite operations with remote platemaking”a carriage that moves across the width of the head to scan theproof in a series of stripes. DuPont claims this method ensures outstanding colourconsistency within a proof, from proof to proof and is siteindependent without operator assistance. This applies not justfor process colour applications, but also for labels andpackaging where numerous Pantone and complimentarycolours are involved.Both the b2 and b3 ink jet proofers will augment theexisting Cromalin AQ2 and AQ4 models. They have a largeinstalled base and are expected to remain key components inDuPont’s proofing programme. This also includesiCertification, introduced two years ago as an internet-enabled remote proofing system for companies who need toguarantee accurate colour across sites, regions or sometimesglobally. It can help standardize the process from design toprint, using the actual substrates used for the job. Thiscombination is said to provide a proof package with aDuPont’s new two-page format Cromalin b3 digital proofer with ink common standard, allowing users to communicate not onlyjet printheads will be shown at Drupadata, but also colours with their relevant measurements andwith 250 user sites worldwide, 50 of which are in Europe; most objective job reports.are trade shops. As the world’s ?rst dry thermal ?exo plate, iteliminates conventional solvents, chemicals, liquids and Eastern promiseaqueous washout solutions. Used within digital work?ows, it In a corporate sense, DuPont Imaging Technology plans tocould allow ?exo printers to compete more effectively with develop its eastern European business. It sees the region asgravure and offset for many applications, including those being ripe for social and economic progress, with a potentialdependent upon satellite operations with remote that makes it among the world’s most promising investmentplatemaking. targets. It is currently sponsoring a project within theA new product for Drupa is TD 4260, a large-format plate in a European Union and involving several ‘Accession Countries’.size of 106cm x 152cm. It is aimed at trade shops for The project aims to build a pan-European infrastructure ofmaximizing ganged-up platemaking procedures. DuPont will packaging printers, converters and trade shops, withalso discuss progress for the next Cyrel FAST project: thermally- business links among themselves and companies in otherimaged Cyrel Round sleeve plates. parts of the world.The initiative began with the ?rst Flexo & PackagingCromalin digital proo?ng conference ‘West Meets East’, held in Moscow in October 2003.Recognizing that ‘contract proof’ has become a generic term, It was attended by some 300 representatives of the packagingDuPont now uses the term ‘professional proof’ in an attempt industry, from both eastern and western countries.to establish a better understanding of a proof’s technical ‘The principal goal of this ambitious project is to increasequalities (There are over 2,000 Digital Cromalin proo?ng foreign direct investment in Eastern Europe, promote tradesystems worldwide). and strengthen cross border co-operation. Increasing cross-Early in 2003 DuPont Colour Proo?ng launched the b2 proofer, border communication and investment can dramaticallythe ?rst of a new generation of Digital Cromalin proo?ng stimulate the growth of this region. I believe that to be a criticalsystems using the latest drop-on-demand ink jet printhead component for any success strategy in Eastern Europe’, said Drtechnology. Its widespread acceptance as a professional-level Paolo A Barbieri, business director of DuPont Imagingproo?ng machine has led to the b3, a two-page version for Technologies. ‘As shown by experience, capital, a transfer ofsmaller businesses, agencies and remote client sites. technology and know-how, all encourage industrialAutomatic calibration from printed test charts is a new restructuring and social change, while promoting integrationinnovation which is standard on the b3 and optional on the b2. into the global economy.’ ?No.346A GretagMacbeth spectrophotometer sits in a ?exible mount onewww.labelsandlabeling.com