Karol Bagh based Shivsons Photographics in Delhi installed a new inkjet digital press inline to an inkjet decoration device called the Monotech Pixel Glow 2008AF, on 3 April 2022. Founded in 1967, with a prominent market location on Deshbandhu Gupta Road, Shivsons is in one of the traditional hubs of the city’s commerce and trade. Its current third-generation owner Varun Gupta says the Pixel Glow digital printing and enhancement press is the first in Delhi.
The Pixel Glow device or printer consists of two engines, the first is an inkjet printer similar to many signage or proofing devices which prints the image that is sent on to the second drop-on-demand flatbed inkjet for decoration and embellishment. The decoration engine prints at a resolution of up to 600 x 4800 dpi and adds special inks, coating and effects for embellishing the print inline.
Pixel Glow installed at Shivsons Photographics, Karol Bagh.Photo IPP
A CCD camera system with automatic positioning helps to align the printed substrate precisely for the effects to be added by the second Pixel Glow decoration inkjet array. The substrate loading size ranges from 11.7 x 16.5 inches to 14 x 20 inches. The decoration is done using Monotech’s pixel glossy UV ink, to helps in quick curing and higher output. The feeder tray can hold 300 sheets and the suction feeder preceding the first inkjet provides smooth movement of the substrate for the image printing and a second feeder moves the printed sheets to the pick and place system to the decoration engine for metallic and embossed effects.
The machine can run short runs for custom applications such as photo albums, brochures, menus, magazines, book covers, packaging, dial print of wall clocks, dial print of wristwatches, and many other commercial applications. The press has foil enhancement capabilities, including high gloss, embossed, and a range of densities through the digital process. Pixel glow deploys hot and cold foil films on various substrates, including offset, digital, plastic, laminated, non-laminated, coated, and without coating.
Plans to add a Ricoh digital press
This is Shivsons’ sixth machine purchased from Monotech Systems, the others being the Konica Minolta, Fujifilm, Canon digital presses and a laser-cutting machine and album binding unit. The entire production is done in-house. On the occasion, Gupta revealed, “We are planning to buy a Ricoh machine after some time, in the same place, which will help differentiate us further from the other players in the market.”
“Ricoh’s digital press will help us in printing various products and for security products such as branded wrist bands with security codes. For instance, when we go into a pub, club, or private lounge for a party, they put on a wristband to identify the invited or paying guests. This press has a feature to print the band with security codes or that become visible under an ultraviolet lamp.”
This article has been slightly edited on 13 April 2022 for purposes of clarity by the author.
