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Tips & news for
the creative mind
MINNEAPOLIS – May 25, 2007 – Did you know that Litho of MN is a pioneer in waterless printing? Long before it became an environmentally-friendly printing trend, Litho was busy investing in this technology and making it work. In fact, it was one of the first commercial printers in Minnesota to offer this alternative to clients.
 Waterless printing is a method that produces fantastic quality while reducing the overall impact on the environment. Unlike conventional lithography, it uses chemistry and physics to enhance the clarity and detail of the finished product without the use of water or typical “fountain” solutions. This type of printing works especially well on recycled papers, and it is also ideal for printing high-end pieces such as art or photography books.
Duane Pogue, VP of Business Development for GLS and former owner of Litho, says that the company began dabbling in waterless printing techniques starting as early as 1985.
“It was something I read about at the time,” Duane recalls. “We had an opportunity to obtain some materials and do some experimenting.” Two years later, after fabricating some specialized equipment, Litho had its first saleable waterless printing job.
 Persistence Pays Off
In the early years, Duane was frustrated with some of the materials and products used in the waterless printing process. For a long time, for example, there was only one manufacturer of waterless plates, and the product was unreliable. But Litho kept pushing forward, and eventually additional suppliers emerged and quality issues were resolved.
Today, Litho and GLS remain Minnesota’s leading providers of waterless printing for sheetfed applications and stand ready to assist clients who want to reap all the benefits of this technology.
Benefits of Waterless Printing
So…what exactly is waterless printing, and why should you care? Although the technology behind waterless printing is somewhat complex, the benefits are easy to see:
- Vibrant color – more consistency, wider spectrum and better saturation
- Sharper detail – lower dot gain is inherent in the waterless process
- Paper options – more selection in paper types/styles, especially uncoated papers
- Environmentally friendly – reduces paper waste, conserves water, and limits
the use of damaging “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs)
Testing the Waters
Not surprisingly, Duane states that more and more clients are trying waterless printing, “…and they love it!” Print buyers and designers find that switching from traditional to waterless printing is seamless—there are no limitations or process changes required on their end. In fact, many Litho clients have started insisting on waterless printing after seeing the high quality of the product.
For more information about waterless printing options for your application, contact your GLS or Litho account executive. Background materials are also available online; read the white paper on GLS’s website at http://www.glsmn.com/resource/waterless.pdf or visit the Waterless Printing Association’s website at www.waterless.org.
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