Our visit to the IGT Testing Systems stand at drupa 2016 revealed that there is much about this organization that we were not aware of. Since the stand was large, there were far more testing and measuring instruments at drupa than we have seen at any earlier exhibition. In the past some potential customers in India have said to us that the IGT class of instruments while desirable to have are quite expensive for a small or medium sized plant.
still quite precise IGT test equipments shown
at its stand in drupa 2016. Photo PSA
At drupa IGT’s managing director Wilco de Groot showed us that first of all there is continuous research and development and enhancement of the instruments so that with the use of microprocessors and common touchpad interfaces innovations are possible to bring down the cost of some of the equipment. Some of the testers can be thus enhanced for either performing several tests or made somewhat multipurpose using interchangeable components and software.
Also, it was quite interesting to see that IGT also makes relatively simpler but still quite precise testing instruments for prices in the region of Euro 1,000. Other instruments are also not very expensive when one calculates the cost of testing an ink and substrate on press rather than in the lab beforehand to avoid surprises. We believe that a huge push in quality and efficiency is necessary for the quality printers who expect to grow and one of the keys to leveraging high technology will be to leverage their human capital with the proper use of testing and measuring instruments and a more scientific understanding of the printing processes.
Packaging South Asia is a cooperating media partner for drupa 2016 which was held from 31 May to 10 June at Dusseldorf, Germany
