Future Links February 2nd
Here are our daily links with the most important news from the printing industry. Today they feature 3D printing’s role in brain research, the new Stratasys Creative Colors Software, a traversing print head made of stainless steel, a call for entries for the 2016 Premier Print Awards Competition, growth opportunities for Emerald Packaging, Brother’s new high print volume laser models and new research shedding light on 3D printing emissions.
3D printing helps scientists solve brain mystery
Scientists have learned a lot about the development and functioning of the brain, but how the brain develops its folds has remained a mystery. Now, 3D printing may help scientists understand how this phenomenon develops. Researchers at Harvard University have 3D printed a fake gel brain and watched it grow, thus gaining valuable insights into its development. The findings could have far-reaching implications for understanding and treating a variety of neurological disorders.
More at Los Angeles Times
Stratasys and Adobe aim at making 3D printing more accessible
The user base for 3D printing has expanded beyond engineering schools and research and development departments of major companies. Hobbyists, high school students and designers are using the technology for an increasing number of applications. Stratasys and Adobe want to make 3D printing even more accessible by releasing the new Stratasys Creative Colors Software, powered by the Adobe 3D Color Print Engine, for its Objet Connex3 3D Printing solutions.
More at BusinessWire
Traversing print head is made of stainless steel
Food manufacturers using form/fill/seal machines are looking for durability and dependability in a traversing print head. The integrated print heads provide an efficient way of delivering date codes and other variable data that might be required on the flexible film lidding material, regardless of the number of packs being produced across the machine direction. Concept Solutions has developed just such a traversing print head system that can be integrated into any new or existing form/fill/seal machine made of Series 300 stainless steel.
More at Packaging World
Printing Industries of America issues call for submissions
Printing Industries of America invites printers, prepress, and postpress companies to submit their entries to the 2016 Premier Print Awards Competition. This international competition honors the top printers in the industry. With more than 100 categories recognizing every segment of the printing industry, the competition features categories for binders, magazines, posters, packaging and labels, innovation, green printing, digital printing, and more. This year, the Premier Print Awards competition also updated five of their categories to highlight the postpress industry.
More at Printing News
Emerald Packaging sees opportunities in flexible food containers
Emerald Packaging is a California-based packaging company that prints and converts 110 billion packages for lettuce, salads, and other freshly packed food items every year. After a spate of equipment installations in recent years, the production complement now consists of seven flexographic web presses, a digital web press, 26 bag lines, and six slitting machines, plus related equipment for laminating, perforating, stand-up pouch making, and zippering. Vertically integrating these capabilities is one of Emerald’s unique characteristics. This enables the company to take advantage of the marriage of rigid and flexible packaging taking place in the food industry and other segments that the company serves. The company sees a lot of potential in flexible packaging, especially for organically grown food and, to a lesser extend, for beverages like wine.
More at What They Think
Brother introduces new high print volume laser models
Building on its commitment to providing workflow solutions for mid- and large-sized businesses, Brother International Corporation is introducing a new series of monochrome laser printers and All-in-Ones. The laser flagships of the Brother Workhorse Series, the Brother HL-L6400DW printer and the MFC-L6900DW All-in-One, are ideal for higher-volume print and scan business customers. They offer a fast print speed, up to 52 pages per minute, according to the company.
More at PR Newswire
Research paper sheds light on 3D printing emissions
New research provides a detailed looks at potentially harmful emissions from 3D printers. The scientists examined a variety of different materials printed in different printers. They also measured both chemical emissions and ultrafine particles (UFP), which can be hazardous even when the material itself is not. It looks like PLA remains your safest bet in terms of emissions since PLA emitted significantly less overall, and most of it was a non-hazardous chemical, lactide.
More at Hackaday