The Advantages of CTP Technology

Brad Smith, account executive at Utah Paperbox Co., spoke to ACC of the dramatic changes that have come to the packaging industry as a result of computer technology in the past five years.

"The computer-to-plate (CTP) prepress advances have dramatically reduced the time necessary in the step and repeat process," Smith said. "Plating is now accomplished in a fraction of the time. This process has improved lead times, and print quality on the difficult surfaces characteristic of packaging board. It also provides the opportunity to produce stunning CTP mockups for marketing people who need a finished package in a couple of days."

Smith noted that computer-controlled printing presses armed with fiber optics, automated ink fountain washup, and plate loading have improved technology. Computers have cut significant time from make-readies on die cutters, stamping and gluing machines.

EDI, in-house computer programming, the Internet, digital data storage, and just plain old e-mail have changed the way they receive, track and handle orders and graphics. Smith said that instead of shipping art boards back and forth across the country, the digital artwork goes from art house to Utah Paperbox's prepress department in minutes or hours.

Questions about the reliability of new computer-to-plate systems were brought up by attendees. It was pointed out that to ensure a quality product, the processes and procedures must be in place to safeguard the implementation of this technology.

"Packaging communication certainly does travels at the speed of the Internet," Smith concluded.

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