Types of Industrial Printing
Industrial printing follows along the same path as other technologies, reflecting cultural needs and blending into every aspect of life. In its infancy, industrial printing was primarily relied upon to disseminate knowledge and information, in the form of books and leaflets. As the need and desire for information grew, populations became more organized, and new industries were born. Business ventures required printing services to procure forms, stationary, signs, product labels and machinery identification, causing printers to expand operations and develop new methods.
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History
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The history of modern industrial printing can be traced to Johannes Gutenberg, who invented movable-type letterpress in the mid-1500s. Letterpress was the sole method of informational printing for the next three centuries, until offset lithography was invented in the mid-1800s. With the Industrial Revolution came improvements in other printing methods. These include intaglio engraving, used to print currency and postage stamps, silk screening for printing of signs, posters and machinery, and flexography, used to print labels and food packaging.
Development
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Early and mid-20th century technology allowed advancements in industrial printing methods. Machinery, ink, and process improvements led to the development of faster presses, producing higher quality work. Rotogravure, a high-speed rotary variation of intaglio engraving, enabled production of larger quantities of books, magazines and newspapers. Offset lithography, discounted for many years due to quality issues, reached standards high enough to compete with letterpress. Silk screening became a major process for printing fabrics, signage, machinery and electronic parts.
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Evolution
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Printers and press manufacturers have always looked to improve quality, speed and efficiency. But the most significant advance in modern times was the invention of computers. Integrated with traditional printing methods, computers, a vital component of industrial printing, control and monitor presses and related finishing equipment.
Computers also ushered in an entirely new way of printing, which changed the face of industrial printing. Digital printers allow production of products that are either not possible or too costly to produce by traditional methods. Billboards, vehicle wraps, signage, store displays, posters and other common visual graphics are produced primarily by digital printers.
Types
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Industrial printing relies on different machines to produce the scope of work required. Machinery is chosen for its ability to produce high-quality product, in the quickest and most efficient manner. Modern printing still employs traditional machines, working in tandem and harmony with the latest digital technology.
Offset lithography, for example, produces full and spot-color paper printing, while rotogravure is used for magazines, books and newspapers. Digital laser printers make color and black and white copies, while letterpress, intaglio engraving and flexography perform specialized jobs.
Future
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New methods and continuous improvements to traditional processes are being developed daily. Environmental and performance improvements in ink technology, increased machine efficiency, and the use of recycled and biodegradable printing materials lead industrial printing into a new era. Printing will continue to reflect modern culture with its environmental concerns, aesthetics and insatiable desire for knowledge.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit purdman1: Flickr.com
